npr--2020-02-06--Trump Blasts Romney Over Impeachment Vote

In two separate speeches Thursday President Trump , buoyed by his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial a day earlier , continued to lash out at the lone Republican who voted to convict and remove Trump from office – Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah .
But the president 's ire against the former GOP presidential nominee began just after midnight when he tweeted his displeasure with Romney , while needling him for coming up short during his White House bid in 2012 .
`` Had failed presidential candidate @ MittRomney devoted the same energy and anger to defeating a faltering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , he could have won the election .
Read the Transcripts ! ''
In reality Romney 's guilty vote against Trump on the Article I charge , Abuse of Power , had no impact on the all-but-certain final act of the president 's impeachment trial .
The first-term senator 's decision to vote with all 47 Senate Democrats still fell well short of the two-thirds of the Senate , or 67 votes , needed to remove Trump from office .
Romney made history by becoming the first senator to vote to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That move robbed Trump and his allies of the ability to label the impeachment proceedings a `` partisan '' affair , even as Romney joined the rest of the Senate Republicans in voting not guilty on the second charge facing Trump , obstruction of Congress .
`` I do n't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong , '' Trump said Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast , a typically apolitical event .
That statement was a not-so-veiled reference to Romney , who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote : `` As a Senate-juror , I swore an oath , before God to exercise impartial justice . ''
Trump doubled down on his castigation of Romney during an East Room speech in which he declared victory .
`` And then you had some that used religion as a crutch .
They never used it before , '' Trump said .
`` But you know it 's a failed presidential candidate , so things can happen when you fail so badly running for president . ''
Trump later added , when addressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee , at the victory ceremony , `` Say hello to the people of Utah .
And tell them I 'm sorry about Mitt Romney . ''
Bucking his party has led some , most notably Donald Trump Jr. , the president 's son , to call for Romney to be excommunicated from the Republican Party altogether .
He tweeted : '' Mitt Romney is forever bitter that he will never be POTUS .
He was too weak to beat the Democrats the so he 's joining them now .
He 's officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be expelled from the @ GOP . ''
In later tweets he added a hashtag : # ExpelMitt .
As a Fox News report points out , there is nothing in the Republican National Committee Rules , adopted in 2016 , that allows for expelling someone from the party .
Bylaws amended by the Utah Republican Party late last year allows candidates to forfeit their party membership if they do not sign a candidate certificate agreement , which states they back the party 's platform .
If they do n't support portions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what those exceptions are .
As the Fox piece points out that would not apply to Romney , a sitting elected official .
But the state party tweeted Wednesday it `` strongly disagreed '' with Romney 's vote .
Following the acquittal vote , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , was asked if Romney would be reprimanded for defecting from the rest of the Republican caucus .
McConnell , who referred to impeachment as a `` colossal political mistake '' for Democrats , replied Romney would not be rebuked .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` The most important vote is the next vote . ''
Back in Utah , reaction was mixed to Romney 's vote to remove Trump from office , as KUER 's Sonja Huston reported on Morning Edition .
But the Salt Lake City Tribune newspaper praised Romney , who is not up for reelection until 2024 , saying the senator displayed a `` profile in courage . ''
`` Mitt Romney could have ducked this one , '' the editorial board wrote .
`` But when it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avert his eyes from the fact that this president had , without a shadow of a doubt , abused his power as commander and chief . ''
Romney met Thursday with GOP leaders at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City who were upset with him about his vote .
House Speaker Brad Wilson said they had a `` very frank '' discussion about it .
Some Republican lawmakers were discussing voting on a censure resolution as a way to preserve the relationship between the state party and the White House .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past the controversy and defended Romney 's right to have his own opinions and break with his party when he thought it was the right thing to do .

Trump Blasts Romney Over Impeachment Vote
Enlarge this image toggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
In two separate speeches on Thursday, President Trump, buoyed by his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial a day earlier, continued to lash out at the lone Republican who voted to convict and remove him from office — Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah.
But the president's ire against the former GOP presidential nominee began just after midnight when he tweeted his displeasure with Romney, while needling him for coming up short during his White House bid in 2012.
"Had failed presidential candidate @MittRomney devoted the same energy and anger to defeating a faltering Barack Obama as he sanctimoniously does to me, he could have won the election. Read the Transcripts!"
Romney's guilty vote against Trump on the Article I charge, abuse of power, had no impact on the all-but-certain final act of the president's impeachment trial. The first-term senator's decision to vote with all 47 Senate Democrats still brought the vote tally well short of the two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, needed to remove Trump from office.
Romney made history by becoming the first senator to vote to remove a sitting president of his own party.
That move robbed Trump and his allies of the ability to label the impeachment proceedings a "partisan" affair, even as Romney joined the rest of the Senate Republicans in voting not guilty on the second charge facing Trump, obstruction of Congress.
"I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong," Trump said Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast, a typically apolitical event.
That statement was a not-so-veiled reference to Romney, who said on the Senate floor ahead of his vote: "As a Senate juror, I swore an oath before God to exercise impartial justice."
Trump doubled down on his castigation of Romney during an East Room speech in which he declared victory.
"And then you had some that used religion as a crutch. They never used it before," Trump said. "But you know, it's a failed presidential candidate, so things can happen when you fail so badly running for president."
Trump later added, when addressing Utah's other Republican senator, Mike Lee, at the victory ceremony, "Say hello to the people of Utah. And tell them I'm sorry about Mitt Romney."
Bucking his party has led some, most notably Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, to call for Romney to be excommunicated from the Republican Party altogether. He tweeted: "Mitt Romney is forever bitter that he will never be POTUS. He was too weak to beat the Democrats then so he's joining them now. He's officially a member of the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP."
In later tweets he added a hashtag: #ExpelMitt.
As a Fox News report points out, nothing in the Republican National Committee rules, adopted in 2016, allows for expelling someone from the party.
Bylaws amended by the Utah Republican Party late last year allow candidates to forfeit their party membership if they do not sign a candidate certificate agreement, which states they back the party's platform. If a candidate doesn't support portions of the platform, the candidate must itemize what those exceptions are.
As the Fox piece points out, that would not apply to Romney, a sitting elected official. But the state party tweeted Wednesday that it "strongly disagree[s]" with Romney's vote.
Following the acquittal vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was asked if Romney would be reprimanded for defecting from the rest of the Republican caucus. McConnell, who referred to impeachment as a "colossal political mistake" for Democrats, replied that Romney would not be rebuked.
"We don't have any doghouses here," he said. "The most important vote is the next vote."
Back in Utah, reaction was mixed to Romney's vote to remove Trump from office, as KUER's Sonja Hutson reported on Morning Edition. But the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper praised Romney, who is not up for reelection until 2024, saying the senator displayed a "profile in courage."
"Mitt Romney could have ducked this one," the editorial board wrote. "But when it was crunch time, Romney just could not avert his eyes from the fact that this president had, without a shadow of a doubt, abused his power as commander and chief."
Romney met Thursday at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City with GOP leaders who were upset with him about his vote. House Speaker Brad Wilson said they had a "very frank" discussion about it.
Some Republican lawmakers were discussing voting on a censure resolution as a way to preserve the relationship between the state party and the White House. Others in the state Senate wanted to move past the controversy and defended Romney's right to have his own opinions and break with his party when he thought it was the right thing to do.
KUER's Sonja Hutson contributed to this report


