npr--2020-08-30--How Two Sign Language Interpreters Became Unlikely Pandemic Stars

How Two Sign Language Interpreters Became Unlikely Pandemic Stars When Andiswa Gebashe was growing up in Soweto in the 1990s , she had two dreams .
`` I wanted to be an actor , and I wanted to be the president , '' she says .
Today , improbably , she is both – thought not exactly in the way she imagined .
Gebashe is a South African Sign Language ( SASL ) interpreter for South Africa 's president , Cyril Ramaphosa , interpreting his televised speeches on the coronavirus pandemic on live TV for the country 's deaf community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interpreting , part of the job is to embody the speaker , '' says Gebashe , who grew up with a deaf father and signed before she ever spoke .
`` So when I 'm on stage with him , I 'm not Andiswa .
I am actually the president . ''
And with millions tuning in for the presidential updates on the coronavirus and the country 's continuing lockdown , Gebashe and her fellow presidential interpreter Nicoline Du Toit have also become known figures here in their own right – or as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low key celebrities of a very unusual persuasion . ''
Since March , when the country 's coronavirus lockdown began , their signing has been the subject of memes and viral videos , shared among hearing South Africans impressed by the way the natural expressiveness of SASL seems to hold a mirror to the frustration , exhaustion and incredulity that many here felt as the pandemic warped the shape of daily life .
In one popular meme , Gebashe was captured in what looked like mid-scream ( facial expressions are used in sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president announced a two-week extension of the country 's lockdown in early April .
That attention , in turn , has helped raise the profile of SASL itself – whose users have long advocated for it to be made South Africa 's 12th official language .
`` The world sees us as disabled , whereas we see ourselves simply as a linguistic minority , '' says Modiegi Njeyiyana , a deaf academic who studies SASL linguistics at Stellenbosch University .
`` All this attention on our language creates awareness , and that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For Gebashe and Du Toit too , being the stars of memes and music videos , and doing the morning talk show circuit has been fun , but also beside the point .
`` I 'm happy when hearing people see me signing and become curious about the language , but what this is really about is making sure the deaf community has access to the information they need to survive this pandemic , '' Du Toit says .
`` That 's why we do it . ''
As the children of deaf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CODAS , for `` children of deaf adults '' – both women know firsthand how deaf South Africans often struggle to access essential information in their own language .
Like many deaf South Africans , Du Toit 's mother , for instance , does n't read English , making it nearly impossible for her to use closed captions for TV broadcasts in that language .
Like all of South Africa 's languages , the history of SASL is violently intertwined with the history of apartheid – the system of segregation and white supremacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here from 1948 until the early 1990s .
In that system , language and power were inextricably linked .
Indeed , the student protest movement of the 1970s , widely credited as the beginning of apartheid 's end , began when Black students protested being taught in Afrikaans , the language of the white government .
But for the deaf community , apartheid also coincided with a global movement pushing a teaching method called `` oralism , '' which rejected sign languages in favor of teaching deaf children to read lips and mimic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , most white deaf children attended schools where they were told to sit on their hands , and punished if they were caught using sign language with their peers .
As a result , many older white deaf South Africans like Du Toit 's parents still communicate in a hybrid of signing , lip reading , and spoken language .
Ironically , however , Black deaf children were generally allowed to sign in their segregated schools because `` sign languages were seen as inferior , just as Black people were seen as inferior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time apartheid ended in the mid-1990s , oralism had fallen out of favor around the world for suppressing deaf culture 's most essential element – its language .
That meant that as one of the first Black students at a formerly all-white deaf school in Johannesburg in the 1990s , Njeyiyana says she saw a strange reversal of South Africa 's typical racial hierarchy .
`` The white kids were just sponges [ as they learned ] to sign from the Black children , '' she says .
`` Because we had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity and culture through our language , and many of them did not . ''
In the years since , SASL has jostled for recognition with South Africa 's 11 official languages .
But though the country 's constitution makes a nod to `` sign language , '' without status as an official language , its users say they are on unequal footing with other South Africans .
For instance , while there is an organization that accredits SASL interpreters , they are not required to register with it .
That sometimes has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at a memorial service for late president Nelson Mandela , an interpreter hired by the government stood beside dignitaries including Barack Obama , making random gestures – the equivalent of gibberish — as they spoke .
`` The deaf community is in outrage , '' wrote Bruno Druchen , national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa ( DeafSA ) in a statement at the time .
`` It is a total mockery of the language . ''
Since then , SASL advocates say , government has been more cautious about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a standardized way to vet and accredit them , advocates for the deaf community say low quality interpretation remains an issue .
Both Du Toit and Gebashe say they are aware of their responsibility to provide accurate information for deaf South Africans and frequently spend time catching up on new slang and terminology in the language – which like any other is a living , breathing thing , constantly reshaped by its users .
When the coronavirus pandemic first arrived in South Africa , for instance , the two women consulted deaf community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for new terms like coronavirus – a hand fanned out like the virus ' spikes against a closed fist – and lockdown – two hands coming together like a door shutting .
Gebashe , whose father is one of South Africa 's first deaf stand-up comedians , also keeps up to date by regularly translating theater and music – which many Deaf people enjoy because of its vibrations .
`` For too long , our language was cut off from developing by hearing people , and even today , few people realize how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Njeyiyana says .
`` A language makes you a part of a culture .
It gives you access to society .
So I really feel now is our time to reclaim what was taken away from us . ''
Ryan Lenora Brown is a reporter based in Johannesburg , South Africa .
She writes frequently about women , migration and pop culture .

