npr--2020-10-26--Election Stress Getting To You? 4 Ways To Keep Calm

Election Stress Getting To You ?
4 Ways To Keep Calm With Election Day just around the corner , many Americans are on edge .
Nearly 70 % of respondents said the elections are a significant source of stress , according to a survey out this month from the American Psychological Association .
The survey also found that a majority — 77 % — are worried about the country 's future , says Vaile Wright , senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association .
`` Seventy-one percent said that this is the lowest point in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The bleak mood takes many forms .
For Adrienne Deckman , a Democrat , the panic attacks started after the 2016 elections .
`` I was hypervigilant and with a rapid heartbeat and palpitations , '' says the 67-year-old lawyer , who lives outside Cleveland .
`` I could n't sleep , and I was just , like , highly distracted all the time . ''
The panic attacks are back with Election Day approaching , she says .
The social isolation because of the coronavirus pandemic has also had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you dwell more on the things that bother you the most , '' says Deckman .
`` So it does have a compounding effect . ''
Panicking about politics is a bipartisan experience , says the APA 's Wright .
`` It cuts across party lines , where we see the majority of Democrats , Republicans and independents reporting high levels of stress related to the upcoming election , '' she says .
`` Everyone seems so stuck on their brand of what they think is right , '' says Cassandra Dietman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wash. `` Seeing everyone just shut down and not listen to each other and not sit down and have conversations with each other , it 's really disheartening , '' Dietman says she has noticed she 's more irritable lately — and she 's having trouble sleeping .
`` Definitely as things have ramped up , I have noticed I have a headache I can not shake , '' says Beck Johnson , who identifies as transgender/nonbinary and directs a nonprofit program for LGBTQ people in a rural Oregon community .
Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter , '' says , `` It can be really hard to concentrate on anything when there 's just this torrential , constant downpour of news that 's just changing all of the time , and it does n't really ever seem to be anything good . ''
Johnson , Deckman and others feel worn out by the current political climate .
`` I 'm tired of people screaming at each other in parking lots and threatening each other and spitting on each other , '' says Deckman .
Gene TousSaint , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , in Virginia , shares the sentiment .
`` I 'm concerned that the country needs healing , because the climate is rather fowl at times , '' he says .
`` We 're all human , you know .
We 're really one human race .
... We should be way more unified than we are . ''
While he 's hopeful about the presidential race , TousSaint admits that he sometimes gets stressed .
`` Every now and then , I get a little stomach tie up , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] is contested , I am concerned that we could have upheaval . ''
Ways to cope with the stress Uncertainty really gets to us , says Lynn Bufka , a psychologist with the APA .
`` What causes stress and uncertainty is when things feel out of our control , when they seem like we do n't know what 's going to happen , '' she says .
A good way to cope with all the unknowns is to start by managing our expectations , says Bufka .
And then focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
First of all , expect delays in election results .
`` The reason that 's important is mentally , if we 're expecting a clear answer and we do n't have it , that just extends the uncertainty for us , '' she says .
It could be days or a couple of weeks before we have a clear answer .
Then , says Bufka , plan how you will spend the time waiting for results .
If watching TV , scanning the news , stresses you out , do n't do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings you joy : for example , taking a physically distanced walk with a friend , going for a bike ride or reading a book .
`` Find things that tend to keep you less distressed and less overwhelmed , and make a plan to do those things , '' she says .
Planning ahead reduces uncertainty , she says , which in turn makes us calmer .
There are also some simple , healthy habits that are known to buffer us against stress , says Wright .
`` We need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be getting the right amount of sleep , '' she says .
`` We need to be staying active .
That can mean even just going for a walk .
And we need to maintain those social connections . ''
It helps to unplug from news and devices every now and then , Wright says .
`` We need to know what 's going on , but we do n't need the late-breaking news every second of the day , '' she says .
`` We know that that connection to our devices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually drives up our stress levels . ''
That 's what Dalyn Allen , a 30-year-old data analyst based in Baltimore , did when his stress levels soared this year .
He noticed he was feeling some despair and starting to become irritable .
`` I kind of backed away from news slowly but surely [ to ] kind of give myself some peace of mind and to kind of focus on what I can do to prepare myself for either outcome , '' says Allen .
He has been reading books , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his personal relationships .
`` I talk to my family , friends , give them calls , check-ins , calling people for a birthday instead of getting a text , '' says Allen .
`` That 's been really helpful for me to kind of manage that stress . ''
4 .
Look for signs of hope The new survey also found that the majority of Americans do still feel hopeful despite their stresses .
For TousSaint , one sign of hope was Thursday 's debate .
`` I think [ Thursday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't ugly , and sometimes during the discourse , you could see these two leaders were actually communicating with each other , '' he says.
`` The civility between those two leaders [ Thursday ] gives me hope . ''
As for Allen , who is Black , he says the recent public outcry against racism , white supremacy and police brutality has given him hope .
`` I was inspired to see that so many other people who really want to speak against that and speak publicly , '' he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ that ] this fight is n't over yet . ''

Election Stress Getting To You? 4 Ways To Keep Calm
Enlarge this image toggle caption VIEW press/Corbis via Getty Images VIEW press/Corbis via Getty Images
Updated Nov. 3, 10:05 a.m. ET
This Election Day, many Americans are on edge. Nearly 70% of respondents said the elections are a significant source of stress, according to a survey out this month from the American Psychological Association.
The survey also found that a majority — 77% — are worried about the country's future, says Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association. "Seventy-one percent said that this is the lowest point in our nation's history that they can remember."
The bleak mood takes many forms. For Adrienne Deckman, a Democrat, the panic attacks started after the 2016 elections. "I was hypervigilant and with a rapid heartbeat and palpitations," says the 67-year-old lawyer, who lives outside Cleveland. "I couldn't sleep, and I was just, like, highly distracted all the time."
The panic attacks are back with Election Day approaching, she says. The social isolation because of the coronavirus pandemic has also had an impact.
"When you're isolated, you dwell more on the things that bother you the most," says Deckman. "So it does have a compounding effect."
A bipartisan problem
Panicking about politics is a bipartisan experience, says the APA's Wright. "It cuts across party lines, where we see the majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents reporting high levels of stress related to the upcoming election," she says.
"Everyone seems so stuck on their brand of what they think is right," says Cassandra Dietman, an independent in Mountlake Terrace, Wash. "Seeing everyone just shut down and not listen to each other and not sit down and have conversations with each other, it's really disheartening,"
Dietman says she has noticed she's more irritable lately — and she's having trouble sleeping.
"Definitely as things have ramped up, I have noticed I have a headache I cannot shake," says Beck Johnson, who identifies as transgender/nonbinary and directs a nonprofit program for LGBTQ people in a rural Oregon community.
Johnson, who admits to spending time "doom-scrolling on Twitter," says, "It can be really hard to concentrate on anything when there's just this torrential, constant downpour of news that's just changing all of the time, and it doesn't really ever seem to be anything good."
Johnson, Deckman and others feel worn out by the current political climate. "I'm tired of people screaming at each other in parking lots and threatening each other and spitting on each other," says Deckman.
Gene TousSaint, a member of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, in Virginia, shares the sentiment. "I'm concerned that the country needs healing, because the climate is rather foul at times," he says. "We're all human, you know. We're really one human race. ... We should be way more unified than we are."
While he's hopeful about the presidential race, TousSaint admits that he sometimes gets stressed. "Every now and then, I get a little stomach tie up," he says. "If [the election] is contested, I am concerned that we could have upheaval."
Ways to cope with the stress
Uncertainty really gets to us, says Lynn Bufka, a psychologist with the APA. "What causes stress and uncertainty is when things feel out of our control, when they seem like we don't know what's going to happen," she says.
A good way to cope with all the unknowns is to start by managing our expectations, says Bufka. And then focus on the big picture. Here's how.
1. Prepare mentally for delayed results
First of all, expect delays in election results. "The reason that's important is mentally, if we're expecting a clear answer and we don't have it, that just extends the uncertainty for us," she says.
It could be days or a couple of weeks before we have a clear answer.
Then, says Bufka, plan how you will spend the time waiting for results. If watching TV, scanning the news, stresses you out, don't do it. Instead, do something that brings you joy: for example, taking a physically distanced walk with a friend, going for a bike ride or reading a book.
"Find things that tend to keep you less distressed and less overwhelmed, and make a plan to do those things," she says.
Planning ahead reduces uncertainty, she says, which in turn makes us calmer.
2. Double down on stress-reducing habits
There are also some simple, healthy habits that are known to buffer us against stress, says Wright.
"We need to be eating healthy. We need to really be getting the right amount of sleep," she says. "We need to be staying active. That can mean even just going for a walk. And we need to maintain those social connections."
3. Replace scrolling with something nourishing
It helps to unplug from news and devices every now and then, Wright says. "We need to know what's going on, but we don't need the late-breaking news every second of the day," she says. "We know that that connection to our devices ... a constant connection to information, actually drives up our stress levels."
That's what Dalyn Allen, a 30-year-old data analyst based in Baltimore, did when his stress levels soared this year. He noticed he was feeling some despair and starting to become irritable.
"I kind of backed away from news slowly but surely [to] kind of give myself some peace of mind and to kind of focus on what I can do to prepare myself for either outcome," says Allen.
He has been reading books, listening to more music and investing in his personal relationships.
"I talk to my family, friends, give them calls, check-ins, calling people for a birthday instead of getting a text," says Allen. "That's been really helpful for me to kind of manage that stress."
4. Look for signs of hope
The new survey also found that the majority of Americans do still feel hopeful despite their stresses.
For TousSaint, one sign of hope was Thursday's debate. "I think [Thursday's] debate was very civil. It wasn't ugly, and sometimes during the discourse, you could see these two leaders were actually communicating with each other," he says. " The civility between those two leaders [Thursday] gives me hope."
As for Allen, who is Black, he says the recent public outcry against racism, white supremacy and police brutality has given him hope.
"I was inspired to see that so many other people who really want to speak against that and speak publicly," he says. "They gave me the hope [that] this fight isn't over yet."


