npr--2020-07-21--Civil Suit Against Former Fox News Anchor Ed Henry Alleges Rape, Sexual Misconduct

A female former producer at Fox News , and another woman who appeared frequently as an on-air commentator on the network , have filed a civil lawsuit Monday accusing former longtime anchor Ed Henry of rape , sexual misconduct and harassment .
Prominent Fox News commentators Sean Hannity , Tucker Carlson and Howard Kurtz are also named as defendants in the suit , and are accused of sexual misconduct .
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York .
Fox News issued a statement on behalf of Hannity , Carlson and Kurtz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false , patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit . ''
Fox News , which in recent years has been hit by numerous accusations of sexual misconduct that forced out founder Roger Ailes and top host Bill O'Reilly , announced on July 1 that it had fired Henry after investigating an accusation of sexual misconduct against him by a former employee .
In 2016 , Henry was demoted by the network from his job as White House correspondent and took a leave of absence following allegations of an extramarital affair with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he returned to Fox News later that year , taking a position as chief national correspondent .
Henry was later added as a co-anchor on Fox and Friends Weekend .
As NPR 's David Folkenflik reported earlier this month , Henry was promoted despite one of his colleagues having warned senior executives that reinstating him could damage Fox 's efforts at reforming its workplace culture .
The complaint filed on Monday graphically presents multiple allegations of sexual abuse suffered by Jennifer Eckhart , a former associate producer at Fox Business , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advance her career in exchange for sex .
The lawsuit asserts that `` Fox News continues to protect and reward perpetrators of sexual harassment and refuses to take accountability for putting such persons in positions of power from which they can subject women to sexual misconduct , sexual assault and , in the case of Ms. Eckhart , rape . ''
Eckhart 's complaint alleges that Henry `` preyed upon , manipulated and groomed her , '' coercing her into sexual intercourse .
Among the most serious of the allegations , Eckhart says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perform oral sex on him at the Fox News building in New York .
She also alleges that in 2017 he handcuffed her as part of `` violent , painful rape '' in a Manhattan hotel room .
The complaint includes a number of graphic text messages that Henry allegedly sent Eckhart following the 2017 incident .
Eckhart 's suit , which alleges among other things that Henry violated federal sex trafficking laws , seeks a monetary award .
Henry 's lawyer , Catherine Foti , has characterized the allegations against her client @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Foti said : `` The Me Too movement has helped to bring to light a number of injustices in our society , and everyone that has suffered deserves to be heard .
This is not one of those cases .
The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship . ''
Eckhart and co-plaintiff Cathy Areu are represented by Douglas Wigdor , a veteran of sexually charged suits against Fox News .
The company has said it has made broad cultural changes since Ailes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News staffers say it has been slow to root out deeply embedded patterns of sexist behavior and actions .
In a statement , Eckhart said : `` My decision to speak out was not an easy one , but I refuse to let fear of retaliation , victim shaming and further attacks intimidate me into remaining silent . ''
Areu alleges in the complaint that Henry sent her `` a slew of wildly inappropriate sexual images and messages '' including photographs and video .
According to the complaint , Henry also sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him .
Areu , who was a regular guest on The Sean Hannity Show and Tucker Carlson Tonight until 2018 , also accused host Sean Hannity of conducting a mock dating auction with her as the prize .
`` Mr. Hannity , on set and in front of the entire studio crew – and completely unsolicited – threw $ 100 on the set desk .
He then began calling out to the men in the room and demanding that someone take Ms. Areu out on a date for drinks , '' according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after appearing on his show , the complaint alleges that Carlson told Areu `` that he would be alone in New York City that night , and specifically said that he would be staying alone in his hotel room without any wife or kids . ''
According to the complaint , `` Mr. Carlson was probing to see whether Ms. Areu was interested in a sexual relationship . ''
When Areu `` sidestepped Mr. Carlson 's advances and declined to spend the night at his hotel , '' the host `` promptly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ featured on his show only three times in 2019 and has not appeared once in 2020 . ''
Areu , who was also a regular guest on Kurtz 's Fox News Media Buzz alleges that the host tried to get her to come alone to his hotel room on the premise of discussing a full-time job at the network .
After she refused , Kurtz `` punished '' her by thereafter limiting her appearances on his show , according to the complaint .
In a statement , Areu said : `` Like Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come forward .
However , I simply could not stay silent given the tremendous harm that Mr. Henry and others at Fox News have caused for women affiliated with the company . ''
Fox News , in its statement , insisted that the network takes `` all claims of harassment , misconduct and retaliation seriously , promptly investigating them and taking immediate action as needed — in this case , the appropriate action based on our investigation is to defend vigorously against these baseless allegations . ''

Civil Suit Against Former Fox News Anchor Ed Henry Alleges Rape, Sexual Misconduct
Enlarge this image toggle caption AP AP
Editor's note: This report includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault accusations.
A female former producer at Fox News and another woman who appeared frequently as an on-air commentator on the network have filed a civil lawsuit Monday accusing former longtime anchor Ed Henry of rape, sexual misconduct and harassment.
Prominent Fox News commentators Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Howard Kurtz are also named as defendants in the suit and are accused of sexual misconduct. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Fox News issued a statement on behalf of Hannity, Carlson and Kurtz, calling the claims in the suit "false, patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit."
Fox News, which in recent years has been hit by numerous accusations of sexual misconduct that forced out founder Roger Ailes and top host Bill O'Reilly, announced on July 1 that it had fired Henry after investigating an accusation of sexual misconduct against him by a former employee.
In 2016, Henry was demoted by the network from his job as White House correspondent and took a leave of absence following allegations of an extramarital affair with a Las Vegas hostess and stripper. However, he returned to Fox News later that year, taking a position as chief national correspondent. Henry was later added as a co-anchor on Fox & Friends Weekend.
As NPR's David Folkenflik reported earlier this month, Henry was promoted despite one of his colleagues having warned senior executives that reinstating him could damage Fox's efforts at reforming its workplace culture.
The complaint filed on Monday graphically presents multiple allegations of sexual abuse suffered by Jennifer Eckhart, a former associate producer at Fox Business, who said that Henry suggested he could help advance her career in exchange for sex.
The lawsuit asserts that "Fox News continues to protect and reward perpetrators of sexual harassment and refuses to take accountability for putting such persons in positions of power from which they can subject women to sexual misconduct, sexual assault and, in the case of Ms. Eckhart, rape."
Eckhart's complaint alleges that Henry "preyed upon, manipulated and groomed her," coercing her into sexual intercourse. Among the most serious of the allegations, Eckhart says that in 2015, Henry forced her to perform oral sex on him at the Fox News building in New York. She also alleges that in 2017, he handcuffed her as part of "violent, painful rape" in a Manhattan hotel room.
The complaint includes a number of graphic text messages that Henry allegedly sent Eckhart following the 2017 incident.
Eckhart's suit, which seeks a monetary award, also alleges that Henry violated federal sex trafficking laws.
Henry's lawyer, Catherine Foti, has characterized the allegations against her client as "fictional."
In a statement Foti said: "The Me Too movement has helped to bring to light a number of injustices in our society, and everyone that has suffered deserves to be heard. This is not one of those cases. The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship."
Eckhart and co-plaintiff Cathy Areu are represented by Douglas Wigdor, a veteran of sexually charged suits against Fox News. The company has said it has made broad cultural changes since Ailes' ouster in 2016, but Wigdor and some former Fox News staffers say it has been slow to root out deeply embedded patterns of sexist behavior and actions.
In a statement, Eckhart said: "My decision to speak out was not an easy one, but I refuse to let fear of retaliation, victim shaming and further attacks intimidate me into remaining silent."
Areu alleges in the complaint that Henry sent her "a slew of wildly inappropriate sexual images and messages" including photographs and video. According to the complaint, Henry also sent numerous texts suggesting that she have sex with him.
Areu, who was a regular guest on The Sean Hannity Show and Tucker Carlson Tonight until 2018, also accused host Sean Hannity of conducting a mock dating auction with her as the prize.
"Mr. Hannity, on set and in front of the entire studio crew – and completely unsolicited – threw $100 on the set desk. He then began calling out to the men in the room and demanding that someone take Ms. Areu out on a date for drinks," according to the complaint.
In December 2018, after appearing on his show, the complaint alleges that Carlson told Areu "that he would be alone in New York City that night, and specifically said that he would be staying alone in his hotel room without any wife or kids."
According to the complaint, "Mr. Carlson was probing to see whether Ms. Areu was interested in a sexual relationship." When Areu "sidestepped Mr. Carlson's advances and declined to spend the night at his hotel," the host "promptly retaliated against Ms. Areu, who was featured on his show only three times in 2019 and has not appeared once in 2020."
Areu, who was also a regular guest on Kurtz's MediaBuzz, alleges that the host tried to get her to come alone to his hotel room on the premise of discussing a full-time job at the network. After she refused, Kurtz "punished" her by thereafter limiting her appearances on his show, according to the complaint.
In a statement, Areu said: "Like Ms. Eckhart, I too was fearful to come forward. However, I simply could not stay silent given the tremendous harm that Mr. Henry and others at Fox News have caused for women affiliated with the company."
Fox News, in its statement, insisted that the network takes "all claims of harassment, misconduct and retaliation seriously, promptly investigating them and taking immediate action as needed — in this case, the appropriate action based on our investigation is to defend vigorously against these baseless allegations."
Disclosure: Ed Henry is married to NPR Chief Washington Editor Shirley Henry.


