npr--2020-12-20--'Could You Help Santa?' In Christmas Wishlists, Children Write Of Pandemic Hardships

'Could You Help Santa ? '
In Christmas Wishlists , Children Write Of Pandemic Hardships Jonah does n't want anything for himself this Christmas .
Instead , he asked Santa `` to find a cure for Covid-19 and give it to us to save the world . ''
Other children hope Santa and his elves are staying healthy .
Yadhira wants help with her family 's bills .
Every holiday season , children write to Santa , scribbling down which toys they want and any burning questions they may have onto letters for mailing to the North Pole .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service makes these letters available for anyone to `` adopt '' through its Operation Santa program in order to help make these holiday wishes come true .
In non-pandemic times , these letters reflect typical childhood desires and imaginations — lots of tech gadgets , scooters , puppies and dolls .
But this year , the letters offer a unique glimpse at the psyche of children toughing it out through a crisis unlike anything they 've experienced before .
Kids everywhere have had to miss out on school and friendships .
Millions have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have watched loved ones get sick or even die .
For many of these children , holiday worries this year have extended far beyond whether they have been naughty or nice .
Operation Santa expects to receive a record surge in letters this year — and not just because it 's the first time in the program 's 108 year history that the Postal Service has expanded it nationwide .
`` In times of stress or crisis , you will get an extra uptick in letters , '' said Operation Santa spokesperson Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2007-2008 recession — in times of hardship like that — we got an increase in letters , '' she said .
While most of the letters that have come in this year can be described as carefree requests for presents , officials behind the program say they 're not surprised by some of the more gut-wrenching appeals in some of them .
As of Friday morning , more than 23,000 of the letters had been adopted , and USPS continues to refresh its site with new letters each day .
Psychologists say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mental health of children .
In socially distanced environments , kids are suffering from loneliness , as well as high levels of anxiety and depression .
Erlanger Turner , a clinical psychologist who specializes in parenting and child behavior , says letters to Santa can be a beneficial exercise for kids ' mental health .
`` Narrative therapy approaches , where we write out our feelings and emotions and experiences , is really helpful , '' said Turner .
`` You could definitely see in the letters that kids are witnessing stress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of financial concerns . ''
Turner said homelessness was a theme he noticed in several letters he read .
In some , he pointed out , children were `` wanting Santa to bring them things that they could even donate to make those individuals feel happy . ''
In one letter , for example , Bryce asks for a gift card so someone who is homeless can get food : `` I want someone else to smile . ''
`` Children are either experiencing hard times in their own families or just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turner said .
The letters to Santa , he added , can provide a starting point for families to begin talking about some of these difficult subjects .
`` Sometimes parents do n't even mention those things or have conversations with them about their financial struggles , but kids see things , '' said Turner .
If a letter to Santa Claus can be a window into a child 's thoughts , it also creates an opportunity for someone to lift the author 's spirits in difficult times .
To this day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind a gift he received through Operation Santa .
DiGrazia had been living in low-income housing with his two siblings and his single mother when she told him he should write a letter asking Santa for two things — `` just in case Santa ca n't get one or the other , '' he recalled .
He wanted an alarm clock — to help him `` be more independent '' — and a radio for entertainment .
When Christmas arrived , he got something he could n't even imagine he wanted : a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the best thing ever , '' said DiGrazia .
About five years ago , he started his own Operation Santa spinoff program , eventually leaving his career on Wall Street .
He founded Santa 's Knights , a nonprofit in New York City 's Harlem neighborhood that runs its own holiday letter adoption effort .
Earlier this month , a letter with a distressing request landed in his inbox .
Eight-year-old Morgan wrote , `` This year has been hard for my family .
We had to leave our house .
Could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother , Jeanine Campbell , was searching for charities that might help give her young daughters a merrier holiday when she discovered DiGrazia 's site .
That 's when she helped her two girls , London , 3 , and Morgan , write a letter to Santa .
The family is asking for warm clothes , diapers and Barbies .
Money has been especially tight in the past several months for the single mother , who says she 's relied on local food pantries to eat .
In March , Campbell , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost her second job — helping kids at an after-school learning program — when classes went virtual .
Then , over the summer , the 33-year-old said she emptied her savings to pay for a move into an apartment after their home in Tampa Bay house was condemned .
But a reply from Santa 's Knights was a bright spot amid the stress .
`` I was very blessed when I got an email that said that they would do whatever they can to help the kids , '' Campbell said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overcome with emotion when she thinks about the excitement Santa could bring her daughters this year .
`` They keep asking me , 'Mommy , did Santa get our letters ? '
`` she said .
`` Before this happened , I was n't sure that they would have anything .
It 's really moved me to be able to be so happy that , yeah , Santa 's going to get them — he 'll do what he can .
I 'm so grateful because I did n't know , I really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ na happen . ''

'Could You Help Santa?' In Christmas Wish Lists, Children Write Of Pandemic Hardships
Jonah doesn't want anything for himself this Christmas. Instead, he asked Santa Claus to "find a cure for Covid-19 and give it to us to save the world." Other children hope Santa and his elves are staying healthy. Yadhira wants help with her family's bills.
Every holiday season, children write to Santa, scribbling down which toys they want and any burning questions they may have onto letters for mailing to the North Pole. And every year, the U.S. Postal Service makes these letters available for anyone to "adopt" through its Operation Santa program to help make these wishes come true.
In non-pandemic times, these letters reflect typical childhood desires and imaginations — lots of tech gadgets, scooters, puppies and dolls. But this year, the letters offer a unique glimpse at the psyche of children toughing it out through a crisis unlike anything they've experienced before.
Kids everywhere have had to miss out on school and friendships. Millions have seen parents lose jobs, while others have watched loved ones get sick or even die. For many of these children, holiday worries this year have extended far beyond whether they have been naughty or nice.
Enlarge this image USPS Operation Santa USPS Operation Santa
Operation Santa expects to receive a record surge in letters this year — and not just because it's the first time in the program's 108-year history that the Postal Service has expanded it nationwide.
"In times of stress or crisis, you will get an extra uptick in letters," said Operation Santa spokesperson Kim Frum. "As an example, the 2007-2008 recession — in times of hardship like that — we got an increase in letters," she said.
While most of the letters that have come in this year can be described as carefree requests for presents, officials behind the program say they're not surprised by some of the more gut-wrenching appeals in some of them. As of Friday morning, more than 23,000 of the letters had been adopted, and USPS continues to refresh its site with new letters each day.
USPS Operation Santa
Psychologists say pandemic stressors are taking a toll on the mental health of children. In socially distanced environments, kids are suffering from loneliness as well as high levels of anxiety and depression.
Erlanger Turner, a clinical psychologist who specializes in parenting and child behavior, says letters to Santa can be a beneficial exercise for kids' mental health.
"Narrative therapy approaches, where we write out our feelings and emotions and experiences, is really helpful," said Turner. "You could definitely see in the letters that kids are witnessing stress that their parents are feeling, in terms of financial concerns."
Turner said homelessness was a theme he noticed in several letters he read. In some, he pointed out, children were "wanting Santa to bring them things that they could even donate to make those individuals feel happy."
In one letter, for example, Bryce asks for a gift card so someone who is homeless can get food: "I want someone [else] to smile."
"Children are either experiencing hard times in their own families or just witnessing things in their communities," Turner said.
The letters to Santa, he added, can provide a starting point for families to begin talking about some of these difficult subjects.
"Sometimes parents don't even mention those things or have conversations with them about their financial struggles, but kids see things," said Turner.
A Santa's helper pays it forward
If a letter to Santa Claus can be a window into a child's thoughts, it also creates an opportunity for someone to lift the author's spirits in difficult times.
To this day, Damion DiGrazia is driven by the thoughtfulness behind a gift he received through Operation Santa.
DiGrazia had been living in low-income housing with his two siblings and his single mother when she told him he should write a letter asking Santa for two things — "just in case Santa can't get one or the other," he recalled.
He wanted an alarm clock — to help him "be more independent" — and a radio for entertainment. When Christmas arrived, he got something he couldn't even imagine he wanted: a two-in-one alarm clock radio.
"It was the best thing ever," said DiGrazia.
About five years ago, he started his own Operation Santa spinoff program, eventually leaving his career on Wall Street. He founded Santa's Knights, a nonprofit in New York City's Harlem neighborhood that runs its own holiday-letter adoption effort.
This month, a letter with a distressing request landed in his inbox.
Eight-year-old Morgan wrote, "This year has been hard for my family. We had to leave our house. Could you help Santa?"
Morgan's mother, Jeanine Campbell, was searching for charities that might help give her young daughters a merrier holiday when she discovered DiGrazia's site. That's when she helped her two girls, London, 3, and Morgan, write a letter to Santa. The family is asking for warm clothes, diapers and Barbies.
toggle caption Courtesy of Jeanine Campbell
Money has been especially tight in the past several months for the single mother, who says she has relied on local food pantries to eat. In March, Campbell, a teacher from St. Petersburg, Fla., lost her second job — helping kids at an after-school learning program — when classes went virtual. Then, over the summer, the 33-year-old said she emptied her savings to pay for a move into an apartment after their Tampa Bay house was condemned.
But a reply from Santa's Knights was a bright spot amid the stress.
"I was very blessed when I got an email that said that they would do whatever they can to help the kids," Campbell said. "I was overjoyed."
Campbell is overcome with emotion when she thinks about the excitement Santa could bring her daughters this year.
"They keep asking me, 'Mommy, did Santa get our letters?' " she said. "Before this happened, I wasn't sure that they would have anything. It's really moved me to be able to be so happy that, yeah, Santa's going to get them — he'll do what he can. I'm so grateful because I didn't know, I really didn't know that this was gonna happen."


