npr--2020-07-24--FAA Orders Thousands Of Boeing 737s To Undergo Emergency Inspections

The Federal Aviation Administration is ordering emergency inspections of about 2,000 Boeing 737 airplanes because of a possible engine valve problem that could lead to engine failure .
The FAA 's emergency air worthiness directive orders inspections of older 737 Classic and Next Generation planes that may have been in storage as a result of sharply reduced air travel demand during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The directive , dated Thursday , was prompted by four recent reports of single-engine failures due to problems with a critical air check valve .
Inspectors found corrosion on some engine air check valves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuck open and potentially cause both of a plane 's engines to lose power and prevent them from restarting .
`` If this valve opens normally at takeoff power , it may become stuck in the open position during flight and fail to close when power is reduced at top of descent , resulting in an unrecoverable compressor stall and the inability to restart the engine , '' the directive states .
`` Corrosion of these valves on both engines could result in a dual-engine power loss without the ability to restart .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could result in compressor stalls and dual-engine power loss without the ability to restart , which could result in a forced off-airport landing . ''
The directive requires airlines and other aircraft owners and operators to inspect the valves on all of their 737 Classics and 737 NGs that have not been in operation for seven or more consecutive days .
In a statement , Boeing says that `` with airplanes being stored or used infrequently due to lower demand during the COVID-19 pandemic , the valve can be more susceptible to corrosion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspection and replacement information to fleet owners if they discover an issue .
The valve problem is not related to Boeing 's grounded 737 Max aircraft .

FAA Orders Thousands Of Boeing 737s To Undergo Emergency Inspections
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP
The Federal Aviation Administration is ordering emergency inspections of about 2,000 Boeing 737 airplanes because of a possible engine valve problem that could lead to engine failure.
The FAA's emergency air worthiness directive orders inspections of older 737 Classic and Next Generation planes that may have been in storage as a result of sharply reduced air travel demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The directive, dated Thursday, was prompted by four recent reports of single-engine failures due to problems with a critical air check valve. Inspectors found corrosion on some engine air check valves, which can lead the valves to become stuck open and potentially cause both of a plane's engines to lose power and prevent them from restarting.
"If this valve opens normally at takeoff power, it may become stuck in the open position during flight and fail to close when power is reduced at top of descent, resulting in an unrecoverable compressor stall and the inability to restart the engine," the directive states. "Corrosion of these valves on both engines could result in a dual-engine power loss without the ability to restart. This condition, if not addressed, could result in compressor stalls and dual-engine power loss without the ability to restart, which could result in a forced off-airport landing."
The directive requires airlines and other aircraft owners and operators to inspect the valves on all of their 737 Classics and 737 NGs that have not been in operation for seven or more consecutive days.
In a statement, Boeing says that "with airplanes being stored or used infrequently due to lower demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, the valve can be more susceptible to corrosion."
Boeing says it is providing inspection and replacement information to fleet owners if they discover an issue.
The valve problem is not related to Boeing's grounded 737 Max aircraft.


npr--2020-07-24--Hagia Sophia Hosts 1st Friday Prayers Since It Was Turned Back Into A Mosque

Hagia Sophia Hosts 1st Friday Prayers Since It Was Turned Back Into A Mosque Thousands of people attended prayers at Istanbul 's historic Hagia Sophia on Friday , completing the famous building 's conversion from a secular space into a Muslim house of worship .
It had been a museum for more than 86 years .
The crowd was large with people spilling outside and into a plaza and grassy areas near the sixth century building that is revered by both Muslims and Christians .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sat front and center , removing a white face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he sat on a blue carpet .
Erdogan 's decision to convert the landmark — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — from a museum back to a religious building has been controversial .
The Hagia Sophia has long been hailed as a symbol of the coexistence of Christianity and Islam , a cultural junction between East and West .
Its architecture reflects its unique status with the famous dome ringed by minarets .
Inside , intricate mosaics and art depict both Christian and Muslim symbols .
But after a court revoked the Hagia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month , Erdogan immediately ordered the mosque conversion .
On Friday , crowds of worshippers were generally calm and quiet .
A large media contingent was on hand , complete with satellite trucks and a scaffolding set up to give TV live positions a view of the Hagia Sophia .
People who thronged the plaza and nearby spaces could watch the ceremony and prayers on large video screens .
Many local shops were closed for Friday prayers .
Owners of those that were open were generally supportive of the change , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul 's Old City .
In brief interviews in the area , several people mentioned Mehmet the Conqueror , who originally ordered the conversion of the Hagia Sophia from a Byzantine church to a mosque after the Ottoman Empire seized the city of Constantinople in 1453 .
After Erdogan attended the prayer service at Hagia Sophia , he went to another mosque nearby — one that is named for Mehmet the Conqueror .
The architectural marvel was turned into a museum in 1934 by a decree from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier this month , UNESCO said it `` deeply regrets '' Turkey 's decision '' to declare the Hagia Sophia a mosque , urging local authorities not to alter the structure or restrict access .
`` Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece and a unique testimony to interactions between Europe and Asia over the centuries , '' UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said .
`` Its status as a museum reflects the universal nature of its heritage , and makes it a powerful symbol for dialogue . ''
Erdogan said on Friday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place that `` people of all religions can visit , '' according to the president 's website .
It adds that the site `` will continue forever to serve all the believers as a mosque . ''

Hagia Sophia Hosts 1st Friday Prayers Since It Was Turned Back Into A Mosque
Enlarge this image toggle caption Esra Bilgin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Esra Bilgin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Thousands of people attended prayers at Istanbul's historic Hagia Sophia on Friday, completing the famous building's conversion from a secular space into a Muslim house of worship. It had been a museum for more than 86 years.
The crowd was large with people spilling outside and into a plaza and grassy areas near the sixth century building that is revered by both Muslims and Christians. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sat front and center, removing a white face mask to recite passages from the Quran as he sat on a blue carpet.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Burak Kara/Getty Images Burak Kara/Getty Images
Erdogan's decision to convert the landmark — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — from a museum back to a religious building has been controversial. The Hagia Sophia has long been hailed as a symbol of the coexistence of Christianity and Islam, a cultural junction between East and West.
Its architecture reflects its unique status with the famous dome ringed by minarets. Inside, intricate mosaics and art depict both Christian and Muslim symbols. But after a court revoked the Hagia Sophia's status as a museum earlier this month, Erdogan immediately ordered the mosque conversion.
On Friday, crowds of worshippers were generally calm and quiet. A large media contingent was on hand, complete with satellite trucks and a scaffolding set up to give TV live positions a view of the Hagia Sophia. People who thronged the plaza and nearby spaces could watch the ceremony and prayers on large video screens.
Euronews via YouTube
Many local shops were closed for Friday prayers. Owners of those that were open were generally supportive of the change, saying they hope it will bring more visitors to the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul's Old City.
In brief interviews in the area, several people mentioned Mehmet the Conqueror, who originally ordered the conversion of the Hagia Sophia from a Byzantine church to a mosque after the Ottoman Empire seized the city of Constantinople in 1453.
After Erdogan attended the prayer service at Hagia Sophia, he went to another mosque nearby — one that is named for Mehmet the Conqueror.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Murat Cetinmuhurdar/PPO via Reuters Murat Cetinmuhurdar/PPO via Reuters
The architectural marvel was turned into a museum in 1934 by a decree from the Cabinet of Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Earlier this month, UNESCO said it "deeply regrets" Turkey's decision" to declare the Hagia Sophia a mosque, urging local authorities not to alter the structure or restrict access.
"Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece and a unique testimony to interactions between Europe and Asia over the centuries," UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said. "Its status as a museum reflects the universal nature of its heritage, and makes it a powerful symbol for dialogue."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images
Erdogan said on Friday that the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque will be a place that "people of all religions can visit," according to the president's website. It adds that the site "will continue forever to serve all the believers as a mosque."


npr--2020-07-24--Trump Sued Over Attempt To Omit Unauthorized Immigrants From A Key Census Count

