npr--2020-09-13--'So Skeptical': As Election Nears, Iowa Senator Under Pressure For COVID-19 Remarks

'So Skeptical ' : As Election Nears , Iowa Senator Under Pressure For COVID-19 Remarks On Labor Day weekend , a parade of tractors brandishing Trump flags rolled down Highway 30 through the northwest Iowa town of Denison .
Farmer Leon Venteicher , a Trump enthusiast who receives chemotherapy to treat his cancer , pulled off the road when he and his wife noticed the parade .
`` We are very cautious , '' said Venteicher .
`` We wear our masks if we ca n't control the crowd . ''
Waiving from a shiny blue New Holland tractor was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joni Ernst .
Venteicher says he 's voting for Ernst because making sure Republicans hang onto their majority in the senate is just as important as the presidential race .
`` I hate to sound like Whoopi Goldberg or Rosie O'Donnell and say I 'm going to move out of the country if the Democrats get control , '' Venteicher said .
`` But we may be better off . ''
Locked in a tight race for reelection , Ernst is counting on support from voters like Venteicher .
Her senate seat is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The party needs to net four seats total this November to retake the majority .
They could also win a majority with a net of three seats and a victory in the race for the White House , which would allow the vice president to cast tie-breaking votes .
Ernst won her seat by nearly 9-points six years ago , but recent polls show her in a much closer contest this time around .
Iowa has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot in recent weeks , and Ernst has come under fire for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity of the pandemic .
The tractor parade ended at a farm where a local Republican picnic was underway .
People were enjoying the weather and feasting on picnic cuisine , but hardly anyone wore masks .
The picnic came the same weekend that the White House Coronavirus Task Force sent a report to Iowa showing the state had the third-highest rate of new cases in the country .
Ernst did wear a mask , sporting the Iowa State University logo and colors , but when she addressed the crowd , she did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she claimed her Democratic opponent , Theresa Greenfield , held extreme views that are out of step with the state .
`` I am going to crawl across the finish line first , '' Ernst told the cheering crowd .
`` We are going to keep this United States senate seat , and as you can attest from all of these tractors here today , we are going to reelect President Trump ! ''
Ernst , who recently completed a tour of all of Iowa 's 99 counties , has faced criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While campaigning in Waterloo recently , Ernst said she was `` so skeptical '' about the United States ' total COVID-19 death count after someone in the crowd raised the question .
`` These health-care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if COVID is tied to it , so what do you think they 're doing ? ''
Ernst said , according to an account by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier .
More than 193,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 , according to data from Johns Hopkins University , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there may be 10,000 or less deaths that were actually singularly COVID-19 . ''
Her comments echoed conspiracy theories that have been pushed by QAnon followers and debunked by public health experts who note that the number of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 is likely an undercount .
Medical professionals have called Ernst 's comments dangerous , and Greenfield , her Democratic rival , called out Ernst in a video .
`` Today I am calling for a statewide mask mandate and Senator Joni Ernst should join me .
I do n't think she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She should also apologize to our health care heroes and explain why she supports these lies . ''
Governor Kim Reynolds , a Republican , has dismissed several White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations — including issuing a mask mandate .
Reynolds has not given local officials the authority to set their own mask mandates , but many of the state 's larger communities have issued them .
Reynolds and Ernst both urge Iowans to take personal responsibility when it comes to wearing a mask .
Two days after expressing skepticism about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back her comments and acknowledged the official mortality figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The Iowa Medical Society said she apologized to them in a meeting , but would n't do it publicly .
`` There must be some reason that she thinks it would shore up the base of Trump supporters behind her , '' said Karen Kedrowski , director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University .
`` If this were a more normal presidential race , Ernst would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to . ''
Kedrowski noted if President Trump were less of a polarizing figure , the race would be much sleepier — especially when it comes to the millions of dollars spent on the race from outside groups .
Groups supporting Greenfield have outspent those supporting Ernst , according to Open Secrets .
Meanwhile , Ernst has outperformed Greenfield in fundraising , receiving $ 14.4 million compared to Greenfield 's $ 11.6 million .
But all of this political divisiveness concerns Iowa voter Trent Hatlen .
He farms and raises hogs near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and says Republicans and Democrats both have good ideas .
Hatlen said he voted for Trump in 2016 and Ernst in 2014 .
But this time , he 'll cast his ballot for Joe Biden and Greenfield ( who he recently hosted at his farm ) .
`` I think Trump has divided the country so much and got his side so hateful against ours , '' Hatlen said .
`` I 'm a working class dude ; I 'm not some leftist liberal out in California . ''
Next month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filling out their ballots .
And just how seriously they think politicians are taking a pandemic that has killed more than 1,200 Iowans will have a factor on how those decisions are made .

'So Skeptical': As Election Nears, Iowa Senator Under Pressure For COVID-19 Remarks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio
On Labor Day weekend, a parade of tractors brandishing Trump flags rolled down Highway 30 through the northwest Iowa town of Denison.
Farmer Leon Venteicher, a Trump enthusiast who receives chemotherapy to treat his cancer, pulled off the road when he and his wife noticed the parade.
"We are very cautious," he said. "We wear our masks if we can't control the crowd."
Waiving from a shiny blue New Holland tractor was the state's junior senator, Republican Joni Ernst. Venteicher says he's voting for Ernst because making sure Republicans hang onto their majority in the Senate is just as important as the presidential race.
"I hate to sound like Whoopi Goldberg or Rosie O'Donnell and say I'm going to move out of the country if the Democrats get control," Venteicher said. "But we may be better off."
Locked in a tight race for reelection, Ernst is counting on support from voters like Venteicher. Her Senate seat is one Democrats have a close eye on. The party needs to net four seats total this November to retake the majority. They could also win a majority with a net of three seats and a victory in the race for the White House, which would allow the vice president to cast tie-breaking votes.
Ernst won her seat by nearly 9 points six years ago, but recent polls show her in a much closer contest this time around. Iowa has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot in recent weeks, and Ernst has come under fire for repeating a debunked conspiracy theory downplaying the severity of the pandemic.
The tractor parade ended at a farm where a local Republican picnic was underway. People were enjoying the weather and feasting on picnic cuisine, but hardly anyone wore masks. The picnic came the same weekend that the White House Coronavirus Task Force sent a report to Iowa showing the state had the third-highest rate of new cases in the country.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio
Ernst did wear a mask, sporting the Iowa State University logo and colors, but when she addressed the crowd, she didn't bring up the pandemic. Instead, she claimed her Democratic opponent, Theresa Greenfield, held extreme views that are out of step with the state.
"I am going to crawl across the finish line first," Ernst told the cheering crowd. "We are going to keep this United States Senate seat, and as you can attest from all of these tractors here today, we are going to reelect President Trump!"
Ernst, who recently completed a tour of all of Iowa's 99 counties, has faced criticism for her recent comments about the pandemic.
While campaigning in Waterloo recently, Ernst said she was "so skeptical" about the United States' total COVID-19 death count after someone in the crowd raised the question.
"These health-care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if COVID is tied to it, so what do you think they're doing?" Ernst said, according to an account by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. More than 193,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, but Ernst said, "They're thinking there may be 10,000 or less deaths that were actually singularly COVID-19."
Her comments echoed conspiracy theories that have been pushed by QAnon followers and debunked by public health experts who note that the number of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 is likely an undercount. Medical professionals have called Ernst's comments dangerous, and Greenfield called out Ernst in a video.
"Today I am calling for a statewide mask mandate and Senator Joni Ernst should join me. I don't think she will," Greenfield said. "She should also apologize to our health care heroes and explain why she supports these lies."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio Clay Masters/Iowa Public Radio
Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, has dismissed several White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations — including issuing a mask mandate. Reynolds has not given local officials the authority to set their own mask mandates, but many of the state's larger communities have issued them. Reynolds and Ernst both urge Iowans to take personal responsibility when it comes to wearing a mask.
Two days after expressing skepticism about the death toll, Ernst appeared to walk back her comments and acknowledged the official mortality figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Iowa Medical Society said she apologized to them in a meeting, but wouldn't do it publicly.
"There must be some reason that she thinks it would shore up the base of Trump supporters behind her," said Karen Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University. "If this were a more normal presidential race, Ernst would not be running as hard as she's had to."
Kedrowski noted if President Trump were less of a polarizing figure, the race would be much sleepier — especially when it comes to the millions of dollars spent on the race from outside groups. Groups supporting Greenfield have outspent those supporting Ernst, according to OpenSecrets. Meanwhile, Ernst has outperformed Greenfield in fundraising, receiving $14.4 million compared to Greenfield's $11.6 million.
But all of this political divisiveness concerns Iowa voter Trent Hatlen. He farms and raises hogs near Rembrandt in the northwest part of the state and says Republicans and Democrats both have good ideas.
Hatlen said he voted for Trump in 2016 and Ernst in 2014. But this time, he'll cast his ballot for Joe Biden and Greenfield (who he recently hosted at his farm).
"I think Trump has divided the country so much and got his side so hateful against ours," Hatlen said. "I'm a working-class dude; I'm not some leftist liberal out in California."
Next month, voters in this swing state will start filling out their ballots. And just how seriously they think politicians are taking a pandemic that has killed more than 1,200 Iowans will have a factor on how those decisions are made.


