npr--2020-11-05--Judge In George Floyd Case Rejects Former Cops' Request To Move Trial

Judge In George Floyd Case Rejects Former Cops ' Request To Move Trial The four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd will be tried together , a judge decided Thursday .
He also rejected the former officer 's requests to move the case outside of the Minneapolis area .
The defense attorneys for Derek Chauvin , Thomas Lane , Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng argued that the pretrial publicity of the case had made it impossible to have a fair trial in the Minneapolis area .
They had further claimed it was unsafe for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest ahead of their Sept. 11 hearing in the case .
They also noted a jury may face threats as well , potentially affecting their ability to decide the case .
Floyd , a Black man , died on Memorial Day in police custody .
His death sparked protests across Minneapolis and around the world .
Chauvin , who was captured on cellphone video kneeling on Floyd 's neck for several minutes , faces a second-degree murder charge .
Lane , Thao , and Kueng face charges of aiding and abetting in Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the four former officers maintained each man should stand trial individually .
`` The sustained levels of media attention show no sign of abating , and there certainly will be a swell of media coverage surrounding the proceedings and verdict in the first trial , '' no matter if that trial involves one or all of the defendants , Cahill said in his decision to keep the men together .
If there were four separate trials , finding a `` fair and impartial '' group for each case would be far more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` Because of this , joinder is a critical safeguard to help protect the fairness of a jury trial , which strongly supports a single trial , rather than four separate trials with four separate juries , '' he said in his decision .
Cahill in another decision also allowed video cameras and livestreaming into the courtroom during the trial , ensuring further public attention and scrutiny of the case .
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Thursday that he was satisfied with Cahill 's decision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Minneapolis and it is right that the defendants should be tried in Minneapolis .
It is also true that they acted in concert with each other and the evidence against them is similar , so it is right to try them in one trial , '' Ellison said .
He went on to say , `` the rulings today represent another significant step forward in the pursuit of justice for George Floyd and for our community . ''
The trial is scheduled to begin March 8 , 2021 .
Kueng 's attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to review the courts orders .
My goal is to assure that a fair trial occurs for Mr .
Kueng . ''
He added he 's happy to have the order to start preparing for trial and to present `` the truth in front of a jury . ''
Attorneys for Chauvin and Lane declined to comment for this story .
An attorney for Thao could n't be reached .

Judge In George Floyd Case Rejects Former Cops' Request To Move Trial
toggle caption Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP
The four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd will be tried together, a judge decided Thursday. He also rejected the former officer's requests to move the case outside of the Minneapolis area.
The defense attorneys for Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng argued that the pretrial publicity of the case had made it impossible to have a fair trial in the Minneapolis area. They had further claimed it was unsafe for the participants, as evidenced by a protest ahead of their Sept. 11 hearing in the case. They also noted a jury may face threats as well, potentially affecting their ability to decide the case.
Floyd, a Black man, died on Memorial Day in police custody. His death sparked protests across Minneapolis and around the world.
Chauvin, who was captured on cellphone video kneeling on Floyd's neck for several minutes, faces a second-degree murder charge. Lane, Thao, and Kueng face charges of aiding and abetting in Floyd's death.
The defense attorneys for for the four former officers maintained each man should stand trial individually.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill wasn't convinced of those arguments.
"The sustained levels of media attention show no sign of abating, and there certainly will be a swell of media coverage surrounding the proceedings and verdict in the first trial," no matter if that trial involves one or all of the defendants, Cahill said in his decision to keep the men together.
If there were four separate trials, finding a "fair and impartial" group for each case would be far more difficult after the first trial concludes, he said.
"Because of this, joinder is a critical safeguard to help protect the fairness
of a jury trial, which strongly supports a single trial, rather than four separate trials with four separate juries," he said in his decision.
Cahill in another decision also allowed video cameras and livestreaming into the courtroom during the trial, ensuring further public attention and scrutiny of the case.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Thursday that he was satisfied with Cahill's decision.
"The murder of George Floyd occurred in Minneapolis and it is right that the defendants should be tried in Minneapolis. It is also true that they acted in concert with each other and the evidence against them is similar, so it is right to try them in one trial," Ellison said.
He went on to say, "the rulings today represent another significant step forward in the pursuit of justice for George Floyd and for our community."
The trial is scheduled to begin March 8, 2021.
Kueng's attorney Thomas Plunkett said, "We are continuing to review the courts orders. My goal is to assure that a fair trial occurs for Mr. Kueng."
He added he's happy to have the order to start preparing for trial and to present "the truth in front of a jury."
Attorneys for Chauvin and Lane declined to comment for this story. An attorney for Thao couldn't be reached.


npr--2020-11-06--How Georgia Turned From Red To Purple

How Georgia Turned From Red To Purple

How Georgia Turned From Red To Purple In Anashay Wright 's suburban Atlanta home , President Trump 's name is seldom spoken .
But this week , he 's been hard to ignore .
`` There 's something to people who do n't get their way , and they have temper tantrums like him , '' Wright said .
`` The fragility , because something do n't go your way ?
How dare you ? ''
Trump has – without evidence – accused Democrats of perpetrating a `` fraud '' on the American people , and launched a flurry of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at questioning the election results .
But to his supporters , such as Catherine McDonald in Atlanta 's Buckhead neighborhood , what 's unfolding now seems to confirm the warnings she 's heard from the president and conservative media .
`` I have been hearing about this for months , if not the last year , that there were going to be a lot of challenges .
That with how divided the country is , that the Democrat side was fully prepared to cast as much doubt as possible on the outcome , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , election experts have been predicting for months that counting early and absentee ballots would take some time due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Tensions around the 2020 election results are especially high in Georgia , a state that has not been won by a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992 .
Election results are coming down to the narrowest of margins this year , and officials have promised a recount .
`` We are literally looking at a margin of less than a large high school , '' Gabe Sterling , an official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , said during a Friday morning press conference in Atlanta .
Georgia 's growing and increasingly diverse suburbs , combined with organized , well-funded , get-out-the-vote efforts by Democratic activists , have propelled Georgia into the swing state category .
Amy Steigerwalt , a political science professor at Georgia State University , said there are many reasons why Georgia is now in play – among them an increasingly diverse electorate , which includes a growing Black middle class and increasing numbers of Asian and Latino voters .
`` The 'blue-ing ' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's happening , '' she said .
`` These areas that have long been Republican strongholds are not anymore . ''
Steigerwalt also gives substantial credit to activist and former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams , whose Fair Fight organization worked to register and mobilize voters statewide after her narrow – and controversial – loss to Republican Brian Kemp in 2018 .
The group raised about $ 40 million from more than 200,000 donors nationwide to turn out Democratic voters in Georgia and other key states , according to a spokesman .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter turnout efforts as both parties look toward two potential runoffs in January that could decide control of the U.S. Senate .
While the results of the presidential race look promising for Democrats in a state the party has not won since 1992 , it 's all too close for comfort for some Biden supporters such as Eric Mendenhall of east Atlanta .
`` I was hopeful that it would be decisive and clear and that that there would be a denouncement of the last four years that we could at least see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is n't who we are , '' he said .
His wife , Bethany Lind Mendenhall , said she worries that divisions in the state , and the country , have been once again laid bare by this election .
`` We have family members who listen to completely different voices and news sources than we do , '' she said .
`` We see things very differently .
But I want to be able to have conversations .
But it 's like we 're operating in different realities . ''
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veteran Al Lindseth said he reluctantly voted for Trump .
He dislikes Trump 's demeanor and said he almost did n't vote for the president after his first debate performance , which he found rude .
But Lindseth said he 's concerned by where he believes the left wing of the Democratic Party wants to take the country .
`` People are so easily offended these days .
People are concerned about division now ; they should have been here in the '60s when we had rioting in the streets .
We were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting shot , '' he said .
`` I just think we worry about a lot of things in this country , and they 're not our major concerns . ''
Lindseth said he would n't mind a Biden presidency terribly as long as Republicans hold the Senate .
Back at her home in suburban Atlanta , Wright said a Biden presidency could buy some time for Americans to pause and reflect on the future after a tense four years .
Whatever the outcome of the election , Wright said she hopes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be forgotten .
`` I think what Biden offers is – I hate to say it – like this false sense of unity , right ?
What I 'm scared that might happen is that people actually might get comfortable again , '' Wright said .
`` That 's my biggest fear . ''

