npr--2020-07-22--Texas School Board Keeps Grooming Code That Led To Suspension Of Black Students

Texas School Board Keeps Grooming Code That Led To Suspension Of Black Students Despite impassioned pleas from attorneys , a Texas school district is refusing to change its grooming policy that led to the suspension of two Black students earlier this year .
The students — cousins Kaden Bradford and De'Andre Arnold — wear their hair in long dreadlocks .
But Barbers Hill Independent School District , just east of Houston , forbids male students from keeping their hair at a length `` below the top of a t-shirt collar , below the eyebrows , or below the ear lobes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Student Handbook .
This week the school board voted unanimously to keep the policy in place .
`` Especially in this moment , coming so soon after George Floyd 's death , and the largest protests in our nation 's history , so many different institutions right now are examining systemic racism and implicit bias , and looking within themselves , '' said Brian Klosterboer , an attorney with the ACLU of Texas , who represents Bradford .
`` This was an opportunity for the school board to revise and change its policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affirming of all students , regardless of sex and race . ''
Barbers Hill ISD did not respond to a request for comment .
At the board meeting Monday , an attorney for the school district said the policy had nothing to do with race , but was rather about maintaining a standard of excellence in Barbers Hill schools .
That standard entails keeping one 's hair short .
`` They want the standards without having to meet the standards , '' attorney Hans Graff said , as reported by Houston Public Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differently .
They 're saying , 'We want the academic excellence , we want the excellence of Barbers Hill .
But we do n't want to comply with what it takes to achieve that . '
`` But that argument itself was `` racist and incredibly problematic , '' Klosterboer told NPR .
The school district was essentially saying that `` the only way to be excellent is to fit that white majority stereotype , '' he said .
`` [ The students ' ] heritage , too , is excellent , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself . ''
Only 3 percent of students in the school district are Black , compared to more than 12 percent statewide .
`` Anyone who 's met Kaden and De'Andre , these students , knows how incredibly excellent they are , '' Klosterboer said .
`` They have now sacrificed being away from their friends — being isolated at school — to stand up for their constitutional rights , and to stand up for their heritage , their family and their culture and for what they believe .
And that is excellent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dress code throughout high school by keeping his hair up .
But in 2019 the school board made the code more stringent , his attorneys said , requiring that students ' hair meet the district 's length requirement even if not worn let down .
That would have required Arnold to cut his dreadlocks — in the process , destroying them , attorney Christina Beeler told the board .
`` West Indian cultural traditions specifically prohibit cutting or trimming locks and locks will unravel if they are cut , '' said Beeler , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Houston Law Center 's Juvenile and Children 's Advocacy Project .
School officials told Arnold , a senior who had been in the school district since pre-kindergarten , that he would n't be able to go to the senior prom or walk in his high school graduation until he cut his dreadlocks .
So his mother , Sandy Arnold , withdrew her son from Barbers Hill High School and transferred him to another district for the rest of his senior year .
Bradford , a rising junior , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can keep his hair the way it is , his lawyer said .
After the suspensions came to light , some Texas lawmakers said they would introduce a bill in the next legislative session banning discrimination based on hair styles .
California , Maryland and Virginia have passed similar laws , Houston Public Media reported .
Some school officials have long been hostile toward dreadlocks .
In 2018 a white referee forced a Black high school wrestler in New Jersey to have his dreadlocks cut off before a match ; after national outrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 an elementary student in Oklahoma was sent home because of her dreadlocks ; after media attention , her school revised its dress code to remove all references to hair .
The boys ' parents sued the district in May , asking the court to overturn the district 's grooming policy .
In a hearing , U.S. District Judge George Hanks denied their motion for a temporary restraining order to allow Arnold to attend his graduation , but permitted the lawsuit to proceed .
In a hearing scheduled for Wednesday , Bradford 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to Barbers Hill High School while the lawsuit moves forward .
`` Black students are and have been disproportionately targeted and penalized for violating facially race-neutral grooming policies that are designed to , and have the effect of , profiling , singling out , and burdening Black children for wearing their hair in its natural state , '' the complaint states .
`` These grooming policies ultimately present Black students with an unfair choice : either wear their hair in natural formations and be deprived of adequate educational resources or conform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive the same educational opportunities as their white peers , '' the complaint says .
The students `` were faced with the impossible choice of either suppressing their cultural heritage and Black identity by cutting their natural hair or forfeiting their right to equal educational and extracurricular opportunities . ''
Klosterboer says the lawsuit could cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars .
`` We 'd been hoping that the district would change its policies now , '' he said , `` without waiting for a federal court to tell them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what 's right . ''

Texas School Board Keeps Grooming Code That Led To Suspension Of Black Students
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy Ellen Digital Ventures Courtesy Ellen Digital Ventures
Despite impassioned pleas from attorneys, a Texas school district is refusing to change its grooming policy that led to the suspension of two Black students earlier this year.
The students — cousins Kaden Bradford and De'Andre Arnold — wear their hair in long dreadlocks. But Barbers Hill Independent School District, just east of Houston, forbids male students from keeping their hair at a length "below the top of a t-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes," according to the district's Student Handbook.
This week the school board voted unanimously to keep the policy in place.
"Especially in this moment, coming so soon after George Floyd's death, and the largest protests in our nation's history, so many different institutions right now are examining systemic racism and implicit bias, and looking within themselves," said Brian Klosterboer, an attorney with the ACLU of Texas, who represents Bradford. "This was an opportunity for the school board to revise and change its policies so that it could be inclusive and affirming of all students, regardless of sex and race."
Barbers Hill ISD did not respond to a request for comment. At the board meeting Monday, an attorney for the school district said the policy had nothing to do with race, but was rather about maintaining a standard of excellence in Barbers Hill schools. That standard entails keeping one's hair short.
"They want the standards without having to meet the standards," attorney Hans Graff said, as reported by Houston Public Media. "They want to be treated differently. They're saying, 'We want the academic excellence, we want the excellence of Barbers Hill. But we don't want to comply with what it takes to achieve that.' "
But that argument itself was "racist and incredibly problematic," Klosterboer told NPR. The school district was essentially saying that "the only way to be excellent is to fit that white majority stereotype," he said. "[The students'] heritage, too, is excellent, just as the majority culture in the district itself."
Only 3 percent of students in the school district are Black, compared to more than 12 percent statewide.
"Anyone who's met Kaden and De'Andre, these students, knows how incredibly excellent they are," Klosterboer said. "They have now sacrificed being away from their friends — being isolated at school — to stand up for their constitutional rights, and to stand up for their heritage, their family and their culture and for what they believe. And that is excellent."
Arnold had complied with the dress code throughout high school by keeping his hair up. But in 2019 the school board made the code more stringent, his attorneys said, requiring that students' hair meet the district's length requirement even if not worn let down. That would have required Arnold to cut his dreadlocks — in the process, destroying them, attorney Christina Beeler told the board.
"West Indian cultural traditions specifically prohibit cutting or trimming locks and locks will unravel if they are cut," said Beeler, who represents Arnold as a staff attorney at the University of Houston Law Center's Juvenile and Children's Advocacy Project.
School officials told Arnold, a senior who had been in the school district since pre-kindergarten, that he wouldn't be able to go to the senior prom or walk in his high school graduation until he cut his dreadlocks. So his mother, Sandy Arnold, withdrew her son from Barbers Hill High School and transferred him to another district for the rest of his senior year.
Bradford, a rising junior, has also transferred to a district where he can keep his hair the way it is, his lawyer said.
After the suspensions came to light, some Texas lawmakers said they would introduce a bill in the next legislative session banning discrimination based on hair styles. California, Maryland and Virginia have passed similar laws, Houston Public Media reported.
Some school officials have long been hostile toward dreadlocks. In 2018 a white referee forced a Black high school wrestler in New Jersey to have his dreadlocks cut off before a match; after national outrage, the referee was suspended. In 2013 an elementary student in Oklahoma was sent home because of her dreadlocks; after media attention, her school revised its dress code to remove all references to hair.
The boys' parents sued the district in May, asking the court to overturn the district's grooming policy. In a hearing, U.S. District Judge George Hanks denied their motion for a temporary restraining order to allow Arnold to attend his graduation, but permitted the lawsuit to proceed.
In a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Bradford's parents will ask Hanks to allow Bradford to return to Barbers Hill High School while the lawsuit moves forward.
"Black students are and have been disproportionately targeted and penalized for violating facially race-neutral grooming policies that are designed to, and have the effect of, profiling, singling out, and burdening Black children for wearing their hair in its natural state," the complaint states.
"These grooming policies ultimately present Black students with an unfair choice: either wear their hair in natural formations and be deprived of adequate educational resources or conform their hair to predominant Eurocentric hair aesthetics to receive the same educational opportunities as their white peers," the complaint says. The students "were faced with the impossible choice of either suppressing their cultural heritage and Black identity by cutting their natural hair or forfeiting their right to equal educational and extracurricular opportunities."
Klosterboer says the lawsuit could cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. "We'd been hoping that the district would change its policies now," he said, "without waiting for a federal court to tell them, and force them, to do what's right."