npr--2020-09-13--Settling In For The NFL's Return? Get Ready For Campaign Ads, Too

Settling In For The NFL 's Return ?
Get Ready For Campaign Ads , Too The NFL is back , and as millions of people tune in for the sort of live communal TV event that has been missing through much of the pandemic , they are also getting a dose of presidential politics during the commercial breaks .
On Thursday night when some 20 million people tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Houston Texans , Joe Biden 's campaign was there with a minute-long campaign ad .
Sixty seconds is a lot of real estate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those ads do n't come cheap .
And this is only the beginning .
Politics and beer ads will mix all season .
A Biden campaign aide confirms to NPR that they already have reservations to run at least one ad nationally during each NFL game between now and Election Day .
Ad Analytics says those prebookings add up to $ 25 million .
`` I 've never seen that before in a presidential race , '' said John Link with the tracking firm Advertising Analytics .
`` That is the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Link is n't sure whether the Trump campaign will match that ( they did n't on Thursday ) , but he is expecting it to spend big on ads during football games this fall .
While the Biden campaign 's ad was part of the NBC broadcast feed and hit every TV tuned in nationwide , the Trump campaign purchased $ 1.1 million in ads in 21 local TV markets in swing states , according to Ad Analytics .
In theory , that could have allowed Trump 's team to tailor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual states and regions .
But , on Thursday at least , the Trump campaign aired the same ad about the `` great American comeback '' in every market .
The ad starts with the line `` in the race for a vaccine , the finish line is approaching . ''
In a way , the return of NFL football is a welcome development for President Trump , long a football fan — another part of pre-pandemic life that is back .
But , even as that first game was played , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from the socially distanced 3/4 empty stadium to Kansas City coach Andy Reid 's fogged up face shield .
The Biden campaign ad , called `` Fresh Start '' that aired nationally played to the reality that life is not back to normal .
`` We need to get control over the virus , '' the narrator says midway through the ad .
`` Donald Trump failed .
Joe Biden will get it done . ''
In addition to that national buy , Ad Analytics found Biden 's campaign also aired seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the game .
That means Biden 's team was trying different messages for different markets .
The local ad targeting can give a sense of the campaign 's priorities , and in a way there 's not much unexpected .
Biden 's ads aired in the so-called `` blue wall '' states of Wisconsin , Minnesota , Michigan and Pennsylvania , plus Florida , North Carolina , Nevada and Arizona .
In 2016 , Hillary Clinton won two of those states , Nevada and Minnesota .
Meanwhile , Trump 's local ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won in 2016 : Georgia , Florida , North Carolina and the blue wall states .
His campaign also made a buy in Fargo , N.D. , which has some overlap with Minnesota , a state Trump is hoping to flip Republican .
The Trump campaign declined to comment for this story .
A Biden campaign aide suggested that Trump 's campaign is strapped for cash and was trying to cherry pick states that are most critical to his re-election .
For the Biden campaign , a national buy is just more efficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have so many states on their target list .
It also means people watching football in Texas , for instance , will see his pitch too .
According to polling averages , Biden trails narrowly in Texas , a state that is traditionally an easy win for Republicans but has been gradually getting more Democratic .
Spending a lot of money targeting Texas would n't really make sense for the Biden campaign , but having his ads air there ca n't hurt when that same ad is also airing in North Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there has been some question about whether his campaign would advertise during NFL games because of his long standing active campaign against NFL players who kneel for the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality .
Already in this nascent season , the calls for racial justice have been loud and clear from league-sponsored advertising to players staying in the locker room during the anthem .
Last month , Trump said he was working to get the NFL restarted `` as long as they stand for our national anthem , as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , '' Trump said .
`` If they start kneeling I 'm not going to help them much .
They might come back but I 'm not going to be watching .
neither will a lot of other people . ''
It 's not clear whether he watched , but millions of others did .
And with those local ad buys , Trump 's campaign was trying to reach them .
Kneeling or not , the power of the NFL to reach TV audiences is undeniable .
`` The NFL , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle , '' said Link .
`` In some markets , you get Superbowl-like numbers on a Sunday . ''

Settling In For The NFL's Return? Get Ready For Campaign Ads, Too
The NFL is back, and as millions of people tune in for the sort of live communal TV event that has been missing through much of the pandemic, they are also getting a dose of presidential politics during the commercial breaks.
On Thursday night, when some 20 million people tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Houston Texans, Joe Biden's campaign was there with a minute-long campaign ad. Sixty seconds is a lot of real estate when it comes to the NFL and those ads don't come cheap.
And this is only the beginning. Politics and beer ads will mix all season. A Biden campaign aide confirms to NPR that they already have reservations to run at least one ad nationally during each NFL game between now and Election Day. Tracking firm Advertising Analytics says those prebookings add up to $25 million.
"I've never seen that before in a presidential race," said Ad Analytics' John Link. "That is the first time we've seen something of that magnitude."
Link isn't sure whether the Trump campaign will match that (they didn't on Thursday), but he is expecting it to spend big on ads during football games this fall.
While the Biden campaign's ad was part of the NBC broadcast feed and hit every TV tuned in nationwide, the Trump campaign purchased $1.1 million in ads in 21 local TV markets in swing states, according to Ad Analytics.
In theory, that could have allowed Trump's team to tailor its message to the issues important to individual states and regions. But, on Thursday at least, the Trump campaign aired the same ad about the "great American comeback" in every market. The ad starts with the line "in the race for a vaccine, the finish line is approaching."
In a way, the return of NFL football is a welcome development for President Trump, long a football fan — another part of pre-pandemic life that is back. But, even as that first game was played, there were constant reminders that nothing is normal, from the socially distanced mostly empty stadium to Kansas City coach Andy Reid's fogged up face shield.
The Biden campaign ad called "Fresh Start" that aired nationally played to the reality that life is not back to normal. "We need to get control over the virus," the narrator says midway through the ad. "Donald Trump failed. Joe Biden will get it done."
In addition to that national buy, Ad Analytics found Biden's campaign also aired seven different ads in 18 local media markets during the game. That means Biden's team was trying different messages for different markets. The local ad targeting can give a sense of the campaign's priorities, and in a way there's not much unexpected. Biden's ads aired in the so-called "blue wall" states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania, plus Florida, North Carolina, Nevada and Arizona. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won two of those states, Nevada and Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Trump's local ads aired in a lot of states he won in 2016: Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and the blue wall states. His campaign also made a buy in Fargo, N.D., which has some overlap with Minnesota, a state Trump is hoping to flip Republican.
The Trump campaign declined to comment for this story. A Biden campaign aide suggested that Trump's campaign is strapped for cash and was trying to cherry pick states that are most critical to his reelection. For the Biden campaign, a national buy is just more efficient, the aide said, because they have so many states on their target list.
It also means people watching football in Texas, for instance, will see his pitch too. According to polling averages, Biden trails narrowly in Texas, a state that is traditionally an easy win for Republicans but has been gradually getting more Democratic. Spending a lot of money targeting Texas wouldn't really make sense for the Biden campaign, but having his ads air there can't hurt when that same ad is also airing in North Carolina, Florida and Michigan.
For Trump, there has been some question about whether his campaign would advertise during NFL games because of his longstanding active campaign against NFL players who kneel for the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality. Already in this nascent season, the calls for racial justice have been loud and clear from league-sponsored advertising to players staying in the locker room during the anthem.
Last month, Trump said he was working to get the NFL restarted "as long as they stand for our national anthem, as long as they honor our flag and our country," Trump said. "If they start kneeling I'm not going to help them much. They might come back but I'm not going to be watching. Neither will a lot of other people."
It's not clear whether he watched, but millions of others did. And with those local ad buys, Trump's campaign was trying to reach them. Kneeling or not, the power of the NFL to reach TV audiences is undeniable.
"The NFL, even pre-Covid, is the most powerful advertising vehicle," said Link. "In some markets, you get Super Bowl-like numbers on a Sunday."


npr--2020-09-13--As Wildfires Grow More Intense, Iconic Western Forests May Not Come Back

