npr--2020-11-30--Can Trump Change A Key Census Count? Supreme Court Hears His Claim

Even as the Trump administration is heading out the door , President Trump is trying to exclude undocumented immigrants from the decennial census .
If he succeeds , it will be the first time unauthorized immigrants will not be counted for purposes of drawing new congressional districts .
Three lower courts have ruled unanimously that the president 's action violates either the Constitution , the federal census statute , or both .
On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in one of those cases — from New York .
The start of the U.S. census The United States was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national population count into its Constitution .
The plan was to count every person living in the newly created United States of America , and to use that count to allocate how many votes each state would get in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College .
The census was to be a reflection of `` We the People '' in the preamble to the Constitution , according to Margo Anderson , perhaps the leading census historian in the country , and author of The American Census : A Social History .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ convened for the Constitutional Convention , the question was , `` How do we measure 'the People ? '
... Should we do voters ?
Should we do property owners ?
Should we do this ?
Should we do that ?
And they decided ... look , let 's count everybody and be done with it . ''
The Constitution 's `` Great Compromise '' was that every state would receive two senators , no matter what the state 's population , and the House of Representatives and Electoral College would be apportioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persons '' counted in the census of each state .
There were only two exceptions : Native Americans living on tribal lands , who did not pay taxes to the U.S. government , were deemed part of a different sovereign nation ; and the enslaved population in the South was counted but each slave counted only as three-fifths of a person .
That changed after the Civil War when the Fourteenth Amendment counted the former slaves as whole persons , too .
In fact the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment firmly rejected attempts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole population count to a count based on voting eligibility or citizenship .
As Rep. James Blaine of Maine said at the time , `` Women , children , and other non-voting classes '' may have `` as vital an interest in the legislation of the country '' as those who actually have the right to vote .
The result has been that , as census historian Anderson observes , no census has ever been conducted that did not aim to count everyone on U.S. soil , regardless of immigration status .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump issued a memorandum ordering the Census Bureau to send him two sets of numbers .
The first set was for the whole number of persons in each state .
And the second set — for apportionment of the number of seats in each state — was to subtract the number of undocumented immigrants from the total count .
As the memorandum candidly admitted , that might mean that California , for instance , would lose two congressional seats .
Trump 's stated aim was to `` not reward '' states where large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's illegal , '' says the ACLU 's Dale Ho , who represents a coalition of immigrant-rights groups .
It 's illegal , he maintains , `` because the Constitution and federal statutes require the House to be divvied up according to the census , '' including everyone in the total population .
The ACLU and 22 states , led by New York , are challenging the president 's order .
`` The decision that the Founders made , [ and ] that the Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment made , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the number of people that they are responsible for and have to represent , '' Ho says .
`` And it does n't matter whether those people are voters or not , if they 're citizens or not , or what their immigration status is or not . ''
And he adds that one reason for linking apportionment to the census was to set an objective standard and prevent political manipulation of the process of determining how many congressional seats are allocated for each state .
The Trump administration , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the census the president has `` unfettered discretion as to what data will be used '' when it comes to who counts for purposes of apportionment .
Interestingly , the usual red-state coalition that in other cases has supported the administration in the Supreme Court is not present in this case .
Texas , Florida , Arizona and other Republican-dominated states that usually support the Trump administration 's legal positions are missing in action .
That is because they might well lose congressional seats and Electoral College votes if Trump prevails .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in three lower courts , with both Democratic and Republican-appointed judges ruling against him unanimously .
Just 10 states — accounting for a mere 52 congressional seats and Electoral College votes — are siding with the administration .
Among them is Alabama , which would likely lose a seat if the usual census procedures are followed .
Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour Jr. echoes some of the themes in the Trump administration 's argument .
He maintains that the Constitution 's mandate to count the `` whole number of persons '' for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' And he argues that the Founding Fathers would have viewed inhabitants as people who have permission from the sovereign to be in the U.S. , and who have publicly stated they intend to remain here .
`` Our argument is that illegal aliens do not meet either of those requirements , '' says LaCour .
`` They are not here by permission of the federal government ... and therefore they are not inhabitants , as the Framers would have understood it when deciding to divide up federal power among the states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump Administration , contending , in essence that every previous census has been unconstitutional because they all counted individuals not authorized to be in the U.S. LaCour notes that the concept of illegal immigration did not really exist when the Constitution was written .
That is because the Unites States very much wanted people to immigrate back then .
Still , as census historians note , even after the first law was passed restricting immigration in 1875 , and after the Chinese exclusion laws were passed , the census still continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not , for purposes of apportioning congressional districts .
The only hiccough in the census system came in 1920 when a gridlocked Congress refused to reapportion itself , leaving the seats apportioned as they were in 1910 .
As a result of that stalemate , Congress in 1929 passed a law creating an automatic reapportionment system , based on a census count of the `` whole number of persons '' in each state ; it called for those numbers to be reported to the president , who in turn would , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional seats in each state , and within a week of a new Congress convening , report those numbers to the clerk of the House of Representatives for certification .
And that is where Monday 's case runs into some extra wrinkles .
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic , the Census Bureau has already indicated it likely will not be able to meet the usual Dec. 31 deadline for reporting the new state population figures to the president .
Census workers have simply not been able to make as many visits to homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because the Census Bureau 's major work was to occur just when the pandemic led to lockdowns and because of last-minute changes by the Trump administration the bureau has not had enough time to finish processing and checking its figures .
Earliest estimates for completing the job are for the end of January .
And that 's just for the regular census tabulations .
But the bureau has not been able come up with a way to ascertain with any precision what portion of those people living in each state are not there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is able to meet the usual Dec. 31 deadline , which seems increasingly unlikely , Trump , by law , has just 10 days to carry out what is termed his `` ministerial duty '' to convey to Congress how many congressional seats each state is supposed to get .
Bottom line : Trump may not be able to send reliable figures to the House for certification before he leaves office .
And if he does send figures that do not include all residents counted by the census , the House might well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the completion of the census and the task of assigning the number of congressional seats based on total population in each state to the Biden administration .

