npr--2020-06-19--Val Demings Is A Possible VP Pick For Biden, But Her Police Career Gives Some Pause

Val Demings Is A Possible VP Pick For Biden , But Her Police Career Gives Some Pause First in a series of reports looking at Joe Biden 's potential running mates She had a prominent role in President Trump 's Senate impeachment trial .
Before coming to Congress in 2017 , she was the first woman to lead Orlando 's police force .
And now , with the widespread demonstrations over the deaths of George Floyd and other African Americans at the hands of officers , Demings , a black woman , has been outspoken on the need for police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I am very proud of the persons who are demonstrating in the street , '' she says .
`` They should be demonstrating police misconduct . ''
Demings 's credentials have landed her on the list of possible vice presidential picks for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
But in this moment , her law enforcement background also has some questioning her place among the shortlist .
Demings grew up in Jacksonville , one of seven kids .
Her mother was a maid and her father worked as a janitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where schools and lunch counters were segregated .
Demings says she learned about racism early .
`` I was called the n-word when I was 4 years old .
And I can recall not even really understanding what it meant , '' she says .
`` When everybody started laughing and pointing at me , I knew whatever it was , it was not good . ''
Demings was the first person in her family to graduate from college .
She began her career as a social worker , but soon moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Orlando Police Department and was there for 27 years , becoming chief in 2007 .
Now as a congresswoman , Demings is one of the dozens of cosponsors of a police reform bill proposed by House Democrats that would ban the use of chokeholds and many no-knock warrants .
It also would limit police immunity from prosecution and set up a national database of police misconduct .
Demings says her career has prepared her for this moment .
`` I 've been on both sides of this issue , as a social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 've enforced the laws and now I write them , '' she says .
`` I think that 's pretty good experience to bring to Congress . ''
As to her possible selection as Biden 's running mate , Demings says : `` I am willing to serve in any way that I need to . ''
But amid the nationwide protests over police violence , some activists say an ex-police chief sends the wrong message .
Jonathan Alingu , co-director of Central Florida Jobs with Justice , says , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right moment for Congresswoman Demings . ''
While he has nothing personally against Demings as a possible VP pick , Alingu says her connection with the police department is a problem .
`` There are many people that you can talk to within the city that have their qualms with the police department that have never been solved , '' he says .
`` She 's part of that legacy .
That 's something she has to answer for . ''
Demings served as Orlando 's police chief for about three and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orlando Sentinel found that over a four-year period that included some of Demings 's tenure , the city 's police officers used force in arrests at double the rate of some other agencies , including Tampa 's .
The investigation found that more than half of the suspects who were subjected to force were black .
`` The police department has been like every other police department we 're talking about in the United States of America — over-policing the African American community , '' says Jerry Girley , a civil rights attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest embarrassments as police chief came when someone stole her 9mm handgun from her unlocked car .
It was never recovered .
Also during her tenure , the department was sued in 2011 after an officer broke the neck of an 84-year-old man who was thrown to the ground .
Demings determined the takedown was within department guidelines , but a jury awarded him $ 880,000 in damages .
Demings later ordered a review of the use-of-force policy , and the attorney who represented the 84-year-old victim praised Demings .
Demings also worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process for hiring , training and monitoring officers in the field .
`` I instituted what we called an early warning system , '' she says , `` which gave us a better way of tracking officers who were possibly exhibiting behavior that caused us concern .
We would pull them out of assignments , send them to counseling if they needed it , reassign them , give them additional training . ''
Girley says although he 's been critical of the Orlando Police Department , one thing he and others in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was always open and willing to listen .
`` You 're never going to get everything you want , everything you would like , '' he says .
`` But they did have the sense that she was trying to be fair . ''
Demings believes the activists and demonstrators taking to the streets now will play a key role in the fall election .
`` If there 's any chance to really have meaningful police reform , '' she says , `` it all culminates at the ballot box . ''

Val Demings Is A Possible VP Pick For Biden, But Her Police Career Gives Some Pause
Enlarge this image toggle caption Greg Nash/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Greg Nash/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
First in a series of reports looking at Joe Biden's potential running mates
Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., has a rising national profile.
She had a prominent role in President Trump's Senate impeachment trial. Before coming to Congress in 2017, she was the first woman to lead Orlando's police force. And now, with the widespread demonstrations over the deaths of George Floyd and other African Americans at the hands of officers, Demings, a black woman, has been outspoken on the need for police reform and her support of the protesters.
"I am very proud of the persons who are demonstrating in the street," she says. "They should be demonstrating police misconduct."
Demings' credentials have landed her on the list of possible vice presidential picks for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. But in this moment, her law enforcement background also has some questioning her place among the shortlist.
Her backstory
Demings grew up in Jacksonville, one of seven kids. Her mother was a maid and her father worked as a janitor.
She was raised in a city where schools and lunch counters were segregated. Demings says she learned about racism early.
"I was called the N-word when I was 4 years old. And I can recall not even really understanding what it meant," she says. "When everybody started laughing and pointing at me, I knew whatever it was, it was not good."
Demings was the first person in her family to graduate from college. She began her career as a social worker but soon moved to law enforcement. She was hired by the Orlando Police Department and was there for 27 years, becoming chief in 2007.
Now as a congresswoman, Demings is one of the dozens of co-sponsors of a police reform bill proposed by House Democrats that would ban the use of chokeholds and many no-knock warrants. It also would limit police immunity from prosecution and set up a national database of police misconduct.
Demings says her career has prepared her for this moment.
"I've been on both sides of this issue, as a social worker and as a law enforcement officer. I've enforced the laws and now I write them," she says. "I think that's pretty good experience to bring to Congress."
As to her possible selection as Biden's running mate, Demings says: "I am willing to serve in any way that I need to."
"She's part of that legacy"
But amid the nationwide protests over police violence, some activists say an ex-police chief sends the wrong message. Jonathan Alingu, co-director of Central Florida Jobs with Justice, says, "I don't think it's the right moment for Congresswoman Demings."
While he has nothing personal against Demings as a possible VP pick, Alingu says her connection with the police department is a problem.
"There are many people that you can talk to within the city that have their qualms with the police department that have never been solved," he says. "She's part of that legacy. That's something she has to answer for."
Demings served as Orlando's police chief for about 3 1/2 years. An investigation by the Orlando Sentinel found that over a four-year period that included some of Demings' tenure, the city's police officers used force in arrests at double the rate of some other agencies, including Tampa's. The investigation found that more than half of the suspects who were subjected to force were black.
"The police department has been like every other police department we're talking about in the United States of America — over-policing the African American community," says Jerry Girley, a civil rights attorney in Orlando.
One of Demings' biggest embarrassments as police chief came when someone stole her 9 mm handgun from her unlocked car. It was never recovered.
Also during her tenure, the department was sued in 2011 after an officer broke the neck of an 84-year-old man who was thrown to the ground. Demings determined the takedown was within department guidelines, but a jury awarded him $880,000 in damages. Demings later ordered a review of the use-of-force policy, and the attorney who represented the 84-year-old victim praised Demings.
Demings also worked as chief to improve the department's process for hiring, training and monitoring officers in the field.
"I instituted what we called an early warning system," she says, "which gave us a better way of tracking officers who were possibly exhibiting behavior that caused us concern. We would pull them out of assignments, send them to counseling if they needed it, reassign them, give them additional training."
Girley says that although he's been critical of the Orlando Police Department, one thing he and others in the black community appreciated about Demings is that she was always open and willing to listen. "You're never going to get everything you want, everything you would like," he says. "But they did have the sense that she was trying to be fair."
Demings believes the activists and demonstrators taking to the streets now will play a key role in the fall election. "If there's any chance to really have meaningful police reform," she says, "it all culminates at the ballot box."


npr--2020-06-19--Concerns Mount Over Possible Trump Picks For Influential Crime Panel