How Georgia Turned From Red To Purple
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sarah McCammon/NPR Sarah McCammon/NPR
In Anashay Wright's suburban Atlanta home, President Trump's name is seldom spoken. But this week, he's been hard to ignore.
"There's something to people who don't get their way, and they have temper tantrums like him," Wright said. "The fragility, because something don't go your way? How dare you?"
Trump has – without evidence – accused Democrats of perpetrating a "fraud" on the American people, and launched a flurry of lawsuits in Georgia and other states aimed at questioning the election results.
But to his supporters, such as Catherine McDonald in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood, what's unfolding now seems to confirm the warnings she's heard from the president and conservative media.
"I have been hearing about this for months, if not the last year, that there were going to be a lot of challenges. That with how divided the country is, that the Democrat side was fully prepared to cast as much doubt as possible on the outcome," McDonald said.
A close vote, a slow process
To be clear, election experts have been predicting for months that counting early and absentee ballots would take some time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tensions around the 2020 election results are especially high in Georgia, a state that has not been won by a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992. Election results are coming down to the narrowest of margins this year, and officials have promised a recount.
"We are literally looking at a margin of less than a large high school," Gabe Sterling, an official with the Georgia secretary of state's office, said during a Friday morning press conference in Atlanta.
Georgia's growing and increasingly diverse suburbs, combined with organized, well-funded, get-out-the-vote efforts by Democratic activists, have propelled Georgia into the swing state category.
"Blue-ing" of the suburbs
Amy Steigerwalt, a political science professor at Georgia State University, said there are many reasons why Georgia is now in play – among them an increasingly diverse electorate, which includes a growing Black middle class and increasing numbers of Asian and Latino voters.
"The 'blue-ing' of the suburbs is probably the biggest thing that's happening," she said. "These areas that have long been Republican strongholds are not anymore."
Steigerwalt also gives substantial credit to activist and former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, whose Fair Fight organization worked to register and mobilize voters statewide after her narrow – and controversial – loss to Republican Brian Kemp in 2018. The group raised about $40 million from more than 200,000 donors nationwide to turn out Democratic voters in Georgia and other key states, according to a spokesman.
The Atlanta area will remain a focus of voter turnout efforts as both parties look toward two potential runoffs in January that could decide control of the U.S. Senate.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sarah McCammon/NPR Sarah McCammon/NPR
One state, two realities
While the results of the presidential race look promising for Democrats in a state the party has not won since 1992, it's all too close for comfort for some Biden supporters such as Eric Mendenhall of east Atlanta.
"I was hopeful that it would be decisive and clear and that that there would be a denouncement of the last four years that we could at least see a general consensus across the country that this isn't who we are," he said.
His wife, Bethany Lind Mendenhall, said she worries that divisions in the state, and the country, have been once again laid bare by this election.
"We have family members who listen to completely different voices and news sources than we do," she said. "We see things very differently. But I want to be able to have conversations. But it's like we're operating in different realities."
In midtown Atlanta, retired lawyer and Vietnam veteran Al Lindseth said he reluctantly voted for Trump. He dislikes Trump's demeanor and said he almost didn't vote for the president after his first debate performance, which he found rude.
But Lindseth said he's concerned by where he believes the left wing of the Democratic Party wants to take the country.
"People are so easily offended these days. People are concerned about division now; they should have been here in the '60s when we had rioting in the streets. We were worried about going to a war and getting shot," he said. "I just think we worry about a lot of things in this country, and they're not our major concerns."
Lindseth said he wouldn't mind a Biden presidency terribly as long as Republicans hold the Senate.
A ''false sense of unity"
Back at her home in suburban Atlanta, Wright said a Biden presidency could buy some time for Americans to pause and reflect on the future after a tense four years.
Whatever the outcome of the election, Wright said she hopes the lessons of the Trump years won't be forgotten.
"I think what Biden offers is – I hate to say it – like this false sense of unity, right? What I'm scared that might happen is that people actually might get comfortable again," Wright said. "That's my biggest fear."


npr--2020-11-06--As Presidency Hinges On A Handful Of States, Some Have Made A Popular Vote Pact

As Presidency Hinges On A Handful Of States , Some Have Made A Popular Vote Pact As the last few thousand votes are counted in a handful of states that will determine the outcome of a momentous presidential race , the question rises again from some corners : Should we ditch the Electoral College ?
On Tuesday , voters in Colorado affirmed their desire essentially to do just that .
By a 52-to-48 margin , Coloradans voted to stay in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact .
The state joined the compact last year , but a repeal effort landed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So what is it exactly ?
The compact is basically a contract between states that goes into effect once enough states representing a majority of electors — 270 — sign onto it .
The states in the compact agree that rather than giving their presidential electors to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state , they will award all of their electors to the candidate who wins the most popular votes in the country .
While the Electoral College would not be eliminated , the result would be a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To date , 15 states and the District of Columbia have signed on , with a combined 196 electoral votes .
To take effect , the bill needs to be enacted by states that have an additional 74 electoral votes , and thereby cross that 270 threshold needed to elect a president .
What would a national popular vote mean for the United States ?
For one thing , this week would have looked completely different .
Instead of watching livestreams of poll workers in Philadelphia , the result would have been settled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be talking about the next Biden administration , '' Jesse Wegman told NPR on Thursday , `` who his Cabinet would be . ''
Wegman is the author of the book Let the People Pick the President and a member of The New York Times editorial board .
By the wee hours of Wednesday , Democratic candidate Joe Biden was leading President Trump by nearly 2 million votes nationwide .
Biden 's lead has since grown to more than 4.3 million .
Going back at least to 1968 , it has been clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national popular vote , Wegman says – even in nail-biters such as 2000 .
`` We knew Al Gore had won the popular vote in the country on election night .
There was no question .
What we spent 36 days fighting over was Florida 's votes , and Florida 's 25 electoral votes [ in 2000 ] , which it gives out winner-take-all . ''
Our current outsize focus on a handful of purple states is because nearly all states award their Electoral College votes in the same way Florida does : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote wins all of the state 's electors .
The Electoral College system has created a number of issues .
First , the votes are n't exactly proportional to population .
If the U.S. used a popular vote , rather than the Electoral College , advocates say every vote in every state would matter – and each one would count equally .
Electors are apportioned based on how many representatives a state has in the House of Representatives plus its two senators .
The District of Columbia is allotted three electors .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly every 718,000 residents , while Wyoming has one elector per roughly every 193,000 residents .
`` In a sense , you could say that Wyoming 's voters actually get more bang for their buck in the Electoral College because , after all , a very small number of people are choosing three electors , '' as NPR 's Ron Elving explained .
One person , one vote ?
Not quite .
Another issue is the one we 're watching play out right now : Only the states that are closely divided between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in the general election .
More than 4 million people voted for Trump in California – a huge number .
But those votes are effectively rendered invisible by the Electoral College , and California is ignored by candidates in the general election because it is a safe Democratic win .
Winner takes all .
Urban vs. rural states But what about one of the major concerns often voiced about a popular vote – that rural areas would be ignored in favor of big population centers ?
Patrick Rosenstiel , a senior consultant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current system overlooks both rural and urban voters , depending on the state they live in .
`` States like New York and North Dakota are valued the exact same way under the current system .
They 're valued not at all , because they 're reliably either Republican or Democrat , '' he says .
`` The only way I know how to put urban voters at parity with rural voters and rural voters at parity with urban voters is to make every voter in this country politically relevant in presidential elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
a national popular vote that would require candidates to campaign in all 50 states .
The effect would be that every voter would know their vote matters , Rosenstiel says : `` I do n't care if you 're in the heart of Manhattan or in the outskirts of Helena .
When you go vote for the American president , you know what 's going to count toward the final result in a national popular vote election .
And you 're not going to be treated like a second-class citizen . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lifelong Republican trapped behind the blue wall in Minnesota , '' says the national popular vote effort has a lot of support from frustrated voters around the country .
And that 's why , he says , donors from outside Colorado gave money to the Colorado campaign to support the interstate compact — the group Yes on the Popular Vote raised and spent about $ 4.5 million , according to Colorado Public Radio .
`` They want to end the system we have today , and for good reason , '' Rosenstiel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ valued .
It does n't produce a good result .
It 's not the candidates ' fault .
I 'm not suggesting the result would be good or bad no matter who wins this .
But the bad result is it leads to chaos , unneeded recounts , lawyers and courts picking presidents . ''
Opponents of the Colorado national popular vote law point out that the compact could put the state 's electors in the position of voting for a candidate not supported by a majority of Colorado voters .
There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an uphill battle .
But Rosenstiel says the problems in the current system are plain enough to see : `` The system you 're watching unfold right now is crushing under its own weight . ''
The Electoral College has become more of a partisan issue as Democrats have so frequently won the popular vote since 2000 .
Barack Obama won both the popular vote and the Electoral College in 2008 and 2012 .
Gore in 2000 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 won the popular vote , but both lost in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Columbia that have joined the popular vote compact so far all went for Biden in this election : blue states .
But the bill has also passed in legislative chambers controlled by Republicans , including the Arizona House and the Oklahoma Senate .
Rosenstiel notes that the entire red state-blue state lens through which we 've come to see America is a product of the Electoral College system .
He calls the system `` unsustainable '' because it has created two kinds of voters : `` the battleground state voter that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , and the flyover state voter that has very little . ''