How 2 Sign Language Interpreters Became Unlikely Pandemic Stars
Enlarge this image toggle caption Youtube/ Screenshots by NPR Youtube/ Screenshots by NPR
When Andiswa Gebashe was growing up in Soweto in the 1990s, she had two dreams.
"I wanted to be an actor, and I wanted to be the president," she says.
Today, improbably, she is both – thought not exactly in the way she imagined.
Gebashe is a South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreter for South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, interpreting his televised speeches on the coronavirus pandemic on live TV for the country's deaf community.
"When you are up there interpreting, part of the job is to embody the speaker," says Gebashe, who grew up with a deaf father and signed before she ever spoke. "So when I'm on stage with him, I'm not Andiswa. I am actually the president."
And with millions tuning in for the presidential updates on the coronavirus and the country's continuing lockdown, Gebashe and her fellow presidential interpreter Nicoline Du Toit have also become known figures here in their own right – or as one local newspaper put it, "low key celebrities of a very unusual persuasion."
Since March, when the country's coronavirus lockdown began, their signing has been the subject of memes and viral videos, shared among hearing South Africans impressed by the way the natural expressiveness of SASL seems to hold a mirror to the frustration, exhaustion and incredulity that many here felt as the pandemic warped the shape of daily life. In one popular meme, Gebashe was captured in what looked like mid-scream (facial expressions are used in sign languages to convey tone) as the president announced a two-week extension of the country's lockdown in early April.
That attention, in turn, has helped raise the profile of SASL itself – whose users have long advocated for it to be made South Africa's 12th official language.
"The world sees us as disabled, whereas we see ourselves simply as a linguistic minority," says Modiegi Njeyiyana, a deaf academic who studies SASL linguistics at Stellenbosch University. "All this attention on our language creates awareness, and that can only be a good thing."
For Gebashe and Du Toit too, being the stars of memes and music videos, and doing the morning talk show circuit has been fun, but also beside the point.
YouTube
"I'm happy when hearing people see me signing and become curious about the language, but what this is really about is making sure the deaf community has access to the information they need to survive this pandemic," Du Toit says. "That's why we do it."
As the children of deaf parents – known in the community as CODAS, for "children of deaf adults" – both women know firsthand how deaf South Africans often struggle to access essential information in their own language. Like many deaf South Africans, Du Toit's mother, for instance, doesn't read English, making it nearly impossible for her to use closed captions for TV broadcasts in that language.
Like all of South Africa's languages, the history of SASL is violently intertwined with the history of apartheid – the system of segregation and white supremacy that was the law of the land here from 1948 until the early 1990s. In that system, language and power were inextricably linked. Indeed, the student protest movement of the 1970s, widely credited as the beginning of apartheid's end, began when Black students protested being taught in Afrikaans, the language of the white government.
But for the deaf community, apartheid also coincided with a global movement pushing a teaching method called "oralism," which rejected sign languages in favor of teaching deaf children to read lips and mimic spoken language.
In apartheid South Africa, most white deaf children attended schools where they were told to sit on their hands, and punished if they were caught using sign language with their peers. As a result, many older white deaf South Africans like Du Toit's parents still communicate in a hybrid of signing, lip reading, and spoken language.
Ironically, however, Black deaf children were generally allowed to sign in their segregated schools because "sign languages were seen as inferior, just as Black people were seen as inferior," Njeyiyana says.
By the time apartheid ended in the mid-1990s, oralism had fallen out of favor around the world for suppressing deaf culture's most essential element – its language.
That meant that as one of the first Black students at a formerly all-white deaf school in Johannesburg in the 1990s, Njeyiyana says she saw a strange reversal of South Africa's typical racial hierarchy.
"The white kids were just sponges [as they learned] to sign from the Black children," she says. "Because we had the advantage of being connected to our deaf identity and culture through our language, and many of them did not."
In the years since, SASL has jostled for recognition with South Africa's 11 official languages. But though the country's constitution makes a nod to "sign language," without status as an official language, its users say they are on unequal footing with other South Africans.
For instance, while there is an organization that accredits SASL interpreters, they are not required to register with it. That sometimes has lead to humiliating errors.
In 2013, at a memorial service for late president Nelson Mandela, an interpreter hired by the government stood beside dignitaries including Barack Obama, making random gestures – the equivalent of gibberish — as they spoke.
"The deaf community is in outrage," wrote Bruno Druchen, national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) in a statement at the time. "It is a total mockery of the language."
Since then, SASL advocates say, government has been more cautious about the interpreters it hires, but without a standardized way to vet and accredit them, advocates for the deaf community say low quality interpretation remains an issue.
Both Du Toit and Gebashe say they are aware of their responsibility to provide accurate information for deaf South Africans and frequently spend time catching up on new slang and terminology in the language – which like any other is a living, breathing thing, constantly reshaped by its users.
When the coronavirus pandemic first arrived in South Africa, for instance, the two women consulted deaf community for advice on how to sign words for new terms like coronavirus – a hand fanned out like the virus' spikes against a closed fist – and lockdown – two hands coming together like a door shutting.
YouTube
Gebashe, whose father is one of South Africa's first deaf stand-up comedians, also keeps up to date by regularly translating theater and music – which many Deaf people enjoy because of its vibrations.
"For too long, our language was cut off from developing by hearing people, and even today, few people realize how much damage was caused by that history," Njeyiyana says. "A language makes you a part of a culture. It gives you access to society. So I really feel now is our time to reclaim what was taken away from us."
Ryan Lenora Brown is a reporter based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She writes frequently about women, migration and pop culture.


npr--2020-08-30--OPINION: Public Health Leaders Deserve More Respect

As a veteran who served back-to-back tours in Iraq , I initially cringed when commentators compared the COVID-19 crisis to wartime — no bullets , no blood and no one volunteered for this .
But after my months of reporting on the pandemic , it has become painfully clear this is like war .
People are dying every day as a result of government decisions — and indecision — and the death toll is climbing with no end in sight .
Less than six months into the pandemic , COVID-19 has already killed at least 181,000 Americans , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vietnam War , and far more than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined .
We are all being asked to make sacrifices for the good of our country .
And we 're experiencing , as a nation , a deeply traumatic event .
Like war , the toll will be felt for a long time .
In California , where I live , local public health officials are leading the front lines in this battle against COVID-19 , dictating strategy , issuing orders and developing tactics to carry out that strategy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect our health and livelihoods , even if those decisions may inflict initial harm on the economy or contradict politicians and popular opinion .
But instead of being celebrated for their difficult and dangerous work , as I was , they are now facing violent threats and political attacks from those who disagree with their tactics — such as requiring masks in public and ordering businesses and parks closed to prevent the spread of infection .
When I interview them , often late at night , I hear in their voices that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with war : exhaustion , anxiety and devotion to duty .
`` We 've become easy scapegoats for people 's fear and anxiety during COVID-19 , '' said Dr. Gail Newel , the health officer for Santa Cruz County , who continues to face threats for issuing public health orders .
The latest — a menacing email sent to her in late July calling her a `` communist bitch '' — prompted local law enforcement to recommend she get a guard dog and firearm to protect herself .
`` That weighs very heavily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't imagine the burden .
Although many of us serving in Iraq disagreed with the war , we remained dedicated to our mission and enjoyed broad support at home .
I joined the military as a U.S. Army reservist in 1999 and was deployed on active duty to Iraq in early 2003 , when it truly was like the Wild West .
Serving first as logistics clerk and then the acting supply sergeant for a military police company out of San Jose , Calif. , I helped ensure my military brothers and sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ W. Bush administration sent us to Iraq , for example , it did so without armoring our Humvees — a major failure that elevated our risk of being blown up by roadside explosives .
I returned home in July 2004 and spent years putting the battlefield behind me as I transitioned to a career in journalism .
But living through COVID-19 has resurrected those feelings of being at war .
Now , just like then , there is an overall sense of fear and uncertainty because we do n't know when the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go about our lives as we once did and we yearn for the comforts we took for granted .
We miss our loved ones we ca n't see .
We must remain hypervigilant to potential threats , and even make sure to don our `` armor '' when we leave our homes — except now it 's masks and gloves instead of helmets and flak jackets .
There 's something that happens when you 're in a conflict zone — the air feels heavier .
You can feel threats all around you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's deep anxiety for what the future holds , and you wonder whether you 'll be alive next week or next month .
Public health officers are shouldering the added anxiety that duty brings .
For much of the pandemic , elected leaders have pushed responsibility — and blame — of reopening largely onto health officers in counties and states , who have worked for months without days off , giving up time with their families to attack this crisis head-on .
I have interviewed dozens of these local and county health officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tears while talking with me , and worry chokes their voices as they lament problems with testing or explain how they do n't have enough supplies or contact tracers to safely reopen .
They felt rushed into lifting stay-at-home restrictions in May and June , yet they had no choice in the face of pressure from politicians and suffering residents and businesses .
After years of severe underfunding , public health agencies do n't have the money or resources to deploy an adequate response .
They 're also wrestling with the guilt and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect people 's lives and livelihoods .
`` It has been hard on all of us , '' acknowledged Sacramento County 's health officer , Dr. Olivia Kasirye .
`` We 're getting phone calls daily from people saying they 're going bankrupt and they ca n't pay their rent and they have loved ones who are dying that they ca n't see . ''
I know how that feels , having been conflicted about our long-term strategy in the Middle East and the harm we inadvertently inflicted on innocent civilians .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people I signed up to protect .
Public health officials have become targets of aggressive and personal attacks .
Some have seen their photos smeared with Hitler mustaches , while others have had their personal phone numbers and home addresses circulated publicly , prompting the need for round-the-clock security .
`` Imagine treating American soldiers and military families with the kind of hatred and disrespect that local health officers are facing , '' said Dr. Charity Dean , unprompted , a day after she left her job as one of the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom 's administration .
`` They 're the ones taking all the risk , and it makes me angry to see how they 've been treated . ''
Since the start of the pandemic , at least eight career public health officials in California have resigned , and more are considering it .
But most are soldiering on .
Mimi Hall , Newel 's boss and Santa Cruz County 's top public health official , told me law enforcement is investigating a threatening letter addressed to her that was allegedly signed by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hall considered retiring early .
But she did n't want to abandon her troops and was n't going to let fear stop her from doing her job .
So she had a perimeter fence and home security system installed over the weekend — and reported for work promptly Monday morning .
Yes , we are waging a life-or-death battle in which innocent people are hurt , but it 's these battle-scarred public health officers who are making deeply personal sacrifices to steer us to safety .
We commemorate military leaders with medals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officials with the same level of appreciation ?
This story was produced by Kaiser Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .
Angela Hart , correspondent for California Healthline , covers California health politics and policy in Sacramento and around the state .