Trump Sued Over Attempt To Omit Unauthorized Immigrants From A Key Census Count The legal fight is heating up over President Trump 's call to make an unprecedented change to the population numbers used to divide up seats in Congress among the states .
Trump now faces a total of three new federal lawsuits that are joining ongoing legal challenges surrounding the 2020 census .
A fourth lawsuit may be coming from California State Attorney General Xavier Becerra 's office , which is planning to file a complaint against the Trump administration , Sarah Lovenheim , an adviser to Becerra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Common Cause , a government watchdog group , launched the first federal lawsuit this week .
Their complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Thursday , two days after Trump issued a memo calling to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the constitutionally mandated count of every person living in the country that is used to redistribute seats in the House of Representatives .
On Friday , a New York state-led coalition of 20 states , plus some cities and other localities , filed a challenge in U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York .
In their complaint , which cites NPR 's reporting , the challengers allege constitutional violations , as well as a claim that the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by making an `` arbitrary and capricious '' decision to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the apportionment count when they do n't have the data to reliably do so .
In this week 's third complaint , which also cites NPR 's reporting , immigrant rights groups represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and New York Civil Liberties Union argue that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrative law by effectively ordering the Census Bureau to produce population data in a way that has not gone through the proper rulemaking process .
`` Government action denying the personhood of people living in the United States echoes the darkest chapters of American constitutional history , '' the complaint says , citing the 1857 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford that declared Black people could not be U.S. citizens but was later overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments .
The Constitution — which empowers Congress , not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ census — requires a once-a-decade count of the `` whole number of persons in each state '' to determine how to reapportion congressional seats and , by extension , Electoral College votes .
Trump , however , has ordered information to be produced that would allow him to exclude the number of immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization from the latest state population counts that the president is legally required to deliver to Congress after the census is complete .
`` It 's another election-year tactic to fire up his base by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his failures as a leader , '' said New York State Attorney General Letitia James in a written statement .
`` No one ceases to be a person because they lack documentation , which is why we filed this lawsuit . ''
If unauthorized immigrants are left out of the apportionment count , California , Florida and Texas are each likely to end up with one less House seat , while Alabama , Minnesota and Ohio are each likely to hold onto a seat they would have otherwise lost after the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Center released on Friday .
Connecting the memo with the administration 's failed attempt to add the now-blocked citizenship question to the 2020 census , the plaintiffs in Common Cause 's lawsuit allege that all of the efforts are `` part of an unconstitutional concerted effort to shift political power away from racial and ethnic minorities , chiefly Latinos '' to Republicans and non-Hispanic white people .
They are asking a federal judge to declare the president 's memo in violation of the Constitution and federal laws as well as to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clerk of the House from certifying an apportionment count delivered by the president that does not include people `` on the basis of their citizenship or immigration status . ''
Among the other plaintiffs in Common Cause 's lawsuit are the cities of Atlanta and Paterson , N.J. , a refugee advocacy organization based in San Diego called Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans , and a group of individual U.S. citizens who live in New York and Florida — all of whom allege that because they are in areas with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump 's memo would hurt their rights to fair representation in Congress .
The Justice Department declined to comment on the lawsuits , DOJ spokesperson Brianna Herlihy said in an email .
The White House did not respond on the record to NPR 's request for comment .
The Census Bureau and the Commerce Department , which oversees the bureau and is named as a defendant in the new cases , did not respond to NPR 's inquiries .
These new lawsuits join an ongoing legal challenge based in Birmingham , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apportionment .
The state of Alabama filed that suit in 2018 to try to avoid losing a U.S. House seat .
It is arguing against the Census Bureau 's long-standing policy of including unauthorized immigrants in the apportionment count .
Attorneys with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC are also preparing to challenge Trump 's memo as part of an ongoing federal lawsuit over the administration 's efforts to use government records to produce citizenship data .
They are expected to file an amended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the District of Maryland by Aug. 12 '' We , unfortunately , anticipated that this kind of lawless memorandum would one day come from this administration , '' says Thomas Saenz , president and general counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund .
In a court filing released Wednesday , Terry Ao Minnis — an attorney who directs census and voting programs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC — argued that there is a `` close relationship '' between the administration 's efforts to produce more detailed data about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count of unauthorized immigrants .
Both come with the `` same attendant issues of lack of accuracy and discrimination against Latinos , non-U.S. citizens and those who live near non-U.S. citizens , '' Minnis wrote .
During a hearing for that same lawsuit , comments by a Justice Department attorney provided some insight into how far along the administration is in producing data to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the apportionment count .
`` We do n't have all the administrative records yet .
We have n't formulated a methodology for how we would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Stephen Ehrlich told U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of Maryland on Wednesday , adding later a potential need for `` some statistical modeling . ''
In 1999 , the Supreme Court ruled that census data produced using statistical sampling can not be used to reapportion Congress .
The latest legal challenges push the 2020 census further into a growing political firestorm as the national head count struggles to overcome pandemic-induced delays .
It is still unclear whether Congress will grant the Census Bureau 's request for a four-month extension to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivering the 2020 census apportionment count to the president as well as the deadline for redistricting data on March 31 .
Since Tuesday 's announcement of Trump 's memo , Democratic lawmakers have been quick to condemn the move .
Rep. Grace Meng , D-N.Y. , introduced a bill Wednesday that would ban using federal funds to `` implement , administer , enforce , or carry out '' the memo 's directives .
The House Oversight and Reform Committee is planning to hold an emergency hearing on Wednesday .
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau Director Steven Dillingham and the bureau 's chief scientist , John Abowd , have been invited to appear as witnesses , along with three former directors of the agency , according to a statement by the committee 's chair , Rep. Carolyn Maloney , D-N.Y. , who said the president 's move `` appears to be a blatant attempt to politicize the 2020 Census , depress participation , and undermine its accuracy . ''
Minutes after Common Cause issued a press release Thursday announcing its legal challenge , Trump 's reelection campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 donations by offering `` an exact replica '' of the pen the president used to sign the memo .
The president 's memo makes no mention of excluding unauthorized immigrants from the census in general , only from the `` apportionment base '' used to redistribute House seats .
But the campaign 's email described the memo as an `` executive order '' that was signed to `` put America FIRST by blocking illegal aliens from receiving congressional representation and being counted in the U.S .
Census . ''

Trump Sued Over Attempt To Omit Unauthorized Immigrants From A Key Census Count
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Updated at 9:15 p.m. ET
The legal fight is heating up over President Trump's call to make an unprecedented change to the population numbers used to divide up seats in Congress among the states.
Trump now faces a total of three new federal lawsuits that are joining ongoing legal challenges surrounding the 2020 census. A fourth lawsuit may be coming from California State Attorney General Xavier Becerra's office, which is planning to file a complaint against the Trump administration, Sarah Lovenheim, an adviser to Becerra, tells NPR.
Groups led by Common Cause, a government watchdog group, launched the first federal lawsuit this week. Their complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Thursday, two days after Trump issued a memo calling to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the constitutionally mandated count of every person living in the country that is used to redistribute seats in the House of Representatives.
On Friday, a New York state-led coalition of 20 states, plus some cities and other localities, filed a challenge in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In their complaint, which cites NPR's reporting, the challengers allege constitutional violations, as well as a claim that the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by making an "arbitrary and capricious" decision to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the apportionment count when they don't have the data to reliably do so.
In this week's third complaint, which also cites NPR's reporting, immigrant rights groups represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and New York Civil Liberties Union argue that the directives of Trump's memo also violate administrative law by effectively ordering the Census Bureau to produce population data in a way that has not gone through the proper rulemaking process.
"Government action denying the personhood of people living in the United States echoes the darkest chapters of American constitutional history," the complaint says, citing the 1857 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford that declared Black people could not be U.S. citizens but was later overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments.
The Constitution — which empowers Congress, not the president, with final authority over the census — requires a once-a-decade count of the "whole number of persons in each state" to determine how to reapportion congressional seats and, by extension, Electoral College votes.
Trump, however, has ordered information to be produced that would allow him to exclude the number of immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization from the latest state population counts that the president is legally required to deliver to Congress after the census is complete.
"It's another election-year tactic to fire up his base by dehumanizing immigrants and using them as scapegoats for his failures as a leader," said New York State Attorney General Letitia James in a written statement. "No one ceases to be a person because they lack documentation, which is why we filed this lawsuit."
If unauthorized immigrants are left out of the apportionment count, California, Florida and Texas are each likely to end up with one less House seat, while Alabama, Minnesota and Ohio are each likely to hold onto a seat they would have otherwise lost after the 2020 census, according to estimates the Pew Research Center released on Friday.
Connecting the memo with the administration's failed attempt to add the now-blocked citizenship question to the 2020 census, the plaintiffs in Common Cause's lawsuit allege that all of the efforts are "part of an unconstitutional concerted effort to shift political power away from racial and ethnic minorities, chiefly Latinos" to Republicans and non-Hispanic white people.
They are asking a federal judge to declare the president's memo in violation of the Constitution and federal laws as well as to block the administration from carrying it out and the clerk of the House from certifying an apportionment count delivered by the president that does not include people "on the basis of their citizenship or immigration status."
Among the other plaintiffs in Common Cause's lawsuit are the cities of Atlanta and Paterson, N.J., a refugee advocacy organization based in San Diego called Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, and a group of individual U.S. citizens who live in New York and Florida — all of whom allege that because they are in areas with an "above-average number of undocumented immigrants," Trump's memo would hurt their rights to fair representation in Congress.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the lawsuits, DOJ spokesperson Brianna Herlihy said in an email. The White House did not respond on the record to NPR's request for comment. The Census Bureau and the Commerce Department, which oversees the bureau and is named as a defendant in the new cases, did not respond to NPR's inquiries.
These new lawsuits join an ongoing legal challenge based in Birmingham, Ala., about who counts for congressional apportionment. The state of Alabama filed that suit in 2018 to try to avoid losing a U.S. House seat. It is arguing against the Census Bureau's long-standing policy of including unauthorized immigrants in the apportionment count.
Attorneys with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC are also preparing to challenge Trump's memo as part of an ongoing federal lawsuit over the administration's efforts to use government records to produce citizenship data. They are expected to file an amended complaint with the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland by Aug. 12
"We, unfortunately, anticipated that this kind of lawless memorandum would one day come from this administration," says Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
In a court filing released Wednesday, Terry Ao Minnis — an attorney who directs census and voting programs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC — argued that there is a "close relationship" between the administration's efforts to produce more detailed data about U.S. citizens and its efforts for a count of unauthorized immigrants. Both come with the "same attendant issues of lack of accuracy and discrimination against Latinos, non-U.S. citizens and those who live near non-U.S. citizens," Minnis wrote.
During a hearing for that same lawsuit, comments by a Justice Department attorney provided some insight into how far along the administration is in producing data to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the apportionment count.
"We don't have all the administrative records yet. We haven't formulated a methodology for how we would do this and things of that nature," Stephen Ehrlich told U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of Maryland on Wednesday, adding later a potential need for "some statistical modeling."
In 1999, the Supreme Court ruled that census data produced using statistical sampling cannot be used to reapportion Congress.
The latest legal challenges push the 2020 census further into a growing political firestorm as the national head count struggles to overcome pandemic-induced delays. It is still unclear whether Congress will grant the Census Bureau's request for a four-month extension to the current legal deadline of Dec. 31 for delivering the 2020 census apportionment count to the president as well as the deadline for redistricting data on March 31.
Since Tuesday's announcement of Trump's memo, Democratic lawmakers have been quick to condemn the move.
Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., introduced a bill Wednesday that would ban using federal funds to "implement, administer, enforce, or carry out" the memo's directives.
The House Oversight and Reform Committee is planning to hold an emergency hearing on Wednesday. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the bureau, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham and the bureau's chief scientist, John Abowd, have been invited to appear as witnesses, along with three former directors of the agency, according to a statement by the committee's chair, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., who said the president's move "appears to be a blatant attempt to politicize the 2020 Census, depress participation, and undermine its accuracy."
Minutes after Common Cause issued a press release Thursday announcing its legal challenge, Trump's reelection campaign sent an email to supporters soliciting $23 donations by offering "an exact replica" of the pen the president used to sign the memo.
The president's memo makes no mention of excluding unauthorized immigrants from the census in general, only from the "apportionment base" used to redistribute House seats.
But the campaign's email described the memo as an "executive order" that was signed to "put America FIRST by blocking illegal aliens from receiving congressional representation and being counted in the U.S. Census."