npr--2020-10-26--For Trump, Conservative Catholics Are The New Evangelicals

For Trump , Conservative Catholics Are The New Evangelicals Four years ago , white evangelicals rallied behind Donald Trump 's presidential candidacy , and he reveled in their adulation .
`` The evangelicals love me , and I love them , '' Trump said repeatedly on the campaign trail .
In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention , evangelicals were the only faith group he singled out for thanks , saying their support was `` a big reason for me being here tonight . ''
In the general election , however , it was not the evangelicals who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group he had rarely mentioned in his speeches .
`` People were quite amazed at the overall impact that the white evangelicals had in the election , but I think what was missed was the critical role of the Catholic voters , '' says Mark Rozell , dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University .
Despite losing the popular vote , Trump reached the presidency in large part because he won traditionally Democratic Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin , all states in which Catholics outnumber evangelicals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Catholic vote that won those states for Donald Trump , '' says Tim Huelskamp , a former Republican congressman from Kansas now serving as an adviser to the Catholics for Trump movement , a coalition that did not formally exist in 2016 .
`` There was less recognition four years ago , '' Huelskamp says .
`` I think the campaign [ now ] understands that .
Sometimes the White House official side did not . ''
While still recognizing the overwhelming support white evangelicals continue to give him , Trump this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics than he did four years ago .
Speaking last month at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast , an event dominated by conservative Catholic lay leaders , Trump was full of praise for the denomination .
`` I grew up next to a Catholic church in Queens , New York , and I saw how much incredible work the Catholic Church did for our community , '' he said .
`` These are amazing people . ''
White evangelicals and conservative Catholics have similar positions on many issues , sharing a strong opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocating religious liberty .
The Trump administration has emphasized its support for those views in its appeals to Catholic voters .
`` The administration has made a concerted effort to reach out to Catholics in a way that we have n't seen in the past , '' says Brian Burch , president of CatholicVote.Org , a conservative group that was formed in 2005 but has become far more active in recent months .
`` We 've grown every year , '' Burch says , `` but this year we grew exponentially . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2016 presidential election .
This year , even with a Catholic candidate on the Democratic side , the group is wholeheartedly supporting Trump , with a $ 9.5 million campaign targeting Catholic swing voters in battleground states and featuring highly partisan television ads .
Among the claims in an ad running in Pennsylvania and Michigan is that `` Joe Biden would force American Catholics to pay for abortions , sacrificing his Catholic values , to kneel before the leftist mobs . ''
The overall Catholic vote split almost evenly between Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent Pew Research Center poll shows Trump running behind Biden among Catholic voters this year .
The push to rally Catholic support for Trump , however , is highly focused on the more conservative Catholics who attend Mass regularly and follow church teachings closely .
`` I think the campaign is distinguishing Catholics who support the church 's position on life , the church 's position on religious freedom and on school choice , and trying to turn that particular vote out , '' Huelskamp says .
`` The more often you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are to vote for Donald Trump , '' Burch says .
`` The less likely you are to practice religion , the more likely you are to vote for Joe Biden .
Regular church attendees are a decisive voting bloc , and turnout among those Catholics in particular is the area that we are focused on . ''
It 's a targeted outreach strategy that is well supported by research .
Rozell , who has studied the Catholic vote for many years , says it is no longer as monolithic as it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of John F. Kennedy .
`` It 's religious practice , not religious identity , that really is the cue to how Catholic voters vote , '' Rozell says .
`` Among those Catholics who regularly attend religious services , they tend to be more conservative politically [ and ] vote Republican .
Those who attend religious services infrequently or not at all tend to be much more heavily Democratic . ''
A recent NBC/Marist poll of likely voters in Pennsylvania , where white Catholics make up about a quarter of the electorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump by more than 40 points , while those who call themselves nonpracticing supported Biden by about 25 points .
Given such findings , Trump 's campaign now sees that it 's conservative Catholics , not white evangelicals , who hold the key to his reelection , at least in the hotly contested battleground states .
For the Trump campaign , the effort to single out conservative Catholics is made much easier because they are heavily concentrated in particular media organizations , charitable foundations and advocacy groups .
`` Where conservative Catholics have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they have set up networks and institutions that allow them to get together , '' says Cathleen Kaveny , a theologian and legal scholar at Boston College who writes often on Catholic issues .
`` My impression is that they 've got quite a lot of money .
Liberal Catholics tend not to have that amount of money . ''
Among those institutions are CatholicVote.Org , the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast and the Catholic League .
Conservative Catholic media organizations include EWTN News , the National Catholic Register and Church Militant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right wing .
`` Key parts of it are very narrow , very elite and very substantial , '' says John Carr , director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University .
Carr worked for 20 years at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops , long the main policy and advocacy arm of the U.S. Catholic Church .
The conference can not endorse political candidates , however , and it has been careful not to engage too aggressively in political debates .
Conservative Catholic leaders are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What is relatively new is they have established parallel institutions , unconnected to the overarching institutions , '' Carr says .
Those institutions and the media organizations associated with them now provide an entree into the conservative Catholic world , thus enabling targeted outreach to a constituency that is key to Trump 's reelection .