Opinion: Public Health Leaders Deserve More Respect
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images
As a veteran who served back-to-back tours in Iraq, I initially cringed when commentators compared the COVID-19 crisis to wartime — no bullets, no blood and no one volunteered for this.
But after my months of reporting on the pandemic, it has become painfully clear this is like war. People are dying every day as a result of government decisions — and indecision — and the death toll is climbing with no end in sight.
Less than six months into the pandemic, COVID-19 has already killed at least 181,000 Americans, more than triple the number who died in the Vietnam War, and far more than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
We are all being asked to make sacrifices for the good of our country. And we're experiencing, as a nation, a deeply traumatic event. Like war, the toll will be felt for a long time.
In California, where I live, local public health officials are leading the front lines in this battle against COVID-19, dictating strategy, issuing orders and developing tactics to carry out that strategy. Every day, they make gut-wrenching calls to protect our health and livelihoods, even if those decisions may inflict initial harm on the economy or contradict politicians and popular opinion.
But instead of being celebrated for their difficult and dangerous work, as I was, they are now facing violent threats and political attacks from those who disagree with their tactics — such as requiring masks in public and ordering businesses and parks closed to prevent the spread of infection.
When I interview them, often late at night, I hear in their voices that familiar mix of emotions that often come with war: exhaustion, anxiety and devotion to duty.
"We've become easy scapegoats for people's fear and anxiety during COVID-19," said Dr. Gail Newel, the health officer for Santa Cruz County, who continues to face threats for issuing public health orders.
The latest — a menacing email sent to her in late July calling her a "communist bitch" — prompted local law enforcement to recommend she get a guard dog and firearm to protect herself. "That weighs very heavily," she said.
I can't imagine the burden. Although many of us serving in Iraq disagreed with the war, we remained dedicated to our mission and enjoyed broad support at home.
I joined the military as a U.S. Army reservist in 1999 and was deployed on active duty to Iraq in early 2003, when it truly was like the Wild West.
toggle caption Angela Hart
Serving first as logistics clerk and then the acting supply sergeant for a military police company out of San Jose, Calif., I helped ensure my military brothers and sisters had proper equipment. When the George W. Bush administration sent us to Iraq, for example, it did so without armoring our Humvees — a major failure that elevated our risk of being blown up by roadside explosives.
I returned home in July 2004 and spent years putting the battlefield behind me as I transitioned to a career in journalism. But living through COVID-19 has resurrected those feelings of being at war.
Now, just like then, there is an overall sense of fear and uncertainty because we don't know when the crisis will end. We aren't free to go about our lives as we once did and we yearn for the comforts we took for granted. We miss our loved ones we can't see.
We must remain hypervigilant to potential threats, and even make sure to don our "armor" when we leave our homes — except now it's masks and gloves instead of helmets and flak jackets.
There's something that happens when you're in a conflict zone — the air feels heavier. You can feel threats all around you, just waiting to strike. There's deep anxiety for what the future holds, and you wonder whether you'll be alive next week or next month.
Public health officers are shouldering the added anxiety that duty brings. For much of the pandemic, elected leaders have pushed responsibility — and blame — of reopening largely onto health officers in counties and states, who have worked for months without days off, giving up time with their families to attack this crisis head-on.
I have interviewed dozens of these local and county health officers in California. Some have broken into tears while talking with me, and worry chokes their voices as they lament problems with testing or explain how they don't have enough supplies or contact tracers to safely reopen. They felt rushed into lifting stay-at-home restrictions in May and June, yet they had no choice in the face of pressure from politicians and suffering residents and businesses. After years of severe underfunding, public health agencies don't have the money or resources to deploy an adequate response.
They're also wrestling with the guilt and trauma that come with making decisions that affect people's lives and livelihoods.
"It has been hard on all of us," acknowledged Sacramento County's health officer, Dr. Olivia Kasirye. "We're getting phone calls daily from people saying they're going bankrupt and they can't pay their rent and they have loved ones who are dying that they can't see."
I know how that feels, having been conflicted about our long-term strategy in the Middle East and the harm we inadvertently inflicted on innocent civilians. But I can't imagine being afraid of the people I signed up to protect.
Public health officials have become targets of aggressive and personal attacks. Some have seen their photos smeared with Hitler mustaches, while others have had their personal phone numbers and home addresses circulated publicly, prompting the need for round-the-clock security.
"Imagine treating American soldiers and military families with the kind of hatred and disrespect that local health officers are facing," said Dr. Charity Dean, unprompted, a day after she left her job as one of the top public health officials in Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration. "They're the ones taking all the risk, and it makes me angry to see how they've been treated."
Since the start of the pandemic, at least eight career public health officials in California have resigned, and more are considering it. But most are soldiering on.
Mimi Hall, Newel's boss and Santa Cruz County's top public health official, told me law enforcement is investigating a threatening letter addressed to her that was allegedly signed by a far-right anti-government extremist group.
In response, Hall considered retiring early. But she didn't want to abandon her troops and wasn't going to let fear stop her from doing her job. So she had a perimeter fence and home security system installed over the weekend — and reported for work promptly Monday morning.
Yes, we are waging a life-or-death battle in which innocent people are hurt, but it's these battle-scarred public health officers who are making deeply personal sacrifices to steer us to safety.
We commemorate military leaders with medals and parades. Why not treat our public health officials with the same level of appreciation?
This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
Angela Hart, correspondent for California Healthline, covers California health politics and policy in Sacramento and around the state.


npr--2020-08-30--Massachusetts Senate Primary Pits Long-Serving Progressive Against A Kennedy

Voters in Massachusetts are facing a decision that many wish they did n't have to make .
For years , now , they 've been represented in Washington by both the scion of the country 's most famous political dynasty , Rep. Joe Kennedy III , and Sen. Ed Markey , a progressive stalwart who co-sponsored the Green New Deal .
Only one can win another term after Markey and Kennedy square off in a Democratic primary Tuesday .
When Kennedy decided to challenge Markey for his Senate seat , some Democrats in Massachusetts wondered : Why ?
`` That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Raul Silva , a 58-year-old civil engineer from Newton , the Boston suburb where Kennedy lives .
Silva has met Kennedy a couple of times and likes him .
But he likes Markey , too .
`` I think they 're both very effective legislators , and it 's unfortunate that we ca n't have both in D.C. , '' he said .
In a deep blue state , the winner of the Democratic primary is likely to take the general election in November .
Whether the victor is Markey or Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the candidates agree on most issues .
Voters like Theresa Mattus , a 73-year-old retiree from Millbury , are finding it hard to separate the two .
`` I 'm , like , 51 % Kennedy and 49 % Markey , '' she said .
Recent polls give the edge to Markey , but it 's been a close race for months .
Large-scale mail-in voting — new in Massachusetts this year because of the novel coronavirus — adds a twist .
Kennedy knows that he or his opponent could make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be too late because some voters submitted their ballots weeks ago .
`` It 's a wild thing where I 've got an Election Day that lasts a month , '' he said .
`` Every day you 're going to wake up , and somebody 's going to be casting ballots . ''
One way Kennedy has tried to make sure those ballots are for him is to criticize Markey 's record on racial justice .
Markey opposed court-ordered busing to desegregate Boston Public Schools in the 1970s and voted for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now acknowledge has contributed to mass incarceration of minorities .
Kennedy also has the endorsement of the parents of D.J .
Henry , a Black college student killed by police in 2010 , who say Markey did little to help their family .
`` If you truly are a champion for change , if you 're on the right side of social justice issues , act that way when the cameras are n't on you , '' Danroy Henry Sr. said on social media this month .
Markey has apologized for disappointing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is strong , overall .
And he has fired back at Kennedy , who as an undergrad at Stanford in the early 2000s joined Kappa Alpha , a national fraternity with deeply racist roots .
`` He 's changed his position on the racist fraternity — that 's his own words — that he was in for 20 years , and he only left that fraternity one month before this campaign , '' Markey said in a recent debate .
Kennedy has said he was previously unaware of the group 's history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Matthew Hughey , a sociologist at the University of Connecticut who has studied fraternities .
`` For someone to join KA means , to me , you do n't have a lot of Black friends , '' Hughey said .
`` Because if you had a lot of Black friends , if you had a lot of friends of color , someone would say , 'Hey , man , do you know about that organization ? '
`` Some voters complain that the sniping between Markey and Kennedy — particularly on racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I , personally , am not interested in a pissing contest between these two wealthy white men , '' said Yancey , the founder of Black Lives Matter Boston .
Markey did n't grow up with the privilege of Kennedy , but race and class are two more ways the candidates are similar today .
The contest could be decided , in part , by one of their few big differences : Kennedy is 39 .
Markey is 74 .