npr--2020-07-27--California's Hard-Hit Central Valley To Get Federal Health Workers, More State Help

California 's Hard-Hit Central Valley To Get Federal Health Workers , More State Help Help is on the way for California 's Central Valley , where hospitals are inundated with coronavirus patients and local infection rates far outpace the statewide average .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced a slate of new state and federal resources for eight Central Valley counties in a press briefing on Monday .
He also addressed the importance of protecting the populations that are hardest-hit by the virus : essential workers , the Latino community and people who live in congregate settings .
`` While we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state of California growing modestly ... it 's not happening evenly in every part of the state , '' Newsom said .
`` There are certain parts of the state , certain regions in the state and certain sectors of our economy that are disproportionately impacted by the transmission of this virus . ''
Newsom said that positivity rates in those Central Valley counties range from 10.7 % to 17.7 % , compared to the state 's 14-day average of 7.5 % .
Between 41 % and 65 % of the residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley are Latino , according to a statement from the governor 's office .
Latinos are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus in the Central Valley region , as they are statewide — comprising 38.9 % of California 's population but 56 % of cases and 45.7 % of deaths .
In Fresno County , for example , they comprise 52.6 % of the population but 65 % of COVID-19 deaths .
In response to the region 's staggering numbers , the state is investing $ 52 million to improve quarantine , testing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care support and personnel .
The money is going to eight Central Valley counties : Stanislaus , San Joaquin , Merced , Madera , Fresno , Kings , Tulare and Kern .
Newsom said the funding is part of a $ 499 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and will build off of existing local infrastructure .
It is not the only form of support coming from the federal government .
The Department of Defense is sending 190 health care personnel to supplement hospitals in the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients fill up regular and intensive care unit beds .
California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said at the briefing that in the Central Valley , infections range from 250 to 450 per 10,000 people , and the rate of transmission continues to increase .
He added the 45 hospitals in these eight counties are `` feeling the pressure . ''
`` Some of the regular hospital beds that we depend on for everyday care are filled up with COVID patients to the rate of 65 % , '' Ghaly said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICU beds .
The state is also deploying three strike teams to the area to work with local public health , emergency , medical , community and business organizations on efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
Similar teams were previously sent to Imperial County to boost public health efforts and manage outbreaks at congregate settings and workplaces .
Newsom said those efforts helped shrink the local 14-day case rate 63 % , from 836 cases per 100,000 to 308 cases per 100,000 people .
He said that Southern California , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain a concern .
At the state level , Newsom said hospitalization numbers and ICU admissions are still increasing , but at a more modest pace than they were in the several weeks prior .
The average number of deaths per day in a seven-day period increased from 91 to 109 .
California is among the states experiencing a significant resurgence in coronavirus cases .
It rolled back parts of its reopening to try to reverse the trend , and closed bars and several types of indoor businesses earlier this month .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California 's coronavirus monitoring list are home to 93 % of its population .

California's Hard-Hit Central Valley To Get Federal Health Workers, More State Help
Enlarge this image toggle caption George Rose/Getty Images George Rose/Getty Images
Help is on the way for California's Central Valley, where hospitals are inundated with coronavirus patients and local infection rates far outpace the statewide average.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a slate of new state and federal resources for eight Central Valley counties in a press briefing on Monday. He also addressed the importance of protecting the populations that are hardest-hit by the virus: essential workers, the Latino community and people who live in congregate settings.
"While we see [the] positivity rate in the state of California growing modestly ... it's not happening evenly in every part of the state," Newsom said. "There are certain parts of the state, certain regions in the state and certain sectors of our economy that are disproportionately impacted by the transmission of this virus."
Newsom said that positivity rates in those Central Valley counties range from 10.7% to 17.7%, compared to the state's 14-day average of 7.5%.
Health The Coronavirus's Outsized Impact On California's Latino Communities The Coronavirus's Outsized Impact On California's Latino Communities Listen · 7:15 7:15
Between 41% and 65% of the residents of any given county in the Central Valley are Latino, according to a statement from the governor's office. Latinos are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus in the Central Valley region, as they are statewide — comprising 38.9% of California's population but 56% of cases and 45.7% of deaths. In Fresno County, for example, they comprise 52.6% of the population but 65% of COVID-19 deaths.
In response to the region's staggering numbers, the state is investing $52 million to improve quarantine, testing and contact-tracing protocols, and to provide additional health care support and personnel.
The money is going to eight Central Valley counties: Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern.
Newsom said the funding is part of a $499 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and will build off of existing local infrastructure.
It is not the only form of support coming from the federal government.
The Department of Defense is sending 190 health care personnel to supplement hospitals in the area, which are increasingly strained as COVID-19 patients fill up regular and intensive care unit beds.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said at the briefing that in the Central Valley, infections range from 250 to 450 per 10,000 people, and the rate of transmission continues to increase.
He added the 45 hospitals in these eight counties are "feeling the pressure."
"Some of the regular hospital beds that we depend on for everyday care are filled up with COVID patients to the rate of 65%," Ghaly said, adding the same is true of ICU beds.
The state is also deploying three strike teams to the area to work with local public health, emergency, medical, community and business organizations on efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Similar teams were previously sent to Imperial County to boost public health efforts and manage outbreaks at congregate settings and workplaces. Newsom said those efforts helped shrink the local 14-day case rate 63%, from 836 cases per 100,000 to 308 cases per 100,000 people.
He said that Southern California, and the Los Angeles area in particular, remain a concern.
At the state level, Newsom said hospitalization numbers and ICU admissions are still increasing, but at a more modest pace than they were in the several weeks prior. The average number of deaths per day in a seven-day period increased from 91 to 109.
California is among the states experiencing a significant resurgence in coronavirus cases. It rolled back parts of its reopening to try to reverse the trend, and closed bars and several types of indoor businesses earlier this month.
According to LAist, the 37 counties on California's coronavirus monitoring list are home to 93% of its population.


npr--2020-07-27--Deaths And Missing People Reported From Tropical Depression Hanna In Mexico