Concerns Mount Over Possible Trump Picks For Influential Crime Panel The White House is preparing to fill several vacancies on the influential commission that makes policy used to punish tens of thousands of criminals every year , according to three sources familiar with the process .
But critics worry that the likely Trump nominees could adopt more punitive approaches at a time when a diverse group of protesters is marching for a different approach to policing and justice .
The sources said the White House is consulting aides on Capitol Hill and in the criminal justice community about four Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : three sitting federal judges and a fellow at the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation .
An earlier Trump nominee , William Otis , is no longer under consideration , two sources said .
Otis ' writings about race and crime had drawn criticism from civil rights groups and prisoner advocates when his name first emerged for the position two years ago .
Civil rights advocates who work on justice issues said the Trump candidates still under discussion are worrisome .
`` The administration has put forth a slate that is all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in diverse experiences or backgrounds , '' said Sakira Cook , director of the justice reform program at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights .
`` It is critically important that the Sentencing Commission reflects the diversity of background , experience , and expertise that would make the work of the Commission most effective , '' Cook added .
`` It is also important to note that at least two of the candidates have records or expressed views on sentencing issues that raise serious concerns . ''
The work of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge prepares to punish someone convicted of a crime .
It also advises Congress and the executive branch on crime policy .
In 2014 , the commission voted unanimously to reduce prison terms for inmates already behind bars for drug crimes by an average of two years , a change that applied to tens of thousands of people .
In the last seven years , the overall federal prison population is down by more than 50,000 , said Kevin Ring , the president of FAMM , which advocates for inmates and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its composition closely .
`` We still have more work to do and we do n't want to go backwards , '' Ring said .
Here is a rundown of likely nominees in the coming months : Hudson is a former director of the U.S .
Marshals Service nicknamed `` Hang Em High Henry '' for his work as a local prosecutor .
`` I live to put people in jail , '' he once told The Washington Post during his stint in Arlington County , Va. Defense lawyers said Hudson has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for handing out long prison sentences from the federal bench .
Chief Judge K. Michael Moore of the Southern District of Florida From his perch in Miami , Moore has presided over several high-profile drug cases .
Earlier in his career , Moore , too , led the U.S .
Marshals under then-President George H.W .
Bush .
Boom was nominated to the judgeship by President Trump three years ago .
She won Senate confirmation for that post with only one negative vote .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is one of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation in Washington The Meese Center is named after Reagan-era Attorney General Edwin Meese .
Malcolm helped put together an early list for candidate Trump in the event of a Supreme Court vacancy .
He 's also defended the current attorney general , William Barr , for his handling of the special counsel report on Russian election interference and possible obstruction of justice by the president .
Malcolm , a former federal prosecutor , has reached out to allies across the political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people serve prison time .
`` In my opinion , under our current system , too many relatively low-level drug offenders are locked up for five , 10 , and 20 years when lesser sentences would , in all likelihood , more than satisfy the legitimate ... goals of general deterrence , specific deterrence , and retribution , '' he told Congress five years ago .
Restrepo , who worked as a public defender before being selected for the federal judiciary by then-President Barack Obama , is under discussions for an open Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit , had been advanced for the same Sentencing Commission slot in 2018 , but the Senate did n't hold a hearing on him or the other nominees at the time .

Concerns Mount Over Possible Trump Picks For Influential Crime Panel
Enlarge this image toggle caption Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images
The White House is preparing to fill several vacancies on the influential commission that makes policy used to punish tens of thousands of criminals every year, according to three sources familiar with the process.
But critics worry that the likely Trump nominees could adopt more punitive approaches at a time when a diverse group of protesters is marching for a different approach to policing and justice.
The sources said the White House is consulting aides on Capitol Hill and in the criminal justice community about four Republican candidates for the U.S. Sentencing Commission: three sitting federal judges and a fellow at the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.
An earlier Trump nominee, William Otis, is no longer under consideration, two sources said. Otis' writings about race and crime had drawn criticism from civil rights groups and prisoner advocates when his name first emerged for the position two years ago.
Civil rights advocates who work on justice issues said the Trump candidates still under discussion are worrisome.
"The administration has put forth a slate that is all white, mostly male, and lacking in diverse experiences or backgrounds," said Sakira Cook, director of the justice reform program at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
"It is critically important that the Sentencing Commission reflects the diversity of background, experience, and expertise that would make the work of the Commission most effective," Cook added. "It is also important to note that at least two of the candidates have records or expressed views on sentencing issues that raise serious concerns."
The work of the Sentencing Commission is consulted every time a federal judge prepares to punish someone convicted of a crime. It also advises Congress and the executive branch on crime policy. In 2014, the commission voted unanimously to reduce prison terms for inmates already behind bars for drug crimes by an average of two years, a change that applied to tens of thousands of people.
In the last seven years, the overall federal prison population is down by more than 50,000, said Kevin Ring, the president of FAMM, which advocates for inmates and their families. He is watching the commission and its composition closely. "We still have more work to do and we don't want to go backwards," Ring said.
Here is a rundown of likely nominees in the coming months:
Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson
Hudson is a former director of the U.S. Marshals Service nicknamed "Hang Em High Henry" for his work as a local prosecutor.
"I live to put people in jail," he once told The Washington Post during his stint in Arlington County, Va. Defense lawyers said Hudson has developed a well-deserved reputation in recent years for handing out long prison sentences from the federal bench.
Chief Judge K. Michael Moore of the Southern District of Florida
From his perch in Miami, Moore has presided over several high-profile drug cases. Earlier in his career, Moore, too, led the U.S. Marshals under then-President George H.W. Bush.
Kentucky federal judge Claria Horn Boom
Boom was nominated to the judgeship by President Trump three years ago. She won Senate confirmation for that post with only one negative vote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is one of her supporters.
John Malcolm, director of the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation in Washington
The Meese Center is named after Reagan-era Attorney General Edwin Meese. Malcolm helped put together an early list for candidate Trump in the event of a Supreme Court vacancy.
He's also defended the current attorney general, William Barr, for his handling of the special counsel report on Russian election interference and possible obstruction of justice by the president.
Malcolm, a former federal prosecutor, has reached out to allies across the political aisle to try to overhaul how many people serve prison time.
"In my opinion, under our current system, too many relatively low-level drug offenders are locked up for five, 10, and 20 years when lesser sentences would, in all likelihood, more than satisfy the legitimate ... goals of general deterrence, specific deterrence, and retribution," he told Congress five years ago.
Federal Appeals Court Judge L. Felipe Restrepo
Restrepo, who worked as a public defender before being selected for the federal judiciary by then-President Barack Obama, is under discussions for an open Democratic slot on the commission.
Restrepo, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, had been advanced for the same Sentencing Commission slot in 2018, but the Senate didn't hold a hearing on him or the other nominees at the time.