Massachusetts Senate Primary Pits Long-Serving Progressive Against A Kennedy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Darren McCollester/Getty Images Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Voters in Massachusetts are facing a decision that many wish they didn't have to make.
For years now, they've been represented in Washington by both the scion of the country's most famous political dynasty, Rep. Joe Kennedy III, and Sen. Ed Markey, a progressive stalwart who co-sponsored the Green New Deal.
Only one can win another term after Markey and Kennedy square off in a Democratic primary Tuesday.
When Kennedy decided to challenge Markey for his Senate seat, some Democrats in Massachusetts wondered: Why?
"That is exactly how I felt," said Raul Silva, a 58-year-old civil engineer from Newton, the Boston suburb where Kennedy lives.
Silva has met Kennedy a couple of times and likes him. But he likes Markey, too.
"I think they're both very effective legislators, and it's unfortunate that we can't have both in D.C.," he said.
In a deep blue state, the winner of the Democratic primary is likely to take the general election in November. Whether the victor is Markey or Kennedy may not make much difference on policy because the candidates agree on most issues.
Voters like Theresa Mattus, a 73-year-old retiree from Millbury, are finding it hard to separate the two.
"I'm, like, 51% Kennedy and 49% Markey," she said.
Recent polls give the edge to Markey, but it's been a close race for months.
Large-scale mail-in voting — new in Massachusetts this year because of the novel coronavirus — adds a twist.
Kennedy knows that he or his opponent could make a compelling closing argument, and it might be too late because some voters submitted their ballots weeks ago.
"It's a wild thing where I've got an Election Day that lasts a month," he said. "Every day you're going to wake up, and somebody's going to be casting ballots."
One way Kennedy has tried to make sure those ballots are for him is to criticize Markey's record on racial justice. Markey opposed court-ordered busing to desegregate Boston Public Schools in the 1970s and voted for the 1994 federal crime bill that many Democrats now acknowledge has contributed to mass incarceration of minorities.
Kennedy also has the endorsement of the parents of D.J. Henry, a Black college student killed by police in 2010, who say Markey did little to help their family.
"If you truly are a champion for change, if you're on the right side of social justice issues, act that way when the cameras aren't on you," Danroy Henry Sr. said on social media this month.
Markey has apologized for disappointing the Henrys but insists his civil rights record is strong, overall.
And he has fired back at Kennedy, who as an undergrad at Stanford in the early 2000s joined Kappa Alpha, a national fraternity with deeply racist roots.
"He's changed his position on the racist fraternity — that's his own words — that he was in for 20 years, and he only left that fraternity one month before this campaign," Markey said in a recent debate.
Kennedy has said he was previously unaware of the group's history. But his former membership remains problematic, said Matthew Hughey, a sociologist at the University of Connecticut who has studied fraternities.
"For someone to join KA means, to me, you don't have a lot of Black friends," Hughey said. "Because if you had a lot of Black friends, if you had a lot of friends of color, someone would say, 'Hey, man, do you know about that organization?' "
Some voters complain that the sniping between Markey and Kennedy — particularly on racial justice — has been frustrating to watch.
Count Daunasia Yancey among them.
"I, personally, am not interested in a pissing contest between these two wealthy white men," said Yancey, the founder of Black Lives Matter Boston.
Markey didn't grow up with the privilege of Kennedy, but race and class are two more ways the candidates are similar today.
The contest could be decided, in part, by one of their few big differences: Kennedy is 39. Markey is 74.


npr--2020-08-30--1 Killed In Portland Amid Clashes Between Pro-Trump Caravan And Counterprotesters

1 Killed In Portland Amid Clashes Between Pro-Trump Caravan And Counterprotesters A man was fatally shot during a night of confrontations between Trump supporters and counterprotesters in Portland , Ore. , on Saturday , the latest high-profile incident in a city that has seen nightly demonstrations for three consecutive months .
On Sunday , city leaders denounced the violence while President Trump criticized their ability to contain it .
Hundreds of cars participating in a pro-Trump caravan made their way through the city starting late in the afternoon , clashing sporadically with counterprotesters along the route .
Police say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly before 9 p.m. local time as a homicide .
`` It is still early in this investigation , and I ask everyone to give the detectives time to do their important work before drawing conclusions about what took place , '' Police Chief Chuck Lovell said in a statement .
`` This violence is completely unacceptable and we are working diligently to find and apprehend the individual or individuals responsible . ''
Participants of the `` Trump 2020 Cruise Rally '' gathered at the suburban Clackamas Town Center mall earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Facebook event page encouraged attendees to carry concealed firearms rather than openly carry firearms , and designated a route on highways outside of downtown Portland .
The Associated Press reported that 600 cars were present , and police said the line of vehicles `` stretched for miles . ''
As many of those cars and pickup trucks strayed from the route and headed downtown , police said , vehicle occupants and pedestrians periodically exchanged words , occasionally broke into fights and got into some minor collisions .
Videos circulating on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pepper spray from their vehicles .
In one incident , a car ran over a bicycle , prompting police to investigate .
Counterprotesters can be seen yelling at the Trump supporters and , in one case , throwing eggs .
Other videos show more violent clashes between caravan vehicles and protesters on foot trying to block them .
Portland police said they made 10 arrests as a result of the disturbances , most on charges of disorderly conduct .
According to police , officers responded to a shooting downtown at 8:46 p.m. to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who had a gunshot wound in his chest .
Medical responders determined that he was deceased .
Oregon Public Broadcasting and other news outlets have reported that the victim was wearing a `` Thin Blue Line '' patch on his shorts , indicating support for the police , and a hat with the logo of the far-right group `` Patriot Prayer . ''
OPB reporter Jonathan Levinson told NPR 's Weekend Edition on Sunday that the group often comes to Portland to demonstrate , and has a `` reputation for engaging in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not release information about the victim or any suspects and asked anyone with relevant information to get in touch .
Protesters have taken to the streets of Portland for nightly demonstrations against racism and police violence since the police shooting of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 .
Protests intensified in July after the Trump administration deployed federal agents to the city , which local officials said only inflamed tensions .
Many federal agents have since left the streets .
Far-right protesters have emerged on the scene in recent weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to express support for the police and the president did so wearing body armor and armed with weapons ranging from baseball bats to firearms .
Attendants included members of the Proud Boys , a far-right group of self-described `` western chauvinists . ''
Their confrontations with counterprotesters from anti-fascist groups have turned physical and even violent .
One pro-police demonstrator pulled a gun on opposing protesters at one point .
Reaction to the shooting on Sunday was swift , particularly from President Trump , who posted and shared several tweets criticizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal intervention .
`` The big backlash going on in Portland can not be unexpected after 95 days of watching [ an ] incompetent Mayor admit that he has no idea what he is doing , '' reads one tweet .
`` The people of Portland wo n't put up with no safety any longer .
The Mayor is a FOOL .
Bring in the National Guard ! ''
Trump also shared a video on Saturday morning of the caravan heading into Portland , commenting `` GREAT PATRIOTS ! ''
The president invoked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Convention on Thursday , attempting to link `` rioting , looting , arson and violence '' with Democratic leadership in several cities that have seen protests against racial injustice and police brutality this summer .
On Friday , Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler wrote a letter responding to Trump 's repeated offer to send federal law enforcement to the city , writing , `` On behalf of the City of Portland : No thanks . ''
Wheeler rejected what he called Trump 's `` politics of division and demagoguery , '' saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacefully and anyone who does commit criminal acts will be apprehended and prosecuted .
Wheeler slammed Trump again at a press conference on Sunday afternoon , blaming the president for stoking divisions and hate .
He cited the president 's history of derogatory remarks towards Black people , women , disabled people , journalists , Democratic mayors and other `` institutions of democracy '' as proof .
`` You 've tried to divide us more than any other figure in modern history , '' Wheeler said , addressing the president directly .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the violence that you helped create . ''
Wheeler called on Portlanders to denounce violence and work together to push for concrete reforms .
He also urged anyone planning to come into the city to `` seek retribution '' to stay away .
Also at the press conference , Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said he could not release additional details to `` protect the integrity of the case , '' but urged people to refrain from conjecture and jumping to conclusions .
Lovell , along with Wheeler and Multnomah County District Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to violence and division , stressing that it takes away from the gains nonviolent protesters are hoping to make .
Trump doubled down on his insults in a series of tweets on Sunday afternoon , including one calling Wheeler a `` dummy . ''
Earlier on Sunday , Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf had also criticized local and state officials ' handling of protests in Portland .
In an appearance on ABC 's This Week , Wolf accused state and local officials of `` not allowing law enforcement to do their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night after night after night to a close . ''
Wolf also told CBS ' Face the Nation that local leaders should ask for federal help if they do n't have the `` ability or resources '' to put an end to violent protest activity .
Wheeler also faced criticism from local progressive and left-wing groups , who called for him to resign on Sunday and blamed the mayor for not taking far-right protest groups seriously enough .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden issued a statement on Sunday afternoon strongly condemning the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence . ''
`` I condemn violence of any kind by anyone , whether on the left or the right , '' Biden said .
`` And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same .
It does not matter if you find the political views of your opponents abhorrent , any loss of life is a tragedy . ''

