npr--2020-06-08--Trump To Restart Political Rallies This Month Despite Coronavirus Pandemic

Trump To Restart Political Rallies This Month Despite Coronavirus Pandemic President Trump this month will begin hitting the road once again to make his pitch for reelection in the 2020 White House race , despite the deadly coronavirus pandemic , which continues to wreak havoc on the lives and livelihoods of households across the country .
`` Americans are ready to get back to action and so is President Trump .
The Great American Comeback is real and the rallies will be tremendous .
You 'll again see the kind of crowds and enthusiasm that Sleepy Joe Biden can only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parscale said in a statement provided to NPR .
Trump is set to attend an in-person fundraiser for the first time since pandemic restrictions went into place in Dallas on Thursday .
The news that the president would begin holding rallies in the next two weeks was first reported by Politico on Monday .
The Politico report , which the campaign confirms as accurate , also said Trump 's political advisers are still determining where to hold rallies and what safety protocols to put in place .
The Trump campaign did not comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including whether masks and temperature checks would be mandated for entry .
But in line with the president 's well-documented affinity for branded merchandise , `` Make America Great Again '' masks are a possibility , as floated by Parscale in a tweet last month .
The president has made no secret of the restlessness he 's felt in the executive mansion since the start of the coronavirus crisis .
At an event last month in Michigan — one of a handful of outings the White House arranged to mark the soft relaunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump expressed his contempt at the idea of holding socially distanced rallies with mandatory empty seating and said he would plan to hold large outdoor rallies in states like Georgia or Florida — `` whoever opens up first . ''
`` Since the day I came down the escalator with our future First Lady , we 've never had an empty seat .
You know that .
And we 'd have thousands of people we sent away .
And I think the demand now , from what we see , is greater than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to go to certain states where we 're able to — look , I do n't want to have a stadium where you 're supposed to have a person and then seven empty seats , and then another person .
So we might do some outdoor big ones , '' Trump said last month .
`` The demand has been incredible to get going with the rallies .
I just hear the music in the background .
I 'm saying , we 've had rallies like nobody has ever had , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that . ''
Trump also had a spat with the city of Charlotte and the governor of North Carolina , during which he threatened to move the Republican National Convention after local officials refused to allow packed arenas .
Public experts continue to warn against large gatherings of people , even as the country has begun in the past several weeks to reopen the economy .
The coronavirus crisis has already killed more than 100,000 people in the United States — the highest number of fatalities of any country in the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House 's own guidelines , gatherings of more than 10 people should be avoided .
In Phase Two , congregations should be kept to no more than 50 people .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , Trump 's rival in the Nov. 3 presidential election , has spent most of the past few months in isolation at his home in Delaware .
He has left for a few appearances and held a number of virtual events and fundraisers , and has offered to debate Trump , either in person or remotely @

Trump To Restart Political Rallies This Month Despite Coronavirus Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images Alex Wong/Getty Images
President Trump this month will begin hitting the road once again to make his pitch for reelection in the 2020 White House race, despite the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which continues to wreak havoc on the lives and livelihoods of households across the country.
"Americans are ready to get back to action and so is President Trump. The Great American Comeback is real and the rallies will be tremendous. You'll again see the kind of crowds and enthusiasm that Sleepy Joe Biden can only dream of," campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement provided to NPR.
Trump is set to attend an in-person fundraiser for the first time since pandemic restrictions went into place in Dallas on Thursday.
The news that the president would begin holding rallies in the next two weeks was first reported by Politico on Monday. The Politico report, which the campaign confirms as accurate, also said Trump's political advisers are still determining where to hold rallies and what safety protocols to put in place.
The Trump campaign did not comment on the specifics of safety protocols, including whether masks and temperature checks would be mandated for entry. But in line with the president's well-documented affinity for branded merchandise, "Make America Great Again" masks are a possibility, as floated by Parscale in a tweet last month.
The president has made no secret of the restlessness he's felt in the executive mansion since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
At an event last month in Michigan — one of a handful of outings the White House arranged to mark the soft relaunch of the president's travel schedule — Trump expressed his contempt at the idea of holding socially distanced rallies with mandatory empty seating and said he would plan to hold large outdoor rallies in states like Georgia or Florida — "whoever opens up first."
"Since the day I came down the escalator with our future First Lady, we've never had an empty seat. You know that. And we'd have thousands of people we sent away. And I think the demand now, from what we see, is greater than ever before. We're going to have to go to certain states where we're able to — look, I don't want to have a stadium where you're supposed to have a person and then seven empty seats, and then another person. So we might do some outdoor big ones," Trump said last month.
"The demand has been incredible to get going with the rallies. I just hear the music in the background. I'm saying, we've had rallies like nobody has ever had, and we would love to get back to that."
Trump also had a spat with the city of Charlotte and the governor of North Carolina, during which he threatened to move the Republican National Convention after local officials refused to allow packed arenas.
Public experts continue to warn against large gatherings of people, even as the country has begun in the past several weeks to reopen the economy. The coronavirus crisis has already killed more than 100,000 people in the United States — the highest number of fatalities of any country in the world.
In Phase One of reopening, per the White House's own guidelines, gatherings of more than 10 people should be avoided. In Phase Two, congregations should be kept to no more than 50 people.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump's rival in the Nov. 3 presidential election, has spent most of the past few months in isolation at his home in Delaware. He has left for a few appearances and held a number of virtual events and fundraisers, and has offered to debate Trump, either in person or remotely.
Tamara Keith contributed to this report.


npr--2020-06-08--Even In A Pandemic, WHO Believes That Public Protests Are Important

Even In A Pandemic , WHO Believes That Public Protests Are Important In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic , the World Health Organization took time at its daily press conference to address another pressing issue : the wave of protests against police violence and racial injustice .
The demonstrations began in the U.S. when George Floyd died on May 25 after a police officer had pressed a knee into his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while detaining him in Minneapolis .
The protests are now spreading around the world to Europe , Africa and other regions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ global movement against racism .
We reject discrimination of all kinds , '' said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on June 8 .
The demonstrations have prompted fear that the close contact of thousands of marchers could lead to a spike in case counts — which hit a new high on Sunday , with 136,000 cases reported that day .
Modelers say it 's difficult to assess how the protests will influence COVID-19 infections .
Because COVID-19 generally has an incubation time of up to two weeks , public health officials think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they see the impact .
But it 's clear that a key ingredient for transmission is present at many of these rallies : close contact .
The images of protesters standing shoulder to shoulder — some wearing face masks , others not — raise concerns , especially in cities with higher rates of infection .
To that end , Tedros recommends that protesters follow the guidance of local health officials and take precautions to protect themselves from the novel coronavirus .
`` We encourage all those protesting around the world to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clean your hands , cover your cough and wear a mask if you attend a protest . ''
He also advised people to maintain a safe distance from others — and to stay home if they are sick .
`` The riskiest situation to be in is to be in close proximity to a case , particularly a symptomatic case , of COVID-19 , '' said Michael Ryan , director of WHO 's health emergencies program at the Monday press conference , so healthy people protesting next to one another may not meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
However , it 's become clear to researchers that the new coronavirus can be spread by people who are n't showing symptoms of it .
`` Local public health official [ s ] , on the basis of abundance of caution , could advise people either to quarantine or to get tested [ after attending a mass gathering ] , '' Ryan said .
Local officials have expressed similar worries about the interplay of the protests and the pandemic .
Last week Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the streets `` could mean for spikes in our coronavirus cases later . ''
She urged protesters to consider their exposure and consider being tested .
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced free tests for demonstrators .
Officials in Atlanta and New York have suggested testing as well .
`` Testing everyone that participated in demonstrations would be useful in communities where many new cases are being reported every day .
These new cases indicate that transmission is occurring at a high rate in the communities , '' said Bill Miller , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said an alternative to testing everyone would be active contact tracing .
`` With new cases , the tracers could ask about demonstration participation , including days and times , '' Miller said .
Then , if cases are linked to a demonstration , a call could go out to get everyone who participated in that event to be tested .
Being outdoors seems to reduce the risk of exposure because the virus ca n't survive long in sunlight and there 's better air circulation , but it 's no guarantee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some activities linked with the protests — such as riding public transportation to attend rallies or getting arrested and jailed indoors with others — could increase a person 's risk of getting exposed to the virus .
Meanwhile , protests are expected to continue in the days ahead .
George Floyd 's burial service will take place on Tuesday at a private service in Houston .