npr--2020-02-06--Attorney General Barr Issues New Rules For Politically Sensitive Investigations

Attorney General William Barr has issued new restrictions on opening investigations into politically sensitive individuals or entities , including a requirement that he approve any inquiry into a presidential candidate or campaign .
Barr outlined the new policies in a three-page memo obtained by NPR as the Democratic primaries are underway and the country gears up for November 's presidential vote .
The memo was first reported by The New York Times .
Barr 's new restrictions follow a sharply critical report from the Justice Department 's inspector general on aspects of the FBI 's Russia investigation , which began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential campaign and continues to ripple through American politics four years later .
The IG report was particularly critical of the bureau 's surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
The FBI and other intelligence agencies uncovered and documented an unprecedented campaign of active measures targeted against the United States , one that flummoxed the administration of President Barack Obama .
The bureau — and later special counsel Robert Mueller — also documented extensive contacts between Russians and people in Trump 's orbit , but Mueller did not establish that members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin in its election interference .
The Justice Department , Barr 's memo says , `` has a strong interest in the prosecution of election-related crimes , including those involving corruption of the election process . ''
But , it says , `` we must investigate and prosecute those matters with sensitivity and care to ensure that the department 's actions do not unnecessarily advantage or disadvantage any candidate or political party . ''
The memo adds to existing Justice Department guidelines that caution officials against taking steps that influence an election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ politically sensitive probes .
Barr 's memo says investigations , including preliminary ones , into a presidential or vice presidential candidate , their campaigns or staff can not be opened without the written approval of the attorney general .
It also says that an investigation into a congressional candidate or campaign can not be opened without first notifying the assistant attorney general and the respective U.S. attorney in the district involved .
Barr 's memo imposes the same requirements for investigations into illegal contributions , donations or expenditures by foreign nationals to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation is initiated in line with these guidelines , the memo says , the investigating agency should provide regular updates to the office of the Justice Department 's No .
2 official , the deputy attorney general .
It urges officials to err on the side of consulting with the appropriate officials or seeking their approval if there 's any doubt .
`` While the department must respond swiftly and decisively when faced with credible threats to our democratic processes , we also must be sensitive to safeguarding the Department 's reputation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the memo says .

Attorney General Barr Issues New Rules For Politically Sensitive Investigations
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Attorney General William Barr has issued new restrictions on opening investigations into politically sensitive individuals or entities, including a requirement that he approve any inquiry into a presidential candidate or campaign.
Barr outlined the new policies in a three-page memo obtained by NPR as the Democratic primaries are underway and the country gears up for November's presidential vote. The memo was first reported by The New York Times.
Barr's new restrictions follow a sharply critical report from the Justice Department's inspector general on aspects of the FBI's Russia investigation, which began in the summer of 2016 during the presidential campaign and continues to ripple through American politics four years later.
The IG report was particularly critical of the bureau's surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
The FBI and other intelligence agencies uncovered and documented an unprecedented campaign of active measures targeted against the United States, one that flummoxed the administration of President Barack Obama.
The bureau — and later special counsel Robert Mueller — also documented extensive contacts between Russians and people in Trump's orbit, but Mueller did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin in its election interference.
The Justice Department, Barr's memo says, "has a strong interest in the prosecution of election-related crimes, including those involving corruption of the election process."
But, it says, "we must investigate and prosecute those matters with sensitivity and care to ensure that the department's actions do not unnecessarily advantage or disadvantage any candidate or political party."
The memo adds to existing Justice Department guidelines that caution officials against taking steps that influence an election. It spells out concrete restrictions for opening politically sensitive probes.
Rules of the road
Barr's memo says investigations, including preliminary ones, into a presidential or vice presidential candidate, their campaigns or staff cannot be opened without the written approval of the attorney general.
It also says that an investigation into a congressional candidate or campaign cannot be opened without first notifying the assistant attorney general and the respective U.S. attorney in the district involved.
Barr's memo imposes the same requirements for investigations into illegal contributions, donations or expenditures by foreign nationals to a presidential or congressional campaign.
If an investigation is initiated in line with these guidelines, the memo says, the investigating agency should provide regular updates to the office of the Justice Department's No. 2 official, the deputy attorney general.
It urges officials to err on the side of consulting with the appropriate officials or seeking their approval if there's any doubt.
"While the department must respond swiftly and decisively when faced with credible threats to our democratic processes, we also must be sensitive to safeguarding the Department's reputation for fairness, neutrality, and nonpartisanship," the memo says.