As Wildfires Grow More Intense , Iconic Western Forests May Not Come Back After a quick hike off a steep dirt road , forest ecologist Marin Chambers stands surrounded by grasses , shrubs and blackened bare trees .
This is part of where the Hayman fire — until last month , Colorado 's largest in recorded history — burned northwest of Colorado Springs back in 2002 .
The ground is dry , crunching underfoot .
`` What we 're seeing is a very large high-severity burn patch , where the vast majority of the trees have died , '' says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute at Colorado State University .
These 18-square miles burned hot and fast in a single day , driven by how dense the forest was because of past fire suppression , high winds and extreme drought .
Now , nearly two decades years later , something you 'd normally see after a wildfire is missing : new trees .
`` Some regeneration may be occurring , but certainly not enough to recreate a forest in the near term , '' Chambers says .
She and her colleagues have found that forests are struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's most iconic species , like ponderosa pine and Douglas fir .
High-severity fires leave behind massive burn areas with almost nothing alive .
And any baby trees simply ca n't thrive in the increased heat and drought brought on by climate change .
`` Imagine being a ponderosa pine seed trying to grow out here , '' Chambers says .
`` It 's a pretty intense environment . ''
If there is forest regeneration , Chambers says it happens in bands along the forest edge , where surviving trees can still drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is n't happening at lower elevations , where it 's hotter and drier .
She 's not sure this area of the Hayman fire will ever reforest .
A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder also finds large parts of the Southern Rocky Mountains will become unsuitable for ponderosa pine and Douglas fir tree regrowth as the climate continues to warm .
Lead author Kyle Rodman and his team found a stark dividing line , with very little regrowth after the 2000 Walker Ranch Fire near Boulder .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of the driest years we 've had in the past century or more .
So any seedlings that might have established right after the fire , there 's a good chance they would have been cooked in that drought . ''
Forests become grasslands , and that 's bad for carbon emissions For areas that ca n't regenerate , research has found they may instead convert to grasslands .
Camille Stevens-Rumann , also of Colorado State University , says there can be lots of benefits to having patches of grasslands between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem `` where we 're talking about tens of thousands of acres that have transitioned from forest to grasslands . ''
One major concern is that trees sequester carbon .
Fewer trees will capture less carbon , which means more warming , and therefore fewer trees , in a cycle that will make it hard to reach carbon neutrality .
Thomas Veblen , of the University of Colorado Boulder , says this poses a problem for tree replanting efforts touted as a way to combat climate change .
`` Trees need moisture to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be surviving in the many , many places where we would like to have them planted and sequestering carbon , '' he says .
Stevens-Rumann has studied a large range of burned forests across the West and found some areas no longer able to support the same trees that have been there for one or two centuries .
`` We 're really moving away from the suitable climate for tree regeneration to happen , '' she says .
But she wants to emphasize that Colorado is not losing all of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and oak , do better with regrowth after a fire .
She says lodgepole pine forests , such as what 's been burning in the Cameron Peak Fire north of Rocky Mountain National Park , have also been found to recover better than some lower-elevation trees .
Fire actually makes their cones open to drop seeds .
In other cases , a different species may move in , or trees may migrate to higher , cooler elevations .
`` That gives me hope for these landscapes , '' she says .
`` And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to accept , in this new and changing world , is that these ecosystems are going to look different than the ones that maybe we have grown fond of in the past . ''

As Wildfires Grow More Intense, Iconic Western Forests May Not Come Back
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News
After a quick hike off a steep dirt road, forest ecologist Marin Chambers stands surrounded by grasses, shrubs and blackened bare trees. This is part of where the Hayman fire — until last month, Colorado's largest in recorded history — burned northwest of Colorado Springs back in 2002. The ground is dry, crunching underfoot.
"What we're seeing is a very large high-severity burn patch, where the vast majority of the trees have died," says Chambers, with the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University.
These 18-square miles burned hot and fast in a single day, driven by how dense the forest was because of past fire suppression, high winds and extreme drought. Now, nearly two decades later, something you'd normally see after a wildfire is missing: new trees.
"Some regeneration may be occurring, but certainly not enough to recreate a forest in the near term," Chambers says. She and her colleagues have found that forests are struggling to grow back some of the state's most iconic species, like ponderosa pine and Douglas fir.
High-severity fires leave behind massive burn areas with almost nothing alive. And any baby trees simply can't thrive in the increased heat and drought brought on by climate change.
"Imagine being a ponderosa pine seed trying to grow out here," Chambers says. "It's a pretty intense environment."
If there is forest regeneration, Chambers says it happens in bands along the forest edge, where surviving trees can still drop their seeds. But she says even that isn't happening at lower elevations, where it's hotter and drier. She's not sure this area of the Hayman fire will ever reforest.
A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder also finds large parts of the Southern Rocky Mountains will become unsuitable for ponderosa pine and Douglas fir tree regrowth as the climate continues to warm.
Lead author Kyle Rodman and his team found a stark dividing line, with very little regrowth after the 2000 Walker Ranch Fire near Boulder. The year 2002, Rodman says, "was one of the driest years we've had in the past century or more. So any seedlings that might have established right after the fire, there's a good chance they would have been cooked in that drought."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News
Forests become grasslands, and that's bad for carbon emissions
For areas that can't regenerate, research has found they may instead convert to grasslands.
Camille Stevens-Rumann, also of Colorado State University, says there can be lots of benefits to having patches of grasslands between forested areas. But it's a problem "where we're talking about tens of thousands of acres that have transitioned from forest to grasslands."
One major concern is that trees sequester carbon. Fewer trees will capture less carbon, which means more warming, and therefore fewer trees, in a cycle that will make it hard to reach carbon neutrality.
Thomas Veblen, of the University of Colorado Boulder, says this poses a problem for tree replanting efforts touted as a way to combat climate change.
"Trees need moisture to survive, and they simply are not going to be surviving in the many, many places where we would like to have them planted and sequestering carbon," he says.
Stevens-Rumann has studied a large range of burned forests across the West and found some areas no longer able to support the same trees that have been there for one or two centuries.
"We're really moving away from the suitable climate for tree regeneration to happen," she says.
But she wants to emphasize that Colorado is not losing all of its forests.
Some trees, like aspen and oak, do better with regrowth after a fire. She says lodgepole pine forests, such as what's been burning in the Cameron Peak Fire north of Rocky Mountain National Park, have also been found to recover better than some lower-elevation trees. Fire actually makes their cones open to drop seeds.
In other cases, a different species may move in, or trees may migrate to higher, cooler elevations.
"That gives me hope for these landscapes," she says. "And I think part of what we all have to accept, in this new and changing world, is that these ecosystems are going to look different than the ones that maybe we have grown fond of in the past."


npr--2020-09-13--Reader Tips: 9 Ways To Bring Joy And Care To Older People In The Pandemic

Reader Tips : 9 Ways To Bring Joy And Care To Older People In The Pandemic After I shared my family 's experience in trying to care for my 92-year-old grandmother in the pandemic , I wanted to know : How do we help older people feel safe and comfortable — and happy — in these times ?
I asked because I worried that my grandma , whom I call Nanay , Tagalog for mother , was feeling lonely and isolated in the pandemic .
So I asked three experts to share some advice on how to help .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too .
Dozens of readers wrote in .
One piece of advice I took to heart — do n't think of older people as a `` problem '' you have to `` solve . ''
Here are some of my favorites from the reader submissions .
I ca n't wait to try them with Nanay !
Keep older relatives in the loop .
Share your joys , discuss your sorrows and ask their advice .
Even if it is over the phone or by FaceTime it makes us feel connected and relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old and live alone yet every day I schedule virtual dinner meeting time with my remote family on Facebook Instant Messenger .
After dinner we watch and share the same TV programs for one hour .
Ironically , the required COVID-19 physical distance from my family has resulted in a much closer and stronger emotional and spiritual bond .
- Dennis Stop treating older people like they are a problem to be solved !
- Pat Gaydos 4 .
Figure out ways to connect them to their interests My mom is 92 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degeneration .
Because of this condition , she can not see well enough to read .
I asked her if she would like to listen to recorded books and she said yes .
I went to the public libraries and found fiction based on the Depression era ( when she was a child ) and checked them out for her .
I also purchased a simple CD player and wrote ( in large letters ) directions so that she could start and pause the CD herself .
My mom is enjoying the stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a postcard to our Mom once a week , with a message that told her what he was doing , such as ... ate apple pie for dessert tonight ... or took the dog to the vet for his annual check up ... or saw this building today ... simple things like that .
He did this for 60 years .
Is n't that wonderful ?
- Lisa Simon Let us know how we can help !
We are old but not dead .
We have lots of skills ... we can sew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... make family a meal .
- Christine Gagnon 7 .
Go for a pleasant drive or walk My wife is 75 with fairly advanced Parkinson 's , requiring virtually 24-hour care by me .
I 'm 73 .
We are healthy and active , other than the challenges of her disease .
We 're both pretty bored .
Here are a couple of things we do : We go for car rides .
The car is essentially an extension of the house 's safety bubble .
We go frequently for an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer trips to the shore — about an hour away .
We 've found some places with great views of the ocean from the car .
We bring a picnic lunch which is eaten in the car — sometimes followed by a brief snooze in a safe parking lot .
We 're lucky to live in a neighborhood where there are few cars .
I push her in her wheelchair for walks — nice change of scenery for her and good exercise for me .
We go late in the afternoon when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of light .
- Roger Bentley As a new caregiver for my father , I encountered a few situations that bothered me , such as my father asking the same question dozens of times .
My advice : when he mentions or asks something for the umpteenth time , do n't show exasperation .
Treat it like you 're an actor on a movie set .
Your character is compassionate , patient , funny and does n't get upset or excited .
So , pretend each repeat is simply another take on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your best to give an Oscar-winning performance every time .
- Bob Chance My sister had a brilliant idea and I will say it has made a significant improvement in our dad 's happiness factor .
My sister was a teacher and educator for many years and was skilled at developing challenging and fun lesson plans .
So she used our family history information as core curriculum and built a lesson plan for four days a week for my dad , which he does via email .
A lesson plan example is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. in the 1800s via Tasmania , Australia and New Zealand .
My sister sends an email about one of those relatives and ties that to a geographical lesson about where they lived at the time .
The total lesson plan is on average an hour a day .
If Dad is not up to doing the lesson , he can pass and then take it up another day .
As follow up , our caregiver or I can bring up the topic and initiate a conversation about the topic .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topic for the daily call she makes to my dad .
- Jeri Wait Thank you to everyone who wrote in and shared your advice !

