npr--2020-09-12--Twitter And Facebook Flag Trump's Mail-In Voting Post for Platform Violations

Twitter and Facebook both flagged posts by President Trump on Saturday that encouraged Americans to vote by mail as early as possible and then follow up that vote by going to the polls on Election Day to check that it was counted — action that could cause unnecessarily long lines during the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` NORTH CAROLINA : To make sure your Ballot COUNTS , sign & send it in EARLY , '' the tweet and Facebook post read .
`` When Polls open , go to your Polling Place to see if it was COUNTED .
IF NOT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not count because your vote has been posted .
Do n't let them illegally take your vote away from you ! ''
Twitter placed a banner over the tweet that said it `` violated the Twitter Rules about civic and election integrity '' and noted that the platform kept the post accessible because `` it may be in the public 's interest . ''
Facebook also placed a banner underneath the post with a link to their voting information center and a note that read : `` Voting by mail has a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same is predicted this year . ''
In response to the president 's comments , North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein , a Democrat , encouraged people to simply vote by sending in their ballot and tracking it online .
He warned that voting twice is a felony .
`` The only GOOD thing about the President 's tweet is that he FINALLY encourages voters to VOTE BY MAIL , '' Stein tweeted .
`` It 's an easy , safe & secure way to cast a ballot . ''
Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina State Board of Elections reminded voters that it is illegal to cast a ballot twice after the president encouraged voters to do just that in another series of tweets that Twitter blocked .
His comments went against guidance from Karen Brinson Bell , the executive director of the election board , who said in a statement on Sept. 3 that voters should not show up to a polling place on Election Day if they already voted by mail .
`` That is not necessary , and it would lead to longer lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the statement read .
Although the president has voted by mail , he has attacked mail-in voting as a potential avenue for voter fraud .
In June , he tweeted that the country should consider delaying the election because of the pandemic and increased use of mail-in voting ( he can not do this ) .
Election experts say that while there is slightly more fraud in mail-in voting than with in-person voting , election fraud is extremely rare in all instances .
With just 51 days until Election Day , efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way to avoid overcrowding at polling places during the coronavirus pandemic .
According to The New York Times , at least 75 % of all American voters are eligible to vote by mail-in ballot , the most in U.S. history .

Twitter And Facebook Flag Trump's Mail-In Voting Post For Platform Violations
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
Twitter and Facebook both flagged posts by President Trump on Saturday that encouraged Americans to vote by mail as early as possible and then follow up that vote by going to the polls on Election Day to check that it was counted — action that could cause unnecessarily long lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"NORTH CAROLINA: To make sure your Ballot COUNTS, sign & send it in EARLY," the tweet and Facebook post read. "When Polls open, go to your Polling Place to see if it was COUNTED. IF NOT, VOTE! Your signed Ballot will not count because your vote has been posted. Don't let them illegally take your vote away from you!"
Twitter placed a banner over the tweet that said it "violated the Twitter Rules about civic and election integrity" and noted that the platform kept the post accessible because "it may be in the public's interest." Facebook also placed a banner underneath the post with a link to their voting information center and a note that read: "Voting by mail has a long history of trustworthiness in the U.S. and the same is predicted this year."
In response to the president's comments, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, encouraged people to simply vote by sending in their ballot and tracking it online. He warned that voting twice is a felony.
"The only GOOD thing about the President's tweet is that he FINALLY encourages voters to VOTE BY MAIL," Stein tweeted. "It's an easy, safe & secure way to cast a ballot."
Trump's tweet comes just days after the North Carolina State Board of Elections reminded voters that it is illegal to cast a ballot twice after the president encouraged voters to do just that in another series of tweets that Twitter blocked. His comments went against guidance from Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the election board, who said in a statement on Sept. 3 that voters should not show up to a polling place on Election Day if they already voted by mail.
"That is not necessary, and it would lead to longer lines and the possibility of spreading COVID-19," the statement read.
Although the president has voted by mail, he has attacked mail-in voting as a potential avenue for voter fraud. In June, he tweeted that the country should consider delaying the election because of the pandemic and increased use of mail-in voting (he cannot do this). Election experts say that while there is slightly more fraud in mail-in voting than with in-person voting, election fraud is extremely rare in all instances.
With just 51 days until Election Day, efforts to expand mail-in voting have increased as a way to avoid overcrowding at polling places during the coronavirus pandemic. According to The New York Times, at least 75% of all American voters are eligible to vote by mail-in ballot, the most in U.S. history.


npr--2020-09-12--Longtime Climate Science Denier Hired At NOAA

David Legates , a University of Delaware professor of climatology who has spent much of his career questioning basic tenets of climate science , has been hired for a top position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
Legates confirmed to NPR that he was recently hired as NOAA 's deputy assistant secretary of commerce for observation and prediction .
The position suggests that he reports directly to Neil Jacobs , the acting head of the agency that is in charge of the federal government 's sprawling weather and climate prediction work .
Neither Legates nor NOAA representatives responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or why he was hired .
The White House also declined to comment .
Legates has a long history of using his position as an academic scientist to publicly cast doubt on climate science .
His appointment to NOAA comes as Americans face profound threats stoked by climate change , from the vast , deadly wildfires in the West to an unusually active hurricane season in the South and East .
Global temperatures have already risen nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit as a result of greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels .
Warming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's poles , where sea ice is melting , permafrost is thawing and ocean temperatures are heating up , with devastating effects on animals and humans alike .
In 2007 , Legates was one of the authors of a paper that questioned previous findings about the role of climate change in destroying the habitat of polar bears .
That research was partially funded by grants from Koch Industries , the lobbying group the American Petroleum Institute and ExxonMobil , according to InsideClimate News .
The same year , Delaware Gov .
Ruth Ann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern about his opinions on climate change , given that he was the state climatologist at the time .
Minner asked him to refrain from casting doubt on climate science when he was acting in his official role .
Legates stepped down in 2011 .
Legates also appeared in a video pushing the discredited theory that the sun is the cause of global warming .
In testimony before the U.S. Senate in 2014 , Legates argued that a climate science report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change erroneously stated that humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professor in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences at the University of Delaware .
He is also affiliated with the Heartland Institute , a think tank that has poured money into convincing Americans that climate change is not happening and that the scientific evidence — including evidence published by the agency that now employs Legates — is uncertain or untrustworthy .
Advocates who reject mainstream climate science , such as those at Heartland , have had a leading role in shaping the Trump administration 's response to global warming , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accord .
Steve Milloy , a Heartland board member and part of Trump 's Environmental Protection Agency transition team , says he welcomes the Legates appointment .
`` David Legates is a true climate scientist and will bring a great deal of much-needed science to NOAA , '' Milloy writes in an email to NPR .
But climate researchers slammed the NOAA decision to appoint Legates to a key scientific position .
`` He 's not just in left field , he 's not even near the ballpark , '' says Jane Lubchenco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State University and head of NOAA under President Obama .
Contrarians in science are welcome , Lubchenco says , but their claims have to be scientifically defensible .
That 's why official groups like the United Nations ' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change review the entire range of scientific research before reaching a conclusion .
Over the last 20 years , in his work and public statements , Legates has rejected the overwhelming peer-reviewed research that shows human activity is the main driver of a dangerously changing climate .
Michael Mann , professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says in an email to NPR that Legates has , throughout his career , `` misrepresented the science of climate change , serving as an advocate for polluting interests as he dismisses and downplays the impacts of climate change . ''
Mann adds : `` At a time when those impacts are playing out before our very eyes in the form of unprecedented wildfires out West and super-storms back East , I can not imagine a more misguided decision than to appoint someone like Legates to a position of leadership at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks we face from extreme weather events . ''

