npr--2020-03-03--Coronavirus Cancellations And Travel Bans: Google Is Latest

Google is the latest company to cancel a big event and curb employee travel , as the global spread of the coronavirus outbreak has struck fear across the business world .
The tech company called off its flagship developers conference , called I/O , which was scheduled for May in Mountain View , Calif. Last year , the three-day event drew 7,000 attendees .
Google said the decision was `` due to concerns around the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) , and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC , WHO , and other health authorities . ''
People who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full refunds .
The company said it would look for ways to `` evolve '' the event , raising the possibility of live-streamed or remote sessions .
Several other companies and organizations , including the World Bank and the IMF , said they would replace in-person gatherings and meetings with virtual ones .
Google has also halted all international travel for employees , after previously restricting travel to China , Iran , Italy , Japan and South Korea .
Last week , the company said an employee in its Zurich office had tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across industries are clamping down on travel and avoiding events and conferences as fears over the spreading outbreak escalate .
Some firms , like Twitter , are urging , or even requiring , employees to work from home .
The restrictions are expected to have impacts on the travel sector as well as the broader economy and local cities and their vendors that rely on events to bring in revenue .
Stocks of airlines , hotel groups and cruise lines have all taken a sharp hit in recent weeks .
The U.S. Travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects international travel into the U.S. to drop 6 % over the next three months — the steepest fall since the 2008 financial crisis .
`` There is a lot of uncertainty around coronavirus , '' said Roger Dow , the association 's president , in a statement .
`` It is pretty clear that it is having an effect on travel demand—not just from China , and not just internationally , but for domestic business and leisure travel as well . ''
Several large industry events have been scrapped , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Game Developers Conference in San Francisco , after major companies said they would not attend .
But some conference organizers are going ahead with their plans .
Most notably , the South By Southwest music , film and tech festival is scheduled to kick off on March 13 , despite calls to cancel .
Facebook , Twitter , Intel and Vevo have all pulled out .
A petition calling on organizers to cancel SXSW has gotten more than 36,000 signatures .
The following companies are curtailing travel or events , or encouraging people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its annual summit in Las Vegas , saying it would become an `` online-only '' experience .
Amazon is restricting all non-essential employee travel , including within the U.S. Apple has restricted employee travel to China , Italy and South Korea , according to Bloomberg News .
Facebook called off its biggest event of the year , its F8 developers conference set for May .
It said it would instead offer `` locally hosted events , videos and live streamed content . ''
It also canceled its Global Marketing Summit in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I/O , scrapped its Global News Initiative summit and said it would turn its Cloud Next conference into a digital event .
Both events were slated to take place in the San Francisco Bay area in April .
JPMorgan has curbed non-essential employee travel , according to Bloomberg News .
Microsoft canceled its MVP Summit , and said it would turn the networking event into an online-only gathering .
Salesforce prohibited international travel and restricted `` all but the most critical '' domestic travel , and is making customer events digital instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco-based payments company , is `` strongly '' encouraging employees to work from home .
It also halted non-essential business travel in the U.S. and internationally , is `` discouraging in-person attendance at internal and external conferences and business events , '' according to a spokesman .
Twitter is encouraging all employees to work from home if they are able .
Workers in Hong Kong , Japan and South Korea are required to work from home .
It also suspended `` all non-critical business travel and events . ''

Coronavirus Cancellations And Travel Bans: Google Is Latest
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images
Updated at 11:57 a.m. ET Wednesday
Google is the latest company to cancel a big event and curb employee travel as the global spread of the coronavirus outbreak has struck fear across the business world.
The tech company called off its flagship developers conference, called I/O, which was scheduled for May in Mountain View, Calif. Last year, the three-day event drew 7,000 attendees.
Google said the decision was "due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities." People who already bought tickets to I/O will get full refunds.
The company said it would look for ways to "evolve" the event, raising the possibility of livestreamed or remote sessions. Several other companies and organizations, including the World Bank and the IMF, said they would replace in-person gatherings and meetings with virtual ones.
Google has also halted all international travel for employees after previously restricting travel to China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. Last week, the company said an employee in its Zurich office had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
An Amazon employee at the company's Seattle headquarters has tested positive for the virus. Amazon said it is "supporting the affected employee who is in quarantine." Two employees in Milan have also contracted the virus.
Companies across industries are clamping down on travel and avoiding events and conferences as fears over the spreading outbreak escalate. Some companies, such as Twitter, are urging or even requiring employees to work from home.
The restrictions are expected to affect the travel sector as well as the broader economy and cities and their vendors that rely on events to bring in revenue. Stocks of airlines, hotel groups and cruise lines have all taken a sharp hit in recent weeks.
The U.S. Travel Association, an industry trade group, expects international travel into the U.S. to drop 6% over the next three months — the steepest fall since the 2008 financial crisis.
"There is a lot of uncertainty around coronavirus," said Roger Dow, the association's president, in a statement. "It is pretty clear that it is having an effect on travel demand — not just from China, and not just internationally, but for domestic business and leisure travel as well."
Several large industry events have been scrapped, including the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, after major companies said they would not attend.
But some conference organizers are going ahead with their plans.
Most notably, the South by Southwest music, film and tech festival is scheduled to kick off on March 13, despite calls to cancel. Facebook, Twitter, Intel and Vevo have all pulled out. A petition calling on organizers to cancel SXSW has gotten more than 36,000 signatures.
The following companies are curtailing travel or events, or encouraging people to work from home:
Adobe canceled its annual summit in Las Vegas, saying it would become an "online-only" experience.
Amazon is restricting all nonessential employee travel, including within the U.S. Employees may work from home if they choose.
Apple has restricted employee travel to China, Italy and South Korea, according to Bloomberg News.
Facebook called off its biggest event of the year, its F8 developers conference set for May. It said it would instead offer "locally hosted events, videos and live streamed content." It also canceled its Global Marketing Summit in San Francisco.
Google, in addition to canceling I/O, scrapped its Global News Initiative summit and said it would turn its Cloud Next conference into a digital event. Both events were slated to take place in the San Francisco Bay area in April.
JPMorgan has curbed nonessential employee travel, according to Bloomberg News.
Microsoft canceled its MVP Summit and said it would turn the networking event into an online-only gathering.
Salesforce prohibited international travel and restricted "all but the most critical" domestic travel, and it is making customer events digital instead of in person.
Square, the San Francisco-based payments company, is "strongly" encouraging employees to work from home. It also halted nonessential business travel in the U.S. and internationally, and it is "discouraging in-person attendance at internal and external conferences and business events," according to a spokesman.
Twitter is encouraging all employees to work from home if they are able. Workers in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea are required to work from home. It also suspended "all non-critical business travel and events."


npr--2020-03-04--Supreme Court Weighs Abortion Case; Schumer Remarks Draw Rebuke From Roberts