npr--2020-12-20--Why The CDC Eviction Ban Isn't Really A Ban: 'I Have Nowhere To Go'

Why The CDC Eviction Ban Is n't Really A Ban : ' I Have Nowhere To Go' When Tiffany Robinson heard about an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop evictions , it seemed like the life-raft she needed .
`` I thought this is going to help , '' said Robinson , `` this is going to protect me . ''
But Robinson soon found out that what 's often referred to as the `` CDC Eviction Ban '' is hardly a ban .
Earlier this year after the pandemic hit , Robinson lost her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in Bridge City , Texas and struggling to survive and raise her three kids on unemployment benefits alone .
When she started to fall behind on the rent , her landlord filed an eviction case .
The Texas court entered a judgement ordering Robinson 's eviction , and she was still in her apartment when the CDC order went into effect .
So she went to the CDC 's website , printed out the required form to declare that she met the the criteria , signed it and gave it to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to stop an eviction if a renter has lost income and has no place else to go .
But on November 5 , Robinson 's landlord told her she and her family had 24 hours to gather their belongings and get out of the apartment .
Either that , or the Sheriff 's department would evict them .
Because she had filled out the CDC form , Robinson thought it might be a bluff .
But she was worried enough to file a complaint and plea for help on the state Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowhere to go .
I meet all the criteria for protection , '' she wrote .
`` I have three kids who will be homeless tomorrow morning if I ca n't stop this .
This is wrong . ''
But at 9am , two men and a woman showed up at her door .
They were neighbors from the same apartment complex who she assumes were hired by her landlord .
Robinson said they took sheets and blankets off the beds , spread them out on the floor , and piled them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paintings .
`` Everything from the room , in the comforter , tie it up like a knapsack , '' then she says they threw the bundles off the 2nd floor balcony down into the yard below .
While all this was happening , her 12-year-old son was doing remote schooling in his bedroom until they yanked the WiFi system out of the wall .
`` I shut his bedroom door , and told them that room is last , '' says Robinson , `` He 's doing schoolwork .
do n't go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently separated from her husband , spoke to NPR from a hotel where she 's staying with the kids while she tries to find another place to live .
Evictions expected to rise without more help For people like Robinson , a lot is riding on the latest compromise relief bill in Congress .
If it does n't pass in time , some 12 million Americans are going to lose their unemployment benefits the day after Christmas .
`` Tens of millions of people may lose their homes this winter during this height @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition .
`` And the consequences of that would be catastrophic for kids , for families , and for our country 's ability to contain the pandemic . ''
Already one study has attributed thousands of deaths in Texas alone to evictions because displaced families have been forced into more crowded living situations where they caught and spread COVID .
That 's why the CDC issued the order , but it is set to expire at the end of the year .
The compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have $ 25 billion dollars for emergency rental assistance , and could extend the CDC Order through January .
Housing advocates say that 's a good thing .
Yentel says the rental assistance is desperately needed and the CDC order is protecting many people .
But she says the order itself also needs to be beefed-up because there are many other cases where it 's not working .
`` One of the flaws is that it 's not automatic and so renters need to know that the protection exists and they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to receive that protection , '' Yentel says .
The order is also being treated differently by judges around the country so the outcomes vary wildly depending on where people live or what court they end up in .
Robinson in Texas is now well aware of that .
She says her son is still shaken up since the eviction .
`` He has not wanted to leave my side , '' she says .
`` Like , not even to go to the bathroom leave my side like he stands outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email to NPR that the eviction , `` was completed entirely through the court system . ''
It 's unclear exactly what happened in Robinson 's case .
Legal-aid attorneys say the CDC order has murky legal grey areas — and many judges often just side with the landlord .
John Pollock is an attorney who heads up the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel , which advocates for renters to be provided access to a lawyer before an eviction can happen .
He says the vast majority of renters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's basically in every case , you 're going to have a massive imbalance of power . ''
He says because of that , the CDC should order a simple blanket ban on evictions during the pandemic , just like some states had done earlier this year .
He says if there was a federal moratorium like that , `` the tenant would not have to do something affirmatively to be protected . ''
And he says , `` the courts would n't have to get into , 'well , does this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' '' Pollock says he 's also hearing about thousands of complaints to law enforcement and legal aid offices around the country from people who feel their landlord is evicting them improperly .
In her case , Tiffany Robinson is convinced she was treated unfairly .
She 's filed complaints with various law enforcement offices .
She says she even called the FBI to ask for help .
`` I put it on speaker-phone so that the kids could hear it . ''
She says she wants them to know , `` that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I had done everything I knew to do and I thought that was going to protect us . ''

Why The CDC Eviction Ban Isn't Really A Ban: 'I Have Nowhere To Go'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Dwyer/AP Michael Dwyer/AP
When Tiffany Robinson heard about an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop evictions, it seemed like the life raft she needed.
"I thought this is going to help," said Robinson, "this is going to protect me."
But Robinson soon found out that what's often referred to as the "CDC eviction ban" is hardly a ban. This year after the coronavirus pandemic hit, Robinson lost her job managing construction sites. She was living in Bridge City, Texas, and was struggling to survive and raise her three kids on unemployment benefits alone. When she started to fall behind on her rent, her landlord filed an eviction case.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tiffany Robinson Tiffany Robinson
A Texas court entered a judgment ordering Robinson's eviction, but she was still in her apartment when the CDC order went into effect.
So she went to the CDC's website, printed out the required form to declare that she met the criteria, signed it and gave it to her landlord. In theory, that's supposed to stop an eviction if a renter has lost income and has no place else to go.
But on Nov. 5, Robinson's landlord told her that she and her family had 24 hours to gather their belongings and get out of the apartment. Either that, or the sheriff's department would evict them.
Because she had filled out the CDC form, Robinson thought it might be a bluff. But she was worried enough to file a complaint and plea for help on the state attorney general's website.
"I have nowhere to go. I meet all the criteria for protection," she wrote. "I have three kids who will be homeless tomorrow morning if I can't stop this. This is wrong."
But at 9 a.m., two men and a woman showed up at her door. They were neighbors from the same apartment complex who, she assumes, were hired by her landlord.
Robinson said they took sheets and blankets off the beds, spread them out on the floor and piled them with electronics, lamps, clothes, kids' paintings.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tiffany Robinson Tiffany Robinson
"Everything from the room, in the comforter, tie it up like a knapsack"; then she says they threw the bundles off the second-floor balcony and down into the yard below.
While all this was happening, her 12-year-old son was doing remote schooling in his bedroom until they yanked the Wi-Fi system out of the wall.
"I shut his bedroom door and told them that room is last," says Robinson. "He's doing schoolwork. Don't go in there."
Robinson, who recently separated from her husband, spoke to NPR from a hotel where she's staying with her kids while she tries to find another place to live.
Evictions expected to rise without more help
For people like Robinson, a lot is riding on the latest compromise relief bill in Congress. If it doesn't pass in time, some 12 million Americans are going to lose their unemployment benefits the day after Christmas.
"Tens of millions of people may lose their homes this winter during this height of COVID-19," says Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "And the consequences of that would be catastrophic for kids, for families and for our country's ability to contain the pandemic."
Already one study has attributed thousands of deaths in Texas alone to evictions because displaced families have been forced into more crowded living situations where they caught and spread COVID-19.
That's why the CDC issued the order, but it is set to expire at the end of the year.
The compromise COVID-19 relief bill in Congress is expected to have $25 billion for emergency rental assistance and could extend the CDC order through January.
Housing advocates say that's a good thing. Yentel says that the rental assistance is desperately needed and that the CDC order is protecting many people. But she says the order itself also needs to be beefed up because there are many other cases where it's not working.
"One of the flaws is that it's not automatic, and so renters need to know that the protection exists and they need to know what actions to take in order to receive that protection," Yentel says.
The order is also being treated differently by judges around the U.S., so outcomes vary wildly depending on where people live or what court they end up in.
Robinson in Texas is now well aware of that. She says her son is still shaken up since the eviction.
"He has not wanted to leave my side," she says. "Like, not even to go to the bathroom leave my side, like he stands outside the door."
Her landlord said in an email to NPR that the eviction "was completed entirely through the court system."
It's unclear exactly what happened in Robinson's case. Legal-aid attorneys say the CDC order has murky legal gray areas — and many judges often just side with the landlord.
John Pollock is an attorney who heads up the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, which advocates for renters to be provided access to a lawyer before an eviction can happen. He says the vast majority of renters don't have a lawyer. "It's basically in every case, you're going to have a massive imbalance of power."
He says because of that, the CDC should order a simple blanket ban on evictions during the pandemic, just like some states had done earlier this year.
He says if there were a federal moratorium like that, "the tenant would not have to do something affirmatively to be protected." And he says, "The courts wouldn't have to get into, 'Well, does this cover this situation or that situation?' "
Pollock says he's also hearing about thousands of complaints to law enforcement and legal aid offices around the country from people who feel their landlord is evicting them improperly.
In her case, Robinson is convinced she was treated unfairly. She has filed complaints with various law enforcement offices. She says she even called the FBI to ask for help.
"I put it on speaker phone so that the kids could hear it." She says she wants them to know "that I didn't just give up, because I had done everything I knew to do and I thought that was going to protect us."