Longtime Climate Science Denier Hired At NOAA
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images
Updated at 6:15 p.m.
David Legates, a University of Delaware professor of climatology who has spent much of his career questioning basic tenets of climate science, has been hired for a top position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Legates confirmed to NPR that he was recently hired as NOAA's deputy assistant secretary of commerce for observation and prediction. The position suggests that he reports directly to Neil Jacobs, the acting head of the agency that is in charge of the federal government's sprawling weather and climate prediction work.
Neither Legates nor NOAA representatives responded to questions about Legates' specific responsibilities or why he was hired. The White House also declined to comment.
Legates has a long history of using his position as an academic scientist to publicly cast doubt on climate science. His appointment to NOAA comes as Americans face profound threats stoked by climate change, from the vast, deadly wildfires in the West to an unusually active hurricane season in the South and East.
Global temperatures have already risen nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century as a result of greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Warming is happening the fastest at the Earth's poles, where sea ice is melting, permafrost is thawing and ocean temperatures are heating up, with devastating effects on animals and humans alike.
In 2007, Legates was one of the authors of a paper that questioned previous findings about the role of climate change in destroying the habitat of polar bears. That research was partially funded by grants from Koch Industries, the American Petroleum Institute lobbying group and ExxonMobil, according to InsideClimate News.
The same year, Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner sent a letter to Legates expressing concern about his opinions on climate change, given that he was the state climatologist at the time. Minner asked him to refrain from casting doubt on climate science when he was acting in his official role. Legates stepped down in 2011.
Legates also appeared in a video pushing the discredited theory that the sun is the cause of global warming. In testimony before the U.S. Senate in 2014, Legates argued that a climate science report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change erroneously stated that humans are causing global warming.
Legates is a professor in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences at the University of Delaware. He is also affiliated with the Heartland Institute, a think tank that has poured money into convincing Americans that climate change is not happening and that the scientific evidence — including evidence published by the agency that now employs Legates — is uncertain or untrustworthy.
Advocates who reject mainstream climate science, such as those at Heartland, have had a leading role in shaping the Trump administration's response to global warming, including the decision to exit the Paris climate accord.
Steve Milloy, a Heartland board member and part of Trump's Environmental Protection Agency transition team, says he welcomes the Legates appointment. "David Legates is a true climate scientist and will bring a great deal of much-needed science to NOAA," Milloy writes in an email to NPR.
But climate researchers slammed NOAA's decision to appoint Legates to a key scientific position.
"He's not just in left field — he's not even near the ballpark," says Jane Lubchenco, a professor of marine biology at Oregon State University and head of NOAA under President Barack Obama.
Contrarians in science are welcome, Lubchenco says, but their claims have to be scientifically defensible. That's why official groups like the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change review the entire range of scientific research before reaching a conclusion.
Over the last 20 years, in his work and public statements, Legates has rejected the overwhelming peer-reviewed research that shows human activity is the main driver of a dangerously changing climate.
Michael Mann, professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University, says in an email to NPR that Legates has, throughout his career, "misrepresented the science of climate change, serving as an advocate for polluting interests as he dismisses and downplays the impacts of climate change."
Mann adds: "At a time when those impacts are playing out before our very eyes in the form of unprecedented wildfires out West and super-storms back East, I cannot imagine a more misguided decision than to appoint someone like Legates to a position of leadership at an agency that is tasked with assessing the risks we face from extreme weather events."


npr--2020-09-12--Afghanistan-Taliban Talks Begin In Attempt To End 19 Years Of Bloodshed

Afghanistan-Taliban Talks Begin In Attempt To End 19 Years Of Bloodshed Afghanistan 's warring factions have officially begun what is likely to be a long and arduous process of negotiating a peaceful and prosperous future after nearly two decades of war .
Representatives for the Afghan government and the Taliban met in the capital of Qatar on Saturday to discuss their aspirations and decide on a framework for a lasting peace .
The Trump administration paved the way for the negotiations — the first direct talks between the two sides — when it inked a peace agreement with the Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Doha come 19 years after al-Qaida killed nearly 3,000 people in the Sept. 11 attacks .
The attack was the deadliest act of terror in U.S. history and sparked war in Afghanistan , as the U.S. and its allies overthrew the Taliban regime for harboring the terrorists .
But in the years since , Taliban militants have reclaimed control of much of the country .
Several concessions were made to reach today 's peace talks .
In exchange for a Taliban promise to renounce al-Qaida and prevent terrorist attacks , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by next spring .
When it signed the peace deal with the Taliban in February , the U.S. had approximately 12,000 military personnel in the country .
Officials say the U.S. is on track to reduce its presence to 4,500 troops by the end of November .
At its peak , the U.S. had 100,000 troops in the country .
For its part , the Afghan government has promised to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for Taliban release of 1,000 Afghan security forces .
Abdul Ghani Baradar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he envisions an Islamic system that embraces all Afghans .
At the opening ceremony , he urged patience on both sides .
`` The negotiation process may have problems , but the request is that the negotiations move forward with a lot of patience , with a lot of attention , and it should be continued with such kind of attention , '' he said .
`` With full honesty , we continue the Afghan peace negotiation , and we try for peace and tranquility , we will pave the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who heads Kabul 's High Council for National Reconciliation , said that even if all sides ca n't agree on every detail , they will be `` peace heroes '' if they can create a political system based on Islamic principles that preserves the rights of all people .
In a video message to open the negotiations , U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the talks present a `` major opportunity to achieve the long-held aspirations of the people of Afghanistan for peace . ''
`` Afghans themselves must determine the content and nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` An inclusive peace process , in which women , youth and victims of conflict are meaningfully represented , offers the best hope of a sustainable solution . ''
The negotiations will endeavor to establish a framework for a peaceful postwar society after American troops return home .
Gender equality and the rights of ethnic and religious minorities will be front and center , as the two sides confront a history of oppression by the Taliban .
The U.S. wo n't be directly involved in the peace talks .
But the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what a postwar Afghanistan could look like .
In remarks at Saturday morning 's opening ceremony , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the two sides to consider adopting a democratic form of government .
`` In the United States , we have found that democracy — notably , the principle of the peaceful rotation of political power — works best , '' Pompeo said , according to prepared remarks .
`` Democratic systems reflect the choices of the majority while protecting the rights of the minority .
This model has yielded great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratic nations . ''
The two sides are under heavy pressure from the people of Afghanistan to come to an agreement as quickly as possible .
U.S. special adviser Zalmay Khalilzad , who helped facilitate the talks , acknowledged that wo n't be easy .
`` There 's a lot of mistrust , '' he told reporters Saturday .
`` This war has been going on for a long time , and compromise has not been easy historically in Afghanistan . ''

Afghanistan-Taliban Talks Begin In Attempt To End 19 Years Of Bloodshed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hussein Sayed/AP Hussein Sayed/AP
Afghanistan's warring factions have officially begun what is likely to be a long and arduous process of negotiating a peaceful and prosperous future after nearly two decades of war.
Representatives for the Afghan government and the Taliban met in the capital of Qatar on Saturday to discuss their aspirations and decide on a framework for a lasting peace. The Trump administration paved the way for the negotiations — the first direct talks between the two sides — when it inked a peace agreement with the Taliban in February.
The talks in the city of Doha come 19 years after al-Qaida killed nearly 3,000 people in the Sept. 11 attacks. The attack was the deadliest act of terror in U.S. history and sparked war in Afghanistan, as the U.S. and its allies overthrew the Taliban regime for harboring the terrorists. But in the years since, Taliban militants have reclaimed control of much of the country.
Several concessions were made to reach today's peace talks. In exchange for a Taliban promise to renounce al-Qaida and prevent terrorist attacks, the U.S. and its allies have promised a complete troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by next spring.
When it signed the peace deal with the Taliban in February, the U.S. had approximately 12,000 military personnel in the country. Officials say the U.S. is on track to reduce its presence to 4,500 troops by the end of November. At its peak, the U.S. had 100,000 troops in the country.
For its part, the Afghan government has promised to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for Taliban release of 1,000 Afghan security forces.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the Taliban's founders, said he envisions an Islamic system that embraces all Afghans. At the opening ceremony, he urged patience on both sides.
"The negotiation process may have problems, but the request is that the negotiations move forward with a lot of patience, with a lot of attention, and it should be continued with such kind of attention," he said. "With full honesty, we continue the Afghan peace negotiation, and we try for peace and tranquility, we will pave the ground in Afghanistan."
Abdullah Abdullah, who heads Kabul's High Council for National Reconciliation, said that even if all sides can't agree on every detail, they will be "peace heroes" if they can create a political system based on Islamic principles that preserves the rights of all people.
In a video message to open the negotiations, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the talks present a "major opportunity to achieve the long-held aspirations of the people of Afghanistan for peace."
"Afghans themselves must determine the content and nature of the negotiations," Guterres said. "An inclusive peace process, in which women, youth and victims of conflict are meaningfully represented, offers the best hope of a sustainable solution."
The negotiations will endeavor to establish a framework for a peaceful postwar society after American troops return home. Gender equality and the rights of ethnic and religious minorities will be front and center, as the two sides confront a history of oppression by the Taliban.
The U.S. won't be directly involved in the peace talks. But the U.S. is still willing to offer suggestions for what a postwar Afghanistan could look like. In remarks at Saturday morning's opening ceremony, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the two sides to consider adopting a democratic form of government.
"In the United States, we have found that democracy — notably, the principle of the peaceful rotation of political power — works best," Pompeo said, according to prepared remarks. "Democratic systems reflect the choices of the majority while protecting the rights of the minority. This model has yielded great peace and prosperity for us and other democratic nations."
The two sides are under heavy pressure from the people of Afghanistan to come to an agreement as quickly as possible. U.S. special adviser Zalmay Khalilzad, who helped facilitate the talks, acknowledged that won't be easy. "There's a lot of mistrust," he told reporters Saturday. "This war has been going on for a long time, and compromise has not been easy historically in Afghanistan."


npr--2020-09-12--AstraZeneca Resumes Its COVID-19 Vaccine Trials In The U.K.