npr--2020-07-22--Hostage Standoff In Ukraine Ends After President Agrees To Promote Animal Rights Film

Hostage Standoff In Ukraine Ends After President Agrees To Promote Animal Rights Film A hostage standoff on a bus in western Ukraine ended Tuesday after a bizarre demand from the captor was met when the country 's president publicly recommended a 15-year-old animal rights documentary narrated by Joaquin Phoenix .
Just before the end of the 12-hour standoff in Lutsk , a city located some 250 miles west of Kyiv , President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted a video clip to his Facebook page stating : `` Everyone should watch the 2005 film Earthlings . ''
The post has since been deleted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unharmed , authorities said .
Initial reports had placed the number of captives at 20 .
During the prolonged standoff , the gunman threw a grenade from the bus and fired shots at police , they said .
The state security service SBU identified the hostage-taker as Maksym Kryvosh , 44 , who had previously served time in prison for `` extremist views . ''
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov described `` an unstable man who painted his vision of the world and invented a revenge for it . ''
`` He had his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of human life , '' the interior minister said .
According to Reuters , the gunman , in posts on social media , had threatened to bomb a crowded place and demanded that senior Ukrainian officials publish statements acknowledging that they were terrorists .
He eventually agreed to release his captives following a 15-minute telephone call with Zelenskiy , the president 's deputy chief of staff , Kyrylo Tymoshenko , told reporters .
After the standoff ended , Zelenskiy hailed law enforcement officers for saving the hostages .
`` Human life is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook .
`` Now families can finally hug their relatives who spent the entire day on the bus in anguish . ''

Ukraine Hostage Standoff Ends After President Agrees To Promote Joaquin Phoenix Film
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pavlo Palamarchuk/AP Pavlo Palamarchuk/AP
A hostage standoff on a bus in western Ukraine ended Tuesday after a bizarre demand from the captor was met when the country's president publicly recommended a 15-year-old animal rights documentary narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.
Just before the end of the 12-hour standoff in Lutsk, a city located some 250 miles west of Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted a video clip to his Facebook page stating: "Everyone should watch the 2005 film Earthlings."
The post has since been deleted.
The 13 hostages were all released unharmed, authorities said. Initial reports had placed the number of captives at 20. During the prolonged standoff, the gunman threw a grenade from the bus and fired shots at police, they said.
The state security service SBU identified the hostage-taker as Maksym Kryvosh, 44, who had previously served time in prison for "extremist views."
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov described "an unstable man who painted his vision of the world and invented a revenge for it."
"He had his own vision of justice and the value of human life," the interior minister said.
According to Reuters, the gunman, in posts on social media, had threatened to bomb a crowded place and demanded that senior Ukrainian officials publish statements acknowledging that they were terrorists.
He eventually agreed to release his captives following a 15-minute telephone call with Zelenskiy, the president's deputy chief of staff, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, told reporters.
After the standoff ended, Zelenskiy hailed law enforcement officers for saving the hostages.
"Human life is the most important value," he said on Facebook. "Now families can finally hug their relatives who spent the entire day on the bus in anguish."


npr--2020-07-21--Twitter Removes Thousands Of QAnon Accounts, Promises Sweeping Ban On The Conspiracy

Twitter Removes Thousands Of QAnon Accounts , Promises Sweeping Ban On The Conspiracy Twitter said on Tuesday it has removed more than 7,000 accounts associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory , a loose group of online provocateurs who support President Trump and spread absurd claims about forces supposedly attempting to topple the president .
Content associated with QAnon will be banned from the platform 's trends section and tweets sharing links involving QAnon theories will be blocked , Twitter officials said .
Twitter officials told NPR that the crackdown against QAnon is expected to affect more than 150,000 accounts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the pro-Trump conspiracy theory that any social media platform has ever undertaken .
The new measures against QAnon , Twitter said , are in line with the company 's effort to police content that can lead to offline harm .
`` Twitter 's move is a bold one , '' said Sarah Roberts , the co-director of UCLA 's Center for Critical Internet Inquiry .
`` Considering the difficulty and resources requires to chase down , remove and block such content — and its creators — from the platform . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure adherents refer to as `` Q , '' which started posting anonymously on message boards in October 2017 and claims to have the inside track about a worldwide criminal conspiracy .
The warped worldview has led to real-world actions , like when an Arizona man says he was motivated by QAnon to block a bridge near the Hoover Dam with a homemade armored vehicle .
That man in February pleaded guilty to making a terrorist threat .
A man who has been charged with the shooting death of a New York mob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act after following pro-Trump Internet postings about the president supposedly battling a cabal of liberal elites .
Trump has retweeted accounts connected with QAnon .
And at Trump rallies , some people wearing T-shirts and holding signs with QAnon images have appeared .
Other prominent proponents of QAnon include Roseanne Barr and former baseball star Curt Schilling .
QAnon has begun to leave the dark corners of the Internet and enter the mainstream .
Earlier this month , a Colorado woman who embraces QAnon won a Republican congressional primary , one of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have expressed openness to QAnon , according to the left-leaning media watchdog Media Matter for America .
Alice Marwick , a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies disinformation , said it is a responsible move for Twitter to clamp down on QAnon .
`` QAnon has been instigating networked harassment , not just of politicians and celebrities but of private citizens they believe are involved in a satanic pedophile cult , '' Marwick told NPR .
She predicted that QAnon followers would flock to other platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook groups and on YouTube .
They also have their own sites and message boards , and they 're very good at adapting when social platforms change , '' she said .
In May , Facebook took down a handful of QAnon-associated pages , but Twitter 's crackdown on Tuesday is far broader .
Facebook has pointed to instances of QAnon inciting violence as the reason it removed posts related to the conspiracy theory , saying it would not take content down just because it promoted baseless QAnon theories .
The norms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , UCLA 's Sarah Roberts said , and key differences are emerging over where to draw boundaries on moderating content and how enforcement is conducted .
`` Rest assured that users will make decisions about where to spend their time based on these moves — and , perhaps even more importantly to the firms and their financial backers , so will advertisers , '' Roberts said .
Twitter is still assessing the fallout from a coordinated hack of the platform just days ago that compromised the accounts of 130 highly visible users , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos .
The hackers ' brazen intrusion made security experts wonder whether Twitter is prepared for what may be an onslaught of attempted breaches and disinformation campaigns ahead of the November presidential election .

Twitter Removes Thousands Of QAnon Accounts, Promises Sweeping Ban On The Conspiracy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP
Twitter said on Tuesday it has removed more than 7,000 accounts associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory, a loose group of online provocateurs who support President Trump and spread absurd claims about forces supposedly attempting to topple the president.
Content associated with QAnon will be banned from the platform's trends section and tweets sharing links involving QAnon theories will be blocked, Twitter officials said.
Twitter officials told NPR that the crackdown against QAnon is expected to affect more than 150,000 accounts, making it the most wide-reaching and aggressive response to the pro-Trump conspiracy theory that any social media platform has ever undertaken.
The new measures against QAnon, Twitter said, are in line with the company's effort to police content that can lead to offline harm.
"Twitter's move is a bold one," said Sarah Roberts, the co-director of UCLA's Center for Critical Internet Inquiry. "Considering the difficulty and resources required to chase down, remove and block such content — and its creators — from the platform."
The conspiracy theory centers on a shadowy figure adherents refer to as "Q," which started posting anonymously on message boards in October 2017 and claims to have the inside track about a worldwide criminal conspiracy.
The warped worldview has led to real-world actions, like when an Arizona man says he was motivated by QAnon to block a bridge near the Hoover Dam with a homemade armored vehicle. That man in February pleaded guilty to making a terrorist threat.
A man who has been charged with the shooting death of a New York mob boss has said he committed the violent act after following pro-Trump Internet postings about the president supposedly battling a cabal of liberal elites.
Trump has retweeted accounts connected with QAnon. And at Trump rallies, some people wearing T-shirts and holding signs with QAnon images have appeared.
Other prominent proponents of QAnon include Roseanne Barr and former baseball star Curt Schilling.
QAnon has begun to leave the dark corners of the Internet and enter the mainstream.
Earlier this month, a Colorado woman who embraces QAnon won a Republican congressional primary, one of an estimated 23 current or former congressional candidates who have expressed openness to QAnon, according to the left-leaning media watchdog Media Matter for America.
Alice Marwick, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies disinformation, said it is a responsible move for Twitter to clamp down on QAnon.
"QAnon has been instigating networked harassment, not just of politicians and celebrities but of private citizens they believe are involved in a satanic pedophile cult," Marwick told NPR.
She predicted that QAnon followers would flock to other platforms.
"They have large presences on Facebook groups and on YouTube. They also have their own sites and message boards, and they're very good at adapting when social platforms change," she said.
In May, Facebook took down a handful of QAnon-associated pages, but Twitter's crackdown on Tuesday is far broader. Facebook has pointed to instances of QAnon inciting violence as the reason it removed posts related to the conspiracy theory, saying it would not take content down just because it promoted baseless QAnon theories.
The norms of social media platforms are beginning to shift, UCLA's Sarah Roberts said, and key differences are emerging over where to draw boundaries on moderating content and how enforcement is conducted.
"Rest assured that users will make decisions about where to spend their time based on these moves — and, perhaps even more importantly to the firms and their financial backers, so will advertisers," Roberts said.
Twitter is still assessing the fallout from a coordinated hack of the platform just days ago that compromised the accounts of 130 highly visible users, including Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
The hackers' brazen intrusion made security experts wonder whether Twitter is prepared for what may be an onslaught of attempted breaches and disinformation campaigns ahead of the November presidential election.


