npr--2020-05-29--Colleges Face Student Lawsuits Seeking Refunds After Coronavirus Closures

Columbia , Brown , Penn , Purdue — universities with hallowed traditions , proud alumni and another thing in common : Right now they 're being sued by disgruntled students .
The students claim that when campuses shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic , they should have been entitled to more of their money back .
And the list of institutions facing such challenges is growing , including private universities , such as Cornell , Vanderbilt , Liberty and Temple , and entire public systems in California , Florida , North Carolina and Arizona .
The cases — now dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what truly makes a college education valuable .
Several law firms are handling these suits .
One of the most prolific is Anastopoulo Law Firm in South Carolina , which specializes in personal injury .
The firm has a colorful background : Its founder , Akim Anastopoulo , spent several years known as Judge Extreme Akim on a court television show called Eye for an Eye , where he meted out revenge , not just cash penalties , to losing parties .
His firm has set up a website , CollegeRefund2020.com , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has filed more than 30 so far .
When universities across the U.S. shut their doors because of the coronavirus pandemic and sent students home , many did offer partial refunds of dorm and activities fees .
But , these lawsuits argue , they should have refunded more , because not only did students lose access to the gym , the dining hall , the in-person networking and parties , but their diplomas will always have an asterisk because they finished their degrees online .
For example , a complaint by a student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlotte , says : Few universities have commented publicly on the suits .
Pace University spokeswoman Marie Boster told NPR in April : `` The faculty , staff and leaders of Pace continue to work tirelessly to support our students during this challenging time . ''
Boster pointed out that not only have educators continued to teach students all their regular courses , but the university is offering tutoring , counseling and other services as well .
So , the school argues , tuition dollars are not really going to waste .
Roy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anastopoulo Law Firm who is overseeing many of the suits , dismisses that claim as `` laughable . ''
`` Considering how they market their campus — experiential education and hands-on learning and the diversity on campus that you will avail yourself of if you pay these large tuition bills — it 's an interesting position to take now that , 'well , we 're able to provide the same thing online anyway . '
`` Some universities named in the cases already offer classes online for a lower tuition than they charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
Deborah Hensler , a law professor at Stanford Law School , told NPR that these cases face an uphill battle in court .
`` I think these suits are a very long shot . ''
First of all , she explained , the legal principle of force majeure means that a totally unforeseen event , like an act of God or a global pandemic , tends to void a contract .
Willey counters that most of the students ' agreements do n't actually include a force majeure clause .
And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suits are not for outright breach of contract .
`` The students here are very fair , very reasonable .
And they 're just asking for the difference between what they pay for and what they receive to come back to them . ''
Second , Hensler pointed out that when it comes to universities in particular , there 's a track record of what 's called `` judicial deference to academia . ''
Basically , courts often recognize that universities deserve some autonomy when it comes to decisions related to scholarship and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the substance of the legal claim itself .
Here , Hensley invoked her personal experience as a faculty member who has been teaching online since Stanford University closed its campus .
She has been assigning readings , grading papers and holding discussions over video .
`` In my personal opinion , I can deliver the same quality of education online as I could in person . ''
But , she said , this might not be true for science students , for example , who need to be in a lab or for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage .
Whether these lawsuits succeed or falter , they cast a shadow on the value proposition of college .
Will universities going forward be able to charge the same tuition they 're accustomed to for semesters that take place partially or entirely online ?

Colleges Face Student Lawsuits Seeking Refunds After Coronavirus Closures
Enlarge this image Cristina Spano for NPR Cristina Spano for NPR
Columbia, Brown, Penn, Purdue — universities with hallowed traditions, proud alumni and another thing in common: Right now they're being sued by disgruntled students.
The students claim that when campuses shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic, they should have been entitled to more of their money back. And the list of institutions facing such challenges is growing, including private institutions and entire public systems in California, Florida, North Carolina and Arizona.
The cases — now dozens in all — are raising difficult questions about what truly makes a college education valuable.
Several law firms are handling these suits. One of the most prolific is Anastopoulo Law Firm in South Carolina, which specializes in personal injury. The firm has a colorful background: Its founder, Akim Anastopoulo, spent several years known as Judge Extreme Akim on a court television show called Eye for an Eye, where he meted out revenge, not just cash penalties, to losing parties.
His firm has set up a website, CollegeRefund2020.com, to recruit plaintiffs for these suits and has filed more than 30 so far.
When universities across the U.S. shut their doors because of the coronavirus pandemic and sent students home, many did offer partial refunds of dorm and activities fees. But, these lawsuits argue, they should have refunded more, because not only did students lose access to the gym, the dining hall, the in-person networking and parties, but their diplomas will always have an asterisk because they finished their degrees online.
For example, a complaint by a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, says:
"While closing campus and transitioning to online classes was the right thing for Defendants to do, this decision deprived Plaintiff and the other members of the Classes from recognizing the benefits of in-person instruction, access to campus facilities, student activities, and other benefits and services in exchange for which they had already paid fees and tuition."
Few universities have commented publicly on the suits. Pace University spokeswoman Marie Boster told NPR in April: "The faculty, staff and leaders of Pace continue to work tirelessly to support our students during this challenging time." Boster pointed out that not only have educators continued to teach students all their regular courses, but the university is offering tutoring, counseling and other services as well. So, the school argues, tuition dollars are not really going to waste.
Roy T. Willey IV, an attorney at Anastopoulo Law Firm who is overseeing many of the suits, dismisses that claim as "laughable."
"Considering how they market their campus — experiential education and hands-on learning and the diversity on campus that you will avail yourself of if you pay these large tuition bills — it's an interesting position to take now that, 'well, we're able to provide the same thing online anyway.' "
Some universities named in the cases already offer classes online for a lower tuition than they charge in-person students on campus, Willey pointed out.
Deborah Hensler, a law professor at Stanford Law School, told NPR that these cases face an uphill battle in court. "I think these suits are a very long shot."
First of all, she explained, the legal principle of force majeure means that a totally unforeseen event, like an act of God or a global pandemic, tends to void a contract.
Willey counters that most of the students' agreements don't actually include a force majeure clause. And in any case, he adds, these suits are not for outright breach of contract. "The students here are very fair, very reasonable. And they're just asking for the difference between what they pay for and what they receive to come back to them."
Second, Hensler pointed out that when it comes to universities in particular, there's a track record of what's called "judicial deference to academia." Basically, courts often recognize that universities deserve some autonomy when it comes to decisions related to scholarship and education.
And finally, there's the substance of the legal claim itself. Here, Hensley invoked her personal experience as a faculty member who has been teaching online since Stanford University closed its campus. She has been assigning readings, grading papers and holding discussions over video.
"In my personal opinion, I can deliver the same quality of education online as I could in person." But, she said, this might not be true for science students, for example, who need to be in a lab or for dance students who need to share a stage.
Whether these lawsuits succeed or falter, they cast a shadow on the value proposition of college. Will universities going forward be able to charge the same tuition they're accustomed to for semesters that take place partially or entirely online?


npr--2020-05-29--Texas Voters Are Caught In The Middle Of A Battle Over Mail-In Voting