Can Trump Change A Key Census Count? Supreme Court Hears His Claim
Enlarge this image toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Even as his administration is heading out the door, President Trump is trying to exclude undocumented immigrants from the decennial census. If he succeeds, it will be the first time unauthorized immigrants will not be counted for purposes of drawing new congressional districts.
Three lower courts have ruled unanimously that the president's action violates either the Constitution, the federal census statute, or both. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in one of those cases — from New York.
The start of the U.S. census
The United States was the first country to put a mandatory national population count into its Constitution. The plan was to count every person living in the newly created United States of America, and to use that count to allocate how many votes each state would get in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.
The census was to be a reflection of "We the People" in the preamble to the Constitution, according to Margo Anderson, perhaps the leading census historian in the country, and author of The American Census: A Social History. She says that when the Founding Fathers convened for the Constitutional Convention, the question was, "How do we measure 'the People'? ... Should we do voters? Should we do property owners? Should we do this? Should we do that? And they decided ... look, let's count everybody and be done with it."
The Constitution's "Great Compromise" was that every state would receive two senators, no matter what the state's population, and the House and Electoral College would be apportioned to represent the "whole number of persons" counted in the census of each state.
There were two exceptions: Native Americans living on tribal lands, who did not pay taxes to the U.S. government, were deemed part of a different sovereign nation; and the enslaved population in the South was counted, but each slave counted only as three-fifths of a person. That changed after the Civil War when the 14th Amendment counted the former slaves as whole persons, too.
In fact, the framers of the 14th Amendment firmly rejected attempts to change the apportionment base from a whole population count to a count based on voting eligibility or citizenship. As Rep. James Blaine of Maine said at the time, "Women, children, and other non-voting classes" may have "as vital an interest in the legislation of the country" as those who actually have the right to vote.
The result has been that, as census historian Anderson observes, no census has ever been conducted that did not aim to count everyone on U.S. soil, regardless of immigration status.
Until now.
Trump tries to change the census
In July, Trump issued a memorandum ordering the U.S. Census Bureau to send him two sets of numbers. The first set was for the whole number of persons in each state. And the second set — for apportionment of the number of seats in each state — was to subtract the number of undocumented immigrants from the total count.
As the memorandum candidly admitted, that might mean that California, for instance, would lose two congressional seats. Trump's stated aim was to "not reward" states where large numbers of undocumented immigrants live.
"That's illegal," says the American Civil Liberties Union's Dale Ho, who represents a coalition of immigrant rights groups. It's illegal, he maintains, "because the Constitution and federal statutes require the House to be divvied up according to the census," including everyone in the total population.
The ACLU and 22 states, led by New York, are challenging the president's order.
"The decision that the Founders made, [and] that the Framers of the 14th Amendment made, was that states get representation in Congress based on the number of people that they are responsible for and have to represent," Ho says. "And it doesn't matter whether those people are voters or not, if they're citizens or not, or what their immigration status is or not."
And he adds that one reason for linking apportionment to the census was to set an objective standard and prevent political manipulation of the process of determining how many congressional seats are allocated for each state.
The Trump administration, however, contends that under the federal law governing the census the president has "unfettered discretion as to what data will be used" when it comes to who counts for purposes of apportionment.
States' stakes
Interestingly, the usual red-state coalition that in other cases has supported the administration in the Supreme Court is not present in this case.
Texas, Florida, Arizona and other Republican-dominated states that usually support the Trump administration's legal positions are missing in action. That is because they might well lose congressional seats and Electoral College votes if Trump prevails.
So far the president has lost his argument in three lower courts, with both Democratic and Republican-appointed judges ruling against him unanimously.
Just 10 states — accounting for a mere 52 congressional seats and Electoral College votes — are siding with the administration. Among them is Alabama, which would likely lose a seat if the usual census procedures are followed.
Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour Jr. echoes some of the themes in the Trump administration's argument. He maintains that the Constitution's mandate to count the "whole number of persons" for the census actually meant counting "inhabitants." And he argues that the Founding Fathers would have viewed inhabitants as people who have permission from the sovereign to be in the U.S., and who have publicly stated they intend to remain here.
"Our argument is that illegal aliens do not meet either of those requirements," LaCour says. "They are not here by permission of the federal government ... and therefore they are not inhabitants, as the Framers would have understood it when deciding to divide up federal power among the states."
Alabama in fact goes further than the Trump administration, contending in essence that every previous census has been unconstitutional because they all counted individuals not authorized to be in the United States.
LaCour notes that the concept of illegal immigration did not really exist when the Constitution was written. That is because the United States very much wanted people to immigrate back then.
Still, as census historians note, even after the first law was passed restricting immigration in 1875, and after the Chinese exclusion laws were passed, the census still continued to count everyone, whether here legally or not, for purposes of apportioning congressional districts.
The only hiccup in the census system came in 1920 when a gridlocked Congress refused to reapportion itself, leaving the seats apportioned as they were in 1910. As a result of that stalemate, Congress in 1929 passed a law creating an automatic reapportionment system, based on a census count of the "whole number of persons" in each state; it called for those numbers to be reported to the president, who in turn would, according to the numbers, allocate the number of congressional seats in each state, and within a week of a new Congress convening, report those numbers to the clerk of the House for certification.
Pandemic affects census count timeline
And that is where Monday's case runs into some extra wrinkles. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census Bureau has already indicated it likely will not be able to meet the usual Dec. 31 deadline for reporting the new state population figures to the president.
Census workers have simply not been able to make as many visits to homes that have not returned census forms. Because the Census Bureau's major work was to occur just when the pandemic led to lockdowns and because of last-minute changes by the Trump administration the bureau has not had enough time to finish processing and checking its figures. Earliest estimates for completing the job are for the end of January.
And that's just for the regular census tabulations. But the bureau has not been able come up with a way to ascertain with any precision what portion of those people living in each state are not there legally.
Even if the Census Bureau is able to meet the usual Dec. 31 deadline, which seems increasingly unlikely, Trump, by law, has just 10 days to carry out what is termed his "ministerial duty" to convey to Congress how many congressional seats each state is supposed to get.
Bottom line: Trump may not be able to send reliable figures to the House for certification before he leaves office. And if he does send figures that do not include all residents counted by the census, the House might well refuse to certify those figures, leaving the completion of the census and the task of assigning the number of congressional seats based on total population in each state to the Biden administration.


npr--2020-11-30--Too Many Storms, Not Enough Names

Too Many Storms, Not Enough Names

Too Many Storms , Not Enough Names From the Carolinas to Central America , many are glad to see the end of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season .
It set a number of records , including the most named storms .
The 30 hurricanes and tropical storms used all the names on the list maintained by the World Meteorological Organization , and the final nine were named for letters of the Greek alphabet .
The last hurricane of the season , Iota , was the latest in the year that any storm has reached Category 5 status .
It slammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing dozens of people .
That was just 15 miles from where Eta , another major hurricane , hit two weeks earlier .
Eta later went on to make not one , but two landfalls in Florida .
This season also set a record for the most U.S. continental landfalls by a named storm : 12 .
Given the number of storms , the United States got off relatively lightly .
Phil Klotzbach , a research scientist at Colorado State University 's Department of Atmospheric Science , says , `` We did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any major metropolitan areas . ''
Damage from hurricanes and tropical storms this year is estimated at between $ 35 billion and $ 40 billion , far below the more than $ 200 billion in 2017 , with hurricanes Harvey , Irma and Maria .
Klotzbach says Hurricane Laura , which made landfall in August in southwest Louisiana , `` was a very , very significant hurricane for the Lake Charles area .
But had that storm gone 100 miles farther west and headed up toward Houston , obviously the economic damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was . ''
Hurricane Sally did some $ 5 billion in damage in September after coming ashore near the Alabama-Florida border .
In August , Hurricane Isaias ' wind and rain knocked out power for millions of people from Florida to Connecticut .
One reason this season was so active is La Niña .
That 's a weather pattern caused by the interaction of the ocean and atmosphere in the Pacific .
Michael Mann , an atmospheric scientist at Pennsylvania State University , says there 's another important factor — ocean temperatures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico set new records this year .
Mann says , `` What we have this year is sort of a perfect storm , no pun intended , of very warm ocean waters and a La Niña pattern that reduces vertical wind shear , creating yet a more favorable environment for these storms to form . ''
Scientists say climate change is making hurricanes stronger , wetter and more damaging .
A recent study published in Nature says because they are carrying more moisture , hurricanes are also keeping their strength longer after they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winds and flooding .
Mann says it 's simple thermodynamics — hurricanes get their energy from the heat in the tropical oceans .
He says , `` The warmer you make those oceans , the deeper you make that well of warm water beneath the surface , the more energy there is to intensify these storms into the sorts of monster hurricanes we 're seeing more and more of . ''
There 's some disagreement among scientists as to why there are more storms .
Some believe it 's because of a climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1990s that promotes hurricane formation .
Others , like Mann , maintain there 's growing evidence that the increased activity is being driven by the warming oceans and climate change .
But scientists say , in comparing records with past years ' , there 's a major caveat .
Modern forecasting relies on satellite imagery and aircraft , which provide information that was n't available in previous decades .
In earlier years , forecasters would never know about many short-lived storms that did n't make landfall .
Klotzbach says in 1933 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau recorded 20 named storms .
`` Obviously in 1933 , we did n't have satellites , we did n't have aircraft , '' he says .
`` So it 's really hard to know how many storms we missed .
Did we miss 10 ?
That seems maybe stretching it a bit .
But it 's really , really hard to know . ''
With so many storms , this year the National Hurricane Center went further into the Greek alphabet for names than it had previously .
But some meteorologists see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says some particularly damaging storms this year , Eta and Iota , wo n't have their names retired .
The letters remain part of the Greek alphabet and are available for future storms .
James Franklin , former branch chief of forecasters at the National Hurricane Center , says the issue also came up after the only other time Greek letters were used — the 2005 season .
`` The suggestion back in 2006 , '' Franklin says , `` was to come up with an alternative list of regular names that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that would make it very easy to retire a name . ''
It 's an idea the National Hurricane Center staff plans to bring up once again when the World Meteorological Organization meets this spring .