npr--2020-12-20--Congress Poised To Simplify FAFSA, And Help People In Prison Go To College

Congress Poised To Simplify FAFSA , And Help People In Prison Go To College U.S. lawmakers have announced an agreement on a handful of higher education measures that would provide meaningful help to marginalized students , students of color and many of the schools that serve them .
The aid is part of a broad new set of legislation , meant to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2021 .
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposed changes this week .
`` This bipartisan agreement is a significant step toward making higher education more affordable for millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic chairman of the House education committee , said in a statement Sunday night .
The higher education measures include further simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ) , discharging federal loans given to help historically black colleges and universities pay for campus improvements , expanding the Pell Grant program for low-income college students and restoring Pell Grant eligibility for would-be students who are incarcerated .
Here 's a closer look at what lawmakers say they have negotiated : This move will be the latest in a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FAFSA less of an obstacle .
The 108-question form is required for any student who wants help paying for college .
This latest round of changes would shorten the form by removing dozens of questions that do n't apply to most students and that may confuse borrowers who do n't have help filling it out .
The deal also expands outreach , to help at-risk students complete the form .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , the outgoing Republican chairman of the Senate education committee , has long advocated for making the FAFSA easier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , Congress and the President will simplify federal student aid for 20 million families who fill out these unnecessarily complicated forms every year , '' Alexander said in a statement Sunday night .
`` Reducing the FAFSA from 108 questions to 36 will remove the biggest barrier to helping more low-income students pursue higher education . ''
In a Dec. 3 letter to congressional leaders , Justin Draeger , head of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators , wrote that low-income students complete the FAFSA at a rate 7 percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` the timing for FAFSA simplification could not be more urgent ... with FAFSA completions among high school seniors currently down 15 % compared to this time last year . ''
In 2018 , a review by the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that nearly half of all historically black colleges and universities ' building space was in need of either repair or replacement .
The HBCU Capital Financing Program was designed to give these schools `` access to capital financing or refinancing for the repair , renovation , and construction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , instructional equipment , and research instrumentation , '' according to the Department of Education .
For example , in October , Morgan State University , a prominent HBCU in Baltimore , borrowed nearly $ 70 million to build a new dining hall and help pay for a new , 670-bed dorm .
Under this new agreement , Congress would cancel all remaining debt obligations stemming from the roughly 80 outstanding loans made through the program , benefitting more than 40 HBCUs to the tune of more than $ 1 billion .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help low-income students pay for college without having to rely solely on loans .
For the 2020-2021 award year , students who qualify can receive a maximum grant of $ 6,345 — money that does not need to be paid back .
But student advocates have argued that the formula for calculating Pell eligibility , which depends on a student 's `` Expected Family Contribution , '' is too complex and makes it difficult to know how much help a student will get before they fill out the FAFSA .
Under this new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to predict and pegged to federal poverty guidelines .
The hope is , if it 's clearer to potential students that they 'll qualify for upwards of $ 6,000 in Pell aid , they 'll be more likely to complete the FAFSA .
According to Nerdwallet , the high school class of 2018 missed out on $ 2.6 billion in Pell Grants because they did n't complete the FAFSA .
The proposed change would not only expand the pool of students who apply for and benefit from the Pell program , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to a statement from Alexander , the expansion would `` enable an additional 555,000 students qualify for Pell grants each year ; and enable an additional 1.7 million students qualify to receive the maximum Pell grant award each year . ''
For the past 26 years , one sentence in federal law has withheld federal Pell Grants from the nearly 1.5 million people in state and federal prison .
The proposed change would strike this line from the law , and allow incarcerated people eligibility to use federal dollars to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change was already approved by the U.S. House in July .
The ban stems from the 1994 crime bill , which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton .
Without that federal funding , higher education programs in prisons began to disappear .
That 's despite research that 's shown education to be one of the most cost-effective ways to keep people from returning to prison once they 're released .
The Vera Institute of Justice estimates restoring Pell for inmates would open the grant up to about half a million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher education providers to once again offer credentials and classes to incarcerated people .
Over the last three years about 17,000 people have enrolled in higher ed classes while in prison , according to the Vera Institute .
That 's thanks to a pilot program , started by the Obama administration , called Second Chance Pell .
The program made Pell Grants available to a handful of college-in-prison programs across the country , and has won the support of both Democrats and Republicans .

Congress Poised To Simplify FAFSA, And Help People In Prison Go To College
Enlarge this image toggle caption Samuel Corum/Getty Images Samuel Corum/Getty Images
U.S. lawmakers have announced an agreement on a handful of higher education measures that would provide meaningful help to marginalized students, students of color and many of the schools that serve them. The aid is part of a broad new set of legislation, meant to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2021. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposed changes this week.
"This bipartisan agreement is a significant step toward making higher education more affordable for millions of Americans," Rep. Bobby Scott, the Democratic chairman of the House education committee, said in a statement Sunday night.
The higher education measures include further simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), discharging federal loans given to help historically black colleges and universities pay for campus improvements, expanding the Pell Grant program for low-income college students and restoring Pell Grant eligibility for would-be students who are incarcerated.
Here's a closer look at what lawmakers say they have negotiated:
A shorter FAFSA
This move will be the latest in a series of efforts in recent years to make the FAFSA less of an obstacle. The 108-question form is required for any student who wants help paying for college. This latest round of changes would shorten the form by removing dozens of questions that don't apply to most students and that may confuse borrowers who don't have help filling it out. The deal also expands outreach, to help at-risk students complete the form.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, the outgoing Republican chairman of the Senate education committee, has long advocated for making the FAFSA easier.
"After nearly seven years of work, Congress and the President will simplify federal student aid for 20 million families who fill out these unnecessarily complicated forms every year," Alexander said in a statement Sunday night. "Reducing the FAFSA from 108 questions to 36 will remove the biggest barrier to helping more low-income students pursue higher education."
In a Dec. 3 letter to congressional leaders, Justin Draeger, head of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, wrote that low-income students complete the FAFSA at a rate 7 percentage points lower than their higher-income peers and that "the timing for FAFSA simplification could not be more urgent... with FAFSA completions among high school seniors currently down 15% compared to this time last year."
Canceling HBCU debt
In 2018, a review by the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that nearly half of all historically black colleges and universities' building space was in need of either repair or replacement. The HBCU Capital Financing Program was designed to give these schools "access to capital financing or refinancing for the repair, renovation, and construction of classrooms, libraries, laboratories, dormitories, instructional equipment, and research instrumentation," according to the Department of Education. For example, in October, Morgan State University, a prominent HBCU in Baltimore, borrowed nearly $70 million to build a new dining hall and help pay for a new, 670-bed dorm.
Under this new agreement, Congress would cancel all remaining debt obligations stemming from the roughly 80 outstanding loans made through the program, benefitting more than 40 HBCUs to the tune of more than $1 billion.
Expanding Pell Grants
The federal Pell Grant program was meant to help low-income students pay for college without having to rely solely on loans. For the 2020-2021 award year, students who qualify can receive a maximum grant of $6,345 — money that does not need to be paid back. But student advocates have argued that the formula for calculating Pell eligibility, which depends on a student's "Expected Family Contribution," is too complex and makes it difficult to know how much help a student will get before they fill out the FAFSA.
Under this new compromise, Pell eligibility would be simpler to predict and pegged to federal poverty guidelines. The hope is, if it's clearer to potential students that they'll qualify for upwards of $6,000 in Pell aid, they'll be more likely to complete the FAFSA. According to Nerdwallet, the high school class of 2018 missed out on $2.6 billion in Pell Grants because they didn't complete the FAFSA.
The proposed change would not only expand the pool of students who apply for and benefit from the Pell program, it would also make the program itself more generous.
According to a statement from Alexander, the expansion would "enable an additional 555,000 students qualify for Pell grants each year; and enable an additional 1.7 million students qualify to receive the maximum Pell grant award each year."
Reinstating Pell Grants for people in prison
For the past 26 years, one sentence in federal law has withheld federal Pell Grants from the nearly 1.5 million people in state and federal prison. The proposed change would strike this line from the law, and allow incarcerated people eligibility to use federal dollars to pay for college while in prison. This change was already approved by the U.S. House in July.
The ban stems from the 1994 crime bill, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Without that federal funding, higher education programs in prisons began to disappear. That's despite research that's shown education to be one of the most cost-effective ways to keep people from returning to prison once they're released. The Vera Institute of Justice estimates restoring Pell for inmates would open the grant up to about half a million people -- and there's growing interest among higher education providers to once again offer credentials and classes to incarcerated people.
Over the last three years about 17,000 people have enrolled in higher ed classes while in prison, according to the Vera Institute. That's thanks to a pilot program, started by the Obama administration, called Second Chance Pell. The program made Pell Grants available to a handful of college-in-prison programs across the country, and has won the support of both Democrats and Republicans.