npr--2020-06-19--Calls To Make Juneteenth A Federal Holiday Gain Momentum

Corporate executives and sports officials are joining a growing number of elected officials who want to recognize Juneteenth , a day that commemorates the end of slavery , as an official U.S. holiday .
The movement is being fueled by the Black Lives Matter protests demanding reforms following the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25 .
Juneteenth , which is on June 19 , has long been an important holiday in the African American community , a time for celebration rather than mourning and remembrance .
This week , NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This year , as we work together as a family and in our communities to combat the racial injustices that remain deeply rooted into the fabric of our society , the NFL will observe Juneteenth on Friday as a recognized holiday and our league offices will be closed , '' he wrote in an email to employees .
JCPenney CEO Jill Soltau sent a memo to employees telling them to take the day off `` to honor the historic pain caused by — and lives lost to — racial inequity and celebrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it presents an opportunity for them `` to learn , connect with each other , and reflect on how we can move forward and achieve permanent and lasting change . ''
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced plans to make Juneteenth an annual holiday at both Twitter and payments start-up Square , and Newsweek reported that Nike CEO John Donahoe wrote in an internal memo that employees would be given a paid holiday on Juneteenth .
This year marks the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth , also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union soldiers arrived in Galveston , Texas , and brought news that slavery had been abolished more than two years earlier .
`` African Americans were on the front lines of every war , from the Spanish-American War , throughout the Revolutionary War , the Civil War , both world wars , Vietnam , '' says Gwen Ragsdale , executive director of the Lest We Forget Slavery Museum in Philadelphia .
`` We have paid our dues with our blood and our toil , so America owes African Americans much more than they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says that recognizing and celebrating African American history is well overdue and that she 's hopeful that today 's movement will bring about change .
What will change look like for her ?
`` I can sum it up in one word : Equality .
Equality .
Equality , '' she says .
`` Give us the same opportunities that you would give anybody else . ''
Ragsdale says most Americans are unfamiliar with the history of Juneteenth , including President Trump , who recently rescheduled a campaign rally in Tulsa , Okla. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Why would Trump know about Juneteenth ?
Many whites do n't know , '' she says , because it was n't taught in schools .
But for African Americans , Juneteenth is a day of celebration that includes family gatherings , cookouts , storytelling about their ancestors , music and dance , says Ragsdale .
`` Juneteenth is much more our July 4 , much more akin to who we are as a culture , than July 4 is , '' she says .
The coronavirus pandemic forced Ragsdale to close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to reopen this weekend and says that interest has grown so much that she has a waiting list .
Currently 46 states and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday or observance .
Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday , in 1980 .
This week , Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam announced that he would make Juneteenth a paid state holiday , and the city council in Portland , Ore. , is making June 19 a paid holiday for city employees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed an executive order to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for all state employees .
Congress has n't approved a national holiday since 1983 , when it created one to honor Martin Luther King Jr. , but some lawmakers are trying to change that .
In the past , both the House and the Senate have passed resolutions to recognize the importance of Juneteenth as part of the nation 's history .
According to The Huffington Post , this year Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee , D-Texas , plans to introduce legislation to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cornyn , R-Texas , announced Thursday that he too will introduce a bipartisan bill to make June 19 a federal holiday .
`` I think Rep. Jackson Lee is right on target , '' says Molefi Kete Asante , who chairs the Department of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University .
`` It would be a national celebration that all Americans could participate in , because our memories reinforce our values of who we are , '' Asante says .
Asante was born in Georgia and says that it was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursue studies at age 18 that he learned about Juneteenth .
He says it 's a huge day and symbolizes `` collective freedom '' for blacks in America .
`` It 's quite clear to me that the nation has rarely felt that black lives matter [ and ] whatever black people did or whatever happened to black people did n't really matter '' to white America , he says .
`` I think it is relevant today .
It is .
It is part of the conversation about Black Lives Matter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if black lives mattered to the American nation , then those achievements would be part of the American story . ''
Asante and others say they welcome the corporate world taking leadership today by making June 19 a paid holiday , but it 's really Congress that needs to act .
Juneteenth is different from Martin Luther King Jr. Day , which focuses on service .
`` [ Juneteenth ] is a holiday jubilee , and there is nothing wrong with after so many years , almost a 150-something years , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can now celebrate with the nation , our own jubilee . '
That 's important , '' Asante says .

Calls To Make Juneteenth A Federal Holiday Gain Momentum
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dylan Buell/Getty Images for VIBE Dylan Buell/Getty Images for VIBE
Corporate executives and sports officials are joining a growing number of elected officials who want to recognize Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery, as an official U.S. holiday. The movement is being fueled by the Black Lives Matter protests demanding reforms following the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25.
Juneteenth, which is on June 19, has long been an important holiday in the African American community, a time for celebration rather than mourning and remembrance.
This week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decided to close league offices on June 19.
National One Woman's Quest To Make Juneteenth A National Holiday One Woman's Quest To Make Juneteenth A National Holiday Listen · 2:02 2:02
"This year, as we work together as a family and in our communities to combat the racial injustices that remain deeply rooted into the fabric of our society, the NFL will observe Juneteenth on Friday as a recognized holiday and our league offices will be closed," he wrote in an email to employees.
JCPenney CEO Jill Soltau sent a memo to employees telling them to take the day off "to honor the historic pain caused by — and lives lost to — racial inequity and celebrate racial diversity." She added that it presents an opportunity for them "to learn, connect with each other, and reflect on how we can move forward and achieve permanent and lasting change."
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced plans to make Juneteenth an annual holiday at both Twitter and payments start-up Square, and Newsweek reported that Nike CEO John Donahoe wrote in an internal memo that employees would be given a paid holiday on Juneteenth.
This year marks the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and brought news that slavery had been abolished more than two years earlier.
"African Americans were on the front lines of every war, from the Spanish-American War, throughout the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, both world wars, Vietnam," says Gwen Ragsdale, executive director of the Lest We Forget Slavery Museum in Philadelphia. "We have paid our dues with our blood and our toil, so America owes African Americans much more than they are willing to acknowledge."
Ragsdale says that recognizing and celebrating African American history is well overdue and that she's hopeful that today's movement will bring about change. What will change look like for her?
National The Truth About Juneteenth The Truth About Juneteenth Listen
"I can sum it up in one word: Equality. Equality. Equality," she says. "Give us the same opportunities that you would give anybody else."
Ragsdale says most Americans are unfamiliar with the history of Juneteenth, including President Trump, who recently rescheduled a campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla., because it was on June 19.
"Why would Trump know about Juneteenth? Many whites don't know," she says, because it wasn't taught in schools.
But for African Americans, Juneteenth is a day of celebration that includes family gatherings, cookouts, storytelling about their ancestors, music and dance, says Ragsdale.
"Juneteenth is much more our July 4, much more akin to who we are as a culture, than July 4 is," she says.
The coronavirus pandemic forced Ragsdale to close the slavery museum, but she's ready to reopen this weekend and says that interest has grown so much that she has a waiting list.
Currently 47 states and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday or observance. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday, in 1980. This week, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced that he would make Juneteenth a paid state holiday, and the city council in Portland, Ore., is making June 19 a paid holiday for city employees. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also signed an executive order to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for all state employees.
Congress hasn't approved a national holiday since 1983, when it created one to honor Martin Luther King Jr., but some lawmakers are trying to change that. In the past, both the House and the Senate have passed resolutions to recognize the importance of Juneteenth as part of the nation's history. According to The Huffington Post, this year Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, plans to introduce legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced Thursday that he too will introduce a bipartisan bill to make June 19 a federal holiday.
"I think Rep. Jackson Lee is right on target," says Molefi Kete Asante, who chairs the Department of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University. "It would be a national celebration that all Americans could participate in, because our memories reinforce our values of who we are," Asante says.
Asante was born in Georgia and says that it wasn't until he moved to East Texas to pursue studies at age 18 that he learned about Juneteenth. He says it's a huge day and symbolizes "collective freedom" for blacks in America.
"It's quite clear to me that the nation has rarely felt that black lives matter [and] whatever black people did or whatever happened to black people didn't really matter" to white America, he says.
"I think it is relevant today. It is. It is part of the conversation about Black Lives Matter," Asante says. "I mean, if black lives mattered to the American nation, then those achievements would be part of the American story."
Asante and others say they welcome the corporate world taking leadership today by making June 19 a paid holiday, but it's really Congress that needs to act. Juneteenth is different from Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which focuses on service.
"[Juneteenth] is a holiday jubilee, and there is nothing wrong with after so many years, almost a 150-something years, for African Americans to say, 'OK, we can now celebrate with the nation, our own jubilee.' That's important," Asante says.


npr--2020-06-19--Education Dept. Is Making It Harder For Colleges To Boost Student Aid During Crisis