For Trump, Conservative Catholics Are The New Evangelicals
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
Four years ago, white evangelicals rallied behind Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, and he reveled in their adulation.
"The evangelicals love me, and I love them," Trump said repeatedly on the campaign trail. In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, evangelicals were the only faith group he singled out for thanks, saying their support was "a big reason for me being here tonight."
In the general election, however, it was not the evangelicals who carried Trump to victory but Catholics, a group he had rarely mentioned in his speeches.
"People were quite amazed at the overall impact that the white evangelicals had in the election, but I think what was missed was the critical role of the Catholic voters," says Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
Despite losing the popular vote, Trump reached the presidency in large part because he won traditionally Democratic Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, all states in which Catholics outnumber evangelicals by significant margins.
"It was the Catholic vote that won those states for Donald Trump," says Tim Huelskamp, a former Republican congressman from Kansas now serving as an adviser to the Catholics for Trump movement, a coalition that did not formally exist in 2016.
"There was less recognition four years ago," Huelskamp says. "I think the campaign [now] understands that. Sometimes the White House official side did not."
While still recognizing the overwhelming support white evangelicals continue to give him, Trump this year has paid far more attention to Catholics than he did four years ago.
Speaking last month at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, an event dominated by conservative Catholic lay leaders, Trump was full of praise for the denomination.
"I grew up next to a Catholic church in Queens, New York, and I saw how much incredible work the Catholic Church did for our community," he said. "These are amazing people."
White evangelicals and conservative Catholics have similar positions on many issues, sharing a strong opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights and both advocating religious liberty. The Trump administration has emphasized its support for those views in its appeals to Catholic voters.
"The administration has made a concerted effort to reach out to Catholics in a way that we haven't seen in the past," says Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote.Org, a conservative group that was formed in 2005 but has become far more active in recent months.
"We've grown every year," Burch says, "but this year we grew exponentially."
The organization did not endorse a candidate in the 2016 presidential election. This year, even with a Catholic candidate on the Democratic side, the group is wholeheartedly supporting Trump, with a $9.5 million campaign targeting Catholic swing voters in battleground states and featuring highly partisan television ads.
Among the claims in an ad running in Pennsylvania and Michigan is that "Joe Biden would force American Catholics to pay for abortions, sacrificing his Catholic values, to kneel before the leftist mobs."
The overall Catholic vote split almost evenly between Hillary Clinton and Trump in 2016, and a recent Pew Research Center poll shows Trump running behind Biden among Catholic voters this year.
The push to rally Catholic support for Trump, however, is highly focused on the more conservative Catholics who attend Mass regularly and follow church teachings closely.
"I think the campaign is distinguishing Catholics who support the church's position on life, the church's position on religious freedom and on school choice, and trying to turn that particular vote out," Huelskamp says.
The effort largely ignores less traditional Catholics.
"The more often you attend church, the more likely you are to vote for Donald Trump," Burch says. "The less likely you are to practice religion, the more likely you are to vote for Joe Biden. Regular church attendees are a decisive voting bloc, and turnout among those Catholics in particular is the area that we are focused on."
It's a targeted outreach strategy that is well supported by research. Rozell, who has studied the Catholic vote for many years, says it is no longer as monolithic as it was when U.S. Catholics rallied behind the candidacy of John F. Kennedy.
"It's religious practice, not religious identity, that really is the cue to how Catholic voters vote," Rozell says. "Among those Catholics who regularly attend religious services, they tend to be more conservative politically [and] vote Republican. Those who attend religious services infrequently or not at all tend to be much more heavily Democratic."
A recent NBC/Marist poll of likely voters in Pennsylvania, where white Catholics make up about a quarter of the electorate, found that practicing white Catholics favored Trump by more than 40 points, while those who call themselves nonpracticing supported Biden by about 25 points.
Given such findings, Trump's campaign now sees that it's conservative Catholics, not white evangelicals, who hold the key to his reelection, at least in the hotly contested battleground states.
For the Trump campaign, the effort to single out conservative Catholics is made much easier because they are heavily concentrated in particular media organizations, charitable foundations and advocacy groups.
"Where conservative Catholics have the edge on more progressive Catholics is that they have set up networks and institutions that allow them to get together," says Cathleen Kaveny, a theologian and legal scholar at Boston College who writes often on Catholic issues. "My impression is that they've got quite a lot of money. Liberal Catholics tend not to have that amount of money."
Among those institutions are CatholicVote.Org, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast and the Catholic League. Conservative Catholic media organizations include EWTN News, the National Catholic Register and Church Militant. Together, such institutions constitute a Catholic right wing.
"Key parts of it are very narrow, very elite and very substantial," says John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University.
Carr worked for 20 years at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, long the main policy and advocacy arm of the U.S. Catholic Church. The conference cannot endorse political candidates, however, and it has been careful not to engage too aggressively in political debates. Conservative Catholic leaders are now bypassing such traditional church power centers.
"What is relatively new is they have established parallel institutions, unconnected to the overarching institutions," Carr says.
Those institutions and the media organizations associated with them now provide an entree into the conservative Catholic world, thus enabling targeted outreach to a constituency that is key to Trump's reelection.


npr--2020-10-26--Orange County Fires: 2 Firefighters Critically Injured In Fast-Moving Blazes

An Orange County brush fire that ignited Monday morning has left two firefighters critically injured , ravaging more than 4,000 acres and forcing the evacuation of about 60,000 residents .
Strong winds gusts up to 70 mph moving up and down California fed the flames of the Silverado Fire in Irvine , which erupted in the Santa Ana Mountains around 6:45 a.m. local time .
When it was first reported , the fire was estimated to cover about 10 acres — but by 1 p.m. the blaze had already grown to 4,000 acres , the Orange County Fire Authority reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Five hundred ground personnel are battling the fire but officials say aircraft support has been grounded due to the windy conditions .
The wounded firefighters , ages 31 and 26 , are part of the Orange County fire department and were critically injured shortly after noon .
Both had second and third-degree burns on much of their bodies , the department said .
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for about 60,000 residents in Irvine .
A dozen schools have also been evacuated .
And portions of two highways running through the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are asking everyone to comply with the evacuation orders for their safety and the safety of our first-responders , '' Irvine city officials said in a statement , urging displaced residents to seek refuge in one of its emergency facilities .
Meanwhile , a second blaze , called the Blue Ridge Fire , broke out in Yorba Linda , which is also in Orange County .
That has prompted another evacuation , the Orange County Sheriff 's Department announced .
It is unclear what caused the Blue Ridge Fire or when it started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 1,100 acres .
As the birthplace of Richard Nixon , Yorba Linda is home to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum , where foundation members are preparing for the possibility of nearby flames .
The powerful winds across California prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands of households , in order to prevent utility equipment from sparking new fires .

Orange County Fires: 2 Firefighters Critically Injured In Fast-Moving Blazes
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jae C. Hong/AP Jae C. Hong/AP
An Orange County brush fire that ignited Monday morning has left two firefighters critically injured, ravaging more than 4,000 acres and forcing the evacuation of about 60,000 residents.
Strong winds gusts up to 70 mph moving up and down California fed the flames of the Silverado Fire in Irvine, which erupted in the Santa Ana Mountains around 6:45 a.m. local time.
When it was first reported, the fire was estimated to cover about 10 acres — but by 1 p.m. the blaze had already grown to 4,000 acres, the Orange County Fire Authority reported.
It is zero percent contained.
Five hundred ground personnel are battling the fire but officials say aircraft support has been grounded due to the windy conditions.
The wounded firefighters, ages 31 and 26, are part of the Orange County fire department and were critically injured shortly after noon. Both had second and third-degree burns on much of their bodies, the department said.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for about 60,000 residents in Irvine. A dozen schools have also been evacuated. And portions of two highways running through the region have been shut down.
"We are asking everyone to comply with the evacuation orders for their safety and the safety of our first-responders," Irvine city officials said in a statement, urging displaced residents to seek refuge in one of its emergency facilities.
Meanwhile, a second blaze, called the Blue Ridge Fire, broke out in Yorba Linda, which is also in Orange County. That has prompted another evacuation, the Orange County Sheriff's Department announced.
It is unclear what caused the Blue Ridge Fire or when it started, but officials say it has engulfed at least 1,100 acres.
As the birthplace of Richard Nixon, Yorba Linda is home to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, where foundation members are preparing for the possibility of nearby flames.
The powerful winds across California prompted power to be cut to hundreds of thousands of households, in order to prevent utility equipment from sparking new fires.


npr--2020-10-26--Amy Coney Barrett Confirmed To Supreme Court, Takes Constitutional Oath

The Senate has voted 52-48 to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , just about a week before Election Day and 30 days after she was nominated by President Trump to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
In a White House ceremony following the vote Monday evening , Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the constitutional oath to Coney Barrett .
President Trump spoke at the event , thanking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and calling today a `` momentous day '' for America , the constitution and the rule of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and poise during the confirmation process .
Several Republican senators were also in attendance .
Barrett must still take the judicial oath .
While Senate Democrats tried to slow down the confirmation process of Trump 's third Supreme Court nominee with various procedural maneuvers , the fact that Republicans control the Senate has always meant a Barrett confirmation was all but promised .
`` The Senate is doing the right thing .
We 're moving this nomination forward , and , colleagues , by tomorrow night we 'll have a new member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said on Sunday .
Democrats railed against the advancement of Barrett 's nomination so close to Election Day , after the Republican-led Senate in 2016 refused to hold hearings for then-President Barack Obama 's nominee , Merrick Garland , nearly eight months before that year 's election .
`` Nearly every Republican in this chamber led by the majority leader four years ago refused to even consider the Supreme Court nomination of a Democratic president on the grounds ... that we should wait until after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserved a voice in the selection of their next justice , '' he said on Sunday .
`` My colleagues , there is no escaping this glaring hypocrisy .
As I said before , no tit-for-tat convoluted , distorted version of history will wipe away the stain that will exist forever with this Republican majority and with this Republican leader . ''
Barrett 's nomination cleared a procedural hurdle Sunday afternoon when the Senate voted to end debate on the nomination , days after Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee boycotted a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only Republicans who voted against the cloture motion on Sunday were Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska .
On Saturday , Murkowski previewed her intentions , saying she planned to vote against moving the nomination forward procedurally but would vote to confirm Barrett on Monday .
`` While I oppose the process that led us to this point , I do not hold it against her , as an individual who has navigated the gauntlet with grace , skill and humility , '' she said .
Collins faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg 's death in September that whoever wins the presidential election should fill the Supreme Court vacancy .
The 48-year-old judge 's confirmation solidifies the court 's conservative majority , potentially shaping the future of abortion rights and health care law for generations .
During a campaign event in Tallahassee , Fla. , on Saturday , Vice President Pence said he wanted to return to Capitol Hill in time for Monday 's vote .
`` As vice president , I 'm president of the Senate , '' Pence said .
`` And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I would n't miss that vote for the world . ''
He ultimately did not attend the vote in person .
His presence would have been purely symbolic anyway , as it was not expected that Pence would have needed to cast a tie-breaking vote .
Democrats had pushed back against Pence 's plan in light of recent positive coronavirus tests of two top staffers in Pence 's orbit , and they had similar concerns about Sen. Kelly Loeffler , R-Ga. , two of whose staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senator had tested negative for the coronavirus on Friday .