npr--2020-12-20--Millions Of People Flying Despite Public Health Pleas To Stay Put

Millions Of People Flying Despite Public Health Pleas To Stay Put More than 2 million people have passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports over the last two days , according to statistics provided by the Transportation Security Administration .
This is despite official guidance to stay home for the holidays as the coronavirus pandemic rages and the nation 's death toll continues to rise .
On both Friday and Saturday , about 1.07 million travelers passed through TSA checkpoints , the agency reported .
That 's down nearly 60 % from last year , but still much higher than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began .
More than 17 million cases of the virus have been reported in the U.S. , and over 317,000 people have died , according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center .
The TSA had expected passenger volume to increase during the end-of-year holiday travel season .
In addition to the typical pandemic advice — keep six feet apart from others and wear a face mask — the agency advised arriving early to allow extra time to go through security .
`` COVID-19 has affected staffing and operations across the airport environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress level low , '' the agency said in a blog post Friday .
The TSA on Friday also reminded passengers that it has relaxed restrictions on how much hand sanitizer travelers can bring in their carry-on luggage — 12 ounces , up from the typical liquid max of 3.4 ounces .
But most Americans who travel for the holidays will do so by car .
AAA projects the nation 's roadways will be less crowded than last holiday season as many people stay home .
The group said it expected at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year — a decline of 29 % .
For those wishing to travel , the AAA cited recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : Take a COVID-19 test a few days before travel , and another a few days after travel , while reducing nonessential activities .

Millions Of People Flying Despite Public Health Pleas To Stay Put
Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images
More than 2 million people have passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports over the last two days, according to statistics provided by the Transportation Security Administration. This is despite official guidance to stay home for the holidays as the coronavirus pandemic rages and the nation's death toll continues to rise.
On both Friday and Saturday, about 1.07 million travelers passed through TSA checkpoints, the agency reported. That's down nearly 60% from last year, but still much higher than the typical checkpoint statistics since the pandemic began.
More than 17 million cases of the virus have been reported in the U.S., and over 317,000 people have died, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
The TSA had expected passenger volume to increase during the end-of-year holiday travel season. In addition to the typical pandemic advice — keep six feet apart from others and wear a face mask — the agency advised arriving early to allow extra time to go through security. "COVID-19 has affected staffing and operations across the airport environment, so extra time will keep your stress level low," the agency said in a blog post Friday.
The TSA on Friday also reminded passengers that it has relaxed restrictions on how much hand sanitizer travelers can bring in their carry-on luggage — 12 ounces, up from the typical liquid max of 3.4 ounces.
But most Americans who travel for the holidays will do so by car. AAA projects the nation's roadways will be less crowded than last holiday season as many people stay home. The group said it expected at least 34 million fewer travelers compared to last year — a decline of 29%.
For those wishing to travel, the AAA cited recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Take a COVID-19 test a few days before travel, and another a few days after travel, while reducing nonessential activities.


npr--2020-12-20--Scores Of Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolchildren Rescued

At least 84 kidnapped schoolchildren were rescued following a gun battle between their abductors , security forces and local vigilantes , according to Nigerian police .
The children were taken on Saturday while returning home to their village after a religious ceremony .
It was the second mass kidnapping in Nigeria 's northwestern Katsina state in eight days .
On Friday , more than 300 schoolboys were freed roughly a week after they were abducted from a boarding school .
This most recent kidnapping has also yet to be attributed to any specific group or organization , with police referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' according to the BBC .
Motorcycle bandit groups have been on the rise in northwestern Nigeria , often kidnapping for ransom and leading to deadly clashes as local residents have employed armed vigilantes to protect farms and villages .
The earlier kidnapping is also believed to be the work of `` bandits , '' and not Boko Haram , the BBC said .
These recent mass kidnappings have caused many Nigerians to protest against the government , which they say has allowed these groups to gather strength and commit violence without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to these concerns this past week after the larger group of schoolchildren was released safely , asking Nigerians to `` be patient and fair '' — only to have more than 80 children kidnapped two days later .
Both kidnappings are reminiscent of the high-profile 2014 Boko Haram abduction of 276 schoolgirls in northeastern Nigeria , which made international headlines as officials searched for the missing girls .
More than 100 of those girls still appear to be in captivity .

Scores Of Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolchildren Rescued
At least 84 kidnapped schoolchildren were rescued following a gun battle between their abductors, security forces and local vigilantes, according to Nigerian police. The children were taken on Saturday while returning home to their village after a religious ceremony.
It was the second mass kidnapping in Nigeria's northwestern Katsina state in eight days. On Friday, more than 300 schoolboys were freed roughly a week after they were abducted from a boarding school.
This most recent kidnapping has also yet to be attributed to any specific group or organization, with police referring to the kidnappers only as "bandits," according to the BBC. Motorcycle bandit groups have been on the rise in northwestern Nigeria, often kidnapping for ransom and leading to deadly clashes as local residents have employed armed vigilantes to protect farms and villages.
The earlier kidnapping is also believed to be the work of "bandits," and not Boko Haram, the BBC said.
These recent mass kidnappings have caused many Nigerians to protest against the government, which they say has allowed these groups to gather strength and commit violence without fear of consequences. President Muhammadu Buhari responded to these concerns this past week after the larger group of schoolchildren was released safely, asking Nigerians to "be patient and fair" — only to have more than 80 children kidnapped two days later.
Both kidnappings are reminiscent of the high-profile 2014 Boko Haram abduction of 276 schoolgirls in northeastern Nigeria, which made international headlines as officials searched for the missing girls. More than 100 of those girls still appear to be in captivity.


npr--2020-12-20--'This Is An Exciting Thing.' For Frontline Workers, Vaccine Comes As A Massive Relief