Deaths And Missing People Reported From Tropical Depression Hanna In Mexico As Hurricane Hanna barreled through the Atlantic Ocean this weekend , Texas and Mexico both braced for calamity , but it was Mexico that saw death .
According to Mexican newspaper accounts , the bodies of a 7-year-old girl and her mother were found Monday in Saltillo , near Monterrey in northeastern Mexico , after the van they were in ran out of gas and was dragged down an overflowing tributary .
They were swept away by the current .
Some family members escaped , according to the Mexican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister , who reportedly managed to survive by clinging to branches .
In the border city of Reynosa , one woman reportedly died after suffering a seizure and drowning in the floodwater left by Hanna .
Three children were reported missing in a nearby neighborhood , after they fell from a tree into the water .
Texas saw no casualties .
After Hanna — the first hurricane of the season before being downgraded to a tropical storm , and then a tropical depression — hit the southwestern part of the state on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Monday morning , AEP Texas reported 60,000 outages remaining .
Restoring power was complicated by severe flooding in some areas that limited access to substations , the utility said .
Hanna made landfall about 90 miles south of Corpus Christi on Saturday evening , before moving into Mexico .
In Texas , it dropped up to 15 inches of rain in some areas and caused extensive flooding and beach erosion .
The Texas State Aquarium saw minor damage — mostly debris brought in by the storm surge .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destination , was damaged for the first time in its 37-year history .
A video that circulated widely on social media over the weekend purported to show a section of the southern border wall crashing down in Hanna 's high winds .
But U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Texas Public Radio that the video appears to be from last month , when wind gusts knocked over several border wall panels at a construction site in New Mexico .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced Sunday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for emergency disaster relief .
The state prepared for impact late last week , as hospitals in the area were already strained to near-capacity with coronavirus patients .
Houston 's deputy director for emergency management said Hurricane Hanna was a test of the state 's ability to respond to disaster while trying to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
`` We 'll be looking for lessons learned even from yesterday 's storm — what went well , what did n't go well , how were other jurisdictions helping to jump in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michel Martin on Weekend All Things Considered Sunday .
`` The coronavirus has changed a lot in how we practice , prepare everything , '' Bradley said .
`` Our first responders are out every day wearing their masks , keeping their PPE close , '' including hand sanitizers and non-contact thermometers .
`` Checks are happening as we all report to work daily .
So it 's changed a lot . ''

Deaths And Missing People Reported From Tropical Depression Hanna In Mexico
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Gay/AP Eric Gay/AP
As Hurricane Hanna barreled through the Atlantic Ocean this weekend, Texas and Mexico both braced for calamity, but it was Mexico that saw death.
According to Mexican newspaper accounts, the bodies of a 7-year-old girl and her mother were found Monday in Saltillo, near Monterrey in northeastern Mexico, after the van they were in ran out of gas and was dragged down an overflowing tributary. They were swept away by the current.
Some family members escaped, according to the Mexican papers, including the girl's 11-year-old sister, who reportedly managed to survive by clinging to branches.
In the border city of Reynosa, one woman reportedly died after suffering a seizure and drowning in the floodwater left by Hanna. Three children were reported missing in a nearby neighborhood, after they fell from a tree into the water.
Texas saw no casualties. After Hanna — the first hurricane of the season before being downgraded to a tropical storm, and then a tropical depression — hit the southwestern part of the state on Saturday, 200,000 locations were left without power. As of Monday morning, AEP Texas reported 60,000 outages remaining. Restoring power was complicated by severe flooding in some areas that limited access to substations, the utility said.
Hanna made landfall about 90 miles south of Corpus Christi on Saturday evening, before moving into Mexico. In Texas, it dropped up to 15 inches of rain in some areas and caused extensive flooding and beach erosion. The Texas State Aquarium saw minor damage — mostly debris brought in by the storm surge. And the Bob Hall Pier, a local tourist destination, was damaged for the first time in its 37-year history.
A video that circulated widely on social media over the weekend purported to show a section of the southern border wall crashing down in Hanna's high winds. But U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Texas Public Radio that the video appears to be from last month, when wind gusts knocked over several border wall panels at a construction site in New Mexico.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sunday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and President Trump granted the state's request for emergency disaster relief.
The state prepared for impact late last week, as hospitals in the area were already strained to near-capacity with coronavirus patients. Houston's deputy director for emergency management said Hurricane Hanna was a test of the state's ability to respond to disaster while trying to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
"We'll be looking for lessons learned even from yesterday's storm — what went well, what didn't go well, how were other jurisdictions helping to jump in response?" Nickea Bradley told NPR's Michel Martin on Weekend All Things Considered Sunday.
"The coronavirus has changed a lot in how we practice, prepare everything," Bradley said. "Our first responders are out every day wearing their masks, keeping their PPE close," including hand sanitizers and non-contact thermometers. "Checks are happening as we all report to work daily. So it's changed a lot."


npr--2020-07-27--U.N. To Install Asylum-Seekers' Housing In Mexico

The United Nations will provide temporary housing units for asylum seekers in Mexico who have been ensnared in protracted hearings for entry to the United States , the agency announced on Monday .
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees is sending 48 one-room Refugee Housing Units to help alleviate a current housing shortage , according to the AP .
Many migrants in the country have found themselves without places to live after a number of shelters stopped accepting new arrivals because of the coronavirus .
Activists in Mexico have called for agency intervention to provide the necessary precautions for unhoused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help avoid spreading the virus within shelters .
A 47-year-old Honduran man in Sonora died of the virus last week , according to the organization Pueblo Sin Fronteras , which provides shelter for migrants .
`` Our priority is the health and the rights of migrant persons who find themselves housed at our shelters and of the communities around them , and we expect commitments from the authorities as well to take action regarding this public health situation which is important for everyone , '' spokesman Irineo Mujica said in a statement @

U.N. To Install Asylum-Seeker Housing In Mexico
Enlarge this image toggle caption Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images
The United Nations will provide temporary housing units for asylum-seekers in Mexico experiencing protracted waits for a hearing to gain entry to the United States, the agency announced on Monday.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees is sending 48 one-room Refugee Housing Units to help alleviate a current housing shortage, according to the Associated Press. Many migrants in the country have found themselves without places to live after a number of shelters stopped accepting new arrivals because of the coronavirus.
Activists in Mexico have called for agency intervention to provide the necessary precautions for unhoused asylum-seekers and deportees from the U.S. to help avoid spreading the virus within shelters. A 47-year-old Honduran man in Sonora died of the virus last week, according to the organization Pueblo Sin Fronteras, which provides shelter for migrants.
"Our priority is the health and the rights of migrant persons who find themselves housed at our shelters and of the communities around them, and we expect commitments from the authorities as well to take action regarding this public health situation which is important for everyone," spokesman Irineo Mujica said in a statement.


npr--2020-07-27--Economic Uncertainty Drives Gold Price To A Record High

In uncertain economic times , investors tend to put their money in gold .
So it 's perhaps little surprise that gold prices started to rise at the beginning of the year as the coronavirus started spreading in China and Europe and investors feared a global economic downturn .
Gold prices have soared nearly 30 % so far this year .
On Monday , the settlement price for gold futures reached a record high of $ 1,931 per ounce — and many analysts predict gold will top $ 2,000 by September .
Gold usually rises alongside investors ' uncertainty in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe haven '' for investors who want to hedge their bets against a falling dollar and instability in financial markets , said Lindsey Bell , chief investment strategist for Ally Invest .
And , as long as investors are still unsure about the health of the market , they 'll continue putting money into gold , she said .
As the pandemic slammed the economy in March , the Federal Reserve slashed U.S. interest rates to historic lows to keep the economy afloat .
`` Gold historically has moved in the opposite direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Bell explained .
Though high gold prices could be an indicator of uncertainty in the economy , financial markets have generally been performing well — in large part thanks to aggressive steps taken by the Fed .
The S & P 500 stock index , which dropped 34 % from its record high in March , is now up slightly for the year .
`` They threw a lot of money at the market to make sure it was operating efficiently back in March when things all came to a head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Fed 's actions accompanied `` government stimulus measures like the $ 1,200 checks , PPP loans and unemployment relief . ''
But Bell notes that putting all of this government money in the system creates more government debt .
This drives more people to buy gold as a hedge against potential inflation caused by the mounting debt .
Another factor Bell and other analysts point to is the rise in tensions between China and the United States .
The two countries have been locked in a trade war since 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth in tariffs on each other 's goods .
The two countries signed a preliminary trade deal in January , but tensions intensified recently after the U.S. forced China 's consulate in Houston to close , prompting a reciprocal closure of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu .
`` As that relationship moves backwards , you could see the slowdown of trade and economic activity between the two countries , and that then leads to uncertainty which leads to investors going to 'safe haven ' assets like gold , '' Bell said .
Concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic are another major reason for uncertainty .
Justin Waring , a strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management , says the dollar 's recent weakness is due in part to the deteriorating ability of the U.S. to control its COVID-19 outbreaks .
`` As the economic-reopening efforts are delayed or rolled back in some parts of the country , markets have started to price in a slower U.S. recovery , '' Waring said .
He said financial markets are unlikely to stabilize until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available .
Markets will remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding of when the economy can get back to 'normal , ' `` he said .
And as long as that uncertainty continues , gold prices could keep rising , analysts said .