Even In A Pandemic, WHO Believes That Public Protests Are Important
Enlarge this image Matteo Nardone/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Matteo Nardone/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization took time at its daily press conference to address another pressing issue: the wave of protests against police violence and racial injustice. The demonstrations began in the U.S. when George Floyd died on May 25 after a police officer had pressed a knee into his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while detaining him in Minneapolis.
The protests are now spreading around the world to Europe, Africa and other regions.
"WHO fully supports equality and the global movement against racism. We reject discrimination of all kinds," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on June 8.
The demonstrations have prompted fear that the close contact of thousands of marchers could lead to a spike in case counts — which hit a new high on Sunday, with 136,000 cases reported that day.
Modelers say it's difficult to assess how the protests will influence COVID-19 infections. Because COVID-19 generally has an incubation time of up to two weeks, public health officials think it will take a couple of weeks before they see the impact.
But it's clear that a key ingredient for transmission is present at many of these rallies: close contact. The images of protesters standing shoulder to shoulder — some wearing face masks, others not — raise concerns, especially in cities with higher rates of infection.
To that end, Tedros recommends that protesters follow the guidance of local health officials and take precautions to protect themselves from the novel coronavirus. "We encourage all those protesting around the world to do so safely," he said, "Clean your hands, cover your cough and wear a mask if you attend a protest." He also advised people to maintain a safe distance from others — and to stay home if they are sick.
"The riskiest situation to be in is to be in close proximity to a case, particularly a symptomatic case, of COVID-19," said Michael Ryan, director of WHO's health emergencies program at the Monday press conference, so healthy people protesting next to one another may not meet the definition of coming in contact with the disease.
However, it's become clear to researchers that the new coronavirus can be spread by people who aren't showing symptoms of it. "Local public health official[s], on the basis of abundance of caution, could advise people either to quarantine or to get tested [after attending a mass gathering]," Ryan said.
Local officials have expressed similar worries about the interplay of the protests and the pandemic. Last week Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was concerned about what mass gatherings in the streets "could mean for spikes in our coronavirus cases later." She urged protesters to consider their exposure and consider being tested.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced free tests for demonstrators. Officials in Atlanta and New York have suggested testing as well.
"Testing everyone that participated in demonstrations would be useful in communities where many new cases are being reported every day. These new cases indicate that transmission is occurring at a high rate in the communities," said Bill Miller, an epidemiologist and physician at Ohio State University.
He said an alternative to testing everyone would be active contact tracing. "With new cases, the tracers could ask about demonstration participation, including days and times," Miller said. Then, if cases are linked to a demonstration, a call could go out to get everyone who participated in that event to be tested.
Being outdoors seems to reduce the risk of exposure because the virus can't survive long in sunlight and there's better air circulation, but it's no guarantee against infection. Health experts warn that some activities linked with the protests — such as riding public transportation to attend rallies or getting arrested and jailed indoors with others — could increase a person's risk of getting exposed to the virus.
Meanwhile, protests are expected to continue in the days ahead. George Floyd's burial service will take place on Tuesday at a private service in Houston.


npr--2020-06-08--Louisville Youth Question Mayor Over Response To Breonna Taylor's Killing

Louisville youth confronted Mayor Greg Fischer on Sunday , pressing for answers about whether he values Black lives and why he waited so long to speak out on the police killing of Breonna Taylor .
A Facebook Live video posted by Lavel White , a filmmaker and city employee , captured about 20 young adults asking Fischer questions and demanding he answer .
Darryl Young , who works with youth through his job at the Muhammad Ali Center , served as an informal liaison to get the group together to meet with Rev .
Jesse Jackson , who arrived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against police violence .
Young said the group included members of the city 's Youth Implementation Team and other young adults from Louisville .
The Youth Implementation Team is made up of 14- to 24-year-olds who advise the mayor for a year and `` have an opportunity to learn to increase advocacy skills and be more civically engaged in their communities , '' according to the city .
The video , which is no longer visible on Facebook , lasts about seven and a half minutes , though the meeting started about half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Young said Jackson came in first and addressed the group for about 10 minutes .
Then he left , and Fischer entered .
The video appears to capture the second half of his conversation with the group .
`` Why were you silent for two months on Breonna Taylor 's murder ? ''
one young woman asked the mayor .
Fischer paused for six seconds before responding .
`` Louisville was amongst the first cities in the country to put out , 24 hours after every officer-involved shooting , everything that we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did that on Breonna 's case as well . ''
`` No .
Your ass was not on any media news station denouncing these racist police officers , '' she said .
`` This continually keeps happening .
Do you just think Black and brown people are disposable , especially Black people ? ''
She demanded he answer .
He said , `` Of course not . ''
`` Then why do you act like it ?
'Cause your actions speaks louder than words , '' she said .
`` Well , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Fischer said .
He started another sentence that was immediately drowned out by the group .
`` If you want to take care of our community , then actually listen to them , '' another youth said .
`` Are you tired because you 've been going through s*** for a couple days ? ''
another youth asked .
`` We tired .
We go through this s*** every day . ''
They raised concerns about everything from the curfew implemented — then lifted — during protests last week , to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the Federal Building calling for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to be abolished .
Thousands have taken to Louisville streets to protest against police violence and demand justice for Taylor , who was killed by police during a middle-of-the-night raid that was focused on a different person who lived elsewhere .
The youth criticized Fischer for what they saw as surface-level conversations designed to make him look good in the media .
`` You 've been using us for photo ops for years , '' one exclaimed .
Young , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that was the tone of the whole interaction .
He said he agreed with the point about photo ops .
`` I think that was a sentiment by a lot of people in the room , '' Young said .
Fischer left the room after about 15 minutes .
The youth spent the next 20 minutes working on a list of demands , and when Fischer returned , they read them to him and asked him to simply listen instead of responding , Young said .
He said they asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recruit more social workers to respond to domestic disputes and mental health crises , rather than having police do that .
They also asked that he fire and charge the police officers who killed Taylor .
They also asked for another meeting before the end of the month .
Young said he expects that to happen .
`` People do n't want to just hear , well , this is the process or this is how things have to operate , '' Young said .
`` I think people want answers now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the group also asked whether police would still have a large portion of the city 's budget in the next budget .
Fischer said , yes , `` they 'll still have a bulk of the money . ''
He started talking about more money going toward the Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and the nonprofit Evolve502 , then he was cut off .
`` You had all this money but you did n't have money to help the people most affected by coronavirus — Black people have been disproportionately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Louisville has projected a budget shortfall of $ 69 million for the fiscal year ending in July 2021 , and officials say cuts may be necessary .
Fischer proposed continuing this year 's budget while details about federal aid and the scope of the losses become clearer .
The Metro Council is working on and will pass a budget by the end of the month .
On Sunday evening , Jean Porter , a spokesperson for the mayor , issued a statement on Fischer 's meeting with the group of youth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published on WFPL.org .