'This Is An Exciting Thing . '
For Frontline Workers , Vaccine Comes As A Massive Relief Tens of thousands of health care workers in cities and states all over the country got their first doses of the new Pfizer coronavirus vaccine this past week — a monumental undertaking both scientifically and logistically — and more than seven million doses of the Pfizer and newly-authorized Moderna vaccine are being shipped out this coming week .
The process has faced some bumps , as states learned unexpectedly their allocation would be smaller than anticipated .
But the arrival of the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those who 've been caring for COVID-19 patients since the early days of the pandemic .
`` A lot of us are tired , and this is an exciting thing to be able to have , '' says Rebecca Engberg , an ICU nurse at Seattle 's Children 's Hospital .
`` Hopefully it 's the first step forward to trying to get things back to normal . ''
Engberg was among the health care workers to get her shot at the hospital 's vaccine clinic this past week .
She 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhaustion of so many other health care workers .
`` It 's scary working with these patients , so anything that gives you a little bit of protection makes you feel better , '' she says .
Engberg looked at the data around the Pfizer vaccine and did n't have any real hesitation about getting the vaccine .
Evan Mew , a respiratory therapist at Seattle Children 's , was more reticent about getting the shot .
`` I was a little concerned about how fast this went through .
I have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this past year , '' says Mew .
But Mew ultimately decided the benefits outweighed the risks and got the vaccine right ahead of Engberg .
`` I just want to get this virus over with .
I want this to go away , '' he says .
On Sunday , federal officials said the second vaccine from Moderna is starting to be shipped out .
The first phase of the vaccine rollout is targeting health care workers and others who are at high risk , although the exact plans vary from state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dry run for the complicated logistics that will go into distributing millions of doses around the country to the general public .
`` Probably the biggest challenge is planning when you do n't have information and details , '' says Dr. Danielle Zerr with Seattle Children 's Hospital .
Zerr says they could be vaccinating two to three times as many people , but the vaccine is not coming as fast as some states would like .
`` We have the freezer space , we have the staff , we have the clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it , '' says Zerr .
At the end of this week , Washington and other states discovered they are getting about 40 % fewer doses than they initially expected .
At first it was unclear why .
On Saturday , U.S. Army General Gustave Perna , the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed , explained the hold-up was a miscommunication with states about how much would be ready , not indicative of wider issues with availability .
`` There is no problem with the process .
There is no problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` It was a planning error and I am responsible . ''
Perna said the U.S. is still on track to send out 20 million doses by the end of the month .
After initially raising concern about the reduction in doses , Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said he was reassured after speaking to Perna .
`` At this time , there is no indication further reductions are likely to occur , '' said Inslee in a tweet on Friday .
`` That is good news . ''
But some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a product of the federal government 's overall lack of investment and planning in the vaccine rollout .
`` I am not surprised , '' said Dr. Jeff Duchin with Public Health — Seattle King County on Friday .
`` I am disappointed that it happened so quickly that we are already seeing challenges with respect to allocation . ''
With vaccine doses still relatively scarce , there is also push-back at some hospitals over who got prioritized for the very first doses this past week .
In California , Stanford medical residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot , while employees who are n't at the bedside working with COVID-19 patients did .
On Friday , Stanford Medicine apologized to the more than 1,000 residents and said it was `` working quickly to address the flaws . ''
At her hospital in Washington , nurse Ashley Bower said there was a glitch where she and some health care workers who work in the ICU did not receive a vaccine invitation , even as administrative staff got shots .
`` They do n't even come to the COVID floors and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontline staff that 's doing the work , '' Bower said .
`` No one was aware of it .
We had totally been forgotten . ''
Eventually , she and her co-workers were able to get scheduled for their first shot .
`` I 've heard this from other nurses across the country that this is happening to them , '' she said .
And while the vaccine is a big comfort , Seattle nurse Karine Ingraham said it does n't change the grueling nature of her work with COVID-19 patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of extremes , '' she says .
`` I 'm listening to people say goodbye to their loved ones via Facetime .
I 've been doing that for a year and I still cry every time , but also sometimes I get to see people who leave the ICU . ''

'This Is An Exciting Thing.' For Frontline Workers, Vaccine Comes As A Massive Relief
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brian van der Brug/AP Brian van der Brug/AP
Tens of thousands of health care workers in cities and states all over the country got their first doses of the new Pfizer coronavirus vaccine this past week — a monumental undertaking both scientifically and logistically — and more than seven million doses of the Pfizer and newly-authorized Moderna vaccine are being shipped out this coming week.
The process has faced some bumps, as states learned unexpectedly their allocation would be smaller than anticipated. But the arrival of the initial shipments still came as a huge relief to those who've been caring for COVID-19 patients since the early days of the pandemic.
"A lot of us are tired, and this is an exciting thing to be able to have," says Rebecca Engberg, an ICU nurse at Seattle's Children's Hospital. "Hopefully it's the first step forward to trying to get things back to normal."
Engberg was among the health care workers to get her shot at the hospital's vaccine clinic this past week. She's cared for COVID-19 patients and shares the exhaustion of so many other health care workers.
"It's scary working with these patients, so anything that gives you a little bit of protection makes you feel better," she says.
Engberg looked at the data around the Pfizer vaccine and didn't have any real hesitation about getting the vaccine.
Evan Mew, a respiratory therapist at Seattle Children's, was more reticent about getting the shot.
"I was a little concerned about how fast this went through. I have not really been one to trust this government this past year," says Mew.
But Mew ultimately decided the benefits outweighed the risks and got the vaccine right ahead of Engberg.
"I just want to get this virus over with. I want this to go away," he says.
On Sunday, federal officials said the second vaccine from Moderna is starting to be shipped out.
The first phase of the vaccine rollout is targeting health care workers and others who are at high risk, although the exact plans vary from state to state. It is essentially a dry run for the complicated logistics that will go into distributing millions of doses around the country to the general public.
"Probably the biggest challenge is planning when you don't have information and details," says Dr. Danielle Zerr with Seattle Children's Hospital.
Zerr says they could be vaccinating two to three times as many people, but the vaccine is not coming as fast as some states would like.
"We have the freezer space, we have the staff, we have the clinic space and we have the will to do it," says Zerr.
At the end of this week, Washington and other states discovered they are getting about 40% fewer doses than they initially expected.
At first it was unclear why.
On Saturday, U.S. Army General Gustave Perna, the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, explained the hold-up was a miscommunication with states about how much would be ready, not indicative of wider issues with availability.
"There is no problem with the process. There is no problem with the Pfizer vaccine," Perna said. "It was a planning error and I am responsible."
Perna said the U.S. is still on track to send out 20 million doses by the end of the month.
After initially raising concern about the reduction in doses, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he was reassured after speaking to Perna.
"At this time, there is no indication further reductions are likely to occur," said Inslee in a tweet on Friday. "That is good news."
But some local health officials said the confusion was a product of the federal government's overall lack of investment and planning in the vaccine rollout.
"I am not surprised," said Dr. Jeff Duchin with Public Health — Seattle King County on Friday. "I am disappointed that it happened so quickly that we are already seeing challenges with respect to allocation."
With vaccine doses still relatively scarce, there is also push-back at some hospitals over who got prioritized for the very first doses this past week.
In California, Stanford medical residents protested after only a handful got the shot, while employees who aren't at the bedside working with COVID-19 patients did.
On Friday, Stanford Medicine apologized to the more than 1,000 residents and said it was "working quickly to address the flaws."
At her hospital in Washington, nurse Ashley Bower said there was a glitch where she and some health care workers who work in the ICU did not receive a vaccine invitation, even as administrative staff got shots.
"They don't even come to the COVID floors and they're taking the vaccine before their actual frontline staff that's doing the work," Bower said. "No one was aware of it. We had totally been forgotten."
Eventually, she and her co-workers were able to get scheduled for their first shot.
"I've heard this from other nurses across the country that this is happening to them," she said.
And while the vaccine is a big comfort, Seattle nurse Karine Ingraham said it doesn't change the grueling nature of her work with COVID-19 patients.
"It's just a crazy world of extremes," she says. "I'm listening to people say goodbye to their loved ones via Facetime. I've been doing that for a year and I still cry every time, but also sometimes I get to see people who leave the ICU."


npr--2020-12-20--Older People, Some Essential Workers Should Get Vaccines Next, CDC Panel Says

Older People , Some Essential Workers Should Get Vaccines Next , CDC Panel Says People who are ages 75 and older and frontline essential workers should be next in line to get a COVID-19 vaccine , a federal advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined Sunday .
Those groups follow frontline health care workers and nursing home residents , who have already begun receiving the limited supplies of vaccines available .
The CDC 's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices held a vote Sunday to determine the order of high-risk priority groups for Phase 1 of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of vaccine distribution .
Federal officials anticipate having enough doses to immunize around 100 million people in the U.S. by the end of February 2021 — around a third of the U.S. population .
`` This was a really difficult decision for me , because I truly wish everyone could get the vaccine today , '' said Dr. Peter Szilagyi , a pediatrician at UCLA and a voting member of the panel .
Sunday 's vote passed with 13 in favor and 1 against .
It established the group 's recommendation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1b and 1c .
The group recommended in early December that health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities be the first recipients of COVID-19 vaccines , in Phase 1a .
That stage of vaccine distribution kicked off last week when the first COVID-19 vaccine shipments started arriving at large hospital systems around the country .
According to Sunday 's vote , adults ages 75 and older , along with frontline workers key to societal functioning such as teachers , police officers , fire fighters , prison officers and grocery store workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a stage that is expected to start in January , according to CDC estimates of vaccine availability .
In Phase 1c , which may start in February , access to COVID-19 vaccines would expand to include adults 65 and older , along with people with underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19 , and other essential non-frontline workers including those who work in construction , waste , trucking and food service .
The group 's recommendation may not align with public expectations , warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the North Dakota Department of Health .
`` We will need some very clear communication and talking points as to why frontline essential workers , who may be younger and healthier , are being vaccinated over [ people ages 65 to 74 ] and those with multiple underlying health conditions , '' she said during the meeting , citing a recent poll showing public support for prioritizing seniors and immunocompromised individuals .
Group members supporting the proposal emphasized that Phases 1b and 1c are expected to proceed in rapid succession .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angst in who exactly goes into Phase 1b versus 1c , '' said Szilagyi .
But , he added , `` We are likely to pass through Phase 1b very quickly , '' possibly within a month .
Vaccine rollout phases are also expected to overlap .
`` It is not necessary to fully complete vaccination in one phase before moving to the next phase , '' said the CDC 's Sara Oliver .
She suggested that state and local health departments could decide to widen the pool of vaccine recipients if vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfilled or if vaccine supply grows more quickly than expected .
The group 's voting members and liaisons also made pleas for Congress to provide money to fund vaccine distribution .
`` A COVID-19 vaccination program is not just about vaccines , but about getting those vaccines to the people who need them , '' said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin , a health officer for Seattle and King County in Washington state , who represented county health officials at the meeting .
`` Operation Warp Speed has delivered Cadillac vaccines to us , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we have a long and difficult road ahead . ''
So far , the federal government has provided around $ 340 million to states and territories to help fund COVID-19 vaccine planning efforts .
State health officials say they need around $ 8.4 billion to expedite vaccine delivery .
Additional funding for vaccine distribution is included in the $ 900 billion COVID-19 relief package that Congress is expected to pass .
Once the advisory group 's recommendations are accepted by CDC Director Robert Redfield , they are expected to be published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weekly '' later this week and will be shared as official CDC guidance .
In Phase 2 of vaccine distribution , supply is expected to expand to the point where a COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone in the U.S. who wants one .
Government officials anticipate this could begin as early as the spring .