npr--2020-07-21--What To Do With Toppled Statues? Russia Has A Fallen Monument Park

What To Do With Toppled Statues ?
Russia Has A Fallen Monument Park For more than 30 years , a statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky , founder of the Soviet Union 's feared secret police , stood guard in front of the KGB headquarters on Moscow 's Lubyanka Square .
Then , in August 1991 , after a failed coup against Soviet reformer Mikhail Gorbachev , pro-democracy protesters pulled down the 19-foot statue of Dzerzhinsky in his goatee and greatcoat .
The colossus was unceremoniously dumped on a vacant lot near the Moskva River , soon to be followed by other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the city of Moscow designated the chaotic collection of statues a sculpture park called Muzeon , also known as the Fallen Monument Park .
In Russia , regimes have come and gone over the past century , from the overthrow of the czarist autocracy in 1917 to the collapse of the communist dictatorship in 1991 .
But while the Soviets largely erased the czarist symbols , the fervor to tear down communist monuments in Russia died down once the Soviet Union fell apart .
`` People were very quickly overwhelmed by hardships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety net , by everyday problems , '' says Masha Lipman , a political analyst who has studied Russia 's changing relationship to its monuments .
`` They lost interest in symbols very quickly . ''
The Soviet statues abandoned in the Muzeon park soon found the company of hundreds of contemporary sculptures , including characters from fairy tales , literary figures and abstract works .
Muzeon is now part of Gorky Park , an urban oasis with a riverside embankment , cafes and shady lawns .
`` It 's one thing what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites , in main squares and big streets , '' says Lipman .
`` It 's quite another thing when statues like that are collected among many others in a park . ''
In Muzeon , the context of the Soviet monuments has changed entirely , she says , and the presence of so many other sculptures — mostly apolitical — has deprived them of their symbolic power .
Today Muscovites take yoga classes or roller-blade near the `` Avenue of Leaders , '' which features statues of Soviet rulers such as Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I consider these sculptures to be part of our history , '' says Artyom Golbin , a park guide and historian who was born in 1992 , the same year Muzeon was founded .
`` The history of Russia — and any other country — has different periods , some of them bad , some of them good .
Still , we have to remember them , and these sculptures are an important reminder of Soviet times . ''
Natasha Zamkovaya , strolling past Brezhnev with a friend , agrees that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past .
And the same applies to controversial statues in the United States , she says .
`` I 'm against just sweeping away monuments .
Those people had some sort of authority , their statues did n't just stand there for nothing , '' says Zamkovaya , 27 .
`` They 're also a part of American history . ''
In Muzeon , younger Russians are more drawn to contemporary sculptures , says park guide Golbin , while foreign visitors tend to take an interest in the Soviet monuments .
A pink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coat , looks slightly ridiculous because he lost his nose while being dismantled .
Behind him stands a contemporary installation of 282 stone heads in a cage , symbolizing the Soviet dictator 's countless victims .
Sculptor Yevgeny Chubarov donated the work to Muzeon on the condition it be displayed next to Stalin .
The Stalin statue itself is a curiosity because it once stood in the Soviet pavilion at the 1939 World 's Fair in New York , together with a pink granite Lenin , the founder of the Soviet Union .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , Stalin 's went to Moscow and Lenin 's to Kyiv , the capital of Ukraine .
During street protests in 2013 against Ukraine 's Kremlin-backed president , Viktor Yanukovych , the Lenin statue was toppled as a symbol of Russian domination .
After Russia annexed Crimea and fomented an armed uprising in eastern Ukraine , Ukrainians proceeded to tear down the hundreds of remaining Lenin statues dotting their country .
By contrast , Lenin still stands in towns and villages across Russia — and not just in the Moscow sculpture park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restores religious icons , says he does n't find the presence of Soviet leaders offensive .
`` These people are long gone .
Why blame someone who 's already dead ?
That 's not Christian , '' says Kuznetsov , 41 .
`` They did what they did . ''
The peculiarly Russian aversion to pulling down statues has led President Vladimir Putin 's spokesman to lament the current trend in the United States .
A Russian art collector has even offered to buy the statues of President Theodore Roosevelt at New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Russian colonial governor in Sitka , Alaska .
`` The Russian experience should give some food for thought to those who are engaged in toppling statues in the U.S. these days , '' says analyst Lipman .
`` Fighting with symbols of the past does not necessarily help solve problems of the present . ''
Statues themselves can not stop social change , she says , just as their removal does not guarantee it .
Dzerzhinsky , the founder of the Soviet secret police , may no longer stand on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has n't stopped Russia 's security services from remaining an omnipotent force .
`` We see how the Russian government is becoming more repressive , '' says Lipman .
`` And the fact that Dzerzhinsky is not on Lubyanka , but in that park , does not change that . ''
In fact , the once toppled statue of Dzerzhinsky has been cleaned of obscene graffiti , restored and put back on his pedestal .
The statue is now protected by the government as a cultural monument .

What To Do With Toppled Statues? Russia Has A Fallen Monument Park
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
For more than 30 years, a statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Soviet Union's feared secret police, stood guard in front of the KGB headquarters on Moscow's Lubyanka Square.
Then, in August 1991 after a failed coup against Soviet reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, pro-democracy protesters pulled down the 19-foot statue of Dzerzhinsky in his goatee and greatcoat. The colossus was unceremoniously dumped on a vacant lot near the Moskva River, soon to be followed by other fallen Soviet heroes. The following year, the city of Moscow designated the chaotic collection of statues as a sculpture park called Muzeon, also known as the Fallen Monument Park.
In Russia, regimes have come and gone over the past century, from the overthrow of the czarist autocracy in 1917 to the collapse of the communist dictatorship in 1991. But while the Soviets largely erased the czarist symbols, the fervor to tear down communist monuments in Russia died down once the Soviet Union fell apart.
"People were very quickly overwhelmed by hardships, by the collapse of the habitual safety net, by everyday problems," says Masha Lipman, a political analyst who has studied Russia's changing relationship to its monuments. "They lost interest in symbols very quickly."
toggle caption Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images
The Soviet statues abandoned in the Muzeon park soon found the company of hundreds of contemporary sculptures, including characters from fairy tales, literary figures and abstract works. Muzeon is now part of Gorky Park, an urban oasis with a riverside embankment, cafes and shady lawns.
"It's one thing what statues mean when they are in conspicuous sites, in main squares and big streets," says Lipman. "It's quite another thing when statues like that are collected among many others in a park."
In Muzeon, the context of the Soviet monuments has changed entirely, she says, and the presence of so many other sculptures — mostly apolitical — has deprived them of their symbolic power.
Today Muscovites take yoga classes or rollerblade near the "Avenue of Leaders," which features statues of Soviet rulers such as Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev.
"I consider these sculptures to be part of our history," says Artyom Golbin, a park guide and historian who was born in 1992, the same year Muzeon was founded. "The history of Russia — and any other country — has different periods, some of them bad, some of them good. Still, we have to remember them, and these sculptures are an important reminder of Soviet times."
Natasha Zamkovaya, strolling past Brezhnev with a friend, agrees that the monuments are needed to preserve the past. And the same applies to controversial statues in the United States, she says. "I'm against just sweeping away monuments. Those people had some sort of authority, their statues didn't just stand there for nothing," says Zamkovaya, 27. "They're also a part of American history."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images
In Muzeon, younger Russians are more drawn to contemporary sculptures, says park guide Golbin, while foreign visitors tend to take an interest in the Soviet monuments.
A pink granite Stalin, with his hand in his coat, lost his nose while being dismantled. Behind him stands a contemporary installation of 282 stone heads in a cage, symbolizing the Soviet dictator's countless victims. Sculptor Yevgeny Chubarov donated the work to Muzeon on the condition it be displayed next to Stalin.
toggle caption Lucian Kim/NPR
The Stalin statue itself is a curiosity because it once stood in the Soviet pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair in New York, together with a pink granite Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union. When the statues returned from the United States, Stalin's went to Moscow and Lenin's to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
During street protests in 2013 against Ukraine's Kremlin-backed president, Viktor Yanukovych, the Lenin statue was toppled as a symbol of Russian domination. After Russia annexed Crimea and fomented an armed uprising in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainians proceeded to tear down the hundreds of remaining Lenin statues dotting their country.
By contrast, Lenin still stands in towns and villages across Russia — and not just in the Moscow sculpture park.
Muzeon visitor Dmitry Kuznetsov, who restores religious icons, says he doesn't find the presence of Soviet leaders offensive. "These people are long gone. Why blame someone who's already dead? That's not Christian," says Kuznetsov, 41. "They did what they did."
The peculiarly Russian aversion to pulling down statues has led President Vladimir Putin's spokesman to lament the current trend in the United States. A Russian art collector has even offered to buy the statues of President Theodore Roosevelt at New York's Museum of Natural History, and of a Russian colonial governor in Sitka, Alaska.
"The Russian experience should give some food for thought to those who are engaged in toppling statues in the U.S. these days," says analyst Lipman. "Fighting with symbols of the past does not necessarily help solve problems of the present."
Statues themselves cannot stop social change, she says, just as their removal does not guarantee it.
Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police, may no longer stand on a central square, she says, but that hasn't stopped Russia's security services from remaining an omnipotent force.
"We see how the Russian government is becoming more repressive," says Lipman. "And the fact that Dzerzhinsky is not on Lubyanka, but in that park, does not change that."
In fact, the once toppled statue of Dzerzhinsky has been cleaned of obscene graffiti, restored and put back on his pedestal.
The statue is now protected by the government as a cultural monument.