npr--2020-02-06--Trump Administration Finalizes Plans To Allow Development On Downsized Monuments

Trump Administration Finalizes Plans To Allow Development On Downsized Monuments More than two years after carrying out the largest reversal of national monument protections in U.S. history , the Trump administration has finalized plans for the roughly 2 million acres of formerly protected land in southern Utah .
The federal Bureau of Land Management released its plans Thursday to open up the lands , which were once protected as part of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments , to use by energy developers and ranchers .
`` These cooperatively developed and locally driven plans restore a prosperous future to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unilateral decisions of those that would not listen to the voices of Utahns , '' Casey Hammond , the Interior Department 's acting assistant secretary of land , materials and minerals management , said in a statement .
Administration officials unveiled the plans Thursday despite continued doubts about the moves that downsized these monuments in the first place .
In December 2017 , Trump issued a pair of presidential proclamations that shrunk Bears Ears by about 85 % of its original size and Grand Staircase by roughly half .
Both regions had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ears , in particular , had drawn the ire of conservatives , who felt that Trump 's predecessor , Barack Obama , radically overreached and trampled on residents ' rights when designating the massive monument late in his second term .
Still , Trump 's reversal of Obama 's controversial move has attracted significant controversy of its own — as well as persistent questions about its very legality .
Both Bears Ears and its older counterpart , as with all national monuments , were designated under the Antiquities Act of 1906 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the law itself is unclear on who actually has the power to abolish or shrink national monument boundaries , and legal experts say it has traditionally been the responsibility of Congress to modify the size of public lands .
A slew of conservation and tribal groups all but immediately sued the administration in federal court , where their lawsuits challenging the move continue to unfold .
`` These plans are atrocious , and entirely predictable .
They are the latest in a series of insults to these magnificent lands by the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bears Ears and Grand Staircase at the behest of corporate interests two years ago , '' Sharon Buccino , senior director of lands at the Natural Resources Defense Council , said in a statement after the plans ' release .
`` We stand with the five Tribes and the millions of Americas who vigorously oppose this degradation and giveaway of our public lands . ''
Honor Keeler of the Cherokee Nation and assistant director with the group Utah Dinebikeyah said protections are going away for land that is full of sacred artifacts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We find that this is an ongoing failure to meaningfully consult with tribes , that this seems to be an indicator of the treatment of indigenous peoples in the United States , '' she told NPR .
`` I think it 's part of a broader narrative that directly effects indigenous people and indigenous lands . ''
Regardless of the pending lawsuits , the Trump administration intends to plow forward with its plans .
`` If we stopped and waited for every piece of litigation to be resolved , '' Hammond said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` we would never be able to do much of anything around here . ''

Trump Administration Finalizes Plans To Allow Development On Downsized Monuments
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jerry Sintz/AP Jerry Sintz/AP
Updated at 5:50 p.m. ET
More than two years after carrying out the largest reversal of national monument protections in U.S. history, the Trump administration has finalized plans for the roughly 2 million acres of formerly protected land in southern Utah.
The federal Bureau of Land Management released its plans Thursday to open up the lands, which were once protected as part of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments, to use by energy developers and ranchers.
"These cooperatively developed and locally driven plans restore a prosperous future to communities too often dismissed and punished by unilateral decisions of those that would not listen to the voices of Utahns," Casey Hammond, the Interior Department's acting assistant secretary of land, materials and minerals management, said in a statement.
Administration officials unveiled the plans Thursday despite continued doubts about the moves that downsized these monuments in the first place. In December 2017, Trump issued a pair of presidential proclamations that shrunk Bears Ears by about 85% of its original size and Grand Staircase by roughly half.
Enlarge this image toggle caption George Frey/Getty Images George Frey/Getty Images
Both regions had been protected under Democratic presidents. And Bears Ears, in particular, had drawn the ire of conservatives, who felt that Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, radically overreached and trampled on residents' rights when designating the massive monument late in his second term.
Still, Trump's reversal of Obama's controversial move has attracted significant controversy of its own — as well as persistent questions about its very legality. Both Bears Ears and its older counterpart, as with all national monuments, were designated under the Antiquities Act of 1906, which Trump also cited in his proclamations.
But the law itself is unclear on who actually has the power to abolish or shrink national monument boundaries, and legal experts say it has traditionally been the responsibility of Congress to modify the size of public lands.
A slew of conservation and tribal groups all but immediately sued the administration in federal court, where their lawsuits challenging the move continue to unfold.
"These plans are atrocious, and entirely predictable. They are the latest in a series of insults to these magnificent lands by the Trump administration that began when Trump illegally dismantled Bears Ears and Grand Staircase at the behest of corporate interests two years ago," Sharon Buccino, senior director of lands at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement after the plans' release.
"We stand with the five Tribes and the millions of Americas who vigorously oppose this degradation and giveaway of our public lands."
Honor Keeler of the Cherokee Nation and assistant director with the group Utah Dinebikeyah said protections are going away for land that is full of sacred artifacts, burial sites and other cultural resources.
"We find that this is an ongoing failure to meaningfully consult with tribes, that this seems to be an indicator of the treatment of indigenous peoples in the United States," she told NPR.
"I think it's part of a broader narrative that directly affects indigenous people and indigenous lands."
Regardless of the pending lawsuits, the Trump administration intends to plow forward with its plans.
"If we stopped and waited for every piece of litigation to be resolved," Hammond said Thursday on a call with reporters, "we would never be able to do much of anything around here."