Education Dept .
Is Making It Harder For Colleges To Boost Student Aid During Crisis The U.S. Department of Education is making it harder for colleges to reconsider — and potentially increase — financial aid for students who have lost jobs or family income in the current economic crisis .
The department has shelved guidance that once encouraged colleges to do more to help students affected by a downturn .
The guidance , a pair of letters published by the Obama administration in April and May of 2009 , was written in response to the Great Recession .
It allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for students who had lost jobs , and encouraged unemployed Americans to consider enrolling in postsecondary education and applying for aid .
Perhaps most importantly , though , the 2009 guidance reassured schools that they would not be punished for helping students .
Prior to that guidance , reconsidering financial aid packages for too many students could have triggered an investigation from the U.S. Department of Education , to make sure schools were n't misusing funds .
These reviews were labor-intensive and could lead to costly fines .
As a result , schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 guidance essentially told colleges : Do n't worry .
These are hard times .
Help students .
As the Great Recession wound down , though , the guidance and its importance to campus aid offices faded — until March , when the U.S. economy again began reeling .
Almost immediately , college financial aid administrators began asking if the 2009 guidance was still active , says Justin Draeger , president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators .
The Department of Education quietly addressed that question in late May , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to multiple sources familiar with the call , a top department official indicated that , in spite of the downturn , this guidance is no longer active .
The official described the unemployment challenges many students now face as `` temporary , '' unlike the Great Recession , and disagreed with the previous policy of allowing schools to fast-track help for students receiving unemployment benefits .
The department has said little publicly about this apparent shift in policy .
The guidance is currently labeled `` Maintained for Historical Purposes Only , '' though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was added .
The department also amended its Federal Student Aid Handbook on June 12 , calling the guidance `` outdated . ''
When asked to explain the agency 's position , a department spokesperson told NPR that it is `` updating the issues presented by the guidance , given the pandemic and resulting economic downturn , '' leaving open the possibility that the guidance itself could be restored or updated .
Abigail Seldin says she was frustrated when she first heard of the guidance change .
`` Why make this process harder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Seldin helped create SwiftStudent , a free digital tool for college students seeking financial aid appeals .
She says , `` Punitive , shortsighted decisions like these hurt both students and schools . ''
`` This has real impact for aid offices on campuses across the country trying to help students work through a very complicated process and get their financial aid , '' Draeger says .
His organization has sent a warning to campus aid administrators : `` This is a change in ED guidance , '' NASFAA recently told its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer apply . ''
`` I think financial aid offices are out there doing their best , '' says Rachelle Feldman , associate provost of scholarships and student aid at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .
`` But the fear of audit , the change in guidance — it 's all very real and paralyzing . ''
Most students planning to attend college in the fall submitted financial information from 2018 — information that may now be woefully outdated for many families , given the current crisis .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes in .
If a student is independent and receiving unemployment benefits — or dependent on a parent who has lost income or a job in the recession — they can ask their college financial aid officer to exercise professional judgment and reconsider their financial aid package .
That 's what Divine Girouard did .
Girouard , 25 , is a mother of two in Gardner , Mass.
, who just finished her first year of community college .
She hopes to someday work in counseling .
When the pandemic hit , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before- and after-care programs for her local public school district .
`` This job was kind of the main breadwinner for my family , '' Girouard says .
She applied for unemployment and then updated her financial aid application , hoping her school would exercise professional judgment and provide her more money .
If not , she says , she may not be able to afford books next semester and may have to rethink her course load .
`` I just did n't want to lose my faith , '' Girouard says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Girouard is now waiting to hear if her job loss will lead to an adjustment in her financial aid .
Aid administrators say they 're already hearing from many students and families who say their financial circumstances have changed dramatically .
`` We have a lot of small-business owners who have n't been able to open their doors yet , '' says UNC 's Feldman .
`` We have people who — one parent or both parents have been laid off from their jobs .
So among our most vulnerable students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reconsideration . ''
In fact , the guidance , now more than a decade old , feels eerily relevant today : UNC 's Feldman says the bulk of requests from students and families for professional judgment wo n't come until July or August , but that `` we already have more than 300 applications for the coming fall , which is more than we 've seen this early in years and years . ''
In a recent NASFAA survey of its members , 90 % of the aid administrators said they anticipate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 and October 1 , 2020 , as compared to last year .
Even without the guidance , colleges can still reconsider students ' financial aid , but Feldman worries many wo n't .
`` Schools should n't be shy about helping people who need the help and doing appropriate adjustments to their [ aid ] packages , '' Feldman says .
`` But some schools , particularly schools where they serve a lot of vulnerable students and maybe are less well-staffed and more nervous about some kind of review or fine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the current environment . ''

Education Dept. Is Making It Harder For Colleges To Boost Student Aid During Crisis
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
The U.S. Department of Education is making it harder for colleges to reconsider — and potentially increase — financial aid for students who have lost jobs or family income in the current economic crisis.
The department has shelved guidance that once encouraged colleges to do more to help students affected by a downturn. The guidance, a pair of letters published by the Obama administration in April and May of 2009, was written in response to the Great Recession. It allowed colleges to fast-track reconsideration of financial aid for students who had lost jobs, and it encouraged unemployed Americans to consider enrolling in postsecondary education and applying for aid.
Perhaps most importantly, though, the 2009 guidance reassured schools that they would not be punished for helping students. Prior to that guidance, reconsidering financial aid packages for too many students could have triggered an investigation from the U.S. Department of Education, to make sure schools weren't misusing funds. These reviews were labor intensive and could lead to costly fines. As a result, schools often avoided these aid reconsiderations.
The 2009 guidance essentially told colleges: Don't worry. These are hard times. Help students.
As the Great Recession wound down, though, the guidance and its importance to campus aid offices faded — until March, when the U.S. economy again began reeling. Almost immediately, college financial aid administrators began asking if the 2009 guidance was still active, says Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
The Department of Education quietly addressed that question in late May during a call with stakeholders. According to multiple sources familiar with the call, a top department official indicated that, in spite of the downturn, this guidance is no longer active. The official described the unemployment challenges many students now face as "temporary," unlike the Great Recession, and disagreed with the previous policy of allowing schools to fast-track help for students receiving unemployment benefits.
The department has said little publicly about this apparent shift in policy. The guidance is currently labeled "Maintained for Historical Purposes Only," though it is not clear when that label was added. The department also amended its Federal Student Aid Handbook on June 12, calling the guidance "outdated."
When asked to explain the agency's position, a department spokesperson told NPR that it is "updating the issues presented by the guidance, given the pandemic and resulting economic downturn," leaving open the possibility that the guidance itself could be restored or updated.
Abigail Seldin says she was frustrated when she first heard of the guidance change: "Why make this process harder amid a pandemic and a recession?" Seldin led the creation of SwiftStudent, a free digital tool for college students seeking financial aid appeals. She says, "Punitive, shortsighted decisions like these hurt both students and schools."
"This has real impact for aid offices on campuses across the country trying to help students work through a very complicated process and get their financial aid," Draeger says.
His organization has sent a warning to campus aid administrators. "This is a change in ED guidance," NASFAA recently told its members; the 2009 letters "no longer apply."
"I think financial aid offices are out there doing their best," says Rachelle Feldman, associate provost of scholarships and student aid at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "But the fear of audit, the change in guidance — it's all very real and paralyzing."
Most students planning to attend college in the fall submitted financial information from 2018 — information that may now be woefully outdated for many families, given the current crisis. This is where something called "professional judgment" comes in.
If a student is independent and receiving unemployment benefits — or dependent on a parent who has lost income or a job in the recession — they can ask their college financial aid officer to exercise professional judgment and reconsider their financial aid package.
That's what Divine Girouard did. Girouard, 25, is a mother of two in Gardner, Mass., who just finished her first year of community college. She hopes to someday work in counseling. When the pandemic hit, she was laid off from her job running before- and after-care programs for her local public school district. "This job was kind of the main breadwinner for my family," Girouard says.
She applied for unemployment and then updated her financial aid application, hoping her school would exercise professional judgment and provide her more money. If not, she says, she may not be able to afford books next semester and may have to rethink her course load.
"I just didn't want to lose my faith," Girouard says. "I still want to keep going."
Girouard is now waiting to hear whether her job loss will lead to an adjustment in her financial aid.
Aid administrators say they're already hearing from many students and families who say their financial circumstances have changed dramatically.
"We have a lot of small-business owners who haven't been able to open their doors yet," says UNC's Feldman. "We have people who — one parent or both parents have been laid off from their jobs. So among our most vulnerable students, we are seeing the most need for reconsideration."
In fact, the guidance, now more than a decade old, feels eerily relevant today:
"When families experience a layoff, face a costly medical situation, or lose a house to foreclosure, they are likely to feel vulnerable. ... Most do not know about their right to request that you adjust one or more of the components that determine their eligibility for financial aid. ... Reach out to your students (and prospective students), particularly those who seem to have hit a rough patch, to make sure that they know there may be ways that you can help."
UNC's Feldman says the bulk of requests from students and families for professional judgment won't come until July or August, but that "we already have more than 300 applications for the coming fall, which is more than we've seen this early in years and years."
In a recent NASFAA survey of its members, 90% of the aid administrators said they anticipate an increase in reconsideration requests between May 26 and October 1, 2020, as compared to last year.
Even without the guidance, colleges can still reconsider students' financial aid, but Feldman worries many won't.
"Schools shouldn't be shy about helping people who need the help and doing appropriate adjustments to their [aid] packages," Feldman says. "But some schools, particularly schools where they serve a lot of vulnerable students and maybe are less well-staffed and more nervous about some kind of review or fine, will be very reluctant to do that in the current environment."


npr--2020-06-18--Klobuchar Withdraws From VP Consideration, Says Biden Should Pick A Woman Of Color

Klobuchar Withdraws From VP Consideration , Says Biden Should Pick A Woman Of Color Sen. Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , says she is withdrawing her name from consideration to be Joe Biden 's running mate , calling on the former vice president to pick a woman of color .
`` Since I endorsed the vice president on that joyful night in Dallas , I 've never commented on this process at all , '' she said on MSNBC Thursday night .
`` But let me tell you this after what I 've seen in my state , what I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a historic moment and America must seize on this moment . ''
After the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis last month , calls for police reform and racial justice have reverberated nationwide .
Klobuchar says she called Biden and told him , `` I truly believe ... this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket . ''
`` There are so many incredibly qualified women .
But if you want to heal this nation right now .
My party , yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hell of way to do it .
And that 's just what I think after being through this in my state . ''
Biden praised Klobuchar on Twitter after she made her announcement , saying she had `` grit and determination . ''
Klobuchar ran her own campaign for the Democratic nomination , picking up some late momentum .
She had a moderate , Midwestern appeal , but failed to excite the Democratic base or voters of color .
Several women of color have been floated as possible VP picks including California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida Rep. Val Demings , Susan Rice and New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham .
As NPR has reported , Biden is also facing increased pressure from black women leaders and activists in the Democratic party to select a black woman as his running mate .