Too Many Storms, Not Enough Names
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
From the Carolinas to Central America, many are glad to see the end of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. It set a number of records, including the most named storms. The 30 hurricanes and tropical storms used all the names on the list maintained by the World Meteorological Organization, and the final nine were named for letters of the Greek alphabet.
The last hurricane of the season, Iota, was the latest in the year that any storm has reached Category 5 status. It slammed into Nicaragua and Honduras in mid-November, killing dozens of people. That was just 15 miles from where Eta, another major hurricane, hit two weeks earlier. Eta later went on to make not one, but two landfalls in Florida.
This season also set a record for the most U.S. continental landfalls by a named storm: 12. Given the number of storms, the United States got off relatively lightly. Phil Klotzbach, a research scientist at Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science, says, "We did not have any of these hurricanes make landfall in any major metropolitan areas."
Damage from hurricanes and tropical storms this year is estimated at between $35 billion and $40 billion, far below the more than $200 billion in 2017, with hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Klotzbach says Hurricane Laura, which made landfall in August in southwest Louisiana, "was a very, very significant hurricane for the Lake Charles area. But had that storm gone 100 miles farther west and headed up toward Houston, obviously the economic damage would have been much higher than it was."
Hurricane Sally did some $5 billion in damage in September after coming ashore near the Alabama-Florida border. In August, Hurricane Isaias' wind and rain knocked out power for millions of people from Florida to Connecticut.
One reason this season was so active is La Niña. That's a weather pattern caused by the interaction of the ocean and atmosphere in the Pacific. Michael Mann, an atmospheric scientist at Pennsylvania State University, says there's another important factor — ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico set new records this year. Mann says, "What we have this year is sort of a perfect storm, no pun intended, of very warm ocean waters and a La Niña pattern that reduces vertical wind shear, creating yet a more favorable environment for these storms to form."
Scientists say climate change is making hurricanes stronger, wetter and more damaging. A recent study published in Nature says because they are carrying more moisture, hurricanes are also keeping their strength longer after they make landfall, causing more damage from winds and flooding.
Mann says it's simple thermodynamics — hurricanes get their energy from the heat in the tropical oceans. He says, "The warmer you make those oceans, the deeper you make that well of warm water beneath the surface, the more energy there is to intensify these storms into the sorts of monster hurricanes we're seeing more and more of."
There's some disagreement among scientists as to why there are more storms. Some believe it's because of a climate cycle in the Atlantic that started in the 1990s that promotes hurricane formation. Others, like Mann, maintain there's growing evidence that the increased activity is being driven by the warming oceans and climate change.
But scientists say, in comparing records with past years', there's a major caveat. Modern forecasting relies on satellite imagery and aircraft, which provide information that wasn't available in previous decades. In earlier years, forecasters would never know about many short-lived storms that didn't make landfall. Klotzbach says in 1933, for example, the U.S. Weather Bureau recorded 20 named storms. "Obviously in 1933, we didn't have satellites, we didn't have aircraft," he says. "So it's really hard to know how many storms we missed. Did we miss 10? That seems maybe stretching it a bit. But it's really, really hard to know."
With so many storms, this year the National Hurricane Center went further into the Greek alphabet for names than it had previously. But some meteorologists see a problem. The World Meteorological Organization says some particularly damaging storms this year, Eta and Iota, won't have their names retired. The letters remain part of the Greek alphabet and are available for future storms.
James Franklin, former branch chief of forecasters at the National Hurricane Center, says the issue also came up after the only other time Greek letters were used — the 2005 season. "The suggestion back in 2006," Franklin says, "was to come up with an alternative list of regular names that could be used if the alphabet was exhausted. And that would make it very easy to retire a name."
It's an idea the National Hurricane Center staff plans to bring up once again when the World Meteorological Organization meets this spring.


npr--2020-11-30--French Police Could Face Assault Charges In Beating That Sparked Protests

French Police Could Face Assault Charges In Beating That Sparked Protests Paris 's top prosecutor has filed preliminary charges against four police officers allegedly involved in the beating of a Black man earlier this month .
French prosecutor Remy Heitz announced Sunday that he is asking that three of the four police officers remain in custody .
A fourth , who arrived after the beating of Michel Zecler , will be conditionally released .
The preliminary charges filed Sunday are the first steps in a larger investigation into the actions of police the night of Zecler 's beating .
Heitz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the case to decide on formal charges .
The announcement comes after a tumultuous weekend in France , where thousands hit the streets across the country to express anger over police brutality .
Protesters were also challenging proposed legislation that would make it harder to film or photograph French police in the line of duty — something activists say will make brutality more common .
More than 133,000 people protested in Paris Saturday , according to The Local France .
With thousands more also marching in Lille , Rennes , Strasbourg and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were peaceful , but a small group clashed with police , according to Reuters .
Some launched fireworks at police , threw stones , smashed shop windows , and set fire to cars .
Ninety-eight officers were reportedly injured in the melee , according to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin .
He called on those responsible to be prosecuted .
Protesters used the Nov. 21 police beating of Zecler , a 41-year-old music producer , as a rallying cause .
That night , as Zecler was entering his music studio , he was allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a face mask .
France 's current COVID-19 restrictions require face masks when outside .
Surveillance video of the incident showed that as Zecler entered his studio , three officers pushed inside , grabbed him , and proceeded to beat him for several minutes .
Zecler says police used racist language while beating him .
The beating stopped only when others in the building arrived to help Zecler .
After police went outside , a fourth officer threw a tear-gas canister through the window of the studio .
Zecler and others were forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group .
The officers were unaware of surveillance cameras inside Zecler 's studio until the video was released Nov. 26 .
They were detained following the release of the video .
President Emmanuel Macron has called the images of the beating `` unacceptable . ''
Zecler 's beating , as well as scenes of police using brute force to clear a migrant camp in Paris , have revived a debate about police brutality against communities of color in France .
Last week , video and pictures were posted to social media showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Place de la République , in the middle of Paris .
The images showed police beating people and using tear gas to clear the area .
Critics of police actions argue those incidents would never have been made public if the contentious Article 24 of France 's proposed security legislation were made law .
Press freedom and civic groups have been at the forefront of the opposition against the proposal .
The law would criminalize the publication of images of on-duty police officers with the intent of harming their `` physical or psychological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punishable by up to a year in jail and a $ 53,000 fine .
The law passed France 's lower house of Parliament , but still needs Senate approval .
However , support for the bill appears to be wavering , with Prime Minister Jean Castex announcing Friday that he will appoint a commission to redraft Article 24 .
The four officers could face charges of willful assault by people in position of public authority and falsification of public documents , Heitz said Sunday .
The Wall Street Journal reports Heitz indicated officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report summarizing the Zecler incident .
The officers , whose identities have not been released , deny using racist language in reference to Zecler .
According to Heitz , they admit hitting Zecler without justification , but say they did so because they were panicked and afraid .

French Police Could Face Assault Charges In Beating That Sparked Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alain Jocard /AFP via Getty Images Alain Jocard /AFP via Getty Images
Paris' top prosecutor has filed preliminary charges against four police officers in connection with the beating of a Black man earlier this month.
French prosecutor Remy Heitz announced Sunday that he is asking that three of the four police officers remain in custody. A fourth, who arrived after the beating of Michel Zecler, will be conditionally released.
The preliminary charges filed Sunday are the first steps in a larger investigation into the actions of police the night of Zecler's beating. Heitz said an investigating magistrate would now look into the case to decide on formal charges.
Mass protests
The announcement comes after a tumultuous weekend in France, where thousands hit the streets across the country to express anger over police brutality. Protesters were also challenging proposed legislation that would make it harder to film or photograph French police in the line of duty — something activists say will make brutality more common.
More than 133,000 people protested in Paris on Saturday, according to The Local France. With thousands more also marching in Lille, Rennes, Strasbourg and other cities.
The majority of protesters were peaceful, but a small group clashed with police, according to Reuters. Some launched fireworks at police, threw stones, smashed shop windows and set fire to cars.
Ninety-eight officers were reportedly injured in the melee, according to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. He called on those responsible to be prosecuted.
Protesters used the Nov. 21 police beating of Zecler, a 41-year-old music producer, as a rallying cause.
That night, as Zecler was entering his music studio, he was stopped by police for reportedly not wearing a face mask. France's current COVID-19 restrictions require face masks when outside. Surveillance video showed that as Zecler entered his studio, three officers pushed inside, grabbed him and beat him for several minutes. Zecler says police used racist language while beating him.
The beating stopped only when others in the building arrived to help Zecler. After police went outside, a fourth officer threw a tear gas canister through the window of the studio. Zecler and others were forced outside, where police awaited to arrest the group.
The officers were unaware of surveillance cameras inside Zecler's studio until the video was released Nov. 26. They were detained following the release of the video.
President Emmanuel Macron has called the images of the beating "unacceptable."
France's security law
Zecler's beating, as well as scenes of police using brute force to clear a migrant camp in Paris, has revived a debate about police brutality against communities of color in France.
Last week, video and pictures were posted to social media showing police breaking up a migrant camp at Place de la République, in the middle of Paris. The images showed police beating people and using tear gas to clear the area.
Critics of police actions argue that those incidents would never have been made public if the contentious Article 24 of France's proposed security legislation were made law. Press freedom and civic groups have been at the forefront of the opposition against the proposal.
The law would criminalize the publication of images of on-duty police officers with the intent of harming their "physical or psychological integrity." Violating the law is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $53,000 fine.
The law passed France's lower house of Parliament but still needs Senate approval. However, support for the bill appears to be wavering, with Prime Minister Jean Castex announcing Friday that he will appoint a commission to redraft Article 24.
Zecler's case
The four officers could face charges of willful assault by people in position of public authority and falsification of public documents, Heitz said Sunday. The Wall Street Journal reports that Heitz indicated officers allegedly used false information in the police report summarizing the Zecler incident.
The officers, whose identities have not been released, deny using racist language in reference to Zecler. According to Heitz, they admit hitting Zecler without justification but say they did so because they were panicked and afraid.