AstraZeneca Resumes Its COVID-19 Vaccine Trials In The U.K. Drugmaker AstraZeneca announced Saturday that its COVID-19 vaccine studies have resumed in the United Kingdom , though not yet in the United States .
The vaccine trials had been placed on hold around the world earlier in the week after a U.K. participant in one of the studies developed a neurological illness .
The candidate vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford along with AstraZeneca .
The goal of the large studies is to see whether the vaccine is capable of preventing COVID-19 and whether it is safe .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects from the vaccine , rare complications of any vaccine , if there are any , may not turn up until it has been administered to thousands , or tens of thousands of people .
On Sunday , AstraZeneca says , all studies around the world of this particular candidate vaccine were paused after one volunteer in the U.K. developed symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis , an inflammation of the spinal cord that can cause paralysis .
According to a statement Saturday from the drug company , the studies were paused `` to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committees , and international regulators . ''
The statement goes on to say that the committee has concluded its investigations and advised the Medicines Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority , the U.K. equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration , that trials in the U.K. are safe to resume .
In an email to NPR Saturday , an AstraZeneca spokesperson said , `` The company will continue to work with health authorities across the world , including the FDA , and be guided as to when other clinical trials can resume . ''
AstraZeneca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information because it is the study sponsor , but added in its statement , `` All trial investigators and participants will be updated with the relevant information , and this will be disclosed on global clinical registries , according to the clinical trial and regulatory standards . ''
The AstraZeneca/Oxford partnership is one of the vaccine development efforts against the coronavirus that is furthest along .
The company recently began a phase 3 trial in the United States that aims to enroll 30,000 volunteers .
In late July , results of a preliminary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than two-thirds of the people who received the experimental vaccine reported fatigue and headache after inoculation .
Muscle aches and fever were also common .
But the researchers said then that there were no `` serious adverse reactions '' among the more than 500 people vaccinated and that most of the effects were `` mild or moderate in severity . ''
In May , the Trump administration awarded the AstraZeneca effort up to $ 1.2 billion from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority as part of Operation Warp Speed , the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine by January .

AstraZeneca Resumes Its COVID-19 Vaccine Trials In The U.K.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alastair Grant/AP Alastair Grant/AP
Drugmaker AstraZeneca announced Saturday that its COVID-19 vaccine studies have resumed in the United Kingdom, though not yet in the United States. The vaccine trials had been placed on hold around the world earlier in the week after a U.K. participant in one of the studies developed a neurological illness.
The candidate vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford along with AstraZeneca. The goal of the large studies is to see whether the vaccine is capable of preventing COVID-19 and whether it is safe.
Although initial studies didn't reveal serious side effects from the vaccine, rare complications of any vaccine, if there are any, may not turn up until it has been administered to thousands, or tens of thousands of people.
On Sunday, AstraZeneca says, all studies around the world of this particular candidate vaccine were paused after one volunteer in the U.K. developed symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord that can cause paralysis.
According to a statement Saturday from the drug company, the studies were paused "to allow review of safety data by independent committees, and international regulators."
The statement goes on to say that the committee has concluded its investigations and advised the Medicines Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority, the U.K. equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration, that trials in the U.K. are safe to resume.
In an email to NPR Saturday, an AstraZeneca spokesperson said, "The company will continue to work with health authorities across the world, including the FDA, and be guided as to when other clinical trials can resume."
AstraZeneca said it cannot disclose further medical information because it is the study sponsor, but added in its statement, "All trial investigators and participants will be updated with the relevant information, and this will be disclosed on global clinical registries, according to the clinical trial and regulatory standards."
The AstraZeneca/Oxford partnership is one of the vaccine development efforts against the coronavirus that is furthest along. The company recently began a phase 3 trial in the United States that aims to enroll 30,000 volunteers.
In late July, results of a preliminary safety and effectiveness study found that more than two-thirds of the people who received the experimental vaccine reported fatigue and headache after inoculation. Muscle aches and fever were also common. But the researchers said then that there were no "serious adverse reactions" among the more than 500 people vaccinated and that most of the effects were "mild or moderate in severity."
In May, the Trump administration awarded the AstraZeneca effort up to $1.2 billion from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority as part of Operation Warp Speed, the administration's push to have a widely available coronavirus vaccine by January.
You can contact NPR science correspondent Joe Palca at jpalca@npr.org.


npr--2020-09-12--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

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

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


npr--2020-09-12--Coronavirus Maps: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Maps : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 6 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 190,000 have died .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily .
Some state outbreaks are worse than others .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on new daily cases per capita .
These color-coded risk levels were developed by a consortium of researchers and public health experts .
The group advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
Orange states may need to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and both yellow and green states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 600 per day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see totals and per capita figures around the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid August , California , Florida and Texas have surpassed New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends state by state , the table below shows the change in average new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over week for the last 28 days .
States marked in shades of red are showing growth , those in shades of green , are showing declines .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
In early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers until the JHU team was able to reconcile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited this story .

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
Loading...
Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-09-12--Toots Hibbert, Reggae Ambassador And Leader Of Toots And The Maytals, Dies At 77