Texas Voters Are Caught In The Middle Of A Battle Over Mail-In Voting In an effort to keep voters safe , states of all political complexions are finding ways to expand access to mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
The state has some of the most restrictive laws limiting vote by mail in the country .
Under Texas law , the program is open only to people who are 65 or older , people who will be out of the county during the election , people who are in jail and not convicted , and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of often-contradictory court orders over the past month , it 's still unclear whether more Texans will be able to use mail-in ballots during upcoming elections in July and November .
There are currently multiple legal challenges to those policies working through various state and federal courts .
Lower court judges have ordered the state to allow voters greater access to mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Higher courts have routinely overturned those orders – often a day or two later .
The most recent legal decision , made by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of immunity to the virus was not sufficient grounds for requesting a mail-in ballot .
The legal battles come as President Trump and his allies are seeking to limit the use of mail-in voting , arguing with that the practice is more likely to lead to fraud .
Years of studies and research indicate fraud in American elections is extremely rare .
Multiple polls show that more than 60 % of American voters would like access to mail-in ballots due to the pandemic .
Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to minimize voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters would be less likely to cast a ballot in person than GOP supporters .
While courts sort out the legal matter , voters like Leslie Riddel say they are doing what they can to make sure they can safely vote in upcoming elections .
`` I just know that my health risk will be increased if I go vote [ in person ] , '' Riddel , a 62-year-old former smoker who lives in Austin , said .
She applied for a mail-in ballot several weeks ago .
Some of the legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not immune to COVID-19 – which would include almost everyone – qualify for a mail-in ballot under the disability category .
According to the Texas election code , `` disability '' means `` a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter 's health . ''
Riddel said she read the election code , weeks before the onslaught of court orders , and was convinced she qualified and decided she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus continued to spread throughout the state .
`` That is injurious to my health , '' she said .
`` And that 's how I see it . ''
In most states , polling places are indoors .
Voters spend time waiting in line and touching equipment used by others , all factors that could increase the risk of contracting the virus .
Wisconsin officials say at least 71 people who went to the polls in person during that state 's controversial election last month were later diagnosed with COVID-19 .
Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person early voting that state officials suggest is enough to prevent crowding at polling places .
While voting rights groups in Texas agree with voters like Riddel , state officials do n't .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has said in statements that `` fear of contracting COVID-19 does not amount to a sickness or physical condition as required by state law . ''
He also said that his office would prosecute people for voter fraud if they use a mail-in ballot in a matter he said is improper .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing , '' Paxton said , `` obviously if we found out someone has voted by mail and they have done it fraudulently , my job — just like the Michigan Secretary of State prosecuting voter fraud — my job is exactly the same . ''
Paxton has a long history of prosecuting voters of alleged voting crimes in the state , which critics have said is an effort to intimidate voters .
Tommy Buser-Clancy , a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Texas , said Paxton 's threats amount to voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Attorney General Ken Paxton 's overall view that it should be harder and scarier to vote , '' he said .
Buser-Clancy said voters who are not sure whether they are able to vote by mail should talk to their local election officials .
But those officials are also limited in terms of what they can do .
Jennifer Anderson , the elections administrator for Hays County south of Austin , said that by law , she has to grant a mail-in ballot to anyone who fills out a form for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to decide whether a voter qualifies for a mail-in ballot .
All the recent court orders have n't made her work `` that much different '' and Anderson said it 's up to voters to `` assess their own circumstances . ''
`` So , if somebody selects the qualification of 'disability , ' they do n't have to explain to us why they made that qualification , '' Anderson said .
Anderson said she 's been hearing from a lot of confused voters in the past few weeks .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uptick in mail-in ballot applications ahead of the next elections .
In Travis County , where Austin is , demand for mail-in ballots is `` off the charts , '' according to county clerk Dana DeBeauvoir , who said `` It does n't compare to anything , '' that she 's seen before .
It 's not clear if Paxton actually has the authority to prosecute voters who seek an absentee ballot to avoid coming into contact with the coronavirus .
`` Bring it on , '' she said .
`` He can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
I feel I am in the right . ''

Texas Voters Are Caught In The Middle Of A Battle Over Mail-In Voting
Enlarge this image toggle caption LM Otero/AP LM Otero/AP
In an effort to keep voters safe, states of all political complexions are finding ways to expand access to mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Then there's Texas.
The state has some of the most restrictive laws limiting vote by mail in the country. Under Texas law, the program is open only to people who are 65 or older, people who will be out of the county during the election, people who are in jail and not convicted, and people who are disabled.
And after a series of often-contradictory court orders over the past month, it's still unclear whether more Texans will be able to use mail-in ballots during upcoming elections in July and November.
There are currently multiple legal challenges to those policies working through various state and federal courts. Lower court judges have ordered the state to allow voters greater access to mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher courts have routinely overturned those orders – often a day or two later.
The most recent legal decision, made by the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday, said lack of immunity to the virus was not sufficient grounds for requesting a mail-in ballot.
The legal battles come as President Trump and his allies are seeking to limit the use of mail-in voting, arguing with that the practice is more likely to lead to fraud. Years of studies and research indicate fraud in American elections is extremely rare. Multiple polls show that more than 60% of American voters would like access to mail-in ballots due to the pandemic.
Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to minimize voter turnout because of the belief that Democratic voters would be less likely to cast a ballot in person than GOP supporters.
While courts sort out the legal matter, voters like Leslie Riddel say they are doing what they can to make sure they can safely vote in upcoming elections.
"I just know that my health risk will be increased if I go vote [in person]," Riddel, a 62-year-old former smoker who lives in Austin, said. She applied for a mail-in ballot several weeks ago.
Who is disabled?
Some of the legal disputes are currently over whether voters who are not immune to COVID-19 – which would include almost everyone – qualify for a mail-in ballot under the disability category.
According to the Texas election code, "disability" means "a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter's health."
Riddel said she read the election code, weeks before the onslaught of court orders, and was convinced she qualified and decided she wasn't going to vote in-person while the coronavirus continued to spread throughout the state.
"That is injurious to my health," she said. "And that's how I see it."
In most states, polling places are indoors. Voters spend time waiting in line and touching equipment used by others, all factors that could increase the risk of contracting the virus. Wisconsin officials say at least 71 people who went to the polls in person during that state's controversial election last month were later diagnosed with COVID-19.
Texas typically offers more than ten days of in-person early voting that state officials suggest is enough to prevent crowding at polling places.
While voting rights groups in Texas agree with voters like Riddel, state officials don't.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tony Gutierrez/AP Tony Gutierrez/AP
Voter fraud prosecutions possible
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has said in statements that "fear of contracting COVID-19 does not amount to a sickness or physical condition as required by state law." He also said that his office would prosecute people for voter fraud if they use a mail-in ballot in a matter he said is improper.
"We have to trust voters to do the right thing," Paxton said, "obviously if we found out someone has voted by mail and they have done it fraudulently, my job — just like the Michigan Secretary of State prosecuting voter fraud — my job is exactly the same."
Paxton has a long history of prosecuting voters of alleged voting crimes in the state, which critics have said is an effort to intimidate voters.
Tommy Buser-Clancy, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Texas, said Paxton's threats amount to voter suppression.
"It's in line with Attorney General Ken Paxton's overall view that it should be harder and scarier to vote," he said.
Buser-Clancy said voters who are not sure whether they are able to vote by mail should talk to their local election officials.
But those officials are also limited in terms of what they can do.
Voter confusion
Jennifer Anderson, the elections administrator for Hays County south of Austin, said that by law, she has to grant a mail-in ballot to anyone who fills out a form for one. The law doesn't permit election officials to decide whether a voter qualifies for a mail-in ballot.
All the recent court orders haven't made her work "that much different" and Anderson said it's up to voters to "assess their own circumstances."
"So, if somebody selects the qualification of 'disability,' they don't have to explain to us why they made that qualification," Anderson said.
Anderson said she's been hearing from a lot of confused voters in the past few weeks. In the meantime, she is preparing for an uptick in mail-in ballot applications ahead of the next elections.
In Travis County, where Austin is, demand for mail-in ballots is "off the charts," according to county clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, who said "It doesn't compare to anything," that she's seen before.
It's not clear if Paxton actually has the authority to prosecute voters who seek an absentee ballot to avoid coming into contact with the coronavirus.
Leslie Riddel said she's not concerned.
"Bring it on," she said. "He can prosecute me and I will stand my case. I feel I am in the right."


npr--2020-05-29--As America Socially Distances, The Army 'Tactically Disperses'