There were fierce clashes at the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday and a fierce critique from Chief Justice John Roberts afterward upon learning about statements made by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outside while the arguments were taking place inside .
Addressing a crowd of abortion-rights demonstrators , Schumer , D-N.Y. , referred to the court 's two Trump appointees , Neal Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , and said , `` You have unleashed the whirlwind and you will pay the price .
You wo n't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions . ''
Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kavanaugh 's angry statement to Democratic senators at his 2018 confirmation hearing , `` You sowed the wind .
For decades to come , I fear the country will reap the whirlwind . ''
Late Wednesday Chief Justice Roberts responded to Schumer with a stern rebuke .
`` Justices know that criticism comes with the territory , but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate , they are dangerous .
All members of the court will continue to do their job , without fear or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said in a written statement .
Schumer 's office quickly replied with his own written statement , saying that his comments `` were a reference to the political price Senate Republicans will pay for putting these justices on the court , and warning that the justices will unleash a major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights ... . ''
Schumer went on to criticize the chief justice for `` remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg '' late last month .
That failure to stand up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer said , shows that Roberts `` does not just call balls and strikes , '' as he promised he would do at his confirmation hearing in 2005 .
Wednesday is not the first time Roberts has rebuked a political leader .
In November 2018 , he issued a statement critical of Trump for denigrating a judge as `` an Obama judge '' in an immigration case .
The statement Roberts issued then said , `` We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges , Bush judges or Clinton judges .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them . ''
Trump immediately tweeted : `` Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts , but you do indeed have 'Obama judges ' and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country .
...
These rulings are shocking .
We need protection and security-these rulings are making our country unsafe !
Very dangerous and unwise . ''
Wednesday 's blast from the chief justice came after fierce arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests whether the court should renounce an abortion ruling that is just four years old .
Back in 2016 , the high court struck down a Texas law that required doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital .
At issue now is a nearly identical law coming out of Louisiana .
But in the four years since the Texas case , the composition of the court has changed with the additions of two Trump appointees , Gorsuch and Kavanaugh .
With the change in the court 's composition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get the court to backtrack on abortion rights , with an eye to the ultimate aim of overturning Roe v. Wade .
In the Louisiana case before the court Wednesday , the state defended an admitting privileges statute nearly identical to the Texas law that the court struck down in 2016 .
Supporters of the law argue that Louisiana passed it to protect patient safety .
`` There is a long record in Louisiana as there are in other states of really gross violations of health and safety standards in the abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of documentation , '' said Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson on the steps of the court following oral arguments Wednesday .
But Nancy Northup , president of the Center for Reproductive Rights , countered that if Louisiana 's law is upheld , clinics across the state will shutter — leaving only one clinic and one doctor to serve the needs of 10,000 women seeking abortions each year in the state .
`` It is not right that we have to be here re-fighting a legal battle that we have already won .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Louisiana is in open defiance of the Constitution and of the Supreme Court 's ruling , '' Northup said .
Inside the court chamber , lawyer Julie Rikelman , representing the Hope clinic in Shreveport , La.
, argued that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals , in upholding the Louisiana law , had disregarded the factual findings of the trial court and openly defied the Supreme Court 's precedents .
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito , who has openly opposed abortion rights for decades , led the charge against Rikelman .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of its patients , he asked , suggesting that there is a `` conflict of interest '' with those patients .
Rikelman replied that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that a plaintiff directly regulated by a law — as abortion providers are here — can challenge that law .
`` Really , '' replied Alito , his voice rising .
`` That 's amazing ! ''
But , Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg interjected , is there , in fact , any conflict between doctors and patients here ?
`` No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privileges served no medical benefit , '' answered Rikelman , and in fact , the trial court found it `` would harm the health of women in Louisiana . ''
Indeed , she said , `` even the federal government '' itself has found admitting privilege requirements to be `` medically unnecessary '' and burdensome , leading it to eliminate the requirement nationally for doctors performing outpatient surgical procedures on Medicaid and Medicare patients .
Moreover , said Rikelman , admitting privileges do not improve the standard of care for most women seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women seeking abortions who do not have surgery , but use abortion pills instead .
Alito moved on to the facts in the case , seeking to show that the doctors at the clinics simply did not try hard enough to get admitting privileges .
Dr. Doe 3 , he noted , did in fact have admitting privileges .
Rikelman replied that he has those privileges , but they require that he admits at least 50 patients a year to the hospital .
Doe 3 , said Rikelman , can only meet that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivering babies .
Alito moved on : Was n't the Hope Medical Clinic `` suspended for regulatory violations ? ''
`` It was ... briefly in 2010 , '' answered Rikelman , but after a court hearing the judge found the clinic had `` an excellent safety record . ''
When Louisiana Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill rose to make her argument on behalf of the state , she faced a wall of questions from the court 's liberals , especially its three female justices .
Ginsburg : What sense does it make to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within 30-miles of a clinic when most complications arise after the patient is at home , usually far away from the clinic .
And what about a D & C , the procedure that doctors routinely do after a miscarriage and which is virtually identical to abortion procedures — are there hospital admitting privileges attached to those ?
Murrill eventually conceded that such procedures , which are done in a doctor 's office , do not require the doctor to have hospital admitting privileges .
When Murrill argued that the admitting privileges requirement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credentialed , Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked : Do n't you have a medical licensing requirement in the state ?
Justice Elena Kagan jumped in , pointing out that the record shows that hospitals deny privileges for many reasons .
The decision `` could rest on the number of patients a doctor has ... on whether a particular hospital needs more providers '' and it can even `` rest on a general view that they do n't want abortion providers in that hospital . ''
Given the discretion hospitals have when granting privileges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that admitting privileges perform a credentialing function ?
Ginsburg jumped in , `` Is it not the fact that ... in Louisiana in order to get admitting privileges you have to admit a certain number of patients ? ''
And because of how safe abortion is , clinics like Hope `` will never qualify because their patients do n't go to the hospital . ''
Is it right , Kagan continued , that the Hope clinic has treated some 70,000 patients over the past 23 years and `` transferred only four patients ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murrill : `` Only four that they know of . ''
But , `` you do n't dispute that ... first trimester abortion is among the safest '' medical procedures , in fact `` far safer than childbirth ? ''
interjected Ginsburg .
Murrill replied that regardless of safety , `` the doctor should have the qualifications to ... handle the most likely complication [ s ] . ''
Justice Stephen Breyer interjected , `` we 're not going to solve this at oral argument . ''
Which of the doctors is your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried hard enough to get admitting privileges ?
Sotomayor , exasperated : But Doe 6 for the last 12 years has only done medical abortions with pills , not surgical abortions .
So it was `` guaranteed that he could n't meet the requirement '' for admitting privileges at any hospital .
Breyer : The state 's own expert witness testified Doe 6 would `` probably not '' get admitting privileges .
`` In the country , people have very strong feelings '' about this issue , said Breyer .
`` A lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a lot of people morally think the opposite . ''
So given that tension , why should the court depart from its repeated precedents over the last 40-plus years ?
At the end of the day , of course , it was none of the avid questioners whose votes will count in this case .
It likely will be Chief Justice Roberts ' vote that will be determinative , but he asked few questions and did n't tip his hand .