Louisville Youth Question Mayor Over Response To Breonna Taylor's Killing
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brett Carlsen/Getty Images Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Louisville youth confronted Mayor Greg Fischer on Sunday, pressing for answers about whether he values Black lives and why he waited so long to speak out on the police killing of Breonna Taylor.
A Facebook Live video posted by Lavel White, a filmmaker and city employee, captured about 20 young adults asking Fischer questions and demanding he answer.
Darryl Young, who works with youth through his job at the Muhammad Ali Center, served as an informal liaison to get the group together to meet with Rev. Jesse Jackson, who arrived in Louisville Saturday to join protests and speak against police violence. Young said the group included members of the city's Youth Implementation Team and other young adults from Louisville.
The Youth Implementation Team is made up of 14- to 24-year-olds who advise the mayor for a year and "have an opportunity to learn to increase advocacy skills and be more civically engaged in their communities," according to the city.
The video, which is no longer visible on Facebook, lasts about seven and a half minutes, though the meeting started about half an hour earlier, at 1 p.m. Young said Jackson came in first and addressed the group for about 10 minutes. Then he left, and Fischer entered. The video appears to capture the second half of his conversation with the group.
"Why were you silent for two months on Breonna Taylor's murder?" one young woman asked the mayor.
Fischer paused for six seconds before responding.
"Louisville was amongst the first cities in the country to put out, 24 hours after every officer-involved shooting, everything that we know," he said. "We did that on Breonna's case as well."
The young woman who asked immediately pushed back.
"No. Your ass was not on any media news station denouncing these racist police officers," she said. "This continually keeps happening. Do you just think Black and brown people are disposable, especially Black people?"
She demanded he answer. He said, "Of course not."
"Then why do you act like it? 'Cause your actions speaks louder than words," she said.
"Well, I'm sorry they do to you," Fischer said. He started another sentence that was immediately drowned out by the group.
"If you want to take care of our community, then actually listen to them," another youth said.
"Are you tired because you've been going through s*** for a couple days?" another youth asked. "We tired. We go through this s*** every day."
They raised concerns about everything from the curfew implemented — then lifted — during protests last week, to the city's response in 2018 to protests outside the Federal Building calling for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to be abolished.
Thousands have taken to Louisville streets to protest against police violence and demand justice for Taylor, who was killed by police during a middle-of-the-night raid that was focused on a different person who lived elsewhere.
The youth criticized Fischer for what they saw as surface-level conversations designed to make him look good in the media.
National 'Love, Support For One Another, Resistance': What Protests Look Like In Louisville 'Love, Support For One Another, Resistance': What Protests Look Like In Louisville Listen · 7:24 7:24
"You've been using us for photo ops for years," one exclaimed.
Young, who is also running for the Metro Council, said that was the tone of the whole interaction. He said he agreed with the point about photo ops.
"I think that was a sentiment by a lot of people in the room," Young said.
Fischer left the room after about 15 minutes. The youth spent the next 20 minutes working on a list of demands, and when Fischer returned, they read them to him and asked him to simply listen instead of responding, Young said.
He said they asked for the city to divest from police, and recruit more social workers to respond to domestic disputes and mental health crises, rather than having police do that. They also asked that he fire and charge the police officers who killed Taylor.
They also asked for another meeting before the end of the month. Young said he expects that to happen.
"People don't want to just hear, well, this is the process or this is how things have to operate," Young said. "I think people want answers now."
In the video, some members of the group also asked whether police would still have a large portion of the city's budget in the next budget.
Fischer said, yes, "they'll still have a bulk of the money." He started talking about more money going toward the Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and the nonprofit Evolve502, then he was cut off.
"You had all this money but you didn't have money to help the people most affected by coronavirus — Black people have been disproportionately affected," one young woman said.
Louisville has projected a budget shortfall of $69 million for the fiscal year ending in July 2021, and officials say cuts may be necessary. Fischer proposed continuing this year's budget while details about federal aid and the scope of the losses become clearer. The Metro Council is working on and will pass a budget by the end of the month.
On Sunday evening, Jean Porter, a spokesperson for the mayor, issued a statement on Fischer's meeting with the group of youth, via email:
"The Mayor appreciated bringing several youth together with Reverend Jesse Jackson earlier today. They shared their anger and their pain, and the Mayor acknowledged the gulf between where we are and where we need to be. Young people are at the forefront of the protests, and the Mayor believes they must be at the forefront of the transformation necessary for our city, state and nation to move forward. He has pledged to work with them to make it happen."
This story was originally published on WFPL.org.


npr--2020-06-08--Trump Says He's Considering Ideas For Policing 'In A Much More Gentle Fashion'

Trump Says He 's Considering Ideas For Policing 'In A Much More Gentle Fashion' President Trump on Monday rejected calls to disband or defund police departments as a response to massive protests against police brutality , sparked by the May 25 killing of George Floyd by police .
`` Sometimes you 'll see some horrible things , like we witnessed recently , '' Trump said .
`` Ninety-nine percent of them are great , great people . ''
`` The police are doing an incredible job , '' Trump said , citing crime statistics .
`` We 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it better and how we can do it if possible in a much more gentle fashion . ''
Trump made his comments while meeting with police union and other law enforcement officials Monday at the White House , along with U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and some of his top aides .
The White House has said Trump is considering proposals to respond to Floyd 's death , but it has not provided details on the substance or timing of those ideas .
Earlier Monday , congressional Democrats unveiled sweeping legislation aimed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although it 's not clear what , if any , bills could advance in the Republican-controlled Senate .
The comments come in contrast to Trump 's law-and-order campaign — a stance he has echoed as president .
In 2017 , he told an audience of law enforcement officers , `` Please do n't be too nice '' when arresting people .
Last week , in response to the protests , he encouraged governors to deploy National Guard units , he said , `` in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and order , '' he said .

Trump Says He's Considering Ideas For Policing 'In A Much More Gentle Fashion'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump on Monday rejected calls to disband or defund police departments as a response to massive protests against police brutality, sparked by the May 25 killing of George Floyd by police.
"Sometimes you'll see some horrible things, like we witnessed recently," Trump said. "Ninety-nine percent of them are great, great people."
"The police are doing an incredible job," Trump said, citing crime statistics. "We're going to talk about ideas how we can do it better and how we can do it if possible in a much more gentle fashion."
Trump made his comments while meeting with police union and other law enforcement officials Monday at the White House, along with U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and some of his top aides.
The White House has said Trump is considering proposals to respond to Floyd's death, but it has not provided details on the substance or timing of those ideas.
Earlier Monday, congressional Democrats unveiled sweeping legislation aimed at preventing abusive conduct by law enforcement, although it's not clear what, if any, bills could advance in the Republican-controlled Senate.
The comments come in contrast to Trump's law-and-order campaign — a stance he has echoed as president. In 2017, he told an audience of law enforcement officers, "Please don't be too nice" when arresting people. Last week, in response to the protests, he encouraged governors to deploy National Guard units, he said, "in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets."
"I am your president of law and order," he said.


npr--2020-06-08--Work Is Started On Removing Damaged Scaffolding Around Notre Dame Cathedral

Work Is Started On Removing Damaged Scaffolding Around Notre Dame Cathedral Workers in Paris began removing large sections of damaged scaffolding from the exterior of Notre Dame cathedral this week .
The scaffolding had initially been placed on the cathedral 's old spire for renovation , but was caught in a 2019 blaze that destroyed the spire and roof .
Construction on the historic cathedral began in 1163 and finished in 1345 .
Thousands throughout France mourned the cathedral 's partial destruction .
In all , the workers are set to remove around 200 tons of the scaffolding .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in areas because of the heat of the blaze , according to a report from the Associated Press .
French President Emmanuel Macron had proposed in 2019 to rebuild the cathedral in five years .
Work was slated to begin this March , but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It 's the last check-up before open-heart surgery , '' Christophe-Charles Rousselot of the Notre-Dame Foundation told Reuters .
`` The rope workers will swing from tube to tube to cut up the scaffolding .
...
It is an extremely complicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared for months . ''
According to the Reuters report , church officials are aiming for the cathedral to be open for Mass by 2024 when the city is scheduled to host the Olympics .