At the end of June , several thousand National Guardsmen from 15 states will descend on Fort Irwin in California 's Mojave Desert for two months .
The Army is already gaming out how to keep them healthy and able to train during the coronavirus pandemic .
A sergeant barks out a command : `` Soldiers completing the medical screening process come this way ! ''
The soldiers line up on a large concrete slab sheltered by a metal awning .
All wear masks and stand 6 feet apart .
A stiff desert wind picks up as a soldier gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the soldiers walks up to an Army medical technician .
`` Are you experiencing any symptoms today , cough , shortness of breath or fever ? ''
the technician asks .
`` Negative , '' says the soldier , as the technician holds a hand held thermometer , close to his forehead .
The thermometer beeps , and she tells him he can go .
No elevated temperature .
`` OK you can face this line over here , '' she says .
If he 'd popped hot , he 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken for a virus test and maybe quarantined for two weeks .
No training for him .
This is all a simulation .
But the Army 's top officer , Gen. Jim McConville , watches it all closely .
And turns to an officer .
`` You know we have to keep this as safe as we can when we bring the soldiers in , '' the general says .
McConville came up in the Army as a helicopter pilot and served a number of tours in Afghanistan , but in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , as well as such things as swabs and reagents and testing machines .
`` We going to have to make sure we can test , '' he says to a staff officer .
`` They 're coming from all over the place .
We have to make sure we can do that . ''
These Guard soldiers will be the first to train here since March , when the coronavirus canceled and postponed field exercises for two other units .
The Army had to quickly adjust .
Now all soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buses bringing soldiers here will be half-full to allow for distancing .
Tents will have fewer cots .
The officers walk into a massive tent the size of a high school gym .
A sergeant major 's voice echos as he points to the sea of green cots , all with the proper distancing .
`` If you notice all the cots that are across here , there 's 6-feet spacing now , '' he says to the visitors from the Pentagon .
And soldiers will alternate how they sleep .
No longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he says .
Army leaders like McConville are eager to start large-scale combat training again of brigades , a unit with some 4,000 soldiers .
Another training base in Louisiana next month also will welcome back hundreds of soldiers to prepare for its mission to Afghanistan later this year .
McConville gives some advice to Brigadier Gen. Dave Lesperance , who commands Fort Irwin .
`` And what I 'm looking for is you have to minimize exposure , you really have to have social distancing , '' McConville says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ apart , they have to wear their masks . ''
The National Guard soldiers will arrive here with their armor and artillery and head into a training area called `` The Box . ''
It 's a sprawling desert expanse of mountains and hills the size of Rhode Island .
`` The safest place for people to be will be in the desert , '' McConville says .
`` We call it social distancing in the civilian sector .
You call it tactically dispersed out here .
And they 'll be tactically dispersed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' There are some 4,000 soldiers permanently based at Fort Irwin , part of an opposition force , or Op For , that battles the visiting units .
Their role is to play the enemy , and battle visiting units during simulations .
Back at a conference room , Gen. Lesperance said he 's had just a handful of positive virus cases here .
The military hospital on post is equipped with three machines that can quickly turnaround a virus test .
`` Right now we can do a 144 , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 1,000 . ''
At this point if he wants to do a lot more tests , he has to turn to a private lab in Phoenix .
But the turnaround time is two to seven days .
Gen. McConville says that 's too much time for an Army unit to stand idle .
The general shook his head .
It was n't long ago when the only talk at Fort Irwin was about weapons systems , how many rounds can it fire , and its range .
`` Now we 're talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this machine ? ''
says McConville .
`` How many of these do you have ?
How many of those do you have ? ''
Gen. McConville says that 's the message he 'll carry back to Washington .
Defensive measures are all very well , but the army needs more testing machines if it hopes to better hold off the coronavirus .
And he realizes that he 's not alone .
Everyone — governor or mayor or even a general — wants more supplies .
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machines .

As America Socially Distances, The Army 'Tactically Disperses'
At the end of June, several thousand National Guardsmen from 15 states will descend on Fort Irwin in California's Mojave Desert for two months. The Army is already gaming out how to keep them healthy and able to train during the coronavirus pandemic.
toggle caption Tom Bowman/NPR
A sergeant barks out a command: "Soldiers completing the medical screening process come this way!"
The soldiers line up on a large concrete slab sheltered by a metal awning. All wear masks and stand 6 feet apart. A stiff desert wind picks up as a soldier gets ready for a quick health check.
One of the soldiers walks up to an Army medical technician.
"Are you experiencing any symptoms today, cough, shortness of breath or fever?" the technician asks.
"Negative," says the soldier, as the technician holds a hand held thermometer, close to his forehead.
The thermometer beeps, and she tells him he can go. No elevated temperature.
"OK you can face this line over here," she says.
If he'd popped hot, he'd be isolated from the other soldiers, taken for a virus test and maybe quarantined for two weeks. No training for him.
This is all a simulation. But the Army's top officer, Gen. Jim McConville, watches it all closely. And turns to an officer.
"You know we have to keep this as safe as we can when we bring the soldiers in," the general says.
McConville came up in the Army as a helicopter pilot and served a number of tours in Afghanistan, but in the last few months he's become well-versed on the virus, as well as such things as swabs and reagents and testing machines.
"We going to have to make sure we can test," he says to a staff officer. "They're coming from all over the place. We have to make sure we can do that."
These Guard soldiers will be the first to train here since March, when the coronavirus canceled and postponed field exercises for two other units.
The Army had to quickly adjust. Now all soldiers will be tested before they arrive. Buses bringing soldiers here will be half-full to allow for distancing. Tents will have fewer cots.
The officers walk into a massive tent the size of a high school gym. A sergeant major's voice echos as he points to the sea of green cots, all with the proper distancing.
"If you notice all the cots that are across here, there's 6-feet spacing now," he says to the visitors from the Pentagon. And soldiers will alternate how they sleep. No longer head-to-head.
"Head-to-foot to minimize impact," he says.
Army leaders like McConville are eager to start large-scale combat training again of brigades, a unit with some 4,000 soldiers. Another training base in Louisiana next month also will welcome back hundreds of soldiers to prepare for its mission to Afghanistan later this year.
McConville gives some advice to Brigadier Gen. Dave Lesperance, who commands Fort Irwin.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Bowman/NPR Tom Bowman/NPR
"And what I'm looking for is you have to minimize exposure, you really have to have social distancing," McConville says. "You really have to keep people apart, they have to wear their masks."
The National Guard soldiers will arrive here with their armor and artillery and head into a training area called "The Box." It's a sprawling desert expanse of mountains and hills the size of Rhode Island.
"The safest place for people to be will be in the desert," McConville says. "We call it social distancing in the civilian sector. You call it tactically dispersed out here. And they'll be tactically dispersed and they'll work through that."
There are some 4,000 soldiers permanently based at Fort Irwin, part of an opposition force, or Op For, that battles the visiting units. Their role is to play the enemy, and battle visiting units during simulations.
Back at a conference room, Gen. Lesperance said he's had just a handful of positive virus cases here. The military hospital on post is equipped with three machines that can quickly turnaround a virus test.
"Right now we can do a 144," he says. "We want to get to 1,000."
At this point if he wants to do a lot more tests, he has to turn to a private lab in Phoenix. But the turnaround time is two to seven days. Gen. McConville says that's too much time for an Army unit to stand idle.
The general shook his head. It wasn't long ago when the only talk at Fort Irwin was about weapons systems, how many rounds can it fire, and its range.
"Now we're talking about how many people can you test with this machine?" says McConville. "How many of these do you have? How many of those do you have?"
Gen. McConville says that's the message he'll carry back to Washington. Defensive measures are all very well, but the army needs more testing machines if it hopes to better hold off the coronavirus. And he realizes that he's not alone. Everyone — governor or mayor or even a general — wants more supplies.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said as training ramps up they will identify more machines.


npr--2020-05-29--IRS Rule Shift Lets Workers Make Benefits Changes Midyear — If Their Employer Agrees