Amy Coney Barrett Confirmed To Supreme Court, Takes Constitutional Oath
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images
The Senate has voted 52-48 to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, just about a week before Election Day and 30 days after she was nominated by President Trump to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In a White House ceremony following the vote Monday evening, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the constitutional oath to Coney Barrett.
President Trump spoke at the event, thanking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and calling today a "momentous day" for America, the constitution and the rule of law. He also praised Barrett's intellect and poise during the confirmation process. Several Republican senators were also in attendance.
Barrett must still take the judicial oath.
While Senate Democrats tried to slow down the confirmation process of Trump's third Supreme Court nominee with various procedural maneuvers, the fact that Republicans control the Senate has always meant a Barrett confirmation was all but promised.
"The Senate is doing the right thing. We're moving this nomination forward, and, colleagues, by tomorrow night we'll have a new member of the United States Supreme Court," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Sunday.
Democrats railed against the advancement of Barrett's nomination so close to Election Day, after the Republican-led Senate in 2016 refused to hold hearings for then-President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, nearly eight months before that year's election.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., labeled the nomination process a "cynical power grab."
"Nearly every Republican in this chamber led by the majority leader four years ago refused to even consider the Supreme Court nomination of a Democratic president on the grounds ... that we should wait until after the presidential election because the American people deserved a voice in the selection of their next justice," he said on Sunday.
"My colleagues, there is no escaping this glaring hypocrisy. As I said before, no tit-for-tat convoluted, distorted version of history will wipe away the stain that will exist forever with this Republican majority and with this Republican leader."
Barrett's nomination cleared a procedural hurdle Sunday afternoon when the Senate voted to end debate on the nomination, days after Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee boycotted a vote to advance Barrett's nomination.
The only Republicans who voted against the cloture motion on Sunday were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
On Saturday, Murkowski previewed her intentions, saying she planned to vote against moving the nomination forward procedurally but would vote to confirm Barrett on Monday.
"While I oppose the process that led us to this point, I do not hold it against her, as an individual who has navigated the gauntlet with grace, skill and humility," she said.
Collins faces a tough reelection battle and said after Ginsburg's death in September that whoever wins the presidential election should fill the Supreme Court vacancy.
The 48-year-old judge's confirmation solidifies the court's conservative majority, potentially shaping the future of abortion rights and health care law for generations.
During a campaign event in Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday, Vice President Pence said he wanted to return to Capitol Hill in time for Monday's vote.
"As vice president, I'm president of the Senate," Pence said. "And I'm gonna be in the chair because I wouldn't miss that vote for the world."
He ultimately did not attend the vote in person. His presence would have been purely symbolic anyway, as it was not expected that Pence would have needed to cast a tie-breaking vote.
Democrats had pushed back against Pence's plan in light of recent positive coronavirus tests of two top staffers in Pence's orbit, and they had similar concerns about Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., two of whose staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Loeffler's spokesperson on Saturday said the senator had tested negative for the coronavirus on Friday.


npr--2020-10-26--Fight Against Colorado's Two Largest-Ever Fires Continues, Aided By Snow

Fight Against Colorado 's Two Largest-Ever Fires Continues , Aided By Snow Weekend snowfall granted a reprieve against the two largest wildfires in Colorado history , which together have spread over more than 400,000 acres .
But the fires continue to burn .
The East Troublesome Fire spread 192,560 acres and jumped the Continental Divide .
It is 15 % contained .
The nearby Cameron Peak Fire , the largest blaze in state history , is now 64 % contained .
It has already burned over 208,600 acres .
Both fires have moved into Rocky Mountain National Park .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although it has n't been fully assessed , according to an incident update .
As of Monday morning , the fire areas had received about 6 to 12 inches of snow .
`` We 're grateful for snow which fell heavily on our state over the weekend , and really gave the firefighters a much better chance at being able to keep these fires away from major population centers , '' Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis told NPR 's Mary Louise Kelly .
Authorities said Monday that the `` snow has stopped fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downed logs and other large fuels under the forest canopy are still expected to smolder .
The snow has slowed fire activity ; however it is not expected to be enough to put the fire out .
Temperatures are forecasted to gradually warm back up beginning Tuesday . ''
The East Troublesome blaze exploded in size Wednesday after growing over 100,000 acres nearly overnight .
Thousands evacuated .
An elderly couple , Lyle and Marilyn Hileman , died in the fire , Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said Friday on social media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it was destroyed , Schroetlin said .
`` At 86 and 84 years of age , their only desire was to be together in the home they loved , '' the Hileman family said in a statement read aloud by the sheriff .
`` Our family feels comfort in the knowledge our parents left this world together and on their own terms . ''
This has been a historically difficult year for Colorado wildfires .
`` What we 're seeing in Colorado is a drier , hotter climate because of climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This year , we had our three largest fires in the history of our entire state . ''
And as with many things in 2020 , the state 's response is complicated by the coronavirus .
`` We 've had to have the pandemic lens on all of the fire efforts from the very start , '' Polis said .
The state had to adapt the close quarters that firefighters traditionally would spend weeks in , he said .
Evacuees were placed in hotels or with family members , since it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a gym .
Colorado is likely to see more wildfires due to climate change .
The governor said the state will need to adjust and take more preemptive measures in the future .
`` As we prepare for that new normal , it 's really making sure that we do the mitigation , perimeter protection around towns and homes that we need to do , '' Polis said .
`` To keep people safe . ''
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR 's News Desk .

Fight Against Colorado's 2 Largest-Ever Fires Continues, Aided By Snow
Enlarge this image toggle caption U.S. Forest Service/AP U.S. Forest Service/AP
Weekend snowfall granted a reprieve against the two largest wildfires in Colorado history, which together have spread over more than 400,000 acres.
But the fires continue to burn. The East Troublesome Fire spread 192,560 acres and jumped the Continental Divide. It is 15% contained.
The nearby Cameron Peak Fire, the largest blaze in state history, is now 64% contained. It has already burned over 208,600 acres.
Both fires have moved into Rocky Mountain National Park. The park itself has suffered minimal damage, although it hasn't been fully assessed, according to an incident update.
As of Monday morning, the fire areas had received about 6 to 12 inches of snow.
"We're grateful for snow which fell heavily on our state over the weekend, and really gave the firefighters a much better chance at being able to keep these fires away from major population centers," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis told NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.
Authorities said Monday that the "snow has stopped fire activity in lighter fuels, but large downed logs and other large fuels under the forest canopy are still expected to smolder. The snow has slowed fire activity; however it is not expected to be enough to put the fire out. Temperatures are forecasted to gradually warm back up beginning Tuesday."
The East Troublesome blaze exploded in size Wednesday after growing over 100,000 acres nearly overnight. Thousands evacuated.
An elderly couple, Lyle and Marilyn Hileman, died in the fire, Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said Friday on social media.
The couple refused to evacuate their home, and it was destroyed, Schroetlin said.
"At 86 and 84 years of age, their only desire was to be together in the home they loved," the Hileman family said in a statement read aloud by the sheriff. "Our family feels comfort in the knowledge our parents left this world together and on their own terms."
This has been a historically difficult year for Colorado wildfires.
"What we're seeing in Colorado is a drier, hotter climate because of climate change," Polis said. "This year, we had our three largest fires in the history of our entire state."
And as with many things in 2020, the state's response is complicated by the coronavirus. "We've had to have the pandemic lens on all of the fire efforts from the very start," Polis said.
The state had to adapt the close quarters that firefighters traditionally would spend weeks in, he said. Evacuees were placed in hotels or with family members, since it's not an option to squeeze dozens of families into a gym.
Colorado is likely to see more wildfires due to climate change. The governor said the state will need to adjust and take more preemptive measures in the future.
"As we prepare for that new normal, it's really making sure that we do the mitigation, perimeter protection around towns and homes that we need to do," Polis said. "To keep people safe."
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-10-26--62 Million And Counting: Americans Are Breaking Early Voting Records