Work Is Started On Removing Damaged Scaffolding Around Notre Dame Cathedral
Enlarge this image toggle caption Thibault Camus/AP Thibault Camus/AP
Workers in Paris began removing large sections of damaged scaffolding from the exterior of Notre Dame cathedral this week.
The scaffolding had initially been placed on the cathedral's old spire for renovation, but was caught in a 2019 blaze that destroyed the spire and roof.
Construction on the historic cathedral began in 1163 and finished in 1345. Thousands throughout France mourned the cathedral's partial destruction.
In all, the workers are set to remove around 200 tons of the scaffolding. Some pieces are thought to have melted together in areas because of the heat of the blaze, according to a report from the Associated Press. French President Emmanuel Macron had proposed in 2019 to rebuild the cathedral in five years. Work was slated to begin this March, but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's the last check-up before open-heart surgery," Christophe-Charles Rousselot of the Notre-Dame Foundation told Reuters."The rope workers will swing from tube to tube to cut up the scaffolding. ... It is an extremely complicated, very delicate operation that has been prepared for months."
According to the Reuters report, church officials are aiming for the cathedral to be open for Mass by 2024 when the city is scheduled to host the Olympics.


npr--2020-06-08--Much Of The Stimulus Aid Sent To States Hasn't Gone Where It's Needed Most

Much Of The Stimulus Aid Sent To States Has n't Gone Where It 's Needed Most On the edge of the Mississippi River , the small historic city of Kimmswick , Mo .
has an archaeological site with mastodon bones , Levee High Apple Pie at its famous Blue Owl Restaurant , and a volunteer mayor , Phil Stang .
What it does n't have right now is money .
`` They think I 'm kidding but I 'm not , '' Stang says .
`` I [ will ] have to go and do crazy electronic stuff like GoFundMe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... something . ''
Kimmswick was already digging out after spending $ 150,000 on last year 's historic flooding .
But with the cancellation of the town 's Strawberry Festival this month , and the fall Apple Butter Festival now in question , Stang needs $ 250,000 to keep the city operating .
`` I 've said over and over and over again , I want a grant , '' he says .
`` And I do n't want much with all these trillions and gazillions running around . ''
Congress sent more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and cities two months ago .
Yet much of that money has failed to make it to places that need it .
A review by NPR has found in some cases , states and counties – which are strapped in their own right – are holding onto the money .
Some states like Vermont , Mississippi and Alabama are locked in heated debates over who gets to spend the money .
Other states are struggling with how to spend the money , trying to understand pages of complex rules and restrictions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hesitate , officials in many cities and towns nationwide say they have been left out altogether .
Stang 's county offered to share some of its federal funding with Kimmswick but required the mayor to spend city money first and get paid back later — even for protective equipment .
`` Well whoop-de-doo , '' Stang says .
`` I have n't got any money to fight the pandemic .
My fight of the pandemic is go in your house and stay there . ''
Congress allocated $ 1.25 billion to each state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depending on the state 's population .
But states ca n't use the money to fill budget shortfalls .
The money has to be used on a COVID expense .
The result is states like Alaska and Montana with large economic woes but few COVID cases ca n't shift funds .
At the same time , cities and towns with thousands of COVID cases have been left out altogether .
`` We have not received any dollars yet , '' said Natasha Love Rogers , the chief operating officer for Newark , N.J. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act went to our county . ''
That 's because another rule says only places such as cities or counties with more than 500,000 people can get direct funding from the federal government .
Newark has more than 7,000 COVID cases and around 600 deaths , but only 282,000 people .
`` People will have to be furloughed or laid off , '' Rogers says , `` and now you 're decreasing the amount of emergency personnel that are needed to deliver the emergency services during the emergency .
So we 're getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's no simple remedy that would allow Newark to get more funding .
The rules sent out by the Department of Treasury say states and counties `` should '' pass the money down to their local communities .
But the rules do n't say `` shall , '' which in government speak means they do n't really have to .
`` Yeah , that does n't do us much good , '' said Colin Wellenkamp , executive director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative , which represents 96 cities from Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 5 million Americans , but all but one of those 96 cities was shut out .
`` Five hundred thousand is a really high bar , '' Wellenkamp says .
`` Not even the city of New Orleans meets that . ''
For those places that do get money , puzzling restrictions await , says Brad Gair , a former federal coordinating officer for FEMA and a principal at Witt O'Brien 's , an emergency management firm .
`` Everyone is confused , '' he says .
`` They 're frustrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has helped the governments and communities manage dozens of disasters including 9/11 , Katrina and Hurricane Sandy .
But he says he 's never seen this kind of complexity .
Recently , Gair set up a free webinar to help counties understand the rules .
More than 1,000 counties dialed in .
`` What is unusual in my experience ever is to have that same 1,000 there at the end of an hour-long call , '' he said .
`` There are hundreds and hundreds of cities and towns that are n't even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs and they do n't have time to figure it out . ''
San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley does have the time and the know-how , but even they are struggling .
This is `` the most complicated Rubix cube of financing we have ever had to solve and we are really good at solving that kind of stuff , '' says Kip Harkness , deputy city manager for San Jose .
San Jose has more than 500,000 people , so it got a direct grant from the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says they are still working through the night trying to understand the rules .
They recently discovered , for example , that they can use the money to feed homeless people within the city 's borders , but they ca n't spend the money on homeless people one block over in the county .
`` We 're not allowed to spend our CARES Act money in other jurisdictions , '' he says .
`` We 're having to navigate a complex bureaucracy whereas in any other disaster this would be a shared responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government to step in and assist . ''
Mayor Phil Stang , planning a lemonade stand in Kimmswick , says that particular rule is a shame .
`` There 's a song about that : 'Do You Know The Way To San Jose , ' '' he says laughing , `` and if they happened to have $ 250,000 in a bag out there , I 'll be happy to travel out there and bring it back . ''
Many cities will also be coping with the economic fallout from continued protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some mayors may be looking to move federal money from one crisis over to the next .
But , that along with pages of other rules , is not allowed .