npr--2020-11-29--Scores Killed In Massacre Of Farmers In Nigeria

Scores Killed In Massacre Of Farmers In Nigeria Scores are dead after armed men on motorcycles gruesomely attacked agricultural workers in northeastern Nigeria .
Officials say the attack occurred Saturday in the country 's Borno state .
Multiple outlets report that suspected Islamist militants attacked the farmers while they were harvesting the fields in a rural part of the state .
Residents told Reuters at least 70 were killed during attack .
A U.N. official in the region , Edward Kallon , said `` tens '' of civilians were killed .
`` The incident is the most violent direct attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice , '' said Kallon , who serves as the resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria .
The U.N. Security Council said that `` those responsible for these terrorist attacks should be held accountable . ''
Reuters reports that 30 of the victims were beheaded in the attack .
At least ten women were reportedly still missing as of Sunday .
Though no one has claimed responsibility , Reuters and the BBC note that at least two militant groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province .
Both groups have carried out massacres in the region before .
More than 37,000 people have died in incidents involving Boko Haram , the Council on Foreign Relations estimates .
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said : `` I condemn the killing of our hard-working farmers by terrorists in Borno state .
The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings .
My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief .
May their souls rest in peace , '' the BBC reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were buried in a service , according to Reuters , where the governor of Borno , Babagana Zulum , called on the federal government to recruit more forces to protect farmers in the area .
Zulum also made reference to rising food prices in the country , while speaking at the burials .
`` In one side , they stay at home [ where ] they may be killed by hunger and starvation , on the other , they go out to their farmlands and risk getting killed by the insurgents , '' @ @ @ @ @ @

Scores Killed In Massacre Of Farmers In Nigeria
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jossy Ola/AP Jossy Ola/AP
Scores are dead after armed men on motorcycles gruesomely attacked agricultural workers in northeastern Nigeria.
Officials say the attack occurred Saturday in the country's Borno state. Multiple outlets report that suspected Islamist militants attacked the farmers while they were harvesting the fields in a rural part of the state.
Residents told Reuters at least 70 were killed during attack. A U.N. official in the region, Edward Kallon, said "tens" of civilians were killed.
"The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year. I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice," said Kallon, who serves as the resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria.
The U.N. Security Council said that "those responsible for these terrorist attacks should be held accountable."
Reuters reports that 30 of the victims were beheaded in the attack. At least ten women were reportedly still missing as of Sunday.
Though no one has claimed responsibility, Reuters and the BBC note that at least two militant groups are active in the area: Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.
Both groups have carried out massacres in the region before. More than 37,000 people have died in incidents involving Boko Haram, the Council on Foreign Relations estimates.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said: "I condemn the killing of our hard-working farmers by terrorists in Borno state. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace," the BBC reported.
On Sunday, 43 of those killed were buried in a service, according to Reuters, where the governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum, called on the federal government to recruit more forces to protect farmers in the area.
Zulum also made reference to rising food prices in the country, while speaking at the burials.
"In one side, they stay at home [where] they may be killed by hunger and starvation, on the other, they go out to their farmlands and risk getting killed by the insurgents," Zulum said, Reuters reported.


npr--2020-11-30--Navy Will Dismantle USS Bonhomme Richard

The U.S. Navy announced Monday it will decommission , rather than repair or repurpose , the USS Bonhomme Richard because of extensive damage from a fire while the vessel was in port .
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship was docked in San Diego when a fire broke out on July 12 .
It took five days to extinguish the inferno .
Ultimately , 40 sailors and 23 civilians were treated for minor injuries , according to the Navy .
The ship was not so fortunate .
Repairing or repurposing the ship , according to Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not come to this decision lightly , '' Braithwaite said in a statement .
`` Following an extensive material assessment in which various courses of action were considered and evaluated , we came to the conclusion that it is not fiscally responsible to restore her . ''
The Navy determined that the cost of restoring the ship could exceed $ 3 billion and it would take five to seven years from start to finish .
Rebuilding and repurposing the ship could exceed $ 1 billion .
The Navy says it could construct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or command-and-control ship for the same price , or less .
The cause of the fire is still unknown , but NPR previously reported that the Navy questioned a sailor in connection with the incident .
The Navy said investigations are ongoing .
The 844-foot ship had an illustrious career over its 20-plus years of service .
It participated in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom .
The USS Bonhomme Richard also aided in humanitarian efforts in Indonesia and Japan .
The timeline for dismantling the ship is still being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inactivation of the ship will allow systems and components to be removed and used in other ships , the Navy said .
The ship may be gone , but it may only be a matter of time before a new Bonhomme Richard sets sail .
The ship that went up in flames in July is the third to bear the name .
The second Bon Homme Richard was an aircraft carrier that was decommissioned in 1971 .
But it was the first ship that gave to history one of the most famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Duc de Duras , a 900-ton merchant vessel , was donated to the United States by King Louis XVI of France in 1779 .
The ship was commanded by Capt .
John Paul Jones , who renamed it BonHomme Richard after Benjamin Franklin , then serving as U.S. ambassador to France , according to the Navy .
Jones and the BonHomme Richard became known for their defeat of the English warship HMS Serapis at the Battle of Flamborough Head off the coast of England .
The BonHomme Richard was gravely damaged and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the English asked Jones whether he surrendered .
Jones responded by calling out , `` I have not yet begun to fight ! ''
He then sent 40 Marines and sailors to the Serapis with grenades and muskets .
The BonHomme Richard secured America 's first defeat of an English vessel in English waters before ultimately sinking in September 1779 .

Navy Will Dismantle USS Bonhomme Richard
Enlarge this image toggle caption Denis Poroy/AP Denis Poroy/AP
The U.S. Navy announced Monday it will decommission, rather than repair or repurpose, the USS Bonhomme Richard because of extensive damage from a fire while the vessel was in port. The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship was docked in San Diego when a fire broke out on July 12. It took five days to extinguish the inferno.
Ultimately, 40 sailors and 23 civilians were treated for minor injuries, according to the Navy. The ship was not so fortunate.
Repairing or repurposing the ship, according to Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite, would be a billion-dollar battle.
"We did not come to this decision lightly," Braithwaite said in a statement. "Following an extensive material assessment in which various courses of action were considered and evaluated, we came to the conclusion that it is not fiscally responsible to restore her."
The Navy determined that the cost of restoring the ship could exceed $3 billion and it would take five to seven years from start to finish. Rebuilding and repurposing the ship could exceed $1 billion. The Navy says it could construct a new hospital ship, submarine tender, or command-and-control ship for the same price, or less.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but NPR previously reported that the Navy questioned a sailor in connection with the incident. The Navy said investigations are ongoing.
Enlarge this image toggle caption U.S. Navy U.S. Navy
The 844-foot ship had an illustrious career over its 20-plus years of service. It participated in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The USS Bonhomme Richard also aided in humanitarian efforts in Indonesia and Japan.
The timeline for dismantling the ship is still being sorted out by the Navy. But the inactivation of the ship will allow systems and components to be removed and used in other ships, the Navy said.
The ship may be gone, but it may only be a matter of time before a new Bonhomme Richard sets sail. The ship that went up in flames in July is the third to bear the name.
The second Bon Homme Richard was an aircraft carrier that was decommissioned in 1971.
But it was the first ship that gave to history one of the most famous statements by a U.S. military commander.
The Duc de Duras, a 900-ton merchant vessel, was donated to the United States by King Louis XVI of France in 1779. The ship was commanded by Capt. John Paul Jones, who renamed it BonHomme Richard after Benjamin Franklin, then serving as U.S. ambassador to France, according to the Navy.
Jones and the BonHomme Richard became known for their defeat of the English warship HMS Serapis at the Battle of Flamborough Head off the coast of England. The BonHomme Richard was gravely damaged and its flag knocked to the deck when the English asked Jones whether he surrendered.
Jones responded by calling out, "I have not yet begun to fight!" He then sent 40 Marines and sailors to the Serapis with grenades and muskets. The BonHomme Richard secured America's first defeat of an English vessel in English waters before ultimately sinking in September 1779.
Dustin Jones is an intern with NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-11-30--So You Traveled Over Thanksgiving. Now What?