The Presidency Often Hinges On A Handful Of States. Some Have Made A Popular Vote Pact
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Makela/Getty Images Mark Makela/Getty Images
As the last few thousand votes are counted in a handful of states that will determine the outcome of a momentous presidential race, the question rises again from some corners: Should we ditch the Electoral College?
On Tuesday, voters in Colorado affirmed their desire essentially to do just that. By a 52-to-48 margin, Coloradans voted to stay in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The state joined the compact last year, but a repeal effort landed the issue on the 2020 ballot.
So what is it exactly?
The compact is basically a contract between states that goes into effect once enough states representing a majority of electors — 270 — sign onto it. The states in the compact agree that rather than giving their presidential electors to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state, they will award all of their electors to the candidate who wins the most popular votes in the country. While the Electoral College would not be eliminated, the result would be a president elected by a national popular vote.
To date, 15 states and the District of Columbia have signed on, with a combined 196 electoral votes. To take effect, the bill needs to be enacted by states that have an additional 74 electoral votes, and thereby cross that 270 threshold needed to elect a president.
What would a national popular vote mean for the United States?
For one thing, this week would have looked completely different. Instead of watching livestreams of poll workers in Philadelphia, the result would have been settled on Tuesday night.
"We'd be talking about the next Biden administration," Jesse Wegman told NPR on Thursday, "who his Cabinet would be." Wegman is the author of the book Let the People Pick the President and a member of The New York Times editorial board.
By the wee hours of Wednesday, Democratic candidate Joe Biden was leading President Trump by nearly 2 million votes nationwide. Biden's lead has since grown to more than 4.3 million.
Going back at least to 1968, it has been clear on election nights who had won the national popular vote, Wegman says – even in nail-biters such as 2000.
"We knew Al Gore had won the popular vote in the country on election night. There was no question. What we spent 36 days fighting over was Florida's votes, and Florida's 25 electoral votes [in 2000], which it gives out winner-take-all."
Our current outsize focus on a handful of purple states is because nearly all states award their Electoral College votes in the same way Florida does: The winner of the state's popular vote wins all of the state's electors.
The Electoral College system has created a number of issues. First, the votes aren't exactly proportional to population.
If the U.S. used a popular vote, rather than the Electoral College, advocates say every vote in every state would matter – and each one would count equally.
Electors are apportioned based on how many representatives a state has in the House of Representatives plus its two senators. The District of Columbia is allotted three electors.
So California ends up with one elector for roughly every 718,000 residents, while Wyoming has one elector per roughly every 193,000 residents.
"In a sense, you could say that Wyoming's voters actually get more bang for their buck in the Electoral College because, after all, a very small number of people are choosing three electors," as NPR's Ron Elving explained.
One person, one vote? Not quite.
Another issue is the one we're watching play out right now: Only the states that are closely divided between Democrats and Republicans get any attention at all in the general election.
More than 4 million people voted for Trump in California – a huge number. But those votes are effectively rendered invisible by the Electoral College, and California is ignored by candidates in the general election because it is a safe Democratic win. Winner takes all.
Urban vs. rural states
But what about one of the major concerns often voiced about a popular vote – that rural areas would be ignored in favor of big population centers?
Patrick Rosenstiel, a senior consultant to National Popular Vote, says the current system overlooks both rural and urban voters, depending on the state they live in.
"States like New York and North Dakota are valued the exact same way under the current system. They're valued not at all, because they're reliably either Republican or Democrat," he says. "The only way I know how to put urban voters at parity with rural voters and rural voters at parity with urban voters is to make every voter in this country politically relevant in presidential elections."
The way to do that? a national popular vote that would require candidates to campaign in all 50 states.
The effect would be that every voter would know their vote matters, Rosenstiel says: "I don't care if you're in the heart of Manhattan or in the outskirts of Helena. When you go vote for the American president, you know what's going to count toward the final result in a national popular vote election. And you're not going to be treated like a second-class citizen."
Rosenstiel, who describes himself as "a lifelong Republican trapped behind the blue wall in Minnesota," says the national popular vote effort has a lot of support from frustrated voters around the country.
And that's why, he says, donors from outside Colorado gave money to the Colorado campaign to support the interstate compact — the group Yes on the Popular Vote raised and spent about $4.5 million, according to Colorado Public Radio.
"They want to end the system we have today, and for good reason," Rosenstiel says. "They don't feel valued. It doesn't produce a good result. It's not the candidates' fault. I'm not suggesting the result would be good or bad no matter who wins this. But the bad result is it leads to chaos, unneeded recounts, lawyers and courts picking presidents."
Opponents of the Colorado national popular vote law point out that the compact could put the state's electors in the position of voting for a candidate not supported by a majority of Colorado voters.
There's no doubt that changing the current system is an uphill battle.
But Rosenstiel says the problems in the current system are plain enough to see: "The system you're watching unfold right now is crushing under its own weight."
The Electoral College has become more of a partisan issue as Democrats have so frequently won the popular vote since 2000. Barack Obama won both the popular vote and the Electoral College in 2008 and 2012. Gore in 2000 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 won the popular vote, but both lost in the Electoral College.
The states and District of Columbia that have joined the popular vote compact so far all went for Biden in this election: blue states. But the bill has also passed in legislative chambers controlled by Republicans, including the Arizona House and the Oklahoma Senate.
Rosenstiel notes that the entire red state-blue state lens through which we've come to see America is a product of the Electoral College system.
He calls the system "unsustainable" because it has created two kinds of voters: "the battleground state voter that has all of the power with the American president, and the flyover state voter that has very little."


npr--2020-11-06--Coronavirus FAQs: Should I Purell My Nostrils? Can Lysol Disinfect The Air?

Coronavirus FAQs : Should I Purell My Nostrils ?
Can Lysol Disinfect The Air ?
Each week , we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis .
If you have a question you 'd like us to consider for a future post , email us at goatsandsoda @ npr.org with the subject line : `` Weekly Coronavirus Questions . ''
When I get in my car , I always use a squirt of hand sanitizer for my hands .
With the tips of my forefinger and thumb , I then rub some of the sanitizer just inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpful or detrimental effect ?
Wait , what ?
Well , good for you for remembering the hand sanitizer for your hands .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says keeping your hands clean is always important to reduce infection but especially so now to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
But ... not in your nose , says Leana Wen , an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University who previously was Baltimore 's health commissioner .
`` Putting hand sanitizer on your nostrils is n't a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' If your hands come in contact with the virus — say by touching a steering wheel that someone with COVID-19 sneezed on , `` then using hand sanitizer can kill the virus from your hands and keep it from entering your body if you touch the mucus membranes in your nose , eyes or mouth , '' Wen says .
`` But hand sanitizer on , or in , your nose , wo n't keep you from inhaling in virus particles which can attach to mucus membranes deep inside your nose and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole combination of protective measures : frequent washing or hand sanitizing your hands , especially if you come in contact with an item or surface that someone else might have touched , physical distancing and wearing a mask .
With so many people using hand sanitizer , some popular brands can be hard to find .
But do n't just settle for any brand : The Food and Drug Administration has found that some hand sanitizers contain hazardous ingredients such as methanol or wood alcohol , which `` can be toxic when absorbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be life-threatening when ingested . ''
Check this FDA website to see if the brand you have or are planning to buy is on its list of hand sanitizers to avoid .
And as long as we 're talking about hand sanitizer , here are some refresher tips you might have forgotten since the beginning of the pandemic , courtesy of the CDC and University of Pennsylvania : • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 % alcohol , a recommended percentage for wiping out viral particles .
• Squeeze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on your hands .
• After applying sanitizer , rub your hands together until they feel dry — about 20 seconds .
• Do n't rinse or wipe off the hand sanitizer before it 's dry or it may not work well against germs .
• Hand sanitizer does have a shelf life , so get a new bottle when this one reaches its expiration date .
• Consider storing that sanitizer in the purse or any carrying case you typically bring with you when you get in the car .
Sanitizer can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car , and you may find yourself with none to use when you need it .
We want to plan a birthday party for 13 people .
We are all committed to wearing masks and social distancing .
Would it help to spray Lysol in the rooms every 30 to 60 minutes to help with disinfecting the air ?
The only time we would n't have on a mask is to eat .
We hate to be a literal party pooper , but , in a word , no , says Steve Bennett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory affairs at the Household & Commercial Products Association , the trade association for cleaning products such as Lysol .
`` A disinfectant spray is actually designed for surface use , so spraying it in the air will not be effective in protecting indoor guests from COVID-19 , '' Bennett says .
He adds that there are no sprayable household products currently registered with the Environmental Protection Agency that can be used to disinfect the air .
( And as we reported in an earlier FAQ : `` Portable air cleaners can limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airborne particles by capturing most of those particles in a HEPA filter and cleaning the air at a rate of up to six times per hour . ''
) It would be nice to think we could spray away the virus , but the problem with disinfecting spray is that `` it only lasts in the air for a few seconds and then falls to the ground , or evaporates , ending any protection , '' says James Malley , a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sprayed the air with disinfectant , it would n't linger long enough to be effective in the next moment if anyone who 's contagious ( and not showing symptoms ) has resumed talking or breathing in the indoor space .
Like Bennett , Malley says disinfectant sprays are really meant for cleaning surfaces such as kitchen countertops or doorknobs — though he prefers disinfecting wipes .
With wipes , you can be sure you 've disinfected the entire surface because `` you can visually see what has gotten wet and what has n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfectant , it can be harder to distribute the product across a surface and harder to tell where you 've already sprayed .
If you do choose to use wipes , Malley has a tip : To ensure a surface is fully disinfected , wait for the surface to dry before touching it .
To learn more about how COVID-19 spreads through the air and how to protect yourself , watch this video from NPR correspondent Pien Huang .
Fran Kritz is a health policy reporter based in Washington , D.C. , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kaiser Health News .
Find her on Twitter : @ fkritz .