Economic Uncertainty Drives Gold Price To A Record High
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mike Groll/AP Mike Groll/AP
In uncertain economic times, investors tend to put their money in gold. So it's perhaps little surprise that gold prices started to rise at the beginning of the year as the coronavirus started spreading in China and Europe and investors feared a global economic downturn.
Gold prices have soared nearly 30% so far this year. On Monday, the settlement price for gold futures reached a record high of $1,931 per ounce — and many analysts predict gold will top $2,000 by September.
Gold usually rises alongside investors' uncertainty in the economy. It's a "safe haven" for investors who want to hedge their bets against a falling dollar and instability in financial markets, said Lindsey Bell, chief investment strategist for Ally Invest.
And, as long as investors are still unsure about the health of the market, they'll continue putting money into gold, she said.
Business The Price Of Gold Is At A 6-Year High. But Is It Actually A Good Investment? The Price Of Gold Is At A 6-Year High. But Is It Actually A Good Investment? Listen · 3:28 3:28
As the pandemic slammed the economy in March, the Federal Reserve slashed U.S. interest rates to historic lows to keep the economy afloat. "Gold historically has moved in the opposite direction of the interest rate and the dollar," Bell explained.
Though high gold prices could be an indicator of uncertainty in the economy, financial markets have generally been performing well — in large part thanks to aggressive steps taken by the Fed. The S&P 500 stock index, which dropped 34% from its record high in March, is now up slightly for the year.
"They threw a lot of money at the market to make sure it was operating efficiently back in March when things all came to a head," Bell said. She noted that the Fed's actions accompanied "government stimulus measures like the $1,200 checks, PPP loans and unemployment relief."
But Bell notes that putting all of this government money in the system creates more government debt. This drives more people to buy gold as a hedge against potential inflation caused by the mounting debt.
Another factor Bell and other analysts point to is the rise in tensions between China and the United States. The two countries have been locked in a trade war since 2018, slapping hundreds of billions of dollars' worth in tariffs on each other's goods. The two countries signed a preliminary trade deal in January, but tensions intensified recently after the U.S. forced China's consulate in Houston to close, prompting a reciprocal closure of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu.
"As that relationship moves backwards, you could see the slowdown of trade and economic activity between the two countries, and that then leads to uncertainty which leads to investors going to 'safe haven' assets like gold," Bell said. Concerns over the ongoing global struggle against the pandemic are another major reason for uncertainty.
Justin Waring, a strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management, says the dollar's recent weakness is due in part to the deteriorating ability of the U.S. to control its COVID-19 outbreaks.
"As the economic-reopening efforts are delayed or rolled back in some parts of the country, markets have started to price in a slower U.S. recovery," Waring said.
He said financial markets are unlikely to stabilize until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available. Markets will remain volatile "until we have a clearer understanding of when the economy can get back to 'normal,' " he said.
And as long as that uncertainty continues, gold prices could keep rising, analysts said.


npr--2020-07-27--Delta CEO: Airline's Pandemic Strategy Is 'Putting People Over Profits'

In the history of commercial air travel , airlines have never had a stretch as bad as the last few months .
Early in the pandemic , Delta Air Lines was losing $ 100 million each day .
Now it 's losing about $ 27 million a day .
While Delta is making `` good headway '' on reducing its cash burn , the most important factor for financial recovery is something that 's largely out of the industry 's control , says Ed Bastian , the company 's CEO .
`` The bottom line is we 've got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air travel , '' he tells NPR .
In an interview on All Things Considered , Bastian describes Delta 's strategy to prioritize customer safety over filling planes — with an eye toward long-term viability .
`` We believe that taking care of safety of our customers , as well as our people , is more important than the profits that we forgo by filling up every seat on a plane , '' he says .
And more than bailout money , what the industry ultimately needs , Bastian says , is for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cure or vaccine for the coronavirus .
Here are excerpts from the interview .
Can you summarize what it takes to get from losing $ 27 million a day to breaking even ?
To reduce the cash burn , to break even , requires the demand to continue to pick up .
We 're flying today somewhere about 25 % of the schedule that we did last summer .
We 'll need ... another 10 to 20 points of demand over the next six months to get closer to that break-even level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the direction the virus takes , the direction that — both on therapeutics as well as vaccines — the ability for people to feel confident and the continued taking great care and safety of our customers over the journey .
We have implemented so many changes in our safety protocols , our customer surveys tell us that this is the best travel experience on Delta they 've ever seen .
In addition to the health concerns , is it partly a business consideration that by leaving middle seats open — by only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get more people to fly your airline than other airlines that are trying to save money by filling up the plane , for example ?
We could do that if we chose to .
But we feel that we 'd rather take care and put safety at the top of the priority list .
And when we get close to that 60 % load factor that we 've referenced , that 'll be our trigger to add more planes and more flights into the schedule , because we have a lot of planes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put more people into the existing [ flights ] .
It 's a decision we 're taking about putting people over profits , absolutely .
Getting fast coronavirus test results is key , especially for flight attendants .
... Are you able to get real-time information on when someone tests positive for COVID-19 ?
The time it takes to get the results back for our people has extended up to a week , which is unacceptable .
We now have it down to somewhere between two to four days .
The good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're doing on our people is verifying that the aircraft is a very safe enclosed space , because our flight attendants , our pilots , our ground workers , our airport workers ... some are positive , absolutely .
But at much lower rates than any national average that I 've seen .
And those are for people that live in the airport environment .
Delta got more than $ 5 billion from the CARES Act , which Congress passed back in March .
What about a second aid package from the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would anticipate needing if the pandemic keeps going ?
What we really need is instead of more government support , we need demand back .
We need a medical cure .
We need a vaccine .
We need therapeutics .
And I think that 's probably where any government focus ought to go .
Becky Sullivan and Jolie Myers produced and edited the audio story .
Maureen Pao adapted it for the Web .

Delta CEO: Airline's Pandemic Strategy Is 'Putting People Over Profits'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters
In the history of commercial air travel, airlines have never had a stretch as bad as the last few months. Early in the pandemic, Delta Air Lines was losing $100 million each day. Now it's losing about $27 million a day.
While Delta is making "good headway" on reducing its cash burn, the most important factor for financial recovery is something that's largely out of the industry's control, says Ed Bastian, the company's CEO.
"The bottom line is we've got to restore confidence amongst our consumer base in air travel," he tells NPR.
In an interview on All Things Considered, Bastian describes Delta's strategy to prioritize customer safety over filling planes — with an eye toward long-term viability.
"We believe that taking care of safety of our customers, as well as our people, is more important than the profits that we forgo by filling up every seat on a plane," he says.
And more than bailout money, what the industry ultimately needs, Bastian says, is for the federal government to focus on finding a cure or vaccine for the coronavirus.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
Can you summarize what it takes to get from losing $27 million a day to breaking even?
To reduce the cash burn, to break even, requires the demand to continue to pick up.
We're flying today somewhere about 25% of the schedule that we did last summer. We'll need ... another 10 to 20 points of demand over the next six months to get closer to that break-even level on cash flow. It'll depend on the direction the virus takes, the direction that — both on therapeutics as well as vaccines — the ability for people to feel confident and the continued taking great care and safety of our customers over the journey. We have implemented so many changes in our safety protocols, our customer surveys tell us that this is the best travel experience on Delta they've ever seen.
In addition to the health concerns, is it partly a business consideration that by leaving middle seats open — by only booking 60% full — you will get more people to fly your airline than other airlines that are trying to save money by filling up the plane, for example?
We could do that if we chose to. But we feel that we'd rather take care and put safety at the top of the priority list. And when we get close to that 60% load factor that we've referenced, that'll be our trigger to add more planes and more flights into the schedule, because we have a lot of planes that we can add rather than trying to put more people into the existing [flights]. It's a decision we're taking about putting people over profits, absolutely.
Getting fast coronavirus test results is key, especially for flight attendants. ... Are you able to get real-time information on when someone tests positive for COVID-19?
The time it takes to get the results back for our people has extended up to a week, which is unacceptable. We now have it down to somewhere between two to four days. The good news is that the testing that we're doing on our people is verifying that the aircraft is a very safe enclosed space, because our flight attendants, our pilots, our ground workers, our airport workers ... some are positive, absolutely. But at much lower rates than any national average that I've seen. And those are for people that live in the airport environment.
Delta got more than $5 billion from the CARES Act, which Congress passed back in March. What about a second aid package from the federal government? Is that something that you would anticipate needing if the pandemic keeps going?
What we really need is instead of more government support, we need demand back. We need a medical cure. We need a vaccine. We need therapeutics. And I think that's probably where any government focus ought to go.
Becky Sullivan and Jolie Myers produced and edited the audio story. Maureen Pao adapted it for the Web.


npr--2020-07-27--Girls, Has The Pandemic Made You Think Of Quitting School? Call Your Mentor