Much Of The Stimulus Aid Sent To States Hasn't Gone Where It's Needed Most
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Roberson/AP Jeff Roberson/AP
On the edge of the Mississippi River, the small historic city of Kimmswick, Mo. has an archaeological site with mastodon bones, Levee High Apple Pie at its famous Blue Owl Restaurant, and a volunteer mayor, Phil Stang.
What it doesn't have right now is money.
"They think I'm kidding but I'm not," Stang says. "I [will] have to go and do crazy electronic stuff like GoFundMe pages, or start a lemonade stand ... something."
Kimmswick was already digging out after spending $150,000 on last year's historic flooding. But with the cancellation of the town's Strawberry Festival this month, and the fall Apple Butter Festival now in question, Stang needs $250,000 to keep the city operating.
"I've said over and over and over again, I want a grant," he says. "And I don't want much with all these trillions and gazillions running around."
Congress sent more than $150 billion in aid to states and cities two months ago. Yet much of that money has failed to make it to places that need it.
A review by NPR has found in some cases, states and counties – which are strapped in their own right – are holding onto the money. Some states like Vermont, Mississippi and Alabama are locked in heated debates over who gets to spend the money.
Loading...
Other states are struggling with how to spend the money, trying to understand pages of complex rules and restrictions that have slowed government spending.
While they hesitate, officials in many cities and towns nationwide say they have been left out altogether. Stang's county offered to share some of its federal funding with Kimmswick but required the mayor to spend city money first and get paid back later — even for protective equipment.
"Well whoop-de-doo," Stang says. "I haven't got any money to fight the pandemic. My fight of the pandemic is go in your house and stay there."
Congress allocated $1.25 billion to each state and then gave some states more, depending on the state's population. But states can't use the money to fill budget shortfalls. The money has to be used on a COVID expense.
The result is states like Alaska and Montana with large economic woes but few COVID cases can't shift funds.
At the same time, cities and towns with thousands of COVID cases have been left out altogether.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Roberson/AP Jeff Roberson/AP
"We have not received any dollars yet," said Natasha Love Rogers, the chief operating officer for Newark, N.J. "The federal dollars from the Cares Act went to our county."
That's because another rule says only places such as cities or counties with more than 500,000 people can get direct funding from the federal government. Newark has more than 7,000 COVID cases and around 600 deaths, but only 282,000 people.
"People will have to be furloughed or laid off," Rogers says, "and now you're decreasing the amount of emergency personnel that are needed to deliver the emergency services during the emergency. So we're getting into a funnel here."
There's no simple remedy that would allow Newark to get more funding. The rules sent out by the Department of Treasury say states and counties "should" pass the money down to their local communities. But the rules don't say "shall," which in government speak means they don't really have to.
"Yeah, that doesn't do us much good," said Colin Wellenkamp, executive director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, which represents 96 cities from Minnesota to Louisiana.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mary Altaffer/AP Mary Altaffer/AP
The cities account for more than 5 million Americans, but all but one of those 96 cities was shut out. "Five hundred thousand is a really high bar," Wellenkamp says. "Not even the city of New Orleans meets that."
For those places that do get money, puzzling restrictions await, says Brad Gair, a former federal coordinating officer for FEMA and a principal at Witt O'Brien's, an emergency management firm.
"Everyone is confused," he says. "They're frustrated and they're worried."
Gair has helped the governments and communities manage dozens of disasters including 9/11, Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. But he says he's never seen this kind of complexity. Recently, Gair set up a free webinar to help counties understand the rules. More than 1,000 counties dialed in.
"What is unusual in my experience ever is to have that same 1,000 there at the end of an hour-long call," he said. "There are hundreds and hundreds of cities and towns that aren't even applying because they don't understand the programs and they don't have time to figure it out."
San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley does have the time and the know-how, but even they are struggling.
This is "the most complicated Rubik's Cube of financing we have ever had to solve and we are really good at solving that kind of stuff," says Kip Harkness, deputy city manager for San Jose.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ben Margot/AP Ben Margot/AP
San Jose has more than 500,000 people, so it got a direct grant from the federal government of $178 million. But Harkness says they are still working through the night trying to understand the rules.
They recently discovered, for example, that they can use the money to feed homeless people within the city's borders, but they can't spend the money on homeless people one block over in the county.
"We're not allowed to spend our CARES Act money in other jurisdictions," he says. "We're having to navigate a complex bureaucracy whereas in any other disaster this would be a shared responsibility that would fall on the state and federal government to step in and assist."
Mayor Phil Stang, planning a lemonade stand in Kimmswick, says that particular rule is a shame.
"There's a song about that: 'Do You Know The Way To San Jose,'" he says laughing, "and if they happened to have $250,000 in a bag out there, I'll be happy to travel out there and bring it back."
Many cities will also be coping with the economic fallout from continued protests and rioting in the weeks ahead. Some mayors may be looking to move federal money from one crisis over to the next. But that, along with pages of other rules, is not allowed.


npr--2020-06-08--Editors Barred A Black Reporter From Covering Protests. Then Her Newsroom Rebelled

Editors Barred A Black Reporter From Covering Protests .
Then Her Newsroom Rebelled The fight over racial justice that has sparked protests across the country is also upending some of the country 's leading newsrooms .
At The New York Times , James Bennet stepped down Sunday as editorial page editor , yielding to colleagues who had protested the posting of a column by Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark.
, in which he advocated that the military help quell civil unrest .
The day before , The Philadelphia Inquirer Executive Editor Stan Wischnowski resigned .
Controversy had erupted both in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published the headline `` Buildings Matter , Too '' atop a column on rioting .
Reporters there argued it equated property damage to human life .
And at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , rank-and-file journalists are fighting back after editors banned a black reporter from covering local protests .
It was retribution for writing a flippant tweet comparing looters to country music fans after a concert .
NPR has learned that a white reporter at the paper who had tweeted a vulgar disparagement of a man accused of looting also received a warning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the white reporter kept covering issues related to the protest .
He was banned from covering protests two days later , only after the newspaper 's union raised the issue of disparate treatment .
Post-Gazette Managing Editor Karen Kane and Executive Editor Keith Burris did not respond to detailed requests for comment .
The Post-Gazette newsroom has a tense relationship with its owners .
Staffers have worked without a union contract for more than three years .
Post-Gazette journalists have previously objected to the firing of liberal editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump .
Co-owner John Block , who is the paper 's publisher and is also listed as editor-in-chief , had his photo taken in 2016 with Trump aboard the candidate 's private jet during the height of the campaign season .
Burris was also on the plane , according to contemporaneous accounts .
In this case , Alexis Johnson remembers coming into the newsroom one week ago full of story ideas about the protests .
She is 27 , African American and a Pittsburgh native .
`` These are very much my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were out there in the streets , protesting against police brutality in the black community , '' she told NPR .
Editors did not respond to her pitches .
Instead , she says , she was called by the paper 's managing editor and two other top editors .
They pointed to a tweet she had sent out the previous night .
`` Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who do n't care about this city !
!
!
!
! ''
she wrote .
`` ... .
oh wait sorry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenny Chesney concert tailgate .
Whoops . ''
The pictures showed the debris-strewn aftermath of Chesney 's concert at Pittsburgh 's Heinz Field .
`` It 's almost a running joke in Pittsburgh , '' Johnson said .
`` It 's infamous — what happens after these Kenny Chesney concerts when he comes into town . ''
Johnson said she asked the editors to describe the bias they said she had shown .
`` They kept doubling down , saying I gave my opinion through the tweet and that my opinion came through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And I do n't think that 's the case at all .
I think people made their own opinions of what I was trying to say .
I thought it was kind of clever . ''
The paper barred Johnson — the daughter of a state trooper and a probation officer — from covering a story in her hometown about police and racial justice .
Editors subsequently sidelined a black photographer , Michael Santiago , as well .
The two are among a small number of black journalists at the paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh , 13 are African American .
Colleagues took to social media to denounce the newspaper 's moves and to rally support for Johnson and Santiago .
Scores retweeted Johnson 's original remarks .
Since then , the paper has removed links to stories about racial justice written by several reporters who have voiced support for the two , according to the union .
The controversy lays bare the tension between a pursuit of impartiality that has been a journalistic tenet for three quarters of a century and a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and journalists of color , to bear witness to what they 're seeing .
Two years ago , as editorial page editor , Burris wrote an editorial arguing that Trump 's remarks should never be characterized as racist , even , he wrote , after describing African nations as `` shithole countries . ''
It sparked an outcry , including from some of Block 's relatives and shareholders in the paper 's parent company .
Now one of Burris ' reporters , Johnson , says she believes her editors discriminated against her because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebuke meted out to a white colleague for a related transgression appears to buttress her case .
Like Johnson , digital sports reporter Joshua Axelrod is in his late 20s — 28 to be exact — and less than a year into his job .
A week ago , Axelrod reported on a man accused of vandalizing and looting stores in downtown Pittsburgh .
He tweeted about it , calling the suspect a vulgar slang word .
`` Not a very sound journalistic decision , admittedly , '' he told NPR in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the paper handled it .
`` It felt like the nation and my city were undergoing a very tough time , and it was tough to separate myself as a journalist and just a person in the world , '' he said .
`` And I recognize the mistake I made .
But it came from a place of emotions running high . ''
His editors reprimanded him — on the same day that Johnson received her editors ' calls .
Axelrod subsequently deleted the tweet .
Unlike Johnson , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directive preventing him from covering stories involving the protests .
Indeed , he says he asked whether he was being punished and was told he was not .
Axelrod posted an article related to the protests the next day .
The Newspaper Guild soon weighed in , noting that Johnson had been treated more severely than Axelrod .
Faced with the seeming contradiction , the paper did n't relent against Johnson .
Instead , the Post-Gazette banned Axelrod from protest coverage , too .
`` I made a legitimate journalistic mistake , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think either of them did . ''
In a press conference Monday , the union denounced the newspaper for what it contended was racial bias and called for advertisers to pressure the Post-Gazette to reverse its decisions .
In a series of tweets , Post-Gazette reporter Andrew Goldstein noted he had been encouraged to cover the mass killings at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 despite his own ties to the event : He is Jewish and lives near the synagogue .
Further , he argued that the paper 's black journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Diversity brings strength to newsrooms , '' Goldstein wrote .
`` I 've seen it in action . ''
Goldstein , like Santiago , was part of the paper 's large team honored with a Pulitzer Prize for the coverage of that massacre .