npr--2020-07-21--Coronavirus Infections Far Higher Than Confirmed But Most Americans Still Not Exposed

Coronavirus Infections Far Higher Than Confirmed But Most Americans Still Not Exposed Coronavirus infections in the United States are far higher than what has been confirmed , although the number of Americans who have been exposed is far below what is required for widespread immunity , according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The data appeared on both the CDC website and in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine on Tuesday .
The CDC estimated the number of infections is about 10 times higher than the confirmed cases , based on blood samples analyzed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included the New York City metropolitan area , parts of Washington state , Utah , south Florida and Missouri .
Samples were taken from more than 16,000 people through the spring .
Researchers relied on samples taken for routine tests , such as cholesterol tests , with more than a third coming from those aged 65 or older .
Results for two rounds of sampling for eight of the 10 regions were released by the CDC .
All the regions surveyed showed differences in estimates arrived at through the survey and confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that difference was 24 times in April .
Though by the second round of sampling , in late May , that dropped to 13 times .
Although researchers did arrive at estimates far greater than testing had yielded , the vast majority of people were shown to have not been exposed to the virus .
In the New York City area , roughly 23 % were shown to have antibodies by early May .
Most of the other regions showed infection estimates in the single digits .
Second round testing in Utah showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Philadelphia arrived at an infection rate of 3.6 % .
Experts say at least 50 % -60 % of exposure is required for herd immunity , where prevalence of exposure , and/or a vaccine , drastically reduces transmission of the virus .
The CDC is careful to point out , however , that it does n't know if the presence of antibodies prevents reinfection by the coronavirus .

Coronavirus Infections Far Higher Than Confirmed But Most Americans Still Not Exposed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frank Franklin II/AP Frank Franklin II/AP
Coronavirus infections in the United States are far higher than what has been confirmed, although the number of Americans who have been exposed is far below what is required for widespread immunity, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The data appeared on both the CDC website and in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine on Tuesday.
The CDC estimated the number of infections is about 10 times higher than the confirmed cases, based on blood samples analyzed for antibodies in 10 regions. Those regions included the New York City metropolitan area, parts of Washington state, Utah, south Florida and Missouri.
Samples were taken from more than 16,000 people through the spring. Researchers relied on samples taken for routine tests, such as cholesterol tests, with more than a third coming from those aged 65 or older. Results for two rounds of sampling for eight of the 10 regions were released by the CDC.
All the regions surveyed showed differences in estimates arrived at through the survey and confirmed cases. In Missouri, for example, that difference was 24 times in April. Though by the second round of sampling, in late May, that dropped to 13 times.
Although researchers did arrive at estimates far greater than testing had yielded, the vast majority of people were shown to have not been exposed to the virus.
In the New York City area, roughly 23% were shown to have antibodies by early May. Most of the other regions showed infection estimates in the single digits. Second round testing in Utah showed an estimated 1.1% rate and samples from Philadelphia arrived at an infection rate of 3.6%.
Experts say at least 50%-60% of exposure is required for herd immunity, where prevalence of exposure, and/or a vaccine, drastically reduces transmission of the virus. The CDC is careful to point out, however, that it doesn't know if the presence of antibodies prevents reinfection by the coronavirus.


npr--2020-07-22--Masking Up In The Midwest: Ohio And Minnesota Announce Statewide Mandates

Masking Up In The Midwest : Ohio And Minnesota Announce Statewide Mandates Two Midwestern governors announced statewide face covering mandates on Wednesday , adding Minnesota and Ohio to the growing list of states requiring people to mask up in public .
Ohio 's order takes effect at 6 p.m. Thursday , and Minnesota 's starts on Saturday .
Both governors described masks as a critical tool in protecting public health and allowing activities like school and sports to proceed in the fall .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine also cited guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus ' spread under control within several weeks .
Face coverings have been required in certain Ohio counties designated high-risk since earlier this month .
By July 16 , mask mandates applied to 19 counties , encompassing nearly 60 % of the state 's population .
The statewide order requires people over the age of 10 to wear masks in public , both indoors and outdoors where social distancing is not possible .
There are exceptions for people with medical conditions , as well as those who are `` actively involved in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masks are not required when people are actively eating , drinking , playing sports or exercising .
Ohio recorded 1,527 new coronavirus cases , 16 new deaths , 128 new hospitalizations and 19 new intensive care unit admissions on Tuesday .
`` Wearing masks will make a difference , '' DeWine wrote in a tweet .
`` It will determine what our fall looks like .
We want kids to go back to school , we want to see sports — to do that it 's very important that all Ohioans wear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tim Walz 's executive order will require people to wear face coverings in all indoor public spaces and businesses , unless they are alone .
Workers will also be required to wear masks when working outdoors in situations where social distancing can not be maintained .
There are some exceptions to the order , such as for children under the age of two and people with certain underlying conditions .
Violators will face consequences including misdemeanor citations and fines for individuals and criminal , civil and regulatory sanctions for businesses .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and four deaths on Wednesday , bringing the state 's totals to nearly 47,961 cumulative cases and 1,552 deaths .
Walz said at a briefing that face coverings are the `` cheapest and most effective '' way to protect both lives and businesses .
`` In the long run , this is the quickest way to ending the COVID pandemic , '' he said .
`` It is the surest way to getting us to the therapeutics and the vaccines , with the least amount of impact on Minnesotans , and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that businesses are open and stay open . ''
He also encouraged Minnesotans to view the mask mandate and similar steps as `` just the way we do business , '' comparing it to other newer norms like prohibiting smoking indoors , wearing seat belts in cars and facing penalties for distracted driving .
Masks are gradually becoming the standard in many parts of the country , with many states , localities and businesses requiring people to wear them .
At a briefing on Tuesday , President Trump urged people to mask up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctant to do .
In the Midwest , Illinois , Michigan and Kansas already have statewide mask orders in place .
And some of Ohio 's neighbors —Pennsylvania , Kentucky and West Virginia — have also enacted similar mandates .
In the East , Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser also announced expanded mask-wearing requirements on Tuesday .
Effective immediately , people must wear masks when they leave their homes `` if they are likely to come into contact with another person for more than a fleeting moment . ''
The latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue their nationwide climb .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that in the week leading up to July 21 , 10 states reported more than 10,000 new cases , with three states — California , Texas and Florida — each reporting more than 60,000 .

Masking Up In The Midwest With New Statewide Mandates
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Cenci/Bloomberg via Getty Images Andrew Cenci/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Updated at 11:51 p.m. ET
Three Midwestern governors announced statewide face covering mandates on Wednesday, adding Minnesota, Ohio and Indiana to the growing list of states requiring people to mask up in public.
Ohio's order takes effect at 6 p.m. Thursday, Minnesota's starts on Saturday, and Indiana's on Monday.
The governors present masks as a critical tool in protecting public health and allowing activities like school and sports to proceed in the fall. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also cited guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield that wearing masks could get the virus' spread under control within several weeks.
Face coverings have been required in certain Ohio counties designated high-risk since earlier this month. By July 16, mask mandates applied to 19 counties, encompassing nearly 60% of the state's population.
The statewide order requires people over the age of 10 to wear masks in public, both indoors and outdoors where social distancing is not possible.
There are exceptions for people with medical conditions, as well as those who are "actively involved in public safety" and officiating religious services. Masks are not required when people are actively eating, drinking, playing sports or exercising.
Ohio recorded 1,527 new coronavirus cases, 16 new deaths, 128 new hospitalizations and 19 new intensive care unit admissions on Tuesday.
"Wearing masks will make a difference," DeWine wrote in a tweet. "It will determine what our fall looks like. We want kids to go back to school, we want to see sports — to do that it's very important that all Ohioans wear a mask."
In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz's executive order will require people to wear face coverings in all indoor public spaces and businesses, unless they are alone. Workers will also be required to wear masks when working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.
There are some exceptions to the order, such as for children under the age of two and people with certain underlying conditions.
Violators will face consequences including misdemeanor citations and fines for individuals and criminal, civil and regulatory sanctions for businesses.
The Minnesota health department reported 507 new cases and four deaths on Wednesday, bringing the state's totals to nearly 47,961 cumulative cases and 1,552 deaths.
Walz said at a briefing that face coverings are the "cheapest and most effective" way to protect both lives and businesses.
"In the long run, this is the quickest way to ending the COVID pandemic," he said. "It is the surest way to getting us to the therapeutics and the vaccines, with the least amount of impact on Minnesotans, and it is the absolute economic key to making sure that businesses are open and stay open."
He also encouraged Minnesotans to view the mask mandate and similar steps as "just the way we do business," comparing it to other newer norms like prohibiting smoking indoors, wearing seat belts in cars and facing penalties for distracted driving.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said the order will require Hoosiers over the age of eight to wear masks in most public settings. Face coverings will also be required in schools for students in third grade and above, as well as faculty, staff, volunteers and visitors.
"The state will approach enforcement of the face covering requirement with an emphasis on education," he added.
Indiana reported 763 new cases and 14 deaths on Wednesday.
Masks are gradually becoming the standard in many parts of the country, with many states, localities and businesses requiring people to wear them. At a briefing on Tuesday, President Trump urged people to mask up, something he himself had previously been reluctant to do.
In the Midwest, Illinois, Michigan and Kansas already have statewide mask orders in place. And some of Ohio's neighbors —Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia — have also enacted similar mandates.
In the East, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser also announced expanded mask-wearing requirements on Tuesday. Effective immediately, people must wear masks when they leave their homes "if they are likely to come into contact with another person for more than a fleeting moment."
The latest batch of orders comes as coronavirus cases continue their nationwide climb.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that in the week leading up to July 21, 10 states reported more than 10,000 new cases, with three states — California, Texas and Florida — each reporting more than 60,000.