npr--2020-02-06--Beijing Braces For Coronavirus Cases As Lunar Holiday Ends

Millions of people in China have been returning home from the Lunar New Year holiday and heading back to work .
The holiday 's end date was extended in many cities , from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 , to help slow down the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak .
In Beijing , the capital city and one of the country 's most populous metropolitan hubs , the holiday was extended even later — to Monday , Feb. 10 .
As millions are expected to pack themselves onto crowded trains and planes to reenter the capital , the city is bracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be prepared for a big uptick [ in numbers ] , '' said Lin Yang , an assistant professor in epidemiology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University 's nursing school .
More than 28,000 cases have been confirmed in China alone as of Thursday .
But Beijing has not been hit hard by the outbreak so far ; only 274 of those cases were found in the capital , a city of more than 21 million .
`` Based on the experience in pandemics of 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic , studies show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully delay the onset of the pandemic peaks , but it does not mean you will slow down or decrease the magnitude of the [ pandemic ] , '' said Yang .
In other words , travel restrictions in Beijing may only delay the full onset of the pandemic while buying time for local governments to marshal in public health resources .
To prepare for the potential uptick in coronavirus cases , Beijing is increasing its capacity to treat patients .
On the northern outskirts of the city , hundreds of hastily assembled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary treatment center for SARS victims built in 2003 .
`` It is going to have 1,000 beds .
It should take about seven to eight days .
Our boss did n't even tell us how much we 're being paid , but we will figure that out later , '' said a construction supervisor with the last name Xu .
He did not provide a full name because he said he was not authorized to talk to foreign media .
Xu was relaxing at home in Baoding nearly two weeks ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Beijing by high-speed rail , when he got a call to assemble 150 workers for a new project in the capital .
He left that same day .
`` Someone has to build this treatment center , '' he told NPR .
A constant stream of trucks now enters the Xiaotangshan compound , carrying concrete and construction equipment .
White chalk marks where the new walls of a quarantine ward and canteen will be .
Xu hopes Beijing will never have to use this facility .
In the meantime , he still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
That commitment to contain the outbreak can be felt across the city in sectors large and small .
Throughout the holiday , some essential staff in services like public transportation and health care have been required to work .
Not officially on this list are Beijing 's thousands of scooter delivery men .
But they 're definitely on the job .
For the last week , drivers like Zhai Xunlei have been feeding a city where many are reluctant to leave their homes for fear of infection .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infirm people , '' he said .
Zhai could n't go home to the city of Baoding over the holiday because of his extra shifts , but he 's not resentful .
`` If we all took this time off , people who are truly sick who can not leave home would be helpless , '' he said .
Meanwhile , some who are returning to Beijing have found it difficult to reenter the city .
Most apartment complexes now require occupants to register their recent travel history .
Public places such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as subway stations require all patrons to have their temperature checked and to wear a face mask .
Beijing officials have repeatedly said people traveling back to the city with no feverish symptoms must be allowed to return to their homes even if they had traveled beyond municipal limits .
But communities intent on keeping the coronavirus out are going ahead with a variety of voluntary , sometimes unofficial , measures aimed at returnees .
Shi , a logistics worker who works in package delivery , could not enter his apartment after returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province .
Shi said his `` supervisor pushed '' him to come back to work , so he took a train to the city on Sunday .
He did n't provide his full name because he did n't want to be seen as complaining against his employer .
`` At first my Beijing landlord did not want to let me live in my apartment until my boss intervened -- but it is not like I am coming back from [ Wuhan ] , the outbreak quarantine zone , '' he said .
Shi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment .
Mao Shoulong , a professor of public administration at Beijing 's Renmin University , attributes some of the overly restrictive practices in Beijing to the strict censorship of domestic media : `` The lack of in-depth Chinese-language press coverage is not conducive to helping people understand what they could do [ to protect against the virus ] .
It only inspires panic or apathy . ''

Beijing Braces For Coronavirus Cases As Lunar Holiday Ends
Enlarge this image toggle caption Betsy Joles for NPR Betsy Joles for NPR
Updated at 8:41 p.m. ET
Millions of people in China have been returning home from the Lunar New Year holiday and heading back to work. The holiday's end date was extended in many cities, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, to help slow down the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak.
In Beijing, the capital city and one of the country's most populous metropolitan hubs, the holiday was extended even later — to Monday, Feb. 10. As millions are expected to pack themselves onto crowded trains and planes to reenter the capital, the city is bracing for more coronavirus cases.
"We should be prepared for a big uptick [in numbers]," said Lin Yang, an assistant professor in epidemiology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's nursing school.
More than 31,000 cases have been confirmed in China alone as of Thursday. But Beijing has not been hit hard by the outbreak so far; only 274 of those cases were found in the capital, a city of more than 21 million.
"Based on the experience in pandemics of 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, studies show that school closures and traffic restrictions can successfully delay the onset of the pandemic peaks, but it does not mean you will slow down or decrease the magnitude of the [pandemic]," said Yang.
toggle caption Betsy Joles for NPR
In other words, travel restrictions in Beijing may only delay the full onset of the pandemic while buying time for local governments to marshal in public health resources.
To prepare for the potential uptick in coronavirus cases, Beijing is increasing its capacity to treat patients. On the northern outskirts of the city, hundreds of hastily assembled construction workers are expanding Xiaotangshan, a temporary treatment center for SARS victims built in 2003.
"It is going to have 1,000 beds. It should take about seven to eight days. Our boss didn't even tell us how much we're being paid, but we will figure that out later," said a construction supervisor with the last name Xu. He did not provide a full name because he said he was not authorized to talk to foreign media.
toggle caption Betsy Joles for NPR
Xu was relaxing at home in Baoding nearly two weeks ago, a city about half an hour away from Beijing by high-speed rail, when he got a call to assemble 150 workers for a new project in the capital. He left that same day. "Someone has to build this treatment center," he told NPR.
A constant stream of trucks now enters the Xiaotangshan compound, carrying concrete and construction equipment. White chalk marks where the new walls of a quarantine ward and canteen will be. Xu hopes Beijing will never have to use this facility. In the meantime, he still sees it as his duty to expand it.
toggle caption Betsy Joles for NPR
That commitment to contain the outbreak can be felt across the city in sectors large and small. Throughout the holiday, some essential staff in services like public transportation and health care have been required to work.
Not officially on this list are Beijing's thousands of scooter delivery men. But they're definitely on the job. For the last week, drivers like Zhai Xunlei have been feeding a city where many are reluctant to leave their homes for fear of infection. "We have to keep servicing households with elderly or infirm people," he said.
Zhai couldn't go home to the city of Baoding over the holiday because of his extra shifts, but he's not resentful. "If we all took this time off, people who are truly sick who cannot leave home would be helpless," he said.
toggle caption Betsy Joles for NPR
Meanwhile, some who are returning to Beijing have found it difficult to reenter the city. Most apartment complexes now require occupants to register their recent travel history. Public places such as shopping malls and office buildings as well as subway stations require all patrons to have their temperature checked and to wear a face mask.
Beijing officials have repeatedly said people traveling back to the city with no feverish symptoms must be allowed to return to their homes even if they had traveled beyond municipal limits. But communities intent on keeping the coronavirus out are going ahead with a variety of voluntary, sometimes unofficial, measures aimed at returnees.
Shi, a logistics worker who works in package delivery, could not enter his apartment after returning to Beijing from his hometown in Shanxi province. Shi said his "supervisor pushed" him to come back to work, so he took a train to the city on Sunday. He didn't provide his full name because he didn't want to be seen as complaining against his employer.
"At first my Beijing landlord did not want to let me live in my apartment until my boss intervened -- but it is not like I am coming back from [Wuhan], the outbreak quarantine zone," he said. Shi was eventually let back into his own apartment.
Mao Shoulong, a professor of public administration at Beijing's Renmin University, attributes some of the overly restrictive practices in Beijing to the strict censorship of domestic media: "The lack of in-depth Chinese-language press coverage is not conducive to helping people understand what they could do [to protect against the virus]. It only inspires panic or apathy."