Coronavirus FAQs: Should I Purell My Nostrils? Can Lysol Disinfect The Air?
Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions."
Enlarge this image Malaka Gharib/NPR Malaka Gharib/NPR
When I get in my car, I always use a squirt of hand sanitizer for my hands. With the tips of my forefinger and thumb, I then rub some of the sanitizer just inside my nostrils. Does this have any helpful or detrimental effect?
Wait, what? Well, good for you for remembering the hand sanitizer for your hands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says keeping your hands clean is always important to reduce infection but especially so now to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
But ... not in your nose, says Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University who previously was Baltimore's health commissioner. "Putting hand sanitizer on your nostrils isn't a barrier to breathing in the virus."
If your hands come in contact with the virus — say by touching a steering wheel that someone with COVID-19 sneezed on, "then using hand sanitizer can kill the virus from your hands and keep it from entering your body if you touch the mucus membranes in your nose, eyes or mouth," Wen says. "But hand sanitizer on, or in, your nose, won't keep you from inhaling in virus particles which can attach to mucus membranes deep inside your nose and throat. "
Your best bet is the whole combination of protective measures: frequent washing or hand sanitizing your hands, especially if you come in contact with an item or surface that someone else might have touched, physical distancing and wearing a mask.
With so many people using hand sanitizer, some popular brands can be hard to find. But don't just settle for any brand: The Food and Drug Administration has found that some hand sanitizers contain hazardous ingredients such as methanol or wood alcohol, which "can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested." Check this FDA website to see if the brand you have or are planning to buy is on its list of hand sanitizers to avoid.
And as long as we're talking about hand sanitizer, here are some refresher tips you might have forgotten since the beginning of the pandemic, courtesy of the CDC and University of Pennsylvania:
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, a recommended percentage for wiping out viral particles.
Squeeze out enough sanitizer to cover all surfaces on your hands.
After applying sanitizer, rub your hands together until they feel dry — about 20 seconds.
Don't rinse or wipe off the hand sanitizer before it's dry or it may not work well against germs.
Hand sanitizer does have a shelf life, so get a new bottle when this one reaches its expiration date.
Consider storing that sanitizer in the purse or any carrying case you typically bring with you when you get in the car. Sanitizer can evaporate from heat if left in the car, and you may find yourself with none to use when you need it.
We want to plan a birthday party for 13 people. We are all committed to wearing masks and social distancing. Would it help to spray Lysol in the rooms every 30 to 60 minutes to help with disinfecting the air?
The only time we wouldn't have on a mask is to eat.
We hate to be a literal party pooper, but, in a word, no, says Steve Bennett, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Household & Commercial Products Association, the trade association for cleaning products such as Lysol.
"A disinfectant spray is actually designed for surface use, so spraying it in the air will not be effective in protecting indoor guests from COVID-19," Bennett says. He adds that there are no sprayable household products currently registered with the Environmental Protection Agency that can be used to disinfect the air. (And as we reported in an earlier FAQ: "Portable air cleaners can limit the spread of the virus via long-range airborne particles by capturing most of those particles in a HEPA filter and cleaning the air at a rate of up to six times per hour.")
It would be nice to think we could spray away the virus, but the problem with disinfecting spray is that "it only lasts in the air for a few seconds and then falls to the ground, or evaporates, ending any protection," says James Malley, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. So even if you sprayed the air with disinfectant, it wouldn't linger long enough to be effective in the next moment if anyone who's contagious (and not showing symptoms) has resumed talking or breathing in the indoor space.
Like Bennett, Malley says disinfectant sprays are really meant for cleaning surfaces such as kitchen countertops or doorknobs — though he prefers disinfecting wipes. With wipes, you can be sure you've disinfected the entire surface because "you can visually see what has gotten wet and what hasn't," he says. With spray disinfectant, it can be harder to distribute the product across a surface and harder to tell where you've already sprayed. If you do choose to use wipes, Malley has a tip: To ensure a surface is fully disinfected, wait for the surface to dry before touching it.
To learn more about how COVID-19 spreads through the air and how to protect yourself, watch this video from NPR correspondent Pien Huang.
YouTube
Fran Kritz is a health policy reporter based in Washington, D.C., who has contributed to The Washington Post and Kaiser Health News. Find her on Twitter: @fkritz.


npr--2020-11-06--After Suspension For Sign-Stealing Scandal, Red Sox Reportedly Rehire Alex Cora

The Boston Red Sox have brought back one-time manager Alex Cora , according to multiple media reports .
Less than 10 months ago , the team parted ways with him for his role in the Houston Astros sign-stealing cheating scandal during the 2017 and 2018 seasons .
Cora , who as a first-year manager helped lead the Red Sox to a World Series championship in 2018 , had been suspended by Major League Baseball for the duration of the shortened 2020 season .
It was widely anticipated that Cora would be a candidate for the job once his suspension lifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first reported the news of Cora 's hiring .
Cora 's `` strong relationships he has with ownership , the front office , the coaching staff and key players on the roster — was too compelling for [ Red Sox ] chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom to pass up , '' the MLB Network added .
The Red Sox did not immediately respond to NPR 's request for comment about the reports .
Cora and the team `` mutually agreed to part ways '' in January after a lengthy investigation by the league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign-stealing system while serving as the Astros ' bench coach .
The scheme , the league said , included Astros players banging on trash cans to alert teammates at bat of the upcoming pitch .
The Astros were observing the opposing catcher 's signs to the pitcher , giving their batter a heads up about what pitch was about to be thrown .
As NPR reported , the scheme was n't well disguised .
`` Witnesses made clear that everyone proximate to the Astros ' dugout presumptively heard or saw the banging , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The Astros won the World Series in 2017 , defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers .
League investigators did not find evidence that the Astros continued the banging scheme into the 2018 season , but found that the team 's replay review room did use cameras at the ball park `` to decode signs '' and relay that information to the dugout .
`` The Astros ' replay review room staff continued , at least for part of the 2018 season , to decode signs using the live center field camera feed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dugout through in-person communications , '' Manfred said .
The scheme , seen as the biggest scandal to rock Major League Baseball since the steroid doping era , led to a season-long suspension of Astros Manager A.J .
Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow , the team 's general manager .
Both were subsequently fired by the Astros on Jan. 13 .
A day later , the Red Sox announced they were parting ways with Cora .
`` Today is a sad day for us .
Alex is a special person and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are grateful for his impact on our franchise , '' team officials said in a statement with Cora .
`` We agreed today that parting ways was the best thing for the organization , '' Cora said .
`` I do not want to be a distraction to the Red Sox as they move forward . ''
The scandal also impacted the New York Mets organization .
Carlos Beltrán , who played on the 2017 Astros team , had been hired in November 2019 as the Mets manager .
Beltrán , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stepped down as the Mets manager before holding his first practice , The New York Times reported .
As ESPN reported , the team Cora comes back to looks nothing like the club he helped lead to a franchise-best 108 wins .
This past season , with many top players no longer with the team , the Red Sox finished in last place in the American League East .
Prior to managing the Red Sox , Cora was an infielder for several teams , including Los Angeles Dodgers , Cleveland Indians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Nationals .
He also played on the Red Sox team that won the 2007 World Series .

After Suspension For Sign-Stealing Scandal, Red Sox Rehire Alex Cora
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charles Krupa/AP Charles Krupa/AP
Updated 7:00 a.m. ET Saturday
The Boston Red Sox have brought back one-time manager Alex Cora. Less than 10 months ago, the team parted ways with him for his role in the Houston Astros sign-stealing cheating scandal during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Cora will join as the team's manager for a two-year contract that will run through the 2022 season, with a two-year club option for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, according to a Red Sox press release.
Cora, who as a first-year manager helped lead the Red Sox to a World Series championship in 2018, had been suspended by Major League Baseball for the duration of the shortened 2020 season.
It was widely anticipated that Cora would be a candidate for the job once his suspension lifted, according to MLB Network, which first reported the news of Cora's hiring.
Cora's "strong relationships he has with ownership, the front office, the coaching staff and key players on the roster — was too compelling for [Red Sox] chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom to pass up," the MLB Network added.
Cora and the team "mutually agreed to part ways" in January after a lengthy investigation by the league concluded that Cora helped devise an elaborate sign-stealing system while serving as the Astros' bench coach.
The scheme, the league said, included Astros players banging on trash cans to alert teammates at bat of the upcoming pitch. The Astros were observing the opposing catcher's signs to the pitcher, giving their batter a heads up about what pitch was about to be thrown.
As NPR reported, the scheme wasn't well disguised.
"Witnesses made clear that everyone proximate to the Astros' dugout presumptively heard or saw the banging," Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred said.
The Astros won the World Series in 2017, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers.
League investigators did not find evidence that the Astros continued the banging scheme into the 2018 season, but found that the team's replay review room did use cameras at the ball park "to decode signs" and relay that information to the dugout.
"The Astros' replay review room staff continued, at least for part of the 2018 season, to decode signs using the live center field camera feed, and to transmit the signs to the dugout through in-person communications," Manfred said.
The scheme, seen as the biggest scandal to rock Major League Baseball since the steroid doping era, led to a season-long suspension of Astros Manager A.J. Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow, the team's general manager. Both were subsequently fired by the Astros on Jan. 13.
A day later, the Red Sox announced they were parting ways with Cora.
"Today is a sad day for us. Alex is a special person and beloved member of the Red Sox. We are grateful for his impact on our franchise," team officials said in a statement with Cora.
"We agreed today that parting ways was the best thing for the organization," Cora said. "I do not want to be a distraction to the Red Sox as they move forward."
The scandal also impacted the New York Mets organization.
Carlos Beltrán, who played on the 2017 Astros team, had been hired in November 2019 as the Mets manager. Beltrán, the only player named in the cheating scandal, stepped down as the Mets manager before holding his first practice, The New York Times reported.
As ESPN reported, the team Cora comes back to looks nothing like the club he helped lead to a franchise-best 108 wins. This past season, with many top players no longer with the team, the Red Sox finished in last place in the American League East.
Prior to managing the Red Sox, Cora was an infielder for several teams, including Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals.
He also played on the Red Sox team that won the 2007 World Series.