Supreme Court Weighs Abortion Case; Schumer Remarks Draw Rebuke From Roberts
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose Luis Magana/AP Jose Luis Magana/AP
There were fierce clashes at the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday and a fierce critique from Chief Justice John Roberts afterward upon learning about statements made by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outside while the arguments were taking place inside.
Addressing a crowd of abortion-rights demonstrators, Schumer, D-N.Y., referred to the court's two Trump appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, and said, "You have unleashed the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."
Schumer's statement was apparently a reference to Kavanaugh's angry statement to Democratic senators at his 2018 confirmation hearing, "You sowed the wind. For decades to come, I fear the country will reap the whirlwind."
Late Wednesday Chief Justice Roberts responded to Schumer with a stern rebuke. "Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous. All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter," he said in a written statement.
Schumer's office quickly replied with his own written statement, saying that his comments "were a reference to the political price Senate Republicans will pay for putting these justices on the court, and warning that the justices will unleash a major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights...."
Schumer went on to criticize the chief justice for "remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg" late last month. That failure to stand up for two of the court's liberals, Schumer said, shows that Roberts "does not just call balls and strikes," as he promised he would do at his confirmation hearing in 2005.
Wednesday is not the first time Roberts has rebuked a political leader. In November 2018, he issued a statement critical of Trump for denigrating a judge as "an Obama judge" in an immigration case.
The statement Roberts issued then said, "We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them."
Trump immediately tweeted: "Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have 'Obama judges' and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country. ... These rulings are shocking. We need protection and security-these rulings are making our country unsafe! Very dangerous and unwise."
Facts of the Case
Wednesday's blast from the chief justice came after fierce arguments before the court in a case that tests whether the court should renounce an abortion ruling that is just four years old.
Back in 2016, the high court struck down a Texas law that required doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. At issue now is a nearly identical law coming out of Louisiana. But in the four years since the Texas case, the composition of the court has changed with the additions of two Trump appointees, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
With the change in the court's composition, anti-abortion groups have been pressing hard to get the court to backtrack on abortion rights, with an eye to the ultimate aim of overturning Roe v. Wade.
In the Louisiana case before the court Wednesday, the state defended an admitting privileges statute nearly identical to the Texas law that the court struck down in 2016. Supporters of the law argue that Louisiana passed it to protect patient safety.
"There is a long record in Louisiana as there are in other states of really gross violations of health and safety standards in the abortion industry, we have more than 20 years of documentation," said Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson on the steps of the court following oral arguments Wednesday.
But Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, countered that if Louisiana's law is upheld, clinics across the state will shutter — leaving only one clinic and one doctor to serve the needs of 10,000 women seeking abortions each year in the state.
"It is not right that we have to be here re-fighting a legal battle that we have already won. But unfortunately we are here because the state of Louisiana is in open defiance of the Constitution and of the Supreme Court's ruling," Northup said.
The arguments
Inside the court chamber, lawyer Julie Rikelman, representing the Hope clinic in Shreveport, La., argued that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in upholding the Louisiana law, had disregarded the factual findings of the trial court and openly defied the Supreme Court's precedents.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, who has openly opposed abortion rights for decades, led the charge against Rikelman.
Why should the clinic be allowed to sue on behalf of its patients, he asked, suggesting that there is a "conflict of interest" with those patients.
Rikelman replied that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that a plaintiff directly regulated by a law — as abortion providers are here — can challenge that law.
"Really," replied Alito, his voice rising. "That's amazing!"
But, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg interjected, is there, in fact, any conflict between doctors and patients here?
"No ... This court already held that admitting privileges served no medical benefit," answered Rikelman, and in fact, the trial court found it "would harm the health of women in Louisiana." Indeed, she said, "even the federal government" itself has found admitting privilege requirements to be "medically unnecessary" and burdensome, leading it to eliminate the requirement nationally for doctors performing outpatient surgical procedures on Medicaid and Medicare patients.
Moreover, said Rikelman, admitting privileges do not improve the standard of care for most women seeking abortions, particularly the 40% of women seeking abortions who do not have surgery, but use abortion pills instead.
Alito moved on to the facts in the case, seeking to show that the doctors at the clinics simply did not try hard enough to get admitting privileges.
Dr. Doe 3, he noted, did in fact have admitting privileges. Rikelman replied that he has those privileges, but they require that he admits at least 50 patients a year to the hospital. Doe 3, said Rikelman, can only meet that requirement because of his separate private practice delivering babies.
Alito moved on: Wasn't the Hope Medical Clinic "suspended for regulatory violations?"
"It was ... briefly in 2010," answered Rikelman, but after a court hearing the judge found the clinic had "an excellent safety record."
Admitting privileges
When Louisiana Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill rose to make her argument on behalf of the state, she faced a wall of questions from the court's liberals, especially its three female justices.
Ginsburg: What sense does it make to require doctors to have hospital admitting privileges within 30-miles of a clinic when most complications arise after the patient is at home, usually far away from the clinic.
And what about a D&C, the procedure that doctors routinely do after a miscarriage and which is virtually identical to abortion procedures — are there hospital admitting privileges attached to those?
Murrill eventually conceded that such procedures, which are done in a doctor's office, do not require the doctor to have hospital admitting privileges.
When Murrill argued that the admitting privileges requirement serves to ensure that doctors are properly credentialed, Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked: Don't you have a medical licensing requirement in the state?
Justice Elena Kagan jumped in, pointing out that the record shows that hospitals deny privileges for many reasons. The decision "could rest on the number of patients a doctor has ... on whether a particular hospital needs more providers" and it can even "rest on a general view that they don't want abortion providers in that hospital." Given the discretion hospitals have when granting privileges, Kagan said, how can Louisiana argue that admitting privileges perform a credentialing function?
Ginsburg jumped in, "Is it not the fact that ... in Louisiana in order to get admitting privileges you have to admit a certain number of patients?" And because of how safe abortion is, clinics like Hope "will never qualify because their patients don't go to the hospital."
Is it right, Kagan continued,that the Hope clinic has treated some 70,000 patients over the past 23 years and "transferred only four patients ever to a hospital?"
Replied lawyer Murrill: "Only four that they know of."
But, "you don't dispute that ... first trimester abortion is among the safest" medical procedures, in fact "far safer than childbirth?" interjected Ginsburg. Murrill replied that regardless of safety, "the doctor should have the qualifications to ... handle the most likely complication[s]."
Justice Stephen Breyer interjected, "we're not going to solve this at oral argument." Which of the doctors is your "best case" for not having tried hard enough to get admitting privileges?
Doe 6, answered Murill.
Sotomayor, exasperated: But Doe 6 for the last 12 years has only done medical abortions with pills, not surgical abortions. So it was "guaranteed that he couldn't meet the requirement" for admitting privileges at any hospital.
Breyer: The state's own expert witness testified Doe 6 would "probably not" get admitting privileges.
"In the country, people have very strong feelings" about this issue, said Breyer. "A lot of people morally think it's wrong, and a lot of people morally think the opposite." So given that tension, why should the court depart from its repeated precedents over the last 40-plus years?
At the end of the day, of course, it was none of the avid questioners whose votes will count in this case.
It likely will be Chief Justice Roberts' vote that will be determinative, but he asked few questions and didn't tip his hand.


npr--2020-03-04--Tavis Smiley Ordered To Pay PBS $1.5 Million For Violating Network's 'Morality' Clause

Tavis Smiley has to pay up .
A Washington , D.C. , jury decided on Wednesday that the former public television host , violated the morals clause of his contract by carrying on sexual relationships with multiple subordinates .
Now , they agreed , he owes the broadcaster nearly $ 1.5 million .
Smiley , who was fired in 2017 amid sexual misconduct allegations , sued PBS contending he was dropped from the network as a result of racial bias and that he was wrongly terminated .
Smiley was the only solo black host of a show on the broadcasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had engaged in sexual relationships with employees , he insisted they were consensual .
He sued for $ 1 million .
But the network counter-sued , demanding that Smiley pay back past earnings .
PBS argued that Smiley had breached a key , but seldom tested `` morality '' clause in his contract .
After receiving a complaint against the veteran talk show host in November 2017 , the network launched an investigation that a spokesperson said `` uncovered multiple , credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the verdict on Wednesday , PBS issued a statement saying : `` We are pleased with the jury 's decision .
... PBS expects our producing partners to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect .
It was important for us to ensure that the courageous women who came forward were able to share their stories and that we continue to uphold the values and standards of our organization . ''
Smiley 's attorney did not respond to NPR 's requests for comment .
Smiley contracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Show from 2002 to 2004 .
Throughout the three-week civil trial , jurors heard from six women who testified that Smiley subjected subordinates to unwanted sexual advances .
`` One woman who accused Smiley of sexual harassment left the show and received a $ 325,000 settlement , '' Variety reported .
The win for PBS may prove to be significant for other companies facing workplace suits stemming from sexual-misconduct allegations , who are seeking to break ties with accused individuals .
`` In the midst of the # MeToo movement , he violated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a consensual relationship between a manager and a subordinate because of the power dynamic .
It 's never consensual because that manager has power over all aspects of that person 's employment , '' the network 's lead attorney , Grace Speights , said in court .
Smiley 's dismissal was one of many in the wake of the # MeToo movement which first gained global attention in 2017 , after dozens of women accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct .
Years later , a jury has convicted Weinstein of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sexual assault , and popular hosts including Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose — who was fired by PBS in 2017 — have been removed from the airwaves amid accusations of misconduct .

Tavis Smiley Ordered To Pay PBS $1.5 Million For Violating Network's 'Morality' Clause
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rich Fury/Rich Fury/Invision/AP Rich Fury/Rich Fury/Invision/AP
Tavis Smiley has to pay up.
A Washington, D.C., jury decided on Wednesday that the former public television host, violated the morals clause of his contract by carrying on sexual relationships with multiple subordinates. Now, they agreed, he owes the broadcaster nearly $1.5 million.
Smiley, who was fired in 2017 amid sexual misconduct allegations, sued PBS contending he was dropped from the network as a result of racial bias and that he was wrongly terminated. Smiley was the only solo black host of a show on the broadcasting organization's airwaves.
Though he admitted that he had engaged in sexual relationships with employees, he insisted they were consensual. He sued for $1 million.
But the network counter-sued, demanding that Smiley pay back past earnings.
PBS argued that Smiley had breached a key, but seldom tested "morality" clause in his contract. After receiving a complaint against the veteran talk show host in November 2017, the network launched an investigation that a spokesperson said "uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS."
Upon the verdict on Wednesday, PBS issued a statement saying: "We are pleased with the jury's decision. ...PBS expects our producing partners to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect. It was important for us to ensure that the courageous women who came forward were able to share their stories and that we continue to uphold the values and standards of our organization."
Smiley's attorney did not respond to NPR's requests for comment. Smiley contracted with NPR to host The Tavis Smiley Show from 2002 to 2004.
Throughout the three-week civil trial, jurors heard from six women who testified that Smiley subjected subordinates to unwanted sexual advances. "One woman who accused Smiley of sexual harassment left the show and received a $325,000 settlement," Variety reported.
The win for PBS may prove to be significant for other companies facing workplace suits stemming from sexual-misconduct allegations, who are seeking to break ties with accused individuals.
"In the midst of the #MeToo movement, he violated our morals clause... You can't have a consensual relationship between a manager and a subordinate because of the power dynamic. It's never consensual because that manager has power over all aspects of that person's employment," the network's lead attorney, Grace Speights, said in court.
Smiley's dismissal was one of many in the wake of the #MeToo movement which first gained global attention in 2017, after dozens of women accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Years later, a jury has convicted Weinstein of rape, Bill Cosby is behind bars for sexual assault, and popular hosts including Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose — who was fired by PBS in 2017 — have been removed from the airwaves amid accusations of misconduct.