npr--2020-02-06--Bernie Madoff Seeks Early Release Because He Has 'Less Than 18 Months' To Live

Bernie Madoff Seeks Early Release Because He Has 'Less Than 18 Months ' To Live Bernie Madoff , the mastermind behind a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors , is seeking compassionate release from prison because of terminal kidney failure .
The motion filed by Madoff 's lawyer , Brandon Sample , says the 81-year-old suffers from end-stage renal disease and many other chronic medical conditions .
He has a life expectancy of less than 18 months , according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons .
`` Madoff is experiencing complications , including acid build up , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and edema , '' Sample 's motion states .
It adds that the former financier is confined to a wheelchair and requires assistance with simple tasks such as grooming .
Sample notes that Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi , who was convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1998 , was released by Scotland in 2009 in light of a terminal diagnosis .
That same year , Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 criminal counts and was sentenced to 150 years in prison .
At the time of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madoff 's 150-year prison sentence was symbolic for three reasons : retribution , deterrence , and for the victims , '' the motion states .
`` Over the past ten years circumstances have changed . ''
`` This Court must now consider whether keeping Madoff incarcerated , in light of his terminal kidney failure and a life expectancy of less than 18 months , is truly in furtherance of statutory sentencing goals and our society 's value and understanding of compassion , '' it added .
U.S .
Circuit Judge Denny Chin will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When he imposed Madoff 's sentence more than 10 years ago , he slammed the swindler 's actions : '' Here the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff 's crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of manipulation of the system is not just a bloodless crime that takes place on paper , but one instead that takes a staggering toll , '' Chin said , as NPR reported .
The Bureau of Prisons denied Madoff 's compassionate release request in December 2019 , saying that `` in light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his release at this time would minimize the severity of the offense . ''
It added that Madoff `` has refused dialysis and any further testing , including laboratory work , '' for his condition , though Madoff 's lawyer said he began accepting dialysis that same month .
Madoff is currently being held at FMC Butner , a federal prison in North Carolina .
Sample said that if released , Madoff would not work , would support himself through Social Security and Medicare , and would live with a friend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ financier does n't pose a danger to society .
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney 's Office for the Southern District of New York said that they planned to file a response to the motion .
Madoff 's scheme would pay off old investors with money obtained from new investors .
Since the scheme was uncovered , lawyers have been able to recover at least 70 % — some $ 13 billion — of the money feared lost .

Bernie Madoff Seeks Early Release Because He Has 'Less Than 18 Months' To Live
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stuart Ramson/AP Stuart Ramson/AP
Bernie Madoff, the mastermind behind a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors, is seeking compassionate release from prison because of terminal kidney failure.
The motion filed by Madoff's lawyer, Brandon Sample, says the 81-year-old suffers from end-stage renal disease and many other chronic medical conditions. He has a life expectancy of less than 18 months, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
"Madoff is experiencing complications, including acid build up, which causes muscle and joint pain, itching, and edema," Sample's motion states. It adds that the former financier is confined to a wheelchair and requires assistance with simple tasks such as grooming.
Sample notes that Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi, who was convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988, was released by Scotland in 2009 in light of a terminal diagnosis.
That same year, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 criminal counts and was sentenced to 150 years in prison. At the time of his sentencing, "it was clear that Madoff's 150-year prison sentence was symbolic for three reasons: retribution, deterrence, and for the victims," the motion states. "Over the past ten years circumstances have changed."
"This Court must now consider whether keeping Madoff incarcerated, in light of his terminal kidney failure and a life expectancy of less than 18 months, is truly in furtherance of statutory sentencing goals and our society's value and understanding of compassion," it added.
U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin will be deciding whether to grant the request. When he imposed Madoff's sentence more than 10 years ago, he slammed the swindler's actions:
"Here the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff's crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of manipulation of the system is not just a bloodless crime that takes place on paper, but one instead that takes a staggering toll," Chin said, as NPR reported.
The Bureau of Prisons denied Madoff's compassionate release request in December 2019, saying that "in light of the nature and circumstances of his offense, his release at this time would minimize the severity of the offense." It added that Madoff "has refused dialysis and any further testing, including laboratory work," for his condition, though Madoff's lawyer said he began accepting dialysis that same month.
Madoff is currently being held at FMC Butner, a federal prison in North Carolina.
Sample said that if released, Madoff would not work, would support himself through Social Security and Medicare, and would live with a friend. He added that the former Wall Street financier doesn't pose a danger to society.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said that they planned to file a response to the motion.
Madoff's scheme would pay off old investors with money obtained from new investors. Since the scheme was uncovered, lawyers have been able to recover at least 70% — some $13 billion — of the money feared lost.