npr--2020-11-06--What Blockbuster Automaker Profits Tell Us About The Pandemic Economy

What Blockbuster Automaker Profits Tell Us About The Pandemic Economy The auto industry is roaring back far sooner than expected in the latest sign of the economy 's two-track recovery .
Major auto manufacturers have been raking in money this past quarter as consumers who can afford it show unexpectedly strong appetite for expensive new vehicles .
Companies such as Ford , General Motors , Fiat Chrysler , Daimler and BMW reported impressive earnings in the period between July to September , surpassing their pre-pandemic performance in many key metrics .
Honda and Toyota raised their profit forecasts sharply .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry that just a few months ago was facing a grim outlook .
Plants around the world were shut down this spring to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Carmakers could n't sell vehicles , because they were n't making any .
They were bleeding billions of dollars and bracing for a recession that would send demand for their products plummeting even after they restarted assembly lines .
But then production resumed .
And it turns out Americans — those who can still afford new cars anyway — want new vehicles as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who put off purchases earlier in the pandemic was boosted even further by federal stimulus checks and low interest rates .
`` Consumers have proved resilient , '' says Stephanie Brinley , an analyst with IHS Markit .
`` They came back to the showrooms as soon as they could . ''
It might seem counterintuitive .
Millions of Americans are struggling financially .
The U.S. has recovered just over half of the 22 million jobs lost early in the pandemic .
But those job losses disproportionately hit lower-income workers , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are marketed to higher-earning buyers .
The stock market has been soaring , and many well-compensated workers have been able to work from home .
Instead of experiencing a financial crunch , they might even be saving money by reducing expenditures on things such as travel and dining out .
The spending power of the financially comfortable is powering sales trends in high-end homes as well as new cars .
Indeed , those buyers showed a strong preference for pricey pickup trucks and SUVs loaded with premium features , pushing new car transaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trend in American car buying , but it may have been intensified by the pandemic as financially secure shoppers are less focused on commuter vehicles and thinking more about road trips or leisure .
The preference for high-cost vehicles means automakers can turn tidy profits even on a smaller number of total sales .
Meanwhile , some companies are also seeing a boost from rising used car prices , which provided a cash infusion to their financing arms .
Demand in China has also rebounded significantly .
The result ?
Ford paid back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it through the pandemic and still had $ 30 billion in cash left over .
General Motors doubled analyst expectations for earnings per share in the third quarter .
And Fiat Chrysler reported its highest ever quarterly earnings in North America .
Brinley notes that sales will still be down for the year as a whole , and given the uncertainty about the ongoing pandemic , `` there is still opportunity to have difficulty in the next year . ''
But the unexpectedly strong performance from automakers in the third quarter helps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the year .
And it 's a relief as they look toward the future , where they have committed to making hefty investments .
Every major car company is banking on a future in battery-powered vehicles , which requires an expensive transformation in the industry .
And that 's before you tally up the costs of investing in autonomous vehicles .
GM CEO Mary Barra emphasized this week that the tremendous amount of cash that GM was earning from full-size trucks and SUVs in North America will allow the company to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needing to borrow money or seek investors .
`` We 're going to go hard at [ electric vehicles ] , '' she said .
`` The North America performance ... allows us to do that . ''
Meanwhile , Tesla , which led the industry in electrification and is popular with luxury car customers , was profitable all year long .

What Blockbuster Automaker Profits Tell Us About The Pandemic Economy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nic Antaya/Getty Images Nic Antaya/Getty Images
The auto industry is roaring back far sooner than expected in the latest sign of the economy's two-track recovery.
Major auto manufacturers have been raking in money this past quarter as consumers who can afford it show unexpectedly strong appetite for expensive new vehicles.
Companies such as Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Daimler and BMW reported impressive earnings in the period between July to September, surpassing their pre-pandemic performance in many key metrics. Honda and Toyota raised their profit forecasts sharply.
It's a remarkable turnaround for an industry that just a few months ago was facing a grim outlook. Plants around the world were shut down this spring to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Carmakers couldn't sell vehicles, because they weren't making any. They were bleeding billions of dollars and bracing for a recession that would send demand for their products plummeting even after they restarted assembly lines.
But then production resumed. And it turns out Americans — those who can still afford new cars anyway — want new vehicles as badly as ever. Pent-up demand from people who put off purchases earlier in the pandemic was boosted even further by federal stimulus checks and low interest rates.
"Consumers have proved resilient," says Stephanie Brinley, an analyst with IHS Markit. "They came back to the showrooms as soon as they could."
It might seem counterintuitive. Millions of Americans are struggling financially. The U.S. has recovered just over half of the 22 million jobs lost early in the pandemic.
But those job losses disproportionately hit lower-income workers, particularly in service industries, and new cars are marketed to higher-earning buyers. The stock market has been soaring, and many well-compensated workers have been able to work from home.
Instead of experiencing a financial crunch, they might even be saving money by reducing expenditures on things such as travel and dining out.
The spending power of the financially comfortable is powering sales trends in high-end homes as well as new cars.
Indeed, those buyers showed a strong preference for pricey pickup trucks and SUVs loaded with premium features, pushing new car transaction prices higher.
That's a long-standing trend in American car buying, but it may have been intensified by the pandemic as financially secure shoppers are less focused on commuter vehicles and thinking more about road trips or leisure.
The preference for high-cost vehicles means automakers can turn tidy profits even on a smaller number of total sales.
Meanwhile, some companies are also seeing a boost from rising used car prices, which provided a cash infusion to their financing arms. Demand in China has also rebounded significantly.
The result? Ford paid back $15 billion it had borrowed to make it through the pandemic and still had $30 billion in cash left over. General Motors doubled analyst expectations for earnings per share in the third quarter. And Fiat Chrysler reported its highest ever quarterly earnings in North America.
Brinley notes that sales will still be down for the year as a whole, and given the uncertainty about the ongoing pandemic, "there is still opportunity to have difficulty in the next year."
But the unexpectedly strong performance from automakers in the third quarter helps make up for the losses they suffered earlier in the year.
And it's a relief as they look toward the future, where they have committed to making hefty investments.
Every major car company is banking on a future in battery-powered vehicles, which requires an expensive transformation in the industry. And that's before you tally up the costs of investing in autonomous vehicles.
GM CEO Mary Barra emphasized this week that the tremendous amount of cash that GM was earning from full-size trucks and SUVs in North America will allow the company to self-fund its electric vehicle investments rather than needing to borrow money or seek investors.
"We're going to go hard at [electric vehicles]," she said. "The North America performance ... allows us to do that."
Meanwhile, Tesla, which led the industry in electrification and is popular with luxury car customers, was profitable all year long.


npr--2020-11-06--In Historic Move, Colorado Voters Decide To Reintroduce Gray Wolves

In Colorado , a historic ballot measure to force the state to reintroduce gray wolves has passed by the slimmest of margins .
Proposition 114 directs state wildlife managers to bring wolves back to Colorado 's western mountains by 2024 .
Supporters suspected it would sail to victory , but voters appear wary of wolves .
By the time opponents conceded the race , the initiative was only ahead by half of 1 percentage point .
Rob Edward , who led the ballot campaign for the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund , called the win `` a nail-biter , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is an up or down vote , '' Edward said .
`` If the people of Colorado say we want wolves , the next step is to lean into that reality and find a common path forward . ''
Democrats dominated in Colorado on Election Night .
Jay Fetcher , a rancher who lives near Steamboat Springs , Colo. , suspected he would be a rare outlier as someone who voted for liberal candidates but opposed the wolf ballot measure .
The final count made it appear just the opposite .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because I thought we 'd be overwhelmed by the Front Range people , '' he said , referring to urban voters in Metro Denver who are believed to largely support wolf reintroduction .
Hunters and ranchers have been less enthusiastic , noting they 're the ones whose daily lives would be most affected .
In a move criticized as `` ballot box biology , '' passage means Colorado will become the first state where voters direct the reintroduction of gray wolves rather than the federal government .
Those previous efforts have brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rockies , New Mexico , Arizona and the Carolinas .
One complicating factor is the Trump administration 's recent decision to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list .
If it survives expected legal challenges , it could make Colorado 's task easier , since state wildlife managers wo n't need permission from the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the species .
But it also may mean the state wo n't be able to receive federal grants for the project .
Meantime , Colorado biologists are keeping a close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
Last winter , wildlife officials confirmed that a group of six wolves appeared to be living in northwestern Colorado .
It now seems at least some of those wolves may have been killed across the border in Wyoming .
Nevertheless , ranchers and hunters against the initiative think those wolves had a decisive impact on shrinking support for the vote .
`` One thing is clear — Coloradans have serious concerns about the forced introduction of gray wolves , '' said Patrick Pratt , deputy campaign manager for Coloradans Protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A spokesperson for Colorado 's state wildlife agency said it will now carry out the will of voters .
The ballot language requires a final plan for reintroduction based on science and public hearings .