npr--2020-07-22--Tesla's String Of Profits Opens A New Door For World's Most Valuable Automaker

Tesla 's String Of Profits Opens A New Door For World 's Most Valuable Automaker Already a Wall Street superstar , Tesla turned a profit for the fourth straight quarter , an important milestone that will make it eligible to join the S & P 500 stock index for the first time .
Even though its main factory in Fremont , Calif. , was closed for much of the time , the electric-car maker brought in more than $ 6 billion during the second quarter , well above analysts ' expectations .
Tesla reported a profit of $ 104 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it lost $ 408 million .
`` Our business has shown strong resilience during these unprecedented times , '' a company statement said .
Tesla 's stock has enjoyed towering gains this year , going from $ 430 a share at the start of 2020 to nearly $ 1,600 at the close of trading Wednesday .
It 's the biggest automaker by market value .
Even its CEO , Elon Musk , has called the company 's stock overvalued .
If Tesla joins the S & P 500 , as expected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy it , which means it will become part of many people 's retirement savings .
`` We believe the progress we made in the first half of this year has positioned us for a successful second half of 2020 , '' the company said earlier this month .
`` Production output of our existing facilities continues to improve to meet demand , and we are adding more capacity .
Later this year , we will be building three factories on three continents simultaneously , '' it said .
On Wednesday , Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austin , Texas .

Tesla's String Of Profits Opens A New Door For World's Most Valuable Automaker
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images
Already a Wall Street superstar, Tesla turned a profit for the fourth straight quarter, an important milestone that will make it eligible to join the S&P 500 stock index for the first time.
Even though its main factory in Fremont, Calif., was closed for much of the time, the electric-car maker brought in more than $6 billion during the second quarter, well above analysts' expectations. Tesla reported a profit of $104 million, a reversal from a year earlier when it lost $408 million.
"Our business has shown strong resilience during these unprecedented times," a company statement said.
Tesla's stock has enjoyed towering gains this year, going from $430 a share at the start of 2020 to nearly $1,600 at the close of trading Wednesday. It's the biggest automaker by market value. Even its CEO, Elon Musk, has called the company's stock overvalued.
If Tesla joins the S&P 500, as expected, many investment funds will be obligated to buy it, which means it will become part of many people's retirement savings.
"We believe the progress we made in the first half of this year has positioned us for a successful second half of 2020," the company said earlier this month.
"Production output of our existing facilities continues to improve to meet demand, and we are adding more capacity. Later this year, we will be building three factories on three continents simultaneously," it said.
On Wednesday, Tesla announced it would build a factory near Austin, Texas.


npr--2020-07-22--Suspected Killer Of Judge's Son In New Jersey Linked To Another Death In California

Suspected Killer Of Judge 's Son In New Jersey Linked To Another Death In California The alleged killer of the son of a New Jersey federal judge may also have been involved in the shooting death of a men 's rights attorney in California earlier this month , news reports said Wednesday .
Attorney Marc Angelucci was killed July 11 in San Bernardino County .
Just over a week later , a man dressed as a FedEx driver showed up at the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas , shot and killed her son , 20 , and wounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authorities said they have evidence linking the alleged perpetrator in the New Jersey shooting , Roy Den Hollander , with Angelucci 's killing as well , according to The Associated Press .
A law enforcement official told the AP that the suspect in Angelucci 's killings was also dressed as a delivery driver .
ABC News reported law enforcement sources said the same gun was used in both killings .
Hollander , 72 , a self-proclaimed `` anti-feminist '' attorney , was known for filing lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of ladies ' nights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University for offering women 's studies classes .
Angelucci was also a men 's rights activist .
Like Hollander , Angelucci had filed cases challenging the male-only military draft .
Angelucci 's friends said Hollander saw the California lawyer as a rival .
Hollander was `` beyond words furious , absolutely enraged '' that Angelucci was getting involved in the Selective Service case , his friend Paul Elam said in a Facebook Live video Monday , CNN reported .
`` He saw Marc 's work in that respect as an intrusion into his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it ; he was livid . ''
Like Angelucci , Hollander had been a member of the National Coalition for Men , a men 's rights advocacy group .
But Hollander was kicked out of the group after he threatened the group 's leadership , the coalition 's president , Harry Crouch , told CNN .

Suspected Killer Of Judge's Son In New Jersey Linked To Another Death In California
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Lennihan/AP Mark Lennihan/AP
The alleged killer of the son of a New Jersey federal judge may also have been involved in the shooting death of a men's rights attorney in California earlier this month, news reports said Wednesday.
Attorney Marc Angelucci was killed July 11 in San Bernardino County. Just over a week later, a man dressed as a FedEx driver showed up at the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, shot and killed her son, 20, and wounded Salas' husband, who survived.
Authorities said they have evidence linking the alleged perpetrator in the New Jersey shooting, Roy Den Hollander, with Angelucci's killing as well, according to The Associated Press. A law enforcement official told the AP that the suspect in Angelucci's killings was also dressed as a delivery driver.
ABC News reported law enforcement sources said the same gun was used in both killings.
Hollander, 72, a self-proclaimed "anti-feminist" attorney, was known for filing lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of ladies' nights at bars. He also sued Columbia University for offering women's studies classes.
Angelucci was also a men's rights activist. Like Hollander, Angelucci had filed cases challenging the male-only military draft. Angelucci's friends said Hollander saw the California lawyer as a rival.
Hollander was "beyond words furious, absolutely enraged" that Angelucci was getting involved in the Selective Service case, his friend Paul Elam said in a Facebook Live video Monday, CNN reported. "He saw Marc's work in that respect as an intrusion into his space. He was more than angry about it; he was livid."
Like Angelucci, Hollander had been a member of the National Coalition for Men, a men's rights advocacy group. But Hollander was kicked out of the group after he threatened the group's leadership, the coalition's president, Harry Crouch, told CNN.
Hollander was found dead Monday.


npr--2020-07-22--Trump Expands Deployment Of Federal Agents To End 'Explosion Of Shootings'

Trump Expands Deployment Of Federal Agents To End 'Explosion Of Shootings' President Trump on Wednesday said his administration would `` surge '' federal law enforcement officials to help fight crime in Chicago and Albuquerque , N.M. , as part of the Justice Department 's controversial Operation Legend .
Trump accused local politicians in the cities of not doing enough to address what he says are waves of crime as the public and some politicians call for the reduction of police department budgets .
`` In recent weeks there 's been a radical movement to defund , dismantle and dissolve our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming `` extreme politicians have joined this anti-police crusade and relentlessly vilified our law enforcement heroes . ''
`` To look at it from any standpoint their efforts to shut down policing in their own communities has led to a shocking explosion of shootings , killings , murders and heinous crimes of violence .
This bloodshed must end .
This bloodshed will end , '' the president added .
Citing a long series of crime statistics – including for New York City , Philadelphia and Minneapolis – Trump urged other cities to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the White House , Trump said the controversial deployment of federal agents would be `` into communities plagued by violent crime . ''
He added the administration has `` no choice but to get involved . ''
Trump was joined by Attorney General William Barr , who gave details of Operation Legend .
`` These are 'street ' agents and investigators who will be working to solve murders and take down violent gangs , '' Barr said in prepared remarks , noting the personnel would come from the FBI , Drug Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives .
`` This is different than the operations and tactical teams we use to defend against riots and mob violence , '' Barr said .
The announcement follows similar remarks by Chad Wolf , acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security , who insisted Tuesday that the administration would `` not retreat '' from protesters who have taken to the streets in anti-racism and police brutality demonstrations .
The presence of federal troops in camouflage uniforms with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism over the last week in Oregon , where agents have been accused of snatching peaceful protesters off the street , throwing them into unmarked vehicles and placing them under arrest .
Barr said 200 federal agents have been sent to Kansas City , Mo.
, along with $ 3.6 million in grants to help hire more police officers .
A similar number of agents and grants will go to Chicago , he said .
More than 35 agents will be go to Albuquerque , along with more than $ 1.5 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were at the White House for the announcement , including family members of LeGend Taliferro , a 4-year-old boy killed last month in Kansas City .