npr--2020-03-04--'There's Nothing Left': Satellite Images Show Razed Villages In Idlib, Syria

'There 's Nothing Left ' : Satellite Images Show Razed Villages In Idlib , Syria In Idlib , the last rebel stronghold in Syria 's nearly decade-long civil war , airstrikes have razed villages to the ground and displaced populations are being forced into smaller and smaller areas , as their camps balloon and overtake farmland , according to newly revealed satellite imagery .
The province has come under attack from Syrian and Russian forces in an offensive that began last year .
New images released by Save the Children and World Vision show the scale of the destruction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations says nearly a million people have been displaced in the last three months – most of them women and children .
Since the conflict began in 2011 , this marks the `` single largest forced displacement since the start of the Syrian crisis , '' State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said earlier this week .
Three out of four people in Syria have been forcibly displaced since the conflict began , according to Save the Children .
The sheer level of destruction in Idlib means that displaced people have little to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , humanitarian workers say .
`` How much damage there is in a single area makes it very difficult for people to be able to return to it , '' says Amjad Yamin , Save the Children 's Syria Response spokesperson .
`` I do n't know what they can go back to — when you see an entire village , there 's nothing left .
There 's no civilian infrastructure .
There are no schools left .
No hospitals . ''
`` We 're looking at three million people now who live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infrastructure that can support them , '' says Yamin .
The images were released on the eve of talks on the Syria crisis between Turkish and Russian leaders .
Turkey is seeking a cease-fire in the area , and Russia is backing the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad .
For years , civilians fleeing violence in other parts of Syria have come to Idlib .
The area had about 1.5 million people when the war started nine years ago , and now has about 3 million , Yamin said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian government offensive that started in April 2019 , as Assad 's government attempts to defeat its opponents after taking back control of many other areas of the country .
These civilians are unable to cross into neighboring Turkey , which has closed its border .
Yamin says his organization has met families who 've fled violence many times as the fighting and airstrikes have shifted focus .
`` We met a family last week who was saying that in the last nine months alone -- this is not the last nine years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've been displaced more than 10 times throughout the area , '' he says .
`` Just trying to find safety for themselves and their children . ''
Some of the children displaced in Idlib have died from the cold , the U.N. says , and at least 100 civilians were killed by air and ground strikes last month .
The satellite images show rapid growth of camps for the displaced populations .
For example , in the images analyzed by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative , a photo from September 2017 shows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large empty space and agricultural field .
In September 2018 , the satellite image shows previously empty space filled with small structures , in what the researchers say is likely a `` self-settled and spontaneous camp . ''
Finally , in December 2019 , the structures nearly fill the area .
They 're sturdier than the ones there the previous year , and the camp is much denser than it used to be .
The structures extend to areas that had been used to grow crops .
Save the Children says that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 2017 and December 2019 .
The relief organization did not disclose the exact locations of the images out of concern for the safety of the people on the ground .
`` Quite simply , it is a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe , '' Kelly Clements , the U.N. 's Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees , tells NPR 's All Things Considered .
`` We want to access , we want to bring in more relief , and it 's quite difficult , '' she says .
`` Access is tremendously difficult to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid workers , many of whom are from this area and have been displaced themselves by the violence .
Clements says that humanitarian relief simply provides a `` band-aid '' – and what is needed is a `` political and diplomatic solution . ''
She adds that `` an immediate ceasefire is necessary – this is what is going to save the lives of babies that are dying today . ''
Earlier this week , the U.S. promised more than $ 100 million to support humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people .
Clements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they `` need much more from the international organizations as well as donors to be able to support these efforts . ''
The U.N. issued a plan last month for northwest Syria seeking half a billion dollars , on top of a previous $ 2 billion plan for inside Syria to continue ongoing protection and lifesaving assistance , Clements says .
To date , that plan is only 9 % funded by the international community .

'There's Nothing Left': Satellite Images Show Razed Villages In Idlib, Syria
toggle caption Anas Alkharboutli/dpa/picture alliance via Getty
In Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria's nearly decade-long civil war, airstrikes have razed villages to the ground and displaced populations are being forced into smaller and smaller areas, as their camps balloon and overtake farmland, according to newly revealed satellite imagery.
The province has come under attack from Syrian and Russian forces in an offensive that began last year.
New images released by Save the Children and World Vision show the scale of the destruction in the northwestern province, where the United Nations says nearly a million people have been displaced in the last three months – most of them women and children.
Since the conflict began in 2011, this marks the "single largest forced displacement since the start of the Syrian crisis," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said earlier this week. Three out of four people in Syria have been forcibly displaced since the conflict began, according to Save the Children.
The sheer level of destruction in Idlib means that displaced people have little to come back to when the fighting eventually stops, humanitarian workers say.
toggle caption Digital Globe
"How much damage there is in a single area makes it very difficult for people to be able to return to it," says Amjad Yamin, Save the Children's Syria Response spokesperson. "I don't know what they can go back to — when you see an entire village, there's nothing left. There's no civilian infrastructure. There are no schools left. No hospitals."
"We're looking at three million people now who live in an area that doesn't have the infrastructure that can support them," says Yamin.
The images were released on the eve of talks on the Syria crisis between Turkish and Russian leaders. Turkey is seeking a cease-fire in the area, and Russia is backing the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
For years, civilians fleeing violence in other parts of Syria have come to Idlib. The area had about 1.5 million people when the war started nine years ago, and now has about 3 million, Yamin said. But they have come under fire in a Syrian government offensive that started in April 2019, as Assad's government attempts to defeat its opponents after taking back control of many other areas of the country.
These civilians are unable to cross into neighboring Turkey, which has closed its border. Yamin says his organization has met families who've fled violence many times as the fighting and airstrikes have shifted focus.
"We met a family last week who was saying that in the last nine months alone --this is not the last nine years, the last nine months – they've been displaced more than 10 times throughout the area," he says. "Just trying to find safety for themselves and their children."
Some of the children displaced in Idlib have died from the cold, the U.N. says, and at least 100 civilians were killed by air and ground strikes last month.
The satellite images show rapid growth of camps for the displaced populations. For example, in the images analyzed by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, a photo from September 2017 shows a small camp on the edge of a large empty space and agricultural field.
toggle caption Digital Globe
In September 2018, the satellite image shows previously empty space filled with small structures, in what the researchers say is likely a "self-settled and spontaneous camp."
toggle caption Digital Globe
Finally, in December 2019, the structures nearly fill the area. They're sturdier than the ones there the previous year, and the camp is much denser than it used to be. The structures extend to areas that had been used to grow crops.
toggle caption Digital Globe
Save the Children says that the area of this particular camp doubled between September 2017 and December 2019. The relief organization did not disclose the exact locations of the images out of concern for the safety of the people on the ground.
"Quite simply, it is a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe," Kelly Clements, the U.N.'s Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, tells NPR's All Things Considered.
"We want to access, we want to bring in more relief, and it's quite difficult," she says. "Access is tremendously difficult to achieve." The situation is dangerous for aid workers, many of whom are from this area and have been displaced themselves by the violence.
toggle caption Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images
Clements says that humanitarian relief simply provides a "band-aid" – and what is needed is a "political and diplomatic solution." She adds that "an immediate ceasefire is necessary – this is what is going to save the lives of babies that are dying today."
Earlier this week, the U.S. promised more than $100 million to support humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people. Clements say that money is critical, but they "need much more from the international organizations as well as donors to be able to support these efforts."
The U.N. issued a plan last month for northwest Syria seeking half a billion dollars, on top of a previous $2 billion plan for inside Syria to continue ongoing protection and lifesaving assistance, Clements says. To date, that plan is only 9% funded by the international community.