With about a week still remaining until Election Day , Americans have already cast a record-breaking 62 million early ballots , putting the 2020 election on track for historic levels of voter turnout .
That 's some 15 million more pre-election votes than were cast in the 2016 election , according to the U.S .
Elections Project , a turnout-tracking database run by University of Florida professor Michael McDonald .
McDonald calculates that nationally , voters have cast more than 45 % of the total votes counted in the 2016 election .
`` We continue to pile on votes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed any raw number of early votes in any prior election in U.S. history , '' McDonald told NPR on Monday .
`` It 's good news , because we were very much concerned about how it would be possible to conduct an election during a pandemic , '' he said , citing concerns that mail-in ballots would be returned by voters en masse at the conclusion of the early voting period , overwhelming election officials .
`` Instead , what appears to be happening is people are voting earlier and spreading out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2019 , McDonald predicted that 150 million people would vote in 2020 's general election , which would be a turnout rate of about 65 % — the highest since 1908 .
But he 's going back to the drawing board .
`` I have increasingly been confident that 150 [ million ] is probably a lowball estimate , '' he said Monday .
`` I think by the end of the week I 'll be upping that forecast . ''
Some states are quickly approaching their 2016 vote totals .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million early votes had been cast as of Sunday , marking 82 % of the state 's total votes in 2016 .
Montana , North Carolina , Tennessee and Georgia have also reached 65 % or more of their 2016 vote totals .
McDonald cites Washington state as an example of the change in voter behavior this year since the state ran mostly all mail-in elections in both 2016 and 2020 under the same rules .
Thus far , the state reports more than 2 million mail-in ballots have been returned , nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Roberto Rodriguez , assistant deputy supervisor of elections in Florida 's Miami-Dade County , says 42 % of voters there have already cast their ballots .
`` Normally in a presidential election , we have anywhere from 68 % to 73 % turnout , '' Rodriguez told NPR .
`` We 're expecting 80 % turnout this year based on the voting numbers that have come in . ''
He said more than 266,000 people had voted at an early voting site in person and more than 390,000 had voted by mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County has more than 1.5 million active registered voters .
Among states that are reporting data , voters have requested 87 million mail ballots , according to McDonald , and roughly 41 million ballots have been returned by mail .
Democrats currently hold a roughly 2-to-1 advantage in returned mail-in ballots in states with party registration .
But McDonald is quick to caution that early numbers do n't paint the full picture .
`` Usually the story for a typical election in recent years has been that the early vote is Democratic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` And it looks as though we 're going to have the same story this year , and we 're going to have to wait to see what happens with that Election Day vote before we can really say what 's going to happen . ''
But 2020 has brought a shift in the way in which people are voting early .
`` Typically , when we talk about early voting , we 're talking about Democrats voting in person early and Republicans voting by mail , '' McDonald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roles are reversed .
But when you look at the overall electorate , there are many more people voting by mail than in person early in most states . ''
The shift could be at least in part due to President Trump 's consistent false claims that voting by mail leads to widespread fraud , whereas Joe Biden 's campaign has been aggressive in urging supporters to vote early , whether in person or by mail .
Strategically , it 's helpful for campaigns to have voters cast their ballots early so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to target less-motivated voters .
People ages 18 to 29 are turning out to vote early in a big way .
According to data from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement , or CIRCLE , a research center at Tufts University , the numbers of young people voting early have skyrocketed , particularly in states that will be critical for Biden and Trump to win , such as Michigan , Florida and North Carolina .
As of Oct. 21 , 257,720 young voters in Florida had voted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 214,000 more than had voted at that time in 2016 .
In Texas , almost 500,000 18- to 29-year-olds had cast their ballots by Oct. 21 .
However , there is n't data from 2016 with which to compare youth turnout .
Young people could wield significant political power : Millennials and some members of Generation Z make up 37 % of eligible voters , roughly the same share of the electorate that baby boomers and older voters ( `` pre-boomers '' ) make up , according to census data analyzed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters have showed up to the polls at relatively low rates , a statistic voter education groups have been working to change this year .
As early voting began , the pent-up voting interest showed as long lines formed in states such as Georgia and Texas , with some voters waiting for hours .
Election officials had warned that some in-person voting locations would face longer lines as some jurisdictions have had to consolidate polling places and adjust logistics to accommodate social distancing during the pandemic .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting Sunday in the Bronx .
`` There is no place in the United States of America where two- , three- , four-hour waits to vote is acceptable and just because it 's happening in a blue state does n't mean it 's not voter suppression , '' she said .
`` If this was happening in a swing state , there would be national coverage . ''

93 Million And Counting: Americans Are Shattering Early Voting Records
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sergio Flores/Getty Images Sergio Flores/Getty Images
Updated at 9:40 a.m. ET Monday
Americans have cast a record-breaking 93 million early ballots as of Sunday afternoon, putting the 2020 election on track for historic levels of voter turnout.
That's almost twice as many pre-election votes as were cast in the 2016 election, according to the U.S. Elections Project, a turnout-tracking database run by University of Florida professor Michael McDonald.
McDonald calculates that nationally, voters have cast nearly 68% of the total votes counted in the 2016 election.
"We continue to pile on votes at a record pace. We've already passed any raw number of early votes in any prior election in U.S. history," McDonald told NPR on Oct. 26.
"It's good news, because we were very much concerned about how it would be possible to conduct an election during a pandemic," he said, citing concerns that mail-in ballots would be returned by voters en masse at the conclusion of the early voting period, overwhelming election officials. "Instead, what appears to be happening is people are voting earlier and spreading out the workload for election officials."
In 2019, McDonald predicted that 150 million people would vote in 2020's general election, which would be a turnout rate of about 65% — the highest since 1908.
But he's going back to the drawing board. "I have increasingly been confident that 150 [million] is probably a lowball estimate," he said.
Hawaii and Texas lead the way
Hawaii and Texas have both already surpassed their 2016 vote totals.
On Friday, 484,000 Hawaii voters had cast ballots, topping their 2016 totals by more than 46,000 votes.
In Texas, 9.6 million early votes had been cast as of Friday, over 700,000 more ballots than had been cast in all of 2016. (A group of Texas Republicans is seeking to toss 127,000 votes cast at drive-throughs in Harris County.)
Montana is quickly approaching its 2016 vote totals as well. As of Sunday, more than 510,000 early votes had been cast. That's roughly 6,000 votes below the total number of votes in the state four years ago.
The swing states of North Carolina, Florida and Georgia have also reached 91% or more of their 2016 vote totals.
Some states may see their early voting numbers tick up after "Souls to the Polls," an effort aimed at boosting turnout among Black voters the Sunday before Election Day.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images
Caution in interpreting partisan splits
Among states that are reporting data, voters have requested about 91 million mail ballots, according to McDonald, and roughly 59 million have been returned by mail.
As of last week, Democrats held a roughly 2-to-1 advantage in returned mail-in ballots in states with party registration.
But McDonald is quick to caution that early numbers don't paint the full picture.
"Usually the story for a typical election in recent years has been that the early vote is Democratic and the Election Day vote is Republican," he said. "And it looks as though we're going to have the same story this year, and we're going to have to wait to see what happens with that Election Day vote before we can really say what's going to happen."
But 2020 has brought a shift in the way in which people are voting early.
"Typically, when we talk about early voting, we're talking about Democrats voting in person early and Republicans voting by mail," McDonald said. "This election, those roles are reversed. But when you look at the overall electorate, there are many more people voting by mail than in person early in most states."
The shift could be at least in part due to President Trump's consistent false claims that voting by mail leads to widespread fraud, whereas Joe Biden's campaign has been aggressive in urging supporters to vote early, whether in person or by mail.
Strategically, it's helpful for campaigns to have voters cast their ballots early so they can use campaign resources more efficiently then to target less-motivated voters.
A surge in youth voters
People ages 18 to 29 are turning out to vote early in a big way.
According to data from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE, a research center at Tufts University, the numbers of young people voting early have skyrocketed, particularly in states that will be critical for Biden and Trump to win, such as Michigan, Florida and North Carolina.
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As of Oct. 27, 658,200 young voters in Florida had voted, according to CIRCLE. That's over 52% of the total youth vote in the state in 2016.
In Texas, 1 million 18- to 29-year-olds had cast their ballots by Oct. 27, representing 82% of the total youth vote four years ago.
Young people could wield significant political power: Millennials and some members of Generation Z make up 37% of eligible voters, roughly the same share of the electorate that baby boomers and older voters ("pre-boomers") make up, according to census data analyzed by the Brookings Institution.
For decades, youth voters have showed up to the polls at relatively low rates, a statistic voter education groups have been working to change this year.
Long lines remain
As early voting began, the pent-up voting interest showed as long lines formed in states such as Georgia and Texas, with some voters waiting for hours.
Election officials had warned that some in-person voting locations would face longer lines as some jurisdictions have had to consolidate polling places and adjust logistics to accommodate social distancing during the pandemic.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., criticized the long lines she experienced while voting Oct. 25 in the Bronx.
"There is no place in the United States of America where two-, three-, four-hour waits to vote is acceptable and just because it's happening in a blue state doesn't mean it's not voter suppression," she said.
"If this was happening in a swing state, there would be national coverage."
This story was originally published on Oct. 26, and has been updated with new data.