npr--2020-02-06--Dates Like Jesus Ate? Scientists Revive Ancient Trees From 2,000-Year-Old Seeds

The world 's most remarkable date palm trees might not exist if Sarah Sallon had n't gotten sick while working as a doctor in India in 1986 .
Antibiotics did n't help .
What cured here , she thinks , were some traditional herbal remedies .
`` It was just amazing .
It was so incredible , '' she says .
`` And then I got very interested .
There 's nothing like a doctor cured of their problem to get them interested in something . ''
When she moved back home to Israel , to her job at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went looking for medicinal plants there .
And she found lots of them .
But she also heard about ancient medicinal plants that had disappeared .
`` They 're just historical ghosts , '' she says .
`` Like the famous date plantations along the Dead Sea , 2,000 years ago — described by Pliny ; described by Josephus , the first-century historian .
They 're not there anymore .
They just vanished ! ''
Sallon realized , though , that seeds from those trees still existed .
They 'd been recovered from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the archaeologists and proposed planting some of those seeds , to see if they 'd grow again .
It did n't go well at first .
`` They thought I was mad ! ''
she says .
`` They did n't think that this was even conceivable . ''
But she kept pushing , and eventually persuaded a few of them to provide some seeds to try this with .
More than a decade ago , she and Elaine Solowey , a researcher at the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies , planted some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Six weeks later , little green shoots appeared ! ''
she says .
One tree grew .
They named it Methuselah .
But Methuselah had a problem .
Date trees are a little unusual .
They 're either male or female ; each tree makes either pollen or fertile flowers .
But it takes both to produce fruit .
So Methuselah by himself could n't re-create those ancient dates .
But then Sallon found another archaeologist who had recovered a whole trove of date seeds from Qumran , where the ancient texts known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered .
This week , in the journal Science Advances , Sallon and her colleagues announced that they 'd grown another six trees from some of these ancient seeds .
Two of them are female .
`` You could say that we found Methuselah a wife , '' she says , laughing .
The female trees have n't flowered yet , but Sallon is hoping that it might happen this year .
If one of them does , researchers will take pollen from Methuselah , fertilize those flowers , and wait for fruit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones that people in the Bible ate .
When Sallon talks about this possibility , her voice fills with wonder and expectation .
According to ancient writers , she says , these dates `` were known for their wonderful sweetness , their very large size , and their ability to be stored for a long time , so they actually were exported around the Roman empire . ''
Now they may live again , which Sallon takes as a sign of hope for the world .
She 's written a children 's book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the date 's point of view , and hopes to get it published soon .

Dates Like Jesus Ate? Scientists Revive Ancient Trees From 2,000-Year-Old Seeds
Enlarge this image toggle caption Guy Eisner Guy Eisner
The world's most remarkable date palm trees might not exist if Sarah Sallon hadn't gotten sick while working as a doctor in India in 1986. Antibiotics didn't help. What cured here, she thinks, were some traditional herbal remedies.
"It was just amazing. It was so incredible," she says. "And then I got very interested. There's nothing like a doctor cured of their problem to get them interested in something."
When she moved back home to Israel, to her job at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, she went looking for medicinal plants there. And she found lots of them. But she also heard about ancient medicinal plants that had disappeared.
"They're just historical ghosts," she says. "Like the famous date plantations along the Dead Sea, 2,000 years ago — described by Pliny; described by Josephus, the first-century historian. They're not there anymore. They just vanished!"
Sallon realized, though, that seeds from those trees still existed. They'd been recovered from archaeological sites. So she went to the archaeologists and proposed planting some of those seeds, to see if they'd grow again. It didn't go well at first. "They thought I was mad!" she says. "They didn't think that this was even conceivable."
But she kept pushing, and eventually persuaded a few of them to provide some seeds to try this with. More than a decade ago, she and Elaine Solowey, a researcher at the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies, planted some of these ancient palm seeds. "Six weeks later, little green shoots appeared!" she says.
One tree grew. They named it Methuselah. But Methuselah had a problem.
Date trees are a little unusual. They're either male or female; each tree makes either pollen or fertile flowers. But it takes both to produce fruit. So Methuselah by himself couldn't re-create those ancient dates.
But then Sallon found another archaeologist who had recovered a whole trove of date seeds from Qumran, where the ancient texts known as the Dead Sea scrolls had been discovered.
This week, in the journal Science Advances, Sallon and her colleagues announced that they'd grown another six trees from some of these ancient seeds. Two of them are female. "You could say that we found Methuselah a wife," she says, laughing.
The female trees haven't flowered yet, but Sallon is hoping that it might happen this year. If one of them does, researchers will take pollen from Methuselah, fertilize those flowers, and wait for fruit to form: dates just like the ones that people in the Bible ate.
When Sallon talks about this possibility, her voice fills with wonder and expectation. According to ancient writers, she says, these dates "were known for their wonderful sweetness, their very large size, and their ability to be stored for a long time, so they actually were exported around the Roman empire."
Now they may live again, which Sallon takes as a sign of hope for the world. She's written a children's book about this, telling the story from the date's point of view, and hopes to get it published soon.