Editors Barred A Black Reporter From Covering Protests. Then Her Newsroom Rebelled
Enlarge this image toggle caption Keith Srakocic/AP Keith Srakocic/AP
The fight over racial justice that has sparked protests across the country is also upending some of the country's leading newsrooms.
At The New York Times, James Bennet stepped down Sunday as editorial page editor, yielding to colleagues who had protested the posting of a column by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in which he advocated that the military help quell civil unrest.
The day before, The Philadelphia Inquirer Executive Editor Stan Wischnowski resigned. Controversy had erupted both in and outside his newsroom when the paper published the headline "Buildings Matter, Too" atop a column on rioting. Reporters there argued it equated property damage to human life.
And at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, rank-and-file journalists are fighting back after editors banned a black reporter from covering local protests. It was retribution for writing a flippant tweet comparing looters to country music fans after a concert.
NPR has learned that a white reporter at the paper who had tweeted a vulgar disparagement of a man accused of looting also received a warning on the same day as his black colleague. But the white reporter kept covering issues related to the protest. He was banned from covering protests two days later, only after the newspaper's union raised the issue of disparate treatment.
Post-Gazette Managing Editor Karen Kane and Executive Editor Keith Burris did not respond to detailed requests for comment.
The Post-Gazette newsroom has a tense relationship with its owners. Staffers have worked without a union contract for more than three years. Post-Gazette journalists have previously objected to the firing of liberal editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers over several cartoons, including ones satirizing President Trump. Co-owner John Block, who is the paper's publisher and is also listed as editor-in-chief, had his photo taken in 2016 with Trump aboard the candidate's private jet during the height of the campaign season. Burris was also on the plane, according to contemporaneous accounts.
Editors sideline a black reporter over a tweet
In this case, Alexis Johnson remembers coming into the newsroom one week ago full of story ideas about the protests. She is 27, African American and a Pittsburgh native.
"These are very much my friends and family and community members that were out there in the streets, protesting against police brutality in the black community," she told NPR.
Editors did not respond to her pitches. Instead, she says, she was called by the paper's managing editor and two other top editors. They pointed to a tweet she had sent out the previous night.
"Horrifying scenes and aftermath from selfish LOOTERS who don't care about this city!!!!!" she wrote. ".... oh wait sorry. No, these are pictures from a Kenny Chesney concert tailgate. Whoops."
The pictures showed the debris-strewn aftermath of Chesney's concert at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field.
"It's almost a running joke in Pittsburgh," Johnson said. "It's infamous — what happens after these Kenny Chesney concerts when he comes into town."
Johnson said she asked the editors to describe the bias they said she had shown.
"They kept doubling down, saying I gave my opinion through the tweet and that my opinion came through in the tweet," Johnson said. "And I don't think that's the case at all. I think people made their own opinions of what I was trying to say. I thought it was kind of clever."
The paper barred Johnson — the daughter of a state trooper and a probation officer — from covering a story in her hometown about police and racial justice. Editors subsequently sidelined a black photographer, Michael Santiago, as well. The two are among a small number of black journalists at the paper. Of the 140 members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, 13 are African American.
Colleagues took to social media to denounce the newspaper's moves and to rally support for Johnson and Santiago. Scores retweeted Johnson's original remarks. Since then, the paper has removed links to stories about racial justice written by several reporters who have voiced support for the two, according to the union.
The controversy lays bare the tension between a pursuit of impartiality that has been a journalistic tenet for three quarters of a century and a new urgency, felt keenly among younger journalists and journalists of color, to bear witness to what they're seeing.
Two years ago, as editorial page editor, Burris wrote an editorial arguing that Trump's remarks should never be characterized as racist, even, he wrote, after describing African nations as "shithole countries." It sparked an outcry, including from some of Block's relatives and shareholders in the paper's parent company.
Now one of Burris' reporters, Johnson, says she believes her editors discriminated against her because of her race. And the gentler rebuke meted out to a white colleague for a related transgression appears to buttress her case.
Editors respond differently to white journalist
Like Johnson, digital sports reporter Joshua Axelrod is in his late 20s — 28 to be exact — and less than a year into his job.
A week ago, Axelrod reported on a man accused of vandalizing and looting stores in downtown Pittsburgh. He tweeted about it, calling the suspect a vulgar slang word.
"Not a very sound journalistic decision, admittedly," he told NPR in his first public comments on his actions and how the paper handled it.
"It felt like the nation and my city were undergoing a very tough time, and it was tough to separate myself as a journalist and just a person in the world," he said. "And I recognize the mistake I made. But it came from a place of emotions running high."
His editors reprimanded him — on the same day that Johnson received her editors' calls. Axelrod subsequently deleted the tweet.
Unlike Johnson, however, Axelrod says he did not receive a directive preventing him from covering stories involving the protests. Indeed, he says he asked whether he was being punished and was told he was not. Axelrod posted an article related to the protests the next day.
The Newspaper Guild soon weighed in, noting that Johnson had been treated more severely than Axelrod. Faced with the seeming contradiction, the paper didn't relent against Johnson. Instead, the Post-Gazette banned Axelrod from protest coverage, too.
Axelrod tells NPR he supports Johnson and Santiago.
"I made a legitimate journalistic mistake," Axelrod says. "I do not think either of them did."
In a press conference Monday, the union denounced the newspaper for what it contended was racial bias and called for advertisers to pressure the Post-Gazette to reverse its decisions.
In a series of tweets, Post-Gazette reporter Andrew Goldstein noted he had been encouraged to cover the mass killings at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 despite his own ties to the event: He is Jewish and lives near the synagogue. Further, he argued that the paper's black journalists propel its knowledge of its communities.
"Diversity brings strength to newsrooms," Goldstein wrote. "I've seen it in action."
Goldstein, like Santiago, was part of the paper's large team honored with a Pulitzer Prize for the coverage of that massacre.


npr--2020-06-08--Moscow Eases Coronavirus Lockdown Ahead Of Military Parade And Referendum

The city of Moscow , the epicenter of Russia 's coronavirus pandemic , is lifting lockdown restrictions as the Kremlin prepares for a massive military parade on Red Square and a national referendum that will seal President Vladimir Putin 's political future .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin , a staunch Putin loyalist , all but declared victory over COVID-19 on the city 's news channel Monday .
Moscow 's lockdown rules will gradually be lifted over the coming two weeks , he said .
`` We prevented an explosion of the pandemic , provided mass testing and medical care to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` For several weeks now , slowly but surely the pandemic has been on the decline .
The number of infections is decreasing , and more people are being discharged from hospitals than are being admitted .
Step by step , this allows us to return to normal life . ''
Moscow has been on a tight lockdown since March when Sobyanin restricted citizens ' movements and closed all but essential businesses .
Because of the pandemic , the Kremlin reluctantly postponed its annual Victory Day parade as well as a referendum whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit on Putin .
The parade marking the defeat of Nazi Germany has been rescheduled for June 24 , with the referendum taking place a week later .
Since the beginning of June , the number of Moscow 's new coronavirus infections has hovered around 2,000 per day , according to official government statistics .
Moscow , Russia 's largest city , has been hit hardest : 197,018 out of 476,658 infections nationwide , with 2,970 out of 5,971 deaths as of Monday .
Russia has the third-most reported coronavirus cases after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and barbershops , veterinarians , employment agencies and cemeteries can all open for business Tuesday , followed by dental practices , museums and libraries a week later .
Remaining restrictions on restaurants and gyms will be lifted on June 23 , the day before the military parade .
Residents will still be required to wear masks and gloves in public .
Sobyanin warned Muscovites that the danger of infection still exists and appealed to their sense of self-preservation to take necessary precautions .
The mayor , though a Putin disciple , was unwilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the persistence of new coronavirus infections , Otkrytye Media reported , citing government sources .
According to the news site , the Kremlin convinced Sobyanin to do so to allow for the parade and referendum .
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny , who has been prevented from calling for protests because of the lockdown , indicated in a tweet that now nothing is stopping a rally against Putin 's referendum .