Girls , Has The Pandemic Made You Think Of Quitting School ?
Call Your Mentor In early May , about two months after schools across Malawi closed because of COVID-19 , Eliza Chikoti received a phone call from a former student : a bright 15-year-old girl who always got good grades .
`` She called me and she said , 'Madame , I 'm thinking of getting married , ' `` says Chikoti .
Chikoti , 24 , works for Camfed , an international organization that supports girls ' education .
Part of her work is mentoring girls in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and guidance in their studies .
The student 's message was discouraging .
`` I was like , why are you opting to go into marriage ? ''
says Chikoti .
The girl explained that she was living with her grandparents in a house of six people .
Since the pandemic began , the family has been struggling to put food on the table .
Chikoti says the girl told her , `` If I can go into marriage , if they can find a husband who can marry me , maybe he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' With schools out of session , there 's special concern about the female students in this small southern African country , one of the poorest in the world .
Girls are desperate to help their families survive the tough times — and more likely than boys to turn to child marriage as a way to ease economic strains .
Role models like Chikoti are stepping in to help girls make tough decisions about their personal lives — and encouraging them to return to school when the shutdown ends .
`` COVID has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Malawi only .
It 's everywhere , '' says Grace Kafulatira Mulima .
She works for Malawi 's Ministry of Education , Science and Technology and focuses on girls ' secondary education .
Getting girls inside a classroom has been a top priority for Malawi over the past few decades .
The country has made great strides , nearly doubling the number of girls in high school from 95,000 in 2006 to 185,934 in 2018 .
Current data show about the same number of girls and boys in high school .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard-earned progress , says Mulima .
There 's special concern about girls preparing for high school and college , says Foster Mkandawire , program manager for education for Plan International Malawi .
The group provides girls with scholarships , uniforms , transport to and from school , and other services in 13 of the country 's 29 school districts .
`` They put in a lot of effort , '' Mkandawire says of female students .
`` They were almost ready to take exams , and suddenly we have to go out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That is not good news for parents who have spent a lot of money [ on items like books ] , for organizations sponsoring the girls . ''
With no plans to reopen schools in the immediate future , teachers are trying to educate students through radio programs and online classes .
But many students do n't have access to a radio , much less a smartphone or a laptop , says Chikoti .
There 's another set of girls the educators worry about — those at risk of never returning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest rates of child marriage in the world — more than 40 % of its girls marry before 18 .
And once they wed , many of these girls drop out of school .
In addition , a crisis like the pandemic is likely to lead even more girls to give up on school .
`` From the information we are receiving from our field offices , about 50 girls are either married or some of them are pregnant [ since the start of the pandemic ] , '' says Mkandawire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a similar period of months , he adds .
That 's where mentors and counselors like Chikoti come in .
Mulima at the Ministry of Education says that since 2015 , these role models have been a crucial part of Malawi 's strategy to keep girls in school .
And even though schools are now closed , these mentors and counselors are checking in on the girls — encouraging them to remain committed to earning a high school diploma and helping them deal with personal and economic challenges .
`` Keeping them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want them to go to school and come out successfully , '' she says .
`` We have introduced the establishment of 'mother groups ' — mothers in their communities who have gone to school who can help offer career guidance and help them make choices '' about their education — among other mentorship programs .
Even before the pandemic , nonprofit organizations have helped provide mentors to girl students in Malawi .
Plan International , for example , has 240 members in mother groups assisting 23,372 girls in both primary and secondary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducting door-to-door sessions to ensure that girls are not tempted to get married while schools are in closure , '' says Mkandawire .
Camfed has a similar program .
It has trained 1,099 government teachers at partner schools to be `` teacher-mentors . ''
These individuals act as role models to groups of 30 to 60 girls and work with parents and educators to meet the needs of girls , from sanitary pads to a bag of groceries to good advice .
The group also has an association of 21,673 Camfed alumni , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls under their wing too .
Two days after Chikoti received the phone call from the 15-year-old girl , she went to the girl 's house .
Chikoti wanted to change the student 's mind .
Was there some other way the girl could contribute to her family ?
Could she clean houses or find some other way to earn money ?
Chikoti knew that if the girl were to marry , she 'd likely get pregnant , have kids .
Returning to school would just be too difficult .
Chikoti told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15-year-old , she too came from a big family and lived in poverty .
And she contemplated early marriage too .
But with Camfed 's help , she stayed in school .
At the time , students at secondary school had to pay school fees , which her family could n't afford .
So Camfed stepped in .
As a result , Chikoti became the first girl to graduate from her high school — then one of the first girls in her community to graduate from college .
Now she 's earning enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family — and her parents .
The 15-year-old listened to Chikoti 's story .
She found work washing clothes for a little money or some flour .
And she told Chikoti : `` Yeah , I think I 've reversed my decision .
I will not get married .
You will be my mentor . ''

Girls, Has The Pandemic Made You Think Of Quitting School? Call Your Mentor
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anke Adams Anke Adams
In early May, about two months after schools across Malawi closed because of COVID-19, Eliza Chikoti received a phone call from a former student: a bright 15-year-old girl who always got good grades.
"She called me and she said, 'Madame, I'm thinking of getting married,' " says Chikoti.
Chikoti, 24, works for Camfed, an international organization that supports girls' education. Part of her work is mentoring girls in the town of Mwanza — offering them support and guidance in their studies.
The student's message was discouraging. "I was like, why are you opting to go into marriage?" says Chikoti.
The girl explained that she was living with her grandparents in a house of six people. Since the pandemic began, the family has been struggling to put food on the table.
Chikoti says the girl told her, "If I can go into marriage, if they can find a husband who can marry me, maybe he can be able to support me."
With schools out of session, there's special concern about the female students in this small southern African country, one of the poorest in the world. Girls are desperate to help their families survive the tough times — and more likely than boys to turn to child marriage as a way to ease economic strains.
Role models like Chikoti are stepping in to help girls make tough decisions about their personal lives — and encouraging them to return to school when the shutdown ends.
"COVID has really derailed the education system — not in Malawi only. It's everywhere," says Grace Kafulatira Mulima. She works for Malawi's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and focuses on girls' secondary education.
Getting girls inside a classroom has been a top priority for Malawi over the past few decades. The country has made great strides, nearly doubling the number of girls in high school from 95,000 in 2006 to 185,934 in 2018. Current data show about the same number of girls and boys in high school.
The pandemic threatens to undo some of this hard-earned progress, says Mulima.
There's special concern about girls preparing for high school and college, says Foster Mkandawire, program manager for education for Plan International Malawi. The group provides girls with scholarships, uniforms, transport to and from school, and other services in 13 of the country's 29 school districts.
"They put in a lot of effort," Mkandawire says of female students. "They were almost ready to take exams, and suddenly we have to go out of schools because COVID has taken center stage. That is not good news for parents who have spent a lot of money [on items like books], for organizations sponsoring the girls."
With no plans to reopen schools in the immediate future, teachers are trying to educate students through radio programs and online classes. But many students don't have access to a radio, much less a smartphone or a laptop, says Chikoti.
There's another set of girls the educators worry about — those at risk of never returning to school again.
Malawi has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world — more than 40% of its girls marry before 18. And once they wed, many of these girls drop out of school.
In addition, a crisis like the pandemic is likely to lead even more girls to give up on school.
"From the information we are receiving from our field offices, about 50 girls are either married or some of them are pregnant [since the start of the pandemic]," says Mkandawire. "This is very unusual" compared with a similar period of months, he adds.
That's where mentors and counselors like Chikoti come in. Mulima at the Ministry of Education says that since 2015, these role models have been a crucial part of Malawi's strategy to keep girls in school. And even though schools are now closed, these mentors and counselors are checking in on the girls — encouraging them to remain committed to earning a high school diploma and helping them deal with personal and economic challenges.
"Keeping them in school is not enough. We want them to go to school and come out successfully," she says. "We have introduced the establishment of 'mother groups' — mothers in their communities who have gone to school who can help offer career guidance and help them make choices" about their education — among other mentorship programs.
Even before the pandemic, nonprofit organizations have helped provide mentors to girl students in Malawi. Plan International, for example, has 240 members in mother groups assisting 23,372 girls in both primary and secondary school. "The mother groups are conducting door-to-door sessions to ensure that girls are not tempted to get married while schools are in closure," says Mkandawire.
Camfed has a similar program. It has trained 1,099 government teachers at partner schools to be "teacher-mentors." These individuals act as role models to groups of 30 to 60 girls and work with parents and educators to meet the needs of girls, from sanitary pads to a bag of groceries to good advice. The group also has an association of 21,673 Camfed alumni, like Chikoti, who take a few girls under their wing too.
Two days after Chikoti received the phone call from the 15-year-old girl, she went to the girl's house. Chikoti wanted to change the student's mind. Was there some other way the girl could contribute to her family? Could she clean houses or find some other way to earn money?
Chikoti knew that if the girl were to marry, she'd likely get pregnant, have kids. Returning to school would just be too difficult.
Chikoti told the girl her own story. Like the 15-year-old, she too came from a big family and lived in poverty. And she contemplated early marriage too. But with Camfed's help, she stayed in school. At the time, students at secondary school had to pay school fees, which her family couldn't afford. So Camfed stepped in.
As a result, Chikoti became the first girl to graduate from her high school — then one of the first girls in her community to graduate from college. Now she's earning enough money to take care of herself, her family — and her parents.
The 15-year-old listened to Chikoti's story. She found work washing clothes for a little money or some flour. And she told Chikoti: "Yeah, I think I've reversed my decision. I will not get married. You will be my mentor."


npr--2020-07-27--After Delays, Republicans Rolled Out A New Pandemic Relief Bill. Democrats Balked