Trump Expands Deployment Of Federal Agents To End 'Explosion Of Shootings'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP
President Trump on Wednesday said his administration would "surge" federal law enforcement officials to help fight crime in Chicago and Albuquerque, N.M., as part of the Justice Department's controversial Operation Legend.
Trump accused local politicians in the cities of not doing enough to address what he says are waves of crime as the public and some politicians call for the reduction of police department budgets.
"In recent weeks there's been a radical movement to defund, dismantle and dissolve our police departments," Trump said, claiming "extreme politicians have joined this anti-police crusade and relentlessly vilified our law enforcement heroes."
"To look at it from any standpoint their efforts to shut down policing in their own communities has led to a shocking explosion of shootings, killings, murders and heinous crimes of violence. This bloodshed must end. This bloodshed will end," the president added.
Citing a long series of crime statistics – including for New York City, Philadelphia and Minneapolis – Trump urged other cities to ask for federal help.
During an event at the White House, Trump said the controversial deployment of federal agents would be "into communities plagued by violent crime." He added the administration has "no choice but to get involved."
Trump was joined by Attorney General William Barr, who gave details of Operation Legend.
"These are 'street' agents and investigators who will be working to solve murders and take down violent gangs," Barr said in prepared remarks, noting the personnel would come from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"This is different than the operations and tactical teams we use to defend against riots and mob violence," Barr said.
The announcement follows similar remarks by Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who insisted Tuesday that the administration would "not retreat" from protesters who have taken to the streets in anti-racism and police brutality demonstrations.
The presence of federal troops in camouflage uniforms with no insignia has been met with stiff criticism over the last week in Oregon, where agents have been accused of snatching peaceful protesters off the street, throwing them into unmarked vehicles and placing them under arrest.
Barr said 200 federal agents have been sent to Kansas City, Mo., along with $3.6 million in grants to help hire more police officers. A similar number of agents and grants will go to Chicago, he said. More than 35 agents will be go to Albuquerque, along with more than $1.5 million in grants, he said.
Crime victims were at the White House for the announcement, including family members of LeGend Taliferro, a 4-year-old boy killed last month in Kansas City.


npr--2020-07-22--Trump Requested Help From U.S. Ambassador In Holding British Open At A Trump Resort

Trump Requested Help From U.S .
Ambassador In Holding British Open At A Trump Resort U.S .
Ambassador to the United Kingdom Robert Wood `` Woody '' Johnson IV told embassy staff in 2018 that his friend , President Trump , asked him to help get the British Open golf tournament held at one of the Trump family 's golf resorts in Scotland .
U.S. Embassy staff have separately complained that Johnson made racist and sexist comments on the job .
The State Department 's inspector general has been looking at these claims as part of a routine review of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the matter .
The inquiry was first reported by the New York Times and CNN .
Lewis Lukens , the embassy 's former second-in-command , confirmed in a text to NPR that Johnson told him about the president 's request .
`` I advised him that doing so would violate federal ethics rules and be generally inappropriate , '' Lukens wrote .
But Johnson apparently went ahead and raised the matter with David Mundell , then secretary of state for Scotland , according to a person familiar with the conversation .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mundell met with Johnson in early 2018 , `` but Johnson made no request regarding the British Open or any other sporting event . ''
Johnson did not respond directly to the claim .
In a statement , the U.S. Embassy said Johnson is `` fully focused on the important foreign policy priorities that represent our Special Relationship with the United Kingdom . ''
In a separate statement , the State Department said it stood by Johnson , `` who has led Mission U.K. honorably and professionally . ''
Embassy staffers have told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people uncomfortable with some of his comments .
For instance , ahead of a Black History Month event , Johnson reportedly seemed `` agitated '' and wanted to know if he would be speaking to `` a whole bunch of Black people , '' according to CNN .
Johnson also hosted official get-togethers in London at a men's-only club called White 's .
Johnson did not directly address these claims either , and issued a statement saying it is the `` honor of a lifetime '' to represent the U.S. in the U.K @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that each and every member of the team does to strengthen and deepen our vital alliance with the United Kingdom . ''
Johnson , 73 , is heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune and is the owner of the New York Jets football team .
It is not clear when the inspector general 's report will be released .

Trump Asked U.S. Ambassador To Seek British Open For A Trump Resort, Ex-Diplomat Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV told embassy staff in 2018 that his friend, President Trump, asked him to help get the British Open golf tournament held at one of the Trump family's golf resorts in Scotland.
U.S. Embassy staff have separately complained that Johnson made racist and sexist comments on the job.
The State Department's inspector general has been looking at these claims as part of a routine review of the embassy, according to people familiar with the matter. The inquiry was first reported by the New York Times and CNN.
Lewis Lukens, the embassy's former second-in-command, confirmed in a text to NPR that Johnson told him about the president's request.
"I advised him that doing so would violate federal ethics rules and be generally inappropriate," Lukens wrote.
But Johnson apparently went ahead and raised the matter with David Mundell, then secretary of state for Scotland, according to a person familiar with the conversation.
In a statement, the British government said Mundell met with Johnson in early 2018, "but Johnson made no request regarding the British Open or any other sporting event."
Johnson did not respond directly to the claim. In a statement, the U.S. Embassy said Johnson is "fully focused on the important foreign policy priorities that represent our Special Relationship with the United Kingdom."
In a separate statement, the State Department said it stood by Johnson, "who has led Mission U.K. honorably and professionally."
Embassy staffers have told the inspector general that Johnson has made people uncomfortable with some of his comments. For instance, ahead of a Black History Month event, Johnson reportedly seemed "agitated" and wanted to know if he would be speaking to "a whole bunch of Black people," according to CNN.
Johnson also hosted official get-togethers in London at a men's-only club called White's.
Johnson did not directly address these claims either, and issued a statement saying it is the "honor of a lifetime" to represent the U.S. in the U.K. He praised the "extraordinary work that each and every member of the team does to strengthen and deepen our vital alliance with the United Kingdom."
Johnson, 73, is heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune and is the owner of the New York Jets football team.
It is not clear when the inspector general's report will be released.


npr--2020-07-22--Trump Blames Demonstrations For Coronavirus Surge

President Trump on Wednesday placed much of the blame for the swell in coronavirus cases on recent demonstrations against racism and police brutality , ignoring in large part his own large-scale rallies and his administration 's push to reopen the national economy before the virus had been fully contained .
`` Cases started to rise among young Americans , shortly after demonstrations — which you know very well about .
Which presumably triggered a broader relaxation of mitigation measures nationwide , '' Trump said , also acknowledging increased congregations at beaches and bars over the summer holidays .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Mexico , as we know very well , and cases are surging in Mexico , unfortunately , '' Trump said , implying that the nation 's southern border neighbor was also in part to blame for the United State 's spike in cases .
Trump 's Wednesday briefing comes as cases of the virus continue to surge across the United States , particularly the U.S. South , and as Americans ' faith in his ability to manage the pandemic sinks , according to recent opinion polls .
The Wednesday news conference was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He had said on Monday he planned to make briefings on the pandemic a regular fixture from the White House briefing room , after a months-long hiatus of the daily response updates .
Trump has taken a more serious tone on the pandemic in recent days , saying it would likely get worse before it got better , and urging Americans to wear masks to help slow the virus ' spread .
The president , for the second day in a row , was not joined at the podium by any members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which includes some of the nation 's leading public health experts and is chaired by Vice President Pence .
When asked why he was no longer being joined by members of the task force at these briefings , Trump said he felt that it was more `` concise '' to have experts distill updates to him and he deliver that information to the public .
`` They 're briefing me , I 'm meeting them ...
They 're giving me everything they know as of this point in time , and I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it 's probably a very concise way of doing it , '' Trump said .
As the virus continues to spread across the country , it has wrought havoc on local health care systems and the national economy .
And in recent weeks , hot spot clusters across the U.S. Sun Belt have highlighted the extent to which the government has failed to contain its spread , in contrast to much of the developed world .
Growing mistrust in Trump 's ability to effectively manage the crisis , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrest against racism and police brutality , have tanked the president 's already-low approval rating .
A polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight shows the president 's disapproval rating at 55.7 % .
And Trump trails Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , nationally by 8.4 points , according to RealClearPolitics .