So You Traveled Over Thanksgiving .
Now What ?
Despite the repeated warnings of public health experts and officials , millions of people traveled for Thanksgiving .
Perhaps you 're one of them .
So what should you do now to keep from creating the `` surge upon a surge '' of coronavirus cases that Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning the U.S. could soon face ?
`` You have to assume you were exposed and you became infected '' Dr. Deborah Birx , the coordinator of the White House 's coronavirus task force , has this advice : Assume you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your family traveled , you have to assume you were exposed and you became infected , and you really need to get tested in the next week , and you need to avoid anyone in your family with comorbidities or are over 65 , '' she told CBS ' Face the Nation on Sunday .
She recommends masking indoors if people in your household traveled or gathered with others for Thanksgiving .
`` If you 're young and you gathered , '' Birx says , `` you need to assume that you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aunts and others without a mask . ''
If you 're over 65 or have comorbidities and you gathered at Thanksgiving , watch out for symptoms .
`` If you develop any symptoms , you need be tested immediately because we know that our therapeutics work best — both our antivirals and our monoclonal antibodies — work best very early in disease , '' Birx says .
Adm. Brett Giroir , a physician who oversees the federal government 's testing response , says you need to be extra-careful as you return home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily need to do a strict two-week quarantine .
`` Just remember you 've had an increased risk of being exposed , '' he told CNN .
`` So you should decrease unnecessary activities for about a week .
And if you can get tested in three or five days , that 's also a very good idea . ''
This is the time to be extra-careful , wear masks and avoid crowds , because of the increased risk that you might have gotten the coronavirus — and you could spread it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the travel and the mixing of people who have not been in their own little pods , '' he said , calling this `` a risky time . ''
What happens next depends on the precautions that people take now , Giroir said .
`` We 're very concerned about the travel , but what we do makes a difference .
It 's not as if we 're passive onlookers , '' he said .
`` We could really make a difference here . ''
Birx agrees : `` What happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people got together in Thanksgiving .
The moment now is to protect those from having secondary and tertiary transmissions within the family . ''
What do other experts say ?
Abraar Karan is an internal medicine doctor at the Brigham and Women 's Hospital and Harvard Medical School .
His advice is that those returning from travel but who do n't have a known coronavirus exposure should quarantine for the next seven to 10 days .
If they have a known exposure , they should quarantine for two weeks .
Why does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveled ?
Because of the high levels of viral transmission around the U.S. right now , including by people who are asymptomatic .
`` [ P ] eople will be exposed to others who are infectious but not showing any symptoms .
So in many cases , they wo n't even know that they had an exposure , '' he wrote by email to NPR .
`` Many people are saying they have no idea where they were infected . ''
He recommends getting tested twice : ideally when you first return home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
`` This will notably increase the chance that you detect the virus over a longer incubation period , '' he says .
And Karan emphasizes that it 's important to do the quarantine right .
`` Quarantining does n't mean walking around your house or apartment as if you 're healthy .
It means staying in your room and avoiding contact with other people as if you were infected .
It means wearing a mask when you leave your room if you need to do that . ''
Keep in mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning travelers , so check to see what is required where you live .
The requirements may depend on where you traveled .
When will we know how much the virus spread over Thanksgiving ?
The incubation period for the virus is two to 14 days , and people who get the virus generally develop symptoms five to six days after exposure .
`` If there was a lot of spread around Thanksgiving , we 'll be seeing that around a week or two or three into December and onward , '' Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , told NPR 's Allison Aubrey .
`` Unfortunately , we have far too much spread in the United States , and because of that , December is likely to be a hard month , '' Frieden warns .
And if you do test positive for the virus ?
Be sure to share that information with those you spent time with over the holiday weekend .
If you want to protect your loved ones , they need to know they might have been exposed .

So You Traveled Over Thanksgiving. Now What?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nathan Howard/Getty Images Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Despite the repeated warnings of public health experts and officials, millions of people traveled for Thanksgiving.
Perhaps you're one of them.
So what should you do now to keep from creating the "surge upon a surge" of coronavirus cases that Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning the U.S. could soon face?
"You have to assume you were exposed and you became infected"
Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House's coronavirus task force, has this advice: Assume you picked up the virus.
"If your family traveled, you have to assume you were exposed and you became infected, and you really need to get tested in the next week, and you need to avoid anyone in your family with comorbidities or are over 65," she told CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday.
She recommends masking indoors if people in your household traveled or gathered with others for Thanksgiving. "If you're young and you gathered," Birx says, "you need to assume that you're infected and not go near your grandparents and aunts and others without a mask."
If you're over 65 or have comorbidities and you gathered at Thanksgiving, watch out for symptoms.
"If you develop any symptoms, you need be tested immediately because we know that our therapeutics work best — both our antivirals and our monoclonal antibodies — work best very early in disease," Birx says.
Adm. Brett Giroir, a physician who oversees the federal government's testing response, says you need to be extra-careful as you return home — though he says you don't necessarily need to do a strict two-week quarantine.
"Just remember you've had an increased risk of being exposed," he told CNN. "So you should decrease unnecessary activities for about a week. And if you can get tested in three or five days, that's also a very good idea."
This is the time to be extra-careful, wear masks and avoid crowds, because of the increased risk that you might have gotten the coronavirus — and you could spread it.
"There certainly can be a surge because of the travel and the mixing of people who have not been in their own little pods," he said, calling this "a risky time."
What happens next depends on the precautions that people take now, Giroir said.
"We're very concerned about the travel, but what we do makes a difference. It's not as if we're passive onlookers," he said. "We could really make a difference here."
Birx agrees: "What happened happened. I mean, we know that people got together in Thanksgiving. The moment now is to protect those from having secondary and tertiary transmissions within the family."
What do other experts say?
Abraar Karan is an internal medicine doctor at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
His advice is that those returning from travel but who don't have a known coronavirus exposure should quarantine for the next seven to 10 days. If they have a known exposure, they should quarantine for two weeks.
Why does he recommend a quarantine for all who traveled? Because of the high levels of viral transmission around the U.S. right now, including by people who are asymptomatic.
"[P]eople will be exposed to others who are infectious but not showing any symptoms. So in many cases, they won't even know that they had an exposure," he wrote by email to NPR. "Many people are saying they have no idea where they were infected."
He recommends getting tested twice: ideally when you first return home and then again three to five days later.
"This will notably increase the chance that you detect the virus over a longer incubation period," he says.
And Karan emphasizes that it's important to do the quarantine right. "Quarantining doesn't mean walking around your house or apartment as if you're healthy. It means staying in your room and avoiding contact with other people as if you were infected. It means wearing a mask when you leave your room if you need to do that."
Keep in mind that different states have different rules for returning travelers, so check to see what is required where you live. The requirements may depend on where you traveled.
When will we know how much the virus spread over Thanksgiving?
The incubation period for the virus is two to 14 days, and people who get the virus generally develop symptoms five to six days after exposure.
"If there was a lot of spread around Thanksgiving, we'll be seeing that around a week or two or three into December and onward," Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told NPR's Allison Aubrey.
"Unfortunately, we have far too much spread in the United States, and because of that, December is likely to be a hard month," Frieden warns.
And if you do test positive for the virus?
Be sure to share that information with those you spent time with over the holiday weekend. If you want to protect your loved ones, they need to know they might have been exposed.


npr--2020-11-30--U.S. Shoppers Might Spend $13 Million Per Minute During Cyber Monday Peak

U.S .
Shoppers Might Spend $ 13 Million Per Minute During Cyber Monday Peak U.S. shoppers are on track to spend more than $ 755 billion during the holiday shopping season in what 's expected to be a new sales record despite the coronavirus recession .
In fact , this year 's Cyber Monday promises to become the largest online sales day in history .
During the peak hour of 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time , shoppers could spend $ 13 million per minute , according to Adobe Digital Insights , which tracks online spending .
Health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores as coronavirus cases surge yet again across the U.S. , with tens of thousands of people hospitalized .
But shoppers say they are drawn by discounts — and by the desire to celebrate and feel special .
Over the weekend , top online purchases included Star Wars , Nerf and Paw Patrol toys , Apple AirPods and Watches and various video games , according to Adobe .
Other hot items included air fryers , Lego sets and lounge clothes .
Adobe also says sales of chess-related items tripled this month thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The National Retail Federation finally released its delayed holiday shopping forecast last week , predicting that retail sales will grow between 3.6 % and 5.2 % to their highest level ever .
The trade group says shoppers will spend on average $ 998 on gifts , food , decorations and other holiday items .
Online stores are by far the winners of this shopping spree .
And the season is seeing a huge growth in popularity of curbside pickup , with shoppers driving up to stores but avoiding indoor public spaces .