Older People, Some Essential Workers Should Get Vaccines Next, CDC Panel Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 7:55 p.m. ET
People who are ages 75 and older or frontline essential workers should be next in line to get a COVID-19 vaccine, a federal advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined Sunday.
Those groups follow frontline health care workers and nursing home residents, who have already begun receiving the limited supplies of vaccines available.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices held a vote Sunday to determine the order of high-risk priority groups for Phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, which encompasses the first months of vaccine distribution. Federal officials anticipate having enough doses to immunize around 100 million people in the U.S. by the end of February 2021 — around a third of the U.S. population.
"This was a really difficult decision for me, because I truly wish everyone could get the vaccine today," said Dr. Peter Szilagyi, a pediatrician at UCLA and a voting member of the panel.
Sunday's vote passed with 13 in favor and 1 against. It established the group's recommendation for the remainder of Phase 1 — Phases 1b and 1c.
The group recommended in early December that health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities be the first recipients of COVID-19 vaccines, in Phase 1a. That stage of vaccine distribution kicked off last week when the first COVID-19 vaccine shipments started arriving at large hospital systems around the country.
According to Sunday's vote, adults ages 75 and older — along with frontline workers key to societal functioning such as teachers, police officers, fire fighters, prison officers and grocery store workers — should be prioritized in Phase 1b, a stage that is expected to start in January, according to CDC estimates of vaccine availability.
In Phase 1c, which may start in February, access to COVID-19 vaccines would expand to include adults 65 and older, along with people with underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19, and other essential non-frontline workers including those who work in construction, waste, trucking and food service.
The group's recommendation may not align with public expectations, warned Molly Howell, immunization program manager for the North Dakota Department of Health. "We will need some very clear communication and talking points as to why frontline essential workers, who may be younger and healthier, are being vaccinated over [people ages 65 to 74] and those with multiple underlying health conditions," she said during the meeting, citing a recent poll showing public support for prioritizing seniors and immunocompromised individuals.
Group members supporting the proposal emphasized that Phases 1b and 1c are expected to proceed in rapid succession. "I know there's a tremendous amount of angst in who exactly goes into Phase 1b versus 1c," Szilagyi said. But, he added, "We are likely to pass through Phase 1b very quickly," possibly within a month.
Vaccine rollout phases are also expected to overlap. "It is not necessary to fully complete vaccination in one phase before moving to the next phase," said the CDC's Sara Oliver. She suggested that state and local health departments could decide to widen the pool of vaccine recipients if vaccine appointments for the current phase are going unfilled or if vaccine supply grows more quickly than expected.
The group's voting members and liaisons also made pleas for Congress to provide money to fund vaccine distribution. "A COVID-19 vaccination program is not just about vaccines, but about getting those vaccines to the people who need them," said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a health officer for Seattle and King County in Washington state, who represented county health officials at the meeting. "Operation Warp Speed has delivered Cadillac vaccines to us, but they've come with empty gas tanks and we have a long and difficult road ahead."
So far, the federal government has provided around $340 million to states and territories to help fund COVID-19 vaccine planning efforts. State health officials say they need around $8.4 billion to expedite vaccine delivery. Additional funding for vaccine distribution is included in the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package that Congress is expected to pass.
Once the advisory group's recommendations are accepted by CDC Director Robert Redfield, they are expected to be published in the CDC's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly" later this week and will be shared as official CDC guidance.
In Phase 2 of vaccine distribution, supply is expected to expand to the point where a COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone in the U.S. who wants one. Government officials anticipate this could begin as early as the spring.


npr--2020-12-20--As COVID-19 Cases Soar, Overwhelmed California Hospitals Worry About Rationing Care

California hospitals are stretched to their limits as intensive care units fill up and COVID-19 cases continue to soar , leaving some facilities facing the prospect of not being able to provide critical care for everyone who needs it .
On Friday , the nation 's most populous state recorded 43,608 new cases , while almost 17,400 people are currently hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases , according to the California Department of Public Health .
Over 3,500 of those cases are being treated in intensive care units , putting immense strain on hospitals .
Nearly all of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICU capacity statewide hovers around 2 % .
In Southern California and the 12-county San Joaquin Valley area , ICU capacity has been exhausted , leaving some facilities to go into `` surge '' mode , putting critical patients in other parts of the hospital like emergency rooms or operating recovery rooms .
Brad Spellberg , the chief medical officer of LA County USC Medical Center — one of the largest hospitals in the state — told NPR member station KPCC that means some patients are waiting hours for care as hospitals struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
`` We are the safety net — that is the point , '' Spellberg said .
`` The safety net itself is being stretched to the limit . ''
Some hospitals are now preparing for the possibility of rationing care in the coming weeks , according a document obtained by the Los Angeles Times .
The document , which was circulated among doctors at four hospitals run by Los Angeles County , outlined guidelines on how to allocate resources in a crisis situation , shifting from a goal of trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many as possible .
This would mean that those less likely to survive would not receive the same care that they would in a non-crisis situation .
`` Some compromise of standard of care is unavoidable ; it is not that an entity , system , or locale chooses to limit resources , it is that the resources are clearly not available to provide care in a regular manner , '' the document reads , according to the Times .
In an email , L.A. County Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place as of Friday night .
`` We have enough beds , supplies , and equipment for now , but we do n't have enough trained staff for the number of patients who need care .
We have brought in new staff , retrained and redeployed staff from other areas of the system , and have requested additional resources from the state , '' Ghaly wrote .
`` But these measures are not anticipated to be enough to meet the continuously escalating number of patients that are presenting across the county for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was forced to activate its `` mass fatality '' program , which coordinates mutual aid across several government agencies .
According to the California Office of Emergency Services , a mass fatality is an incident in which more deaths take place in a period of time than can be handled by local coroner or medical emergency personnel .
The worsening crisis comes as residents across the state are preparing for a holiday season unlike any other .
Under the state 's stay-at-home order , residents are prohibited from gathering with anyone outside their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant strict new guidelines for businesses amid the holiday shopping season .
While retail stores are allowed to remain open , they 're limited to a 20 % indoor capacity .
Apple Inc. announced on Saturday that it would temporarily close all 53 of its stores in California in an effort to help curb the spread of the virus and encourage people to stay at home .
Still , it seems many are flocking to stores for last-minute gifts .
On Saturday , NBC 's Los Angeles affiliate tweeted and aerial video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping mall .
The state 's COVID-19 restrictions have also forced major sporting events to change plans last minute .
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena will no longer host this year 's College Football Playoff semifinals after the state said it would not make an exception for player guests at the game .
The game will instead be held in Arlington , Texas .
Meanwhile , the San Francisco 49ers recently announced that they will be spending the remainder of their season in Arizona .
The restrictions and spike in cases come as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed by Pfizer and BioNTech began arriving this past week .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said some 721,500 total doses are expected in the state by the end of this week — and while the vaccine does provide hope , he urged residents to continue to be careful and stay at home .
`` This is a deadly disease , a deadly pandemic , and we 're in the middle of it right now , '' Newsom said .
`` We 're near the end , but we 're in the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @

As COVID-19 Cases Soar, Overwhelmed California Hospitals Worry About Rationing Care
Enlarge this image toggle caption APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images
California hospitals are stretched to their limits as intensive care units fill up and COVID-19 cases continue to soar, leaving some facilities facing the prospect of not being able to provide critical care for everyone who needs it.
On Friday, the nation's most populous state recorded 43,608 new cases, while almost 17,400 people are currently hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, according to the California Department of Public Health. Over 3,500 of those cases are being treated in intensive care units, putting immense strain on hospitals.
Nearly all of California is under stay at home orders as ICU capacity statewide hovers around 2%. In Southern California and the 12-county San Joaquin Valley area, ICU capacity has been exhausted, leaving some facilities to go into "surge" mode, putting critical patients in other parts of the hospital like emergency rooms or operating recovery rooms.
Brad Spellberg, the chief medical officer of LA County USC Medical Center — one of the largest hospitals in the state — told NPR member station KPCC that means some patients are waiting hours for care as hospitals struggle to free up beds as quickly as possible.
"We are the safety net — that is the point," Spellberg said. "The safety net itself is being stretched to the limit."
Some hospitals are now preparing for the possibility of rationing care in the coming weeks, according a document obtained by the Los Angeles Times. The document, which was circulated among doctors at four hospitals run by Los Angeles County, outlined guidelines on how to allocate resources in a crisis situation, shifting from a goal of trying to save every patient to instead saving as many as possible. This would mean that those less likely to survive would not receive the same care that they would in a non-crisis situation.
"Some compromise of standard of care is unavoidable; it is not that an entity, system, or locale chooses to limit resources, it is that the resources are clearly not available to provide care in a regular manner," the document reads, according to the Times.
In an email, L.A. County Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly told the Times that the guidelines were not in place as of Friday night.
"We have enough beds, supplies, and equipment for now, but we don't have enough trained staff for the number of patients who need care. We have brought in new staff, retrained and redeployed staff from other areas of the system, and have requested additional resources from the state," Ghaly wrote. "But these measures are not anticipated to be enough to meet the continuously escalating number of patients that are presenting across the county for care."
Last week, California was forced to activate its "mass fatality" program, which coordinates mutual aid across several government agencies. According to the California Office of Emergency Services, a mass fatality is an incident in which more deaths take place in a period of time than can be handled by local coroner or medical emergency personnel.
The worsening crisis comes as residents across the state are preparing for a holiday season unlike any other. Under the state's stay-at-home order, residents are prohibited from gathering with anyone outside their immediate household.
The order has also meant strict new guidelines for businesses amid the holiday shopping season. While retail stores are allowed to remain open, they're limited to a 20% indoor capacity. Apple Inc. announced on Saturday that it would temporarily close all 53 of its stores in California in an effort to help curb the spread of the virus and encourage people to stay at home.
Still, it seems many are flocking to stores for last-minute gifts. On Saturday, NBC's Los Angeles affiliate tweeted and aerial video of overflowing parking lots at the Citadel Outlets shopping mall.
The state's COVID-19 restrictions have also forced major sporting events to change plans last minute. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena will no longer host this year's College Football Playoff semifinals after the state said it would not make an exception for player guests at the game. The game will instead be held in Arlington, Texas. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers recently announced that they will be spending the remainder of their season in Arizona.
The restrictions and spike in cases come as the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech began arriving this past week. Gov. Gavin Newsom said some 721,500 total doses are expected in the state by the end of this week — and while the vaccine does provide hope, he urged residents to continue to be careful and stay at home.
"This is a deadly disease, a deadly pandemic, and we're in the middle of it right now," Newsom said. "We're near the end, but we're in the middle of the most acute peak."


npr--2020-12-20--'We Cannot Continue With Christmas': U.K. Tightens Rules As Virus Variant Spreads

'We Can not Continue With Christmas ' : U.K. Tightens Rules As Virus Variant Spreads The United Kingdom has entered a period of intense restrictions after a mutation of the coronavirus was discovered spreading rapidly through the population of London and the southeast and east of England .
Most of the country faces a strict lockdown as Christmas approaches , and several countries throughout Europe have banned travel from the U.K .
The British government put several parts of England into what 's known as `` Tier 4 '' restrictions after the spike in infections .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus — the potential risk it poses — it is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we can not continue with Christmas as planned , '' Johnson said .
`` In England , those living in Tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household at Christmas . ''
The new restrictions are broadly similar to the national restrictions that were in place in November .
Residents in the affected areas ca n't leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-essential retail — as well as indoor gyms , movie theaters and hairdressers — have been forced to close .
If people want to spend time with those outside their household , it can only be one person at a time , and it needs to be outdoors .
( One difference from November 's restrictions is that communal worship can still take place . )
Although the new coronavirus variant is most prevalent in Tier 4 areas , it also exists in lower levels throughout the country , Johnson said .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country are encouraged to `` stay local . ''
Outside the Tier 4 areas , up to eight people from three households will be able to meet — but on Christmas Day only , rather than over the course of five days , which was the case under previous guidelines .
Ahead of the new rules , videos surfaced on social media showing thousands of Londoners standing in packed train stations , ready to make a mad dash out of the city .
Trains were `` crammed , '' one reporter said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There were these scenes out of rail stations in London — particularly St. Pancras station — where thousands of people were fleeing London , '' NPR 's Frank Langfitt told Weekend Edition .
`` It was clear that they 're trying to go off for family holidays , to go to other parts of the country where there are fewer restrictions . ''
Transit officials have announced they will put more officers at train stations to stop unnecessary trips , and put more police on the roads to stop people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ireland , Germany , France , Italy , the Netherlands and Belgium have all banned flights and travel from the U.K. , the BBC reported .
The European Union will meet Monday to discuss a coordinated response .
The new mutation could be up to 70 % more transmissible than earlier variants of the virus , Susan Hopkins of Public Health England told the BBC .
This variant was first identified in the middle of October from a sample taken in September , Hopkins said .
`` In early December , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ] Kent and Medway continued to increase despite the national restrictions , we found a cluster that was growing very fast . ''
Only this week did researchers realize the variant was more transmissible than other variants , Hopkins said .
They alerted the government on Friday , and the new restrictions were announced the next day .
While the new variant seems to be more infectious , scientists say there is no evidence that it leads to a more severe illness , according to Vivek Murthy , who President-elect Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Surgeon General .
`` There 's no reason to believe that the vaccines that have been developed will not be effective against this virus as well , '' Murthy said on NBC 's Meet the Press .
Ronald Klain , Biden 's incoming chief of staff , told CBS 's Face the Nation that the president-elect would be briefed on the new variant `` early next week . ''
The U.S. government could make changes to its own pandemic restrictions based on the advice of medical experts , Klain said .

'We Cannot Continue With Christmas': U.K. Tightens Rules As Virus Variant Spreads
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
The United Kingdom has entered a period of intense restrictions after a mutation of the coronavirus was discovered spreading rapidly through the population of London and the southeast and east of England. Most of the country faces a strict lockdown as Christmas approaches, and several countries throughout Europe have banned travel from the United Kingdom.
The British government put several parts of England into what's known as "Tier 4" restrictions after the spike in infections. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new restrictions on Saturday.
"Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus — the potential risk it poses — it is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned," Johnson said. "In England, those living in Tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household at Christmas."
The new restrictions are broadly similar to the national restrictions that were in place in November. Residents in the affected areas can't leave their homes except for essential trips; nonessential retail — as well as indoor gyms, movie theaters and hairdressers — have been forced to close. If people want to spend time with those outside their household, it can only be one person at a time, and it needs to be outdoors. (One difference from November's restrictions is that communal worship can still take place.)
Although the new coronavirus variant is most prevalent in Tier 4 areas, it also exists in lower levels throughout the country, Johnson said. For now, Johnson said, people throughout the country are encouraged to "stay local."
Outside the Tier 4 areas, up to eight people from three households will be able to meet — but on Christmas Day only, rather than over the course of five days, which was the case under previous guidelines.
Ahead of the new rules, videos surfaced on social media showing thousands of Londoners standing in packed train stations, ready to make a mad dash out of the city. Trains were "crammed," one reporter said, and social distancing wasn't possible.
"There were these scenes out of rail stations in London — particularly St. Pancras station — where thousands of people were fleeing London," NPR's Frank Langfitt told Weekend Edition. "It was clear that they're trying to go off for family holidays, to go to other parts of the country where there are fewer restrictions."
Transit officials have announced they will put more officers at train stations to stop unnecessary trips, and put more police on the roads to stop people from leaving locked-down areas, Langfitt said.
Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium have all banned flights and travel from the U.K., the BBC reported. The European Union will meet Monday to discuss a coordinated response.
The new mutation could be up to 70% more transmissible than earlier variants of the virus, Susan Hopkins of Public Health England told the BBC. This variant was first identified in the middle of October from a sample taken in September, Hopkins said.
"In early December, while we were trying to understand why [cases in] Kent and Medway continued to increase despite the national restrictions, we found a cluster that was growing very fast."
Only this week did researchers realize the variant was more transmissible than other variants, Hopkins said. They alerted the government on Friday, and the new restrictions were announced the next day.
While the new variant seems to be more infectious, scientists said there is no evidence it leads to a more severe illness, according to Dr. Vivek Murthy, whom President-elect Joe Biden has announced as his nominee for U.S. surgeon general. "There's no reason to believe that the vaccines that have been developed will not be effective against this virus as well," Murthy said on NBC's Meet the Press.
Ronald Klain, Biden's incoming chief of staff, told CBS' Face the Nation that the president-elect would be briefed on the new variant "early next week." The U.S. government could make changes to its own pandemic restrictions based on the advice of medical experts, Klain said.