Trump Blames Protests, Ignoring His Own Push To Reopen, As Virus Surges
Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP
Updated at 6:50 p.m. ET
President Trump on Wednesday placed much of the blame for the swell in coronavirus cases on recent demonstrations against racism and police brutality, ignoring in large part his administration's push to reopen the national economy before the virus had been fully contained.
"Cases started to rise among young Americans, shortly after demonstrations — which you know very well about. Which presumably triggered a broader relaxation of mitigation measures nationwide," Trump said, also acknowledging increased congregations at beaches and bars over the summer holidays.
"We're also sharing a 2,000 mile border with Mexico, as we know very well, and cases are surging in Mexico, unfortunately," Trump said, implying that the nation's southern border neighbor was also in part to blame for the United State's spike in cases.
Trump's Wednesday briefing comes as cases of the virus continue to surge across the United States, particularly the U.S. South, and as Americans' faith in his ability to manage the pandemic sinks, according to recent opinion polls.
The Wednesday news conference was the president's second this week. He had said on Monday he planned to make briefings on the pandemic a regular fixture from the White House briefing room, after a months-long hiatus of the daily response updates.
Trump has taken a more serious tone on the pandemic in recent days, saying it would likely get worse before it got better, and urging Americans to wear masks to help slow the virus' spread.
The president, for the second day in a row, was not joined at the podium by any members of the administration's coronavirus task force, which includes some of the nation's leading public health experts and is chaired by Vice President Pence.
When asked why he was no longer being joined by members of the task force at these briefings, Trump said he felt that it was more "concise" to have experts distill updates to him and he deliver that information to the public.
"They're briefing me, I'm meeting them ... They're giving me everything they know as of this point in time, and I'm giving the information to you. And I think it's probably a very concise way of doing it," Trump said.
Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of that task force, told Fox News Wednesday, that the increase in cases "can be traced to a Memorial Day and opening up and people traveling again and being on vacations." She did not list the protests as a reason for the increase.
As the virus continues to spread across the country, it has wrought havoc on local health care systems and the national economy. And in recent weeks, hot spot clusters across the U.S. Sun Belt have highlighted the extent to which the government has failed to contain its spread, in contrast to much of the developed world.
Growing mistrust in Trump's ability to effectively manage the crisis, as well as his administration's response to recent civil unrest against racism and police brutality, have tanked the president's already-low approval rating.
A polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight shows the president's disapproval rating at 55.7%. And Trump trails Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, nationally by 8.4 points, according to RealClearPolitics.


npr--2020-07-22--Fort Hood Soldier's Remains Are Found At A Nearby Lake

Police are investigating the death of a Fort Hood soldier whose body was found at a nearby lake — the third service member from the Texas base to be found dead in the past month .
Pvt .
Mejhor Morta , 26 , was found unresponsive on July 17 in the area of Stillhouse Hollow Lake , according to the Fort Hood Press Center .
His death is currently being investigated by the Bell County Sheriff 's Department .
Morta 's body was spotted shortly after midnight last Friday by fishermen who were in a boat near the base of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff 's department said in a statement sent to NPR .
Law enforcement agents located his remains after being called to the scene .
An autopsy was ordered by Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin ; the preliminary results show the cause of death is `` consistent with a drowning , '' the sheriff 's department says .
A full autopsy report is pending from the medical examiner 's office in Dallas .
Army records list Morta 's home as Pensacola , Fla .
He entered the service in September of 2019 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was assigned to the 1st Battalion , 5th Cavalry Regiment , 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team , 1st Cavalry Division , in May of 2020 .
`` The Black Knight family is truly heartbroken by the tragic loss of Private Mejhor Morta , '' battalion commander Lt. Col. Neil Armstrong said , as he extended his condolences to Morta 's family and friends .
News of Morta 's death comes weeks after the body of Pfc .
Vanessa Guillen was found near the Leon River , north of Austin .
She had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was killed at the base by a fellow soldier who then hid her remains .
The main suspect in that case , Aaron David Robinson , killed himself as law enforcement was closing in .
In late June , military and civilian law enforcement agents found the skeletal remains of another Fort Hood soldier , Pvt .
Gregory Scott Morales , 24 , in a field in nearby Killeen .
The authorities had received a tip about a body .
Morales had been missing since Aug. 19 , 2019 – just days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said last month that they suspect foul play in his death .
Police officials have not said whether they consider Morta 's death to be suspicious , or if it might be connected in any way to the deaths of Guillen or Morales .

Fort Hood Soldier's Remains Are Found At A Nearby Lake
Enlarge this image toggle caption U.S. Army photo U.S. Army photo
Police are investigating the death of a Fort Hood soldier whose body was found at a nearby lake — the third service member from the Texas base to be found dead in the past month.
Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, was found unresponsive on July 17 in the area of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, according to the Fort Hood Press Center. His death is currently being investigated by the Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Morta's body was spotted shortly after midnight last Friday by fishermen who were in a boat near the base of the man-made lake's dam, the sheriff's department said in a statement sent to NPR. Law enforcement agents located his remains after being called to the scene.
An autopsy was ordered by Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin; the preliminary results show the cause of death is "consistent with a drowning," the sheriff's department says. A full autopsy report is pending from the medical examiner's office in Dallas.
Army records list Morta's home as Pensacola, Fla. He entered the service in September of 2019 as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanic, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, in May of 2020.
"The Black Knight family is truly heartbroken by the tragic loss of Private Mejhor Morta," battalion commander Lt. Col. Neil Armstrong said, as he extended his condolences to Morta's family and friends.
News of Morta's death comes weeks after the body of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen was found near the Leon River, north of Austin. She had been missing since April. Officials say Guillen was killed at the base by a fellow soldier who then hid her remains. The main suspect in that case, Aaron David Robinson, killed himself as law enforcement was closing in.
In late June, military and civilian law enforcement agents found the skeletal remains of another Fort Hood soldier, Pvt. Gregory Scott Morales, 24, in a field in nearby Killeen.
The authorities had received a tip about a body. Morales had been missing since Aug. 19, 2019 – just days before he was to be discharged. Authorities said last month that they suspect foul play in his death.
Police officials have not said whether they consider Morta's death to be suspicious, or if it might be connected in any way to the deaths of Guillen or Morales.


npr--2020-07-22--U.S., U.K. Change Diplomatic Immunity Rules After British Man Was Killed

U.S. , U.K. Change Diplomatic Immunity Rules After British Man Was Killed The U.S. and the U.K. have revised their diplomatic immunity rules , almost a year after the wife of a U.S. diplomat fled the country after allegedly killing a young man with her car .
The move , announced by U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab , is aimed at making it more difficult for the families of some diplomats to claim immunity .
Harry Dunn , 19 , was struck by a car and killed last August while riding a motorbike in Northamptonshire , in central England .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife of a U.S. diplomat , hit the man while driving on the wrong side of the road after she left a nearby air force base .
Sacoolas returned to the U.S. shortly after the incident , despite telling police she had no plans to leave the U.K. After discussions with the U.S. State Department , the two countries agreed to revise the `` immunity arrangements '' at the Croughton Royal Air Force station annex for U.S. personnel and their families .
Since 1995 , diplomatic immunity has n't applied to U.S. staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official duties .
Now , that arrangement has been expanded to waive immunity for their family members as well , Raab said in a statement .
This ends `` the anomaly in the previous arrangements '' and allows for criminal prosecution of family members `` should these tragic circumstances every arise again , '' Raab said .
`` We have the deepest sympathy for Harry Dunn 's family , '' the statement continued .
`` No family should have to experience what they have gone through and I recognise that these changes will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope that the knowledge that the Croughton arrangements have been revised and that a family in their position would now see justice done brings some small measure of comfort . ''
The State Department confirmed the revised arrangement .
`` The United States has extended pre-emptive , limited waivers of certain diplomatic immunities pertaining to the staff of the Embassy office in Croughton and their family members for acts performed outside the course of official duties that occur on or after July 20 , 2020 , '' a spokesperson told NPR .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our especially close relationship with the government of the United Kingdom . ''
The date of the changes means that they would not appear to apply retroactively to Sacoolas .
Dunn 's death drew international media coverage , and caught the attention of the leaders of both countries .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson raised the issue with the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. President Trump met with Dunn 's parents , and also offered to introduce them to Sacoolas , who admitted that she was driving on the wrong side of the road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January , the State Department refused a request from London to hand Sacoolas over , saying in a statement that she had `` immunity from criminal jurisdiction . ''
But the Dunn family says it will keep up the pressure to bring Sacoolas before a U.K. court .
Charlotte Charles , Dunn 's mother , told the BBC that `` we always live with hope that one day she might just decide of her own accord to put herself on a plane and come back over here . ''