Moscow Eases Coronavirus Lockdown Ahead Of Military Parade And Referendum
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images
The city of Moscow, the epicenter of Russia's coronavirus pandemic, is lifting lockdown restrictions as the Kremlin prepares for a massive military parade on Red Square and a national referendum that will seal President Vladimir Putin's political future.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a staunch Putin loyalist, all but declared victory over COVID-19 on the city's news channel Monday. Moscow's lockdown rules will gradually be lifted over the coming two weeks, he said.
"We prevented an explosion of the pandemic, provided mass testing and medical care to sick residents," he said. "For several weeks now, slowly but surely the pandemic has been on the decline. The number of infections is decreasing, and more people are being discharged from hospitals than are being admitted. Step by step, this allows us to return to normal life."
Moscow has been on a tight lockdown since March when Sobyanin restricted citizens' movements and closed all but essential businesses.
Because of the pandemic, the Kremlin reluctantly postponed its annual Victory Day parade as well as a referendum whose key provision is removing a constitutional term limit on Putin. The parade marking the defeat of Nazi Germany has been rescheduled for June 24, with the referendum taking place a week later.
Since the beginning of June, the number of Moscow's new coronavirus infections has hovered around 2,000 per day, according to official government statistics. Moscow, Russia's largest city, has been hit hardest: 197,018 out of 476,658 infections nationwide, with 2,970 out of 5,971 deaths as of Monday. Russia has the third-most reported coronavirus cases after the United States and Brazil.
Hair salons and barbershops, veterinarians, employment agencies and cemeteries can all open for business Tuesday, followed by dental practices, museums and libraries a week later. Remaining restrictions on restaurants and gyms will be lifted on June 23, the day before the military parade. Residents will still be required to wear masks and gloves in public.
Sobyanin warned Muscovites that the danger of infection still exists and appealed to their sense of self-preservation to take necessary precautions.
The mayor, though a Putin disciple, was unwilling to lift the lockdown restrictions because of the persistence of new coronavirus infections, Otkrytye Media reported, citing government sources. According to the news site, the Kremlin convinced Sobyanin to do so to allow for the parade and referendum.
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been prevented from calling for protests because of the lockdown, indicated in a tweet that now nothing is stopping a rally against Putin's referendum.


npr--2020-06-08--Protesters Topple British Slave Trader Statue During Anti-Racism Demonstration

Protesters in Bristol , England , tore down the statue of an infamous slave trader Sunday and threw it into nearby Bristol Harbor .
The statue of Edward Colston in central Bristol had long been a point of contention for the city , as were the many landmarks and buildings that bore his name .
He helped build the city with the money he made as a leader of the Royal Africa Co. , which trafficked an estimated 84,000 people from Africa to their enslavement in the Americas .
For many , the statue 's removal was a long-awaited win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Katie Finnegan-Clarke , an organizer who has fought to expose Colston 's legacy , told NPR .
Finnegan-Clarke is one of the founders of `` Countering Colston , '' a group lobbying for the removal of the slave trader 's name from Bristol 's institutions .
`` I think it felt like a big relief , '' she added , `` and it was just incredibly poetic the way that he was dragged across the city and essentially thrown overboard into the water like so many people had suffered under his regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bristol City Council announced Monday it had collected the protest signs demonstrators laid around the statue 's now-empty pedestal to preserve them for later display in a Bristol museum .
The statue 's toppling came amid worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Protests took place across the United Kingdom on Sunday , including a large Black Lives Matter demonstration in London .
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees , who is black and the son of a Jamaican migrant , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he did not condone the protesters ' actions , he understood them .
`` I ca n't and wo n't pretend the statue of a slave trader in a city I was born and grew up in was n't an affront to me and people like me , '' he said .
Rees said the protest itself is now part of the city 's history and that the statue would likely be fished out of the harbor and preserved in a museum .
Other public officials were far more critical of the statue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's spokesperson called it a `` criminal act . ''
In an interview with Sky News , the country 's Home Secretary Priti Patel called the move an `` utterly disgraceful '' act of vandalism and called for an investigation .
Rees responded to Patel 's comments in a later interview with the BBC , saying they show `` an absolute lack of understanding '' of where Britons stand on racial injustice .
`` You ca n't just bury your head in the sand and just determine to describe this as mindless vandalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you do n't like the events , the events have meaning . ''

Protesters Topple British Slave Trader Statue During Anti-Racism Demonstration
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ben Birchall/AP Ben Birchall/AP
Protesters in Bristol, England, tore down the statue of an infamous slave trader Sunday and threw it into nearby Bristol Harbor.
The statue of Edward Colston in central Bristol had long been a point of contention for the city, as were the many landmarks and buildings that bore his name.
He helped build the city with the money he made as a leader of the Royal Africa Co., which trafficked an estimated 84,000 people from Africa to their enslavement in the Americas.
For many, the statue's removal was a long-awaited win.
"It was completely mind-blowing," Katie Finnegan-Clarke, an organizer who has fought to expose Colston's legacy, told NPR. Finnegan-Clarke is one of the founders of "Countering Colston," a group lobbying for the removal of the slave trader's name from Bristol's institutions.
"I think it felt like a big relief," she added, "and it was just incredibly poetic the way that he was dragged across the city and essentially thrown overboard into the water like so many people had suffered under his regime during the slave trade."
The Bristol City Council announced Monday it had collected the protest signs demonstrators laid around the statue's now-empty pedestal to preserve them for later display in a Bristol museum.
The statue's toppling came amid worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Protests took place across the United Kingdom on Sunday, including a large Black Lives Matter demonstration in London.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, who is black and the son of a Jamaican migrant, said in an interview with the BBC that while he did not condone the protesters' actions, he understood them.
"I can't and won't pretend the statue of a slave trader in a city I was born and grew up in wasn't an affront to me and people like me," he said.
Rees said the protest itself is now part of the city's history and that the statue would likely be fished out of the harbor and preserved in a museum.
Other public officials were far more critical of the statue's toppling. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson called it a "criminal act." In an interview with Sky News, the country's Home Secretary Priti Patel called the move an "utterly disgraceful" act of vandalism and called for an investigation.
Rees responded to Patel's comments in a later interview with the BBC, saying they show "an absolute lack of understanding" of where Britons stand on racial injustice.
"You can't just bury your head in the sand and just determine to describe this as mindless vandalism," Rees said. "Even if you don't like the events, the events have meaning."
NPR's Frank Langfitt contributed to this report.


npr--2020-06-08--Judge Sets $1 Million Bail For Derek Chauvin In George Floyd's Death