npr--2020-03-04--States Take The Wheel Promoting Electric Vehicles

As the federal government takes a back seat in promoting electric vehicles some states , such as New Jersey , are taking the wheel .
There are nearly 1.5 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads today , according to the Edison Electric Institute .
EV boosters concerned about climate change want even more and they say governments should help speed the transition away from internal combustion cars .
New Jersey passed an ambitious law in January aimed at having 330,000 electric cars on state roads by the end of 2025 .
And by 2040 New Jersey wants 85 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electric .
N.J. Gov .
Phil Murphy says the law is part of his state 's goal of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050 .
The law includes up to $ 300 million in rebates over 10 years to electric vehicle buyers .
`` And it 's not just any old rebate .
It 's 'cash on the hood ' rebate .
You walk into a dealer , there 's a car that 's $ 35,000 , that car 's $ 30,000 to you , '' says Pam Frank , CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , car dealers and environmental groups .
Frank is not just an advocate for EVs , she 's an evangelist .
That 's why she drives a bright Orange Chevrolet Bolt .
`` I wanted people to notice I was driving this electric machine , which I 'm very proud of , '' Frank says .
And if anyone asks she 'll tell them it 's fun to drive , it 's fast , it reduces her carbon foot print and it 's quiet .
Frank 's group pushed for the new law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be built around the state to overcome `` range anxiety , '' or the fear a car 's battery will run out with no place to charge .
The New Jersey law along with incentives in states such as California , Oregon and Maryland , all come at an important time for utilities .
After decades of steadily increasing electricity consumption , U.S. demand has leveled off , thanks in part to more efficient appliances and lighting .
If more EVs are on the road that means utilities will sell more electricity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one because outside of California it 's probably the biggest piece of legislation that we 've seen that 's supportive of clean transportation , '' says Chris Budzynski , director of utility policy at Exelon .
And the law comes as a federal tax credit of up to $ 7,500 is starting to expire .
The credits are available for only the first 200,000 cars a manufacturer sells .
GM and Tesla already hit that ceiling .
The Trump administration helped block efforts to raise that limit last December .
As a field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive of EV subsidies .
So if voters choose a new president next November more federal help may come .
Until then Budzynski is pleased to see states taking action to speed the transition to electric cars .
`` This does represent one of the most significant or more significant opportunities for us , probably , over the course of the last 100 years with the exception of the introduction of air conditioning , '' Budzynski says .
Not everyone is happy with this trend .
Oil companies , especially those focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if EVs take off .
They 've opposed some state efforts , often echoing arguments from consumer advocates such as Stefanie Brand , director of the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel .
Her job is to defend utility customers ' interests .
`` Most of those customers ca n't afford an electric vehicle because the cheapest electric vehicle at this point is about $ 30,000 , '' Brand says .
Often these state programs allow utilities to collect ratepayer money to build things such as charging stations .
Brand says that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealthier ones who can afford an EV .
Electric car advocates point out everyone benefits from cleaner air and efforts to address climate change .
And there are studies , including one focused on California — the state with the most EVs — showing a lot more electric cars on the road could actually reduce rates .
Brand says there 's a catch though , `` Until you reach a critical mass of electric vehicles , you 're not going to see those effects . ''
For New Jersey 's EV law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were addressed .
Money from a fund already dedicated to public benefits will be used for the EV rebates .
Still debates like this will continue as more states seek to boost electric vehicles .
In fact , Pam Frank plans to take her orange Bolt and her coalition to neighboring states in the Northeast very soon .

States Take The Wheel Promoting Electric Vehicles
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Brady/NPR Jeff Brady/NPR
As the federal government takes a back seat in promoting electric vehicles some states, such as New Jersey, are taking the wheel.
There are nearly 1.5 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads today, according to the Edison Electric Institute. EV boosters concerned about climate change want even more and they say governments should help speed the transition away from internal combustion cars.
New Jersey passed an ambitious law in January aimed at having 330,000 electric cars on state roads by the end of 2025. And by 2040 New Jersey wants 85% of cars sold in the state to be electric.
N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy says the law is part of his state's goal of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050.
The law includes up to $300 million in rebates over 10 years to electric vehicle buyers.
"And it's not just any old rebate. It's 'cash on the hood' rebate. You walk into a dealer, there's a car that's $35,000, that car's $30,000 to you," says Pam Frank, CEO of the group ChargEVC, which includes utilities, car dealers and environmental groups.
Frank is not just an advocate for EVs, she's an evangelist. That's why she drives a bright Orange Chevrolet Bolt.
"I wanted people to notice I was driving this electric machine, which I'm very proud of," Frank says. And if anyone asks she'll tell them it's fun to drive, it's fast, it reduces her carbon foot print and it's quiet.
Frank's group pushed for the new law, which also calls for charging stations to be built around the state to overcome "range anxiety," or the fear a car's battery will run out with no place to charge.
Environment How Electric Cars Will Change Driving And The Economy How Electric Cars Will Change Driving And The Economy Listen · 4:53 4:53
The New Jersey law along with incentives in states such as California, Oregon and Maryland, all come at an important time for utilities. After decades of steadily increasing electricity consumption, U.S. demand has leveled off, thanks in part to more efficient appliances and lighting.
If more EVs are on the road that means utilities will sell more electricity.
"New Jersey is an exciting one because outside of California it's probably the biggest piece of legislation that we've seen that's supportive of clean transportation," says Chris Budzynski, director of utility policy at Exelon.
And the law comes as a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 is starting to expire. The credits are available for only the first 200,000 cars a manufacturer sells. GM and Tesla already hit that ceiling.
The Trump administration helped block efforts to raise that limit last December. As a field, Democratic presidential candidates are much more supportive of EV subsidies. So if voters choose a new president next November more federal help may come. Until then Budzynski is pleased to see states taking action to speed the transition to electric cars.
"This does represent one of the most significant or more significant opportunities for us, probably, over the course of the last 100 years with the exception of the introduction of air conditioning," Budzynski says.
Not everyone is happy with this trend. Oil companies, especially those focused on refining, stand to lose gasoline sales if EVs take off.
They've opposed some state efforts, often echoing arguments from consumer advocates such as Stefanie Brand, director of the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel. Her job is to defend utility customers' interests.
"Most of those customers can't afford an electric vehicle because the cheapest electric vehicle at this point is about $30,000," Brand says.
Often these state programs allow utilities to collect ratepayer money to build things such as charging stations. Brand says that's not fair because poor ratepayers are subsidizing wealthier ones who can afford an EV.
Electric car advocates point out everyone benefits from cleaner air and efforts to address climate change. And there are studies, including one focused on California — the state with the most EVs — showing a lot more electric cars on the road could actually reduce rates.
Brand says there's a catch though, "Until you reach a critical mass of electric vehicles, you're not going to see those effects."
For New Jersey's EV law, Brand says her concerns for poorer ratepayers were addressed. Money from a fund already dedicated to public benefits will be used for the EV rebates.
Still debates like this will continue as more states seek to boost electric vehicles. In fact, Pam Frank plans to take her orange Bolt and her coalition to neighboring states in the Northeast very soon.


npr--2020-03-04--As Coronavirus Looms, Many Nursing Homes Fall Short On Infection Prevention