U.S. Shoppers Might Spend $13 Million Per Minute During Cyber Monday Peak
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
U.S. shoppers are on track to spend more than $755 billion during the holiday shopping season in what's expected to be a new sales record despite the coronavirus recession.
In fact, this year's Cyber Monday promises to become the largest online sales day in history. During the peak hour of 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time, shoppers could spend $13 million per minute, according to Adobe Digital Insights, which tracks online spending.
Health officials have recommended against spending time in crowded stores as coronavirus cases surge yet again across the U.S., with tens of thousands of people hospitalized.
But shoppers say they are drawn by discounts — and by the desire to celebrate and feel special.
Over the weekend, top online purchases included Star Wars, Nerf and Paw Patrol toys, Apple AirPods and Watches and various video games, according to Adobe. Other hot items included air fryers, Lego sets and lounge clothes. Adobe also says sales of chess-related items tripled this month thanks to the Netflix sensation The Queen's Gambit.
Business Masked And Undeterred, Shoppers Line Up For Black Friday Sales Masked And Undeterred, Shoppers Line Up For Black Friday Sales Listen · 2:26 2:26
The National Retail Federation finally released its delayed holiday shopping forecast last week, predicting that retail sales will grow between 3.6% and 5.2% to their highest level ever. The trade group says shoppers will spend on average $998 on gifts, food, decorations and other holiday items.
Online stores are by far the winners of this shopping spree. And the season is seeing a huge growth in popularity of curbside pickup, with shoppers driving up to stores but avoiding indoor public spaces.


npr--2020-11-30--Israeli Tourism Ministry Warns Against Discussing Sensitive Topics With UAE Citizens

Do n't promote democracy , talk about the royal families or comment on treatment of foreign workers .
Israel is advising tourism professionals and businesspeople to avoid discussing those and other sensitive political topics with residents of the United Arab Emirates , as it protects its new peace deal with the Gulf Arab country and promotes new daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv , launched last week .
`` United Arab Emirates : Do and Do Not , '' the tourism ministry 's 29-page Hebrew-language advisory published Nov. 8 , is the first public Israeli government comment on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it stops short of criticizing alleged abuses .
`` The United Arab Emirates is not a democratic country and it is not acceptable to speak about democracies as a preferred model of government , '' the advisory says .
It also recommends `` not to speak to Emiratis about the royal families , '' `` avoid speaking about local politics '' and `` avoid speaking about government or state policy towards foreign workers . ''
The ministry says the guidelines are not government policy but cultural sensitivity tips aimed primarily at Israeli tourism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whenever Israel lifts its COVID-19 ban on incoming tourism .
It aims for 100,000 Gulf visitors in the coming years , with many expected to visit Islam 's third-holiest site , the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem .
Although the two countries shared quiet ties for years , it 's largely a new cultural encounter .
Israeli passport-holders traveled in special delegations by invitation only , and Emiratis were not previously known to visit Israel .
The deputy mayor of Jerusalem has asked Israeli officials to update security protocols at the airport , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioning , so anticipated Emirati visitors will receive a warmer welcome .
The tourism ministry is also offering some recommended `` do 's '' : Praise the UAE 's accomplishments in the Middle East .
Use the term `` female empowerment '' instead of `` feminism . ''
Set up business meetings with Emiratis at least three weeks in advance .
Hotels seeking Emirati guests should consider setting up separate swimming areas for men and women .
The advisory also includes a code of conduct on dress and customs for Israelis traveling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introducing multiple daily nonstop flights .
The new route to Dubai is fueling a buzz for travel-hungry Israelis marooned at home during the pandemic and eager to visit a part of the region previously off-limits .
The UAE is one of just a few destinations Israel allows residents to visit without quarantining upon return .
The author of the advisory , Yossi Mann , says Emiratis — governed by dynastic rulers with limited elections for an advisory council — are wary about dysfunctional political systems and failed democracy movements and prefer a system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that raising sensitive political topics could cast a shadow on the Israel-Emirates peace deal , signed in September , which he calls a breakthrough in Jewish-Muslim relations after years of hostility .
`` They 're still a traditional society .
They 're doing huge progress for them and they should do it step by step , '' says Mann , a senior lecturer in Mideast studies at Bar Ilan University , researcher at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center and a consultant to oil and gas companies in the region .
`` Because I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Muslims , I think we should be sensitive to them .
They are making a courageous step . ''
Israel is also worried its citizens could misbehave while vacationing in the UAE .
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation did not respond to NPR 's request for comment on the Israeli advisory .
The State Department 's travel advisory for U.S. citizens in the UAE offers similar advice on behavior and dress , and warns travelers they could be arrested or deported for `` making derogatory statements about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local governments or other people . ''
But unlike Israel , the U.S. has also reported human rights concerns there .
The UAE has promoted religious tolerance and female politicians , and , this month , allowed unmarried couples to live together and relaxed alcohol bans .
But it bans political parties and labor unions , arrests democracy advocates and government critics , criminalizes gay sex and has not effectively prevented abuse of foreign workers , who make up the majority of the population , according to the State Department .
Analysts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized the Israeli approach .
`` Gulf citizens are worldly and engage in the topics that the Israeli government is steering its tourists from , '' says Bader Al-Saif , a Kuwait-based fellow with the Carnegie Middle East Center .
`` It 's how one engages in these topics that would matter . ''
`` The message is : be silent .
If you want to go to the UAE , and have a collaboration with them , do n't talk about anything that would light a fuse , '' says Eitay Mack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the oil-rich Gulf country begins to invest in Israeli universities and institutions , he warns it could quash Israeli criticism of Gulf policy , much as Chinese investments in Australian universities are alleged to have led to pro-China censorship .
`` After the UAE ... bring all their money , it will be much harder to do this discussion .
Now is the time to set the rules , '' Mack says .
Elizabeth Tsurkov , a research fellow at the Forum for Regional Thinking , a progressive Israeli think tank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Emirati interests in Washington as it has done with Egypt and Jordan , and already reportedly mediated the sale of Israeli spyware to Emirati officials to track dissidents .
`` Israeli citizens should question this alliance with an authoritarian regime , '' Tsurkov says .
`` Most countries around world have normal relations with these regimes .
But not all countries go and do lobbying work on behalf of those regimes .
Not all countries sell spyware to hack into phones of activists . ''
In August , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced democracy '' in an interview with an Emirati TV news channel .
He posted it to Twitter , then deleted it shortly after .
Sami Sockol contributed to this story from Jerusalem .

Israeli Tourism Ministry Warns Against Discussing Sensitive Topics With UAE Citizens
Enlarge this image toggle caption Malak Harb/AP Malak Harb/AP
Don't promote democracy, talk about the royal families or comment on treatment of foreign workers.
Israel is advising tourism professionals and businesspeople to avoid discussing those and other sensitive political topics with residents of the United Arab Emirates, as it protects its new peace deal with the Gulf Arab country and promotes new daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, launched last week.
"United Arab Emirates: Do and Do Not," the tourism ministry's 29-page Hebrew-language advisory published Nov. 8, is the first public Israeli government comment on the issue of Emirati political freedoms, but it stops short of criticizing alleged abuses.
"The United Arab Emirates is not a democratic country and it is not acceptable to speak about democracies as a preferred model of government," the advisory says. It also recommends "not to speak to Emiratis about the royal families," "avoid speaking about local politics" and "avoid speaking about government or state policy towards foreign workers."
The ministry says the guidelines are not government policy but cultural sensitivity tips aimed primarily at Israeli tourism operators preparing to receive Emirati visitors, whenever Israel lifts its COVID-19 ban on incoming tourism. It aims for 100,000 Gulf visitors in the coming years, with many expected to visit Islam's third-holiest site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Although the two countries shared quiet ties for years, it's largely a new cultural encounter. Israeli passport-holders traveled in special delegations by invitation only, and Emiratis were not previously known to visit Israel.
The deputy mayor of Jerusalem has asked Israeli officials to update security protocols at the airport, where Arab and Muslim visitors regularly face stringent questioning, so anticipated Emirati visitors will receive a warmer welcome.
The tourism ministry is also offering some recommended "do's": Praise the UAE's accomplishments in the Middle East. Use the term "female empowerment" instead of "feminism." Set up business meetings with Emiratis at least three weeks in advance. Hotels seeking Emirati guests should consider setting up separate swimming areas for men and women.
The advisory also includes a code of conduct on dress and customs for Israelis traveling to the UAE for business. Airlines are introducing multiple daily nonstop flights.
The new route to Dubai is fueling a buzz for travel-hungry Israelis marooned at home during the pandemic and eager to visit a part of the region previously off-limits. The UAE is one of just a few destinations Israel allows residents to visit without quarantining upon return.
The author of the advisory, Yossi Mann, says Emiratis — governed by dynastic rulers with limited elections for an advisory council — are wary about dysfunctional political systems and failed democracy movements and prefer a system of tribal family affiliations. He worries that raising sensitive political topics could cast a shadow on the Israel-Emirates peace deal, signed in September, which he calls a breakthrough in Jewish-Muslim relations after years of hostility.
"They're still a traditional society. They're doing huge progress for them and they should do it step by step," says Mann, a senior lecturer in Mideast studies at Bar Ilan University, researcher at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center and a consultant to oil and gas companies in the region. "Because I believe there is a new era between Jews and Muslims, I think we should be sensitive to them. They are making a courageous step."
Israel is also worried its citizens could misbehave while vacationing in the UAE.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation did not respond to NPR's request for comment on the Israeli advisory.
The State Department's travel advisory for U.S. citizens in the UAE offers similar advice on behavior and dress, and warns travelers they could be arrested or deported for "making derogatory statements about the UAE, the royal families, the local governments or other people." But unlike Israel, the U.S. has also reported human rights concerns there.
The UAE has promoted religious tolerance and female politicians, and, this month, allowed unmarried couples to live together and relaxed alcohol bans. But it bans political parties and labor unions, arrests democracy advocates and government critics, criminalizes gay sex and has not effectively prevented abuse of foreign workers, who make up the majority of the population, according to the State Department.
Analysts and activists in both Israel and the Gulf criticized the Israeli approach.
"Gulf citizens are worldly and engage in the topics that the Israeli government is steering its tourists from," says Bader Al-Saif, a Kuwait-based fellow with the Carnegie Middle East Center. "It's how one engages in these topics that would matter."
"The message is: be silent. If you want to go to the UAE, and have a collaboration with them, don't talk about anything that would light a fuse," says Eitay Mack, a left-wing Israeli human rights lawyer.
If the oil-rich Gulf country begins to invest in Israeli universities and institutions, he warns it could quash Israeli criticism of Gulf policy, much as Chinese investments in Australian universities are alleged to have led to pro-China censorship.
"After the UAE ... bring all their money, it will be much harder to do this discussion. Now is the time to set the rules," Mack says.
Elizabeth Tsurkov, a research fellow at the Forum for Regional Thinking, a progressive Israeli think tank, says Israel is expected to lobby for Emirati interests in Washington as it has done with Egypt and Jordan, and already reportedly mediated the sale of Israeli spyware to Emirati officials to track dissidents.
"Israeli citizens should question this alliance with an authoritarian regime," Tsurkov says. "Most countries around world have normal relations with these regimes. But not all countries go and do lobbying work on behalf of those regimes. Not all countries sell spyware to hack into phones of activists."
In August, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the UAE was an "advanced democracy" in an interview with an Emirati TV news channel. He posted it to Twitter, then deleted it shortly after.
Sami Sockol contributed to this story from Jerusalem.