Klobuchar Withdraws From VP Consideration, Says Biden Should Pick A Woman Of Color
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Williams/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Tom Williams/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Updated 5:30 a.m. ET Friday
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., says she is withdrawing her name from consideration to be Joe Biden's running mate, calling on the former vice president to pick a woman of color.
"Since I endorsed the vice president on that joyful night in Dallas, I've never commented on this process at all," she said on MSNBC Thursday night. "But let me tell you this after what I've seen in my state, what I've seen across the country. This is a historic moment and America must seize on this moment."
After the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis last month, calls for police reform and racial justice have reverberated nationwide.
Klobuchar says she called Biden and told him, "I truly believe ... this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket."
"There are so many incredibly qualified women. But if you want to heal this nation right now. My party, yes, but our nation, this is sure a hell of way to do it. And that's just what I think after being through this in my state."
Biden praised Klobuchar on Twitter after she made her announcement, saying she had "grit and determination."
Klobuchar ran her own campaign for the Democratic nomination, picking up some late momentum. She had a moderate, Midwestern appeal but failed to excite the Democratic base or voters of color.
Several women of color have been floated as possible VP picks, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, Florida Rep. Val Demings, former national security adviser Susan Rice and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
As NPR has reported, Biden is also facing increased pressure from black female leaders and activists in the Democratic Party to select a black woman as his running mate.


npr--2020-06-18--'New York Times', 'Washington Post' Promise Major Changes To Move Forward On Race

'New York Times ' , 'Washington Post ' Promise Major Changes To Move Forward On Race Two of the nation 's top newspapers on Thursday evening separately reached the same decision : They had to address diversity and equity in their newsrooms and their coverage .
In separate memos to staff , each outlined initiatives to address an issue that has roiled their newsrooms , as it has many others and many other institutions throughout society .
Washington Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan announced more than 12 new jobs as part of a plan to lead `` a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while shining light on the inequities that exist today . ''
The Post took a tangible approach , announcing an array of newly created jobs including a managing editor for diversity and inclusion and a new director of diversity & inclusion in Human Resources .
Executives will be judged on how well they build diverse teams .
And the Post established new reporting beats to chronicle how race courses throughout American life , including a new investigative reporter to cover domestic terrorism and white nationalism , a new beat on how climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new reporter on health disparities for different racial groups , and new reporting jobs on race and identity , among others .
The New York Times ' announcement was less concrete , but still expansive , saying it aims to rewire how it operates and makes decisions to yield a newsroom that is transformed by racial awareness , both in hiring and in coverage .
`` In conversations and on Slack over the past few weeks , we have heard from many black colleagues , and other people of color around the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of decision making , feel fully valued in our culture , or see a clear path for advancement .
This is something we must change , '' senior Times executives acknowledged in their joint memo .
The memo , signed by four top leaders including Publisher A.G. Sulzberger and Executive Editor Dean Baquet , announced several initiatives to develop a strategy to define how the paper does `` hiring , developing , supporting and promoting our people — and particularly people of color . ''
The aim is to have a strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the memo said .
Former Times editorial page editor James Bennet resigned after a protest by hundreds of journalists from its newsroom over an op-ed calling for the military to be used to put down social unrest .
The journalists said the content of the op-ed endangered the lives of Black Times ' staff .
The opinion and news sections of the paper are run separately .
Bennet 's acting replacement , Kathleen Kingsbury , is said by the Times to be involved in similar efforts in her section .
Two of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal , are undergoing their own internal strife over race .
The Journal moved the news column of a former editor in chief , Gerard Baker , to the opinion pages , after the newsroom union at the paper formally objected to his writing on race .
And the L.A. Times executive editor Norman Pearlstine is scheduled to hold a lengthy town hall next week with his staff about race after rancor in his newsroom , as NPR has reported .
Pearlstine has in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to diversify its ranks and the way it approaches coverage .

'New York Times', 'Washington Post' Promise Major Changes To Move Forward On Race
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julio Cortez/AP Julio Cortez/AP
Two of the nation's top newspapers on Thursday evening separately reached the same decision: They had to address diversity and equity in their newsrooms and their coverage.
In separate memos to staff, each outlined initiatives to address an issue that has roiled their newsrooms, as it has many others and many other institutions throughout society.
Washington Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan announced more than 12 new jobs as part of a plan to lead "a national conversation on issues of race and diversity while shining light on the inequities that exist today."
The Post took a tangible approach, announcing an array of newly created jobs including a managing editor for diversity and inclusion and a new director of diversity & inclusion in Human Resources. Executives will be judged on how well they build diverse teams. And the Post established new reporting beats to chronicle how race courses throughout American life, including a new investigative reporter to cover domestic terrorism and white nationalism, a new beat on how climate change disproportionately affects people of color, a new reporter on health disparities for different racial groups, and new reporting jobs on race and identity, among others.
The New York Times' announcement was less concrete, but still expansive, saying it aims to rewire how it operates and makes decisions to yield a newsroom that is transformed by racial awareness, both in hiring and in coverage.
"In conversations and on Slack over the past few weeks, we have heard from many black colleagues, and other people of color around the company, that they do not feel sufficiently part of decision making, feel fully valued in our culture, or see a clear path for advancement. This is something we must change," senior Times executives acknowledged in their joint memo.
The memo, signed by four top leaders including Publisher A.G. Sulzberger and Executive Editor Dean Baquet, announced several initiatives to develop a strategy to define how the paper does "hiring, developing, supporting and promoting our people — and particularly people of color." The aim is to have a strategy by the end of the year, the memo said.
Former Times editorial page editor James Bennet resigned after a protest by hundreds of journalists from its newsroom over an op-ed calling for the military to be used to put down social unrest. The journalists said the content of the op-ed endangered the lives of Black Times' staff. The opinion and news sections of the paper are run separately. Bennet's acting replacement, Kathleen Kingsbury, is said by the Times to be involved in similar efforts in her section.
Two of the nation's other leading newspapers, the Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal, are undergoing their own internal strife over race. The Journal moved the news column of a former editor in chief, Gerard Baker, to the opinion pages, after the newsroom union at the paper formally objected to his writing on race. And the L.A. Times executive editor Norman Pearlstine is scheduled to hold a lengthy town hall next week with his staff about race after rancor in his newsroom, as NPR has reported. Pearlstine has in the past two weeks made a series of pledges to diversify its ranks and the way it approaches coverage.


npr--2020-06-19--Phoenix Passes Face Mask Mandate Amid Arizona Coronavirus Surge

Phoenix has joined several cities across Arizona requiring residents to wear masks in public spaces as the state contends with an aggressive spike in coronavirus cases .
The City Council voted Friday to implement the mandatory face covering rule , which will go into effect on Saturday at 6 a.m. Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the U.S. , with a population of nearly 1.7 million people in 2019 , according to the U.S. Census Bureau .
The decision comes just days after Gov .
Doug Ducey granted local governments autonomy to establish their own health and safety measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until then , Ducey had led the state 's response to the pandemic which is now in the midst of a surge .
Although he was among the first governors to enact emergency stay-at-home orders , Arizona was part of a wave of states that lifted those restrictions last month .
Since then there has been a surge in the number of coronavirus infections , hospitalizations are up , and more people are dying .
The Phoenix policy applies to all individuals within the city limits , over the age of 5 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home or residence and within six feet of another person who is not a member of their family or household . ''
Additionally , any business whose employees interact with the public must enforce the mandate .
Businesses also have the right to refuse service to anyone who does n't comply with the order .
However , council members included a number of exemptions to the mandate , including people `` whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering . ''
Also , restaurant patrons who are eating or drinking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercising outside while keeping a six foot distance from non-household members can forego face masks .
City officials said enforcement would focus on `` education and information . ''
But NPR member station , KJZZ reported Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Wiliams said that puts her officers in a challenging situation .
Williams said : `` We 're going to hand folks a flyer and pretty much turn around and walk away .
In egregious circumstances and in cases if for some reasons it turns into a contact where we have to issue a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supervisor be present to do so . ''