npr--2020-07-21--Another Problem On The Health Horizon: Medicare Is Running Out Of Money

Another Problem On The Health Horizon : Medicare Is Running Out Of Money Everyone involved even tangentially in health care today is consumed by the coronavirus pandemic , as they should be .
But the pandemic is accelerating a problem that used to be front and center in health circles : the impending insolvency of Medicare .
With record numbers of Americans out of work , fewer payroll taxes are rolling in to fund Medicare spending , the number of beneficiaries is rising , and Congress dipped into Medicare 's reserves to help fund the COVID-19 relief efforts this spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real , impending health care crisis , '' said Dr. David Shulkin , who was undersecretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama for two years and led the VA for a year under Donald Trump .
In April , Medicare 's trustees reported that the Part A trust fund , which pays for hospital and other inpatient care , would start to run out of money in 2026 .
That is the same as the projection in 2019 .
But the trustees cautioned at the time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 on the trust fund .
`` Given the uncertainty associated with these impacts , the Trustees believe that it is not possible to adjust the estimates accurately at this time , '' said the report .
So Shulkin , now a senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania , did his own projections in early July .
Given even a conservative estimate of how many workers and businesses would not be contributing payroll taxes that finance Part A spending , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early as 2022 or 2023 .
`` I think this is something that needs more immediate attention , '' he said .
Others who make projections agree the insolvency date is getting closer , maybe not as close as 2022 .
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget , a nonpartisan group of budget experts focused on fiscal policy , estimates that the pandemic will cause the Part A trust fund to be unable to pay all of its bills starting in late 2023 or early 2024 .
`` But we 're still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the group 's senior vice president .
There are two ways the trust fund can get into trouble : Either the money flowing in is too little , or the payments going out for care are too much .
Most of those who watch Medicare finances agree that the larger problem right now is how much money is being collected for the trust fund .
That money largely comes from the 1.45 % payroll tax paid by employees and employers .
With so many people out of work because of pandemic-related shutdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's far less clear what is happening on the spending side of Medicare Part A .
( Medicare Part B , which pays physicians and other outpatient costs , is funded by beneficiary premiums and general tax funding , so it can not technically become insolvent . )
While coronavirus-related hospital expenses for those on Medicare are expected to be substantial , Medicare has n't been reimbursing as much care of other sorts .
In some cases , that 's because hospitals in COVID hot spots temporarily stopped doing elective procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , patients with non-COVID-19 ailments have been afraid to go to hospitals for fear of catching the virus .
Also , said Goldwein , health care use tends to fall in recessions , even for Medicare , whose beneficiaries are largely retired .
In the end , he said , `` we basically threw our hands up and said we do n't have the information '' to estimate how health costs will affect the trust fund 's financing .
There is one other coronavirus-related policy that could hasten the depletion of the trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the funding provided as part of the CARES Act to help hospitals weather the pandemic came not from the general treasury , but from the Trust Fund itself .
That money in `` accelerated and advance payments '' is supposed to be paid back , via a reduction in future payments .
But there is a push in some quarters for that funding to be forgiven , which would make the trust fund 's hole even bigger .
It is not exactly clear what would happen if the trust fund were to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
It is important to remember that the fund becoming `` insolvent '' is not the same as being `` bankrupt . ''
Insolvent means the Trust Fund would still have money flowing in , but not enough to pay for all the care Medicare patients will consume .
Most budget experts think that Medicare would reimburse hospitals and other Part A providers 100 % of their claims until the fund literally runs out of money , and then would pay claims only as more money flows in .
Others think Medicare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims , but that might require congressional action .
Meanwhile , one would expect the hospital industry to be ringing the alarm bells as potential insolvency approaches .
But that 's not happening .
`` They 're more concerned with next month than with 2023 at this point , '' said Goldwein .
Chip Kahn , president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals , agreed .
`` I 'm not going to worry about this right this minute , '' he said .
`` At this point , my focus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kaiser Health News ) is a nonprofit news service covering health issues .
It is an editorially independent program of KFF ( Kaiser Family Foundation ) that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

Another Problem On The Health Horizon: Medicare Is Running Out Of Money
Enlarge this image toggle caption pablohart/Getty Images pablohart/Getty Images
Everyone involved even tangentially in health care today is consumed by the coronavirus pandemic, as they should be. But the pandemic is accelerating a problem that used to be front and center in health circles: the impending insolvency of Medicare.
With record numbers of Americans out of work, fewer payroll taxes are rolling in to fund Medicare spending, the number of beneficiaries is rising, and Congress dipped into Medicare's reserves to help fund the COVID-19 relief efforts this spring.
"I think we have a real, impending health care crisis," said Dr. David Shulkin, who was undersecretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama for two years and led the VA for a year under Donald Trump.
In April, Medicare's trustees reported that the Part A trust fund, which pays for hospital and other inpatient care, would start to run out of money in 2026. That is the same as the projection in 2019. But the trustees cautioned at the time that their projections did not include the impact of COVID-19 on the trust fund.
"Given the uncertainty associated with these impacts, the Trustees believe that it is not possible to adjust the estimates accurately at this time," said the report.
So Shulkin, now a senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, did his own projections in early July. Given even a conservative estimate of how many workers and businesses would not be contributing payroll taxes that finance Part A spending, he said, the trust fund could become insolvent as early as 2022 or 2023.
"I think this is something that needs more immediate attention," he said.
Others who make projections agree the insolvency date is getting closer, maybe not as close as 2022.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group of budget experts focused on fiscal policy, estimates that the pandemic will cause the Part A trust fund to be unable to pay all of its bills starting in late 2023 or early 2024. "But we're still very close," said Marc Goldwein, the group's senior vice president.
There are two ways the trust fund can get into trouble: Either the money flowing in is too little, or the payments going out for care are too much.
Most of those who watch Medicare finances agree that the larger problem right now is how much money is being collected for the trust fund. That money largely comes from the 1.45% payroll tax paid by employees and employers. With so many people out of work because of pandemic-related shutdowns, cash flowing in has dropped dramatically.
It's far less clear what is happening on the spending side of Medicare Part A. (Medicare Part B, which pays physicians and other outpatient costs, is funded by beneficiary premiums and general tax funding, so it cannot technically become insolvent.)
While coronavirus-related hospital expenses for those on Medicare are expected to be substantial, Medicare hasn't been reimbursing as much care of other sorts. In some cases, that's because hospitals in COVID hot spots temporarily stopped doing elective procedures like joint replacements. In other cases, patients with non-COVID-19 ailments have been afraid to go to hospitals for fear of catching the virus.
Also, said Goldwein, health care use tends to fall in recessions, even for Medicare, whose beneficiaries are largely retired.
In the end, he said, "we basically threw our hands up and said we don't have the information" to estimate how health costs will affect the trust fund's financing.
There is one other coronavirus-related policy that could hasten the depletion of the trust fund. At least $60 billion of the funding provided as part of the CARES Act to help hospitals weather the pandemic came not from the general treasury, but from the Trust Fund itself.
That money in "accelerated and advance payments" is supposed to be paid back, via a reduction in future payments. But there is a push in some quarters for that funding to be forgiven, which would make the trust fund's hole even bigger.
It is not exactly clear what would happen if the trust fund were to become insolvent because it has never happened before. It is important to remember that the fund becoming "insolvent" is not the same as being "bankrupt." Insolvent means the Trust Fund would still have money flowing in, but not enough to pay for all the care Medicare patients will consume.
Most budget experts think that Medicare would reimburse hospitals and other Part A providers 100% of their claims until the fund literally runs out of money, and then would pay claims only as more money flows in.
Others think Medicare might reimburse only a percentage of those claims, but that might require congressional action.
Meanwhile, one would expect the hospital industry to be ringing the alarm bells as potential insolvency approaches. But that's not happening.
"They're more concerned with next month than with 2023 at this point," said Goldwein.
Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, agreed. "I'm not going to worry about this right this minute," he said. "At this point, my focus is completely on COVID."
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-07-21--Tammy Duckworth's Stock Rises As A Possible VP Choice After A High-Profile Few Weeks