Toots Hibbert , Reggae Ambassador And Leader Of Toots And The Maytals , Dies At 77 Updated at 11:49 a.m .
ET Frederick `` Toots '' Hibbert , the lead singer and songwriter of Toots and the Maytals and one of reggae 's foundational figures , died Friday in Kingston , Jamaica .
He was 77 .
His death was announced on the band 's Facebook and Twitter accounts .
`` It is with the heaviest of hearts to announce that Frederick Nathaniel 'Toots ' Hibbert passed away peacefully tonight , surrounded by his family at the University Hospital of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' read the statement .
The cause of death was not revealed , but his Facebook account confirmed on Aug. 31 that Hibbert was tested for coronavirus in the last two weeks and placed in intensive care .
Hibbert 's soulful , electrifying performances thrilled live music lovers for more than 50 years and brought a distinctive Jamaican expression to international audiences .
His 1968 song `` Do The Reggay '' gave a name to Jamaica 's signature beat , but his artistry defied boundaries .
His vocals are an amalgam of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R & B , and classic country fused with pliant , indigenous Jamaican rhythms .
Hibbert brought a stunning island lilt to Otis Redding 's standard `` ( I 've Got ) Dreams to Remember , '' he transformed Ann Peebles ' `` I Ca n't Stand The Rain '' into a scorching serenade , and forever altered John Denver 's `` Country Roads '' into a beloved sing-along reggae anthem .
Hibbert 's humble demeanor and affable personality belied his towering global stature .
Regarded as a national treasure in Jamaica , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jamaica , the country 's fifth highest honor .
`` For my generation , Toots is the ultimate performer , '' said Roy `` Gramps '' Morgan of the reggae group Morgan Heritage .
`` The [ kind of ] artist that leaves everything on the stage , physically and spiritually .
Toots is the James Brown of reggae , and one of the greatest Jamaican singers of all time .
You wo n't find another singer that sounds like Toots and you are not going to hear that sound again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was born on Dec. 8 , 1942 , in rural May Pen , Clarendon , about 45 minutes west of Jamaica 's capital Kingston .
Hibbert 's parents were preachers and he was raised singing gospel in what he calls `` a salvation church . ''
The hand clapping , foot stomping , and soul-shaking vocals associated with Jamaica 's Afro-Christian religious traditions , including Revival Zion and Pocomania , were essential in shaping Hibbert 's performances .
Hibbert also cites Elvis Presley , gospel icon Mahalia Jackson , and soul superstars James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as influences .
In his early teens , Hibbert moved to Trench Town , an economically poor yet musically thriving community in western Kingston , also home to future reggae artists including Peter Tosh , Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley , who became The Wailers .
While working as a barber , Hibbert met Nathaniel `` Jerry '' Matthias and Henry `` Raleigh '' Gordon and they formed The Maytals vocal trio , circa 1961 , at the dawn of Jamaica 's ska era .
Matthias and Gordon had previously cut a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice would enhance their sound .
The Maytals went on to release numerous singles for the top Jamaican producers of the 1960s .
They signed with Clement `` Sir Coxsone '' Dodd 's Studio One label in 1962 , releasing such ska gems as `` Hallelujah , '' `` Fever '' and the exceptional `` Six and Seven Books of Moses , '' featuring Hibbert 's galvanizing gospel delivery .
Studio One was regarded as Jamaica 's Motown , home to many outstanding young singing , songwriting and instrumental talents , including The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Marcia Griffiths and Jackie Mittoo .
The Maytals , however , were dissatisfied with Dodd 's payments and moved on .
They recorded the rollicking `` Dog War , '' which alludes to leaving Dodd and working instead with his rival Prince Buster .
They made history with producer and band leader Byron Lee when their joyous ska romp `` It 's You , '' and its b-side , the R & B ballad `` Daddy , '' both topped the Jamaica charts .
In August 1966 , The Maytals ' `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee , won the inaugural Jamaica Festival Song competition , held annually to coincide with the island 's Independence Day celebrations .
( The chorus of `` Bam Bam '' was featured in Sister Nancy 's 1982 song of the same name . )
Hibbert was arrested shortly after The Maytals ' victory and sentenced to 18 months for possession of marijuana ; he described the incident as `` political , a means to keep me down . ''
At the time of Hibbert 's release from jail , the jaunty ska beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and morphed into rocksteady .
The reunited Maytals began recording for producer Leslie Kong ; their first release `` 54-46 ( That 's My Number ) , '' which Toots wrote about his prison sentence , became The Maytals ' biggest hit of that era and had remained a staple in Hibbert 's live shows .
Kong 's other productions with The Maytals include `` Monkey Man , '' which broke through to the UK singles charts , and `` Do The Reggay , '' which became the first song to brand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jamaica 's most successful ( musical ) export .
When asked about the origins of the word , reggay , shortly thereafter spelled `` reggae , '' Toots offered : `` Streggay was a slang word in Jamaica , it meant something that looked raggedy , scruffy so one day I was talking with Raleigh and Jerry and just changed the word to reggae and said , let 's make music , let 's do the reggae . ''
Two Maytals tracks produced by Kong — `` Pressure Drop , '' about tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Dandy , '' an engaging tale of a rural wedding — were included on the Island Records soundtrack to the 1972 landmark film The Harder They Come , which introduced reggae to America .
In the film , directed by Perry Henzell , The Maytals are seen recording `` Sweet and Dandy '' ( their 1969 Jamaica Festival Song Contest winner ) while the film 's lead character , aspiring singer Ivan O. Martin ( portrayed by Jimmy Cliff ) , watches mesmerized .
Chris Blackwell signed The Maytals to Island Records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Maytals , with Maytals now referring to the backing singers and the band members .
They released several influential albums for the label , including Funky Kingston ( 1975 ) , Reggae Got Soul ( 1976 ) and , following the departure of Matthias and Gordon , Hibbert 's solo album Toots in Memphis ( 1988 ) .
The latter , accompanied by Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare , aka the historic rhythm section Sly and Robbie , was critically acclaimed and earned Hibbert his first Grammy nomination .
`` Toots was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you never saw anybody else on stage because Toots was so charismatic , '' said Blackwell in the 2011 BBC documentary , Toots and The Maytals : Reggae Got Soul .
`` The Maytals were unlike anything else ; sensational , raw and dynamic .
There are many occasions where you hear a record by someone and then you go to see them 10 years later and it 's a little bit of a disappointment .
But Toots gives his everything to his audience , he never phones it in . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us was to 'sing from your soul , man , ' '' said Morgan , whose father , Denroy Morgan , knew Hibbert since their childhood days in Mocho Village , May Pen .
`` Study the great showmen like James Brown and Otis Redding because when someone pays money to come see you , they have to have an experience . ''
Later in life , Hibbert won the 2005 Grammy for best reggae album for True Love .
Each song on the record was a collaboration with some of his biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bootsy Collins and The Roots , Willie Nelson , Keith Richards and Jamaican greats Shaggy , Marcia Griffiths and Ken Boothe .
Bonnie Raitt , who 's featured on the title track , `` True Love is Hard to Find , '' said performing with Toots and his band is `` one of the highlights of my life . ''
On Aug. 28 , 2020 , Hibbert released the final album of his career and his first new studio album in a decade , the aptly titled Got To Be Tough .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global atrocities on the soul jam `` Just Brutal , '' overcoming obstacles on the funk-infused `` Struggle , '' combating dirty principles with decency on the scorching `` Warning Warning '' and staying resilient , irrespective of the circumstances on the indomitable title track .
Two days after the release of Got To Be Tough , Hibbert was admitted to Kingston 's University Hospital of the West Indies .

Toots Hibbert, Reggae Ambassador And Leader Of Toots And The Maytals, Dies At 77
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Putland/Getty Images Michael Putland/Getty Images
Updated at 11:49 a.m. ET
Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the lead singer and songwriter of Toots and the Maytals and one of reggae's foundational figures, died Friday in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 77.
His death was announced on the band's Facebook and Twitter accounts. "It is with the heaviest of hearts to announce that Frederick Nathaniel 'Toots' Hibbert passed away peacefully tonight, surrounded by his family at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica," read the statement.
The cause of death was not revealed, but his Facebook account confirmed on Aug. 31 that Hibbert was tested for coronavirus in the last two weeks and placed in intensive care.
Hibbert's soulful, electrifying performances thrilled live music lovers for more than 50 years and brought a distinctive Jamaican expression to international audiences. His 1968 song "Do The Reggay" gave a name to Jamaica's signature beat, but his artistry defied boundaries. His vocals are an amalgam of rousing gospel, vintage soul, gritty R&B, and classic country fused with pliant, indigenous Jamaican rhythms. Hibbert brought a stunning island lilt to Otis Redding's standard "(I've Got) Dreams to Remember," he transformed Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand The Rain" into a scorching serenade, and forever altered John Denver's "Country Roads" into a beloved sing-along reggae anthem.
Hibbert's humble demeanor and affable personality belied his towering global stature. Regarded as a national treasure in Jamaica, in 2012 he was conferred the Order of Jamaica, the country's fifth highest honor.
YouTube
"For my generation, Toots is the ultimate performer," said Roy "Gramps" Morgan of the reggae group Morgan Heritage. "The [kind of] artist that leaves everything on the stage, physically and spiritually. Toots is the James Brown of reggae, and one of the greatest Jamaican singers of all time. You won't find another singer that sounds like Toots and you are not going to hear that sound again."
Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert was born on Dec. 8, 1942, in rural May Pen, Clarendon, about 45 minutes west of Jamaica's capital Kingston. Hibbert's parents were preachers and he was raised singing gospel in what he calls "a salvation church." The hand clapping, foot stomping, and soul-shaking vocals associated with Jamaica's Afro-Christian religious traditions, including Revival Zion and Pocomania, were essential in shaping Hibbert's performances. Hibbert also cites Elvis Presley, gospel icon Mahalia Jackson, and soul superstars James Brown, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding as influences.
In his early teens, Hibbert moved to Trench Town, an economically poor yet musically thriving community in western Kingston, also home to future reggae artists including Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley, who became The Wailers. While working as a barber, Hibbert met Nathaniel "Jerry" Matthias and Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and they formed The Maytals vocal trio, circa 1961, at the dawn of Jamaica's ska era. Matthias and Gordon had previously cut a single together and they knew Hibbert's powerful voice would enhance their sound. The Maytals went on to release numerous singles for the top Jamaican producers of the 1960s. They signed with Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One label in 1962, releasing such ska gems as "Hallelujah," "Fever" and the exceptional "Six and Seven Books of Moses," featuring Hibbert's galvanizing gospel delivery.
Studio One was regarded as Jamaica's Motown, home to many outstanding young singing, songwriting and instrumental talents, including The Wailers, Bob Andy, The Heptones, Marcia Griffiths and Jackie Mittoo. The Maytals, however, were dissatisfied with Dodd's payments and moved on. They recorded the rollicking "Dog War," which alludes to leaving Dodd and working instead with his rival Prince Buster. They made history with producer and band leader Byron Lee when their joyous ska romp "It's You," and its b-side, the R&B ballad "Daddy," both topped the Jamaica charts . In August 1966, The Maytals' "Bam Bam," also produced by Lee, won the inaugural Jamaica Festival Song competition, held annually to coincide with the island's Independence Day celebrations. (The chorus of "Bam Bam" was featured in Sister Nancy's 1982 song of the same name.) Hibbert was arrested shortly after The Maytals' victory and sentenced to 18 months for possession of marijuana; he described the incident as "political, a means to keep me down."
At the time of Hibbert's release from jail, the jaunty ska beat created in Kingston studios had slowed down and morphed into rocksteady. The reunited Maytals began recording for producer Leslie Kong; their first release "54-46 (That's My Number)," which Toots wrote about his prison sentence, became The Maytals' biggest hit of that era and had remained a staple in Hibbert's live shows. Kong's other productions with The Maytals include "Monkey Man," which broke through to the UK singles charts, and "Do The Reggay," which became the first song to brand the beat that followed rocksteady, which is Jamaica's most successful (musical) export. When asked about the origins of the word, reggay, shortly thereafter spelled "reggae," Toots offered: "Streggay was a slang word in Jamaica, it meant something that looked raggedy, scruffy so one day I was talking with Raleigh and Jerry and just changed the word to reggae and said, let's make music, let's do the reggae."
YouTube
Two Maytals tracks produced by Kong — "Pressure Drop," about tough conditions in Jamaica, and "Sweet and Dandy," an engaging tale of a rural wedding — were included on the Island Records soundtrack to the 1972 landmark film The Harder They Come, which introduced reggae to America. In the film, directed by Perry Henzell, The Maytals are seen recording "Sweet and Dandy" (their 1969 Jamaica Festival Song Contest winner) while the film's lead character, aspiring singer Ivan O. Martin (portrayed by Jimmy Cliff), watches mesmerized.
Chris Blackwell signed The Maytals to Island Records and changed their name to Toots and the Maytals, with Maytals now referring to the backing singers and the band members. They released several influential albums for the label, including Funky Kingston (1975), Reggae Got Soul (1976) and, following the departure of Matthias and Gordon, Hibbert's solo album Toots in Memphis (1988). The latter, accompanied by Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, aka the historic rhythm section Sly and Robbie, was critically acclaimed and earned Hibbert his first Grammy nomination.
"Toots was the writer, singer, songwriter, you never saw anybody else on stage because Toots was so charismatic," said Blackwell in the 2011 BBC documentary, Toots and The Maytals: Reggae Got Soul. "The Maytals were unlike anything else; sensational, raw and dynamic. There are many occasions where you hear a record by someone and then you go to see them 10 years later and it's a little bit of a disappointment. But Toots gives his everything to his audience, he never phones it in."
"One of the things Toots always told us was to 'sing from your soul, man,'" said Morgan, whose father, Denroy Morgan, knew Hibbert since their childhood days in Mocho Village, May Pen. "Study the great showmen like James Brown and Otis Redding because when someone pays money to come see you, they have to have an experience."
Later in life, Hibbert won the 2005 Grammy for best reggae album for True Love. Each song on the record was a collaboration with some of his biggest fans, among them Eric Clapton, Bootsy Collins and The Roots, Willie Nelson, Keith Richards and Jamaican greats Shaggy, Marcia Griffiths and Ken Boothe. Bonnie Raitt, who's featured on the title track, "True Love is Hard to Find," said performing with Toots and his band is "one of the highlights of my life."
On Aug. 28, 2020, Hibbert released the final album of his career and his first new studio album in a decade, the aptly titled Got To Be Tough. On the album, an impassioned Hibbert addresses global atrocities on the soul jam "Just Brutal," overcoming obstacles on the funk-infused "Struggle," combating dirty principles with decency on the scorching "Warning Warning" and staying resilient, irrespective of the circumstances on the indomitable title track.
Two days after the release of Got To Be Tough, Hibbert was admitted to Kingston's University Hospital of the West Indies.