npr--2020-02-06--Bumblebees Are Disappearing Because Of Extreme Heat

Bumblebees Are Disappearing Because Of Extreme Heat Extreme temperatures are driving a dramatic decline in bumblebees across North America and Europe , according to a new study , in yet another way climate change is putting ecosystems at risk .
Researchers looked at half a million records showing where bumblebees have been found since 1901 , across 66 different species .
They found that in places where bumblebees have lived in North America , you 're about half as likely to see one today .
The decline is especially pronounced in Mexico , where bumblebees once lived in abundance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bees and the flowers they depend on .
`` It 's these extreme events throughout the year that 's pushing bees beyond what they 've ever had to handle before , '' says Peter Soroye , a graduate student at the University of Ottawa and lead author on the study published in the journal Science .
`` And that seems to be driving a lot of the disappearances in bees . ''
Bumblebees also do n't seem to be rapidly expanding into new habitats in search of cooler temperatures .
Scientists believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or to higher elevations as the climate warms .
`` They 're simply not able to colonize new regions at the same rate that they 're disappearing from old ones , '' Soroye notes .
`` The trends are disturbing , '' says Rebecca Irwin , a professor of ecology at North Carolina State University who was not involved in the study Bumblebees are crucial pollinators for natural landscapes .
Just do n't confuse them with honeybees .
`` It 's an important distinction , '' Soroye says .
`` Bumblebees are fuzzy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flying around in the sky . ''
Honeybees were brought over from Europe to pollinate many agricultural crops , while bumblebees are native to the U.S. , evolving with the ecosystems that rely on them .
`` Bumblebees are some of the best pollinators that we have , '' Soroye says .
`` They 're just so much bigger .
When they land on a flower , they vibrate the entire flower . ''
That signature buzz pollinates flowers that honey bees often ca n't .
Crops like tomatoes and blueberries keep their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that leave theirs out in the open .
`` You can think of it like the pollen is stuck in a little salt shaker , and the bees need to shake the pollen at a certain frequency to get the pollen out of the salt shaker , '' Irwin explains .
She says that `` we need to figure out ways to help species cope with climate change , because if we do n't do something , we 're going to lose species that are really important for ecosystem function . ''
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act .
In California , a legal battle has erupted between the state , agricultural groups and conservationists over protecting four bumblebees species under state law .
Still , scientists say there 's a lot everyday people can do .
`` If you have a garden , fill it full of native plants that the bees can go visit , '' Soroye says .
He also recommends leaving fallen logs or leaf piles on the ground , which can create shelter and shade during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OK that your garden looks messy , '' Irwin says .
`` That 's a good thing for the bees . ''

Bumblebees Are Disappearing Because Of Extreme Heat
Enlarge this image toggle caption Peter Soroye Peter Soroye
Extreme temperatures are driving a dramatic decline in bumblebees across North America and Europe, according to a new study, in yet another way climate change is putting ecosystems at risk.
Researchers looked at half a million records showing where bumblebees have been found since 1901, across 66 different species. They found that in places where bumblebees have lived in North America, you're about half as likely to see one today.
The decline is especially pronounced in Mexico, where bumblebees once lived in abundance.
Big heat events can stress both the bees and the flowers they depend on.
"It's these extreme events throughout the year that's pushing bees beyond what they've ever had to handle before," says Peter Soroye, a graduate student at the University of Ottawa and lead author on the study published in the journal Science. "And that seems to be driving a lot of the disappearances in bees."
Bumblebees also don't seem to be rapidly expanding into new habitats in search of cooler temperatures. Scientists believe that some plants and animals will move northward or to higher elevations as the climate warms.
"They're simply not able to colonize new regions at the same rate that they're disappearing from old ones," Soroye notes.
"The trends are disturbing," says Rebecca Irwin, a professor of ecology at North Carolina State University who was not involved in the study
Bumblebees are crucial pollinators for natural landscapes. Just don't confuse them with honeybees.
"It's an important distinction," Soroye says. "Bumblebees are fuzzy. They're like little teddy bears flying around in the sky."
Honeybees were brought over from Europe to pollinate many agricultural crops, while bumblebees are native to the U.S., evolving with the ecosystems that rely on them.
"Bumblebees are some of the best pollinators that we have," Soroye says. "They're just so much bigger. When they land on a flower, they vibrate the entire flower."
That signature buzz pollinates flowers that honey bees often can't. Crops like tomatoes and blueberries keep their pollen tucked away, unlike many plants that leave theirs out in the open.
"You can think of it like the pollen is stuck in a little salt shaker, and the bees need to shake the pollen at a certain frequency to get the pollen out of the salt shaker," Irwin explains.
She says that "we need to figure out ways to help species cope with climate change, because if we don't do something, we're going to lose species that are really important for ecosystem function."
One bumblebee, the rusty patched bumblebee, is listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. In California, a legal battle has erupted between the state, agricultural groups and conservationists over protecting four bumblebees species under state law.
Still, scientists say there's a lot everyday people can do.
"If you have a garden, fill it full of native plants that the bees can go visit," Soroye says.
He also recommends leaving fallen logs or leaf piles on the ground, which can create shelter and shade during extreme heat events.
"It's OK that your garden looks messy," Irwin says. "That's a good thing for the bees."