Tammy Duckworth 's Stock Rises As A Possible VP Choice After A High-Profile Few Weeks One of a series of reports looking at Joe Biden 's potential running mates In combat and in Congress , Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth has seen a lot of firsts .
She was the first female soldier to lose both her legs in the Iraq War .
She was the first Thai American woman elected to Congress .
And she was the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office .
Now she may become the first Asian American woman nominated to be vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
But she remains diplomatic when asked about the pressure Joe Biden is facing to pick an African American woman .
`` I think that even just choosing a woman is a powerful signal that Joe Biden has made , '' Duckworth told NPR 's All Things Considered earlier this month .
As Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee for president , nears the announcement of his running mate , Duckworth 's political stock has risen .
This month , the 52-year-old engaged in a public feud with Fox News Channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her criticism of President Trump and her openness to removing certain statutes .
When asked to appear on his program to respond , Duckworth declined , Carlson said .
`` Duckworth is too afraid to defend her own statements on a cable news show .
What a coward , '' he said on his show .
Duckworth responded on Twitter , saying Carlson should walk a mile in her prosthetic legs before questioning her patriotism .
( She made a longer version of her argument in a New York Times opinion piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious mistake and Tammy made him remember it , '' Sen. Dick Durbin , a fellow Illinois Democrat and a Duckworth mentor , said of Carlson .
This came after Duckworth 's high-profile efforts to block promotions for more than 1,100 senior armed forces personnel over concerns that Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , a witness in the impeachment of Trump , was facing retaliation .
A few days earlier , Duckworth — who has dubbed Trump `` Cadet Bone Spurs '' for his past military deferments — went after the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bounties were offered for the lives of U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
Joe Walsh — a Republican who lost to Duckworth in 2012 , when she first won a Illinois U.S. House seat — said his former political opponent has evolved since their race .
She won her Senate seat four years later .
`` Since she came to the Senate , she 's developed more of a gravitas .
And you 've really seen that play out in this last month or so , '' said Walsh , a Trump nemesis who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican presidential nomination and is now rooting for Biden .
`` She 's become a leading defender of Lt. Col. Vindman .
She 's become the Senate attack dog , rightly attacking Trump for not doing a goddamn thing — pardon my language — about these Russian bounties . ''
Duckworth has backed off her fight for Vindman .
Two weeks after announcing plans to block the promotions , she said she was reassured by the Pentagon that Vindman , who is now retiring from the military , was slated for a promotion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensity there '' Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii , where Duckworth lived as a teenager and a college student , said Duckworth has illustrated a clear passion for defending servicemembers and veterans .
`` I think what you want in a public leader is someone who has a throughline in terms of what they care about .
And hopefully that thing that they care the most about preceded their entrance into politics , '' Schatz said .
`` For Tammy , her passion for her fellow veterans is that throughline . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard way that Duckworth 's sacrifice for the country helps her resist political attacks .
During their race , Walsh thought he found scandal gold with a 2009 whistleblower lawsuit during her time as head of the Illinois Department of Veterans ' Affairs .
Two women said Duckworth created a hostile workplace , firing one worker and berating another .
The case was settled , but Walsh said it showed Duckworth was unpolished and difficult to work with .
Her supporters reject those claims , but acknowledge she can be determined .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it 's a veteran or a constituent , get out of the way , '' Durbin said .
`` There 's an intensity there , I 'm sure of it , because I 've seen it .
But when you 're the person that she 's advocating for , you appreciate that intensity . ''
But concerns about Duckworth 's political polish , combined with her thin legislative record , are negatives that could keep her from becoming Biden 's pick , Walsh argues .
Jon Soltz , chairman of the left-leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Duckworth and is backing her candidacy , disagrees .
Soltz argues Duckworth and Biden have much in common , especially after both have suffered horrendous tragedies .
( Biden 's wife and daughter died in a car crash in the 1970s . )
Soltz , a fellow Iraq War veteran , likes to emphasize Duckworth has n't competed against Biden and could be a more moderate pick .
He avoids directly naming top VP contenders Sens .
Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
`` If Joe Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loyal partner we can trust , who has n't attacked him , who helps bring the base along , but also protects our majority and helps us take back the Senate , who is consistent with him on policy positions , Tammy Duckworth would be a phenomenal choice , '' Soltz said .
He met Duckworth when she joined him as his guest to the State of the Union address .
She came by way of a recommendation from Walter Reed Army Medical Center .
The veteran Army pilot was severely wounded a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq .
Three months later , she was learning how to walk again .
`` There she sat in a wheelchair , having lost both legs , her right arm in a sling , '' Durbin said .
`` And she had this full dress uniform , this bright smile on her face , and she swept me away . ''
Soon after their meeting , Durbin was ringing up the then-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , Rahm Emanuel .
She was intrigued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her first congressional race .
Today , Durbin gets emotional when he reflects on Duckworth 's last 15 years and how she 's already generating buzz to join Biden 's ticket .
`` I went to the floor of the House when she was sworn in , and [ I had ] tears in my eyes to watch it happen , '' he said between pauses .
`` I think America would be so proud to have her as vice president . ''

Tammy Duckworth's Stock Rises As A Possible VP Choice After High-Profile Weeks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images
Updated at 12:43 p.m. ET
One of a series of reports looking at Joe Biden's potential running mates.
In combat and in Congress, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth has seen a lot of firsts.
She was the first female soldier to lose both her legs in the Iraq War. She was the first Thai American woman elected to Congress. And she was the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office.
Now she may become the first Asian American woman nominated to be vice president for a major party in the United States. But she remains diplomatic when asked about the pressure Joe Biden is facing to pick an African American woman.
"I think that even just choosing a woman is a powerful signal that Joe Biden has made," Duckworth told NPR's All Things Considered earlier this month.
As Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, nears the announcement of his running mate, Duckworth's political stock has risen.
A feud and a military hold
This month, the 52-year-old engaged in a public feud with Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson, who took issue with her criticism of President Trump and her openness to removing certain statutes. When asked to appear on his program to respond, Duckworth declined, Carlson said.
"Duckworth is too afraid to defend her own statements on a cable news show. What a coward," he said on his show.
Duckworth responded on Twitter, saying Carlson should walk a mile in her prosthetic legs before questioning her patriotism. (She made a longer version of her argument in a New York Times opinion piece.)
"I think he made a serious mistake and Tammy made him remember it," Sen. Dick Durbin, a fellow Illinois Democrat and a Duckworth mentor, said of Carlson.
This came after Duckworth's high-profile efforts to block promotions for more than 1,100 senior armed forces personnel over concerns that Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a witness in the impeachment of Trump, was facing retaliation.
A few days earlier, Duckworth — who has dubbed Trump "Cadet Bone Spurs" for his past military deferments — went after the president and his officials following reports that Russian bounties were offered for the lives of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Joe Walsh — a Republican who lost to Duckworth in 2012, when she first won a Illinois U.S. House seat — said his former political opponent has evolved since their race. She won her Senate seat four years later.
"Since she came to the Senate, she's developed more of a gravitas. And you've really seen that play out in this last month or so," said Walsh, a Trump nemesis who had a short-lived run for the 2020 Republican presidential nomination and is now rooting for Biden. "She's become a leading defender of Lt. Col. Vindman. She's become the Senate attack dog, rightly attacking Trump for not doing a goddamn thing — pardon my language — about these Russian bounties."
Duckworth has backed off her fight for Vindman. Two weeks after announcing plans to block the promotions, she said she was reassured by the Pentagon that Vindman, who is now retiring from the military, was slated for a promotion after all.
"There's an intensity there"
Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, where Duckworth lived as a teenager and a college student, said Duckworth has illustrated a clear passion for defending service members and veterans.
"I think what you want in a public leader is someone who has a throughline in terms of what they care about. And hopefully that thing that they care the most about preceded their entrance into politics," Schatz said. "For Tammy, her passion for her fellow veterans is that through line."
Former Congressman Walsh said he learned the hard way that Duckworth's sacrifice for the country helps her resist political attacks.
During their race, Walsh thought he found scandal gold with a 2009 whistleblower lawsuit during her time as head of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. Two women said Duckworth created a hostile workplace, firing one worker and berating another. The case was settled, but Walsh said it showed Duckworth was unpolished and difficult to work with.
Her supporters reject those claims but acknowledge she can be determined.
"When she is fighting for something, whether it's a veteran or a constituent, get out of the way," Durbin said. "There's an intensity there, I'm sure of it, because I've seen it. But when you're the person that she's advocating for, you appreciate that intensity."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images
But concerns about Duckworth's political polish, combined with her thin legislative record, are negatives that could keep her from becoming Biden's pick, Walsh argues.
In response, Ben Garmisa, her communications director, said in a statement: "Senator Duckworth was named the most effective freshman Democrat[ic senator] in the 115th Congress by the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking and, as a member of the minority party, she passed laws that support infrastructure projects, help Veterans start small businesses and make air travel easier for new parents by ensuring airports have clean, private and accessible rooms for nursing mothers."
Jon Soltz — chairman of the left-leaning VoteVets organization, which has close ties to Duckworth and is backing her candidacy — also argues that Duckworth and Biden have much in common, especially after both have suffered horrendous tragedies. (Biden's wife and daughter died in a car crash in the 1970s.)
Soltz, a fellow Iraq War veteran, likes to emphasize that Duckworth hasn't competed against Biden and could be a more moderate pick. He avoids directly naming top VP contenders Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
"If Joe Biden is looking for somebody who will be a loyal partner we can trust, who hasn't attacked him, who helps bring the base along, but also protects our majority and helps us take back the Senate, who is consistent with him on policy positions, Tammy Duckworth would be a phenomenal choice," Soltz said.
Durbin seems to agree.
He met Duckworth when she joined him as his guest to the State of the Union address. She came by way of a recommendation from Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
The veteran Army pilot was severely wounded a year earlier when her Black Hawk helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq. Three months later, she was learning how to walk again.
From 2005 An Amputee's Long Walk Back To Flight Duty An Amputee's Long Walk Back to Flight Duty Listen
"There she sat in a wheelchair, having lost both legs, her right arm in a sling," Durbin said. "And she had this full dress uniform, this bright smile on her face, and she swept me away."
Soon after their meeting, Durbin was ringing up the then-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rahm Emanuel. She was intrigued by politics, and within a year running her first congressional race.
Today, Durbin gets emotional when he reflects on Duckworth's last 15 years and how she's already generating buzz to join Biden's ticket.
"I went to the floor of the House when she was sworn in, and [I had] tears in my eyes to watch it happen," he said between pauses. "I think America would be so proud to have her as vice president."