1 Killed In Portland Amid Clashes Between Pro-Trump Caravan And Counterprotesters
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nathan Howard/Getty Images Nathan Howard/Getty Images
A man was fatally shot during a night of confrontations between Trump supporters and counterprotesters in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, the latest high-profile incident in a city that has seen nightly demonstrations for three consecutive months. On Sunday, city leaders denounced the violence while President Trump criticized their ability to contain it.
Hundreds of cars participating in a pro-Trump caravan made their way through the city starting late in the afternoon, clashing sporadically with counterprotesters along the route.
Police say they are investigating a shooting that took place shortly before 9 p.m. local time as a homicide.
"It is still early in this investigation, and I ask everyone to give the detectives time to do their important work before drawing conclusions about what took place," Police Chief Chuck Lovell said in a statement. "This violence is completely unacceptable and we are working diligently to find and apprehend the individual or individuals responsible."
Participants of the "Trump 2020 Cruise Rally" gathered at the suburban Clackamas Town Center mall earlier in the afternoon before driving into Portland. Posts on the Facebook event page encouraged attendees to carry concealed firearms rather than openly carry firearms, and designated a route on highways outside of downtown Portland.
The Associated Press reported that 600 cars were present, and police said the line of vehicles "stretched for miles."
As many of those cars and pickup trucks strayed from the route and headed downtown, police said, vehicle occupants and pedestrians periodically exchanged words, occasionally broke into fights and got into some minor collisions.
Videos circulating on social media show caravan participants shooting paintballs and pepper spray from their vehicles. In one incident, a car ran over a bicycle, prompting police to investigate. Counterprotesters can be seen yelling at the Trump supporters and, in one case, throwing eggs.
Other videos show more violent clashes between caravan vehicles and protesters on foot trying to block them.
Portland police said they made 10 arrests as a result of the disturbances, most on charges of disorderly conduct.
According to police, officers responded to a shooting downtown at 8:46 p.m. to find a small group gathered around a man who had a gunshot wound in his chest. Medical responders determined that he was deceased.
Oregon Public Broadcasting and other news outlets have reported that the victim was wearing a "Thin Blue Line" patch on his shorts, indicating support for the police, and a hat with the logo of the far-right group "Patriot Prayer."
OPB reporter Jonathan Levinson told NPR's Weekend Edition on Sunday that the group often comes to Portland to demonstrate, and has a "reputation for engaging in violence during these protests."
Police did not release information about the victim or any suspects and asked anyone with relevant information to get in touch.
Protesters have taken to the streets of Portland for nightly demonstrations against racism and police violence since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
Protests intensified in July after the Trump administration deployed federal agents to the city, which local officials said only inflamed tensions. Many federal agents have since left the streets.
Far-right protesters have emerged on the scene in recent weeks. Last weekend, protesters who had shown up to express support for the police and the president did so wearing body armor and armed with weapons ranging from baseball bats to firearms. Attendants included members of the Proud Boys, a far-right group of self-described "western chauvinists."
Their confrontations with counterprotesters from anti-fascist groups have turned physical and even violent. One pro-police demonstrator pulled a gun on opposing protesters at one point.
Reaction to the shooting on Sunday was swift, particularly from President Trump, who posted and shared several tweets criticizing the city's Democratic leadership and calling for federal intervention.
"The big backlash going on in Portland cannot be unexpected after 95 days of watching [an] incompetent Mayor admit that he has no idea what he is doing," reads one tweet. "The people of Portland won't put up with no safety any longer. The Mayor is a FOOL. Bring in the National Guard!"
Trump also shared a video on Saturday morning of the caravan heading into Portland, commenting "GREAT PATRIOTS!"
The president invoked the protests in Portland at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, attempting to link "rioting, looting, arson and violence" with Democratic leadership in several cities that have seen protests against racial injustice and police brutality this summer.
On Friday, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler wrote a letter responding to Trump's repeated offer to send federal law enforcement to the city, writing, "On behalf of the City of Portland: No thanks."
Wheeler rejected what he called Trump's "politics of division and demagoguery," saying that tens of thousands of Portlanders have protested peacefully and anyone who does commit criminal acts will be apprehended and prosecuted.
Wheeler slammed Trump again at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, blaming the president for stoking divisions and hate. He cited the president's history of derogatory remarks towards Black people, women, disabled people, journalists, Democratic mayors and other "institutions of democracy" as proof.
"You've tried to divide us more than any other figure in modern history," Wheeler said, addressing the president directly. "And now you want me to stop the violence that you helped create."
Wheeler called on Portlanders to denounce violence and work together to push for concrete reforms. He also urged anyone planning to come into the city to "seek retribution" to stay away.
Also at the press conference, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said he could not release additional details to "protect the integrity of the case," but urged people to refrain from conjecture and jumping to conclusions.
Lovell, along with Wheeler and Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, called for an end to violence and division, stressing that it takes away from the gains nonviolent protesters are hoping to make.
Trump doubled down on his insults in a series of tweets on Sunday afternoon, including one calling Wheeler a "dummy."
Earlier on Sunday, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf had also criticized local and state officials' handling of protests in Portland.
In an appearance on ABC's This Week, Wolf accused state and local officials of "not allowing law enforcement to do their job and really to bring this violent activity night after night after night to a close."
Wolf also told CBS' Face the Nation that local leaders should ask for federal help if they don't have the "ability or resources" to put an end to violent protest activity.
Wheeler also faced criticism from local progressive and left-wing groups, who called for him to resign on Sunday and blamed the mayor for not taking far-right protest groups seriously enough.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden issued a statement on Sunday afternoon strongly condemning the shooting and slamming Trump for "recklessly encouraging violence."
"I condemn violence of any kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right," Biden said. "And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same. It does not matter if you find the political views of your opponents abhorrent, any loss of life is a tragedy."


npr--2020-08-30--Democrats Say Change In Election Security Briefings Is 'Outrageous'