npr--2020-10-26--Colorado Governor Faces Challenges As COVID-19 Cases Surge And Winter Approaches

Colorado is among the states experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases .
In August , the state logged about 2,000 new cases a week .
Last week , that number jumped to more than 8,000 .
The state 's Democratic governor , Jared Polis , warns that the situation could worsen in the coming months .
`` We just have this short window of time to get this back under control before the holiday season , and we need to do it , '' he told reporters last week .
`` Every one of us needs to really ask ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of life . ''
In July , Polis implemented a mask requirement for public indoor spaces that 's in force until Nov. 10 .
On Friday the health department limited social gatherings to 10 people or fewer from no more than two households .
`` If people do need to feel the need to socialize , we totally understand that , '' he says during an interview on NPR 's All Things Considered .
`` But not a neighborhood block party , not three or four different households .
No more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges he faces as the state tries to contain the escalation of community spread .
The mask mandate expires in a couple of weeks .
Are you likely to renew ?
We obviously evaluate it based on the data where we are at any given time with regard to the end date of that .
But certainly where we are today , that 's critical .
It 's a critical tool to help contain the spread .
Two Denver area churches have filed suit against the state challenging [ the mask and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How do you manage the growing number of infections in your state when you have lawsuits trying to prevent you from enacting protections ?
Well , it should really be about people wanting to do the right thing .
I was so thrilled to see several Episcopal and other bishops supporting mask wearing among their members and their congregation .
We 've seen so many institutions of faith go online , limit their attendance .
I think certainly a lot of faith leaders care deeply about the lives of their congregants and understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fellowship in person again in the not too distant future .
But that we 're not there yet .
There have been a worrying number of outbreaks at Colorado schools .
...
The Colorado chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is warning in-person school is becoming less feasible because community spread is increasing .
What do you do about that ?
Are you prepared , for example , to dial back in-person teaching ?
Most of our schools are back in Colorado .
They have guidance they need to follow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them , whether they 're back two days a week or five days a week is locally driven .
We have found , across the board , that schools have been as safe or safer than other things kids might be doing , primarily because they 're structured and there is the ability to implement strong health guidelines like mask wearing , which is required for all students across our state in class , as well as the teacher .
In your state and many others , you have a mask mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll look at whether you renew it .
You 've got a new health order limiting the size of crowds .
...
But is that enough , given winter is coming , the holidays are upon us and the numbers are going in the wrong way ?
So , you know , in Colorado , weather is a factor in winter .
... People do tend to congregate in larger indoor areas in winter than they do when the weather is nice .
And so it 's really making sure that , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these activities , like dining , for example , we have the capacity restrictions around restaurants to make sure that there 's sufficient social distancing and the wait staff and others in the kitchen are all wearing masks as well .
Christopher Intagliata and Gus Contreras edited and produced the audio interview .
Maureen Pao adapted it for the Web .

Colorado Governor Faces Challenges As COVID-19 Cases Surge And Winter Approaches
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Zalubowski/AP David Zalubowski/AP
Colorado is among the states experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. In August, the state logged about 2,000 new cases a week. Last week, that number jumped to more than 8,000.
The state's Democratic governor, Jared Polis, warns that the situation could worsen in the coming months.
"We just have this short window of time to get this back under control before the holiday season, and we need to do it," he told reporters last week. "Every one of us needs to really ask ourselves what is our resolve to avoid unnecessary loss of life."
In July, Polis implemented a mask requirement for public indoor spaces that's in force until Nov. 10. On Friday the health department limited social gatherings to 10 people or fewer from no more than two households.
"If people do need to feel the need to socialize, we totally understand that," he says during an interview on NPR's All Things Considered. "But not a neighborhood block party, not three or four different households. No more than two households."
Polis discusses the challenges he faces as the state tries to contain the escalation of community spread.
The mask mandate expires in a couple of weeks. Are you likely to renew?
We obviously evaluate it based on the data where we are at any given time with regard to the end date of that. But certainly where we are today, that's critical. It's a critical tool to help contain the spread.
Two Denver area churches have filed suit against the state challenging [the mask and social gathering orders]. They won. How do you manage the growing number of infections in your state when you have lawsuits trying to prevent you from enacting protections?
Well, it should really be about people wanting to do the right thing. I was so thrilled to see several Episcopal and other bishops supporting mask wearing among their members and their congregation. We've seen so many institutions of faith go online, limit their attendance. I think certainly a lot of faith leaders care deeply about the lives of their congregants and understand that we'll be able to rejoice and fellowship in person again in the not too distant future. But that we're not there yet.
There have been a worrying number of outbreaks at Colorado schools. ... The Colorado chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is warning in-person school is becoming less feasible because community spread is increasing. What do you do about that? Are you prepared, for example, to dial back in-person teaching?
Most of our schools are back in Colorado. They have guidance they need to follow. But then, you know, some of them, whether they're back two days a week or five days a week is locally driven. We have found, across the board, that schools have been as safe or safer than other things kids might be doing, primarily because they're structured and there is the ability to implement strong health guidelines like mask wearing, which is required for all students across our state in class, as well as the teacher.
In your state and many others, you have a mask mandate in place. You're saying you'll look at whether you renew it. You've got a new health order limiting the size of crowds. ... But is that enough, given winter is coming, the holidays are upon us and the numbers are going in the wrong way?
So, you know, in Colorado, weather is a factor in winter. ... People do tend to congregate in larger indoor areas in winter than they do when the weather is nice. And so it's really making sure that, to the extent people want to engage in these activities, like dining, for example, we have the capacity restrictions around restaurants to make sure that there's sufficient social distancing and the wait staff and others in the kitchen are all wearing masks as well.
Christopher Intagliata and Gus Contreras edited and produced the audio interview. Maureen Pao adapted it for the Web.


npr--2020-10-26--Now A Hurricane, Zeta Is On Track To Hit Louisiana On Wednesday

Now A Hurricane , Zeta Is On Track To Hit Louisiana On Wednesday Zeta has officially strengthened into a hurricane , and is predicted to make landfall late Monday on Mexico 's Yucatan Peninsula before setting its sights on the U.S. Louisiana is directly in the path of Hurricane Zeta , which is expected to make landfall there on Wednesday night .
If it does so , it would be the fifth named storm to make landfall in the state during a single year — the highest number since the state started keeping records in 1851 , state climatologist Barry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few other storms have crossed into Louisiana after making landfall in other states . )
Gov .
John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in advance of the hurricane .
The storm is currently expected to bring 2-4 inches of rain across southeast Louisiana , but the greatest threat will come from high winds , Edwards said Monday .
`` The good thing , and the bad thing at the same time , is we 've had a lot of practice this year '' dealing with storms , Edwards said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guard have people on the ground ready to help once the storm hits , he said .
Louisianans are suffering from hurricane fatigue .
The state still has n't fully recovered from Hurricanes Laura and Delta .
More than 3,500 people are still in shelters after the devastation wrought by Laura and Delta , Edwards said .
According to meteorologist Sam Lillo , Louisiana has spent a cumulative three weeks in the 5-day National Hurricane Center forecast cones in 2020 .
Hurricane Zeta is the 11th hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday afternoon , with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph , according to the National Hurricane Center .
It 's slowly moving northwest at about 10 mph , but its speed is set to increase over the next day or so , at which point it is forecast to turn north on Tuesday night .
The hurricane could strengthen before the center crosses the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday night , NHC forecasters Richard Pasch said .
Zeta should weaken while it 's over land , but is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gulf of Mexico .
Once it makes landfall in the U.S. , heavy rainfall is expected all the way into the southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic states , leading to rainfall of 2-4 inches generally , with some areas seeing 6 inches of rain , which could lead to flooding .
While this storm is named Zeta , it is not the last in the Greek alphabet .
Next up for names in this year of many tropical cyclones : Eta , Theta and Iota .