Judge Jeannice M. Reding set bail for Derek Chauvin at $ 1 million with conditions during a court hearing Monday , making the former Minneapolis police officer eligible for supervised release .
Chauvin , who is white , is charged with second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd , a black man .
He attended the Hennepin County District Court hearing in Minneapolis via video link .
The former police officer could also be released without conditions at a higher bail amount of $ 1.25 million .
The conditions for Chauvin 's release at the lower amount call for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no contact with Floyd 's family and surrender any guns and firearms licenses .
He would also be required not to leave the state .
In a handwritten note on the order , the judge added a stipulation for Chauvin : `` Do not work in law enforcement or security . ''
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 29 .
Chauvin , 44 , faces a charge of second-degree murder in Floyd 's death , along with two lesser counts : third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , days after Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz asked state Attorney General Keith Ellison to lead the prosecution .
In a new move in the case Monday , Chauvin 's attorneys filed a request for disclosure seeking a list of witnesses and evidence that prosecutors plan to include in their case against the former officer .
In that court filing , the defense team also said it `` demands the presence at trial of anyone who drew or took blood or urine samples '' from Chauvin .
Eyewitness video from the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd 's neck for nearly 9 minutes , including at least 2 minutes in which Floyd was unresponsive .
Floyd had come to the attention of police because he was accused of using a counterfeit $ 20 bill in a nearby store .
Three other former Minneapolis police officers — Tou Thao , J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane – who were present are facing charges of aiding and abetting murder .
All four officers were fired the day after Floyd died .
Chauvin was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Chauvin is categorized as `` second degree murder — unintentional — while committing a felony . ''
It carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison ; the third-degree charge has a 25-year maximum sentence .
Floyd 's killing has ignited massive protests in Minneapolis and around the U.S. , with communities rallying to push for criminal justice reform and condemning racism and police abuses against black people .
On Sunday , sustained outrage over Floyd 's death in police custody prompted nine members of the Minneapolis City Council – a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they support `` dismantling '' the Minneapolis Police Department .
Because of intense public interest in Chauvin 's case and social distancing protocols that will reduce seating , members of the public can view the proceeding in two `` overflow courtrooms , '' according to the district court .
Media representation at the hearing was limited to five total spots for local and national news outlets such as Minnesota Public Radio and NBC News .
As Chauvin appeared in court , Floyd was being remembered at an hours-long memorial service Monday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final public memorial for Floyd , who will be buried Tuesday in the Houston area following a private service .

Judge Sets $1 Million Bail For Derek Chauvin In George Floyd's Death
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kerem Yucel /AFP via Getty Images Kerem Yucel /AFP via Getty Images
Judge Jeannice M. Reding set bail for Derek Chauvin at $1 million with conditions during a court hearing Monday, making the former Minneapolis police officer eligible for supervised release.
Chauvin, who is white, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd, a black man. He attended the Hennepin County District Court hearing in Minneapolis via video link.
The former police officer could also be released without conditions at a higher bail amount of $1.25 million.
The conditions for Chauvin's release at the lower amount call for him to abide by all laws, have no contact with Floyd's family and surrender any guns and firearms licenses. He would also be required not to leave the state.
In a handwritten note on the order, the judge added a stipulation for Chauvin: "Do not work in law enforcement or security."
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 29.
Chauvin, 44, faces a charge of second-degree murder in Floyd's death, along with two lesser counts: third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The charge of second-degree murder was added last week, days after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz asked state Attorney General Keith Ellison to lead the prosecution.
In a new move in the case Monday, Chauvin's attorneys filed a request for disclosure seeking a list of witnesses and evidence that prosecutors plan to include in their case against the former officer. In that court filing, the defense team also said it "demands the presence at trial of anyone who drew or took blood or urine samples" from Chauvin.
Eyewitness video from the police encounter with Floyd on Memorial Day shows that Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes, including at least 2 minutes in which Floyd was unresponsive. Floyd had come to the attention of police because he was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill in a nearby store.
Three other former Minneapolis police officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane – who were present are facing charges of aiding and abetting murder. All four officers were fired the day after Floyd died. Chauvin was arrested several days later.
The top charge against Chauvin is categorized as "second degree murder — unintentional — while committing a felony." It carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison; the third-degree charge has a 25-year maximum sentence.
Floyd's killing has ignited massive protests in Minneapolis and around the U.S., with communities rallying to push for criminal justice reform and condemning racism and police abuses against black people.
On Sunday, sustained outrage over Floyd's death in police custody prompted nine members of the Minneapolis City Council – a majority of its 13 members — to say they support "dismantling" the Minneapolis Police Department.
Because of intense public interest in Chauvin's case and social distancing protocols that will reduce seating, members of the public can view the proceeding in two "overflow courtrooms," according to the district court. Media representation at the hearing was limited to five total spots for local and national news outlets such as Minnesota Public Radio and NBC News.
As Chauvin appeared in court, Floyd was being remembered at an hours-long memorial service Monday in his hometown of Houston. It's the final public memorial for Floyd, who will be buried Tuesday in the Houston area following a private service.


npr--2020-06-08--Biden Opposes Defunding Police, Campaign Says

As protests against police brutality have unfolded across the country , calls to defund or abolish police departments are picking up traction among activists and even sparked a pledge by the Minneapolis City Council to `` dismantle '' the police force there .
But Joe Biden 's campaign said on Monday that the Democratic Party 's presumptive presidential nominee does not support that approach .
`` Vice President Biden does not believe that police should be defunded , '' Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates told NPR in a statement .
`` He hears and shares the deep grief and frustration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is driven to ensure that justice is done and that we put a stop to this terrible pain . ''
Instead , the campaign is touting a criminal justice plan that includes a $ 300 million investment in community policing initiatives , plus efforts to diversify police forces and fund more body cameras .
Separate from police funding , the campaign says Biden wants to ramp up funding for public schools , summer programs and mental health and substance abuse treatment `` so that officers can focus on the job of policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same day Biden traveled to Houston to meet privately with the family of George Floyd , the Minneapolis man whose killing by police sparked ongoing protests .
While some activists are calling for police to be abolished entirely or disbanded and rebuilt from the ground up , many advocates of defunding police have trained their focus on siphoning funds away from multimillion-dollar police budgets to other priorities such as public health or education .
On Sunday , a majority of the Minneapolis City Council voted to support disbanding the city 's police department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Protesters booed Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over the weekend after he said he did not support dismantling the police force .
In New York City , Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would trim the city 's $ 6 billion police budget and divert funds to social services , but he did n't say by how much .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he would cut the city 's police budget by as much as $ 150 million to help fund youth jobs programs and health programs , among other initiatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added `` defund the police '' to a Black Lives Matter mural painted by the city on a street outside the White House .
Republicans including President Trump have started wielding the debate over police funding to attack Biden and the Democratic Party .
`` LAW & ORDER , NOT DEFUND AND ABOLISH THE POLICE , '' Trump tweeted Monday .
`` The Radical Left Democrats have gone Crazy ! ''
Meanwhile , Democrats in Congress are unveiling a bill designed to stop excessive force by police officers and measures that would make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misconduct .

Biden Opposes Defunding Police, Campaign Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Watson /AFP via Getty Images Jim Watson /AFP via Getty Images
As protests against police brutality have unfolded across the country, calls to defund or abolish police departments are picking up traction among activists and even sparked a pledge by the Minneapolis City Council to "dismantle" the police force there. But Joe Biden's campaign said on Monday that the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee does not support that approach.
"Vice President Biden does not believe that police should be defunded," Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates told NPR in a statement. "He hears and shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change, and is driven to ensure that justice is done and that we put a stop to this terrible pain."
Instead, the campaign is touting a criminal justice plan that includes a $300 million investment in community policing initiatives, plus efforts to diversify police forces and fund more body cameras.
Separate from police funding, the campaign says Biden wants to ramp up funding for public schools, summer programs and mental health and substance abuse treatment "so that officers can focus on the job of policing."
The statement came on the same day Biden traveled to Houston to meet privately with the family of George Floyd, the Minneapolis man whose killing by police sparked ongoing protests.
While some activists are calling for police to be abolished entirely or disbanded and rebuilt from the ground up, many advocates of defunding police have trained their focus on siphoning funds away from multimillion-dollar police budgets to other priorities such as public health or education.
On Sunday, a majority of the Minneapolis City Council voted to support disbanding the city's police department and building a new public safety system. Protesters booed Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over the weekend after he said he did not support dismantling the police force.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would trim the city's $6 billion police budget and divert funds to social services, but he didn't say by how much. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he would cut the city's police budget by as much as $150 million to help fund youth jobs programs and health programs, among other initiatives.
Protesters in Washington, D.C., added "defund the police" to a Black Lives Matter mural painted by the city on a street outside the White House.
Republicans including President Trump have started wielding the debate over police funding to attack Biden and the Democratic Party.
"LAW & ORDER, NOT DEFUND AND ABOLISH THE POLICE," Trump tweeted Monday. "The Radical Left Democrats have gone Crazy!"
Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress are unveiling a bill designed to stop excessive force by police officers and measures that would make it easier to track and prosecute police misconduct.