npr--2020-09-12--In Tuscany, Renaissance-Era Wine Windows Are Made For Social Distancing

In Tuscany , Renaissance-Era Wine Windows Are Made For Social Distancing Over the centuries , Europe has suffered through plagues , pestilence and the Black Death .
When Italy became the first Western country to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic , the city of Florence discovered that one of its unique architectural quirks was perfect for coronavirus-era social distancing .
A walk through its narrow , winding streets provides a lesson in Italian Renaissance architecture .
And a close look at many of the buildings reveals pint-sized windows in arched openings framed in the local sandstone , called pietra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Via delle Belle Donne , a German guide points out a wine window to a group of tourists .
The window is topped with an inscription in stone , listing the opening hours when wine was served here in the past .
This reporter 's guide is Mary Forrest , an American who has lived in Florence for decades .
The inscription `` is probably dating from the 1600s , '' she says .
She is one of three founders of an association born five years ago to promote knowledge and appreciation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florentines , until recently , knew close to nothing .
Forrest explains that the street 's name — which translates `` of the beautiful women '' — signals the profession once practiced here .
`` We can deduce that this was a popular area in the evening and that wine was probably a very useful beverage to have on hand , '' Forrest says , chuckling .
It was open , she says , `` even on holidays . ''
`` The wine windows are a detail , '' she says .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're an essential part of the history of the city . ''
In fact , they are unique to this region .
Wine windows are found in old palazzos in Tuscan towns including Lucca , Pistoia and Montepulciano , but nowhere else in Italy .
They date from the mid-1500s , when Cosimo de Medici became the Grand Duke of Tuscany .
`` All the noble families were not so happy '' with their new ruler , says Matteo Faglia , president of the Wine Windows Association .
`` So , he decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sell the wine they produced in the countryside directly from their palaces . ''
This eliminated middlemen and the windows were then created to facilitate those sales .
Many of those families — Antinori , Frescobaldi and Ricasoli — are still among the most famous Tuscan wine producers , says Faglia .
The windows are exactly 12 inches high and 8 inches wide .
`` You can put inside just a flask , not bigger bottle , '' Faglia explains .
A century later , the wine windows became indispensable during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In an official chronicle of the 1630-1633 plague , Relazione del Contagio , Faglia says Grand Ducal librarian Francesco Rondinelli wrote that `` wine windows had been very , very useful to sell , not just wine , also other foods , without touching the seller . ''
During Italy 's harsh coronavirus lockdown imposed in March , wine windows suddenly became useful again .
At the Vivoli café , an artisanal ice cream landmark , its tiny window had long been boarded up , says Giulia Gori , daughter of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we started using it again , '' she says .
When the Italian government allowed restaurants and cafés to take orders to go , the café started offering takeout .
`` The customer rings the bell , places an order and we put the ice cream cup on the sill , avoiding direct contact with the customer . ''
It 's not exactly curbside pickup , but is as close as can be approximated in a centuries-old city not designed for cars .
The Wine Windows Association has catalogued 150 wine windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 in the rest of Tuscany .
Many were long ago covered up or removed .
At the Hotel Monna Lisa in a Renaissance palace on Florence 's Borgo Pinti , there is no sign of the window on the outside wall along the street .
But in the inner courtyard , not only is the window intact , it is surrounded by lovely seats carved in pietra serena .
The lockdown is now over , but at the Babae wine bar , owner Claudio Romanelli still uses his window for business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ A wooden door opens from the inside .
`` And , '' Romanelli says , `` we come here asking you , 'You want red or white wine ? '
''