npr--2020-11-30--More Americans Pay Rent On Credit Cards As Lawmakers Fail To Pass Relief Bill

More Americans Pay Rent On Credit Cards As Lawmakers Fail To Pass Relief Bill With their savings running out , many Americans are being forced to use credit cards to pay for bills they ca n't afford — even their rent .
Housing experts and economists say this is a blinking-red warning light that without more relief from Congress , the economy is headed for even more serious trouble .
There 's been as much as a 70 % percent increase from last year in people paying rent on a credit card , according to an analysis by the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're putting your rent payments on to a credit card , that shows you 're really at risk of eviction , '' says Shamus Roller , executive director of the nonprofit National Housing Law Project .
`` That means you 've run out of savings ; you 've probably run out of calls to family members to get them to loan you money . ''
Marine Madesclaire could be faced with the choice of paying her rent on credit , too .
Before the pandemic hit , she felt like she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles actor was doing lots of auditions and managing to land at least some quick appearances in Hollywood films .
To pay the bills , she had a gig doing modeling work at Las Vegas trade shows .
`` You go to the conventions , and you stand and look pretty next to , insert product , '' she says .
`` And it paid very , very well .
I had been traveling . ''
But all that stopped in March .
Since then , Madesclaire has been among millions of unlucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment benefits .
It appears she should qualify .
But it 's been more than six months , and she still has n't received any unemployment money .
`` It 's been so long that I do n't cry about it anymore , '' she says .
`` I used to , like , have full-blown meltdowns about it . ''
She depleted her savings just to eat and pay bills .
She 's run up more than $ 10,000 in credit card debt .
Madesclaire has asked her card issuer Chase for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiving some late fees , the bank has n't done much to help her .
She says the 16 % interest is sinking her even deeper into debt .
`` They 're charging me interest and late fees , '' she says .
`` And up until like a week ago , they also were calling me like five times a day until I told them to please stop . ''
Chase said in a statement to NPR that it has enrolled many customer accounts in `` payment assistance '' plans .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late fees , but it does keep charging interest .
Madesclaire was finally able to find a low-wage job at a computer repair store .
But while that just barely covers her monthly bills , she 's still four months behind on her rent .
A state eviction moratorium in California will protect her until the end of January , or she says she would have paid her rent on a credit card , too .
`` If the choice is debt or homelessness , '' she says , `` I 'm going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can . ''
Some people just pay that way for convenience .
But for many others it 's an act of desperation .
The National Housing Law Project 's Roller notes that there 's a federal order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aimed at preventing evictions .
But it 's not an outright ban , and many people do n't know the order exists or how it can protect them .
So he says it 's not working very well .
There have already been thousands of evictions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Va. , Columbus , Ohio , and other areas , Roller says .
`` It 's bad for public health , it 's bad for the families that are involved , '' he says .
`` It 's bad for all of us as a country . ''
It could also be just the tip of the iceberg .
And it 's not just housing rights groups that are worried .
Mark Zandi , chief economist of Moody 's Analytics , estimates about 10 million Americans owe back rent .
And without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he expects to see `` mass eviction '' starting early next year .
`` Just think about that for a second , '' he says .
`` This is all going to be happening in the dead of winter , in the middle of a raging pandemic .
I mean , I ca n't even construct a darker scenario . ''
Zandi says even if they do n't lose their housing , millions of other Americans will fall deeper into debt .
And he says so many people continuing to suffer financially will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think odds are very high that we 're going to go back into recession , '' he says , `` if lawmakers ca n't get it together early next year and pass a fiscal rescue package . ''
Zandi says , `` It 's absolutely critical that lawmakers step up . ''
As part of the federal aid , he and Roller would both like to see an effective nationwide eviction moratorium , combined with money to pay landlords the rent they are owed to keep them from going under , too .

More Americans Pay Rent On Credit Cards As Lawmakers Fail To Pass Relief Bill
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Dwyer/AP Michael Dwyer/AP
With their savings running out, many Americans are being forced to use credit cards to pay for bills they can't afford — even their rent. Housing experts and economists say this is a blinking-red warning light that without more relief from Congress, the economy is headed for even more serious trouble.
There's been as much as a 70% percent increase from last year in people paying rent on a credit card, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
"If you're putting your rent payments on to a credit card, that shows you're really at risk of eviction," says Shamus Roller, executive director of the nonprofit National Housing Law Project. "That means you've run out of savings; you've probably run out of calls to family members to get them to loan you money."
Marine Madesclaire could be faced with the choice of paying her rent on credit, too.
Before the pandemic hit, she felt like she was hitting her stride. The 29-year-old Los Angeles actor was doing lots of auditions and managing to land at least some quick appearances in Hollywood films.
To pay the bills, she had a gig doing modeling work at Las Vegas trade shows. "You go to the conventions, and you stand and look pretty next to, insert product," she says. "And it paid very, very well. I had been traveling."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marine Madesclaire Marine Madesclaire
But all that stopped in March. Since then, Madesclaire has been among millions of unlucky people who've faced long delays getting unemployment benefits. It appears she should qualify. But it's been more than six months, and she still hasn't received any unemployment money.
"It's been so long that I don't cry about it anymore," she says. "I used to, like, have full-blown meltdowns about it."
She depleted her savings just to eat and pay bills. She's run up more than $10,000 in credit card debt.
Loading...
Madesclaire has asked her card issuer Chase for help. But she says except for waiving some late fees, the bank hasn't done much to help her. She says the 16% interest is sinking her even deeper into debt.
"They're charging me interest and late fees," she says. "And up until like a week ago, they also were calling me like five times a day until I told them to please stop."
Chase said in a statement to NPR that it has enrolled many customer accounts in "payment assistance" plans. The bank says it doesn't charge them late fees, but it does keep charging interest.
Madesclaire was finally able to find a low-wage job at a computer repair store. But while that just barely covers her monthly bills, she's still four months behind on her rent.
A state eviction moratorium in California will protect her until the end of January, or she says she would have paid her rent on a credit card, too.
"If the choice is debt or homelessness," she says, "I'm going to go in as much debt as I can."
Some people just pay that way for convenience. But for many others it's an act of desperation.
The National Housing Law Project's Roller notes that there's a federal order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aimed at preventing evictions. But it's not an outright ban, and many people don't know the order exists or how it can protect them. So he says it's not working very well. There have already been thousands of evictions in Houston, Memphis, Tenn., Richmond, Va., Columbus, Ohio, and other areas, Roller says.
"It's bad for public health, it's bad for the families that are involved," he says. "It's bad for all of us as a country."
It could also be just the tip of the iceberg. And it's not just housing rights groups that are worried.
Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, estimates about 10 million Americans owe back rent. And without another robust relief bill from Congress, he expects to see "mass eviction" starting early next year.
"Just think about that for a second," he says. "This is all going to be happening in the dead of winter, in the middle of a raging pandemic. I mean, I can't even construct a darker scenario."
Zandi says even if they don't lose their housing, millions of other Americans will fall deeper into debt. And he says so many people continuing to suffer financially will hurt the whole economy.
"I think odds are very high that we're going to go back into recession," he says, "if lawmakers can't get it together early next year and pass a fiscal rescue package."
Zandi says, "It's absolutely critical that lawmakers step up."
As part of the federal aid, he and Roller would both like to see an effective nationwide eviction moratorium, combined with money to pay landlords the rent they are owed to keep them from going under, too.