Democrats Say Change In Election Security Briefings Is 'Outrageous' Congressional Democrats are calling the director of national intelligence 's cancellation of additional in-person election security briefings `` outrageous , '' after the change was announced on Friday .
Election Day is about nine weeks away .
Congress will still be briefed on election security by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence , but through written reports instead of verbal briefings .
In a letter to congressional leaders , John Ratcliffe — a former Texas Republican congressman who was confirmed as director of national intelligence in May — wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure , to the maximum extent possible , that the information ODNI provides the Congress ... is not misunderstood nor politicized . ''
President Trump said Saturday that Ratcliffe was ending the briefings in order to prevent leaks .
The change comes just weeks after a top counterintelligence official warned about ongoing interference and influence efforts by Russia , China and Iran .
Democrats , including Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi , a member of the House Intelligence Committee , say the in-person briefings allow Congress to ask necessary questions and assess the tone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence community .
`` I think it 's outrageous , '' Krishnamoorthi told Weekend Edition Sunday .
`` The fact that they would prevent further in-person briefings means that they want us not to be able to question career public servants about the intelligence that backs up this assessment of Russian interference , press for additional information about it and , quite frankly , ask how can we do more to combat it . ''
Addressing the counterintelligence report that Russia is again trying to influence the upcoming presidential election , Krishnamoorthi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 and using different tactics this year .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , both California Democrats , released a joint statement on Saturday saying the change `` is a shocking abdication of its lawful responsibility to keep the Congress currently informed , and a betrayal of the public 's right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy . ''
Schiff , appearing on CNN 's State of the Union , said there is a possibility that Congress could subpoena U.S. intelligence officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will compel the intelligence community to give Congress the information that we need .
We will compel the intelligence community also to speak plainly to the American people , '' Schiff said .
`` And the American people ought to know what Russia is doing , they ought to know their president is unwilling to stand up to Vladimir Putin . ''
On Face the Nation on Sunday , Chad Wolf , the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security , said his department does intend to continue to brief Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that much of what they deal with is unclassified information .
He says the change by the ODNI is `` not about limiting access , this is about providing the information to Congress — they 're going to do that in a different format . ''
When asked about the leaks that Trump cited as a reason for Ratcliffe 's decision , both Krishnamoorthi and Schiff said that while leaks being used for political gain is a legitimate concern , they do not consider that to be the case in this situation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration `` trying to create a chilling effect within the intelligence community . ''
`` They do n't want people to tell the truth , they want to muzzle them , '' he said , adding that the announcement `` just invites the suspicion that once again , they 're trying to invite that foreign interference . ''
Sen. Mark Warner , D-Va. , who is the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee , also criticized the decision on Saturday , saying in a tweet that the committee `` does not and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief Congress in the 66 days ahead of the election . ''
`` What it appears to me , is that Ratcliffe is trying to control the flow of information , '' Warner told NPR 's All Things Considered on Sunday .
`` Not have intelligence professionals be able to brief .
We all know , the way you get information is the back and forth questioning that goes on in the normal course of congressional oversight .
He is refusing to have that congressional oversight . ''
Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee , also released a statement on the changes , saying past leaks have hurt the relationship between the intelligence community and Congress .
Rubio did not say he would take any action to push for in-person briefings again , but that he still expects intelligence officials to keep Congress informed .

Democrats Say Change In Election Security Briefings Is 'Outrageous'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/AP Patrick Semansky/AP
Updated at 8:08 p.m. ET
Congressional Democrats are calling the director of national intelligence's cancellation of additional in-person election security briefings "outrageous," after the change was announced on Friday. Election Day is about nine weeks away.
Congress will still be briefed on election security by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, but through written reports instead of verbal briefings.
In a letter to congressional leaders, John Ratcliffe — a former Texas Republican congressman who was confirmed as director of national intelligence in May — wrote that he believes the change "helps ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the information ODNI provides the Congress ... is not misunderstood nor politicized."
President Trump said Saturday that Ratcliffe was ending the briefings in order to prevent leaks.
The change comes just weeks after a top counterintelligence official warned about ongoing interference and influence efforts by Russia, China and Iran.
Democrats, including Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, say the in-person briefings allow Congress to ask necessary questions and assess the tone and urgency of any threats from the intelligence community.
"I think it's outrageous," Krishnamoorthi told Weekend Edition Sunday. "The fact that they would prevent further in-person briefings means that they want us not to be able to question career public servants about the intelligence that backs up this assessment of Russian interference, press for additional information about it and, quite frankly, ask how can we do more to combat it."
Addressing the counterintelligence report that Russia is again trying to influence the upcoming presidential election, Krishnamoorthi said Russians are using lessons they learned from 2016 and using different tactics this year.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, both California Democrats, released a joint statement on Saturday saying the change "is a shocking abdication of its lawful responsibility to keep the Congress currently informed, and a betrayal of the public's right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy."
Schiff, appearing on CNN's State of the Union, said there is a possibility that Congress could subpoena U.S. intelligence officials to testify about election interference.
"We will compel the intelligence community to give Congress the information that we need. We will compel the intelligence community also to speak plainly to the American people," Schiff said. "And the American people ought to know what Russia is doing, they ought to know their president is unwilling to stand up to Vladimir Putin."
On Face the Nation on Sunday, Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said his department does intend to continue to brief Congress on cyber threats to election infrastructure and that much of what they deal with is unclassified information. He says the change by the ODNI is "not about limiting access, this is about providing the information to Congress — they're going to do that in a different format."
When asked about the leaks that Trump cited as a reason for Ratcliffe's decision, both Krishnamoorthi and Schiff said that while leaks being used for political gain is a legitimate concern, they do not consider that to be the case in this situation.
Krishnamoorthi says this change is the Trump administration "trying to create a chilling effect within the intelligence community."
"They don't want people to tell the truth, they want to muzzle them," he said, adding that the announcement "just invites the suspicion that once again, they're trying to invite that foreign interference."
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who is the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also criticized the decision on Saturday, saying in a tweet that the committee "does not and will not accept ODNI's refusal to brief Congress in the 66 days ahead of the election."
"What it appears to me, is that Ratcliffe is trying to control the flow of information," Warner told NPR's All Things Considered on Sunday. "Not have intelligence professionals be able to brief. We all know, the way you get information is the back and forth questioning that goes on in the normal course of congressional oversight. He is refusing to have that congressional oversight."
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the acting chair of the intelligence committee, also released a statement on the changes, saying past leaks have hurt the relationship between the intelligence community and Congress. Rubio did not say he would take any action to push for in-person briefings again, but that he still expects intelligence officials to keep Congress informed.
NPR's Christianna Silva contributed reporting.


npr--2020-08-30--Mayors Of College Towns Brace For The Economic Impact Of Remote Learning

Mayors Of College Towns Brace For The Economic Impact Of Remote Learning Across the country , colleges and universities are struggling to decide how to teach students in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Some schools have turned to remote learning ; some have attempted to reopen campus with various precautions in place .
Others are trying a mix of both .
For the municipalities that are host to colleges and universities , these decisions can be costly .
Whether it 's curtailing the spread of the virus in their communities , or losing the typical influx of student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities and towns are bracing for a challenge .
In South Bend , Ind .
earlier this month , the University of Notre Dame paused in-person classes for undergraduate students until at least Sept. 2 after more than 100 students tested positive for the virus after just a week of classes .
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also moved classes online after 130 students tested positive in the first week .
And as of Saturday , more than 1,300 students , employees and staff have tested positive at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has employed a combination of in-person and hybrid courses .
`` The rise we 've seen in recent days is unacceptable , and if unchecked , threatens our ability to complete the rest of the semester on campus , '' University of Alabama president Stuart Bell said at a press conference this past week .
`` Now is the time for action . ''
Whatever steps the university takes could take a heavy toll on the economic reality of Tuscaloosa .
Mayor Walt Maddox told NPR 's Weekend Edition that losing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economically disastrous for our community . ''
`` That 's why we had to take some extraordinary measures within the city as the university did on campus to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus , '' Maddox said .
`` We closed down the bars and we eliminated bar service in restaurants . ''
As one of the largest state schools in the country , the University of Alabama carries outsize influence on the Tuscaloosa economy .
With a student population of about 38,000 , the university makes up a sizeable portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not all college towns are as dependent on their universities for economic success .
Mayor Donnie Tuck of Hampton , Va. , which serves as the home of Hampton University , said many students go to neighboring cities for entertainment , or live in nearby towns , `` so there 's not the same economic impact . ''
The historically Black university will be completely remote this year , and while Tuck says the economic toll may not be as severe , `` there is that sense of loss of energy that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campus , the athletic events and the cultural events .
It is much quieter . ''
In Iowa City , the University of Iowa is pushing ahead with in-person classes .
Mayor Bruce Teague says the key to handling the pandemic in his city while the university continues to allow in-person classes `` is going to be educating relentlessly and constantly , sending out messages so that they know , hey , let 's try to figure out solutions together in hopes of keeping everybody safe in our community . ''
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to school will be `` difficult , '' and he anticipates that it will be an ongoing battle .
`` I think in the end it 's going to be very difficult , especially on college campuses , because as students return and then as we see the emergence of the flu season , I think you 're going to continue to see this spread , '' Maddox said .
`` Let 's all remember , the experts were telling us in April and May , summer is when you get your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Tuscaloosa and it does n't sound like it 's happened for Hampton or Iowa City as well . ''
This story was produced for radio by Hiba Ahmad and Samantha Balaban and edited by Ed McNulty .