In Tuscany, Renaissance-Era Wine Windows Are Made For Social Distancing
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images
Over the centuries, Europe has suffered through plagues, pestilence and the Black Death.
When Italy became the first Western country to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Florence discovered that one of its unique architectural quirks was perfect for coronavirus-era social distancing.
A walk through its narrow, winding streets provides a lesson in Italian Renaissance architecture. And a close look at many of the buildings reveals pint-sized windows in arched openings framed in the local sandstone, called pietra serena, "serene stone."
On Via delle Belle Donne, a German guide points out a wine window to a group of tourists. The window is topped with an inscription in stone, listing the opening hours when wine was served here in the past.
toggle caption Sylvia Poggioli/NPR
This reporter's guide is Mary Forrest, an American who has lived in Florence for decades. The inscription "is probably dating from the 1600s," she says. She is one of three founders of an association born five years ago to promote knowledge and appreciation of wine windows — of which many Florentines, until recently, knew close to nothing.
Forrest explains that the street's name — which translates "of the beautiful women" — signals the profession once practiced here.
"We can deduce that this was a popular area in the evening and that wine was probably a very useful beverage to have on hand," Forrest says, chuckling. It was open, she says, "even on holidays."
toggle caption Sylvia Poggioli/NPR
"The wine windows are a detail," she says. "But they're very important because they're an essential part of the history of the city."
In fact, they are unique to this region. Wine windows are found in old palazzos in Tuscan towns including Lucca, Pistoia and Montepulciano, but nowhere else in Italy. They date from the mid-1500s, when Cosimo de Medici became the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
"All the noble families were not so happy" with their new ruler, says Matteo Faglia, president of the Wine Windows Association. "So, he decided to make a concession and allowed them to sell the wine they produced in the countryside directly from their palaces." This eliminated middlemen and the windows were then created to facilitate those sales.
Many of those families — Antinori, Frescobaldi and Ricasoli — are still among the most famous Tuscan wine producers, says Faglia.
The windows are exactly 12 inches high and 8 inches wide.
"You can put inside just a flask, not bigger bottle," Faglia explains.
A century later, the wine windows became indispensable during the plague that devastated Florence, killing thousands. In an official chronicle of the 1630-1633 plague, Relazione del Contagio, Faglia says Grand Ducal librarian Francesco Rondinelli wrote that "wine windows had been very, very useful to sell, not just wine, also other foods, without touching the seller."
toggle caption Sylvia Poggioli/NPR
During Italy's harsh coronavirus lockdown imposed in March, wine windows suddenly became useful again.
At the Vivoli café, an artisanal ice cream landmark, its tiny window had long been boarded up, says Giulia Gori, daughter of the owner.
"But during the lockdown, we started using it again," she says. When the Italian government allowed restaurants and cafés to take orders to go, the café started offering takeout. "The customer rings the bell, places an order and we put the ice cream cup on the sill, avoiding direct contact with the customer."
It's not exactly curbside pickup, but is as close as can be approximated in a centuries-old city not designed for cars.
The Wine Windows Association has catalogued 150 wine windows in Florence's old city and another 100 in the rest of Tuscany. Many were long ago covered up or removed.
At the Hotel Monna Lisa in a Renaissance palace on Florence's Borgo Pinti, there is no sign of the window on the outside wall along the street. But in the inner courtyard, not only is the window intact, it is surrounded by lovely seats carved in pietra serena.
The lockdown is now over, but at the Babae wine bar, owner Claudio Romanelli still uses his window for business.
The customer rings a little bell. A wooden door opens from the inside. "And," Romanelli says, "we come here asking you, 'You want red or white wine?'"
This reporter ordered red.


npr--2020-09-12--California Catholics Adjust To Outdoor Worship During Pandemic

During normal times , the concrete alleyway behind the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento goes mostly unnoticed .
Cars and delivery trucks pass through , crows fly over at dusk and homeless people sleep there at night .
But since July , when California banned indoor religious services in many counties in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 , this alley has been a place of worship .
One recent Sunday morning , about a 100 Catholics gathered six-feet-apart in the corridor for a 7:30 a.m. mass .
Some stood in a nearby parking structure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ used by church staff .
They sang faintly behind masks .
Father Michael O'Reilly preached from a fire escape , three stories above them .
`` I 'm a little afraid of heights , '' said O'Reilly , rector of the Sacramento cathedral .
But at the same time , he praised the opportunity .
`` It gives me a new perspective on the congregation here . ''
Rather than a choir , a solo vocalist led songs from the second-floor fire escape , far away from parishioners .
Maria Balakshin , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Blessed Sacrament since the late 1990s , misses the beauty of the interior .
`` Even though we 're in an alleyway , they 've made it as attractive as possible , '' she said .
After California announced in July that counties on the state 's coronavirus watch list would not be allowed to have indoor worship services , Sacramento 's bishop said Catholics could worship outdoors in affected counties .
Modern-day Catholic worship rarely happens outdoors or outside of a church building .
Canon law says the Eucharist must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except when specific circumstances require otherwise , such as when large crowds gather to see the pope , or to accommodate migrant workers and soldiers during war time .
But normally , priests need to `` make a good case '' to offer a mass outside of a church building in the Sacramento Diocese , explains the Rev .
Brian Atienza , who helped the bishop write the rules .
`` If it 's necessary to move it elsewhere , you can seek permission , but you have to make sure that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and maintained and respected , '' he said .
Susan Abraham , professor of theology at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley , says outdoor mass is not embraced by the Catholic church during normal times , in part , because there can be many distractions .
`` There is a certain precision in the way the rituals and the sacraments are celebrated , '' said Abraham .
`` There is a wondering , will the going-to-the-outdoors compromise this precision ?
And I would say that is a legitimate worry . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parishioners would be aghast at the idea of the communion wafer getting blown away in the wind or being soaked in a rainstorm .
Abraham , a Catholic herself , says the weekly experience of physically being in a church is meant to remind the faithful of God 's holiness .
But the pandemic is a good time to rethink that .
`` I am not a fan of understanding only the church as a holy place or holy space , '' she said .
`` This is a new time for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a far more expansive way . ''
During an August Mass behind Sacramento 's cathedral , candles burned in the light of day .
An organ filled the alleyway with music .
Father O'Reilly preached about not letting anything get in the way of being close to God , not even a virus .
Some parishioners knelt on the cement pavement as they worshipped .
Maria Balakshin said attending mass outdoors has been a very spiritual experience .
`` To me , personally it is more intimate , '' she said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true Christians who want to practice their faith . ''
This congregation 's prayers may be making this alley more sacred during the pandemic .
But when California lifts the ban on indoor worship , these parishioners will likely go back to church as usual inside the cathedral .

California Catholics Adjust To Outdoor Worship During Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pauline Bartolone/CapRadio Pauline Bartolone/CapRadio
During normal times, the concrete alleyway behind the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento, Calif., goes mostly unnoticed.
Cars and delivery trucks pass through, crows fly over at dusk and homeless people sleep there at night.
But since July, when California banned indoor religious services in many counties in order to stop the spread of COVID-19, this alley has been a place of worship.
One recent Sunday morning, about 100 Catholics gathered six feet apart in the corridor for a 7:30 a.m. Mass.
Some stood in a nearby parking structure. Others were in the parking spaces usually used by church staff. They sang faintly behind masks.
Rev. Michael O'Reilly preached from a fire escape, three stories above them.
"I'm a little afraid of heights," said Father O'Reilly, rector of the Sacramento cathedral.
But at the same time, he praised the opportunity. "It gives me a new perspective on the congregation here."
Rather than a choir, a solo vocalist led songs from the second-floor fire escape, far away from parishioners.
Maria Balakshin, who has been attending Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament since the late 1990s, misses the beauty of the interior.
"Even though we're in an alleyway, they've made it as attractive as possible," she said.
After California announced in July that counties on the state's coronavirus watch list would not be allowed to have indoor worship services, Sacramento's bishop said Catholics could worship outdoors in affected counties.
Worship and sacred space
Modern-day Catholic worship rarely happens outdoors or outside of a church building. Canon law says the Eucharist must be celebrated in a sacred space, except when specific circumstances require otherwise, such as when large crowds gather to see the pope, or to accommodate migrant workers, or soldiers during wartime.
But normally, priests need to "make a good case" to offer a Mass outside of a church building in the Sacramento Diocese, explains Rev. Brian Atienza, who helped the bishop write the rules.
"If it's necessary to move it elsewhere, you can seek permission, but you have to make sure that the dignity of the sacrament is preserved, and maintained and respected," he said.
Susan Abraham, professor of theology at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif., says outdoor Mass is not embraced by the Catholic Church during normal times, in part, because there can be many distractions.
"There is a certain precision in the way the rituals and the sacraments are celebrated," said Abraham. "There is a wondering, will the going-to-the-outdoors compromise this precision? And I would say that is a legitimate worry."
For example, she said, most parishioners would be aghast at the idea of the communion wafer getting blown away in the wind or being soaked in a rainstorm.
Abraham, a Catholic herself, says the weekly experience of physically being in a church is meant to remind the faithful of God's holiness. But the pandemic is a good time to rethink that.
"I am not a fan of understanding only the church as a holy place or holy space," she said. "This is a new time for us to think about time and space in a far more expansive way."
During an August Mass behind Sacramento's cathedral, candles burned in the light of day. An organ filled the alleyway with music. O'Reilly preached about not letting anything get in the way of being close to God, not even a virus. Some parishioners knelt on the cement pavement as they worshipped.
Maria Balakshin said attending Mass outdoors has been a very spiritual experience.
"To me, personally it is more intimate," she said. "The people who are here are really true Christians who want to practice their faith."
This congregation's prayers may be making this alley more sacred during the pandemic. But when California lifts the ban on indoor worship, these parishioners will likely go back to church as usual inside the cathedral.


npr--2020-09-13--Republicans Are Knocking On Doors. Democrats Aren't. Biden's Campaign Says That's OK