Reader Tips: 9 Ways To Bring Joy And Care To Older People In The Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Malaka Gharib/ NPR Malaka Gharib/ NPR
After I shared my family's experience in trying to care for my 92-year-old grandmother in the pandemic, I wanted to know: How do we help older people feel safe and comfortable — and happy — in these times?
I asked because I worried that my grandma, whom I call Nanay, Tagalog for mother, was feeling lonely and isolated in the pandemic. So I asked three experts to share some advice on how to help. And I invited readers to share their tips, too.
Dozens of readers wrote in. One piece of advice I took to heart — don't think of older people as a "problem" you have to "solve."
Here are some of my favorites from the reader submissions. I can't wait to try them with Nanay!
Print And Fold Your Own Guide On How To Care For Older People In A Pandemic You can download and print out this minibook — or zine — with some of the experts' advice. Fold it using these directions (courtesy of The Oregonian). Make an extra copy in case you have a friend in need. Hide caption Previous Next Malaka Gharib/ NPR
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Hide caption Previous Next Malaka Gharib/ NPR 1 of 8 i View slideshow
1. Stay in touch
Keep older relatives in the loop. Share your joys, discuss your sorrows and ask their advice. Even if it is over the phone or by FaceTime it makes us feel connected and relevant. - Barbara Goodman
2. Organize virtual dinner and TV time
I am 74 years old and live alone yet every day I schedule virtual dinner meeting time with my remote family on Facebook Instant Messenger. After dinner we watch and share the same TV programs for one hour.
Ironically, the required COVID-19 physical distance from my family has resulted in a much closer and stronger emotional and spiritual bond. - Dennis
3. A good reminder
Stop treating older people like they are a problem to be solved! - Pat Gaydos
4. Figure out ways to connect them to their interests
My mom is 92 and her eyesight is affected by macular degeneration. Because of this condition, she cannot see well enough to read. I asked her if she would like to listen to recorded books and she said yes. I went to the public libraries and found fiction based on the Depression era (when she was a child) and checked them out for her. I also purchased a simple CD player and wrote (in large letters) directions so that she could start and pause the CD herself. My mom is enjoying the stories immensely! -Bernadette Potts
5. Send a weekly postcard
My brother sent a postcard to our Mom once a week, with a message that told her what he was doing, such as ... ate apple pie for dessert tonight ... or took the dog to the vet for his annual check up ... or saw this building today ... simple things like that. He did this for 60 years. Isn't that wonderful? - Lisa Simon
6. Use their skills
Let us know how we can help! We are old but not dead. We have lots of skills ... we can sew masks ... make lunches for emergency workers ... make family a meal. - Christine Gagnon
7. Go for a pleasant drive or walk
My wife is 75 with fairly advanced Parkinson's, requiring virtually 24-hour care by me. I'm 73. We are healthy and active, other than the challenges of her disease.
We're both pretty bored. Here are a couple of things we do: We go for car rides. The car is essentially an extension of the house's safety bubble. We go frequently for an hour or so. We also go on longer trips to the shore — about an hour away. We've found some places with great views of the ocean from the car. We bring a picnic lunch which is eaten in the car — sometimes followed by a brief snooze in a safe parking lot. We're lucky to live in a neighborhood where there are few cars. I push her in her wheelchair for walks — nice change of scenery for her and good exercise for me. We go late in the afternoon when it is cooler and there is still plenty of light. - Roger Bentley
8. Be patient
As a new caregiver for my father, I encountered a few situations that bothered me, such as my father asking the same question dozens of times. My advice: when he mentions or asks something for the umpteenth time, don't show exasperation. Treat it like you're an actor on a movie set. Your character is compassionate, patient, funny and doesn't get upset or excited. So, pretend each repeat is simply another take on the same scene for the movie. Try your best to give an Oscar-winning performance every time. - Bob Chance
9. Create a custom lesson plan
My sister had a brilliant idea and I will say it has made a significant improvement in our dad's happiness factor. My sister was a teacher and educator for many years and was skilled at developing challenging and fun lesson plans. So she used our family history information as core curriculum and built a lesson plan for four days a week for my dad, which he does via email.
A lesson plan example is, one arm of our family migrated to the U.S. in the 1800s via Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand. My sister sends an email about one of those relatives and ties that to a geographical lesson about where they lived at the time. The total lesson plan is on average an hour a day. If Dad is not up to doing the lesson, he can pass and then take it up another day.
As follow up, our caregiver or I can bring up the topic and initiate a conversation about the topic. My sister also uses it as a conversation topic for the daily call she makes to my dad. - Jeri Wait
Thank you to everyone who wrote in and shared your advice!


npr--2020-09-13--Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Shot In Apparent 'Ambush' Near Train Station

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Deputies Shot In Apparent 'Ambush ' Near Train Station Two Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Department deputies were shot Saturday near a train station .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva called the incident an `` ambush . ''
The department tweeted that a man and a woman were `` ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle . ''
Both suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were transported to St. Francis Medical Center , according to homicide captain Kent Wegener .
Villanueva said in press conference that both deputies were out of surgery and remain in critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen in a security video taken from a nearby MTA camera , remains at large .
The two deputies were both recent graduates of class 437 .
Villanueva said he had sworn them in about 14 months earlier .
He described the deputies as a `` 31-year-old mother of a 6-year-old boy '' and a `` 24-year-old . ''
`` This is just a sober reminder it 's a dangerous job .
Actions , words have consequence , '' Villaneuva said .
`` And our job does not get any easier because people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added , referencing the nationwide protests against police violence that have been taking place since May , following the police killing of George Floyd .
The attack was reported at about 7 p.m. PT at the Compton Terminal of the blue line .
According to Wegener , the deputies were able to radio for help .
California State Assembly member Mike Gipson said he was praying for both of the officers and their families , and hoped for a speedy recovery for the two .
Fellow Assembly member Reggie Jones Sawyer urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the perpetrators , '' calling the deputies heroes .
The FBI in Los Angeles said in a tweet it would offer resources and stand ready to assist the Sheriff Department 's investigation .
Villanueva noted the attack came at a time where the department was stretched thin .
Citing the protests in south LA and the Bobcat fire , Villanueva said deputies had been working `` very long hours these days . ''
President Donald Trump responded to the incident , saying in a tweet that whoever shot the deputies were `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

2 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Shot In Apparent 'Ambush' Near Train Station
Enlarge this image toggle caption Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via AP Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department via AP
Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were shot Saturday near a train station. Sheriff Alex Villanueva called the incident an "ambush."
The department tweeted that a man and a woman were "ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle." Both suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were transported to St. Francis Medical Center, according to homicide captain Kent Wegener. Villanueva said in a news conference that both deputies were out of surgery and remain in critical condition.
The suspect, who was seen in a security video taken from a nearby Metropolitan Transportation Authority camera, remains at large.
The two deputies were both recent graduates of Class 437. Villanueva said he had sworn them in about 14 months earlier. He described the deputies as a "31-year-old mother of a 6-year-old boy" and a "24-year-old."
"This is just a sober reminder it's a dangerous job. Actions, words have consequence," Villanueva said. "And our job does not get any easier because people don't like law enforcement," he added, referencing the nationwide protests against police violence that have been taking place since May, following the police killing of George Floyd.
The attack was reported at about 7 p.m. Pacific time at the Compton terminal of the Metro's blue line. According to Wegener, the deputies were able to radio for help.
California State Assembly Member Mike Gipson said he was praying for both of the officers and their families and hoped for a speedy recovery for the two. Fellow Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer urged the community to "condemn the act of the perpetrators," calling the deputies heroes.
The FBI in Los Angeles said in a tweet that it would offer resources and stand ready to assist the Sheriff's Department's investigation.
Villanueva noted the attack came at a time when the department was stretched thin. Citing the protests in South LA and the Bobcat Fire, Villanueva said deputies had been working "very long hours these days."
President Trump responded to the incident, saying in a tweet that whoever shot the deputies were "Animals that must be hit hard!"


npr--2020-09-13--Trump Signs New Executive Order On Prescription Drug Prices

President Trump signed an executive order Sunday that he says lowers prescription drug prices `` by putting America first , '' but experts say the move is unlikely to have any immediate impact .
The move comes nearly two months after the president signed a different executive order with the exact same name , but held it back to see if he could negotiate a better deal with drug companies .
`` If these talks are successful , we may not need to implement the fourth executive order , which is a very tough order for them , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order repeals the original and expands the drugs covered by Trump 's proposed `` most favored nations '' pricing scheme to include both Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. The idea is that Medicare would refuse to pay more for drugs than the lower prices paid by other developed nations .
`` It is unacceptable that Americans pay more for the exact same drugs , often made in the exact same places , '' the executive order declares .
The new order , like the earlier one , which was signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick condemnation from the drug industry .
Trump revels in the pushback during campaign speeches , saying if drug companies are criticizing him he must be doing something right .
`` The focus of any reforms must be on lowering costs for patients , ensuring patients ' access to medicines , addressing the misaligned incentives in the pharmaceutical supply chain and protecting the critical work being done to end COVID-19 , '' said Stephen Ubl , the president and CEO of the drug industry lobbying group PhRMA in a statement .
`` Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House has doubled down on a reckless attack on the very companies working around the clock to beat COVID-19 . ''
Ubl went on to describe the order as `` an irresponsible and unworkable policy that will give foreign governments a say in how America provides access to treatments and cures for seniors and people struggling with devastating diseases . ''
The order calls on the Health and Human Services secretary to `` immediately take appropriate steps to implement his rulemaking plan to test a payment model '' putting in place `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : As with most executive actions , this only just begins what will be a lengthy bureaucratic process that may or may not ultimately result in the promised policy .
Spokespeople for HHS did not immediately respond to emailed questions about how soon this could take effect and what testing a payment model looks like in practice .
`` The president may be frustrated that he did n't reach a deal with drug makers as his announced action is merely a demonstration and it is very hard to see how it could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Ian Spatz a health policy consultant and former drug company executive .
For a president who prides himself on his dealmaking skills , the month and a half since he first signed an order on drug pricing is ending without a deal .
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the president gave `` drug companies a month to come up with a counterproposal '' but the `` negotiations did not produce an acceptable alternative , so the President is moving forward . ''
It 's unclear how fulsome or serious those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information about the talks .
One thing is certain , Trump will tout this order on the campaign trail , just as he did the last one .
Seniors are a key part of the coalition that carried Trump into office in 2016 , but polls indicate he is n't doing as well with them this time around .