Now A Hurricane, Zeta Is On Track To Hit Louisiana On Wednesday
Zeta has officially strengthened into a hurricane, and is predicted to make landfall late Monday on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula before setting its sights on the U.S.
Louisiana is directly in the path of Hurricane Zeta, which is expected to make landfall there on Wednesday night. If it does so, it would be the fifth named storm to make landfall in the state during a single year — the highest number since the state started keeping records in 1851, state climatologist Barry Keim told The Times-Picayune. (A few other storms have crossed into Louisiana after making landfall in other states.)
Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in advance of the hurricane. The storm is currently expected to bring 2-4 inches of rain across southeast Louisiana, but the greatest threat will come from high winds, Edwards said Monday.
"The good thing, and the bad thing at the same time, is we've had a lot of practice this year" dealing with storms, Edwards said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Guard have people on the ground ready to help once the storm hits, he said.
Louisianans are suffering from hurricane fatigue. The state still hasn't fully recovered from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. More than 3,500 people are still in shelters after the devastation wrought by Laura and Delta, Edwards said.
According to meteorologist Sam Lillo, Louisiana has spent a cumulative three weeks in the 5-day National Hurricane Center forecast cones in 2020.
Hurricane Zeta is the 11th hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season, and was about 90 miles from Mexico on Monday afternoon, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. It's slowly moving northwest at about 10 mph, but its speed is set to increase over the next day or so, at which point it is forecast to turn north on Tuesday night.
The hurricane could strengthen before the center crosses the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday night, NHC forecasters Richard Pasch said. Zeta should weaken while it's over land, but is likely to strengthen once it's back over the Gulf of Mexico.
Once it makes landfall in the U.S., heavy rainfall is expected all the way into the southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic states, leading to rainfall of 2-4 inches generally, with some areas seeing 6 inches of rain, which could lead to flooding.
While this storm is named Zeta, it is not the last in the Greek alphabet. Next up for names in this year of many tropical cyclones: Eta, Theta and Iota.


npr--2020-10-26--Chile Celebrates Voters' Decision To Scrap Constitution, Start Over

It started as a ripple : anger over higher subway prices .
But a growing wave of protests followed , and now people in Chile have voted overwhelmingly to throw out their country 's Pinochet-era constitution and create a new document under which to live .
Nearly 80 % of the voters chose to form a new constitution .
The result threw Chile into a huge celebration .
One year after Santiago 's streets were jammed by protesters , they were filled Sunday with revelers , ecstatic over the results of a national plebiscite .
There were music and fireworks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Chile Reborn .
`` Many Chileans see this as a turning point , an opportunity to end social inequalities that led to last year 's mass protests , '' NPR 's Philip Reeves reports for our Newscast unit .
`` They also voted to elect an assembly of 155 citizens , to write a new constitution .
Chileans have many demands , including the right to better pensions , health care , and education , and greater recognition for Indigenous people . ''
More than 7.5 million people voted , setting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 1988 , according to Servel , the country 's election service .
Chile 's population was recently estimated at more than 18 million people , up from an estimated 12.8 million in 1988 .
The vote was the most prized concession protesters won from President Sebastián Piñera and other leaders last fall .
Weeks of protests over economic inequality forced Piñera to agree to the move after his efforts at reform — including raising the minimum wage and pensions — failed to appease demonstrators .
The first protests last October were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid the higher subway fare .
After incidents of arson and violence , the president deployed the military to the streets , saying he would not bow down to an enemy .
But the sight of troops in the streets sparked new anger , particularly among older Chileans for whom it recalled the country 's troubled past under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet .
The protests and response also jarred the conceptions of Chile as one of South America 's most stable countries .
At least 30 people died in the unrest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to train systems , businesses and other targets were estimated in the billions of dollars .

Chile Celebrates Voters' Decision To Scrap Constitution, Start Over
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matias Basualdo/NurPhoto via Getty Images Matias Basualdo/NurPhoto via Getty Images
It started as a ripple: anger over higher subway prices. But a growing wave of protests followed, and now people in Chile have voted overwhelmingly to throw out their country's Pinochet-era constitution and create a new document under which to live. Nearly 80% of the voters chose to form a new constitution.
The result threw Chile into a huge celebration. One year after Santiago's streets were jammed by protesters, they were filled Sunday with revelers, ecstatic over the results of a national plebiscite. There were music and fireworks. Signs declared "Renace Chile" — Chile Reborn.
"Many Chileans see this as a turning point, an opportunity to end social inequalities that led to last year's mass protests," NPR's Philip Reeves reports for our Newscast unit. "They also voted to elect an assembly of 155 citizens, to write a new constitution. Chileans have many demands, including the right to better pensions, health care, and education, and greater recognition for Indigenous people."
More than 7.5 million people voted, setting a record for voter participation in Chile since at least 1988, according to Servel, the country's election service. Chile's population was recently estimated at more than 18 million people, up from an estimated 12.8 million in 1988.
The vote was the most prized concession protesters won from President Sebastián Piñera and other leaders last fall. Weeks of protests over economic inequality forced Piñera to agree to the move after his efforts at reform — including raising the minimum wage and pensions — failed to appease demonstrators.
The first protests last October were small, as students jumped turnstiles to avoid the higher subway fare. After incidents of arson and violence, the president deployed the military to the streets, saying he would not bow down to an enemy. But the sight of troops in the streets sparked new anger, particularly among older Chileans for whom it recalled the country's troubled past under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
The protests and response also jarred the conceptions of Chile as one of South America's most stable countries. At least 30 people died in the unrest, and thousands more were injured. Damages to train systems, businesses and other targets were estimated in the billions of dollars.


npr--2020-10-26--Vatican Court Hears Unprecedented Sexual Abuse Criminal Trial

Editor 's note : This story includes details some readers may find disturbing .
An unprecedented trial is underway this month at the Vatican , the result of a whistleblower going public .
A young priest is charged with sexually abusing an altar boy over a five-year period inside Vatican City walls .
An older priest is charged with covering up the abuse .
It 's the first criminal trial for sexual abuse to take place in the Vatican court .
The first hearing of the trial , held earlier this month , lasted just eight minutes — enough for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the charges .
The alleged victim , identified by his initials , LG , was forced `` to undergo carnal acts , acts of sodomy and masturbation at different times and in different places inside Vatican City , '' according to charges read out by the court clerk .
The alleged abuse took place from 2007 , when the victim was 13 , until 2012 .
The crime scene is the closed world of the St. Pius X youth seminary , whose residents — some as young as 11 — are known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
They serve Mass in St. Peter 's Basilica and are considering becoming priests .
One person closely following the trial from the U.S. is Anne Barrett Doyle , the co-director of BishopAccountability.org , which tracks clerical abuse cases around the world .
The Vatican trial is being run by the Roman Catholic Church , she notes , not a secular court .
`` So the first question will be , can the judge be impartial ? ''
she says .
`` The elephant in the courtroom is why this took so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The trial should have happened years ago , when the whistleblower first went to church authorities . ''
The whistleblower — the alleged victim 's roommate — is Kamil Jarzembowski , who was 15 at the time .
In 2012 , he reported the abuse to church authorities .
He received no response and at the end of the academic year was kicked out of the seminary .
In 2017 , he went public .
`` I saw my roommate being abused by another seminarian , '' he told an Italian investigative TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did n't understand .
It was the first time I saw two people having sex . ''
Over the course of the first academic year of the alleged abuse , the whistleblower said , he witnessed his roommate being raped at least 100 times — more or less every other day .
Public exposure in the Italian media of crimes allegedly committed a stone 's throw from St. Peter 's Basilica seriously undermined Pope Francis ' pledge of zero tolerance for clerical sex abuse .
Following Jarzembowski 's allegations , Francis waived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and instituted a new child protection policy inside the Vatican City .
After an investigation , Vatican prosecutors issued indictments last year .
The alleged abuser is the Rev .
Gabriele Martinelli , 28 , who was a seminarian and has since become a priest .
The other defendant is the 72-year-old Rev .
Enrico Radice , the seminary 's former rector — who is charged with aiding and abetting the alleged abuse .
The defendants will take the stand when the trial resumes on Tuesday .
Neither has yet entered a plea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is a prominent Italian magistrate , formerly one of Italy 's leading anti-mafia prosecutors .
The pope appointed him president of the Vatican criminal court last year as part of his reforms of Vatican bureaucracy .
The trial will follow Vatican City legislation , something that worries Francesco Zanardi , president of Rete l'Abuso , Italy 's first support group for victims of clerical sexual abuse .
`` As long as the Vatican views pedophilia as a crime against God and not against the individual , '' says Zanardi , `` no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
If the court finds the two defendants guilty , Barrett Doyle says , the Vatican must also hold their superiors to account .
`` It is really crucial , '' she says , `` that the church itself investigate the whole network of people who failed this victim and who intimidated the whistleblower . ''