npr--2020-02-06--Cities And States Are Saying No To Cashless Shops

Cities And States Are Saying No To Cashless Shops After almost 10 minutes of standing in line at a coffee shop , Ritchie Torres realized he only had cash in his pocket — a form of payment no longer accepted by this store .
`` It was a humiliating experience , '' he said .
`` I remember wondering aloud , how could a business refuse to accept cash , which is legal tender ? ''
Torres is a City Council member in New York .
He says his constituents , especially seniors , have also complained about a spurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charge on a bill to ban businesses from rejecting cash , which New York 's city leaders passed almost unanimously last month .
A similar ban is slated for a hearing in Washington , D.C. , on Feb. 13 .
In the past year , Philadelphia , San Francisco and the state of New Jersey have also banned cashless stores — a rare case of governments fighting a tech trend before it spreads far .
Massachusetts has required establishments to accept cash since 1978 .
`` A cashless economy is not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , policy director at the research and advocacy group DC Fiscal Policy Institute .
Excluding people from paying with cash means `` essentially discriminating against people who are low-income , people who are homeless , also undocumented , '' she said .
Getting a credit or debit card often requires a form of ID , a utility or another bill , money to deposit and a financial history .
Mitchell said that in Washington , D.C. , nearly a third of residents rely on cash every day because they do n't have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , as cities have cracked down on the cashless economy and spurred new conversations about whom it leaves out , some of the biggest names that tried going cashless — Amazon 's automated convenience store Go and salad chain Sweetgreen — have reversed their policies in favor of accepting cash .
`` Going cashless had ... positive results , but it also had the unintended consequence of excluding those who prefer to pay or can only pay with cash , '' Sweetgreen officials wrote in a Medium post .
These reversals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to its communities , said National Retail Federation General Counsel Stephanie Martz .
She said new laws are `` a solution in search of a problem '' as the number of businesses to go cashless is very small — in part because each card transaction comes with a fee the business has to pay .
Credit card companies , which get a cut every time a card is swiped , have rewarded the cashless trend .
For example , in 2018 , Visa paid $ 10,000 each to 50 businesses that stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have argued , cash is inefficient .
For example , it slows down the line , requires armored cars , and attracts break-ins or skimming by workers .
And indeed , cash is becoming less popular among U.S. shoppers .
The Federal Reserve found in 2018 that cash had stopped being the No .
1 payment choice — overtaken by debit cards .
But cash is still the most common way people pay amounts under $ 10 or $ 25 — especially among those older than 55 and younger than 25 .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — to protect their purchase history from being tracked by advertisers or banks .
Cash also might carry potential psychological and financial benefits for consumers .
Cash is `` going to feel much more painful to give up because we can see it outflow from our hand , '' said Avni Shah , assistant professor of marketing at the University of Toronto .
Her research found that when people pay in cash , they are more mindful of their spending — willing to spend less to begin with — but they also value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the seller .
`` With cash , we can feel this emotional attachment and we value what we have a bit more , '' she said .
Shah acknowledged that different businesses may have priorities other than loyalty , such as convenience and speed of getting the customer in and out of the store .
Opponents of the bans on cashless establishments have argued that businesses should be able to make these decisions for themselves .
`` We do n't think that in five years laws that ban stores from going cashless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martz said , envisioning a near future where everyone has access to digital payments thanks to advances in financial technology .
In that future , she argued , banning businesses from going cashless could hamstring them from becoming more efficient .
But Torres and Mitchell said cashless laws are there to balance technological progress with an economy that 's fair and inclusive .

Cities And States Are Saying No To Cashless Shops
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP
After almost 10 minutes of standing in line at a coffee shop, Ritchie Torres realized he only had cash in his pocket — a form of payment no longer accepted by this store.
"It was a humiliating experience," he said. "I remember wondering aloud, how could a business refuse to accept cash, which is legal tender?"
Torres is a City Council member in New York. He says his constituents, especially seniors, have also complained about a spurt of cashless stores. So Torres led the charge on a bill to ban businesses from rejecting cash, which New York's city leaders passed almost unanimously last month.
A similar ban is slated for a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13. In the past year, Philadelphia, San Francisco and the state of New Jersey have also banned cashless stores — a rare case of governments fighting a tech trend before it spreads far. Massachusetts has required establishments to accept cash since 1978.
"A cashless economy is not an inclusive economy," said Tazra Mitchell, policy director at the research and advocacy group DC Fiscal Policy Institute.
Excluding people from paying with cash means "essentially discriminating against people who are low-income, people who are homeless, also undocumented," she said.
Getting a credit or debit card often requires a form of ID, a utility or another bill, money to deposit and a financial history. Mitchell said that in Washington, D.C., nearly a third of residents rely on cash every day because they don't have a card or even a bank account.
In fact, as cities have cracked down on the cashless economy and spurred new conversations about whom it leaves out, some of the biggest names that tried going cashless — Amazon's automated convenience store Go and salad chain Sweetgreen — have reversed their policies in favor of accepting cash.
"Going cashless had ... positive results, but it also had the unintended consequence of excluding those who prefer to pay or can only pay with cash," Sweetgreen officials wrote in a Medium post.
These reversals show that the market is working to respond to its communities, said National Retail Federation General Counsel Stephanie Martz. She said new laws are "a solution in search of a problem" as the number of businesses to go cashless is very small — in part because each card transaction comes with a fee the business has to pay.
Credit card companies, which get a cut every time a card is swiped, have rewarded the cashless trend. For example, in 2018, Visa paid $10,000 each to 50 businesses that stopped accepting cash.
And some store owners have argued, cash is inefficient. For example, it slows down the line, requires armored cars, and attracts break-ins or skimming by workers.
And indeed, cash is becoming less popular among U.S. shoppers. The Federal Reserve found in 2018 that cash had stopped being the No. 1 payment choice — overtaken by debit cards.
But cash is still the most common way people pay amounts under $10 or $25 — especially among those older than 55 and younger than 25. And some people prefer cash for privacy reasons — to protect their purchase history from being tracked by advertisers or banks.
Cash also might carry potential psychological and financial benefits for consumers.
Cash is "going to feel much more painful to give up because we can see it outflow from our hand," said Avni Shah, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Toronto. Her research found that when people pay in cash, they are more mindful of their spending — willing to spend less to begin with — but they also value their purchases more and feel more loyal to the seller.
"With cash, we can feel this emotional attachment and we value what we have a bit more," she said.
Economy The Pros And Cons Of Moving Toward A Cashless Society The Pros And Cons Of Moving Toward A Cashless Society Listen · 4:07 4:07
Shah acknowledged that different businesses may have priorities other than loyalty, such as convenience and speed of getting the customer in and out of the store. Opponents of the bans on cashless establishments have argued that businesses should be able to make these decisions for themselves.
"We don't think that in five years laws that ban stores from going cashless are going to look smart," Martz said, envisioning a near future where everyone has access to digital payments thanks to advances in financial technology. In that future, she argued, banning businesses from going cashless could hamstring them from becoming more efficient.
But Torres and Mitchell said cashless laws are there to balance technological progress with an economy that's fair and inclusive.