npr--2020-07-20--Money Tracker: How Much Trump And Biden Have Raised In The 2020 Election

Money Tracker : How Much Trump And Biden Have Raised In The 2020 Election Updated on July 20 at 11:35 p.m .
ET Which presidential candidate has the fundraising advantage ?
Here 's how much money the campaigns of President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have raised so far , according to their Federal Election Commission filings .
( Keep in mind that Trump 's reelection campaign had a fundraising head start . )
This tracker will be updated with each monthly report , prior to the general election .
Of course , the universe of campaign finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raises alone .
Each party has its own committee to help elect a president , which can work in concert with the official campaign and further contributes to the war chest .
And campaigns often announce those joint fundraising totals before filing their FEC paperwork , so what this tracker has and what the campaign says can differ .
Also , groups like super PACs , which can raise and spend unlimited amounts , can help or hurt the fortunes of a presidential nominee .
On both Biden 's and Trump 's sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of dollars on their own .
Do n't see the graphics in this story ?
Click here .
This story was originally published on May 20 , 2020 .

Money Tracker: How Much Trump And Biden Have Raised In The 2020 Election
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Updated on December 4 at 8:35 a.m. ET
Which presidential candidate has the fundraising advantage?
Here's how much money the campaigns of President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden raised, according to their Federal Election Commission filings. (Keep in mind that Trump's reelection campaign had a fundraising head start.)
This is the final update, reflecting contributions through November 23.
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Of course, the universe of campaign finance is far bigger than what one candidate raises alone. Each party has its own committee to help elect a president, which can work in concert with the official campaign and further contributes to the war chest.
And campaigns often announce those joint fundraising totals before filing their FEC paperwork, so what this tracker has and what the campaign says can differ.
Also, groups like super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts, can help or hurt the fortunes of a presidential nominee. On both Biden's and Trump's sides, these independent groups have raised tens of millions of dollars on their own.
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Don't see the graphics in this story? Click here.
This story was originally published on May 20, 2020.
Photos: Gage Skidmore/Flickr


npr--2020-07-21--Minnesota Judge Lifts Gag Order In George Floyd Criminal Case

A Minnesota judge on Tuesday lifted the gag order in the case against four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd , which sparked nationwide protests and conversations about racial injustice this spring .
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill issued the order , which prevented involved parties from discussing the case publicly , earlier this month after defense attorneys ' comments to the press .
At the time , he wrote that pretrial publicity would taint the jury pool and could result in an unfair trial .
The order was met with opposition from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coalition of media organizations .
The attorneys argued that prosecutors and public officials had already made comments that would prejudice potential jurors against their clients .
An attorney for Derek Chauvin — the former officer shown on video kneeling on Floyd 's neck for nearly nine minutes — said his client was being called a murderer , and that it would be hard to find pretrial publicity referring to his innocence until proved guilty or actions being justifiable in the line of duty .
Chauvin faces second-degree murder , third-degree murder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The other three officers at the scene , Tou Thao , Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng , face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter .
All four were fired .
`` In announcing his ruling , Cahill said he agreed with defense attorneys ' arguments that a gag order would be unfair to their clients and limit their ability to defend themselves against negative publicity , '' the Associated Press reported .
Media organizations also objected to the gag order , on the grounds that it restricted an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by involved parties and subjected a `` staggering number '' of individuals not directly involved in the case to those restrictions .
Last week , attorneys representing a coalition of companies including American Public Media Group ; CBS Broadcasting , Inc. ; The Associated Press and the New York Times Company asked Cahill to clarify and limit the scope of the order .
They argued that it could be interpreted to limit public comments from a number of tangentially related people , from state and county employees to University of Minnesota System professors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter into one of the largest movements in this country 's history and spurred important conversations on a number of topics that arguably 'relate ' to these prosecutions , '' they wrote in a court filing .
They also objected to the court 's limits on access to body-worn camera footage that had been publicly filed by one of the defendants , and asked the judge to make it available for `` copying by the press and public . ''
Lane 's attorney filed police body camera footage of the May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month as part of a request to dismiss charges against him .
The attorney , Earl Gray , wanted the footage to be made public .
Cahill responded by issuing the gag order and making the video available for viewing only in person and by appointment .
The Media Coalition argued that these limitations are `` tantamount '' to keeping the footage under seal , and noted that eyewitness video of Floyd 's death , as well as transcripts of the body camera footage , are already circulating in public .
They asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the footage available so that `` it may be viewed not just by those who have the time and wherewithal to visit the courthouse during a global pandemic but by all members of the public concerned about the administration of justice in one of the most important , and most-watched , cases this State — perhaps this country — has ever seen . ''
Cahill did not issue a ruling on the motion Tuesday .
He said he has 90 days to make a decision but plans to do so sooner than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not hold Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison , lead prosecutor in the case , in contempt of court after two defense attorneys asked him to do so .
Cahill said a statement Ellison made in mid-July , about additional attorneys assisting the prosecution , did not violate the gag order .
MPR News reported that defense attorneys did not make statements after the order was lifted .

Minnesota Judge Lifts Gag Order In George Floyd Criminal Case
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
A Minnesota judge on Tuesday lifted the gag order in the case against four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide protests and conversations about racial injustice this spring.
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill issued the order, which prevented involved parties from discussing the case publicly, earlier this month after defense attorneys' comments to the press. At the time, he wrote that pretrial publicity would taint the jury pool and could result in an unfair trial.
The order was met with opposition from the defendants' attorneys, as well as a coalition of media organizations.
The attorneys argued that prosecutors and public officials had already made comments that would prejudice potential jurors against their clients.
An attorney for Derek Chauvin — the former officer shown on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes — said his client was being called a murderer, and that it would be hard to find pretrial publicity referring to his innocence until proved guilty or actions being justifiable in the line of duty.
Chauvin faces second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter charges, and remains in custody. The other three officers at the scene, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four were fired.
"In announcing his ruling, Cahill said he agreed with defense attorneys' arguments that a gag order would be unfair to their clients and limit their ability to defend themselves against negative publicity," the Associated Press reported.
Media organizations also objected to the gag order, on the grounds that it restricted an "incredibly broad array" of speech by involved parties and subjected a "staggering number" of individuals not directly involved in the case to those restrictions.
Last week, attorneys representing a coalition of companies including American Public Media Group; CBS Broadcasting, Inc.; The Associated Press and the New York Times Company asked Cahill to clarify and limit the scope of the order.
They argued that it could be interpreted to limit public comments from a number of tangentially related people, from state and county employees to University of Minnesota System professors.
"George Floyd's death catapulted Black Lives Matter into one of the largest movements in this country's history and spurred important conversations on a number of topics that arguably 'relate' to these prosecutions," they wrote in a court filing.
They also objected to the court's limits on access to body-worn camera footage that had been publicly filed by one of the defendants, and asked the judge to make it available for "copying by the press and public."
Lane's attorney filed police body camera footage of the May 25 incident with the court earlier this month as part of a request to dismiss charges against him. The attorney, Earl Gray, wanted the footage to be made public.
Cahill responded by issuing the gag order and making the video available for viewing only in person and by appointment.
The Media Coalition argued that these limitations are "tantamount" to keeping the footage under seal, and noted that eyewitness video of Floyd's death, as well as transcripts of the body camera footage, are already circulating in public.
They asked the court to make a public copy of the footage available so that "it may be viewed not just by those who have the time and wherewithal to visit the courthouse during a global pandemic but by all members of the public concerned about the administration of justice in one of the most important, and most-watched, cases this State — perhaps this country — has ever seen."
Cahill did not issue a ruling on the motion Tuesday. He said he has 90 days to make a decision but plans to do so sooner than that.
He also ruled that he would not hold Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, lead prosecutor in the case, in contempt of court after two defense attorneys asked him to do so. Cahill said a statement Ellison made in mid-July, about additional attorneys assisting the prosecution, did not violate the gag order.
MPR News reported that defense attorneys did not make statements after the order was lifted.