After Delays , Republicans Rolled Out A New Pandemic Relief Bill .
Democrats Balked After days of delays , congressional Republicans rolled out their proposal for a fifth wave of pandemic relief aid on Monday , setting the stage for a showdown with Democrats , who say the two sides remain far apart .
The plan , which was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , focuses on new funding for schools and a new round of payments to Americans and allows for some additional wage replacement for unemployed workers .
It also includes a marquee issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new legal protections for businesses against pandemic-related lawsuits .
`` We have produced a tailored and targeted draft that will cut right to the heart of three distinct crises facing our country : getting kids back in school , getting workers back to work and winning the health care fight against the virus , '' McConnell said from the Senate floor .
McConnell said the measure would be called the HEALS Act , or the Health , Economic Assistance , Liability Protection and Schools Act .
Key committee chairs drafted the various components @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday in separate speeches on the Senate floor .
McConnell said the bill would include another round of direct payments to Americans in the same amount that was in the CARES Act that Congress passed in March — $ 1,200 for individuals up to an income cap , with more for families with children .
McConnell also said there would be a supplement to unemployment benefits .
However , he made clear that he does not support extending the current $ 600 per week now in effect , saying : `` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not slow down reopening . ''
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley released details showing that the supplemental payment would fall to $ 200 per week through September .
Then starting in October , it would be replaced with an amount that would replace 70 % of lost wages through a formula created by states , capping the extra payments at $ 500 weekly .
Those states unable to implement a new system could apply for a waiver and continue a fixed amount for up to two months .
Republicans and Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should replace someone 's lost wages — at , below or more than what a worker was being paid before the economic disruption wrought by the pandemic .
In addition , McConnell indicated there would be money for schools , coronavirus testing and additional loans to small businesses , as well as legal protections for health care workers and businesses .
He said the bill would also include a plan to manufacture personal protective equipment in the U.S. to avoid the need to acquire a stockpile from China .
McConnell did n't immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it has been estimated it will cost around $ 1 trillion .
The move sets in motion difficult negotiations for Republicans and Democrats , with the parties diverging dramatically on this new effort in coronavirus relief .
This year , Congress approved four rounds of relief aid in a matter of weeks , with talks between White House officials and Democrats cementing deals totaling about $ 3 trillion in aid .
Now , Democrats say Republicans should instead start with their proposal , known as the HEROES Act , approved by House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , responded to McConnell with a speech of his own that faulted Republicans ' inability to settle their own positions , which he said not only wasted time but resulted in a proposal that does n't provide enough help .
He called it `` weak tea '' and `` too little , too late . ''
Schumer mocked what he called Republicans ' fears about `` big-money donors '' who object to helping workers as opposed to favored big industries .
Sen. Ron Wyden , D-Ore. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a punch in the gut and a slap in the face '' to jobless Americans .
The bill also includes nearly $ 1.8 billion to design and build a new Washington , D.C. , headquarters for the FBI — a project that has been debated for years and something President Trump said last week was needed because the existing building , located across the street from one of his family 's hotels , is in disrepair .
Initially , McConnell reacted with surprise when asked at a Monday evening press conference about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't in there .
Later , McConnell said the Trump administration was pushing for it .
`` Obviously we had to have an agreement with the administration in order to get started , and they 'll have to answer the question of why they insisted on that provision , '' McConnell said .
`` You 'll have to ask them . ''
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in a statement that `` as President Trump has said , the FBI desperately needs a new building and this measure provides critical funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building responsibly near the Department of Justice . ''
Sen. Lindsey Graham , chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , said he was against the move .
`` I guess you got to build a building , this is the last thing to leave the station , '' Graham told pool reporters , referring to the legislation being potentially the final bill to get approved before an August recess .
`` But I 'm not so sure it 's COVID related .
It does n't have to be technically COVID related , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing it . ''
Democratic leaders said additional details on the FBI provision were hard to come by after meeting with White House officials on Capitol Hill late Monday .
`` They acknowledged it when we asked them , '' Schumer said .
Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met in her office with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows .
Pelosi had invited Mnuchin and Meadows to her office following the GOP bill roll out .
After their meeting , Schumer and Pelosi said the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was against a separate bill only extending some of the extra unemployment benefits .
`` No .
Forget it .
Forget it .
Forget it , '' she told pool reporters , noting that just the $ 600 enhancement expires Friday not overall unemployment benefits .
Meadows remained optimistic after he and Mnuchin left the Monday evening meeting .
`` It was a good meeting .
We 'll be back tomorrow , '' Meadows told a pool reporter .
Congress is slated to begin its recess Aug. 7 , leaving negotiators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations and potentially send a bill to Trump 's desk .

After Delays, Republicans Rolled Out A New Pandemic Relief Bill. Democrats Balked
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Updated at 9:10 p.m. ET
After days of delays, congressional Republicans rolled out their proposal for a fifth wave of pandemic relief aid on Monday, setting the stage for a showdown with Democrats, who say the two sides remain far apart.
The plan, which was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., focuses on new funding for schools and a new round of payments to Americans and allows for some additional wage replacement for unemployed workers.
It also includes a marquee issue for Republicans in this relief bill: new legal protections for businesses against pandemic-related lawsuits.
"We have produced a tailored and targeted draft that will cut right to the heart of three distinct crises facing our country: getting kids back in school, getting workers back to work and winning the health care fight against the virus," McConnell said from the Senate floor.
McConnell said the measure would be called the HEALS Act, or the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools Act. Key committee chairs drafted the various components of the bill and introduced them later Monday in separate speeches on the Senate floor.
McConnell said the bill would include another round of direct payments to Americans in the same amount that was in the CARES Act that Congress passed in March — $1,200 for individuals up to an income cap, with more for families with children.
McConnell also said there would be a supplement to unemployment benefits. However, he made clear that he does not support extending the current $600 per week now in effect, saying: "We have to do it in a way that does not slow down reopening."
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley released details showing that the supplemental payment would fall to $200 per week through September.
Then starting in October, it would be replaced with an amount that would replace 70% of lost wages through a formula created by states, capping the extra payments at $500 weekly. Those states unable to implement a new system could apply for a waiver and continue a fixed amount for up to two months.
Republicans and Democrats have feuded over how much unemployment support should replace someone's lost wages — at, below or more than what a worker was being paid before the economic disruption wrought by the pandemic.
In addition, McConnell indicated there would be money for schools, coronavirus testing and additional loans to small businesses, as well as legal protections for health care workers and businesses. He said the bill would also include a plan to manufacture personal protective equipment in the U.S. to avoid the need to acquire a stockpile from China.
McConnell didn't immediately unveil the cost of the bill, but it has been estimated it will cost around $1 trillion.
Tough negotiations expected
Enlarge this image toggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
The move sets in motion difficult negotiations for Republicans and Democrats, with the parties diverging dramatically on this new effort in coronavirus relief.
This year, Congress approved four rounds of relief aid in a matter of weeks, with talks between White House officials and Democrats cementing deals totaling about $3 trillion in aid.
Now, Democrats say Republicans should instead start with their proposal, known as the HEROES Act, approved by House Democrats more than two months ago.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded to McConnell with a speech of his own that faulted Republicans' inability to settle their own positions, which he said not only wasted time but resulted in a proposal that doesn't provide enough help. He called it "weak tea" and "too little, too late."
Schumer mocked what he called Republicans' fears about "big-money donors" who object to helping workers as opposed to favored big industries.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., later called the unemployment assistance proposal "a punch in the gut and a slap in the face" to jobless Americans.
Surprise funding for a new FBI headquarter building
The bill also includes nearly $1.8 billion to design and build a new Washington, D.C., headquarters for the FBI — a project that has been debated for years and something President Trump said last week was needed because the existing building, located across the street from one of his family's hotels, is in disrepair.
Initially, McConnell reacted with surprise when asked at a Monday evening press conference about the FBI building provision, saying it wasn't in there. Later, McConnell said the Trump administration was pushing for it.
"Obviously we had to have an agreement with the administration in order to get started, and they'll have to answer the question of why they insisted on that provision," McConnell said. "You'll have to ask them."
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in a statement that "as President Trump has said, the FBI desperately needs a new building and this measure provides critical funding for this project that would keep the building responsibly near the Department of Justice."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he was against the move.
"I guess you got to build a building, this is the last thing to leave the station," Graham told pool reporters, referring to the legislation being potentially the final bill to get approved before an August recess. "But I'm not so sure it's COVID related. It doesn't have to be technically COVID related, I just don't know why we're doing it."
Democratic leaders said additional details on the FBI provision were hard to come by after meeting with White House officials on Capitol Hill late Monday.
"They acknowledged it when we asked them," Schumer said.
Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met in her office with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Pelosi had invited Mnuchin and Meadows to her office following the GOP bill roll out.
After their meeting, Schumer and Pelosi said the two parties remain far apart, and Pelosi said she was against a separate bill only extending some of the extra unemployment benefits.
"No. Forget it. Forget it. Forget it," she told pool reporters, noting that just the $600 enhancement expires Friday not overall unemployment benefits.
Meadows remained optimistic after he and Mnuchin left the Monday evening meeting.
"It was a good meeting. We'll be back tomorrow," Meadows told a pool reporter.
Congress is slated to begin its recess Aug. 7, leaving negotiators a mere two weeks to wrap up negotiations and potentially send a bill to Trump's desk.
NPR's Tamara Keith contributed to this report.