As Coronavirus Looms , Many Nursing Homes Fall Short On Infection Prevention Long before the novel coronavirus made its surprise appearance , the nation 's nursing homes were struggling to obey basic infection prevention protocols designed to halt the spread of viruses and bacteria they battle daily .
Since the beginning of 2017 , government health inspectors have cited more nursing homes for failing to ensure that all workers follow those prevention and control rules than for any other type of violation , according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of federal records .
In all , 9,372 nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for one or more infection-control deficiencies , the analysis showed .
It also found violations were more common at homes with fewer nurses and aides than at facilities with higher staffing levels .
Do n't see the graphic above ?
Click here .
Even among nursing homes crowned with the maximum government rating of five stars for overall quality , 4 in 10 have been cited for an infection-control lapse .
Those include the Life Care Center of Kirkland , Washington , a Seattle suburb , where five people who had lived at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from around the country show many errors are rudimentary , such as workers not washing their hands as they moved to the next patient , or failing to don masks , gloves and gowns when in the rooms of contagious patients in isolation .
`` It 's all these little things that are part of infection-control practices that when they are added up can create an environment for an infection outbreak , '' said Patricia Hunter , the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds , who addresses complaints from residents and families and pushes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , the federal government has been ramping up the standards for nursing homes , but inspectors remain frustrated by the prevalence of sloppy or nonexistent hand-washing .
`` We have got to do better on hand-washing , '' Evan Shulman , the director for the nursing home division of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , told an association of nursing home directors in 2018 .
While citations are rampant across the industry , health inspectors have classified all but 1 % of violations as minor and not warranting fines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-level citation usually has limited impact on the overall star rating , the only metric most consumers examine .
The coronavirus has demonstrated its potential lethality among the old and frail in Kirkland , but the infections that nursing homes already battle with mixed success — influenza and antibiotic-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) — can be equally fatal .
As many as 3.8 million infections occur in nursing homes each year , killing nearly 388,000 residents .
Dr. David Gifford , the chief medical officer for the American Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade group , told reporters Monday that these facilities were ready to deal with coronavirus infections through the prevention plans they have in place .
`` We prepare for seasonal influenza every year — it 's very similar to that , '' he said .
`` We are reinforcing the information for basic procedures for how to prevent the spread , '' he added , such as keeping infected residents away from others and having sick employees stay home .
Yet the same industry deficits that have hampered past infection-control efforts are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience frequent staff turnover , and new or temporary workers are less likely to be familiar with a facility 's protocols .
Also , inspectors have found that these homes have had difficulty making sure that potentially infected workers stay home , a problem compounded by the low pay and limited time-off benefits many receive .
During a norovirus outbreak in 2017 at another Washington state nursing home , for instance , at least six infected employees returned to work earlier than they were supposed to .
Inspectors discovered the virus ultimately spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 40 % of those living in the home , according to an inspection report .
Even if nursing homes are successful in getting infected workers to take days off , they may run into trouble finding replacements .
Dr. David Nace , director of long-term care and flu programs at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine , said staffing issues are compounded by a national shortage of health care workers .
`` Facilities may be faced with the issue of closure if they do n't have the staffing , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 53 % of homes with the most nurses and aides — which CMS awards five stars for staffing on its Nursing Home Compare website — had been cited for infection-control violations in the past three years .
But 65 % of homes with the fewest staff — garnering only one star — were cited for the same type of failing .
The staffing stars make up one component of the overall rating .
`` So many times , when there are n't enough staff , the aides and nurses are literally trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running from person to person , '' said Lori Smetanka , executive director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care , a nonprofit based in Washington , D.C. `` That 's when things fall through the cracks , like handwashing , which is the most useful thing to do to prevent infections . ''
More sparsely staffed nursing homes were also cited more often : one-star facilities averaged 1.5 deficiencies while five-star facilities averaged 1.3 deficiencies .
But out of more than 13,000 citations for infection-control lapses , regulators classified only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients .
That finding echoed the results of a similar investigation KHN conducted in 2017 .
`` It shows how ineffectual the enforcement situation is , '' said Toby Edelman , a senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy .
One such violation was cited last April at the Kirkland nursing home after inspectors there observed a registered nurse treating a patient whose feet were touching the floor , even though one heel had a pressure sore that the resident 's daughter said she feared was infected .
`` It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Inspectors also watched another nursing home employee work in the room of a patient with pneumonia without wearing a mask , gown and gloves as required by a sign outside the room .
They noted in their report that the facility had experienced two outbreaks of influenza that year , affecting at least 17 residents and seven staff members all told .
Inspectors labeled the violations they observed as low level because they caused `` minimal harm or potential for actual harm . ''
The nursing home pledged to reeducate staff on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they revisited two months later .
Life Care Center , in an upscale , wooded neighborhood less than a mile from Lake Washington 's popular Juanita Beach Park , said in a statement released Monday that it is screening workers before they start work and after and has suspended visits and new admissions .
`` We are also following infection control recommendations , including proper hand-washing techniques and wearing masks , gowns and gloves when caring for any symptomatic patients , '' the statement said .
The facility declined to discuss its previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrator , said during a press briefing at the White House Tuesday night that her agency is sending inspectors to the nursing home , as well as a hospital and dialysis center that treated coronavirus patients , to see if federal health and safety regulations were followed .
Hunter , the Washington state ombud , said that during her recent visits to 14 nursing homes in three Northwestern states , she observed that aides were generally good about using hand sanitizer but rarely washed residents ' hands .
Not every resident room had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have n't seen one resident have their hands washed during lunchtime or dinnertime , '' she said .
While some nursing homes are making concerted efforts , `` there are nursing homes that are really dirty and there are concerns that they 're not getting the job done , '' Hunter added . ''
The trouble is when you do n't have enough workers , or you do n't have a stable workforce that 's trained to follow your protocol , that 's a weakness in the system . ''
In 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules , requiring among other things that each facility appoint one person to be in charge of infection control .
CMS required the employee in that position , known as an infection preventionist , to complete specialized training and work at the facility either part time or full time .
The Trump administration has proposed eliminating the on-site requirement .
Instead , CMS proposed the preventionist be someone who has spent `` sufficient time '' at the facility to oversee its infection-control efforts .
It has asked the public for advice on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is an appropriate standard , '' the agency wrote in its proposed rule , issued last July .
`` However , we are also concerned that there could be a substantial variance in how LTC [ long-term care ] facilities interpret this requirement . ''
Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent news service supported by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .
You can follow Jordan Rau on Twitter : @ jordanrau .

As Coronavirus Looms, Many Nursing Homes Fall Short On Infection Prevention
Enlarge this image toggle caption Resolution Productions/Getty Images/Tetra images RF Resolution Productions/Getty Images/Tetra images RF
Long before the novel coronavirus made its surprise appearance, the nation's nursing homes were struggling to obey basic infection prevention protocols designed to halt the spread of viruses and bacteria they battle daily.
Since the beginning of 2017, government health inspectors have cited more nursing homes for failing to ensure that all workers follow those prevention and control rules than for any other type of violation, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of federal records.
In all, 9,372 nursing homes, or 61%, were cited for one or more infection-control deficiencies, the analysis showed. It also found violations were more common at homes with fewer nurses and aides than at facilities with higher staffing levels.
Loading...
Don't see the graphic above? Click here.
Even among nursing homes crowned with the maximum government rating of five stars for overall quality, 4 in 10 have been cited for an infection-control lapse. Those include the Life Care Center of Kirkland, Washington, a Seattle suburb, where five people who had lived at the facility have died.
Inspection reports from around the country show many errors are rudimentary, such as workers not washing their hands as they moved to the next patient, or failing to don masks, gloves and gowns when in the rooms of contagious patients in isolation.
"It's all these little things that are part of infection-control practices that when they are added up can create an environment for an infection outbreak," said Patricia Hunter, the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds, who addresses complaints from residents and families and pushes for improvements in facilities.
In recent years, the federal government has been ramping up the standards for nursing homes, but inspectors remain frustrated by the prevalence of sloppy or nonexistent hand-washing. "We have got to do better on hand-washing," Evan Shulman, the director for the nursing home division of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, told an association of nursing home directors in 2018.
While citations are rampant across the industry, health inspectors have classified all but 1% of violations as minor and not warranting fines, the KHN analysis found. A single low-level citation usually has limited impact on the overall star rating, the only metric most consumers examine.
The coronavirus has demonstrated its potential lethality among the old and frail in Kirkland, but the infections that nursing homes already battle with mixed success — influenza and antibiotic-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) — can be equally fatal. As many as 3.8 million infections occur in nursing homes each year, killing nearly 388,000 residents.
Dr. David Gifford, the chief medical officer for the American Health Care Association, the primary nursing home trade group, told reporters Monday that these facilities were ready to deal with coronavirus infections through the prevention plans they have in place. "We prepare for seasonal influenza every year — it's very similar to that," he said.
"We are reinforcing the information for basic procedures for how to prevent the spread," he added, such as keeping infected residents away from others and having sick employees stay home.
Yet the same industry deficits that have hampered past infection-control efforts are in play with the coronavirus. Nursing homes experience frequent staff turnover, and new or temporary workers are less likely to be familiar with a facility's protocols. Also, inspectors have found that these homes have had difficulty making sure that potentially infected workers stay home, a problem compounded by the low pay and limited time-off benefits many receive.
During a norovirus outbreak in 2017 at another Washington state nursing home, for instance, at least six infected employees returned to work earlier than they were supposed to. Inspectors discovered the virus ultimately spread to 32 employees and 43 residents — more than 40% of those living in the home, according to an inspection report.
Even if nursing homes are successful in getting infected workers to take days off, they may run into trouble finding replacements. Dr. David Nace, director of long-term care and flu programs at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine, said staffing issues are compounded by a national shortage of health care workers. "Facilities may be faced with the issue of closure if they don't have the staffing," he said.
KHN's analysis found that 53% of homes with the most nurses and aides — which CMS awards five stars for staffing on its Nursing Home Compare website — had been cited for infection-control violations in the past three years. But 65% of homes with the fewest staff — garnering only one star — were cited for the same type of failing. The staffing stars make up one component of the overall rating.
"So many times, when there aren't enough staff, the aides and nurses are literally trying to do 50 things at once, running from person to person," said Lori Smetanka, executive director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. "That's when things fall through the cracks, like handwashing, which is the most useful thing to do to prevent infections."
More sparsely staffed nursing homes were also cited more often: one-star facilities averaged 1.5 deficiencies while five-star facilities averaged 1.3 deficiencies. But out of more than 13,000 citations for infection-control lapses, regulators classified only 109 as serious harms or threats to patients. That finding echoed the results of a similar investigation KHN conducted in 2017. "It shows how ineffectual the enforcement situation is," said Toby Edelman, a senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
One such violation was cited last April at the Kirkland nursing home after inspectors there observed a registered nurse treating a patient whose feet were touching the floor, even though one heel had a pressure sore that the resident's daughter said she feared was infected. "It was unhygienic," the daughter told inspectors.
Inspectors also watched another nursing home employee work in the room of a patient with pneumonia without wearing a mask, gown and gloves as required by a sign outside the room. They noted in their report that the facility had experienced two outbreaks of influenza that year, affecting at least 17 residents and seven staff members all told. Inspectors labeled the violations they observed as low level because they caused "minimal harm or potential for actual harm." The nursing home pledged to reeducate staff on procedures and investigators found no problems when they revisited two months later.
Life Care Center, in an upscale, wooded neighborhood less than a mile from Lake Washington's popular Juanita Beach Park, said in a statement released Monday that it is screening workers before they start work and after and has suspended visits and new admissions.
"We are also following infection control recommendations, including proper hand-washing techniques and wearing masks, gowns and gloves when caring for any symptomatic patients," the statement said. The facility declined to discuss its previous citation.
Seema Verma, the CMS administrator, said during a press briefing at the White House Tuesday night that her agency is sending inspectors to the nursing home, as well as a hospital and dialysis center that treated coronavirus patients, to see if federal health and safety regulations were followed.
Hunter, the Washington state ombud, said that during her recent visits to 14 nursing homes in three Northwestern states, she observed that aides were generally good about using hand sanitizer but rarely washed residents' hands. Not every resident room had a sink, she said. "I haven't seen one resident have their hands washed during lunchtime or dinnertime," she said.
While some nursing homes are making concerted efforts, "there are nursing homes that are really dirty and there are concerns that they're not getting the job done," Hunter added." The trouble is when you don't have enough workers, or you don't have a stable workforce that's trained to follow your protocol, that's a weakness in the system."
In 2016, CMS updated and expanded its infection-control rules, requiring among other things that each facility appoint one person to be in charge of infection control. CMS required the employee in that position, known as an infection preventionist, to complete specialized training and work at the facility either part time or full time. The Trump administration has proposed eliminating the on-site requirement.
Instead, CMS proposed the preventionist be someone who has spent "sufficient time" at the facility to oversee its infection-control efforts. It has asked the public for advice on how to define sufficient.
"We believe this is an appropriate standard," the agency wrote in its proposed rule, issued last July. "However, we are also concerned that there could be a substantial variance in how LTC [long-term care] facilities interpret this requirement."
Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent news service supported by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. You can follow Jordan Rau on Twitter: @jordanrau.
KHN senior correspondent JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.