npr--2020-12-20--You Want To Move? Some Cities Will Pay You $10,000 To Relocate

You Want To Move ?
Some Cities Will Pay You $ 10,000 To Relocate $ 10,000 is a significant chunk of money .
But is it enough to convince you to pick up and move to an entirely different part of the country ?
Some cities and regions in America 's heartland are offering this sum — and more .
They 're seeking to bring energy and vitality to their towns by attracting dynamic workers .
With legions of people working from home during the coronavirus pandemic , these programs are getting a lot of attention as people in congested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Northwest Arkansas launched its program this year , in the middle of the pandemic .
Other cities in the nation 's heartland have similar incentives : Topeka , Kan. ; North Platte , Neb .
; Hamilton , Ohio ; and Newton , Iowa .
And Tulsa , Okla. , has recently seen a dramatic increase in interest in an initiative it launched two years ago .
`` We 've seen applications over the last six months increase up to threefold , '' says Ben Stewart , interim director of Tulsa Remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to successful applicants who are willing to relocate to Tulsa .
The city had its sights set on the growing number of `` laptop workers '' who can do their jobs from home — or at the local co-working space or coffee shop — when it launched the program two years ago .
Since 2018 , it has welcomed nearly 500 new residents , according to Stewart .
Jaleesa Garland moved to Tulsa in October , decamping from Berkeley , California .
Living in the expensive Bay Area was a grind since she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to six roommates , shelling out $ 1,150 for a tiny bedroom .
`` I shared a bathroom with at least three other people at any given point in time , '' she says .
`` Yeah , it was rough . ''
Rough got rougher when the pandemic hit and she and all her roommates all worked from home .
Garland knew it was time to find a new city .
She considered somewhat cheaper places popular with millennials like herself — such as Austin , Texas , and Portland , Ore. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Remote .
The program , which is funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation , hosted her for a visit in July .
And she was sold .
`` I was pretty amazed at the quality of life here and what you can get for the money , '' she says .
`` So it was kind of a no-brainer . ''
Today , Garland inhabits a one-bedroom apartment that has a fireplace and a patio , and she lives with her two dogs , one of which she rescued on a remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ east from Berkeley .
`` I share a bathroom with myself , '' she quips .
`` It 's great . ''
Her rent is $ 940 a month .
But the experience of moving from the Bay Area to Oklahoma involves more than a boost to the bank account .
The places are two different social ecosystems , especially when it comes to politics .
Garland , a Democrat , says her new neighborhood in Tulsa is surprisingly progressive .
But she realizes other parts of the city and state are much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with that , even welcomes it .
`` Especially in these challenging political times , you have to see the other side , `` Garland says .
`` And so I think living in this city will give me an opportunity to have a better understanding of the other side of things .
So I think it 's actually very exciting . ''
Northwest Arkansas launched its program this year .
The pandemic provided an opportunity , says Nelson Peacock , president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council .
`` When COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reevaluating their lifestyle and what they saw was important , and we felt we needed to take advantage of that . ''
The region is home to entities such as Walmart and the University of Arkansas and is surrounded by lakes and mountains like those you may have seen in the hit TV show Ozark .
The pull of the outdoors is behind the northwest Arkansas pay-to-move offer of a bicycle — to go along with $ 10,000 .
However , the strongest lure may be the area 's cost of living .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ salary of $ 150,000 in a pricey city like San Francisco is equivalent to annual pay of $ 63,000 in northwest Arkansas , says Peacock .
Of course , all of these incentive programs cost money , and a looming question is whether it will be well spent .
Northwest Arkansas , with funding from the Walton Family Foundation ( a financial supporter of NPR ) , will spend more than $ 1 million over six months .
The urbanist Richard Florida has worked with both Tulsa and northwest Arkansas on their efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks these types of campaigns will benefit small cities in the heartland .
But only if they 're attractive places to live .
Cash incentives wo n't do the trick on their own .
He says the welcome payouts are n't a waste for communities .
`` I think it certainly pays off a lot better than paying millions upon millions of dollars in tax incentives for big companies , '' Florida says .
`` The small-scale incentive to a human being is better . ''
Eventually , he says , some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash anymore .
The pandemic has unleashed a new migration in the United States .
As many as 23 million Americans say they 're planning to move because of the flexibility offered by remote work , according to a recent Upwork survey .
Florida says if cities are affordable and have a good quality of life , newcomers will find them on their own .

You Want To Move? Some Cities Will Pay You $10,000 To Relocate
Enlarge this image toggle caption September Dawn Bottoms for NPR September Dawn Bottoms for NPR
$10,000 is a significant chunk of money. But is it enough to convince you to pick up and move to an entirely different part of the country?
Some cities and regions in America's heartland are offering this sum — and more. They're seeking to bring energy and vitality to their towns by attracting dynamic workers. With legions of people working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, these programs are getting a lot of attention as people in congested cities seek more space and affordable housing.
Northwest Arkansas launched its program this year, in the middle of the pandemic. Other cities in the nation's heartland have similar incentives: Topeka, Kan.; North Platte, Neb.; Hamilton, Ohio; and Newton, Iowa.
And Tulsa, Okla., has recently seen a dramatic increase in interest in an initiative it launched two years ago.
"We've seen applications over the last six months increase up to threefold," says Ben Stewart, interim director of Tulsa Remote, a program that offers $10,000 to successful applicants who are willing to relocate to Tulsa.
The city had its sights set on the growing number of "laptop workers'' who can do their jobs from home — or at the local co-working space or coffee shop — when it launched the program two years ago. Since 2018, it has welcomed nearly 500 new residents, according to Stewart.
Jaleesa Garland moved to Tulsa in October, decamping from Berkeley, California. Living in the expensive Bay Area was a grind since she shared a house with anywhere from four to six roommates, shelling out $1,150 for a tiny bedroom.
"I shared a bathroom with at least three other people at any given point in time," she says. "Yeah, it was rough."
Rough got rougher when the pandemic hit and she and all her roommates all worked from home. Garland knew it was time to find a new city. She considered somewhat cheaper places popular with millennials like herself — such as Austin, Texas, and Portland, Ore. — and then she heard about Tulsa Remote. The program, which is funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, hosted her for a visit in July. And she was sold.
toggle caption September Dawn Bottoms for NPR
"I was pretty amazed at the quality of life here and what you can get for the money," she says. "So it was kind of a no-brainer."
Today, Garland inhabits a one-bedroom apartment that has a fireplace and a patio, and she lives with her two dogs, one of which she rescued on a remote road in New Mexico during her drive east from Berkeley.
"I share a bathroom with myself," she quips. "It's great." Her rent is $940 a month.
But the experience of moving from the Bay Area to Oklahoma involves more than a boost to the bank account. The places are two different social ecosystems, especially when it comes to politics. Garland, a Democrat, says her new neighborhood in Tulsa is surprisingly progressive. But she realizes other parts of the city and state are much more conservative. And she's fine with that, even welcomes it.
"Especially in these challenging political times, you have to see the other side, " Garland says. "And so I think living in this city will give me an opportunity to have a better understanding of the other side of things. So I think it's actually very exciting."
toggle caption September Dawn Bottoms for NPR
Northwest Arkansas launched its program this year. The pandemic provided an opportunity, says Nelson Peacock, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. "When COVID took place, we really saw people reevaluating their lifestyle and what they saw was important, and we felt we needed to take advantage of that."
The region is home to entities such as Walmart and the University of Arkansas and is surrounded by lakes and mountains like those you may have seen in the hit TV show Ozark. The pull of the outdoors is behind the northwest Arkansas pay-to-move offer of a bicycle — to go along with $10,000. However, the strongest lure may be the area's cost of living. To take an extreme example, a salary of $150,000 in a pricey city like San Francisco is equivalent to annual pay of $63,000 in northwest Arkansas, says Peacock.
Of course, all of these incentive programs cost money, and a looming question is whether it will be well spent. Northwest Arkansas, with funding from the Walton Family Foundation (a financial supporter of NPR), will spend more than $1 million over six months.
The urbanist Richard Florida has worked with both Tulsa and northwest Arkansas on their efforts to attract remote workers. And he thinks these types of campaigns will benefit small cities in the heartland. But only if they're attractive places to live. Cash incentives won't do the trick on their own.
He says the welcome payouts aren't a waste for communities. "I think it certainly pays off a lot better than paying millions upon millions of dollars in tax incentives for big companies," Florida says. "The small-scale incentive to a human being is better." Eventually, he says, some of these places won't need to dangle cash anymore.
The pandemic has unleashed a new migration in the United States. As many as 23 million Americans say they're planning to move because of the flexibility offered by remote work, according to a recent Upwork survey. Florida says if cities are affordable and have a good quality of life, newcomers will find them on their own.