IRS Rule Shift Lets Workers Make Benefits Changes Midyear — If Their Employer Agrees The economic upheaval and social disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic have upended the assumptions that many people made last fall about which insurance plan to sign up for or how much of their pretax wages to sock away in flexible spending accounts devoted to health care or dependent care .
You may find yourself in a high-priced health plan you can no longer afford because of a temporary pay cut , be unable to get the medical care you might have planned and budgeted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day care .
Normally you 'd be stuck with the choices you made unless you had a major life event such as losing your job , getting married or having a child .
But this year , things may be different .
This month , the IRS announced that it would let employees add , drop or alter some of their benefits for the remainder of 2020 .
But there 's a catch : Your employer has to allow the changes .
The new guidance applies to both employers that buy health insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay claims on their own , called self-insuring .
It 's unclear how many employers will take advantage of the new flexibility to offer what amounts to a midyear open-enrollment period .
If you 're wondering what your company will do , ask .
`` If a consumer finds themselves economically strapped and their finances have changed , and they 're in a situation where they really would like to rethink their coverage , they may want to approach their employer and see if they 're planning to adopt any of these changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partner at human resources consultancy Mercer .
Some health care policy experts are unimpressed with the new coverage options , noting that earlier this spring the Trump administration opted not to create a special enrollment period for uninsured workers to buy subsidized health insurance on the Affordable Care Act 's health insurance marketplaces .
`` It 's not likely that many people will take up this new coverage opportunity , and it wo n't address the problem of lack of coverage that many people are facing , '' says Sabrina Corlette , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Health Insurance Reforms .
Assuming you 're a worker who still has employer-sponsored coverage , here are examples of circumstances you may face and what the IRS changes could mean for you .
You want to switch to a cheaper plan to put more money into savings during these uncertain times .
Can you do that ?
If your employer decides to allow it , you can .
One consideration : If you switch plans midyear , you may have to start all over again with paying down your deductible and working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit for the year , says Katie Amin , a principal at Groom Law Group in Washington , D.C. , a firm that specializes in health care and benefits .
`` Some employer plans would credit you under the new option if you switched plans , '' Amin says .
`` It depends . ''
You 've got a high-deductible plan and are worried about high medical bills if you get COVID-19 .
Can you switch to a plan with more generous coverage ?
The IRS guidance allows it , but your employer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's impossible for workers or their bosses to know who will develop COVID-19 .
But the concern among employers is that people willing to pay more for generous coverage may be sicker and have higher health care costs than other workers , and therefore could cost the plan more — a phenomenon called adverse selection .
In addition to evaluating whether employees could benefit from midyear changes , an employer will weigh financial considerations , says Steven Wojcik , vice president of public policy at the Business Group on Health , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` What is the adverse-selection risk , and what is going to be the uptake [ in coverage ] if you open up enrollment ? ''
he says .
Under the new rules , if you have n't had health insurance on the job before but would like to sign up now , you can do that too , if your employer decides to permit it .
What if one spouse gets laid off but the other is still employed ?
Can the couple switch its family coverage to the employed spouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was already allowed before the new IRS guidance came out .
Under long-standing rules , if workers have a qualifying life event , they 're entitled to change their coverage during the year .
Can you drop your employer coverage altogether ?
Yes , if your employer permits it .
Normally , once you sign up for health insurance through your employer and agree to have your premiums deducted from your paychecks , you ca n't drop coverage during the year unless you experience a qualifying life event .
Under the new IRS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but only if you replace it with another form of comprehensive coverage , such as coverage through a health insurance exchange or Tricare , the military health insurance program .
One thing that wo n't qualify as comprehensive coverage , according to Amin : a short-term plan .
The Trump administration has encouraged the adoption of limited-duration plans with terms that can last for nearly a year .
But these plans do n't typically cover preventive care or preexisting conditions , and renewal is not guaranteed .
You 've put thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover day care expenses this year , but now the kids are home full time .
Can you change the amount ?
Yes , but once again this is allowed only if your employer agrees to it .
Likewise , if you want to increase your pretax contribution because you need to hire someone to care for your kids at home while you work , you can do that too .
You can also establish a new FSA for dependent care expenses in 2020 if you do n't already have one .
Employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5,000 annually into a dependent care FSA to pay for day care , preschool , after-school programs or summer camp .
`` Since it 's the employees ' money , my guess is employers will allow them to make changes , '' said David Speier , who is in charge of the benefit accounts group at human resources consultancy Willis Towers Watson .
You planned to use money left over in last year 's FSA to cover the cost of a medical procedure in early March .
But that procedure was postponed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've missed the March 15 deadline for using those funds .
Do you have any recourse ?
Under the new IRS guidance , employers can opt to extend the grace period for using leftover 2019 FSA funds through the end of 2020 .
Typically , those funds would have disappeared under `` use it or lose it '' rules if they had n't been used by March 15 .
In 2019 , the maximum pretax contribution to a health care FSA was $ 2,700 ; this year it 's $ 2,750 .
Similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care FSAs , employers can also decide to permit workers to prospectively decrease or rescind their elected health care FSA amounts altogether .
If you decide to stop contributing to your FSA , you can spend down the money that 's accumulated there on health care expenses , but you ca n't cash out the account , says Amin .
For example , if you 've accumulated $ 500 in your FSA , you can use that money for eyeglasses or other approved expenses through the end of the year .
But your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 outright , essentially cashing out the account .
Employers have expressed a lot of interest in implementing the flexible spending account changes , says Mercer 's Savan .
`` We expect them to have a lot of traction , '' he says .
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit , editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