Vatican Court Hears Unprecedented Sexual Abuse Criminal Trial
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Editor's note: This story includes details some readers may find disturbing.
An unprecedented trial is underway this month at the Vatican, the result of a whistleblower going public.
A young priest is charged with sexually abusing an altar boy over a five-year period inside Vatican City walls. An older priest is charged with covering up the abuse.
It's the first criminal trial for sexual abuse to take place in the Vatican court.
The first hearing of the trial, held earlier this month, lasted just eight minutes — enough for the Vatican court to hear graphic descriptions of the charges. The alleged victim, identified by his initials, LG, was forced "to undergo carnal acts, acts of sodomy and masturbation at different times and in different places inside Vatican City," according to charges read out by the court clerk.
The alleged abuse took place from 2007, when the victim was 13, until 2012.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gregorio Borgia/AP Gregorio Borgia/AP
The crime scene is the closed world of the St. Pius X youth seminary, whose residents — some as young as 11 — are known as the "pope's altar boys." They serve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and are considering becoming priests.
One person closely following the trial from the U.S. is Anne Barrett Doyle, the co-director of BishopAccountability.org, which tracks clerical abuse cases around the world.
The Vatican trial is being run by the Roman Catholic Church, she notes, not a secular court. "So the first question will be, can the judge be impartial?" she says.
"The elephant in the courtroom is why this took so long," she says. "The trial should have happened years ago, when the whistleblower first went to church authorities."
The whistleblower — the alleged victim's roommate — is Kamil Jarzembowski, who was 15 at the time. In 2012, he reported the abuse to church authorities. He received no response and at the end of the academic year was kicked out of the seminary.
In 2017, he went public.
"I saw my roommate being abused by another seminarian," he told an Italian investigative TV program. "I was scared. I didn't understand. It was the first time I saw two people having sex."
Over the course of the first academic year of the alleged abuse, the whistleblower said, he witnessed his roommate being raped at least 100 times — more or less every other day.
Public exposure in the Italian media of crimes allegedly committed a stone's throw from St. Peter's Basilica seriously undermined Pope Francis' pledge of zero tolerance for clerical sex abuse.
Following Jarzembowski's allegations, Francis waived the statute of limitations for sexual abuse and instituted a new child protection policy inside the Vatican City. After an investigation, Vatican prosecutors issued indictments last year.
The alleged abuser is the Rev. Gabriele Martinelli, 28, who was a seminarian and has since become a priest. The other defendant is the 72-year-old Rev. Enrico Radice, the seminary's former rector — who is charged with aiding and abetting the alleged abuse. The defendants will take the stand when the trial resumes on Tuesday. Neither has yet entered a plea.
The presiding judge, Giuseppe Pignatone, is a prominent Italian magistrate, formerly one of Italy's leading anti-mafia prosecutors. The pope appointed him president of the Vatican criminal court last year as part of his reforms of Vatican bureaucracy.
The trial will follow Vatican City legislation, something that worries Francesco Zanardi, president of Rete l'Abuso, Italy's first support group for victims of clerical sexual abuse.
"As long as the Vatican views pedophilia as a crime against God and not against the individual," says Zanardi, "no verdict can provide justice for the victim."
If the court finds the two defendants guilty, Barrett Doyle says, the Vatican must also hold their superiors to account.
"It is really crucial," she says, "that the church itself investigate the whole network of people who failed this victim and who intimidated the whistleblower."


npr--2020-10-26--El Paso, Texas, Judge Issues 2-Week Curfew To Stem Surge Of COVID-19 Cases

With new coronavirus cases on the rise , residents of El Paso , Texas , nestled on the U.S-Mexico border , are encouraged to stay home for two weeks as a judge imposes a mandatory curfew .
Noting that area hospitals are overrun and the positivity rate of residents has ballooned since the beginning of the month , El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said he was `` left with no choice '' but to impose a countywide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m .
The order went into effect Sunday and is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permitted to leave their residences from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for emergency reasons .
`` Our hospitals are now at a point where they are overwhelmed and exhausted , and I am left with no choice but to take this next step in hopes of seeing some stability in our community and most importantly to save lives , '' Samaniego said in a statement .
He noted that El Paso County has seen a 160 % increase in its positivity rate in the last three weeks .
There has also been an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , he said , adding that all area hospitals have reached capacity as of Saturday , including intensive care units .
Law enforcement officials are authorized to enforce the curfew , along with $ 250 fines for those not wearing a face covering .
A fine for any other violation of the order is double that amount , according to the statement .
The curfew comes as Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is deploying teams to help local officials combat the coronavirus surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will send two 35-person Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and a Trauma Critical Care Team to the region along with other assistance , according to Abbott 's office .
`` Texas is grateful to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for providing these crucial resources and for working alongside state and local officials to combat the spread of COVID-19 in El Paso , '' Abbott said in a statement .
`` We are working closely with our federal and local partners to meet the needs of the El Paso community and ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some success with contact tracing efforts , medical officials in El Paso have struggled in recent weeks with their ability to inform people in a timely manner they may have been exposed to the deadly virus , NPR member station KTEP in El Paso reported .
The portion of people who were notified within two days they were exposed to someone who tested positive for the coronavirus `` plummeted from 88 percent on Oct. 1 to 32 percent on Oct. 23 , '' according to KTEP .
`` We ca n't get test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't notify people fast enough , '' Dr. Ogechika Alozie , an infectious disease expert and chief medical officer at Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso , told the station .
`` Not enough of the people are responding to contact tracing .
And we do n't have that sort of precision around where exactly the cases are coming from to target , '' Alozie added .
El Paso County has recorded 40,887 positive cases and 576 deaths , as of Monday .
More than 71,000 new infections were recorded in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most in a single day since July , according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center , which tracks infections around the world .
The U.S. leads all other nations with number of cases and deaths from the virus .
More than 8.6 million Americans have tested positive for coronavirus and more than 225,000 have died .

El Paso, Texas, Judge Issues 2-Week Curfew To Stem Surge Of COVID-19 Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images
With new coronavirus cases on the rise, residents of El Paso, Texas, nestled on the U.S-Mexico border, are encouraged to stay home for two weeks as a judge imposes a mandatory curfew.
Noting that area hospitals are overrun and the positivity rate of residents has ballooned since the beginning of the month, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said he was "left with no choice" but to impose a countywide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The order went into effect Sunday and is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 8. Residents are only permitted to leave their residences from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for emergency reasons.
"Our hospitals are now at a point where they are overwhelmed and exhausted, and I am left with no choice but to take this next step in hopes of seeing some stability in our community and most importantly to save lives," Samaniego said in a statement.
He noted that El Paso County has seen a 160% increase in its positivity rate in the last three weeks. There has also been an 300% increase in hospitalizations over that time, he said, adding that all area hospitals have reached capacity as of Saturday, including intensive care units.
Law enforcement officials are authorized to enforce the curfew, along with $250 fines for those not wearing a face covering. A fine for any other violation of the order is double that amount, according to the statement.
The curfew comes as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is deploying teams to help local officials combat the coronavirus surge in the El Paso area.
HHS will send two 35-person Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and a Trauma Critical Care Team to the region along with other assistance, according to Abbott's office.
"Texas is grateful to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for providing these crucial resources and for working alongside state and local officials to combat the spread of COVID-19 in El Paso," Abbott said in a statement.
"We are working closely with our federal and local partners to meet the needs of the El Paso community and ultimately bring hospitalizations down."
After having some success with contact tracing efforts, medical officials in El Paso have struggled in recent weeks with their ability to inform people in a timely manner they may have been exposed to the deadly virus, NPR member station KTEP in El Paso reported.
The portion of people who were notified within two days they were exposed to someone who tested positive for the coronavirus "plummeted from 88 percent on Oct. 1 to 32 percent on Oct. 23," according to KTEP.
"We can't get test results back fast enough. We can't notify people fast enough," Dr. Ogechika Alozie, an infectious disease expert and chief medical officer at Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso, told the station.
"Not enough of the people are responding to contact tracing. And we don't have that sort of precision around where exactly the cases are coming from to target," Alozie added.
El Paso County has recorded 40,887 positive cases and 576 deaths, as of Monday.
More than 71,000 new infections were recorded in the U.S. on Thursday. It was the most in a single day since July, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, which tracks infections around the world.
The U.S. leads all other nations with number of cases and deaths from the virus. More than 8.6 million Americans have tested positive for coronavirus and more than 225,000 have died.