Trump Signs New Executive Order On Prescription Drug Prices
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
President Trump signed an executive order Sunday that he says lowers prescription drug prices "by putting America first," but experts said the move is unlikely to have any immediate impact.
The action comes nearly two months after the president signed a different executive order with the exact same name but held it back to see if he could negotiate a better deal with drug companies. "If these talks are successful, we may not need to implement the fourth executive order, which is a very tough order for them," Trump said at the time.
The new executive order repeals the original and expands the drugs covered by Trump's proposed "most favored nations" pricing scheme to include both Medicare parts B and D. The idea is that Medicare would refuse to pay more for drugs than the lower prices paid by other developed nations.
"It is unacceptable that Americans pay more for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same places," the executive order declares.
The new order, like the earlier one, which was signed July 24 but not released, prompted quick condemnation from the drug industry. Trump revels in the pushback during campaign speeches, saying he must be doing something right if drug companies are criticizing him.
"The focus of any reforms must be on lowering costs for patients, ensuring patients' access to medicines, addressing the misaligned incentives in the pharmaceutical supply chain and protecting the critical work being done to end COVID-19," said Stephen Ubl, president and CEO of the drug industry lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in a statement. "Unfortunately, instead of pursuing these reforms the White House has doubled down on a reckless attack on the very companies working around the clock to beat COVID-19."
Ubl described the order as "an irresponsible and unworkable policy that will give foreign governments a say in how America provides access to treatments and cures for seniors and people struggling with devastating diseases."
The order calls on the health and human services secretary to "immediately take appropriate steps to implement his rulemaking plan to test a payment model," putting in place "most favored nations" policy. Translated: As with most executive actions, this only just begins what will be a lengthy bureaucratic process that may or may not ultimately result in the promised policy.
A Department of Health and Human Services official said the agency "doesn't comment on the rulemaking process" when asked how soon this could take effect and what testing a payment model looks like in practice.
"The president may be frustrated that he didn't reach a deal with drugmakers as his announced action is merely a demonstration, and it is very hard to see how it could have any impact in the near future," said Ian Spatz, a health policy consultant and former drug company executive.
For a president who prides himself on his deal-making skills, the month and a half since he first signed an order on drug pricing is ending without a deal.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the president gave "drug companies a month to come up with a counterproposal," but the "negotiations did not produce an acceptable alternative, so the President is moving forward."
It's unclear how fulsome or serious those negotiations were because neither side released much information about the talks.
One thing is certain: Trump will tout this order on the campaign trail, just as he did the last one. Older voters are a key part of the coalition that carried Trump into office in 2016, but polls indicate he isn't doing as well with them this time around.


npr--2020-09-13--Massive Protests Continue In Belarus As Demonstrators Demand Lukashenko Resign

More than 100,000 protesters flooded the streets of the capital Minsk on Sunday in ongoing protests calling for Belarus ' authoritarian president to resign .
Sunday 's protests come on the eve of President Alexander Lukashenko 's planned meeting on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi .
It will be the first time the two leaders will meet face-to-face since unrest erupted in Belarus following the Aug. 9 election .
Government officials said Lukashenko won a sixth term with 80 % of the vote , but outside observers including the European Union and U.S. State Department say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts Lukashenko into a weak position going into the meeting with Putin .
Lukashenko has expressed concern that Putin could use the political unrest as a reason to annex Belarus like it did with Crimea in 2014 .
Protesters in Minsk took to the streets in large numbers Sunday for the fifth weekend in a row , defying riot police and masked security forces who roughly detained dozens of protesters and carted them off in vans .
Demonstrations also took place in 16 other cities across the country .
The Interior Ministry told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were detained Sunday in Minsk .
More than 7,000 people have been arrested since the election sparked protests against Lukashenko 's 26-year rule .
Lukashenko 's security forces have also sought to quell unrest by detaining or exiling members of an opposition group called the Coordination Council .
Despite the police crackdown , the opposition seems unwilling to back down .
Police on Sunday blocked off the city center with barbed wire fences and prisoner transport vehicles , so the protesters marched a different way .
They headed toward Lukashenko 's residence on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by protesters on Sunday reflected similar fears among the opposition that Russia could absorb Belarus .
`` The source of power in Belarus is the people , not Lukashenko and the Kremlin , '' read signs held by protesters in Minsk , the AP reported .
The slogan for Sunday 's protest was `` we wo n't let him sell the country . ''
While Lukashenko is expected to seek security guarantees in his meeting with Putin , he says he will not give away the country 's sovereignty .
Lukashenko has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to overthrow his government .
Political experts warn that Putin 's backing of Lukashenko could turn Belarusians against Russia .
Opposition leaders have said their movement is not explicitly pro-Russian or anti-Russian , but pro-democratic .
As Nigel Gould-Davies , the U.K. 's former ambassador to Belarus , told The Guardian , there 's a risk that `` Russia will turn the most friendly neighbor they have into a population that sees them as an accessory to Lukashenko and his authoritarianism . ''

Massive Protests Continue In Belarus As Demonstrators Demand Lukashenko Resign
Enlarge this image toggle caption TUT.BY/AFP via Getty Images TUT.BY/AFP via Getty Images
More than 100,000 protesters flooded the streets of the capital Minsk on Sunday in ongoing protests calling for Belarus' authoritarian president to resign.
Sunday's protests come on the eve of President Alexander Lukashenko's planned meeting on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. It will be the first time the two leaders will meet face-to-face since unrest erupted in Belarus following the Aug. 9 election. Government officials said Lukashenko won a sixth term with 80% of the vote, but outside observers including the European Union and U.S. State Department say the results were rigged.
The prolonged turmoil puts Lukashenko into a weak position going into the meeting with Putin. Lukashenko has expressed concern that Putin could use the political unrest as a reason to annex Belarus like it did with Crimea in 2014.
Protesters in Minsk took to the streets in large numbers Sunday for the fifth weekend in a row, defying riot police and masked security forces who roughly detained dozens of protesters and carted them off in vans. Demonstrations also took place in 16 other cities across the country.
The Interior Ministry told The Associated Press more than 400 people were detained Sunday in Minsk. More than 7,000 people have been arrested since the election sparked protests against Lukashenko's 26-year rule. Lukashenko's security forces have also sought to quell unrest by detaining or exiling members of an opposition group called the Coordination Council.
Despite the police crackdown, the opposition seems unwilling to back down. Police on Sunday blocked off the city center with barbed wire fences and prisoner transport vehicles, so the protesters marched a different way. They headed toward Lukashenko's residence on the city's outskirts.
Signs held by protesters on Sunday reflected similar fears among the opposition that Russia could absorb Belarus.
"The source of power in Belarus is the people, not Lukashenko and the Kremlin," read signs held by protesters in Minsk, the AP reported. The slogan for Sunday's protest was "we won't let him sell the country."
While Lukashenko is expected to seek security guarantees in his meeting with Putin, he says he will not give away the country's sovereignty. Lukashenko has also accused Western powers of instigating the revolt in order to overthrow his government.
Political experts warn that Putin's backing of Lukashenko could turn Belarusians against Russia. Opposition leaders have said their movement is not explicitly pro-Russian or anti-Russian, but pro-democratic.
As Nigel Gould-Davies, the U.K.'s former ambassador to Belarus, told The Guardian, there's a risk that "Russia will turn the most friendly neighbor they have into a population that sees them as an accessory to Lukashenko and his authoritarianism."
Charles Maynes contributed reporting.


npr--2020-09-13--KPCC Journalist Tackled, Arrested While Trying To Cover L.A. Protest