U.S., U.K. Change Diplomatic Immunity Rules After British Man Was Killed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
The U.S. and the U.K. have revised their diplomatic immunity rules, almost a year after the wife of a U.S. diplomat fled the country after allegedly killing a young man with her car.
The move, announced by U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, is aimed at making it more difficult for the families of some diplomats to claim immunity.
Harry Dunn, 19, was struck by a car and killed last August while riding a motorbike in Northamptonshire, in central England.
Police say that Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a U.S. diplomat, hit the man while driving on the wrong side of the road after she left a nearby air force base. Sacoolas returned to the U.S. shortly after the incident, despite telling police she had no plans to leave the U.K.
After discussions with the U.S. State Department, the two countries agreed to revise the "immunity arrangements" at the Croughton Royal Air Force station annex for U.S. personnel and their families. Since 1995, diplomatic immunity hasn't applied to U.S. staff there outside of the course of their official duties. Now, that arrangement has been expanded to waive immunity for their family members as well, Raab said in a statement.
This ends "the anomaly in the previous arrangements" and allows for criminal prosecution of family members "should these tragic circumstances every arise again," Raab said.
"We have the deepest sympathy for Harry Dunn's family," the statement continued. "No family should have to experience what they have gone through and I recognise that these changes will not bring Harry back. However, I hope that the knowledge that the Croughton arrangements have been revised and that a family in their position would now see justice done brings some small measure of comfort."
The State Department confirmed the revised arrangement. "The United States has extended pre-emptive, limited waivers of certain diplomatic immunities pertaining to the staff of the Embassy office in Croughton and their family members for acts performed outside the course of official duties that occur on or after July 20, 2020," a spokesperson told NPR. "This arrangement is a reflection of our especially close relationship with the government of the United Kingdom."
The date of the changes means that they would not appear to apply retroactively to Sacoolas.
Dunn's death drew international media coverage, and caught the attention of the leaders of both countries. Prime Minister Boris Johnson raised the issue with the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. President Trump met with Dunn's parents, and also offered to introduce them to Sacoolas, who admitted that she was driving on the wrong side of the road when she collided with Dunn.
In January, the State Department refused a request from London to hand Sacoolas over, saying in a statement that she had "immunity from criminal jurisdiction."
But the Dunn family says it will keep up the pressure to bring Sacoolas before a U.K. court. Charlotte Charles, Dunn's mother, told the BBC that "we always live with hope that one day she might just decide of her own accord to put herself on a plane and come back over here."


npr--2020-07-22--Disaster Relief For The Elderly And Disabled Is Already Hard. Now Add A Pandemic

Disaster Relief For The Elderly And Disabled Is Already Hard .
Now Add A Pandemic When a natural disaster strikes , it 's complicated to evacuate and care for some of the people most at risk — the elderly and disabled .
`` The increase in COVID spread will be deadly ... and people with disabilities once again will be the least prioritized , '' warns Germán Parodi , who runs a disability group that coordinates with federal , state and local emergency preparedness agencies .
Parodi and his co-director , Shaylin Sluzalis , say those agencies have failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks and other personal protective equipment will be available at shelters .
`` We are not seeing the urgency , '' says Sluzalis of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies .
Agencies , she says based on her group 's briefings with them , do n't have clear policies `` for ensuring the safety of people , trying not to cross-contaminate and spread the infection . ''
Those who do that work or monitor it are sounding alarms that the preparation , nationwide , has fallen short .
`` COVID really puts a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hanebrink , who helps with evacuations in South Carolina .
`` How are they going to do social distancing ? ''
Hanebrink asks .
`` What are they going to do if there is a 'positive ' in a shelter ? ''
In a natural disaster , shelters quickly get crowded with people and families in cots set close together .
To enable social distancing , new federal guidelines recommend adding more space per person , meaning that fewer people can fit into any one shelter .
Even before the pandemic , most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported they were already short on space for people with disabilities .
State and local governments and nonprofits such as the American Red Cross that help run shelters report they are looking for extra space .
One solution this year will be to rent more rooms in hotels .
This is a good approach , but it creates other problems , Hanebrink says .
For example , if hotels are used for shelter , it will take extra staff to run the new locations .
But staff will be hard to find during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lot of the shelter volunteers are seniors .
So they 're an at-risk population . ''
Disaster preparedness agencies , she says `` are afraid there 's not going to be enough volunteers and workers . ''
Even before the pandemic , disabled and elderly people were among the people most likely to die during a natural disaster .
In Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , 49 percent of the dead were 75 years and older .
After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017 , an academic study of `` excess deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be expected in a normal year — found that 77 percent of the dead were 65 or older .
One reason is that elderly and disabled people often need help leaving their homes when there is a hurricane , tornado , fire or other natural disaster .
They are less likely than others to have a car or transportation .
A person who uses a wheelchair may not be able to get into a bus or van that comes to evacuate them , because it does n't have a wheelchair lift .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a person in a wheelchair ca n't get in .
Sometimes separate `` medical '' shelters are set up , but only people with disabilities are allowed in and a family member who provides care is excluded .
Hanebrink , a quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair , speaks of her personal experience getting moved to shelters , often in churches or schools , where she could n't get inside .
Once inside , there may be steps to reach essentials , like where food is served .
When Hurricane Florence hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wheelchairs who were evacuated to the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem reported they could get in , but from the arena 's floor they had only sporadic access to bathrooms .
The elevators to the only open bathrooms were often out of service or shut down at night , according to a report by Disability Rights North Carolina .
Katy Willis , a quadriplegic woman who uses a wheelchair , had difficulty getting evacuated in February 2017 when flooding damaged the Oroville Dam in California and there was danger that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lived nearby were evacuated .
Willis , who lives in Yuba City , relies upon caregivers to help her get around .
But she found herself stranded .
`` I was at my apartment and the caregiver that was supposed to come in at four o'clock was a young girl and she just took off up the hill and ran , '' she says .
`` And left me there by myself . ''
Willis did n't have transportation .
She got onto social media and pleaded for help .
The local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the last to get out .
When she arrived at the emergency shelter , she says the staff said they could n't help a woman in a wheelchair who needed caregivers and she was sent home to fend for herself .
`` Oh , it was really scary , '' Willis says .
`` I felt like I was worth nothing . ''
The dam held .
Today , Willis volunteers with a California group to improve emergency planning for elderly and disabled people .
But she worries what will happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
A complex network responds to disasters .
State and local governments are primarily responsible for evacuations and shelter , but rely upon help from nonprofit agencies like the Red Cross .
The federal government adds funding , assistance and guidance .
A law , after Hurricane Katrina , gave the Federal Emergency Management Agency , FEMA , responsibility for planning for the evacuation and care of elderly and disabled people .
Even before the coronavirus pandemic , Rep. Donald Payne , Jr. , doubted whether FEMA had systems in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disabilities .
The New Jersey Democrat , who chairs a subcommittee with oversight of FEMA , held a hearing a year ago , on July 23 , 2019 , about the agency 's preparations to help state and local governments assist the elderly and disabled .
The subcommittee heard that day about a congressional audit 's scathing review of FEMA 's efforts .
FEMA 's policies for assisting the elderly and disabled were so unclear that even most of the managers responsible said they did n't understand what they were expected to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office report said , was `` not broadly , clearly or consistently articulated . ''
There were other problems , too .
The intake forms FEMA designed for shelters did n't include a question to identify clearly who had a disability and who did n't , according to the GAO .
Payne was unhappy that no one from FEMA came to testify at the hearing .
Now , a year later , and at the start of another storm season , Payne says he still ca n't get satisfactory answers from the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says the lawmaker from Newark .
`` This administration is really a challenge .
Hopefully what we are saying is getting through to them and they 're not responding to us but they 're making sure they 're prepared .
So that 's the most we can hope for under these circumstances . ''
Linda Mastandrea , who runs FEMA 's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination , says her office has changed things since that congressional audit .
( Mastandrea told NPR she was out of the country at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her deputy had not yet been appointed . )
There 's a clear question now on the intake forms to identify people with disabilities , she says .
And , she notes , FEMA will help state and local governments use more hotel space this year , by reimbursing part of the cost .
NPR 's Abby Wendle reports , however , that hotels are proving an often costly and inconvenient alternative to standard shelters and that critics say FEMA needs to take a more active role in planning efforts .
The GAO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the way her office uses staff .
Before , FEMA had hired nearly 200 `` disability integration specialists '' and deployed dozens to the sites of natural disasters .
These were often people with disabilities themselves .
They worked on the ground , visiting shelters , taking calls from people with disabilities , the elderly and their families , and advised state and local agencies , along with nonprofits doing the disaster work .
Now only a few to a dozen are deployed to disaster sites and they work , not on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mastandrea says that strategy works well now , particularly in the pandemic when most connections with state and local officials are , by necessity , made online .
The larger point , Mastandrea says , was to integrate best practices for helping people with disabilities among all FEMA staffers , instead of leaving it to the expertise of a separate group .
`` We are focusing on our job , '' she says , `` which is to provide disability subject matter expertise across the agency to senior leadership , to the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better , not to do their jobs for them . ''
But Marcie Roth , Mastandrea 's predecessor and the first person to run FEMA 's disability office , sees the decision to cut back on the specialists sent into the field as a setback .
`` We used to deploy 40 , 60 , 65 out to a disaster , '' she says .
The GAO reported that FEMA sent 63 specialists into the field after Hurricane Maria in 2017 and 58 that year after Hurricane Harvey , but only 11 when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Hurricane Michael , also in 2018 .
One result , Roth says , is that FEMA does n't work as closely now with local disability organizations , using their knowledge and building their capacity .
Roth , who left FEMA on the last day of the Obama administration , still focuses on emergency preparation as the head of the World Institute on Disability .
She started at FEMA in 2009 and then opened the disability office in 2010 and worked on disaster preparedness for people with disabilities before that .
When Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the phone , to help a quadriplegic woman , Benilda Caixeta , evacuate from her home .
For three days , the desperate woman made calls to local officials asking to be evacuated .
Even her calls to 911 were ignored .
Roth was on the phone with Caixeta when the frightened woman reported that water was rushing in and , as Roth told a congressional hearing , the phone went dead .
`` We learned five days later that she had been found in her apartment , dead , floating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testified .
`` Benilda did not have to drown . ''
NPR reported from Louisiana in 2005 about people who were not evacuated because they used wheelchairs .
One woman was n't evacuated because she refused to leave without the $ 20,000 power wheelchair she 'd fought with insurance to get for her 24-year-old son with muscular dystrophy .
`` In a disaster , everything is exponentially worse for everyone , '' says Parodi of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies .
`` People with disabilities are the last forgotten , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most at risk , he warns , when the coronavirus and natural disasters come together .