Mayors Of College Towns Brace For The Economic Impact Of Remote Learning
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wesley Hitt/Getty Images Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Across the country, colleges and universities are struggling to decide how to teach students in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some schools have turned to remote learning; some have attempted to reopen campus with various precautions in place. Others are trying a mix of both.
For the municipalities that are host to colleges and universities, these decisions can be costly. Whether it's curtailing the spread of the virus in their communities, or losing the typical influx of student spending that arrives each fall, these cities and towns are bracing for a challenge.
In South Bend, Ind. earlier this month, the University of Notre Dame paused in-person classes for undergraduate students until at least Sept. 2 after more than 100 students tested positive for the virus after just a week of classes.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also moved classes online after 130 students tested positive in the first week. And as of Saturday, more than 1,300 students, employees and staff have tested positive at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, a school that has employed a combination of in-person and hybrid courses.
"The rise we've seen in recent days is unacceptable, and if unchecked, threatens our ability to complete the rest of the semester on campus," University of Alabama president Stuart Bell said at a press conference this past week. "Now is the time for action."
Whatever steps the university takes could take a heavy toll on the economic reality of Tuscaloosa. Mayor Walt Maddox told NPR's Weekend Edition that losing an entire semester of school would be "economically disastrous for our community."
"That's why we had to take some extraordinary measures within the city as the university did on campus to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus," Maddox said. "We closed down the bars and we eliminated bar service in restaurants."
As one of the largest state schools in the country, the University of Alabama carries outsize influence on the Tuscaloosa economy. With a student population of about 38,000, the university makes up a sizeable portion of Tuscaloosa's 100,000 residents.
But not all college towns are as dependent on their universities for economic success.
Mayor Donnie Tuck of Hampton, Va., which serves as the home of Hampton University, said many students go to neighboring cities for entertainment, or live in nearby towns, "so there's not the same economic impact." The historically Black university will be completely remote this year, and while Tuck says the economic toll may not be as severe, "there is that sense of loss of energy that the students bring and certainly with the activities on campus, the athletic events and the cultural events. It is much quieter."
In Iowa City, the University of Iowa is pushing ahead with in-person classes. Mayor Bruce Teague says the key to handling the pandemic in his city while the university continues to allow in-person classes "is going to be educating relentlessly and constantly, sending out messages so that they know, hey, let's try to figure out solutions together in hopes of keeping everybody safe in our community."
In Tuscaloosa, Maddox said that this transition back to school will be "difficult," and he anticipates that it will be an ongoing battle.
"I think in the end it's going to be very difficult, especially on college campuses, because as students return and then as we see the emergence of the flu season, I think you're going to continue to see this spread," Maddox said. "Let's all remember, the experts were telling us in April and May, summer is when you get your break. Well that hasn't happened for Tuscaloosa and it doesn't sound like it's happened for Hampton or Iowa City as well."
This story was produced for radio by Hiba Ahmad and Samantha Balaban and edited by Ed McNulty.


npr--2020-08-30--Coronavirus Cases Top 25 Million Globally As India Emerges As A New Epicenter

Coronavirus Cases Top 25 Million Globally As India Emerges As A New Epicenter The number of cases of the coronavirus has now passed 25 million worldwide .
The milestone happened Sunday , fueled by a surge of more than 78,000 cases in India on Saturday .
The spread of the virus in India has grown in recent weeks , with daily cases there now outpacing both the United States and Brazil , according to tracking data from Johns Hopkins University .
In all , India has now registered more than 3.5 million cases and more than 63,000 deaths .
Global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite the growing caseload in India , the United States continues to lead the world in both cases ( more than 5.9 million ) and deaths ( nearly 183,000 ) .
On Saturday , the U.S. reported 47,153 new cases — making it the sixth day in a row the country has seen an increase in cases , according to The Wall Street Journal .
India went into a total lockdown in March when Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered all 1.3 billion of the country 's people to remain inside their homes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country had barely recorded 500 cases of the virus and 10 deaths .
That lockdown was then extended .
When it was over , the outbreak was considered relatively under control .
But the damage to the economy was devastating for many and ultimately led to an easing of restrictions .
Since then , the virus has surged , and despite the increase , the government continues to take steps to return to normal — including the reopening of underground trains and plans for limited sporting and religious events next month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only country seeing an increase in cases since lifting lockdown restrictions .
France is also experiencing a sharp increase in cases since it began coming out of lockdown in mid-May .
Since July , cases have been on the rise , and some restrictions are being implemented again .
In Paris , face coverings are once again mandated in all public places .
Masks are also required throughout the country on public transportation and in stores , and starting Sept. 1 , all employees in workplaces will have to wear them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rise in cases after winning early plaudits for controlling the virus .
NPR 's Anthony Kuhn reports that the uptick in cases there is partially the result of an exhausted populace , distrust of the government and a faltering economy .
Officials are working once again to flatten the curve , but progress is expected to be slow .

Coronavirus Cases Top 25 Million Globally As India Emerges As A New Epicenter
Enlarge this image toggle caption Arun Sankar/AFP via Getty Images Arun Sankar/AFP via Getty Images
The number of cases of the coronavirus has now passed 25 million worldwide.
The milestone happened Sunday, fueled by a surge of more than 78,000 cases in India on Saturday. The spread of the virus in India has grown in recent weeks, with daily cases there now outpacing both the United States and Brazil, according to tracking data from Johns Hopkins University.
In all, India has now registered more than 3.5 million cases and more than 63,000 deaths. Global deaths now total more than 843,000.
Despite the growing caseload in India, the United States continues to lead the world in both cases (more than 5.9 million) and deaths (nearly 183,000).
On Saturday, the U.S. reported 47,153 new cases — making it the sixth day in a row the country has seen an increase in cases, according to The Wall Street Journal.
India went into a total lockdown in March when Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered all 1.3 billion of the country's people to remain inside their homes for three weeks. At the time, the country had barely recorded 500 cases of the virus and 10 deaths.
That lockdown was then extended. When it was over, the outbreak was considered relatively under control. But the damage to the economy was devastating for many and ultimately led to an easing of restrictions.
Since then, the virus has surged, and despite the increase, the government continues to take steps to return to normal — including the reopening of underground trains and plans for limited sporting and religious events next month, according to Reuters.
India is not the only country seeing an increase in cases since lifting lockdown restrictions. France is also experiencing a sharp increase in cases since it began coming out of lockdown in mid-May. Since July, cases have been on the rise, and some restrictions are being implemented again.
In Paris, face coverings are once again mandated in all public places. Masks are also required throughout the country on public transportation and in stores, and starting Sept. 1, all employees in workplaces will have to wear them.
South Korea is also trying to tackle a rise in cases after winning early plaudits for controlling the virus. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports that the uptick in cases there is partially the result of an exhausted populace, distrust of the government and a faltering economy. Officials are working once again to flatten the curve, but progress is expected to be slow.