Republicans Are Knocking On Doors .
Democrats Are n't .
Biden 's Campaign Says That 's OK President Trump 's campaign says it knocks on a million doors a week .
Joe Biden 's campaign has n't knocked on any doors to talk to voters for months .
In lieu of in-person meetings , Democrats are focused on conversations they can have virtually .
`` While you might hear our opponent spend a lot of time talking about the millions of door knocks or attempts that they 're making week to week , those metrics actually do n't have any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's campaign manager , Jen O'Malley Dillon , told reporters in a call last week , downplay the clear door-knocking disparity .
`` Our metric of success , the numbers we look at and use , are conversations . ''
In August , she said the Biden campaign had 2.6 million conversations with voters in battleground states .
Those conversations were virtual , over the phone or via text message , or in person `` when that is safe and is warranted , '' she said .
( The campaign also intends to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any face-to-face meetings , but to drop off campaign literature and voter education materials . )
The Democrats ' strategy of mainly organizing from home via laptop or cellphone and forgoing traditional door-to-door canvassing is somewhat untested , but they 're banking on the assumption that it 's more effective in a pandemic .
Democrats say they 're not door knocking because safety is their main priority , and they do n't want to put people at risk of contracting COVID-19 .
`` We think what voters are looking for right now is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VP and what he 's saying , but it also comes from the campaign , '' said Molly Ritner , the Biden campaign 's deputy states director .
And because of the pandemic , Ritner , like other Democrats , says it feels like more Americans are at home , sometimes isolated , on their devices and eager to talk .
`` What we 're finding is that we are able to actually connect and reach more people than we had been in previous cycles through the phone , '' Ritner said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' But it 's not just the Biden campaign .
Organizing has changed for state Democratic parties in key swing states and for a number of left-leaning groups that would have been helping Biden on the ground .
Both BlackPAC and Working America have between 10 % and 20 % of the paid organizing staff they had in 2016 .
At this point in 2016 , Working America , a group affiliated with the AFL-CIO , was having about 100,000 conversations a week with people on their front steps .
The group has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation in March .
`` Door knocking is in our DNA .
We believe that there is nothing — and the evidence supports this — that is as effective as a well-deployed face-to-face interaction , '' said Matt Morrison , the group 's executive director .
`` That said , what we 've lost in texture and interaction face to face , we 've tried to make up for in scale . ''
Working America has built an army of volunteers — writing letters , making calls and sending texts .
And Morrison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the pandemic first began , his group focused on convincing people to wear masks .
They followed up with people , and noticed a sizable increase in mask usage after their correspondence because , he believes , of the relationships they built .
`` There 's no opposition on the other side '' But for Republicans , this is not an either-or operation .
The Republican National Committee says it 's also contacting millions of people over the phone every week .
But their volunteers and organizers are also knocking on doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sided on the ground , '' said Joe Gruters , the chairman of the Florida Republican Party .
`` We 're doing our many rallies , we 're doing the bus tours , we 're doing meet and greets .
We 're doing it in person .
The difference is ... there 's no opposition on the other side . ''
Gruters says it feels like the physical Biden campaign is `` nonexistent '' on the ground in Florida .
The `` virtual stuff '' helps , he says , but in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the basic blocking and tackling of campaigns , and that 's the pounding of the pavement , walking door to door . ''
It was generally accepted in 2016 that Hillary Clinton 's ground game was superior to the makeshift Trump operation .
And yet this cycle , it 's the Trump team that brags about building a `` muscular field operation '' compared to Democrats , whom it describes as waging an almost-exclusive `` air war . ''
In an unusual role-reversal , the Trump team is modeling itself off of Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book about Barack Obama 's field operation , called Groundbreakers : How Obama 's 2.2 Million Volunteers Transformed Campaigning in America .
One of the co-authors , Hahrie Han , was surprised to hear that her book has become a staple in the Trump campaign , and she says she 's not sure if the campaign understands her main message .
`` So the Trump campaign , they read the book and then they say , 'OK , like I need to go out and have conversations with people at the door .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it , but it 's part of a bigger interlocking system , '' said Han , a professor at Johns Hopkins University .
`` On the field side , in some ways , the work that is the most important can often be the most invisible . ''
What Han means is that it was n't just the tactical door-knocking operation that made Obama 's team so successful ; his campaign , she says , was adept at building relationships before it even got to the door .
Political scientists and campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door is a proven way to marginally boost turnout .
But , they add , often those conversations are done poorly .
David Broockman , from the University of California Berkeley , has done extensive research on door knocking and campaign persuasion efforts .
He says campaigns often overstate the degree to which they are actually engaged in on-the-ground organizing .
`` The vast majority of people even in normal years are not getting contacted on doors , '' he said .
`` Just knocking on the door does n't turn out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation with a voter that turns out a voter . ''
And Broockman says you can have that conversation over the phone .
In fact , you can probably have more conversations because , he points out , you save time when you do n't have to walk from house to house .
But as for the big question of whether Democrats are at a disadvantage by doing this work almost exclusively via phone instead of in person , Broockman says he 's not sure .
`` My guess is it 's like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campaign that matters a little bit , but is just really unlikely to prove decisive to the whole thing , '' he said .

Republicans Are Knocking On Doors. Democrats Aren't. Biden's Campaign Says That's OK
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump's campaign says it knocks on a million doors a week. Joe Biden's campaign hasn't knocked on any doors to talk to voters for months. In lieu of in-person meetings, Democrats are focused on conversations they can have virtually.
"While you might hear our opponent spend a lot of time talking about the millions of door knocks or attempts that they're making week to week, those metrics actually don't have any impact on reaching voters," Biden's campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon, told reporters in a call last week, downplay the clear door-knocking disparity. "Our metric of success, the numbers we look at and use, are conversations."
In August, she said the Biden campaign had 2.6 million conversations with voters in battleground states. Those conversations were virtual, over the phone or via text message, or in person "when that is safe and is warranted," she said. (The campaign also intends to begin door-to-door visits soon, not for any face-to-face meetings, but to drop off campaign literature and voter education materials.)
The Democrats' strategy of mainly organizing from home via laptop or cellphone and forgoing traditional door-to-door canvassing is somewhat untested, but they're banking on the assumption that it's more effective in a pandemic.
Democrats say they're not door knocking because safety is their main priority, and they don't want to put people at risk of contracting COVID-19.
"We think what voters are looking for right now is responsible leadership and that comes from the VP and what he's saying, but it also comes from the campaign," said Molly Ritner, the Biden campaign's deputy states director.
And because of the pandemic, Ritner, like other Democrats, says it feels like more Americans are at home, sometimes isolated, on their devices and eager to talk.
"What we're finding is that we are able to actually connect and reach more people than we had been in previous cycles through the phone," Ritner said.
"Door knocking is in our DNA"
But it's not just the Biden campaign. Organizing has changed for state Democratic parties in key swing states and for a number of left-leaning groups that would have been helping Biden on the ground.
Both BlackPAC and Working America have between 10% and 20% of the paid organizing staff they had in 2016.
At this point in 2016, Working America, a group affiliated with the AFL-CIO, was having about 100,000 conversations a week with people on their front steps. The group has had zero since it paused its door-knocking operation in March.
"Door knocking is in our DNA. We believe that there is nothing — and the evidence supports this — that is as effective as a well-deployed face-to-face interaction," said Matt Morrison, the group's executive director. "That said, what we've lost in texture and interaction face to face, we've tried to make up for in scale."
Working America has built an army of volunteers — writing letters, making calls and sending texts. And Morrison thinks it's working. He says when the pandemic first began, his group focused on convincing people to wear masks. They followed up with people, and noticed a sizable increase in mask usage after their correspondence because, he believes, of the relationships they built.
"There's no opposition on the other side"
But for Republicans, this is not an either-or operation. The Republican National Committee says it's also contacting millions of people over the phone every week. But their volunteers and organizers are also knocking on doors in person.
"Everything is one sided on the ground," said Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party. "We're doing our many rallies, we're doing the bus tours, we're doing meet and greets. We're doing it in person. The difference is ... there's no opposition on the other side."
Gruters says it feels like the physical Biden campaign is "nonexistent" on the ground in Florida. The "virtual stuff" helps, he says, but in his view "there's nothing that replaces the basic blocking and tackling of campaigns, and that's the pounding of the pavement, walking door to door."
Team Trump uses the Obama book
It was generally accepted in 2016 that Hillary Clinton's ground game was superior to the makeshift Trump operation. And yet this cycle, it's the Trump team that brags about building a "muscular field operation" compared to Democrats, whom it describes as waging an almost-exclusive "air war."
In an unusual role-reversal, the Trump team is modeling itself off of Democrats. It requires staffers to read a book about Barack Obama's field operation, called Groundbreakers: How Obama's 2.2 Million Volunteers Transformed Campaigning in America.
One of the co-authors, Hahrie Han, was surprised to hear that her book has become a staple in the Trump campaign, and she says she's not sure if the campaign understands her main message.
"So the Trump campaign, they read the book and then they say, 'OK, like I need to go out and have conversations with people at the door.' Yes, that is a part of it, but it's part of a bigger interlocking system," said Han, a professor at Johns Hopkins University. "On the field side, in some ways, the work that is the most important can often be the most invisible."
What Han means is that it wasn't just the tactical door-knocking operation that made Obama's team so successful; his campaign, she says, was adept at building relationships before it even got to the door.
Political scientists and campaign operatives agree that having personal conversations at the door is a proven way to marginally boost turnout. But, they add, often those conversations are done poorly.
David Broockman, from the University of California Berkeley, has done extensive research on door knocking and campaign persuasion efforts. He says campaigns often overstate the degree to which they are actually engaged in on-the-ground organizing.
"The vast majority of people even in normal years are not getting contacted on doors," he said. "Just knocking on the door doesn't turn out a voter. It's having a conversation with a voter that turns out a voter."
And Broockman says you can have that conversation over the phone. In fact, you can probably have more conversations because, he points out, you save time when you don't have to walk from house to house.
But as for the big question of whether Democrats are at a disadvantage by doing this work almost exclusively via phone instead of in person, Broockman says he's not sure.
"My guess is it's like one of the many other things in a campaign that matters a little bit, but is just really unlikely to prove decisive to the whole thing," he said.