npr--2020-03-04--Why China's Air Has Been Cleaner During The Coronavirus Outbreak

Why China 's Air Has Been Cleaner During The Coronavirus Outbreak As China seeks to control the spread of COVID-19 , fewer cars are driving , fewer factories are running and — in some places — skies are clearer .
Air pollution levels have dropped by roughly a quarter over the last month as coal-fired power plants and industrial facilities have ramped down so employees in high-risk areas can stay home .
Levels of nitrogen dioxide , a pollutant primarily from burning fossil fuels , were down as much as 30 % , according to NASA .
`` It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says Lauri Myllyvirta , lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air , who tallied the reductions .
`` I 've definitely spoken to people in Shanghai who said that it 's been some of the most pristine blue skies that they remember over the winter . ''
Myllyvirta estimates that China 's carbon emissions have dropped by a quarter over the same period .
While that 's a tiny fraction of its overall annual emissions , it 's substantial in a worldwide context , since China is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There 's potentially a health benefit — although any gains due to a drop in pollution are set against the toll taken by the coronavirus outbreak .
Air pollution is estimated to contribute to more than 1 million premature deaths in China each year .
Fine particle pollution , also known as PM 2.5 , can enter the bloodstream through the lungs and has been linked to asthma attacks , heart attacks and respiratory problems .
Even a short-term reduction in air pollution can make a difference .
`` There is no question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that will be associated with a reduction in health-related problems , '' says Jim Zhang , professor of global and environmental health at Duke University .
Zhang says that was evident during the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing .
To help improve the air , government officials shut factories and dramatically limited car travel before and during the games .
Levels of some air pollutants dropped by half .
He and colleagues studied a group of young men and women in Beijing and found that during that time period , their lung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed pregnant women .
`` What we found is that the kids whose mothers had a third trimester pregnancy during the Olympics when the air quality was better , their birth weight was substantially higher than the kids who were born a year before and a year later , '' he says .
`` It would be a mischaracterization to say that the coronavirus was beneficial to health because of these air pollution reductions , '' says Jill Baumgartner , associate professor and epidemiologist at McGill University .
`` The health impacts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health-care system , the stress on people 's lives — those health impacts are likely to be much greater than the short-term benefits of air pollution on health , '' she says .
Baumgartner says people with health issues other than COVID-19 may have avoided seeing doctors during the outbreak or potentially could n't receive treatment they needed in areas with overtaxed health systems .
Those isolated at home and avoiding crowds may also have been exposed to more indoor air pollution .
`` People spent a lot more time indoors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to higher levels of indoor tobacco smoke , '' Baumgartner says .
`` Or in the suburban areas , it 's possible that they were using their traditional wood or coal stoves for heating . ''
Not all cities have experienced the recent improvements .
In mid-February , Beijing saw a spike in pollution due to local weather patterns trapping air in the region .
The drop in air pollution and carbon emissions is also likely to disappear as Chinese industry ramps up again in an attempt to offset its economic losses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ global financial crisis , the immediate impact was for China 's emissions to fall , '' says Myllyvirta .
`` But then the government response was to roll out the biggest stimulus package in the history of mankind that then drove China 's emissions and global emissions up for years . ''

Why China's Air Has Been Cleaner During The Coronavirus Outbreak
Enlarge this image toggle caption NASA Earth Observatory NASA Earth Observatory
As China seeks to control the spread of COVID-19, fewer cars are driving, fewer factories are running and — in some places — skies are clearer.
Air pollution levels have dropped by roughly a quarter over the last month as coal-fired power plants and industrial facilities have ramped down so employees in high-risk areas can stay home. Levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant primarily from burning fossil fuels, were down as much as 30%, according to NASA.
"It is an unprecedentedly dramatic drop in emissions," says Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, who tallied the reductions. "I've definitely spoken to people in Shanghai who said that it's been some of the most pristine blue skies that they remember over the winter."
Myllyvirta estimates that China's carbon emissions have dropped by a quarter over the same period. While that's a tiny fraction of its overall annual emissions, it's substantial in a worldwide context, since China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
There's potentially a health benefit — although any gains due to a drop in pollution are set against the toll taken by the coronavirus outbreak.
Air pollution is estimated to contribute to more than 1 million premature deaths in China each year. Fine particle pollution, also known as PM 2.5, can enter the bloodstream through the lungs and has been linked to asthma attacks, heart attacks and respiratory problems.
Even a short-term reduction in air pollution can make a difference.
"There is no question about it: When air quality improves, that will be associated with a reduction in health-related problems," says Jim Zhang, professor of global and environmental health at Duke University.
Zhang says that was evident during the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. To help improve the air, government officials shut factories and dramatically limited car travel before and during the games. Levels of some air pollutants dropped by half.
He and colleagues studied a group of young men and women in Beijing and found that during that time period, their lung and cardiovascular health improved. He also followed pregnant women.
"What we found is that the kids whose mothers had a third trimester pregnancy during the Olympics when the air quality was better, their birth weight was substantially higher than the kids who were born a year before and a year later," he says.
But health specialists sound a cautionary note.
"It would be a mischaracterization to say that the coronavirus was beneficial to health because of these air pollution reductions," says Jill Baumgartner, associate professor and epidemiologist at McGill University.
"The health impacts from the virus itself, the stress on the health-care system, the stress on people's lives — those health impacts are likely to be much greater than the short-term benefits of air pollution on health," she says.
Baumgartner says people with health issues other than COVID-19 may have avoided seeing doctors during the outbreak or potentially couldn't receive treatment they needed in areas with overtaxed health systems.
Those isolated at home and avoiding crowds may also have been exposed to more indoor air pollution.
"People spent a lot more time indoors and it's possible that they were exposed to higher levels of indoor tobacco smoke," Baumgartner says. "Or in the suburban areas, it's possible that they were using their traditional wood or coal stoves for heating."
Not all cities have experienced the recent improvements. In mid-February, Beijing saw a spike in pollution due to local weather patterns trapping air in the region.
The drop in air pollution and carbon emissions is also likely to disappear as Chinese industry ramps up again in an attempt to offset its economic losses.
"If you think back to the global financial crisis, the immediate impact was for China's emissions to fall," says Myllyvirta. "But then the government response was to roll out the biggest stimulus package in the history of mankind that then drove China's emissions and global emissions up for years."