IRS Rule Shift Lets Workers Make Benefits Changes Midyear — If Their Employer Agrees
Enlarge this image toggle caption Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images
The economic upheaval and social disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic have upended the assumptions that many people made last fall about which insurance plan to sign up for or how much of their pretax wages to sock away in flexible spending accounts devoted to health care or dependent care.
You may find yourself in a high-priced health plan you can no longer afford because of a temporary pay cut, be unable to get the medical care you might have planned and budgeted for or not be sending the kids to day care. Normally you'd be stuck with the choices you made unless you had a major life event such as losing your job, getting married or having a child. But this year, things may be different.
This month, the IRS announced that it would let employees add, drop or alter some of their benefits for the remainder of 2020. But there's a catch: Your employer has to allow the changes.
The new guidance applies to both employers that buy health insurance to cover their workers and those that pay claims on their own, called self-insuring. It's unclear how many employers will take advantage of the new flexibility to offer what amounts to a midyear open-enrollment period. If you're wondering what your company will do, ask.
"If a consumer finds themselves economically strapped and their finances have changed, and they're in a situation where they really would like to rethink their coverage, they may want to approach their employer and see if they're planning to adopt any of these changes," says Jay Savan, a partner at human resources consultancy Mercer.
Some health care policy experts are unimpressed with the new coverage options, noting that earlier this spring the Trump administration opted not to create a special enrollment period for uninsured workers to buy subsidized health insurance on the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplaces.
"It's not likely that many people will take up this new coverage opportunity, and it won't address the problem of lack of coverage that many people are facing," says Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
Assuming you're a worker who still has employer-sponsored coverage, here are examples of circumstances you may face and what the IRS changes could mean for you.
You want to switch to a cheaper plan to put more money into savings during these uncertain times. Can you do that?
If your employer decides to allow it, you can.
One consideration: If you switch plans midyear, you may have to start all over again with paying down your deductible and working toward reaching your annual out-of-pocket maximum spending limit for the year, says Katie Amin, a principal at Groom Law Group in Washington, D.C., a firm that specializes in health care and benefits.
"Some employer plans would credit you under the new option if you switched plans," Amin says. "It depends."
You've got a high-deductible plan and are worried about high medical bills if you get COVID-19. Can you switch to a plan with more generous coverage?
The IRS guidance allows it, but your employer probably won't, say experts. It's impossible for workers or their bosses to know who will develop COVID-19. But the concern among employers is that people willing to pay more for generous coverage may be sicker and have higher health care costs than other workers, and therefore could cost the plan more — a phenomenon called adverse selection.
In addition to evaluating whether employees could benefit from midyear changes, an employer will weigh financial considerations, says Steven Wojcik, vice president of public policy at the Business Group on Health, which represents large employers.
They'll ask, "What is the adverse-selection risk, and what is going to be the uptake [in coverage] if you open up enrollment?" he says.
Under the new rules, if you haven't had health insurance on the job before but would like to sign up now, you can do that too, if your employer decides to permit it.
What if one spouse gets laid off but the other is still employed? Can the couple switch its family coverage to the employed spouse's plan?
Yes. But this was already allowed before the new IRS guidance came out. Under long-standing rules, if workers have a qualifying life event, they're entitled to change their coverage during the year.
Can you drop your employer coverage altogether?
Yes, if your employer permits it. Normally, once you sign up for health insurance through your employer and agree to have your premiums deducted from your paychecks, you can't drop coverage during the year unless you experience a qualifying life event. Under the new IRS rules, you can drop your coverage, but only if you replace it with another form of comprehensive coverage, such as coverage through a health insurance exchange or Tricare, the military health insurance program.
One thing that won't qualify as comprehensive coverage, according to Amin: a short-term plan. The Trump administration has encouraged the adoption of limited-duration plans with terms that can last for nearly a year. But these plans don't typically cover preventive care or preexisting conditions, and renewal is not guaranteed.
You've put thousands of dollars into a flexible spending account to cover day care expenses this year, but now the kids are home full time. Can you change the amount?
Yes, but once again this is allowed only if your employer agrees to it. Likewise, if you want to increase your pretax contribution because you need to hire someone to care for your kids at home while you work, you can do that too. You can also establish a new FSA for dependent care expenses in 2020 if you don't already have one.
Employees are legally entitled to put up to $5,000 annually into a dependent care FSA to pay for day care, preschool, after-school programs or summer camp.
"Since it's the employees' money, my guess is employers will allow them to make changes," said David Speier, who is in charge of the benefit accounts group at human resources consultancy Willis Towers Watson.
You planned to use money left over in last year's FSA to cover the cost of a medical procedure in early March. But that procedure was postponed because of the coronavirus crisis and you've missed the March 15 deadline for using those funds. Do you have any recourse?
Under the new IRS guidance, employers can opt to extend the grace period for using leftover 2019 FSA funds through the end of 2020. Typically, those funds would have disappeared under "use it or lose it" rules if they hadn't been used by March 15. In 2019, the maximum pretax contribution to a health care FSA was $2,700; this year it's $2,750.
Similar to the changes now permitted for dependent care FSAs, employers can also decide to permit workers to prospectively decrease or rescind their elected health care FSA amounts altogether.
If you decide to stop contributing to your FSA, you can spend down the money that's accumulated there on health care expenses, but you can't cash out the account, says Amin. For example, if you've accumulated $500 in your FSA, you can use that money for eyeglasses or other approved expenses through the end of the year. But your employer can't give you the $500 outright, essentially cashing out the account.
Employers have expressed a lot of interest in implementing the flexible spending account changes, says Mercer's Savan.
"We expect them to have a lot of traction," he says.
Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


npr--2020-05-28--PHOTOS: Protests Over George Floyd's Death Escalate Into Violence, Destruction

Outrage , frustration and grief are driving hundreds of protesters into the streets of Minneapolis , St. Paul and Los Angeles after the death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man who died at the hands of white police officer on Monday .
Over the last few days demonstrations in Minnesota have evolved from peaceful cries for justice into violence and destruction .
Floyd 's arrest and final minutes of his life were captured in multiple videos that are circulating widely on social minutes .
In all versions , Floyd is pinned to the ground with his hands handcuffed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white officer is crushing his neck , as another officer stands a few feet away .
He is watching , seeming unfazed as the 46-year-old cries , `` I ca n't breathe . ''
Angry crowds have looted businesses and burned buildings to ashes .
Meanwhile , law enforcement has met the civil disorder with clouds of tear gas .
The unrest prompted Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz to activate the National Guard on Thursday to bring calm to the streets .
`` It is how we express pain , process tragedy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the act of protesting .
But he noted the urgency in responding to local leaders ' call for the National Guard `` to protect peaceful demonstrators , neighbors , and small businesses in Minnesota . ''
`` It is time to rebuild .
Rebuild the city , rebuild our justice system , and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they 're charged to protect , '' Walz added .
Lt. Gov .
Peggy Flanagan added that the purpose of the National Guard is to ensure safe demonstrations and to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and grief of this moment is unbearable .
People deserve to be seen .
People deserve to be heard .
People deserve to be safe , '' Flanagan said .
`` While many Minnesotans are taking extensive safety precautions while exercising their right to protest , the demonstration last night became incredibly unsafe for all involved , '' she added .
In all , four officers were involved in Floyd 's death .
All have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department .
Several investigations into their actions have been launched , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been filed .

PHOTOS: Protests Over George Floyd's Death Escalate Into Violence, Destruction
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kerem Yucel /AFP via Getty Images Kerem Yucel /AFP via Getty Images
Outrage, frustration and grief are driving hundreds of protesters into the streets of Minneapolis, Los Angeles and St. Paul, Minn., after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man whose arresting officer was recorded kneeling on his neck for minutes on end.
Over the past few days demonstrations in Minnesota have evolved from peaceful cries for justice into violence and destruction.
Floyd's arrest and final minutes of his life were captured in multiple videos that are circulating widely on social media. In all versions, Floyd is pinned to the ground with his hands handcuffed behind his back. The knee of a police officer is crushing his neck, as another officer stands a few feet away. He is watching, seeming unfazed as the 46-year-old cries, "I can't breathe."
Angry crowds have looted businesses and burned buildings. Meanwhile, law enforcement has met the civil disorder with clouds of tear gas.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
The unrest prompted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to activate the National Guard on Thursday to bring calm to the streets.
"It is how we express pain, process tragedy and create change," he said about the act of protesting.
But he noted the urgency in responding to local leaders' calls for the National Guard "to protect peaceful demonstrators, neighbors and small businesses in Minnesota."
"It is time to rebuild. Rebuild the city, rebuild our justice system and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they're charged to protect," Walz added.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan added that the purpose of the National Guard is to ensure safe demonstrations and to protect small-business owners.
"The anger and grief of this moment is unbearable. People deserve to be seen. People deserve to be heard. People deserve to be safe," Flanagan said.
"While many Minnesotans are taking extensive safety precautions while exercising their right to protest, the demonstration last night became incredibly unsafe for all involved," she added.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Mone/AP Jim Mone/AP
Enlarge this image toggle caption Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
In all, four officers were involved in Floyd's death. All have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department.
Several investigations into their actions have been launched, but as of Thursday, no charges have been filed.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images


npr--2020-05-29--Minneapolis Police Were Sued A Decade Ago In Similar Restraint Case

Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged today with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd .
Video of Chauvin , who is white , with his knee on the neck of Floyd , who is black , has caused days of protests and rioting in the Twin Cities and other communities across the country .
According to charging documents , an autopsy showed no evidence of strangulation or `` traumatic asphyxia , '' but it says being restrained by police , combined with Floyd 's underlying health problems , likely contributed to his death .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trained officers to be alert to the risk of what 's called `` positional asphyxia , '' the possibility that prolonged restraint of a suspect in a prone position can be deadly .
It 's a lesson some in the Minneapolis Police Department already learned once , 10 years ago .
Minneapolis paid out $ 3 million dollars to settle a lawsuit over the 2010 death of David Smith , 28 .
The young black man was mentally ill , his attorneys said , and died after officers Tasered him and then held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes .
One of them kept a knee on his back even after he stopped responding to questions .
The above video came from a personal camera carried by one of the officers , and was evidence in the lawsuit .
The attorney for Smith 's family , Bob Bennett , says the parallels between that video and the images of what happened to George Floyd are `` stark . ''
`` Both videos show an inhumanity and uncaringness that are quite frightening , I think , '' he says .
Bennett says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it pledged additional training for officers in how to restrain suspects more safely .
At the time he assumed the police department would follow through with the training , but now he 's not sure .
This kind of training has become more common in recent years , especially after the death of Eric Garner , who was tackled around the neck and held down by New York City police in 2014 .
His repeated cries of `` I ca n't breathe '' became a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter and police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media condemned the video of Floyd 's arrest , saying they 'd been trained never to knee a suspect in the neck , or maintain pressure on someone 's back longer than necessary .
Jack Ryan , a retired police captain with Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute , trains officers around the country .
He posted a video reminder for officers .
`` We ought to have it stamped , or maybe a tattoo , on the back of our hand , that as soon as the person is subdued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... .
get them into an upright position or on their side to facilitate breathing , '' he says in the video .
Ryan says this message has been muddied in recent years by dueling studies about whether positional asphyxia is a real threat .
Some courts have accepted arguments that it 's not a physiological reality , and one police academy trainer told NPR that he tells his cadets that positional asphyxia has been , quote , `` debunked . ''
In the U.S. , training and tactics are still largely defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to a lesser degree , state boards .
The result is a patchwork of approaches to questions like this .
`` Part of the problem is the lack of centralized , specific guidance , '' says Seth Stoughton , a former police officer who now specializes in questions of police use-of-force at the University of South Carolina Law School .
`` But I do n't think that 's the entire problem , '' he said .
`` I think part of the problem is also a very strong cultural resistance to criticizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most important failures in the Minneapolis video from Monday was the fact that other officers did not intervene or even appear to say anything to Chauvin as he knelt on Floyd 's neck .
Walter Katz , an expert in police reform and oversight with Arnold Ventures , says he 's even more dismayed by Chauvin 's indifference to the anguished complaints from bystanders .
`` People were yelling at him as to what he was doing , and he continued to do so , '' Katz says .
`` To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To me that is a reflection of a culture issue . ''
He says questions of tactics matter less here than the officers ' attitude toward the person being restrained .
`` If there 's a belief that some members of the community deserve less dignity than others , these types of things will keep on happening , '' Katz says .

Minneapolis Police Were Sued A Decade Ago In Similar Restraint Case
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Video of Chauvin, who is white, with his knee on the neck of Floyd, who is black, has caused days of protests and rioting in the Twin Cities and other communities across the country.
According to charging documents, an autopsy showed no evidence of strangulation or "traumatic asphyxia," but it says being restrained by police, combined with Floyd's underlying health problems, likely contributed to his death.
In recent years, many police departments have trained officers to be alert to the risk of what's called "positional asphyxia," the possibility that prolonged restraint of a suspect in a prone position can be deadly. It's a lesson some in the Minneapolis Police Department already learned once, 10 years ago.
Minneapolis paid out $3 million to settle a lawsuit over the 2010 death of David Smith, 28. The young black man was mentally ill, his attorneys said, and died after officers Tasered him and then held him facedown on the floor for several minutes. One of them kept a knee on his back even after he stopped responding to questions.
This video is excerpted from evidence presented in the court proceeding. As you can see in this video at 0:13, the officer is using a similar move-- a knee in the back of a man lying face down-- as officers used with George Floyd.
The above video came from a personal camera carried by one of the officers, and was evidence in the lawsuit. The attorney for Smith's family, Bob Bennett, says the parallels between that video and the images of what happened to George Floyd are "stark."
"Both videos show an inhumanity and uncaringness that are quite frightening, I think," he says.
Bennett says when Minneapolis settled the Smith case, it pledged additional training for officers in how to restrain suspects more safely. At the time he assumed the police department would follow through with the training, but now he's not sure.
This kind of training has become more common in recent years, especially after the death of Eric Garner, who was tackled around the neck and held down by New York City police in 2014. His repeated cries of "I can't breathe" became a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter and police reform.
This week, many police on social media condemned the video of Floyd's arrest, saying they'd been trained never to knee a suspect in the neck, or maintain pressure on someone's back longer than necessary.
Jack Ryan, a retired police captain with Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute, trains officers around the country. He posted a video reminder for officers.
"We ought to have it stamped, or maybe a tattoo, on the back of our hand, that as soon as the person is subdued or restrained, then get off them.... get them into an upright position or on their side to facilitate breathing," he says in the video.
Ryan says this message has been muddied in recent years by dueling studies about whether positional asphyxia is a real threat. Some courts have accepted arguments that it's not a physiological reality, and one police academy trainer told NPR that he tells his cadets that positional asphyxia has been "debunked."
In the U.S., training and tactics are still largely defined by local departments, police academies and, to a lesser degree, state boards. The result is a patchwork of approaches to questions like this.
"Part of the problem is the lack of centralized, specific guidance," says Seth Stoughton, a former police officer who now specializes in questions of police use-of-force at the University of South Carolina Law School.
"But I don't think that's the entire problem," he said. "I think part of the problem is also a very strong cultural resistance to criticizing other cops."
Stoughton says one of the most important failures in the Minneapolis video from Monday was the fact that other officers did not intervene or even appear to say anything to Chauvin as he knelt on Floyd's neck.
Walter Katz, an expert in police reform and oversight with Arnold Ventures, says he's even more dismayed by Chauvin's indifference to the anguished complaints from bystanders.
"People were yelling at him as to what he was doing, and he continued to do so," Katz says. "To me that is not a training issue. To me that is a reflection of a culture issue."
He says questions of tactics matter less here than the officers' attitude toward the person being restrained.
"If there's a belief that some members of the community deserve less dignity than others, these types of things will keep on happening," Katz says.


npr--2020-05-29--Justice Department Says Maine's 2-Week Quarantine Rule Discriminates Against Tourists

The U.S. Department of Justice is siding with campground and restaurant owners in Maine who sued the state over a two-week self-quarantine policy for out-of-state visitors .
Democratic Gov .
Janet Mills imposed the restriction as part the state 's response to the ongoing pandemic .
Several other states have imposed similar measures .
In a brief filed on behalf of Bayley 's Campground in Scarborough and other plaintiffs , attorneys with the Department of Justice , including the U.S. attorney for Maine , said the government is getting involved because of its `` compelling interest in protecting the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free from unjustified discrimination on the basis of state residency . ''
In this case , the federal attorneys said Maine has likely exceeded the Constitution 's limits by discriminating between Mainers and people from out of state , with respect to the ability to patronize campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks .
The government 's statement noted that the order does n't require all nonresidents to go into quarantine .
`` As far as public safety goes , it is unclear why out-of-state residents may enter Maine to engage in any 'legal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance services , ' for example , but not to patronize a campground or RV park .
...
If Maine wants to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , one would think it would start by preventing outsiders from attending a boardroom meeting , not from pitching a tent . ''
In response , Mills said in a statement she is `` deeply disappointed and frankly disgusted – that the U.S Department of Justice is making a concerted effort to undermine the health of the people of Maine . ''
Mills pointed out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President and his own task force took steps to limit travel . ''
`` Maintaining the 14-day quarantine ... has never been about anything other than protecting the health and safety of Maine people at a time when millions are expected to flock to our state from COVID-19 hot spots , '' Mills said .
`` I imagine it is for this same reason that so many other governors have enacted similar measures . ''
On Friday , the judge rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction against the governor 's orders @