Phoenix Passes Face Mask Mandate Amid Arizona Coronavirus Surge
Phoenix has joined several cities across Arizona requiring residents to wear masks in public spaces as the state contends with an aggressive spike in coronavirus cases.
The City Council voted Friday to implement the mandatory face covering rule, which will go into effect on Saturday at 6 a.m.
Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the U.S., with a population of nearly 1.7 million people in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The decision comes just days after Gov. Doug Ducey granted local governments autonomy to establish their own health and safety measures to fight rising COVID-19 cases. Up until then, Ducey had led the state's response to the pandemic which is now in the midst of a surge.
Although he was among the first governors to enact emergency stay-at-home orders, Arizona was part of a wave of states that lifted those restrictions last month. Since then there has been a surge in the number of coronavirus infections, hospitalizations are up, and more people are dying.
The Phoenix policy applies to all individuals within the city limits, over the age of 5, "whenever they are away from their home or residence and within six feet of another person who is not a member of their family or household."
Additionally, any business whose employees interact with the public must enforce the mandate. Businesses also have the right to refuse service to anyone who doesn't comply with the order.
However, council members included a number of exemptions to the mandate, including people "whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering." Also, restaurant patrons who are eating or drinking, anyone participating in a team sport or exercising outside while keeping a six foot distance from non-household members can forego face masks.
City officials said enforcement would focus on "education and information." But
NPR member station, KJZZ reported Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Wiliams said that puts her officers in a challenging situation.
Williams said: "We're going to hand folks a flyer and pretty much turn around and walk away. In egregious circumstances and in cases if for some reasons it turns into a contact where we have to issue a citation I will have to mandate a supervisor be present to do so."


npr--2020-06-19--Half Of States Where Pentagon Lifts Travel Ban Have Rising Coronavirus Infections

Half Of States Where Pentagon Lifts Travel Ban Have Rising Coronavirus Infections Despite tracking data indicating new coronavirus infections are on the rise in 23 states , the Pentagon on Friday announced it is lifting pandemic-inspired travel restrictions for U.S. military personnel in 46 states , as well as in the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico .
Among the states deemed fit for a resumption of travel by military personnel is Arizona , which has had a sharp spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks , as well as others with notable recent upticks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma .
The Pentagon 's own guidance for lifting restrictions stipulates that a state must show a `` 14-day downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases or positive tests , '' as well as having had its shelter-in-place or other travel restrictions lifted and showing what the Department of Defense describes as a `` 14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and COVID-19-like symptoms . ''
Only four states - California , North Carolina , Florida and Minnesota - are not included in the loosening of travel restrictions by the Pentagon .
One of them — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the number of newly detected COVID-19 infections has been declining .
The Pentagon memo announcing the change in travel rules does not explain the discrepancy between its criteria for easing restrictions and the approval for doing so in many states that appear not to have met those standards .
A missive issued May 22 by Defense Secretary Mark Esper states that the Department of Defense is following the White House 's `` Opening Up America Again '' guidelines as well as data from the Department of Health and Human Services and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pandemic forced the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to dock for weeks in Guam to recover from an outbreak among its crew , while training exercises for Army recruits have been put on hold .
According to the Pentagon , 8,824 members of the U.S. military have tested positive for COVID-19 .
Of them , 230 have been hospitalized and three have died .

Half Of States Where Pentagon Lifts Travel Ban Have Rising Coronavirus Infections
Despite tracking data indicating new coronavirus infections are on the rise in 23 states, the Pentagon on Friday announced it is lifting pandemic-inspired travel restrictions for U.S. military personnel in 46 states, as well as in the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.
Among the states deemed fit for a resumption of travel by military personnel is Arizona, which has had a sharp spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, as well as others with notable recent upticks in infections, including Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma.
The Pentagon's own guidance for lifting restrictions stipulates that a state must show a "14-day downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases or positive tests," as well as having had its shelter-in-place or other travel restrictions lifted and showing what the Department of Defense describes as a "14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and COVID-19-like symptoms."
Only four states - California, North Carolina, Florida and Minnesota - are not included in the loosening of travel restrictions by the Pentagon. One of them — Minnesota — is among the 27 states where the number of newly detected COVID-19 infections has been declining.
The Pentagon memo announcing the change in travel rules does not explain the discrepancy between its criteria for easing restrictions and the approval for doing so in many states that appear not to have met those standards.
A missive issued May 22 by Defense Secretary Mark Esper states that the Department of Defense is following the White House's "Opening Up America Again" guidelines as well as data from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The pandemic forced the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to dock for weeks in Guam to recover from an outbreak among its crew, while training exercises for Army recruits have been put on hold.
According to the Pentagon, 8,824 members of the U.S. military have tested positive for COVID-19. Of them, 230 have been hospitalized and three have died.


npr--2020-06-19--U.S. National Archives Unearths Original Juneteenth Order

General Order No .
3 does n't use the exalted language of some other documents central to American history .
But for the generations of African Americans who have celebrated Juneteenth , General Order No .
3 is so powerful that it is sometimes read aloud to mark the occasion , alongside or instead of the Emancipation Proclamation .
The order , issued in Galveston on June 19 , 1865 , by U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger , informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free : '' The people of Texas are informed that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive of the United States , all slaves are free .
This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves , and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor .
The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages .
They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere . ''
Word then spread quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended slavery .
White slaveholders were already aware of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation , but as the Civil War continued they had not complied , instead bringing more enslaved people into Texas from other parts of the South .
Granger backed up his order with 2,000 troops .
While many other copies of the order exist , the current national reckoning over racial injustice compelled staff at the U.S. National Archives to delve into the stacks and search for the original document .
`` Based on what 's going on now in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about Juneteenth , the freeing of enslaved people in 1865 , '' says Michael Davis , a public affairs specialist at the Archives .
`` I was curious to know if we had the actual document of General Order No .
3 in our holdings . ''
So Davis reached out Trevor Plante , who directs the Archives ' textual records division .
Plante found that the order was issued by the district of Texas , which helped him locate that command 's order book — used as the official record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yesterday in the stacks of the National Archives Building in Washington , D.C. , and located the now-famous order within — handwritten by the major general 's aide , F.W .
Emery , and still in good condition .
It bears the number three because it was just the third order that Granger had issued since taking over the Texas command .
In 1865 , the book was in Galveston , then the Union Army 's headquarters for the district of Texas .
Later on , Plante says , it would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D.C. , and then on to the National Archives , where it has been since probably the 1940s , available for researchers to request and peruse .
With the document 's fresh resurgence , it will now be digitized and added to the Archives ' catalog , as well as highlighted on the National Archives and Records Administration 's African American history page .
The Archives ' museum and buildings are currently closed to the public and its in-person services suspended , due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
But in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewing the physical version of Order No .
3 .
Christopher Wilson , who leads the African American history program at the National Museum of American History , points to the last time the original Emancipation Proclamation went on tour outside D.C. For conservation reasons , the original can only be displayed for a few days at a time under extremely low light — and he says people lined up at museums across the country to catch a glimpse , even at two in the morning .
`` I think it 's wonderful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
3 ] and it can be added to the understanding of the end of slavery , because I think there is such a misunderstanding around how that happened and who motivated it to happen , '' Wilson says .
When people learn history via a public holiday , he says , the story often becomes simplified .
Juneteenth is not about enslaved African Americans being `` told they were free , '' he argues — but about power moving slowly , the agency of African Americans to gain liberty , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
General Order No .
3 is a part of that more complicated history , even with its less-than-poetic words — the dry legality is partly what makes the order so meaningful , Wilson says .
`` Just to see what was looked upon by our ancestors as this evidence that finally the weight of federal authority , the weight of everything that the United States had promised to people , was finally showing up in black and white . ''