In Historic Move, Colorado Voters Decide To Reintroduce Gray Wolves
Enlarge this image toggle caption Dawn Villella/AP Dawn Villella/AP
In Colorado, a historic ballot measure to force the state to reintroduce gray wolves has passed by the slimmest of margins.
Proposition 114 directs state wildlife managers to bring wolves back to Colorado's western mountains by 2024. Supporters suspected it would sail to victory, but voters appear wary of wolves. By the time opponents conceded the race, the initiative was only ahead by half of 1 percentage point.
Rob Edward, who led the ballot campaign for the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund, called the win "a nail-biter," but said it still counts.
"This is an up or down vote," Edward said. "If the people of Colorado say we want wolves, the next step is to lean into that reality and find a common path forward."
Democrats dominated in Colorado on Election Night. Jay Fetcher, a rancher who lives near Steamboat Springs, Colo., suspected he would be a rare outlier as someone who voted for liberal candidates but opposed the wolf ballot measure. The final count made it appear just the opposite.
"I'm shocked by how close it is because I thought we'd be overwhelmed by the Front Range people," he said, referring to urban voters in Metro Denver who are believed to largely support wolf reintroduction. Hunters and ranchers have been less enthusiastic, noting they're the ones whose daily lives would be most affected.
In a move criticized as "ballot box biology," passage means Colorado will become the first state where voters direct the reintroduction of gray wolves rather than the federal government. Those previous efforts have brought populations of wolves back to the northern Rockies, New Mexico, Arizona and the Carolinas.
One complicating factor is the Trump administration's recent decision to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list.
If it survives expected legal challenges, it could make Colorado's task easier, since state wildlife managers won't need permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the species. But it also may mean the state won't be able to receive federal grants for the project.
Meantime, Colorado biologists are keeping a close eye on whether wolves are already in the state. Last winter, wildlife officials confirmed that a group of six wolves appeared to be living in northwestern Colorado. It now seems at least some of those wolves may have been killed across the border in Wyoming.
Nevertheless, ranchers and hunters against the initiative think those wolves had a decisive impact on shrinking support for the vote.
"One thing is clear — Coloradans have serious concerns about the forced introduction of gray wolves," said Patrick Pratt, deputy campaign manager for Coloradans Protecting Wildlife, the main opposition group.
A spokesperson for Colorado's state wildlife agency said it will now carry out the will of voters. The ballot language requires a final plan for reintroduction based on science and public hearings.


npr--2020-11-06--Parts Of Northern Denmark On Lockdown Over Coronavirus Variant Outbreak In Minks

Parts Of Northern Denmark On Lockdown Over Coronavirus Variant Outbreak In Minks Denmark is putting over a quarter of a million of residents on lockdown after discovering coronavirus outbreaks among bred minks , including a mutated strain .
The government announced a number of restrictions on parts of northern Denmark , the area hit hardest by the infections .
Two days ago , officials ordered the mink population to be killed , totaling up to 17 million animals .
Restaurants in these areas are closed to diners .
Public transportation within the region are shut down .
Gatherings are largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructed to switch to online classes with a few possible exceptions .
The regional health authority said it was preparing to test the 280,000 residents in the affected areas for the coronavirus .
The mutated strain has not been found to be more dangerous than the coronavirus , but Danish officials warn it appears to have a weak reaction to antibodies .
This could affect a future vaccine 's effectiveness .
Twelve people have been diagnosed with the mutated virus strain so far , according to the World Health Organization .
About 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure from mink in Denmark .
Maria Van Kerkhove , WHO 's technical lead for COVID-19 , called the animal-to-human transmission among minks `` a concern '' during a WHO briefing Friday .
However , she stressed that viruses regularly mutate and the organization has been tracking changes from the beginning .
`` It 's too early to really jump to conclusions as to the implications of what the specific mutations have , '' Soumya Swaminathan , WHO chief scientist , said during the briefing .
`` I do n't think we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular mutation is going to impact vaccine efficacy or not .
We do n't have any evidence at the moment . ''
Still , Danish officials are taking quick preventive measures .
Kåre Mølbak , director of infectious diseases at Denmark 's State Serum Institute , warned a mutated strain could complicate the global battle against the coronavirus .
`` The worst-case scenario is that we would start off a new pandemic in Denmark , '' Mølbak said , according to The Guardian .
`` There 's a risk that this mutated virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 'd have to put new things in a vaccine , and therefore [ the mutation ] would slam us all in the whole world back to the start . ''
Control measures to prevent the spread of mink-related strains beyond northern Denmark are being developed , WHO said in a statement to NPR .
The U.K. said Friday it will require travelers coming from Denmark to self-isolate for 14 days in light of the mink outbreaks .
Denmark , which is the world 's largest supplier of mink fur , is offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the animals .
But it represents a huge blow to the industry , said Tage Pedersen , president of the Danish mink breeders association .
`` It is a dark day for all of us and for Denmark , '' Pedersen said , according to The Guardian .
`` Of course , we do n't want to be the cause of another pandemic , but the government 's decision is a disaster for our industry and Denmark .
It is a de facto permanent shutdown and liquidation of the fur industry . ''

Parts Of Northern Denmark On Lockdown Over Coronavirus Variant Outbreak In Minks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima
Denmark is putting over a quarter of a million of residents on lockdown after discovering coronavirus outbreaks among bred minks, including a mutated strain.
The government announced a number of restrictions on parts of northern Denmark, the area hit hardest by the infections. Two days ago, officials ordered the mink population to be killed, totaling up to 17 million animals.
Restaurants in these areas are closed to diners. Public transportation within the region are shut down. Gatherings are largely limited to 10 attendees. Colleges are instructed to switch to online classes with a few possible exceptions.
The regional health authority said it was preparing to test the 280,000 residents in the affected areas for the coronavirus.
The mutated strain has not been found to be more dangerous than the coronavirus, but Danish officials warn it appears to have a weak reaction to antibodies. This could affect a future vaccine's effectiveness.
Twelve people have been diagnosed with the mutated virus strain so far, according to the World Health Organization. About 200 coronavirus cases overall can be traced to exposure from mink in Denmark.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, called the animal-to-human transmission among minks "a concern" during a WHO briefing Friday.
However, she stressed that viruses regularly mutate and the organization has been tracking changes from the beginning.
"It's too early to really jump to conclusions as to the implications of what the specific mutations have," Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, said during the briefing. "I don't think we should come to any conclusions about whether this particular mutation is going to impact vaccine efficacy or not. We don't have any evidence at the moment."
Still, Danish officials are taking quick preventive measures. Kåre Mølbak, director of infectious diseases at Denmark's State Serum Institute, warned a mutated strain could complicate the global battle against the coronavirus.
"The worst-case scenario is that we would start off a new pandemic in Denmark," Mølbak said, according to The Guardian. "There's a risk that this mutated virus is so different from the others that we'd have to put new things in a vaccine, and therefore [the mutation] would slam us all in the whole world back to the start."
Control measures to prevent the spread of mink-related strains beyond northern Denmark are being developed, WHO said in a statement to NPR.
The U.K. said Friday it will require travelers coming from Denmark to self-isolate for 14 days in light of the mink outbreaks.
Denmark, which is the world's largest supplier of mink fur, is offering compensation to breeders in exchange for culling the animals.
But it represents a huge blow to the industry, said Tage Pedersen, president of the Danish mink breeders association.
"It is a dark day for all of us and for Denmark," Pedersen said, according to The Guardian. "Of course, we don't want to be the cause of another pandemic, but the government's decision is a disaster for our industry and Denmark. It is a de facto permanent shutdown and liquidation of the fur industry."


npr--2020-11-06--Alcohol Delivery Company Drizly Sees Sales Jump Amid Election Wait

Americans sat in their homes Tuesday , glued to their television and phone screens , anxiously awaiting the results of the 2020 election .
With the pandemic spiking again , many people watched alone or with family , or even a bottle of wine .
Drizly , an alcohol delivery company , said its sales in some of the blue states it services jumped more than 75 % on Election Day , compared with the average for the previous four Tuesdays .
They included California , Massachusetts , New Jersey , Connecticut , Oregon , Washington , Rhode Island , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland , along with Washington , D.C .
Meanwhile , sales in red states increased 33 % .
Those included Idaho , Missouri , Oklahoma , Kentucky , Louisiana , Tennessee and Wyoming .
And sales grew about 55 % in swing states ( such as Colorado , Florida , Minnesota , North Carolina , Ohio , Arizona , Georgia , Pennsylvania and Texas ) .
Overall , the company said its sales were up about 68 % , compared with the last four Tuesdays .
That 's about the same increase it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities had larger spikes on Tuesday .
In New York City and Washington , D.C. , sales more than doubled .
Sales soared 83 % in Boston .
Drizly 's Election Day sales broke down this way : wine , at about 42 % ; liquor at about 41 % ; and beer at about 15 % .