Justice Department Says Maine's 2-Week Quarantine Rule Discriminates Against Tourists
Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert F. Bukaty/AP Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Updated at 8:13 p.m. ET
The U.S. Department of Justice is siding with campground and restaurant owners in Maine who sued the state over a two-week self-quarantine policy for out-of-state visitors.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills imposed the restriction as part the state's response to the ongoing pandemic. Several other states have imposed similar measures.
In a brief filed on behalf of Bayley's Campground in Scarborough and other plaintiffs, attorneys with the Department of Justice, including the U.S. attorney for Maine, said the government is getting involved because of its "compelling interest in protecting the public and citizens' constitutional right to be free from unjustified discrimination on the basis of state residency."
In this case, the federal attorneys said Maine has likely exceeded the Constitution's limits by discriminating between Mainers and people from out of state, with respect to the ability to patronize campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks.
The government's statement noted that the order doesn't require all nonresidents to go into quarantine. "As far as public safety goes, it is unclear why out-of-state residents may enter Maine to engage in any 'legal, business, professional, environmental permitting and insurance services,' for example, but not to patronize a campground or RV park. ... If Maine wants to prevent the spread of COVID-19, one would think it would start by preventing outsiders from attending a boardroom meeting, not from pitching a tent."
In response, Mills said in a statement she is "deeply disappointed and frankly disgusted – that the U.S Department of Justice is making a concerted effort to undermine the health of the people of Maine."
Mills pointed out that these objections "were never raised when the President and his own task force took steps to limit travel."
"Maintaining the 14-day quarantine ... has never been about anything other than protecting the health and safety of Maine people at a time when millions are expected to flock to our state from COVID-19 hot spots," Mills said. "I imagine it is for this same reason that so many other governors have enacted similar measures."
On Friday, the judge rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction against the governor's orders.


npr--2020-05-29--Trump Says U.S. Will Withdraw From WHO. Does He Have The Authority To Do It?

Trump Says U.S. Will Withdraw From WHO .
Does He Have The Authority To Do It ?
President Trump has announced that he is immediately halting the decades-long U.S. membership in the World Health Organization over its response to China 's handling of the coronavirus epidemic .
In a press briefing Friday at the White House , Trump said , `` We will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs . ''
Trump said the decision came because WHO has `` failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week , Trump sent a letter to WHO 's director-general , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , outlining his views on how the agency favors China and asking the organization to `` commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days . ''
It 's not clear what specific reforms the U.S. has requested , because those discussions have not been made public .
Nor did Trump say why he acted on the threat after one week rather than waiting a month .
The U.S. was a major force in founding WHO in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funder , providing around $ 450 million a year , according to Trump .
The level of funding the U.S. provides to WHO has been a sore spot for Trump , who complained at the briefing that the U.S. pays significantly more than China but does not wield more power in the agency .
Global health experts said the president 's choice to leave the global health governing body during a pandemic is a dangerous call .
`` This decision is really so short-sighted and ill-advised , and all it does is put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Howard Koh , former assistant secretary for health in the Obama administration and now a professor at Harvard 's T. H. Chan School of Public Health .
`` I disagree with the president 's decision , '' said Sen. Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. , chairman of the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee , in a statement after the announcement .
`` Withdrawing U.S. membership could , among other things , interfere with clinical trials that are essential to the development of vaccines , which citizens of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world need .
And withdrawing could make it harder to work with other countries to stop viruses before they get to the United States . ''
Dr. Tom Frieden , former head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , noted : `` The United States helped create the World Health Organization .
And we 're turning our back on it — we 're turning our back on the world .
That makes us less safe , it makes the world less safe .
`` Every country in the world has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perhaps the United States will not . ''
It 's questionable whether the president can make a unilateral decision to withdraw from WHO .
`` It is an overreach of his constitutional powers , '' said Larry Gostin , director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University .
Gostin said he believes that the president may need congressional approval to terminate U.S. membership in the U.N. agency .
`` The only situation where he can do this is if Congress had agreed beforehand to give these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelley Lee , a professor of public health at Simon Fraser University .
`` It is the role of legal advisers to inform the president on what authority he can exert .
He is either not receiving good advice or not listening to it . ''
If the president follows through , Congress could sue him in federal court over the matter , Gostin said , but Trump will still have succeeded in halting U.S. funding until the courts decide .
`` It 's a monumental decision , '' Gostin said , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the epicenter of the pandemic moves to low- and middle-income countries where WHO 's efforts to stem the pandemic are crucial .
`` To have that disruption and delay is unforgivable , '' he said , `` It will cost lives . ''

WHO's Measured Reaction To Trump's Pledge To Cut U.S. Ties To The Agency
Enlarge this image toggle caption Denis Balibouse/Reuters Denis Balibouse/Reuters
This story was updated on June 1 to include WHO's reaction from its daily press conference.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said he learned of President Trump's intentions of "terminating" the decades-long U.S. relationship with WHO through Trump's press briefing on Friday.
"The U.S. government's and its people's contribution and generosity toward global health over many decades has been immense, and it has made a great difference in public health all around the world. It is WHO's wish for this collaboration to continue," Tedros said at a press conference Monday, offering no further comments when pressed.
At a press briefing Friday in the Rose Garden, Trump announced he was halting U.S. funding and membership in WHO over its response to China's handling of the coronavirus epidemic.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images
"We will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs," Trump said.
The decision came because WHO has "failed to make" reforms the U.S. requested, according to Trump. On May 18, the president sent a letter to Tedros outlining his views on how the agency favors China and asking the organization to "commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days." It's not clear what specific reforms the U.S. has requested, because those discussions have not been made public. Nor did Trump say why he acted on the threat after one week rather than waiting a month.
The U.S. was a major force in founding WHO in 1948 and is the organization's top funder, providing around $450 million a year, according to Trump. The level of funding the U.S. provides to WHO has been a sore spot for Trump, who complained at Friday's briefing that the U.S. pays significantly more than China but does not wield more power in the agency.
Global health experts said the president's choice to leave the global health governing body during a pandemic is a dangerous call. "This decision is really so short-sighted and ill-advised, and all it does is put American lives at risk," said Dr. Howard Koh, former assistant secretary for health in the Obama administration and now a professor at Harvard's T. H. Chan School of Public Health.
"I disagree with the president's decision," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, in a statement after the announcement. "Withdrawing U.S. membership could, among other things, interfere with clinical trials that are essential to the development of vaccines, which citizens of the United States as well as others in the world need. And withdrawing could make it harder to work with other countries to stop viruses before they get to the United States."
Dr. Tom Frieden, former head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noted: "The United States helped create the World Health Organization. And we're turning our back on it — we're turning our back on the world. That makes us less safe, it makes the world less safe.
"Every country in the world has a veto at WHO — except now, perhaps the United States will not."
It's questionable whether the president can make a unilateral decision to withdraw from WHO.
"It is an overreach of his constitutional powers," said Larry Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Gostin said he believes that the president may need congressional approval to terminate U.S. membership in the U.N. agency.
"The only situation where he can do this is if Congress had agreed beforehand to give these powers to the president," said Kelley Lee, a professor of public health at Simon Fraser University. "It is the role of legal advisers to inform the president on what authority he can exert. He is either not receiving good advice or not listening to it."
If the president follows through, Congress could sue him in federal court over the matter, Gostin said, but Trump will still have succeeded in halting U.S. funding until the courts decide.
"It's a monumental decision," Gostin said, and one that in his view is ill-timed as the epicenter of the pandemic moves to low- and middle-income countries where WHO's efforts to stem the pandemic are crucial. "To have that disruption and delay is unforgivable," he said, "It will cost lives."


npr--2020-05-29--Missouri's Only Clinic That Provides Abortions Allowed To Remain Open

Missouri 's Only Clinic That Provides Abortions Allowed To Remain Open Planned Parenthood scored a victory in Missouri on Friday in a ruling that allowed the state 's only abortion provider to keep its doors open .
In a 97-page decision , a state administrative commission said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services wrongfully denied the reproductive health organization a license renewal for a St. Louis clinic in 2019 .
`` Planned Parenthood has demonstrated that it provides safe and legal abortion care , '' Administrative Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi wrote .
`` In over 4,000 abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only identified two causes to deny its license , '' Dandamudi explained , adding that the organization has `` substantially complied with pertinent statutes and regulations . ''
After exhaustive analysis , Rao said `` the Department has failed to raise an affirmative defense sufficient to justify this denial . ''
Yamelsie Rodríguez , president and CEO of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region , called the ruling a vindication for the organization and its patients .
`` But the reality is , abortion has essentially become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she added in a statement .
She continued : `` Missouri 's medically unnecessary requirements , two in-person trips to the health center at least 72 hours apart , a ban on using telehealth for an abortion and a needless invasive pelvic exam for medication abortion still make it extraordinarily difficult for people to access care in Missouri . ''
As NPR 's Sarah McCammon reported , abortion procedures in the state have come to a virtual halt : Meanwhile , anti-abortion rights groups are dismayed by Rao 's findings .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all concerned about protecting the health and safety of our families , friends , co-workers and communities , a single commissioner makes a ruling to allow the killing of innocent little lives by an uncaring abortion industry business , '' said Susan Klein , executive director of Missouri Right to Life .
`` Apparently protecting the health and safety of women and unborn children is not a priority for him or them . ''
Klein said the organization would review the details of Rao 's decision in the coming week and urged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their behalf .
It is unclear if that office intends to step in to reverse the license renewal .