U.S. National Archives Unearths Original Juneteenth Order
Enlarge this image toggle caption National Archives National Archives
Enlarge this image toggle caption National Archives National Archives
Updated at 7:48 p.m. ET
General Order No. 3 doesn't use the exalted language of some other documents central to American history.
But for the generations of African Americans who have celebrated Juneteenth, General Order No. 3 is so powerful that it is sometimes read aloud to mark the occasion, alongside or instead of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The order, issued in Galveston on June 19, 1865, by U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free:
"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."
Word then spread quickly among African Americans that the U.S. had ended slavery. White slaveholders were already aware of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, but as the Civil War continued, they had not complied, instead bringing more enslaved people into Texas from other parts of the South. Granger backed up his order with 2,000 troops.
While many copies of the order exist, the current national reckoning over racial injustice compelled staff at the U.S. National Archives to delve into the stacks and search for the original document.
"Based on what's going on now in this country, there was a need to talk about Juneteenth, the freeing of enslaved people in 1865," says Michael Davis, a public affairs specialist at the Archives. "I was curious to know if we had the actual document of General Order No. 3 in our holdings."
So Davis reached out Trevor Plante, who directs the Archives' textual records division. Plante found that the order was issued by the district of Texas, which helped him locate that command's order book — used as the official record of orders issued.
Plante found that book Thursday in the stacks of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., and located the now-famous order within — handwritten by the major general's aide, F.W. Emery, and still in good condition. It bears the number 3 because it was just the third order that Granger had issued since taking over the Texas command.
In 1865, the book was in Galveston, then the Union Army's headquarters for the district of Texas. Later on, Plante says, it would have been sent to the War Department in Washington, D.C., and then on to the National Archives, where it has been since probably the 1940s, available for researchers to request and peruse.
With the document's fresh resurgence, it will now be digitized and added to the Archives' catalog, as well as highlighted on the National Archives and Records Administration's African American history page. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Archives' museum and buildings are closed to the public and its in-person services have been suspended.
But in the future, there may be keen interest in viewing the physical version of Order No. 3.
Christopher Wilson, who leads the African American History Program at the National Museum of American History, points to the last time the original Emancipation Proclamation went on tour outside D.C. For conservation reasons, the original can only be displayed for a few days at a time under extremely low light — and he says people lined up at museums across the country to catch a glimpse, even at 2 in the morning.
"I think it's wonderful that we have found [Order No. 3] and it can be added to the understanding of the end of slavery, because I think there is such a misunderstanding around how that happened and who motivated it to happen," Wilson says.
When people learn history via a public holiday, he says, the story often becomes simplified.
Juneteenth is not about enslaved African Americans being "told they were free," he argues — but about power moving slowly, the agency of African Americans to gain liberty and the need to back up justice with action.
General Order No. 3 is a part of that more complicated history, even with its less-than-poetic words — the dry legality is partly what makes the order so meaningful, Wilson says.
"Just to see what was looked upon by our ancestors as this evidence that finally the weight of federal authority, the weight of everything that the United States had promised to people, was finally showing up in black and white."


npr--2020-06-19--Younger Adults Are Increasingly Testing Positive For Coronavirus

As much of the country presses forward with reopening , a growing number of cities and states are finding that the coronavirus outbreak now has a foothold in a younger slice of the population , with people in their 20s and 30s accounting for a larger share of new coronavirus infections .
The demographic shift has emerged in regions with different populations and political approaches to the pandemic – from Washington state and California to Florida and Texas .
North Carolina , South Carolina , Arizona , Wisconsin and Colorado also all report clusters that have a larger proportion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Public health experts say the trend could be explained in several ways .
More people are getting coronavirus tests .
The criteria for who gets tested , as well as the capacity to test them , has expanded since the beginning of the pandemic .
Early on , generally only people with symptoms or who were seriously ill could get tested at all .
But some public health experts say the increase is because some younger adults may perceive that they are less at risk than their parents or grandparents and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it reopens — that could mean going to restaurants or social gatherings or returning to the workplace .
In Washington state , an outbreak in a nursing facility signaled the pandemic 's arrival in the U.S. Now , nearly half of new coronavirus cases in the Seattle area are showing up in those in their 20s and 30s , according to a recent analysis of state data .
`` This creates a reservoir of disease moving around in the population , simmering , if you will , '' said Judith Malmgren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and author of the study that analyzed Washington 's March and April age data .
`` This can spike to uncontrollable levels in more vulnerable adults very quickly . ''
What first caught Malmgren 's attention was that hospitalizations in Washington were falling , but new cases did not mirror that decrease .
Even as more older adults were tested , the rate of infections in younger adults continued to climb .
`` The key to controlling this virus so it 's not running rampant is to look at the people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public , '' she said .
While there is always a risk of becoming seriously ill , the chance of someone under 40 ending up in the hospital is quite low .
In fact , the rate of hospitalization for people who test positive for COVID-19 in their 20s is under 4 % , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
For those over 60 , the rates go way up , to over 20 % .
The fatality rate for people in their 20s and 30s without underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For public health workers , an acceleration of infections in young adults requires a different approach than early in the pandemic , when the strategy was largely to stall the spread of the virus in older populations and those most vulnerable to the disease .
Malmgren said the public health response should now be tailored to a younger demographic .
`` They are not reading print media .
You need to be on social media .
You need to use short sentences .
You need to use very direct messaging , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be available where young adults already gather , not only at doctor 's offices or drive-through testing sites , she said .
The story is similar in California .
People under 35 now make up about 44 % of new infections in that state , compared to 29 % last month , according to an analysis of state data by infectious disease epidemiologist George Lemp .
The uptick in new cases is evident in both children and teenagers , as well as adults .
`` It 's very striking that there 's been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lemp , the former director of the University of California 's HIV/AIDS Research Program .
`` Some of that could be due to the testing itself and targeting of younger people .
And it 's also likely due to the shift in behavior as younger people start to move away from social distancing and consistent mask use . ''
State and local health departments report the age breakdown of coronavirus infections and COVID-19 cases in a variety of ways .
Many do n't release information about age with other daily metrics like hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing for the coronavirus will be required to report standardized information like age and race for each new case to the federal government .
`` If you see these types of trends occurring in a state as large as California , it 's probably a very strong harbinger that this is actually happening nationally , too , '' Lemp said .
Increasingly , state and local leaders are pointing out the trend .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott recently called out young adults for a spike in new cases , citing reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance .
In Brownsville , Texas , Dr. Joseph McCormick , an epidemiologist with the UT Health School of Public Health , said new infections in people under 35 have shot up dramatically , accounting for more than half of the recent cases in his region .
`` We are seeing a resurgence of transmission and it 's being driven by younger people , '' he said .
He said that older people still make up the bulk of hospitalizations .
Crowded beaches and bars at the nearby resort town is `` pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the ones getting sick in his community , McCormick said .
`` This is relatively new , and I think it 's because that segment of the population decided , 'Okay , I 'm free , ' whereas the older group is thinking , 'woah , wait a minute , I 'm still in jeopardy . '
`` Officials in one Texas county even link the spike in cases to young people floating the river .
At the beginning of June , only about 15 % of Georgia 's news cases were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , that number jumped to 27 % .
`` When I go out , I call out young people who do n't have a mask and ask them why .
Do they mind if their grandpa or their grandmother gets ill ? ''
said McCormick .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis has also pointed out that the outbreak is skewing younger .
People under the age of 37 make up about half of that state 's newer cases , he said .
In an online video address , St. Petersburg Mayor Rick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now roughly ages 23 - 38 ) for their role in spreading the virus , saying , `` It is time that your generation started taking this more seriously . ''
Ken Welch , a county commissioner in Pinellas County ( home of St. Petersburg ) , is working on a public awareness campaign directed at young adults , since not everyone follows the county 's YouTube channel , he admits .
`` One idea is to reach out to local sports figures like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , the Lightning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about why it 's important to wear a mask and why it 's cool , '' Welch said .
`` I 'd love to see Tom Brady in a mask . ''
While some states have anecdotally seen young adults abandoning pandemic precautions , a recent survey of people in New York and Los Angeles found people in their 20s and 30s were broadly supportive of social distancing and other measures like wearing face masks .
In mid-March , White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx called millennials the `` core group that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Fauci even appeared on a popular podcast to appeal to the younger generation for help .
`` You 're not a passive person in this .
You are an important part of the active plan to contain this epidemic , '' he said .
Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr , a professor at Columbia University 's Mailman School of Public Health , said it 's not yet clear to what extent young people are driving community transmission of the virus , but it 's a key metric that public health agencies should be following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .
`` I think young people can potentially have a very , very valuable role if we can harness their energy and attention . ''
El-Sadr said the best strategy is to enlist `` trusted spokespeople '' who can help mobilize a younger population through things like social media , rather than relying on the same messaging that 's been coming from public health officials for months now .
`` How do we find those individuals that young people today want to emulate ?
The trendsetters that they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
What 's increasingly clear is that young adults can be key to curbing community transmission of the virus .
A study from Japan concluded that those in their 20s and 30s played a significant role in spreading the virus in non-health care settings , including restaurants , bars , music related events and workplaces .
`` We need to change our whole thinking about COVID-19 during this stage of the pandemic , '' said Dr. Thomas Tsai , a professor at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus physically because you have younger individuals , who may be pre-symptomatic or mildly symptomatic , who are going about their normal lives and reengaging with society . ''
Instead of returning to a lock down , Tsai said the key is to make tests widely available , contact trace clusters of disease and push people to wear face coverings .
`` Arguably , this is even more important now because we 're no longer motivated to follow public health guidance by images of people lining up outside the hospitals in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be a more personal approach . ''