KPCC Journalist Tackled , Arrested While Trying To Cover L.A. Protest For hours on Saturday , KPCC reporter Josie Huang kept her followers informed with regular updates on Twitter as she covered the protests and unrest around Los Angeles .
She was heading to Compton , she said , to cover the shooting of two L.A. County Sheriff 's deputies , ambushed while sitting in their patrol car .
The deputies were in critical condition on Sunday .
The shooter was still at large .
Only hours later did readers learn , via a tweet by a colleague , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A news report on KPCC 's sister site , LAist , elaborated , reporting that the award-winning journalist had been tackled and arrested by several sheriff 's deputies while she was trying to document the arrest of a protester outside St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood .
Video of the arrest , taken by the local ABC affiliate , shows multiple deputies pinning Huang face down against the pavement .
KPCC Executive Editor Megan Garvey says Huang had just finished drafting a tweet when she was `` tackled and arrested . ''
Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huang `` did n't have proper credentials , '' and was taken into custody on suspicion of obstruction of justice by `` interfering with a lawful arrest . ''
The sheriff 's office said that Huang ran toward a group of deputies as they were struggling with an uncooperative protester they were trying to arrest .
Huang `` ignored repeated commands to stay back '' and `` did not identify herself as press , '' law enforcement officials said .
KPCC reported that sheriff deputies knocked Huang 's cellphone from her hands when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording video at the time .
In the video , she can be heard identifying herself as a reporter and yelling , `` You 're hurting me , '' KPCC reported .
In a statement , NPR 's senior vice president of news said the organization is `` appalled '' by Huang 's arrest while performing her job and gathering facts to inform the public .
`` The rights of journalists are protected by the First Amendment , and essential to an informed public and our Democracy , '' said Nancy Barnes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail at the Century Regional Detention Center , LAist reported .
She was released several hours later and cited with obstruction .
The charge carries a potential penalty of up to a $ 1,000 fine and up to a year in jail .
`` Hi , all .
I 'm out of county jail and am headed home , '' Huang tweeted in the early morning hours .
`` Thank you for caring . ''
Huang said she would have `` thoughts and videos to share soon after a little rest . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her ankle and arms .
A KPCC executive told LAist Huang also had a black eye and a sore shoulder .
In a statement , KPCC called for the charges against Huang to be dropped .
`` Her arrest is the latest in a series of troubling interactions between our reporters and some local law enforcement officers , '' KPCC said .
`` Journalists provide an essential service , providing fair , accurate and timely journalism and without them , our democracy is at risk . ''
Tension between police and journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement uses sometimes aggressive tactics against them .
The Committee to Protect Journalists , which tracks violence against journalists around the world , has noted more than 800 instances of reported aggression against the press by police during Black Lives Matter protests across the country .
CPJ condemned Huang 's arrest , and said it was `` disturbed by video of many officers pinning her to the ground . ''

KPCC Journalist Tackled, Arrested While Trying To Cover L.A. Protest
For hours on Saturday, KPCC reporter Josie Huang kept her followers informed with regular updates on Twitter as she covered the protests and unrest around Los Angeles.
She was heading to Compton, she said, to cover the shooting of two L.A. County Sheriff's deputies, ambushed while sitting in their patrol car. The deputies were in critical condition on Sunday. The shooter was still at large.
Suddenly, Huang's Twitter feed went silent.
Only hours later did readers learn, via a tweet by a colleague, that Huang had been detained by authorities. A news report on KPCC's sister site, LAist, elaborated, reporting that the award-winning journalist had been tackled and arrested by several sheriff's deputies while she was trying to document the arrest of a protester outside St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood.
Video of the arrest, taken by the local ABC affiliate, shows multiple deputies pinning Huang face down against the pavement. KPCC Executive Editor Megan Garvey says Huang had just finished drafting a tweet when she was "tackled and arrested."
Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said that Huang "didn't have proper credentials," and was taken into custody on suspicion of obstruction of justice by "interfering with a lawful arrest."
The sheriff's office said that Huang ran toward a group of deputies as they were struggling with an uncooperative protester they were trying to arrest. Huang "ignored repeated commands to stay back" and "did not identify herself as press," law enforcement officials said.
KPCC reported that sheriff deputies knocked Huang's cellphone from her hands when they arrested her. Huang had been recording video at the time. In the video, she can be heard identifying herself as a reporter and yelling, "You're hurting me," KPCC reported.
In a statement, NPR's senior vice president of news said the organization is "appalled" by Huang's arrest while performing her job and gathering facts to inform the public.
"The rights of journalists are protected by the First Amendment, and essential to an informed public and our Democracy," said Nancy Barnes.
Huang was held in the women's jail at the Century Regional Detention Center, LAist reported. She was released several hours later and cited with obstruction. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
"Hi, all. I'm out of county jail and am headed home," Huang tweeted in the early morning hours. "Thank you for caring." Huang said she would have "thoughts and videos to share soon after a little rest."
Photos of Huang show scrapes and bruises on her ankle and arms. A KPCC executive told LAist Huang also had a black eye and a sore shoulder.
In a statement, KPCC called for the charges against Huang to be dropped.
"Her arrest is the latest in a series of troubling interactions between our reporters and some local law enforcement officers," KPCC said. "Journalists provide an essential service, providing fair, accurate and timely journalism and without them, our democracy is at risk."
Tension between police and journalists has been building across the country as law enforcement uses sometimes aggressive tactics against them.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, which tracks violence against journalists around the world, has noted more than 800 instances of reported aggression against the press by police during Black Lives Matter protests across the country.
CPJ condemned Huang's arrest, and said it was "disturbed by video of many officers pinning her to the ground."


npr--2020-09-13--Tropical Storm Sally Moves Toward Gulf Coast As Bermuda Braces For Hurricane Paulette

Tropical Storm Sally Moves Toward Gulf Coast As Bermuda Braces For Hurricane Paulette In what has already been an active hurricane season , storm watchers are closely monitoring a pair of weather systems that threaten to deliver more damage .
Hurricane Paulette is rolling toward Bermuda and expected to bring heavy rainfall along the coast beginning Sunday night , according to the National Hurricane Center .
The NHC said Paulette is expected to be a `` dangerous hurricane . ''
Meanwhile , Tropical Storm Sally is threatening to grow into a hurricane as it moves toward the Gulf Coast .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orleans and surrounding areas as a hurricane by Tuesday morning , according to the NHC .
Residents of Bermuda were urged to protect life and property ahead of Paulette , which intensified into a hurricane late Saturday and is forecast to bring strong winds , coastal flooding and storm surge to the territory , hurricane officials said .
The storm is moving towards Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph , forecasters said .
Beginning late Sunday , forecasters expect Paulette to bring up to 6 inches of rain and `` life-threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paulette was 240 miles southeast of Bermuda on Sunday morning and moving northwest at 14 mph .
The center of the storm is forecast to move near or over Bermuda Monday morning .
Bermuda 's government announced it would close L.F. Wade International Airport on Sunday night .
Schools and government buildings will also close on Monday and Tuesday .
Along parts of the Gulf Coast , residents are similarly bracing as a hurricane warning is now in effect from Morgan City , La.
, to Ocean Springs , Miss .
Forecasters expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall starting on Monday .
As of Sunday morning , the tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph with stronger gusts , forecasters said .
A slow moving storm , Sally could dump up to 20 inches of rain on parts of the central Gulf Coast by the middle of the week .
If peak storm surge coincides with high tide , the water along the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs , Mississippi , including Lake Borgne could rise between 7 and 11 feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between 4 and 7 feet .
Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency ahead of Sally on Saturday , and urged residents to follow directions from local officials .
The mayor of New Orleans , LaToya Cantrell , ordered residents living beyond the levee system to evacuate .
Sally approaches just two weeks after Hurricane Laura brought a massive storm surge to the southwestern Louisiana coast .
Edwards said in a news conference Saturday that Sally `` has the potential to be very serious . ''
`` Barely two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow when Hurricane Laura came ashore as the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in Louisiana history , leaving a trail of destruction in its path , '' he said .
`` This , when combined with the COVID-19 pandemic , can make us all weary .
I implore Louisianans to take their preparations seriously . ''

Tropical Storm Sally Moves Toward Gulf Coast As Bermuda Braces For Hurricane Paulette
Enlarge this image toggle caption National Hurricane Center National Hurricane Center
In what has already been an active hurricane season, storm watchers are closely monitoring a pair of weather systems that threaten to deliver more damage.
Hurricane Paulette is rolling toward Bermuda and expected to bring heavy rainfall along the coast beginning Sunday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC said Paulette is expected to be a "dangerous hurricane."
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Sally is threatening to grow into a hurricane as it moves toward the Gulf Coast. The storm is expected to hit New Orleans and surrounding areas as a hurricane by Tuesday morning, according to the NHC.
Residents of Bermuda were urged to protect life and property ahead of Paulette, which intensified into a hurricane late Saturday and is forecast to bring strong winds, coastal flooding and storm surge to the territory, hurricane officials said.
The storm is moving towards Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, forecasters said. Beginning late Sunday, forecasters expect Paulette to bring up to 6 inches of rain and "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions."
Paulette was 240 miles southeast of Bermuda on Sunday morning and moving northwest at 14 mph. The center of the storm is forecast to move near or over Bermuda Monday morning.
Bermuda's government announced it would close L.F. Wade International Airport on Sunday night. Schools and government buildings will also close on Monday and Tuesday.
Along parts of the Gulf Coast, residents are similarly bracing as a hurricane warning is now in effect from Morgan City, La., to Ocean Springs, Miss. Forecasters expect Sally to bring life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall starting on Monday.
As of Sunday morning, the tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph with stronger gusts, forecasters said. A slow moving storm, Sally could dump up to 20 inches of rain on parts of the central Gulf Coast by the middle of the week.
If peak storm surge coincides with high tide, the water along the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Borgne could rise between 7 and 11 feet. Other areas could see storm surge between 4 and 7 feet.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency ahead of Sally on Saturday, and urged residents to follow directions from local officials. The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, ordered residents living beyond the levee system to evacuate.
Sally approaches just two weeks after Hurricane Laura brought a massive storm surge to the southwestern Louisiana coast. Edwards said in a news conference Saturday that Sally "has the potential to be very serious."
"Barely two weeks ago, Louisiana suffered a devastating blow when Hurricane Laura came ashore as the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in Louisiana history, leaving a trail of destruction in its path," he said. "This, when combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, can make us all weary. I implore Louisianans to take their preparations seriously."