Disaster Relief For The Elderly And Disabled Is Already Hard. Now Add A Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gerald Herbert/AP Gerald Herbert/AP
When a natural disaster strikes, it's complicated to evacuate and care for some of the people most at risk — the elderly and disabled.
Now — add another complication: a pandemic.
"The increase in COVID spread will be deadly... and people with disabilities once again will be the least prioritized," warns Germán Parodi, who runs a disability group that coordinates with federal, state and local emergency preparedness agencies. Parodi and his co-director, Shaylin Sluzalis, say those agencies have failed to do adequate planning to assure that even masks and other personal protective equipment will be available at shelters.
"We are not seeing the urgency," says Sluzalis of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies. Agencies, she says based on her group's briefings with them, don't have clear policies "for ensuring the safety of people, trying not to cross-contaminate and spread the infection."
Those who do that work or monitor it are sounding alarms that the preparation, nationwide, has fallen short. "COVID really puts a wrench in things," says Sandy Hanebrink, who helps with evacuations in South Carolina.
"How are they going to do social distancing?" Hanebrink asks. "What are they going to do if there is a 'positive' in a shelter?"
In a natural disaster, shelters quickly get crowded with people and families in cots set close together. To enable social distancing, new federal guidelines recommend adding more space per person, meaning that fewer people can fit into any one shelter.
Even before the pandemic, most counties in Florida, for example, reported they were already short on space for people with disabilities. State and local governments and nonprofits such as the American Red Cross that help run shelters report they are looking for extra space.
One solution this year will be to rent more rooms in hotels. This is a good approach, but it creates other problems, Hanebrink says. For example, if hotels are used for shelter, it will take extra staff to run the new locations.
But staff will be hard to find during the pandemic, Hanebrink warns: "A lot of the shelter volunteers are seniors. So they're an at-risk population." Disaster preparedness agencies, she says "are afraid there's not going to be enough volunteers and workers."
Even before the pandemic, disabled and elderly people were among the people most likely to die during a natural disaster. In Hurricane Katrina in 2005, 49 percent of the dead were 75 years and older. After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, an academic study of "excess deaths"-- the number beyond what could be expected in a normal year — found that 77 percent of the dead were 65 or older.
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Portnoy/Getty Images David Portnoy/Getty Images
One reason is that elderly and disabled people often need help leaving their homes when there is a hurricane, tornado, fire or other natural disaster. They are less likely than others to have a car or transportation. A person who uses a wheelchair may not be able to get into a bus or van that comes to evacuate them, because it doesn't have a wheelchair lift.
At a shelter, there may be stairs, and a person in a wheelchair can't get in. Sometimes separate "medical" shelters are set up, but only people with disabilities are allowed in and a family member who provides care is excluded. Hanebrink, a quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair, speaks of her personal experience getting moved to shelters, often in churches or schools, where she couldn't get inside.
Once inside, there may be steps to reach essentials, like where food is served. When Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina in 2018, people in wheelchairs who were evacuated to the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem reported they could get in, but from the arena's floor they had only sporadic access to bathrooms. The elevators to the only open bathrooms were often out of service or shut down at night, according to a report by Disability Rights North Carolina.
Katy Willis, a quadriplegic woman who uses a wheelchair, had difficulty getting evacuated in February 2017 when flooding damaged the Oroville Dam in California and there was danger that the dam might break. Around 188,000 people who lived nearby were evacuated.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael Short/Bloomberg via Getty Images Michael Short/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Willis, who lives in Yuba City, relies upon caregivers to help her get around. But she found herself stranded. "I was at my apartment and the caregiver that was supposed to come in at four o'clock was a young girl and she just took off up the hill and ran," she says. "And left me there by myself."
Willis didn't have transportation. She got onto social media and pleaded for help. The local government sent a van. She was one of the last to get out.
When she arrived at the emergency shelter, she says the staff said they couldn't help a woman in a wheelchair who needed caregivers and she was sent home to fend for herself. "Oh, it was really scary," Willis says. "I felt like I was worth nothing."
The dam held. Today, Willis volunteers with a California group to improve emergency planning for elderly and disabled people. But she worries what will happen if there's a natural disaster during the pandemic.
A complex network responds to disasters. State and local governments are primarily responsible for evacuations and shelter, but rely upon help from nonprofit agencies like the Red Cross. The federal government adds funding, assistance and guidance. A law, after Hurricane Katrina, gave the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, responsibility for planning for the evacuation and care of elderly and disabled people.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Donald Payne, Jr., doubted whether FEMA had systems in place to protect the elderly and those with disabilities. The New Jersey Democrat, who chairs a subcommittee with oversight of FEMA, held a hearing a year ago, on July 23, 2019, about the agency's preparations to help state and local governments assist the elderly and disabled.
The subcommittee heard that day about a congressional audit's scathing review of FEMA's efforts. FEMA's policies for assisting the elderly and disabled were so unclear that even most of the managers responsible said they didn't understand what they were expected to do. The plan, the Government Accountability Office report said, was "not broadly, clearly or consistently articulated."
There were other problems, too. The intake forms FEMA designed for shelters didn't include a question to identify clearly who had a disability and who didn't, according to the GAO.
Payne was unhappy that no one from FEMA came to testify at the hearing.
Now, a year later, and at the start of another storm season, Payne says he still can't get satisfactory answers from the agency,
"It's like pulling teeth," says the lawmaker from Newark. "This administration is really a challenge. Hopefully what we are saying is getting through to them and they're not responding to us but they're making sure they're prepared. So that's the most we can hope for under these circumstances."
Linda Mastandrea, who runs FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, says her office has changed things since that congressional audit. (Mastandrea told NPR she was out of the country at the time of Payne's hearing and that her deputy had not yet been appointed.) There's a clear question now on the intake forms to identify people with disabilities, she says.
And, she notes, FEMA will help state and local governments use more hotel space this year, by reimbursing part of the cost. NPR's Abby Wendle reports, however, that hotels are proving an often costly and inconvenient alternative to standard shelters and that critics say FEMA needs to take a more active role in planning efforts.
The GAO report also questioned a change Mastandrea made in the way her office uses staff. Before, FEMA had hired nearly 200 "disability integration specialists" and deployed dozens to the sites of natural disasters.
These were often people with disabilities themselves. They worked on the ground, visiting shelters, taking calls from people with disabilities, the elderly and their families, and advised state and local agencies, along with nonprofits doing the disaster work.
Now only a few to a dozen are deployed to disaster sites and they work, not on the ground, but inside offices.
Mastandrea says that strategy works well now, particularly in the pandemic when most connections with state and local officials are, by necessity, made online.
The larger point, Mastandrea says, was to integrate best practices for helping people with disabilities among all FEMA staffers, instead of leaving it to the expertise of a separate group.
"We are focusing on our job," she says, "which is to provide disability subject matter expertise across the agency to senior leadership, to the program areas to help them do their jobs better, not to do their jobs for them."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
But Marcie Roth, Mastandrea's predecessor and the first person to run FEMA's disability office, sees the decision to cut back on the specialists sent into the field as a setback. "We used to deploy 40, 60, 65 out to a disaster," she says. The GAO reported that FEMA sent 63 specialists into the field after Hurricane Maria in 2017 and 58 that year after Hurricane Harvey, but only 11 when Hurricane Florence struck in 2018 and eight after Hurricane Michael, also in 2018. One result, Roth says, is that FEMA doesn't work as closely now with local disability organizations, using their knowledge and building their capacity.
Roth, who left FEMA on the last day of the Obama administration, still focuses on emergency preparation as the head of the World Institute on Disability.
She started at FEMA in 2009 and then opened the disability office in 2010 and worked on disaster preparedness for people with disabilities before that. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, she tried, on the phone, to help a quadriplegic woman, Benilda Caixeta, evacuate from her home. For three days, the desperate woman made calls to local officials asking to be evacuated. Even her calls to 911 were ignored.
Roth was on the phone with Caixeta when the frightened woman reported that water was rushing in and, as Roth told a congressional hearing, the phone went dead. "We learned five days later that she had been found in her apartment, dead, floating next to her wheelchair," Roth testified. "Benilda did not have to drown."
NPR reported from Louisiana in 2005 about people who were not evacuated because they used wheelchairs. One woman wasn't evacuated because she refused to leave without the $20,000 power wheelchair she'd fought with insurance to get for her 24-year-old son with muscular dystrophy.
"In a disaster, everything is exponentially worse for everyone," says Parodi of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies. "People with disabilities are the last forgotten," he says. And they will be the most at risk, he warns, when the coronavirus and natural disasters come together.
Huo Jingnan provided reporting for this story.