npr--2020-09-13--California Camp Fire Survivors Face the Horror All Over Again in 2020

California Camp Fire Survivors Face the Horror All Over Again in 2020 Linda Oslin and her husband lost everything when the Camp Fire raced into their neighborhood in Paradise , California in the fall of 2018 .
She 's in her 70s - he in his 80s - and they decided they did n't have it in them to try and rebuild .
That could take years .
So they found a place for sale out of the woods and farther down the mountain near Oroville , California where they 've started to rebuild their lives .
Except for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuate from three more wildfires , including this past week when the Bear Fire exploded near the town , burning an untold number of structures and claiming at least ten lives .
`` And every incident I organize a little more , '' Oslin says .
When she heard reports that the Bear Fire was burning into the village of Berry Creek , they did n't wait for the official evacuation call .
They left , knowing that some of their neighbors died in 2018 because they could n't get out of Paradise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go , we were stuck in it in the Camp Fire , I said let 's finish packing the vehicles , secure everything and just leave , '' Oslin says .
This time the Oslins are pretty sure their house is still standing - for now .
They 're not sure when they 'll be able to go home though .
They 're staying again with the same friends who took them in after their harrowing Camp Fire escape .
Anything from just the slight smell of smoke to the evacuation itself has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're doing okay , '' Oslin says , trying to stay upbeat .
`` We do have our share of PTSD at times . ''
Researchers were only just starting to get a handle on the cumulative effects of trauma on California wildfire survivors from previous bad fire years like 2017 and 2018 .
And now , 2020 .
`` It 's hard to imagine another fire not being a trigger for a lot of people , '' says Irva Hertz-Picciotto , professor of public health at the University of California-Davis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Environmental Health Sciences Center , has spent much of the past two years interviewing Camp Fire survivors .
She hopes to give policymakers better tools to help people recovering from disasters .
And she 's researched plenty of them in her career .
But wildfires are starting to distinguish themselves even in this era of disasters such as hurricanes that can seem overwhelming in scale .
Wildfires are proving to no longer be just once in a lifetime , big , traumatic events for a particular place .
`` Now that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now expect this on an annual basis , that strikes me as an even bigger problem than other disasters , like the earthquake happened , or the volcano , and we had to rebuild , '' Hertz-Piccioto says .
She says we need to build back up our infrastructure so that wildfire survivors know they 'll have things like safe , temporary housing and mental health support , which was lacking after the 2018 California fires .
Researchers also say bad wildfires like these on the West Coast are the latest signal that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or encouraging more development in places we know will burn .
In the libertarian-leaning West , loose building codes and other factors have been attributed to an explosion in development in wild lands that are prone to fire .
Yet therein lies one of the biggest and thorniest issues facing the West , and many other parts of the country in this era of climate change .
Many people are living in high fire risk areas in California and Oregon in particular because it 's the only place they can afford to .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind all the time .
She and her husband intentionally found a new place to live and rebuild their lives that was n't in the woods .
They have three acres of open pasture .
They cleared out all the trees around their house and even rebuilt the driveway so emergency vehicles can get in .
Still , here they are evacuated and they could lose their home again .
`` It appears that if you live in California you really have no choice in the matter , '' Oslin says .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you live . ''
So Oslin and her husband focus on what they believe they can control : being prepared and ready to evacuate to safety at all times .
`` Just have a go bag , '' she says .
`` The one thing that saved our bacon was having all of our important papers . ''
Those important papers were about all they left with when fleeing the 2018 Camp Fire .
It made things a lot easier in the aftermath , something they 're prepared to do again should the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

California Camp Fire Survivors Face The Horror All Over Again In 2020
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Linda Oslin and her husband lost everything when the Camp Fire raced into their neighborhood in Paradise, Calif., in the fall of 2018.
She's in her 70s — he in his 80s — and they decided they didn't have it in them to try to rebuild. That could take years. So they found a place for sale out of the woods and farther down the mountain near Oroville, Calif., where they've started to rebuild their lives.
Except for one thing.
They've since had to evacuate from three more wildfires, including this past week when the Bear Fire exploded near the town, burning an untold number of structures and claiming at least 10 lives.
"And every incident I organize a little more," Oslin says.
When she heard reports that the Bear Fire was burning into the village of Berry Creek, they didn't wait for the official evacuation call. They left, knowing that some of their neighbors died in 2018 because they couldn't get out of Paradise.
"Knowing how evacuation traffic can go, we were stuck in it in the Camp Fire, I said let's finish packing the vehicles, secure everything and just leave," Oslin says.
This time the Oslins are pretty sure their house is still standing — for now. They're not sure when they'll be able to go home though. They're staying again with the same friends who took them in after their harrowing Camp Fire escape. Anything from just the slight smell of smoke to the evacuation itself has triggered trauma for them.
"Well we're doing OK," Oslin says, trying to stay upbeat. "We do have our share of PTSD at times."
Researchers were only just starting to get a handle on the cumulative effects of trauma on California wildfire survivors from previous bad fire years like 2017 and 2018. And now, 2020.
"It's hard to imagine another fire not being a trigger for a lot of people," says Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor of public health at the University of California-Davis.
Hertz-Picciotto, who also directs the university's Environmental Health Sciences Center, has spent much of the past two years interviewing Camp Fire survivors. She hopes to give policymakers better tools to help people recovering from disasters.
And she's researched plenty of them in her career.
But wildfires are starting to distinguish themselves even in this era of disasters such as hurricanes that can seem overwhelming in scale. Wildfires are proving to no longer be just once in a lifetime, big, traumatic events for a particular place.
"Now that we're in a situation where we can now expect this on an annual basis, that strikes me as an even bigger problem than other disasters, like the earthquake happened, or the volcano, and we had to rebuild," Hertz-Piccioto says.
She says we need to build back up our infrastructure so that wildfire survivors know they'll have things like safe, temporary housing and mental health support, which was lacking after the 2018 California fires.
Researchers also say bad wildfires like these on the West Coast are the latest signal that we shouldn't necessarily even be rebuilding or encouraging more development in places we know will burn. In the libertarian-leaning West, loose building codes and other factors have been attributed to an explosion in development in wild lands that are prone to fire.
Yet therein lies one of the biggest and thorniest issues facing the West, and many other parts of the country in this era of climate change. Many people are living in high fire risk areas in California and Oregon in particular because it's the only place they can afford to.
This quandary weighs on Linda Oslin's mind all the time. She and her husband intentionally found a new place to live and rebuild their lives that wasn't in the woods. They have three acres of open pasture. They cleared out all the trees around their house and even rebuilt the driveway so emergency vehicles can get in.
Still, here they are evacuated and they could lose their home again.
"It appears that if you live in California you really have no choice in the matter," Oslin says. "It does not matter any longer where you live."
So Oslin and her husband focus on what they believe they can control: being prepared and ready to evacuate to safety at all times.
"Just have a go bag," she says. "The one thing that saved our bacon was having all of our important papers."
Those important papers were about all they left with when fleeing the 2018 Camp Fire. It made things a lot easier in the aftermath, something they're prepared to do again should the worst happen with the Bear Fire.