Alcohol Delivery Company Drizly Sees Sales Jump Amid Election Wait
Enlarge this image toggle caption Krisanapong Detraphiphat/Getty Images Krisanapong Detraphiphat/Getty Images
Americans sat in their homes Tuesday, glued to their television and phone screens, anxiously awaiting the results of the 2020 election. With the pandemic spiking again, many people watched alone or with family, or even a bottle of wine.
Drizly, an alcohol delivery company, said its sales in some of the blue states it services jumped more than 75% on Election Day, compared with the average for the previous four Tuesdays. They included California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Oregon, Washington, Rhode Island, Illinois, New York, Vermont and Maryland, along with Washington, D.C.
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Meanwhile, sales in red states increased 33%. Those included Idaho, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Wyoming. And sales grew about 55% in swing states (such as Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Texas).
Overall, the company said its sales were up about 68%, compared with the last four Tuesdays. That's about the same increase it saw in the 2016 election.
Bigger cities had larger spikes on Tuesday. In New York City and Washington, D.C., sales more than doubled. Sales soared 83% in Boston.
Drizly's Election Day sales broke down this way: wine, at about 42%; liquor at about 41%; and beer at about 15%.


npr--2020-11-06--Georgia Presidential Race Likely Headed For Recount, Secretary Of State Says

Georgia Presidential Race Likely Headed For Recount , Secretary Of State Says Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told reporters that the state will conduct a recount given the razor-thin margin between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Trump .
`` The focus for our office and for the county elections officials for now remains on making sure that every legal vote is counted and recorded accurately , '' Raffensperger said .
`` As we are closing in on a final count , we can begin to look toward our next steps .
With a margin that small , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he predicted .
In Georgia , a recount can only be requested after the state has undergone a `` risk limiting audit '' and a state certification of the vote , according to Georgia elections official Gabriel Sterling .
As of now , the state certification process is set to be finalized by Nov. 20 .
Recounts can be requested if the margin of victory is within .5 % .
Biden currently leads Trump by just over 1,500 votes after surpassing the president 's lead early Friday morning .
Sterling said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 4,169 ballots left to be counted in Georgia , with portions largely in Gwinnett County , as well some in Cobb , Floyd and Cherokee counties .
Sterling added that counts may be finalized by this weekend , though it remains unclear how long the count of incoming military ballots and cured or damaged absentee ballots could take .
`` When you have a narrow margin , little small things can make a difference , '' Sterling said .
`` We are literally looking at a margin of less than , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .

Georgia Presidential Race Likely Headed For Recount, Secretary Of State Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica McGowan/Getty Images Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told reporters that the state will conduct a recount given the razor-thin margin between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Trump.
"The focus for our office and for the county elections officials for now remains on making sure that every legal vote is counted and recorded accurately," Raffensperger said.
"As we are closing in on a final count, we can begin to look toward our next steps. With a margin that small, there will be a recount in Georgia," he predicted.
In Georgia, a recount can only be requested after the state has undergone a "risk limiting audit" and a state certification of the vote, according to Georgia elections official Gabriel Sterling. As of now, the state certification process is set to be finalized by Nov. 20.
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Recounts can be requested if the margin of victory is within .5%. Biden currently leads Trump by just over 1,500 votes after surpassing the president's lead early Friday morning.
Sterling said in Friday's press briefing that there were 4,169 ballots left to be counted in Georgia, with portions largely in Gwinnett County, as well some in Cobb, Floyd and Cherokee counties.
Sterling added that counts may be finalized by this weekend, though it remains unclear how long the count of incoming military ballots and cured or damaged absentee ballots could take.
"When you have a narrow margin, little small things can make a difference," Sterling said. "We are literally looking at a margin of less than, you know, a large high school," he added.


npr--2020-11-06--U.S. Shattered Records For New Coronavirus Cases This Week As Hospitalizations Climb

U.S .
Shattered Records For New Coronavirus Cases This Week As Hospitalizations Climb New coronavirus cases in the U.S. reached staggering highs this week , the second week in a row of record-breaking growth .
Hospitalizations rose quickly , too , approaching levels that will soon eclipse the spring and summer peaks .
On Wednesday , the country recorded more than 100,000 cases in a single day , a threshold Dr. Anthony Fauci warned lawmakers the U.S. could reach if the virus was not driven down before winter .
By Thursday , cases had jumped even higher to more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases are now up 55 % over two weeks ago on average .
`` Cases are going up exponentially in many different parts of the country , '' says Dr. Albert Ko , professor and department chair of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at the Yale School of Public Health .
The U.S. is now averaging more than 94,000 cases a day , double where it was a month ago .
Ko says it 's not unreasonable to think the daily case count could double again , given the current trajectory of the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained by more testing , says Anne Rimoin , professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and Infectious Disease Division of the Geffen School of Medicine .
`` There 's no indication that the number of cases will go down , '' she says .
`` These are true increases ; it 's not just due to more testing . ''
Testing has increased modestly in the past month but has not surged anywhere near fast enough to explain the case growth .
And positivity rates are high in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when there are more infections in the community than are captured by testing .
When infections spike , it often takes several weeks before that is reflected in hospitalizations , and then several more weeks for a corresponding rise in deaths .
As of Thursday , hospitalizations had climbed 14 % over the past seven days , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
More than 53,000 COVID-19 patients are in the hospital — approaching the spring and summer peaks when about 60,000 people were hospitalized .
`` We already have a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm worried in the next two or three weeks those could double — it would be devastating for public health , '' says Ko .
The Midwest remains in the most precarious situation .
It now has more cases per capita than any other region during the pandemic .
Cases are rising the fastest in those states , up more than 80 % from two weeks ago .
Illinois has added about 50,000 cases over the past week , according to a CDC analysis , outpacing even Texas and California , which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climbing steeply too .
`` The rise in cases and hospitalizations is unsustainable , '' said Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker this week .
In parts of Wisconsin , state health officials say hospitals are nearing or already at capacity .
Many have relied on moving patients to different parts of the state , but that is becoming increasingly difficult .
`` We are on an island here , '' says Dr. William Melms , chief medical officer at the Marshfield Clinic Health System , which runs clinics and nine hospitals primarily in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will certainly be pushed to the limit by the end of the month . ''
While the increase in hospitalizations is most dire in the Midwest , at least 20 states have more than 1,000 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 .
Texas leads the country .
Some Western states including Colorado and New Mexico have seen record numbers of hospitalized patients .
The situation is projected only to worsen as the weather turns colder and people spend more time indoors and travel for the holidays .
`` This is when we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are getting into a time when respiratory illnesses circulate at a much higher frequency , '' says Rachel Graham , assistant professor of epidemiology in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .
Since mid-October U.S. deaths from COVID-19 have also crept up from a daily average of about 700 to more than 850 .
On Thursday , the U.S. had more than 1,200 deaths .
Improvements in treating COVID-19 patients have helped bring down the death rate so that people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower chance of dying compared to earlier in the pandemic .
But a person 's chance of dying from the disease is `` still pretty high , '' says Rimoin .
`` It 's higher than most infectious diseases , including influenza , '' she says .
`` Plus , it 's not just about deaths , it 's also about severe disease and disability . ''
As hospitals fill up with COVID-19 and influenza patients , state leaders will be forced to confront unpopular decisions about how much to shut down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` A broad lockdown is effective in certain types of situations , '' says Graham , who points to New York City 's success in containing the virus .
`` It basically enforces compliance , and some places are going to be a lot more willing to and able to take another large lockdown . ''
The Northeast is now contending with a huge rebound .
Cases have shot up 65 % on average over the past 14 days .
Harrowing outbreaks in the spring left an imprint on states like New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albert Ko says that caused people to change their behavior and follow public health guidance , but `` this protective effect is now wearing off and people are having increased social contacts . ''
As cases have spiked , some states have rolled back their reopening plans or put in place restrictions , including Illinois and Connecticut .
But other states like North and South Dakota , which continue to have the highest rate of infections per capita in the country , have resisted taking such steps .
In El Paso , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on local authorities , who were faced with the prospect of their hospitals being overrun .
`` This is a hard moment where we do n't necessarily get to have our cake and eat it too .
You want to have bars open , then you might not be able to have schools open .
You want to not wear a mask , you 're going to see more COVID , '' says Rimoin .
There is still an opportunity to level off cases through aggressive public health actions , but day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up the country for a dramatic surge in hospitalizations — which could put severe pressure on health care workers .
`` I 'm really worried about what 's going to happen in places in the South and the Midwest where they do n't have that strong implementation of the meat and potatoes of what works in public health , facemasks and social distancing , '' says Ko .
`` The big question is how much damage has already been done ? ''