npr--2020-09-13--Oregon Officials Warn False Antifa Rumors Waste Precious Resources For Fires

As fires ravage Oregon and Washington , burning around 1 million acres in a matter of days , fear and rumors have begun to take hold on social media .
On Facebook community groups in areas hard hit by fires , residents have begun frequently posting about forming patrols to look for looters , or worse : antifa , a loosely defined leftist group that is a frequent focus of far-right conspiracy theorists .
`` Has anyone seen or heard of 3 guys with Hoodies throwing bottles of gasoline in the Boring golf course ? ''
one person speculated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Boring , Ore. `` I do n't know if it 's true , so I 'm asking here if anyone knows . ''
As happened in recent months in response to protests for racial justice , vigilante groups have turned out in rural communities to ward off unsubstantiated threats from antifascist protesters .
One such patrol , a group of armed men , stopped an Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter in the Clackamas County community of Molalla on Thursday and told them to leave immediately .
Law enforcement officials who spoke to OPB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antifa or any other vigilante groups starting fires .
The Douglas County Sheriff 's Office in Southern Oregon took to Facebook this week to knock down rumors about six antifa members being arrested for setting fires .
`` THIS IS NOT TRUE !
Unfortunately , people are spreading this rumor and it is causing problems , '' the agency said .
`` Rumors spread just like wildfire and now our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor . ''
Similar rumors have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where law enforcement has opened a criminal investigation into the Almeda Fire .
Oregon State Police , the Jackson County Sheriff 's Office and the Ashland Police Department are looking into how the blaze began .
So far , it has killed at least one person and burned at least 600 homes , mostly in the towns of Phoenix and Talent .
`` It involves not only the setting of the fire but also the death of somebody immediately after the fire was set , somebody that was killed by the fire , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That investigation is criminal and it is ongoing . ''
O'Meara told OPB there is no connection between his investigation into the Almeda Fire and any political organization .
`` In no way does it point towards any political group , including anybody associated with antifa , '' he said .
`` Any rumors suggesting that it is pointed toward antifa are entirely fabricated . ''
O'Meara continued : `` There 's no reason to believe that this is politically motivated .
And anybody that is speculating in that direction is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this problem or any other problem .
It 's irresponsible for anybody to engage in that kind of speculation .
There 's absolutely no basis for it . ''
Oregon State Police spokesman Capt .
Tim Fox acknowledged OSP is assisting in some investigations , largely in Southern Oregon .
`` To my knowledge there have been no arrests for any of these large fires , '' Fox said in an email .
FBI Special Agent In Charge Renn Cannon , who runs the Portland field office , said there 's no basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon , '' Cannon said in a statement Friday .
`` With our state and local partners , the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue .
Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control . ''
Contrary to the rumors , some people who have participated in Portland 's racial justice protests have brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group called the Portland Witches , a fixture at the city 's months-long protests , was in Clackamas County on Thursday dropping off two vans full of supplies .
The group said it particularly wanted to help immigrant communities affected by the fires .
`` We 're dropping off supplies because we saw a need , '' said R , who asked not to be identified by name for their protection .
`` That 's just what we do .
Anytime we see people who are really in need , we help out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's with protesters , people who are houseless or people who are being evacuated because of the fires . ''
As of Thursday , more than 1 million acres had burned in Oregon and Washington over the previous 48 hours , according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland .
While the increase is due to fire growth , part of it is also because of better fire mapping , a spokeswoman for the agency said .
In Oregon , at least 668 homes have burned .
In Washington , the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Thursday .
So far , at least four people have died in the two states .
In addition to the Almeda Fire fatality , two others died in the Beachie Creek Fire — also known as the Santiam Fire — that has torched communities in the Santiam Canyon , according to the Marion County Sheriff 's Office .
Those deaths were a teenage boy and his grandmother .
A one-year-old child reportedly died in Washington 's Cold Creek Fire , burning near Omak , not far from the Canadian border .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fires , and the numbers of acres torched are all expected to increase in the coming days , as fires continue to spread and damage is assessed .
That type of widespread destruction from Northwest fires is one reason rumors on how the wildfires began are becoming increasingly mainstream .
Republican Michael Cross , who is running for Oregon attorney general in November 's election , posted on Facebook this week that the fires were clearly arson , constituted domestic terrorism , and stated he 'd heard of 14 people involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of these are organized , '' Cross told OPB .
`` I do n't know that antifa is behind it .
I think that somebody is behind it , because it seems organized for it to happen all at once . ''
When pressed repeatedly , Cross could n't provide evidence of those cases .
Rather , he cited a case in Douglas County , which the sheriff 's office has dismissed as untrue .
Cross also cited a case involving a man arrested in Lane County for arson for a fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained .
`` It defies common sense and logic '' with so many fires going on at the same time , Cross said , `` both large and small , [ that ] this is some kind of random occurrence . ''
Fire officials , however , have been clear about what is driving the fires that have caused tens of thousands of Oregonians to be under some level of an evacuation order .
Those include a once in a century windstorm that began early this week , high temperatures and downed power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires have been caused by people , but those causes are n't necessarily intentional or criminal .
At least one fire in Clackamas County last week started when an RV pulling a vehicle had loose chains dragging that sparked a nearby field .
Police and fire officials say they will investigate the causes of all the fires the state faces , after conditions are more stable and life and property are protected .
For now , those officials are clear : There 's no evidence antifa or any other political group is committing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speculation wastes precious resources needed to save lives .

Oregon Officials Warn False Antifa Rumors Waste Precious Resources For Fires
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kathryn Elsesser/AFP via Getty Images Kathryn Elsesser/AFP via Getty Images
As fires ravage Oregon and Washington, burning around 1 million acres in a matter of days, fear and rumors have begun to take hold on social media.
On Facebook community groups in areas hard hit by fires, residents have begun frequently posting about forming patrols to look for looters, or worse: antifa, a loosely defined leftist group that is a frequent focus of far-right conspiracy theorists.
"Has anyone seen or heard of 3 guys with Hoodies throwing bottles of gasoline in the Boring golf course?" one person speculated in a private Facebook group for the town of Boring, Ore. "I don't know if it's true, so I'm asking here if anyone knows."
As happened in recent months in response to protests for racial justice, vigilante groups have turned out in rural communities to ward off unsubstantiated threats from antifascist protesters. One such patrol, a group of armed men, stopped an Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter in the Clackamas County community of Molalla on Thursday and told them to leave immediately.
Law enforcement officials who spoke to OPB said they have seen no evidence of antifa or any other vigilante groups starting fires.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Southern Oregon took to Facebook this week to knock down rumors about six antifa members being arrested for setting fires.
"THIS IS NOT TRUE! Unfortunately, people are spreading this rumor and it is causing problems," the agency said. "Rumors spread just like wildfire and now our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor."
Similar rumors have circulated in Jackson County in Oregon, where law enforcement has opened a criminal investigation into the Almeda Fire.
Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Ashland Police Department are looking into how the blaze began. So far, it has killed at least one person and burned at least 600 homes, mostly in the towns of Phoenix and Talent.
"It involves not only the setting of the fire but also the death of somebody immediately after the fire was set, somebody that was killed by the fire," Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara said. "That investigation is criminal and it is ongoing."
O'Meara told OPB there is no connection between his investigation into the Almeda Fire and any political organization.
"In no way does it point towards any political group, including anybody associated with antifa," he said. "Any rumors suggesting that it is pointed toward antifa are entirely fabricated."
O'Meara continued: "There's no reason to believe that this is politically motivated. And anybody that is speculating in that direction is being reckless and not working toward solving this problem or any other problem. It's irresponsible for anybody to engage in that kind of speculation. There's absolutely no basis for it."
Oregon State Police spokesman Capt. Tim Fox acknowledged OSP is assisting in some investigations, largely in Southern Oregon.
"To my knowledge there have been no arrests for any of these large fires," Fox said in an email.
FBI Special Agent In Charge Renn Cannon, who runs the Portland field office, said there's no basis for the conspiracy theories.
"FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon," Cannon said in a statement Friday. "With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue. Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control."
Contrary to the rumors, some people who have participated in Portland's racial justice protests have brought supplies to firefighters and evacuees. A group called the Portland Witches, a fixture at the city's months-long protests, was in Clackamas County on Thursday dropping off two vans full of supplies. The group said it particularly wanted to help immigrant communities affected by the fires.
"We're dropping off supplies because we saw a need," said R, who asked not to be identified by name for their protection. "That's just what we do. Anytime we see people who are really in need, we help out the best we can — whether that's with protesters, people who are houseless or people who are being evacuated because of the fires."
As of Thursday, more than 1 million acres had burned in Oregon and Washington over the previous 48 hours, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland. While the increase is due to fire growth, part of it is also because of better fire mapping, a spokeswoman for the agency said.
In Oregon, at least 668 homes have burned. In Washington, the number of homes lost stood at 166, as of Thursday.
So far, at least four people have died in the two states. In addition to the Almeda Fire fatality, two others died in the Beachie Creek Fire — also known as the Santiam Fire — that has torched communities in the Santiam Canyon, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Those deaths were a teenage boy and his grandmother. A one-year-old child reportedly died in Washington's Cold Creek Fire, burning near Omak, not far from the Canadian border.
Deaths, homes and businesses lost in the fires, and the numbers of acres torched are all expected to increase in the coming days, as fires continue to spread and damage is assessed.
That type of widespread destruction from Northwest fires is one reason rumors on how the wildfires began are becoming increasingly mainstream.
Republican Michael Cross, who is running for Oregon attorney general in November's election, posted on Facebook this week that the fires were clearly arson, constituted domestic terrorism, and stated he'd heard of 14 people involved in starting fires.
"It seems like some of these are organized," Cross told OPB. "I don't know that antifa is behind it. I think that somebody is behind it, because it seems organized for it to happen all at once."
When pressed repeatedly, Cross couldn't provide evidence of those cases. Rather, he cited a case in Douglas County, which the sheriff's office has dismissed as untrue. Cross also cited a case involving a man arrested in Lane County for arson for a fire that's currently listed as 100% contained.
"It defies common sense and logic" with so many fires going on at the same time, Cross said, "both large and small, [that] this is some kind of random occurrence."
Fire officials, however, have been clear about what is driving the fires that have caused tens of thousands of Oregonians to be under some level of an evacuation order. Those include a once in a century windstorm that began early this week, high temperatures and downed power lines due to the wind.
Some fires have been caused by people, but those causes aren't necessarily intentional or criminal. At least one fire in Clackamas County last week started when an RV pulling a vehicle had loose chains dragging that sparked a nearby field.
Police and fire officials say they will investigate the causes of all the fires the state faces, after conditions are more stable and life and property are protected. For now, those officials are clear: There's no evidence antifa or any other political group is committing arson at this time, and online speculation wastes precious resources needed to save lives.
OPB’s Sergio Olmos contributed to this story.