npr--2020-11-30--Arizona And Wisconsin Certify Election Results, Affirming Biden Victories

Officials in Arizona and Wisconsin have certified their states ' presidential election results , affirming President-elect Joe Biden 's razor-thin victories over President Trump in the two key swing states .
The certifications on Monday come as the president and his legal team continue to tout unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud .
Biden won Arizona by slightly more than 10,000 votes , earning him the 11 electoral votes in a state that a Democratic presidential nominee had n't carried since Bill Clinton in 1996 .
Biden won Wisconsin by just over 20,000 votes , earning the state 's 10 electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
Monday 's certification follows a recount in Wisconsin 's two most populous counties , paid for by the Trump campaign and completed Sunday , in which Biden 's lead grew by 87 votes .
Trump had said that his team would file a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin 's results .
Officials in Arizona also certified down-ballot races , including one clearing the way for Sen.-elect Mark Kelly , a Democrat , to be seated as early as this week .
Kelly , who defeated incumbent Sen. Martha McSally , is scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matchup was a special election to fill the remaining term for the late Sen. John McCain , who was reelected in 2016 and died in 2018 .
`` This was a historic election for several reasons , '' said Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs , a Democrat , at a brief event on Monday morning .
She noted that roughly 80 % of eligible voters cast votes totaling more than 3.4 million ballots .
`` Preparing for any election is an immense undertaking even in normal circumstances .
The complexity this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hobbs said .
`` In spite of this , we had an extremely well-run election and saw historically high voter participation . ''
Arizona Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey , appearing alongside Hobbs , praised state election officials , poll workers and election volunteers `` for their dedication to the success of our election system . ''
He added : `` As I 've said before , we do elections well here in Arizona .
The system is strong and that 's why I have bragged on it so much . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday : `` DO NOT CERTIFY A FALSE ELECTION ! ''
Members of Trump 's legal team , including Rudy Giuliani , took part in an unofficial meeting with some Arizona GOP lawmakers in which he urged state officials to disregard election results .
In the days following Election Day , Trump 's legal team raised concerns that some voters had their ballots rejected incorrectly on the basis that Sharpies were used to fill them out .
The saga , which came to be known as # SharpieGate , went viral on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Department of Homeland Security debunked the claim .
Still that did not keep Trump 's legal team from filing a similar lawsuit .
`` The claims are baseless , '' Hobbs said in an interview with a local NBC affiliate days after the election .
`` At this point folks are grasping at straws . ''

Arizona And Wisconsin Certify Election Results, Affirming Biden Victories
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ross D. Franklin/AP Ross D. Franklin/AP
Updated at 5:37 p.m. ET
Officials in Arizona and Wisconsin have certified their states' presidential election results, affirming President-elect Joe Biden's razor-thin victories over President Trump in the two key swing states.
The certifications on Monday come as the president and his legal team continue to tout unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.
Biden won Arizona by slightly more than 10,000 votes, earning him the 11 electoral votes in a state that a Democratic presidential nominee hadn't carried since Bill Clinton in 1996.
Biden won Wisconsin by just over 20,000 votes, earning the state's 10 electoral votes. Trump had narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016.
Monday's certification follows a recount in Wisconsin's two most populous counties, paid for by the Trump campaign and completed Sunday, in which Biden's lead grew by 87 votes.
Trump had said that his team would file a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's results.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ross D. Franklin/AP Ross D. Franklin/AP
Officials in Arizona also certified down-ballot races, including one clearing the way for Sen.-elect Mark Kelly, a Democrat, to be seated as early as this week.
Kelly, who defeated incumbent Sen. Martha McSally, is scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday. Their matchup was a special election to fill the remaining term for the late Sen. John McCain, who was reelected in 2016 and died in 2018.
"This was a historic election for several reasons," said Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, at a brief event on Monday morning.
She noted that roughly 80% of eligible voters cast votes totaling more than 3.4 million ballots.
"Preparing for any election is an immense undertaking even in normal circumstances. The complexity this year has been compounded by the pandemic," Hobbs said. "In spite of this, we had an extremely well-run election and saw historically high voter participation."
Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, appearing alongside Hobbs, praised state election officials, poll workers and election volunteers "for their dedication to the success of our election system."
He added: "As I've said before, we do elections well here in Arizona. The system is strong and that's why I have bragged on it so much."
Meanwhile, the Arizona Republican Party tweeted Monday: "DO NOT CERTIFY A FALSE ELECTION!"
Members of Trump's legal team, including Rudy Giuliani, took part in an unofficial meeting with some Arizona GOP lawmakers in which he urged state officials to disregard election results.
In the days following Election Day, Trump's legal team raised concerns that some voters had their ballots rejected incorrectly on the basis that Sharpies were used to fill them out.
The saga, which came to be known as #SharpieGate, went viral on social media but failed to gain traction elsewhere as the Department of Homeland Security debunked the claim.
Still that did not keep Trump's legal team from filing a similar lawsuit.
"The claims are baseless," Hobbs said in an interview with a local NBC affiliate days after the election. "At this point folks are grasping at straws."


npr--2020-11-30--California Hospitalizations From COVID-19 Surging; ICUs May Be Overwhelmed In Weeks

California Hospitalizations From COVID-19 Surging ; ICUs May Be Overwhelmed In Weeks California hospitals are in a new surge of COVID-19 cases , and if trends continue , state intensive care units could be overwhelmed by Christmas Eve .
The state saw a new daily high for coronavirus cases , reaching 14,034 and an overall total of 1,212,968 .
An additional 20 deaths were reported for a total of 19,141 .
As of Monday , 8,578 people are in California hospitals with COVID-19 .
Overall , 75 % of ICU beds are occupied — and without intervention could reach 112 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projections shared by Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday .
The state will consider further restrictions over the next two days similar to the shutdown order implemented earlier this year with `` modifications , '' Newsom said .
Black and Latino residents are being disproportionately affected by the virus and are more likely to die from it , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Latinos are almost three times more likely than whites to test positive after adjusting for population .
Current case numbers are likely delayed because some health offices were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported cases could rise in the next few days , and the impact of holiday gatherings on infections may not be seen for weeks .
Los Angeles County , the nation 's most populous with 10 million residents , went into another lockdown Monday .
Residents are prohibited from gathering with people outside their household for public or private occasions except for political protests and religious services .
`` We were prepared for an increase , '' said Barbara Ferrer , Los Angeles County public health director , on Saturday , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us really thought the increase would be so big across such a short period of time . ''
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti estimated that more than 4,000 residents could die in the next five weeks if the virus 's spread is n't slowed , the Los Angeles Times reported .
California has classified 51 of the state 's 58 counties as purple , or `` widespread , '' the state 's highest risk-level assessment .
This largely restricts indoor activities , and it closes bars , limits restaurants to outdoor or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
Purple counties are also under a curfew .
`` We are sounding the alarm , '' Newsom said this month .
`` The spread of COVID-19 , if left unchecked , could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes . ''
Reese Oxner is an intern with NPR 's News Desk .

California Hospitalizations From COVID-19 Surging; ICUs May Be Overwhelmed In Weeks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jae C. Hong/AP Jae C. Hong/AP
Updated at 7:17 p.m. ET
California hospitals are in a new surge of COVID-19 cases, and if trends continue, state intensive care units could be overwhelmed by Christmas Eve.
The state saw a new daily high for coronavirus cases, reaching 14,034 and an overall total of 1,212,968. An additional 20 deaths were reported for a total of 19,141.
As of Monday, 8,578 people are in California hospitals with COVID-19. Overall, 75% of ICU beds are occupied — and without intervention could reach 112% by Dec. 24, according to projections shared by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday.
The state will consider further restrictions over the next two days similar to the shutdown order implemented earlier this year with "modifications," Newsom said.
Black and Latino residents are being disproportionately affected by the virus and are more likely to die from it, according to the Los Angeles Times. Latinos are almost three times more likely than whites to test positive after adjusting for population.
Current case numbers are likely delayed because some health offices were closed on Thanksgiving. The number of reported cases could rise in the next few days, and the impact of holiday gatherings on infections may not be seen for weeks.
Los Angeles County, the nation's most populous with 10 million residents, went into another lockdown Monday. Residents are prohibited from gathering with people outside their household for public or private occasions except for political protests and religious services.
"We were prepared for an increase," said Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County public health director, on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times. "None of us really thought the increase would be so big across such a short period of time."
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti estimated that more than 4,000 residents could die in the next five weeks if the virus's spread isn't slowed, the Los Angeles Times reported.
California has classified 51 of the state's 58 counties as purple, or "widespread," the state's highest risk-level assessment. This largely restricts indoor activities, and it closes bars, limits restaurants to outdoor or takeout service and reduces occupancy in retail businesses. Purple counties are also under a curfew.
"We are sounding the alarm," Newsom said this month. "The spread of COVID-19, if left unchecked, could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes."
Reese Oxner is an intern with NPR's News Desk.