npr--2020-07-21--Black Mayors Call For Governors To Let Them Enforce Rules To Fight COVID-19

Black Mayors Call For Governors To Let Them Enforce Rules To Fight COVID-19 Black mayors in many of the nation 's largest cities on Tuesday formally called on governors to repeal orders prohibiting them from enacting strategies that reduce the spread of COVID-19 .
The African American Mayors Association passed a resolution beseeching state leaders to repeal any rules that prohibit local leaders from implementing strategies like requiring the use of face masks .
`` State , local and tribal governments are uniquely positioned to determine the level of mitigation required to combat the virus in their communities , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Mayors Association deems coordination amongst state and local jurisdictions to be vital to effectively addressing the public health crisis . ''
The move comes on the heels of a lawsuit by Gov .
Brian Kemp against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for requiring masks .
Kemp and some other governors around the country argue that only the head of the state can set health policies to fight against the worldwide novel coronavirus pandemic , even as the rates of infections soar .
`` As the Mayor of the City of Atlanta , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to modify , change or ignore Governor Kemp 's executive orders , '' the complaint notes .
Mayors Bottoms , Muriel Bowser of Washington , D.C. , and Sylvester Turner of Houston are among those who signed on to the resolution .
Communities of color are the hardest hit by the pandemic with Black and Latino populations reporting the highest levels of infections .
The COVID Racial Data Tracker , a joint project of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center and the COVID Tracking Project , reported in May that black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of white people .
They also account for 23 % of COVID-19 deaths where race is known .
Latino people have a hospitalization rate approximately 4 times that of non-Hispanic white persons , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported as of June 25 .
Meanwhile , non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons have a rate approximately 5 times that of non-Hispanic white persons .
The center 's research notes that `` long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put some members of racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , regardless of age . ''
That is true even in cities where people of color make up a small fraction of the overall population .
For instance , in San Francisco , Latinos account for 15 % of the population but make up nearly half of all COVID-19 cases , the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday .
`` It should n't be this way , '' Mayor McKinley Price of Newport News , Va. , and president of the African American Mayors Association , said in a statement .
`` In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from cities of all sizes — are sending a clear message to governors : mayors must have the ability to implement public health strategies that keep their constituents safe , '' McKinley added .

Black Mayors Call For Governors To Let Them Enforce Rules To Fight COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bebeto Matthews/AP Bebeto Matthews/AP
Black mayors in many of the nation's largest cities on Tuesday formally called on governors to repeal orders prohibiting them from enacting strategies that reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The African American Mayors Association passed a resolution beseeching state leaders to repeal any rules that prohibit local leaders from implementing strategies like requiring the use of face masks.
"State, local and tribal governments are uniquely positioned to determine the level of mitigation required to combat the virus in their communities," the resolution states.
"The African American Mayors Association deems coordination amongst state and local jurisdictions to be vital to effectively addressing the public health crisis."
The move comes on the heels of a lawsuit by Gov. Brian Kemp against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for requiring masks.
Kemp and some other governors around the country argue that only the head of the state can set health policies to fight against the worldwide novel coronavirus pandemic, even as the rates of infections soar.
"As the Mayor of the City of Atlanta, Mayor Bottoms does not have the legal authority to modify, change or ignore Governor Kemp's executive orders," the complaint notes.
Mayors Bottoms, Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., and Sylvester Turner of Houston are among those who signed on to the resolution.
Communities of color are the hardest hit by the pandemic with Black and Latino populations reporting the highest levels of infections. The COVID Racial Data Tracker, a joint project of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center and the COVID Tracking Project, reported in May that Black people are dying at 2.5 times the rate of white people. They also account for 23% of COVID-19 deaths where race is known.
Latino people have a hospitalization rate approximately 4 times that of non-Hispanic white persons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported as of June 25. Meanwhile, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons have a rate approximately 5 times that of non-Hispanic white persons.
The center's research notes that "long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put some members of racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting COVID-19 or experiencing severe illness, regardless of age."
That is true even in cities where people of color make up a small fraction of the overall population. For instance, in San Francisco, Latinos account for 15% of the population but make up nearly half of all COVID-19 cases, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.
"It shouldn't be this way," Mayor McKinley Price of Newport News, Va., and president of the African American Mayors Association, said in a statement.
"In passing this resolution, Black mayors — from cities of all sizes — are sending a clear message to governors: mayors must have the ability to implement public health strategies that keep their constituents safe," McKinley added.


npr--2020-07-21--FAA Inches Closer To Approving Boeing's Fixes To Troubled 737 Max

The Federal Aviation Administration is taking another step towards re-certifying Boeing 's 737 Max , saying it plans to issue a proposed airworthiness directive for the grounded jetliner `` in the near future . ''
In a statement , the FAA says the impending airworthiness directive will address Boeing 's design changes to fix a flawed flight control system that is partly to blame for two 737 Max plane crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people .
Acting on faulty data from a single sensor , the flight control system repeatedly forced the planes into nose dives that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All 737 Max aircraft around the world were grounded by global aviation authorities after the second of those crashes in March of 2019 and Boeing has been working on developing software fixes for the plane ever since .
The directive will also include proposed new flight crew `` procedures to mitigate the safety issues identified during the investigations that followed the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents . ''
Once the directive is issued , the FAA will provide 45 days for public comment on those fixes .
After that , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be reviewed and incorporated in a final report .
The FAA 's statement notes that while this is an important milestone in the effort to return the 737 Max to commercial airline service , `` a number of key steps remain '' in the certification process before the order grounding the troubled plane can be lifted .
Among the additional steps is finalizing new pilot training protocols that are being jointly reviewed by the FAA and regulators from Canada , Europe and Brazil .
Over a three day period from June 29 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engineers flew a 737 Max and put the plane through various scenarios to evaluate the changes Boeing made to the MCAS flight control system , which is the system at fault in the two crashes .
The FAA has been analyzing the data from those test flights to determine if the systems performed as they should to comply with safety regulations .
FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson , a former Delta Air Lines pilot , has said he wo n't sign off on re-certifying the 737 Max until he flies the plane himself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back into commercial airline service into at least mid-October .
`` The agency continues to follow a deliberate process and will take the time it needs to thoroughly review Boeing 's work , '' the FAA said in its statement Tuesday .
`` We will lift the grounding order only after FAA safety experts are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards . ''
While Boeing has been making airplanes for more than 100 years , the 737 Max quickly became its most popular and profitable commercial airplanes .
Before the crashes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boeing 's 737 Max jets .
But already this year , customers have canceled more than 800 orders for the troubled plane .
Now , after being grounded for 16 months and counting , Boeing would not speculate on when the plane can return to passenger airline service .
`` Boeing is working closely with the FAA and other international regulators to meet their expectations as we work to safely return the 737 MAX to service , '' a company spokesperson said in a statement .
`` Safety is our priority and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determined by the regulators . ''

FAA Inches Closer To Approving Boeing's Fixes To Troubled 737 Max
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Brashear/Getty Images Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
The Federal Aviation Administration is taking another step towards re-certifying Boeing's 737 Max, saying it plans to issue a proposed airworthiness directive for the grounded jetliner "in the near future."
In a statement, the FAA says the impending airworthiness directive will address Boeing's design changes to fix a flawed flight control system that is partly to blame for two 737 Max plane crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people.
Acting on faulty data from a single sensor, the flight control system repeatedly forced the planes into nose dives that the pilots could not pull out of. All 737 Max aircraft around the world were grounded by global aviation authorities after the second of those crashes in March of 2019 and Boeing has been working on developing software fixes for the plane ever since.
The directive will also include proposed new flight crew "procedures to mitigate the safety issues identified during the investigations that followed the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents."
Once the directive is issued, the FAA will provide 45 days for public comment on those fixes. After that, it may take weeks for those comments to be reviewed and incorporated in a final report.
The FAA's statement notes that while this is an important milestone in the effort to return the 737 Max to commercial airline service, "a number of key steps remain" in the certification process before the order grounding the troubled plane can be lifted.
Among the additional steps is finalizing new pilot training protocols that are being jointly reviewed by the FAA and regulators from Canada, Europe and Brazil.
Over a three day period from June 29 through July 1, FAA test pilots and engineers flew a 737 Max and put the plane through various scenarios to evaluate the changes Boeing made to the MCAS flight control system, which is the system at fault in the two crashes. The FAA has been analyzing the data from those test flights to determine if the systems performed as they should to comply with safety regulations.
FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson, a former Delta Air Lines pilot, has said he won't sign off on re-certifying the 737 Max until he flies the plane himself, pushing the timeline for allowing the Max back into commercial airline service into at least mid-October.
"The agency continues to follow a deliberate process and will take the time it needs to thoroughly review Boeing's work," the FAA said in its statement Tuesday. "We will lift the grounding order only after FAA safety experts are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards."
While Boeing has been making airplanes for more than 100 years, the 737 Max quickly became its most popular and profitable commercial airplanes. Before the crashes, airlines had ordered close to 5,000 of Boeing's 737 Max jets. But already this year, customers have canceled more than 800 orders for the troubled plane.
Now, after being grounded for 16 months and counting, Boeing would not speculate on when the plane can return to passenger airline service.
"Boeing is working closely with the FAA and other international regulators to meet their expectations as we work to safely return the 737 MAX to service," a company spokesperson said in a statement. "Safety is our priority and the schedule for return to service will be determined by the regulators."