npr--2020-03-04--House Passes Bipartisan Bill Providing Roughly $8 Billion For Coronavirus Response

The House overwhelmingly passed a $ 8 billion emergency spending package to respond to growing cases linked to the coronavirus illness domestically and abroad .
The vote was 415-2 .
The Senate is expected to take up the bill by the end of the week and send it to President Trump 's desk .
A bipartisan group of members and staff for the appropriations panels in both the House and Senate unveiled the legislation on Wednesday after several days of talks .
They released details of the plan , which will boost funding for testing of the virus and lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan disagreements on providing affordable access to treatment slowed down negotiations in recent days , members said putting politics aside finally provided the breakthrough they needed to reach a deal .
`` This should not be about politics , this is about doing our jobs to protect the American people from a potential pandemic , '' Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby , chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee , said in a statement .
`` We worked together to craft an aggressive and comprehensive response that provides the resources the experts say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank my colleagues for their cooperation and appreciate President Trump 's eagerness to sign this legislation and get the funding out the door without delay . ''
The funding plan is significantly larger than the initial request from Trump to allocate $ 2.5 billion to efforts to fight the coronavirus disease .
Both Democrats and Republicans said more was needed to address the growing outbreak .
`` As the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States continues to grow , Congress is taking swift action this week to provide our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers and state and local governments the funding they need , '' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor ahead of the deal announcement .
The Senate Appropriations Committee 's summary of the funding plan indicates that 85 % of it will go to address coronavirus concerns domestically .
The money is designated for coronavirus prevention , preparation and response efforts , the panel said .
The plan includes almost $ 7.8 billion in new funding combat the spread of the virus at the local , state , national and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the panel .
The agreement also includes a provision to allow Medicare beneficiaries to access telehealth programs that will let them remotely see providers to assess symptoms potentially tied to the coronavirus .
`` To protect public health , the bill will allow Medicare providers to extend telemedicine services to seniors regardless of where they live , at an estimated cost of $ 500 million , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a written statement .
The bill also allocates more $ 300 million to ensure that when a vaccine is developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year or more away — that Americans will be able to access it regardless of their ability to pay , according to a congressional aide involved in the negotiators .
Overall , the plan allocates nearly $ 6.5 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services , which includes $ 2.2 billion for the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to address state and local preparedness .
The HHS figure also includes $ 3.1 billion to pay for new medical supplies such as masks at the Strategic National Stockpile and research into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come as fears are rising of coronavirus spreading in the United States , with reports of more than 80 related infections across the country and 11 deaths — one in California and the rest in Washington state .
This is as the illness continues to see dramatic spread around the world , with more than 90,000 cases worldwide and more than 3,000 have died .
`` The American people are counting on our government for a fully-funded , coordinated , and comprehensive government-wide response to the coronavirus , '' Rep. Nita Lowey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , said in a statement .
`` House Democrats ' emergency supplemental consists of robust , entirely new funding and strong transparency and accountability measures to fully address the virus and keep Americans safe from this growing public health emergency .
We must quickly enact this legislation — lives are at stake . ''
Lowey 's panel 's outline stressed that the plan includes $ 950 million for state and local agencies to track the illness among infected patients , laboratory testing and mitigation .
It also noted that the measure includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas to prevent , prepare and respond to the coronavirus , plus $ 300 million to respond to humanitarian needs .
It also provides an estimated $ 7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses .
The measure also includes a provision that was a high priority among Democrats : ensuring the funds can only be used to address the coronavirus and other infectious diseases .
Democratic leaders raised concerns that the Trump administration would use the funds for other purposes .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
`` The way to secure these urgently-needed resources with speed and certainty was to forgo partisan posturing , forgo micromanagement at the leadership level , and let bipartisan appropriators do their work , '' McConnell said shortly before the details were announced .

Trump To Sign $8 Billion Coronavirus Response Package Friday
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP
Updated on March 5 at 8:15 p.m. ET
President Trump is expected to sign an $8 billion emergency spending package into law Friday, responding to growing cases linked to the coronavirus illness domestically and abroad.
Visiting Olympia, Wash. on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence praised Congress' bipartisan response, and said some of the funds would be available for state and local response.
The Senate overwhelmingly passed the package Thursday with a 96-1 vote — Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul opposed the bill. He proposed an amendment that offset some of the costs of the legislation with cuts elsewhere, but that effort failed.
The action follows a similar bipartisan House vote a day earlier.
A bipartisan group of members and staff for the appropriations panels in both the House and Senate unveiled the legislation on Wednesday after several days of talks. They released details of the plan, which will boost funding for testing of the virus and lower costs for related medical treatments.
Although partisan disagreements on providing affordable access to treatment slowed down negotiations in recent days, members said putting politics aside finally provided the breakthrough they needed to reach a deal.
"This should not be about politics, this is about doing our jobs to protect the American people from a potential pandemic," Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement. "We worked together to craft an aggressive and comprehensive response that provides the resources the experts say they need to combat this crisis. I thank my colleagues for their cooperation and appreciate President Trump's eagerness to sign this legislation and get the funding out the door without delay."
The funding plan is significantly larger than the initial request from Trump to allocate $2.5 billion to efforts to fight the coronavirus disease. Both Democrats and Republicans said more was needed to address the growing outbreak.
"As the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States continues to grow, Congress is taking swift action this week to provide our health experts, hospital, health care providers and state and local governments the funding they need," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor ahead of the deal announcement.
The Senate Appropriations Committee's summary of the funding plan indicates that 85% of it will go to address coronavirus concerns domestically. The money is designated for coronavirus prevention, preparation and response efforts, the panel said.
The plan includes almost $7.8 billion in new funding combat the spread of the virus at the local, state, national and international levels, according to details from the panel.
The agreement also includes a provision to allow Medicare beneficiaries to access telehealth programs that will let them remotely see providers to assess symptoms potentially tied to the coronavirus.
"To protect public health, the bill will allow Medicare providers to extend telemedicine services to seniors regardless of where they live, at an estimated cost of $500 million," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a written statement.
The bill also allocates more $300 million to ensure that when a vaccine is developed — which some estimate could be a year or more away — that Americans will be able to access it regardless of their ability to pay, according to a congressional aide involved in the negotiators.
Overall, the plan allocates nearly $6.5 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes $2.2 billion for the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to address state and local preparedness. The HHS figure also includes $3.1 billion to pay for new medical supplies such as masks at the Strategic National Stockpile and research into vaccines and therapeutics.
The funding agreement come as fears are rising of coronavirus spreading in the United States, with reports of more than 80 related infections across the country and 11 deaths — one in California and the rest in Washington state. This is as the illness continues to see dramatic spread around the world, with more than 90,000 cases worldwide and more than 3,000 have died.
"The American people are counting on our government for a fully-funded, coordinated, and comprehensive government-wide response to the coronavirus," Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement.
"House Democrats' emergency supplemental consists of robust, entirely new funding and strong transparency and accountability measures to fully address the virus and keep Americans safe from this growing public health emergency. We must quickly enact this legislation — lives are at stake."
Lowey's panel's outline stressed that the plan includes $950 million for state and local agencies to track the illness among infected patients, laboratory testing and mitigation.
It also noted that the measure includes $435 million to support health systems overseas to prevent, prepare and respond to the coronavirus, plus $300 million to respond to humanitarian needs. It also provides an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses.
The measure also includes a provision that was a high priority among Democrats: ensuring the funds can only be used to address the coronavirus and other infectious diseases. Democratic leaders raised concerns that the Trump administration would use the funds for other purposes.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Wednesday lauded the bipartisan efforts to reach the deal.
"The way to secure these urgently-needed resources with speed and certainty was to forgo partisan posturing, forgo micromanagement at the leadership level, and let bipartisan appropriators do their work," McConnell said shortly before the details were announced.