npr--2020-08-30--Chadwick Boseman In His Own Words

Chadwick Boseman In His Own Words

Chadwick Boseman In His Own Words In his movie roles , Chadwick Boseman was praised for bringing dignity and humanity to icons in the fight for racial justice — figures like Jackie Robinson , Thurgood Marshall and James Brown .
He also inspired millions as the superhero Black Panther .
Off-screen , Boseman was beloved as a role model in his own right — a star who overcame early obstacles to become a voice of encouragement , especially to young Black people .
He spoke often about the contributions of his predecessors , including those he portrayed on screen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding success as a Black man in America .
Boseman died Friday after battling colon cancer for four years .
He was 43 .
Boseman graduated from Howard University in 2000 and returned in 2018 to give the commencement address at the historically Black university .
He spoke of getting fired from an early acting role because he questioned the show 's producers about it playing on stereotypes .
`` Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how you need to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2018 .
`` Whatever you choose for a career path , remember , the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose , '' he said .
`` When I dared to challenge the system that would relegate us to victims and stereotypes with no clear historical backgrounds , no hopes or talents , when I questioned that method of portrayal , a different path opened up for me , the path to my destiny . ''
On being `` young , gifted and Black '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office hit , Black Panther was praised for its positive portrayal of Africans , featuring a Black superhero as its star , with a mostly Black cast and a Black director .
The film won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards .
Boseman gave the acceptance speech .
`` To be young , gifted and Black , we all know what it 's like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are young , gifted and Black .
We know what it 's like to be told to say there is not a screen for you to be featured on , a stage for you to be featured on .
`` We know what it 's like to be a tail and not the head .
We know what it 's like to be beneath and not above .
And that is what we went to work with every day because we knew , not that we would be around during awards season and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we knew that we had something special that we wanted to give the world .
That we could be full human beings in the roles that we were playing .
That we could create a world that exemplified a world that we wanted to see . ''
In one of his early roles to garner broad acclaim , Boseman played Jackie Robinson , who endured racist attacks , physical and verbal , for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947 .
Boseman told NPR in 2013 that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted `` to do right by the family '' and not disappoint Robinson 's widow , Rachel Robinson .
As part of the movie , Boseman had to hear the racist language that Robinson endured .
`` You do get angry , '' hearing it , he told NPR in 2013 .
`` And you do feel , in a slice of that reality , somewhat like he would feel .
And it 's an incredible amount of courage to deal with that . ''
Boseman portrayed the man who became the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2017 film Marshall .
It takes place in 1941 , when Marshall was a young lawyer with the NAACP .
He was defending a Black man who was accused of raping a white woman in Connecticut .
Boseman told NPR in 2017 that he understood Marshall at this period of his life was `` a man about town .
He 's a man who enjoys life .
... And he is putting that on the line to go fight in places where he 's not wanted . ''
NPR 's Michel Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew up in an era of legalized racial discrimination .
`` I 'm from Anderson , S.C. , but I grew up in the South , '' Boseman responded .
`` So I know what it is to ride to school and have Confederate flags flying from trucks in front of me and behind me , to see a parking lot full of people with Confederate flags and know what that means .
I 've been stopped by police for no reason .
I 've been called 'boy ' and 'nigger ' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Along with the great hospitality that is in the South , that is part of it . ''
Boseman on multiple occasions told the story of how when he was a student at Howard , he got the opportunity to do a summer program to study theater at Oxford in England .
Boseman and some other classmates could n't afford to pay for the program .
But his teacher at Howard , Phylicia Rashad , was able to gather some funds from some of her friends .
He later found out his `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor on the planet , '' Denzel Washington .
`` There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington , '' he told an audience gathered to present Washington with an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019 .
`` And not just because of me , but my whole cast , that generation stands on your shoulders . ''
On Friday , Washington remembered Boseman as `` a gentle soul and a brilliant artist , who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career .
God @ @ @ @ @

Chadwick Boseman In His Own Words
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa O'Connor/AFP via Getty Images Lisa O'Connor/AFP via Getty Images
Editor's note: This story contains a racial slur.
In his movie roles, Chadwick Boseman was praised for bringing dignity and humanity to icons in the fight for racial justice — figures like Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and James Brown. He also inspired millions as the superhero Black Panther.
Off-screen, Boseman was beloved as a role model in his own right — a star who overcame early obstacles to become a voice of encouragement, especially to young Black people. He spoke often about the contributions of his predecessors, including those he portrayed on screen, and was open about his own challenges finding success as a Black man in America.
Boseman died Friday after battling colon cancer for four years. He was 43.
On challenging stereotypes
Boseman graduated from Howard University in 2000 and returned in 2018 to give the commencement address at the historically Black university. He spoke of getting fired from an early acting role because he questioned the show's producers about it playing on stereotypes.
"Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how you need to fight it," he told the class of 2018.
"Whatever you choose for a career path, remember, the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose," he said. "When I dared to challenge the system that would relegate us to victims and stereotypes with no clear historical backgrounds, no hopes or talents, when I questioned that method of portrayal, a different path opened up for me, the path to my destiny."
Howard University via YouTube
On being "young, gifted and Black" in Hollywood
In addition to being a box office hit, Black Panther was praised for its positive portrayal of Africans, featuring a Black superhero as its star, with a mostly Black cast and a Black director.
The film won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Boseman gave the acceptance speech.
"To be young, gifted and Black, we all know what it's like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured," he said. "Yet, you are young, gifted and Black. We know what it's like to be told to say there is not a screen for you to be featured on, a stage for you to be featured on.
"We know what it's like to be a tail and not the head. We know what it's like to be beneath and not above. And that is what we went to work with every day because we knew, not that we would be around during awards season and that it would make a billion dollars, but we knew that we had something special that we wanted to give the world. That we could be full human beings in the roles that we were playing. That we could create a world that exemplified a world that we wanted to see."
TNT via YouTube
On Jackie Robinson
In one of his early roles to garner broad acclaim, Boseman played Jackie Robinson, who endured racist attacks, physical and verbal, for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947.
Boseman told NPR in 2013 that he took the role seriously, because he wanted "to do right by the family" and not disappoint Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson.
As part of the movie, Boseman had to hear the racist language that Robinson endured.
"You do get angry," hearing it, he told NPR in 2013. "And you do feel, in a slice of that reality, somewhat like he would feel. And it's an incredible amount of courage to deal with that."
On Thurgood Marshall
Boseman portrayed the man who became the country's first Black Supreme Court Justice in the 2017 film Marshall. It takes place in 1941, when Marshall was a young lawyer with the NAACP. He was defending a Black man who was accused of raping a white woman in Connecticut.
Boseman told NPR in 2017 that he understood Marshall at this period of his life was "a man about town. He's a man who enjoys life. ... And he is putting that on the line to go fight in places where he's not wanted."
NPR's Michel Martin asked Boseman about portraying Marshall, who grew up in an era of legalized racial discrimination.
"I'm from Anderson, S.C., but I grew up in the South," Boseman responded. "So I know what it is to ride to school and have Confederate flags flying from trucks in front of me and behind me, to see a parking lot full of people with Confederate flags and know what that means. I've been stopped by police for no reason. I've been called 'boy' and 'nigger' and everything else that you could imagine. Along with the great hospitality that is in the South, that is part of it."
Movie Interviews Actor Chadwick Boseman On His New Role As 'Marshall' Actor Chadwick Boseman On His New Role As 'Marshall' Listen · 7:30 7:30
On Denzel Washington
Boseman on multiple occasions told the story of how when he was a student at Howard, he got the opportunity to do a summer program to study theater at Oxford in England. Boseman and some other classmates couldn't afford to pay for the program. But his teacher at Howard, Phylicia Rashad, was able to gather some funds from some of her friends. He later found out his "benefactor was none other than the dopest actor on the planet," Denzel Washington.
"There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington," he told an audience gathered to present Washington with an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019. "And not just because of me, but my whole cast, that generation stands on your shoulders."
On Friday, Washington remembered Boseman as "a gentle soul and a brilliant artist, who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career. God bless Chadwick Boseman."


npr--2020-08-30--Coronavirus Maps: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Maps : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 5.5 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 180,000 have died .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily .
Some state outbreaks are worse than others .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on new daily cases per capita .
These color-coded risk levels were developed by a consortium of researchers and public health experts .
The group advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
Orange states may need to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and both yellow and green states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
Since then , new cases have fallen from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 600 per day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see totals and per capita figures around the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid August , California , Florida and Texas have surpassed New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends state by state , the table below shows the change in average new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over week for the last 28 days .
States marked in shades of red are showing growth , those in shades of green , are showing declines .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
In early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers until the JHU team was able to reconcile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn contributed to and Carmel Wroth edited this story .

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-08-30--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

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

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