npr--2020-07-21--Portland Police Union Leader Worries Protests Can Be Overshadowed By Violent Acts

Portland Police Union Leader Worries Protests Can Be Overshadowed By Violent Acts Federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security , U.S .
Marshals Service and elsewhere have been in the streets of Portland , Ore. , for at least a few weeks , where they 've been clashing with protesters demonstrating over racial injustice and police brutality .
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and local officials have downplayed any coordination between those federal forces and the Portland Police Bureau .
Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner said there was some coordination between the local police and federal agents `` at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' stay in the city , but not in `` the last week or two . ''
`` The federal police have their marching orders on how they 're going to do things , '' Turner told NPR 's Ailsa Chang .
`` And that coordination was not made with Portland police . ''
For the tumult in Portland , Turner faults federal law enforcement for a lack of communication with local police , and he said local officials are also to blame for condoning `` destruction and chaos '' that 's happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He talked with NPR about the situation in Portland and his experience as a Black man in America .
Here are selected excerpts of the interview : I understand that you met with Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf last week .
What did you talk about with him ?
There were several people that were invited to meet with him .
...
The bulk of my conversation was hoping that the federal agencies would communicate with local police and adopt our strategies and our rules of engagement .
...
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to make sure that we keep protesters safe , for them [ to be ] able to exercise their First Amendment rights of speech and protest as well .
And still keeping them safe from the people who want to act out and commit violent acts and rioting .
...
I 've never condemned the protesters .
I 've only condemned the rioters .
The people who are protesting peacefully and exercising their First Amendment rights , we wholeheartedly support .
I wholeheartedly support that message myself personally , being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't support the violence from the rioters .
You have said that protesters who are damaging property do not want meaningful change and that they define the meaning of white privilege .
What did you mean by that ?
What I mean is we talk about white privilege in America and how it 's different from people of color , how they believe that they can damage property and get away with it and not be held accountable ; there are no consequences for that .
That 's what I meant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioting also that we see out here are white .
...
This is a message that needs to be heard .
The message that relates to not just George Floyd , but many people who have been in the same situation , many people who have been treated differently because of their race .
...
I 've been treated that way and other people have been treated that way over hundreds of years .
This message is important .
This is a time when that message can transcend the history of this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be squashed , or overridden or hijacked by people who are committing violent acts , who are burning , looting and causing destruction and chaos .
Listen to the full interview at the audio link above .
NPR 's Jonaki Mehta and Patrick Jarenwattananon produced and edited the audio version of this interview .

Portland Police Union Leader Worries Protests Can Be Overshadowed By Violent Acts
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mason Trinca/Getty Images Mason Trinca/Getty Images
Federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service and elsewhere have been in the streets of Portland, Ore., for at least a few weeks, where they've been clashing with protesters demonstrating over racial injustice and police brutality.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and local officials have downplayed any coordination between those federal forces and the Portland Police Bureau.
Portland Police Association President Daryl Turner said there was some coordination between the local police and federal agents "at the beginning" of the federal officers' stay in the city, but not in "the last week or two."
"The federal police have their marching orders on how they're going to do things," Turner told NPR's Ailsa Chang. "And that coordination was not made with Portland police."
For the tumult in Portland, Turner faults federal law enforcement for a lack of communication with local police, and he said local officials are also to blame for condoning "destruction and chaos" that's happened over more than 50 days of protests.
He talked with NPR about the situation in Portland and his experience as a Black man in America. Here are selected excerpts of the interview:
I understand that you met with Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf last week. What did you talk about with him?
There were several people that were invited to meet with him. ... The bulk of my conversation was hoping that the federal agencies would communicate with local police and adopt our strategies and our rules of engagement. ...
There needs to be communication and coordination to be able to make sure that we keep protesters safe, for them [to be] able to exercise their First Amendment rights of speech and protest as well. And still keeping them safe from the people who want to act out and commit violent acts and rioting. ...
I've never condemned the protesters. I've only condemned the rioters. The people who are protesting peacefully and exercising their First Amendment rights, we wholeheartedly support. I wholeheartedly support that message myself personally, being a Black man in America. But I don't support the violence from the rioters.
You have said that protesters who are damaging property do not want meaningful change and that they define the meaning of white privilege. What did you mean by that?
What I mean is we talk about white privilege in America and how it's different from people of color, how they believe that they can damage property and get away with it and not be held accountable; there are no consequences for that. That's what I meant, because most of the people who are rioting also that we see out here are white. ...
This is a message that needs to be heard. The message that relates to not just George Floyd, but many people who have been in the same situation, many people who have been treated differently because of their race. ... I've been treated that way and other people have been treated that way over hundreds of years. This message is important. This is a time when that message can transcend the history of this country. That message does not need to be squashed, or overridden or hijacked by people who are committing violent acts, who are burning, looting and causing destruction and chaos.
Listen to the full interview at the audio link above.
NPR's Jonaki Mehta and Patrick Jarenwattananon produced and edited the audio version of this interview.


npr--2020-07-21--Federal Agents Will Be 'Clearly Identified' In Kansas City, Mo., U.S. Attorney Says

Federal Agents Will Be 'Clearly Identified ' In Kansas City , Mo.
, U.S. Attorney Says Federal agents operating in Kansas City , Mo.
, as part of a new push against violent crime will be identifiable and wo n't be roving the streets to make arrests , the local U.S. attorney said , responding to questions sparked by the controversial use of federal agents in U.S. cities .
`` These agents wo n't be patrolling the streets , '' U.S. Attorney Timothy Garrison said in a statement to NPR .
`` When they are making arrests or executing warrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified by their agency 's visible badges or insignia . ''
The presence of federal law enforcement agents has become a new flashpoint in national protests over racial injustice and police brutality .
The dynamic is most prevalent in Portland , Ore. , where local and state officials said federal forces are essentially occupying the city – and worsening , rather than de-escalating , clashes with protesters .
In Kansas City , Garrison said , `` The only people federal agents will be removing from the street are those they arrest in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The federal prosecutor 's remarks echo what he said last week when he said the enhanced federal presence `` is not about suppressing protests . ''
As the U.S. attorney answered questions about the federal operation in Missouri , Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Monday joined the mayors of five other U.S. cities – Seattle , Portland , Atlanta , Chicago and Washington , D.C. — calling on Attorney General William Barr to withdraw federal forces immediately and `` agree to no further unilateral deployments in our cities . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our cities is wholly inconsistent with our system of democracy and our most basic values , '' the mayors wrote in a letter to Barr and Chad Wolf , the acting secretary of Department of Homeland Security .
In a tweet about the letter , Lucas added that he was particularly concerned by `` the involvement of unidentified Homeland Security forces . ''
His comments echo many of the concerns and criticisms of federal operations in Portland , where agents have refused to identify themselves as they move against protesters in the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will send more than 200 agents to Kansas City , forming what Barr has called a `` surge '' in force to fight a `` surge in violent crime . ''
The officers are coming from the FBI , U.S .
Marshals Service and other agencies .
But the operation has sparked anger in Kansas City , where protesters gathered outside police headquarters to express their frustration over the weekend .
`` We are dying because police keep killing us , '' one protester said in a speech Friday night , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Stop blaming us for our own oppression .
Stop promoting a false notion that policing is the answer to oppression . ''
At a joint news conference last week , both Lucas and Garrison had sought to downplay potential problems regarding the deployment of federal forces in Kansas City .
`` This operation is not tanks in the streets , '' Lucas said at the time .
`` This operation is not a substitute patrol force . ''
The goal he and Garrison both share , the mayor said , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence and make communities safer .
On Monday , the Justice Department reported its first arrest from the operation in Kansas City , that of a man who faces charges of illegally possessing firearms .
He was arrested after being spotted driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen .

Federal Agents Will Be 'Clearly Identified' In Kansas City, Mo., U.S. Attorney Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Charlie Riedel/AP
Updated at 10:37 p.m. ET
Federal agents operating in Kansas City, Mo., as part of a new push against violent crime will be identifiable and won't be roving the streets to make arrests, the local U.S. attorney said, responding to questions sparked by the controversial use of federal agents in U.S. cities.
"These agents won't be patrolling the streets," U.S. Attorney Timothy Garrison said in a statement to NPR. "When they are making arrests or executing warrants, these federal agents will be clearly identified by their agency's visible badges or insignia."
The presence of federal law enforcement agents has become a new flashpoint in national protests over racial injustice and police brutality. The dynamic is most prevalent in Portland, Ore., where local and state officials said federal forces are essentially occupying the city – and worsening, rather than de-escalating, clashes with protesters.
In Kansas City, Garrison said, "The only people federal agents will be removing from the street are those they arrest in the course of their investigations of violent crimes."
The federal prosecutor's remarks echo what he said last week when he said the enhanced federal presence "is not about suppressing protests."
As the U.S. attorney answered questions about the federal operation in Missouri, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Monday joined the mayors of 14 other U.S. cities, including Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C., in calling on Attorney General William Barr to withdraw federal forces immediately and "agree to no further unilateral deployments in our cities."
"Unilaterally deploying these paramilitary-type forces into our cities is wholly inconsistent with our system of democracy and our most basic values," the mayors wrote in a letter to Barr and Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of Department of Homeland Security.
In a tweet about the letter, Lucas added that he was particularly concerned by "the involvement of unidentified Homeland Security forces." His comments echo many of the concerns and criticisms of federal operations in Portland, where agents have refused to identify themselves as they move against protesters in the streets.
The Justice Department has said it will send more than 200 agents to Kansas City, forming what Barr has called a "surge" in force to fight a "surge in violent crime." The officers are coming from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies.
But the operation has sparked anger in Kansas City, where protesters gathered outside police headquarters to express their frustration over the weekend.
"We are dying because police keep killing us," one protester said in a speech Friday night, according to NPR member station KCUR. She added, "Stop blaming us for our own oppression. Stop promoting a false notion that policing is the answer to oppression."
At a joint news conference last week, both Lucas and Garrison had sought to downplay potential problems regarding the deployment of federal forces in Kansas City.
"This operation is not tanks in the streets," Lucas said at the time. "This operation is not a substitute patrol force." The goal he and Garrison both share, the mayor said, is to attain justice for victims of gun violence and make communities safer.
On Monday, the Justice Department reported its first arrest from the operation in Kansas City, that of a man who faces charges of illegally possessing firearms. He was arrested after being spotted driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen.


npr--2020-07-21--Houston's COVID-19 Cases Level Off After Sudden Surge In Late June

Houston 's COVID-19 Cases Level Off After Sudden Surge In Late June After a sudden surge in reported COVID- 19 cases beginning at the end of June , Houston 's daily case count and hospital admission rates seem to be leveling off .
Health officials say they 're not ready to determine if the data are statistically significant yet , but it 's a positive trend .
Last Friday , experts were ringing alarm bells .
`` I just want to put in perspective for those folks who do n't see what the issue is .
In your experience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick , and you may not know anybody who 's died ... yet , '' says Dr. David Persse , health authority for the Houston 's Health Department .
Houston hospitals are not overwhelmed , though they 've moved into what the Texas Medical Center calls the secondary ICU surge plan .
Collectively , the center 's hospitals are using just under 5 % of those surge ICUs .
However , Houston 's two hospitals owned and operated by the county say that COVID-19 patients are taking up more than half of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creeped up over the last two to three weeks .
We 've been lucky to have a lot of coordination with the Texas Medical Center in an effort to try to transfer patients , '' says Mike Hill , chief operating officer for the Harris Health System .
Still , the system is under stress .
There are staffing shortages as healthcare workers themselves are coming down sick with COVID-19 .
This has meant that some nurses without infectious disease expertise are nonetheless caring for COVID-19 patients .
Oil prices have recovered somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of layoffs in the city 's dominant industry .
And the county 's stay-at-home order in April , decimated local restaurants with 10 % of them now closed for good , according to the Greater Houston Restaurant Association .
`` If you 've been able to convert to curbside or to go , then that 's been somewhat helpful '' says Melissa Stewart , president of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association .
`` But if you ca n't , and now all of a sudden you have to close for another two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Which means for two weeks , everything you have does n't last .
And you have to restock again , so just a tremendous amount of expense . ''
A report from the University of Houston says the city will be in a `` moderate recession '' in the first quarter of next year should the virus `` run its course '' this year .
That could mean the loss of more than 70,000 jobs .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott says that another shutdown wo n't happen.The Republican chief executive took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue another , `` Stay Home , Work Safe '' order .
This leaves hospitality workers in a difficult situation .
With the positivity rate hovering around 24-25 % at city testing sites , COVID-19 transmission is clearly active within the community .
`` We are going to lose our health insurance , as of Aug.1 .
And I 'm worried , what if I get sick ? ''
furloughed waitress Cynthia Pratt says .
It 's become a common problem for employees , deciding between one 's health , and one 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
They make up roughly 40 % of reported COVID-19 cases here .
`` There 's a lot of people with anxiety , depression .
And there 's an increase in substance , alcohol and domestic violence , '' says Rev .
Ed Gomez , at San Pablo Episcopal Church .
That anxiety is two-fold .
First , most of Gomez 's community can not work from home , he says .
Second , a moratorium on evictions will lift this Saturday setting up what some city officials say will be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just had to write a letter to a property manager promising that we would pay July rent , so that they do not evict the person , an elderly person , '' Gomez says .
The direction of the pandemic here is showing some hopeful signs , though .
Monday the Houston Health Department said hospitals are doing better at treating COVID-19 patients , resulting in shorter hospital stays compared to the beginning of the pandemic .
But health officials caution that hospitals could still become overwhelmed if people do n't strictly follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I do think we can never say never .
... A lot of it depends on what happens in our community and all the actions that we take , whether it 's individually or collectively .
That 's going to determine where we as a community go , '' says Umair Shah , executive director of Harris County Public Health .

Houston's COVID-19 Cases Level Off After Sudden Surge In Late June
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
After a sudden surge in reported COVID- 19 cases beginning at the end of June, Houston's daily case count and hospital admission rates seem to be leveling off. Health officials say they're not ready to determine if the data are statistically significant yet, but it's a positive trend. Last Friday, experts were ringing alarm bells.
"I just want to put in perspective for those folks who don't see what the issue is. In your experience, you may not know anybody who's sick, and you may not know anybody who's died ... yet," says Dr. David Persse, health authority for the Houston's Health Department.
Houston hospitals are not overwhelmed, though they've moved into what the Texas Medical Center calls the secondary ICU surge plan. Collectively, the center's hospitals are using just under 5% of those surge ICUs. However, Houston's two hospitals owned and operated by the county say that COVID-19 patients are taking up more than half of their ICU beds.
"That number has creeped up over the last two to three weeks. We've been lucky to have a lot of coordination with the Texas Medical Center in an effort to try to transfer patients," says Mike Hill, chief operating officer for the Harris Health System.
Still, the system is under stress. There are staffing shortages as healthcare workers themselves are coming down sick with COVID-19. This has meant that some nurses without infectious disease expertise are nonetheless caring for COVID-19 patients.
Oil prices have recovered somewhat, but a plunge earlier has caused thousands of layoffs in the city's dominant industry. And the county's stay-at-home order in April, decimated local restaurants with 10% of them now closed for good, according to the Greater Houston Restaurant Association.
"If you've been able to convert to curbside or to go, then that's been somewhat helpful" says Melissa Stewart, president of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association. "But if you can't, and now all of a sudden you have to close for another two weeks, all your product is perishable. Which means for two weeks, everything you have doesn't last. And you have to restock again, so just a tremendous amount of expense."
A report from the University of Houston says the city will be in a "moderate recession" in the first quarter of next year should the virus "run its course" this year. That could mean the loss of more than 70,000 jobs.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says that another shutdown won't happen.The Republican chief executive took power away from Houston's leaders to issue another, "Stay Home, Work Safe" order.
This leaves hospitality workers in a difficult situation. With the positivity rate hovering around 24-25% at city testing sites, COVID-19 transmission is clearly active within the community.
"We are going to lose our health insurance, as of Aug.1. And I'm worried, what if I get sick?" furloughed waitress Cynthia Pratt says.
It's become a common problem for employees, deciding between one's health, and one's paycheck, specifically in Houston's Latino community. They make up roughly 40% of reported COVID-19 cases here.
"There's a lot of people with anxiety, depression. And there's an increase in substance, alcohol and domestic violence," says Rev. Ed Gomez, at San Pablo Episcopal Church.
That anxiety is two-fold. First, most of Gomez's community cannot work from home, he says. Second, a moratorium on evictions will lift this Saturday setting up what some city officials say will be an "Eviction Doomsday."
"I just had to write a letter to a property manager promising that we would pay July rent, so that they do not evict the person, an elderly person," Gomez says.
The direction of the pandemic here is showing some hopeful signs, though. Monday the Houston Health Department said hospitals are doing better at treating COVID-19 patients, resulting in shorter hospital stays compared to the beginning of the pandemic.
But health officials caution that hospitals could still become overwhelmed if people don't strictly follow recommendations to socially distance and wear masks.
"I do think we can never say never. ... A lot of it depends on what happens in our community and all the actions that we take, whether it's individually or collectively. That's going to determine where we as a community go," says Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health.