npr--2020-07-27--Rare Blue Lobster Fished Out Of An Ohio Red Lobster

Rare Blue Lobster Fished Out Of An Ohio Red Lobster It could have ended up between fried shrimp and seared scallops , or squeezed between a cheesy biscuit and a mound of garlic linguine Alfredo .
But a rare lobster has a new home at the Akron Zoo after a being discovered at a Red Lobster last week .
On Tuesday , the staff at a Cuyahoga Falls , Ohio , location of the restaurant chain were unpacking an air-lifted delivery of live lobsters when Lora Jones noticed a strangely colored shape mixed in the mottled bunch .
`` At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' culinary manager Anthony Stein told NPR .
He was out of the restaurant when colleagues texted him a picture of the find .
`` It 's definitely something marvelous to look at . ''
What he was looking at was a blue American lobster , floating among the common red namesakes of the seafood empire .
Some researchers think only one in two million American lobsters are blue , the result of a genetic anomaly .
`` We kept [ it ] in the tank and just made sure that nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' server Angie Helbig told NPR .
As the cerulean crustacean crawled around with its humdrum tank-mates , restaurant management contacted their corporate office which in turn reached out to the Monterey Bay Aquarium 's Seafood Watch Program .
Both Red Lobster and the Akron Zoo partner with the program , which promotes sustainably sourced seafood .
By Friday , Seafood Watch had connected the two , and the Zoo 's aquarium staff were rallied .
`` They sprung into action , '' Akron Zoo Animal Care Manager Kathleen Balogh told NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suitable area and made a cage so the lobster would feel comfortable . ''
Balogh and a colleague loaded up a giant cooler with cold saltwater and made the 15-minute drive over to help relocate the Red Lobster 's blue lobster – named Clawde after the chain 's mascot .
`` There is a little bit of wear and tear from its journey , '' Balogh said , noting that the lobster is otherwise in good health and adjusting to its new surroundings .
She says zoo staff will keep a close eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lobster is female — goes through her next molting cycle where she will shed and renew her shell , what Balogh calls a particularly precarious time for crustaceans .
For the time being , the zoo 's indoors areas – including Clawde 's tank – are closed to the public as a pandemic-related precaution .
Balogh says she hopes that once the lobster has gotten comfortable in its cage , they 'll be able to find a way to put the unique specimen on public display .
Balogh notes there might only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of capturing a blue American lobster in the wild .
But Angie Helbig , who has worked at the Cuyahoga Falls Red Lobster for 28 years ( and had never before seen a blue lobster ) says there 's another reason Clawde was spared a butter-smothered end .
`` Normally I would have not known that it was something special , '' she said .
But then she and Lora Jones remembered the name of a prized service award for long-time employees the two of them had earned last year : the blue @ @ @

Rare Blue Lobster Fished Out Of An Ohio Red Lobster
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of the Akron Zoo Courtesy of the Akron Zoo
It could have ended up between fried shrimp and seared scallops, or squeezed between a cheesy biscuit and a mound of garlic linguine Alfredo. But a rare lobster has a new home at the Akron Zoo after being discovered at a Red Lobster last week.
On Tuesday, the staff at a Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, location of the restaurant chain were unpacking an air-lifted delivery of live lobsters when Lora Jones noticed a strangely colored shape mixed in the mottled bunch.
"At first it looked like it was fake," culinary manager Anthony Stein told NPR. He was out of the restaurant when colleagues texted him a picture of the find. "It's definitely something marvelous to look at."
What he was looking at was a blue American lobster, floating among the common red namesakes of the seafood empire. Some researchers think only one in two million American lobsters are blue, the result of a genetic anomaly.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Angie Helbig Courtesy of Angie Helbig
"We kept [it] in the tank and just made sure that nobody took him in the back for dinner," server Angie Helbig told NPR.
As the cerulean crustacean crawled around with its humdrum tank-mates, restaurant management contacted their corporate office which in turn reached out to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program. Both Red Lobster and the Akron Zoo partner with the program, which promotes sustainably sourced seafood. By Friday, Seafood Watch had connected the two, and the Zoo's aquarium staff were rallied.
"They sprung into action," Akron Zoo Animal Care Manager Kathleen Balogh told NPR. "[They] prepared a suitable area and made a cage so the lobster would feel comfortable."
Balogh and a colleague loaded up a giant cooler with cold saltwater and made the 15-minute drive over to help relocate the Red Lobster's blue lobster – named Clawde after the chain's mascot.
"There is a little bit of wear and tear from its journey," Balogh said, noting that the lobster is otherwise in good health and adjusting to its new surroundings. She says zoo staff will keep a close eye on their cobalt charge as she — the lobster is female — goes through her next molting cycle where she will shed and renew her shell, what Balogh calls a particularly precarious time for crustaceans.
For the time being, the zoo's indoors areas – including Clawde's tank – are closed to the public as a pandemic-related precaution. Balogh says she hopes that once the lobster has gotten comfortable in its cage, they'll be able to find a way to put the unique specimen on public display.
Balogh notes there might only be a one in 200 million chance of capturing a blue American lobster in the wild. But Angie Helbig, who has worked at the Cuyahoga Falls Red Lobster for 28 years (and had never before seen a blue lobster) says there's another reason Clawde was spared a butter-smothered end.
"Normally I would have not known that it was something special," she said. But then she and Lora Jones remembered the name of a prized service award for long-time employees the two of them had earned last year: the blue lobster award.


npr--2020-07-27--Mayors Demand Congress Block Trump From Deploying Federal Agents To Cities

A group of six U.S. mayors on Monday penned a letter to Congress asking that it pass legislation to block the Trump administration from deploying federal law enforcement to cities without their officials ' consent .
The mayors of Chicago , Seattle , Portland , Ore. , Albuquerque , N.M. , Washington , D.C. , and Kansas City , Mo.
, signed on to the letter that criticized the administration for sending `` unidentified federal agents to operate with impunity '' in cities where demonstrations against police brutality and racism continue .
`` Over the last several weeks , Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery and others by protesting the structural racism embedded in our country .
We are encouraged that so many of our residents are exercising their First Amendment rights to stand up against these injustices .
At the same time , we are outraged that the administration has responded to these First Amendment-protected gatherings by authorizing the deployment of riot-gear clad forces to Washington , D.C. , Portland , Seattle and other communities across the country without the consent of local authorities , '' the group wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal force on cities over the objections of local authorities should never happen . ''
President Trump in recent weeks has made extinguishing the anti-racism and police brutality protests a top priority as Americans ' views on his ability to manage ongoing social and public health issues slip , according to recent opinion polls .
Citing an interest in protecting public property , which in some instances has been damaged , including instances of protesters tearing down Confederate monuments , Trump has vowed to continue deploying federal law enforcement agents to cities where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics said this move is an example of federal overreach and that the agents only worsen the likelihood of violent interactions between police and protesters .
In Portland particularly , officers in military gear have grabbed protesters off the street and thrown them into unmarked vehicles to take them away for questioning .
Last week , Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler , who signed the Monday letter , called the federal agents ' presence an `` unconstitutional occupation . ''
Federal officers later tear gassed him and others in a crowd .

Mayors Demand Congress Block Trump From Deploying Federal Agents To Cities
Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images
A group of six U.S. mayors on Monday penned a letter to Congress asking that it pass legislation to block the Trump administration from deploying federal law enforcement to cities without their officials' consent.
The mayors of Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Albuquerque, N.M., Washington, D.C., and Kansas City, Mo., signed on to the letter that criticized the administration for sending "unidentified federal agents to operate with impunity" in cities where demonstrations against police brutality and racism continue.
"Over the last several weeks, Americans have responded to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others by protesting the structural racism embedded in our country. We are encouraged that so many of our residents are exercising their First Amendment rights to stand up against these injustices. At the same time, we are outraged that the administration has responded to these First Amendment-protected gatherings by authorizing the deployment of riot-gear clad forces to Washington, D.C., Portland, Seattle and other communities across the country without the consent of local authorities," the group wrote.
"This administration's egregious use of federal force on cities over the objections of local authorities should never happen."
President Trump in recent weeks has made extinguishing the anti-racism and police brutality protests a top priority as Americans' views on his ability to manage ongoing social and public health issues slip, according to recent opinion polls.
Citing an interest in protecting public property, which in some instances has been damaged, including instances of protesters tearing down Confederate monuments, Trump has vowed to continue deploying federal law enforcement agents to cities where he says progressive leadership has failed.
Critics said this move is an example of federal overreach and that the agents only worsen the likelihood of violent interactions between police and protesters.
In Portland particularly, officers in military gear have grabbed protesters off the street and thrown them into unmarked vehicles to take them away for questioning.
Last week, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who signed the Monday letter, called the federal agents' presence an "unconstitutional occupation." Federal officers later tear gassed him and others in a crowd.