U.S. Shattered Records For New Coronavirus Cases This Week As Hospitalizations Climb
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images
New coronavirus cases in the U.S. reached staggering highs this week, the second week in a row of record-breaking growth. Hospitalizations rose quickly, too, approaching levels that will soon eclipse the spring and summer peaks.
On Wednesday, the country recorded more than 100,000 cases in a single day, a threshold Dr. Anthony Fauci warned lawmakers the U.S. could reach if the virus was not driven down before winter.
By Thursday, cases had jumped even higher to more than 121,000 in one day. New U.S. cases are now up 55% over two weeks ago on average.
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"Cases are going up exponentially in many different parts of the country," says Dr. Albert Ko, professor and department chair of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at the Yale School of Public Health.
The U.S. is now averaging more than 94,000 cases a day, double where it was a month ago.
Ko says it's not unreasonable to think the daily case count could double again, given the current trajectory of the U.S. outbreak.
The increases cannot be explained by more testing, says Anne Rimoin, professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and Infectious Disease Division of the Geffen School of Medicine.
"There's no indication that the number of cases will go down," she says. "These are true increases; it's not just due to more testing."
Testing has increased modestly in the past month but has not surged anywhere near fast enough to explain the case growth. And positivity rates are high in many states, a measure that indicates when there are more infections in the community than are captured by testing.
Hospitalizations rise toward summer's levels
When infections spike, it often takes several weeks before that is reflected in hospitalizations, and then several more weeks for a corresponding rise in deaths.
As of Thursday, hospitalizations had climbed 14% over the past seven days, according to the COVID Tracking Project. More than 53,000 COVID-19 patients are in the hospital — approaching the spring and summer peaks when about 60,000 people were hospitalized.
"We already have a lot of hospitalizations at this point and I'm worried in the next two or three weeks those could double — it would be devastating for public health," says Ko.
The Midwest remains in the most precarious situation. It now has more cases per capita than any other region during the pandemic. Cases are rising the fastest in those states, up more than 80% from two weeks ago.
Illinois has added about 50,000 cases over the past week, according to a CDC analysis, outpacing even Texas and California, which have much bigger populations. And hospitalizations are climbing steeply too.
"The rise in cases and hospitalizations is unsustainable," said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week.
In parts of Wisconsin, state health officials say hospitals are nearing or already at capacity. Many have relied on moving patients to different parts of the state, but that is becoming increasingly difficult.
"We are on an island here," says Dr. William Melms, chief medical officer at the Marshfield Clinic Health System, which runs clinics and nine hospitals primarily in rural parts of Wisconsin. "We will certainly be pushed to the limit by the end of the month."
While the increase in hospitalizations is most dire in the Midwest, at least 20 states have more than 1,000 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19. Texas leads the country. Some Western states including Colorado and New Mexico have seen record numbers of hospitalized patients.
The situation is projected only to worsen as the weather turns colder and people spend more time indoors and travel for the holidays.
"This is when we have to be actually the most vigilant, because we are getting into a time when respiratory illnesses circulate at a much higher frequency," says Rachel Graham, assistant professor of epidemiology in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
As deaths slowly rise, will lockdowns follow?
Since mid-October U.S. deaths from COVID-19 have also crept up from a daily average of about 700 to more than 850. On Thursday, the U.S. had more than 1,200 deaths.
Improvements in treating COVID-19 patients have helped bring down the death rate so that people who are hospitalized with the illness now have a lower chance of dying compared to earlier in the pandemic.
But a person's chance of dying from the disease is "still pretty high," says Rimoin. "It's higher than most infectious diseases, including influenza," she says. "Plus, it's not just about deaths, it's also about severe disease and disability."
As hospitals fill up with COVID-19 and influenza patients, state leaders will be forced to confront unpopular decisions about how much to shut down the economy and limit gatherings, says Graham.
"A broad lockdown is effective in certain types of situations," says Graham, who points to New York City's success in containing the virus. "It basically enforces compliance, and some places are going to be a lot more willing to and able to take another large lockdown."
The Northeast is now contending with a huge rebound. Cases have shot up 65% on average over the past 14 days.
Harrowing outbreaks in the spring left an imprint on states like New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Albert Ko says that caused people to change their behavior and follow public health guidance, but "this protective effect is now wearing off and people are having increased social contacts."
As cases have spiked, some states have rolled back their reopening plans or put in place restrictions, including Illinois and Connecticut. But other states like North and South Dakota, which continue to have the highest rate of infections per capita in the country, have resisted taking such steps.
In El Paso, Texas, the decision to lock down fell on local authorities, who were faced with the prospect of their hospitals being overrun.
"This is a hard moment where we don't necessarily get to have our cake and eat it too. You want to have bars open, then you might not be able to have schools open. You want to not wear a mask, you're going to see more COVID," says Rimoin.
There is still an opportunity to level off cases through aggressive public health actions, but day after day of record-setting case increases have already set up the country for a dramatic surge in hospitalizations — which could put severe pressure on health care workers.
"I'm really worried about what's going to happen in places in the South and the Midwest where they don't have that strong implementation of the meat and potatoes of what works in public health, facemasks and social distancing," says Ko.
"The big question is how much damage has already been done?"


npr--2020-11-06--NBA Players Union Approves Plan To Tip Off 2020-21 Season Before Christmas

NBA Players Union Approves Plan To Tip Off 2020-21 Season Before Christmas The National Basketball Players Association has approved a plan to start the upcoming NBA season next month but said other details still need to be sorted out before the union and league can finalize the 2020-21 season .
Under this plan , the season would tip off on Dec. 22 and will include a 72-game schedule , the NBPA said in a statement .
`` Additional details remain to be negotiated and the NBPA is confident that the parties will reach agreement on these remaining issues relevant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , without elaborating on what the outstanding negotiations entail .
But as ESPN reported , one likely issue is when the period of free agency would begin .
The sports network noted that the two sides are expected to discuss opening free agency shortly after the NBA draft on Nov. 18 .
If all goes according to plan , ESPN added , that would be a short window to allow for players to be traded or seek new deals before the start of training camps on Dec. 1 .
Like many aspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus has introduced uncertainty and forced the NBA and the players union to scramble several dates on their schedule .
The league was on hiatus from March 11 to July 30 .
The NBA draft was initially set for June 25 , then delayed to Oct. 15 , and later pushed to November .
Shams Charania , a reporter for The Athletic , also said that the NBA is considering allowing fans into arenas when the season gets underway `` depending on each market 's ( coronavirus ) restrictions . ''
Money is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start date .
Part of the push to start in late December , The Associated Press reported , is it would allow for the traditional Christmas Day NBA slate of games .
The full 72-game season would bring in roughly $ 500 million more than a season of about 60 games , another option that was considered , according to the AP .
The full season would also wrap up ahead of the scheduled start of the Olympics in Tokyo next summer .
Some players had been pushing for a January start date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday , according to Draft Kings .
The later start would have allowed players more time to rest between seasons .
The final game of the most recent season ended in mid-October , when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals .
Those games happened inside a so-called `` bubble '' at Walt Disney World in Florida , because of coronavirus concerns .
But as The Athletic 's David Aldridge tweeted , the potential financial losses by starting the season next year proved to be too costly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have communicated w/ their clients that the union is highly likely to accept the NBA 's proposal for a 72-game 2020-21 season beginning Dec. 22 , '' Aldridge added.
`` 'We have to , ' one agent said .
The projected losses of waiting later are too great . ''

NBA Players Union Approves Plan To Tip Off 2020-21 Season Before Christmas
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark J. Terrill/AP Mark J. Terrill/AP
The National Basketball Players Association has approved a plan to start the upcoming NBA season next month but said other details still need to be sorted out before the union and league can finalize the 2020-21 season.
Under this plan, the season would tip off on Dec. 22 and will include a 72-game schedule, the NBPA said in a statement.
"Additional details remain to be negotiated and the NBPA is confident that the parties will reach agreement on these remaining issues relevant to the upcoming season," the NBPA said, without elaborating on what the outstanding negotiations entail.
But as ESPN reported, one likely issue is when the period of free agency would begin. The sports network noted that the two sides are expected to discuss opening free agency shortly after the NBA draft on Nov. 18.
If all goes according to plan, ESPN added, that would be a short window to allow for players to be traded or seek new deals before the start of training camps on Dec. 1.
Like many aspects of life and professional sports, the coronavirus has introduced uncertainty and forced the NBA and the players union to scramble several dates on their schedule. The league was on hiatus from March 11 to July 30.
The NBA draft was initially set for June 25, then delayed to Oct. 15, and later pushed to November.
Shams Charania, a reporter for The Athletic, also said that the NBA is considering allowing fans into arenas when the season gets underway "depending on each market's (coronavirus) restrictions."
Money is another big factor in determining the season start date.
Part of the push to start in late December, The Associated Press reported, is it would allow for the traditional Christmas Day NBA slate of games.
The full 72-game season would bring in roughly $500 million more than a season of about 60 games, another option that was considered, according to the AP. The full season would also wrap up ahead of the scheduled start of the Olympics in Tokyo next summer.
Some players had been pushing for a January start date, around the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, according to Draft Kings.
The later start would have allowed players more time to rest between seasons.
The final game of the most recent season ended in mid-October, when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Those games happened inside a so-called "bubble" at Walt Disney World in Florida, because of coronavirus concerns.
But as The Athletic's David Aldridge tweeted, the potential financial losses by starting the season next year proved to be too costly.
"Hearing from multiple prominent player agents that have communicated w/ their clients that the union is highly likely to accept the NBA's proposal for a 72-game 2020-21 season beginning Dec. 22," Aldridge added. " 'We have to,' one agent said. The projected losses of waiting later are too great."