npr--2020-09-13--Mike Bloomberg Commits $100 Million To Help Joe Biden Win Florida

Mike Bloomberg , the former New York City mayor and onetime Democratic presidential candidate , has committed $ 100 million of his own money to help the party 's nominee , Joe Biden , win the state of Florida .
Bloomberg 's investment is a potential game changer in Florida , a swing state with expensive media markets .
Florida is also considered a must-win state for President Trump if he is to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to win reelection .
Biden , on the other hand , is seen as having several routes to 270 , without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg 's big investment would likely force Republicans to spend more time and money in Florida and allow the Biden campaign to focus its resources on other key states .
`` Mike Bloomberg is committed to helping defeat Trump , and that is going to happen in the battleground states , '' Bloomberg senior adviser Kevin Sheekey said in a statement .
`` Mike 's substantial investment in Florida , in addition to his contributions to the DNC and to voter protection and restoration efforts this cycle , will mean Democrats and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other key states like Pennsylvania , which will be critical to a Biden victory . ''
Bloomberg , whose net worth is estimated above $ 50 billion , spent about $ 1 billion on his own unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination .
He had then promised to spend whatever it takes to defeat Trump , but through the summer some Democrats were wondering if he would come through on that pledge .
The news of Bloomberg 's Florida commitment got Trump 's attention on Sunday .
`` I thought Mini Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost 2 Billion Dollars , and then giving the worst and most inept Debate Performance in the history of Presidential Politics , '' Trump said in a tweet .
`` Pocahontas [ Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ] ended his political career on first question , OVER !
Save NYC instead . ''
Florida is generally considered a presidential toss up , with neither major party candidate showing a clear lead in the polls .
In surveys , Biden is doing better with white voters and seniors than Hillary Clinton did in 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with non-Cuban Hispanics .
A Bloomberg spokesperson says communicating with Hispanic voters will be a key part of the spending strategy .
Bloomberg 's money will be routed through his own Independence USA super PAC and other Democratic groups .
According to Florida Democratic strategist Steve Schale , the Bloomberg investment is a big deal because Florida has not gotten the same level of outside spending as other swing states .
Also , Schale says , `` It 's early enough that it can really help . ''
There 's another reason an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added in an interview .
`` If Joe Biden can win Florida on election night , it destroys the lie that the president is trying to propagate — that mail-in ballots will be an attempt to steal the election , '' he said .
Florida counts its early votes and absentee ballots and reports them on election night .
That 's notable , as most key states do not record and report their mail-in votes on election night .
More Democrats are likely to vote by mail this year than Republicans , partly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting is illegitimate .
Democrats have been worried about what they call a nightmare scenario : that Trump leads on election night among votes cast in person , declares victory , and says all mail-in ballots yet to be counted are `` frauds '' — even though most votes counted after election day are likely to be for Biden .
Trump has had a head start in Florida .
He recently moved his legal residence to the state , where he has multiple properties , and last week he said he 'd be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campaign .
And Florida was the exception to the rule in 2018 .
Democrats won races for governor and U.S. Senate in many states but not in Florida , where Republicans held on .
The Trump campaign says it is still confident the president can win Florida in November .
The Bloomberg spokesperson said he is the single biggest donor to the DNC this cycle .
Now Democrats will wait and see if Bloomberg is willing to spend big money in other competitive states like North Carolina or Georgia , or invest @ @ @ @

Mike Bloomberg Commits $100 Million To Help Joe Biden Win Florida
Enlarge this image toggle caption DNCC via Getty Images DNCC via Getty Images
Updated at 1:15 p.m. ET
Mike Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and onetime Democratic presidential candidate, has committed $100 million of his own money to help the party's nominee, Joe Biden, win the state of Florida.
Bloomberg's investment is a potential game changer in Florida, a swing state with expensive media markets.
Florida is also considered a must-win state for President Trump if he is to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to win reelection. Biden, on the other hand, is seen as having several routes to 270, without winning Florida's 29 electoral votes. Bloomberg's big investment would likely force Republicans to spend more time and money in Florida and allow the Biden campaign to focus its resources on other key states.
"Mike Bloomberg is committed to helping defeat Trump, and that is going to happen in the battleground states," Bloomberg senior adviser Kevin Sheekey said in a statement. "Mike's substantial investment in Florida, in addition to his contributions to the DNC and to voter protection and restoration efforts this cycle, will mean Democrats and the Biden campaign can invest even more heavily in other key states like Pennsylvania, which will be critical to a Biden victory."
Bloomberg, whose net worth is estimated above $50 billion, spent about $1 billion on his own unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination. He had then promised to spend whatever it takes to defeat Trump, but through the summer some Democrats were wondering if he would come through on that pledge.
The news of Bloomberg's Florida commitment got Trump's attention on Sunday.
"I thought Mini Mike was through with Democrat politics after spending almost 2 Billion Dollars, and then giving the worst and most inept Debate Performance in the history of Presidential Politics," Trump said in a tweet. "Pocahontas [Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren] ended his political career on first question, OVER! Save NYC instead."
Florida is generally considered a presidential toss up, with neither major party candidate showing a clear lead in the polls. In surveys, Biden is doing better with white voters and seniors than Hillary Clinton did in 2016, but he's not doing as well with non-Cuban Hispanics. A Bloomberg spokesperson says communicating with Hispanic voters will be a key part of the spending strategy.
Bloomberg's money will be routed through his own Independence USA super PAC and other Democratic groups.
According to Florida Democratic strategist Steve Schale, the Bloomberg investment is a big deal because Florida has not gotten the same level of outside spending as other swing states.
Also, Schale says, "It's early enough that it can really help."
There's another reason an investment in Florida makes sense, Sheekey added in an interview.
"If Joe Biden can win Florida on election night, it destroys the lie that the president is trying to propagate — that mail-in ballots will be an attempt to steal the election," he said.
Florida counts its early votes and absentee ballots and reports them on election night. That's notable, as most key states do not record and report their mail-in votes on election night.
More Democrats are likely to vote by mail this year than Republicans, partly because Trump has repeatedly warned that mail-in voting is illegitimate.
Democrats have been worried about what they call a nightmare scenario: that Trump leads on election night among votes cast in person, declares victory, and says all mail-in ballots yet to be counted are "frauds" — even though most votes counted after election day are likely to be for Biden.
Trump has had a head start in Florida. He recently moved his legal residence to the state, where he has multiple properties, and last week he said he'd be willing to put his own money into his campaign.
And Florida was the exception to the rule in 2018. Democrats won races for governor and U.S. Senate in many states but not in Florida, where Republicans held on. The Trump campaign says it is still confident the president can win Florida in November.
The Bloomberg spokesperson said he is the single biggest donor to the DNC this cycle. Now Democrats will wait and see if Bloomberg is willing to spend big money in other competitive states like North Carolina or Georgia, or invest in Senate races.


npr--2020-09-13--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

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

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