Younger Adults Are Increasingly Testing Positive For The Coronavirus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
As much of the country presses forward with reopening, a growing number of cities and states are finding that the coronavirus outbreak now has a foothold in a younger slice of the population, with people in their 20s and 30s accounting for a larger share of new coronavirus infections.
The demographic shift has emerged in regions with different populations and political approaches to the pandemic – from Washington state and California to Florida and Texas. North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin and Colorado also all report clusters that have a larger proportion of young adults than they had previously seen.
Public health experts said the trend could be explained in several ways. More people are getting coronavirus tests. The criteria for who gets tested as well as the capacity to test them have expanded since the beginning of the pandemic. Early on, generally only people with symptoms or who were seriously ill could get tested at all.
But some public health experts said the increase is because some younger adults may perceive they are less at risk than their parents or grandparents and are more likely to venture back into society as it reopens — that could mean going to restaurants or social gatherings or returning to the workplace.
In Washington state, an outbreak in a nursing facility signaled the pandemic's arrival in the United States. Now, nearly half of new coronavirus cases in the Seattle area are showing up in those in their 20s and 30s, according to a recent analysis of state data.
"This creates a reservoir of disease moving around in the population, simmering, if you will," said Judith Malmgren, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington and author of the study that analyzed Washington's March and April age data. "This can spike to uncontrollable levels in more vulnerable adults very quickly."
What first caught Malmgren's attention was that hospitalizations in Washington were falling, but new cases did not mirror that decrease. Even as more older adults were tested, the rate of infections in younger adults continued to climb.
"The key to controlling this virus so it's not running rampant is to look at the people who are most active and have most contact with the public," she said.
While there is always a risk of becoming seriously ill, the chance of someone under 40 ending up in the hospital is quite low. In fact, the rate of hospitalization for people who test positive for the coronavirus in their 20s is under 4%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For those over 60, the rates go way up, to more than 20%. The fatality rate for people in their 20s and 30s without underlying health conditions is about 0.1%.
Adjusting the public health response
For public health workers, an acceleration of infections in young adults requires a different approach than early in the pandemic, when the strategy was largely to stall the spread of the virus in older populations and those most vulnerable to the disease.
Malmgren said the public health response should now be tailored to a younger demographic. "They are not reading print media. You need to be on social media. You need to use short sentences. You need to use very direct messaging," she said.
Ideally, testing would also be available where young adults already gather, not only at doctors' offices or drive-through testing sites, she said.
The story is similar in California. People under 35 now make up about 44% of new infections in that state, compared with 29% last month, according to an analysis of state data by infectious disease epidemiologist George Lemp.
The uptick in new cases is evident in both children and teenagers as well as adults.
"It's very striking that there's been such a strong shift," said Lemp, the former director of the University of California's HIV/AIDS Research Program. "Some of that could be due to the testing itself and targeting of younger people. And it's also likely due to the shift in behavior as younger people start to move away from social distancing and consistent mask use."
State and local health departments report the age breakdown of coronavirus infections and COVID-19 cases in a variety of ways. Many don't release information about age with other daily metrics such as hospitalizations. Beginning in August, all laboratories testing for the coronavirus will be required to report standardized information such as age and race for each new case to the federal government.
"If you see these types of trends occurring in a state as large as California, it's probably a very strong harbinger that this is actually happening nationally, too," Lemp said.
Calling out millennials
Increasingly, state and local leaders are pointing out the trend.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently called out young adults for a spike in new cases, citing reports of packed bars and people failing to do social distancing.
In Brownsville, Texas, Dr. Joseph McCormick, an epidemiologist with the UT Health School of Public Health, said new infections in people under 35 have shot up dramatically, accounting for more than half of the recent cases in his region.
"We are seeing a resurgence of transmission, and it's being driven by younger people," he said. He said that older people still make up the bulk of hospitalizations.
Crowded beaches and bars at the nearby resort town is "pretty clear evidence" of why younger adults are the ones getting sick in his community, McCormick said. "This is relatively new, and I think it's because that segment of the population decided, 'OK, I'm free,' whereas the older group is thinking, 'Woah, wait a minute, I'm still in jeopardy.' "
Officials in one Texas county even link the spike in cases to young people floating in the river.
At the beginning of June, about 15% of Georgia's news cases were 18- to 29-year-olds. A few weeks later, that number jumped to 27%.
"When I go out, I call out young people who don't have a mask and ask them why. Do they mind if their grandpa or their grandmother gets ill?" McCormick said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also pointed out that the outbreak is skewing younger. People under 37 make up about half of that state's newer cases, he said.
In an online video address, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman scolded millennials (the generation that is now roughly ages 23 to late 30s) for their role in spreading the virus, saying, "It is time that your generation started taking this more seriously."
Ken Welch, a county commissioner in Pinellas County (home of St. Petersburg), is working on a public awareness campaign directed at young adults since not everyone follows the county's YouTube channel, he admitted.
"One idea is to reach out to local sports figures like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Lightning, the Rays, and have them talk about why it's important to wear a mask and why it's cool," Welch said. "I'd love to see Tom Brady in a mask."
While some states have anecdotally seen young adults abandoning pandemic precautions, a recent survey of people in New York and Los Angeles found people in their 20s and 30s were broadly supportive of social distancing and other measures such as wearing face masks.
In mid-March, White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx called millennials the "core group that will stop the virus." Dr. Anthony Fauci even appeared on a popular podcast to appeal to the younger generation for help. "You're not a passive person in this," Fauci said. "You are an important part of the active plan to contain this epidemic."
To reach the young, recruit trendsetters
Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, said it's not yet clear to what extent young people are driving community transmission of the virus, but it's a key metric that public health agencies should be following.
"It's a lost opportunity," she said. "I think young people can potentially have a very, very valuable role if we can harness their energy and attention."
El-Sadr said the best strategy is to enlist "trusted spokespeople" who can help mobilize a younger population through things such as social media rather than relying on the same messaging that's been coming from public health officials for months.
"How do we find those individuals that young people today want to emulate? The trendsetters that they will listen to and follow," she said.
What's increasingly clear is that young adults can be key to curbing community transmission of the virus.
A study from Japan concluded that those in their 20s and 30s played a significant role in spreading the virus in non-health care settings, including restaurants, bars, music-related events and workplaces.
"We need to change our whole thinking about COVID-19 during this stage of the pandemic," said Dr. Thomas Tsai, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "It's difficult to contain the virus physically because you have younger individuals, who may be pre-symptomatic or mildly symptomatic, who are going about their normal lives and reengaging with society."
Instead of returning to a lockdown, Tsai said the key is to make tests widely available, use contact tracing to find clusters of the disease and push people to wear face coverings.
"Arguably, this is even more important now because we're no longer motivated to follow public health guidance by images of people lining up outside the hospitals in New York," he said. "It needs to be a more personal approach."