Missouri's Only Clinic That Provides Abortions Allowed To Remain Open
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Roberson/AP Jeff Roberson/AP
Planned Parenthood scored a victory in Missouri on Friday in a ruling that allowed the state's only abortion provider to keep its doors open.
In a 97-page decision, a state administrative commission said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services wrongfully denied the reproductive health organization a license renewal for a St. Louis clinic in 2019.
"Planned Parenthood has demonstrated that it provides safe and legal abortion care," Administrative Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi wrote.
"In over 4,000 abortions provided since 2018, the Department has only identified two causes to deny its license," Dandamudi explained, adding that the organization has "substantially complied with pertinent statutes and regulations."
After exhaustive analysis, Rao said "the Department has failed to raise an affirmative defense sufficient to justify this denial."
Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, called the ruling a vindication for the organization and its patients.
"But the reality is, abortion has essentially become a right in name only in Missouri," she added in a statement.
She continued: "Missouri's medically unnecessary requirements, two in-person trips to the health center at least 72 hours apart, a ban on using telehealth for an abortion and a needless invasive pelvic exam for medication abortion still make it extraordinarily difficult for people to access care in Missouri."
As NPR's Sarah McCammon reported, abortion procedures in the state have come to a virtual halt:
"A new analysis provided to NPR by Planned Parenthood suggests that already very few abortions are being performed in Missouri. It shows that the vast majority of patients in Missouri seeking abortions have begun crossing state lines to obtain it — many of them traveling to a new Planned Parenthood clinic in Fairview Heights, Ill., near St. Louis, that opened in October."
Meanwhile, anti-abortion rights groups are dismayed by Rao's findings.
"In a challenging time when we are all concerned about protecting the health and safety of our families, friends, co-workers and communities, a single commissioner makes a ruling to allow the killing of innocent little lives by an uncaring abortion industry business," said Susan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right to Life. "Apparently protecting the health and safety of women and unborn children is not a priority for him or them."
Klein said the organization would review the details of Rao's decision in the coming week and urged the state's attorney general to intervene on their behalf.
It is unclear if that office intends to step in to reverse the license renewal.


npr--2020-05-29--George Floyd and Derek Chauvin Were Once Co-Workers, Ex-Club Owner Tells TV Station

George Floyd and Derek Chauvin Were Once Co-Workers , Ex-Club Owner Tells TV Station George Floyd and Derek Chauvin , the former Minneapolis police officer charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd 's death , worked together at a Minneapolis club as recently as last year , according to a report from local television station KSTP .
Maya Santamaria , former owner of El Nuevo Rodeo , said that both Floyd and Chauvin worked security at the club .
She said that the two could have crossed paths , though Chauvin mostly worked outside as an off-duty officer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bouncer .
She was n't sure if they knew each other .
`` Chauvin was our off-duty police for almost the entirety of the 17 years that we were open , '' Santamaria told KSTP .
`` They were working together at the same time , it 's just that Chauvin worked outside and the security guards were inside . ''
Santamaria also told the TV station that Chauvin `` had a real short fuse , '' adding that he often pulled out mace and pepper spray when she thought it was unwarranted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook to lament the burning down of the building that houses the local Spanish-language radio station La Raza .
Santamaria is listed as the CEO of the radio station , which appears to be in the same building as El Nuevo Rodeo .
The building that housed La Raza and El Nuevo Rodeo is a couple of blocks away from a Target store protesters looted earlier this week .
`` Such sad news to wake up and know that all your business and work was destroyed by the vandalizers , '' Santamaria wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We did n't manage to rescue anything .
My heart is in mourning today . ''
NPR has tried to reach Santamaria by phone , email and Facebook but has not received a response .

George Floyd and Derek Chauvin Were Once Co-Workers, Ex-Club Owner Tells TV Station
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Mone/AP Jim Mone/AP
George Floyd and Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd's death, worked together at a Minneapolis club as recently as last year, according to a report from local television station KSTP.
Maya Santamaria, former owner of El Nuevo Rodeo, said that both Floyd and Chauvin worked security at the club. She said that the two could have crossed paths, though Chauvin mostly worked outside as an off-duty officer, while Floyd primarily was inside as a bouncer. She wasn't sure if they knew each other.
"Chauvin was our off-duty police for almost the entirety of the 17 years that we were open," Santamaria told KSTP. "They were working together at the same time, it's just that Chauvin worked outside and the security guards were inside."
Santamaria also told the TV station that Chauvin "had a real short fuse," adding that he often pulled out mace and pepper spray when she thought it was unwarranted.
Earlier Friday, Santamaria took to Facebook to lament the burning down of the building that houses the local Spanish-language radio station La Raza. Santamaria is listed as the CEO of the radio station, which appears to be in the same building as El Nuevo Rodeo.
The building that housed La Raza and El Nuevo Rodeo is a couple of blocks away from a Target store protesters looted earlier this week.
"Such sad news to wake up and know that all your business and work was destroyed by the vandalizers," Santamaria wrote in Spanish in a Facebook post. "We didn't manage to rescue anything. My heart is in mourning today."
NPR has tried to reach Santamaria by phone, email and Facebook but has not received a response.


npr--2020-05-29--Tracee Ellis Ross Can Hit The High Notes, Too

Tracee Ellis Ross Can Hit The High Notes , Too Over her decades-long career , Tracee Ellis Ross has starred in beloved shows such as Black-ish and Girlfriends .
But as she sees it , her latest role is her most daunting one yet .
In The High Note , available to stream on Apple TV on May 29 , she plays a superstar singer named Grace Jones , who 's facing career stagnancy .
Meanwhile , Jones ' personal assistant Maggie ( played by Dakota Johnson ) has musical ambitions of her own as an aspiring producer .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she told me that at the beginning of the movie , Grace finds herself at a crossroads .
Does she keep doing the same song-and-dance over and over or does she take a risk and produce an album with all new material ?
`` First of all , it was so identifiable for me , '' Ross says .
`` But Grace Davis is this woman who has reached huge success and she got trapped in something that worked and was giving her all of the people , places and things but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what she really wanted to be sharing . ''
NPR 's Ailsa Chang spoke with Tracee Ellis Ross about fulfilling a life-long dream of singing , gate-keeping in the music industry and what her mom , singer Diana Ross , thinks of her latest endeavor .
Listen in the audio player above and read on for highlights of the interview .
On the message of The High Point What was really interesting to me about this story is how universally identifiable it is .
I 'm not , and most people are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the story , but the fact that so often we get to this place where we have a dream , a passion , a fire that we want to explore or experience and we either hear the naysayers , the societal pull to stay in your lane , or the personal fear of what it would mean to take a risk and possibly fail .
And I really connected to that personally , with the singing .
I 've always wanted to sing since I was a little girl , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of me away .
But also in my life , there are so many times where I go , `` Is it worth the risk for me to do something that I know I want to try ? ''
When you 're already practiced at being at who you are , it 's hard to put yourself in a position where you 're going to flail about .
No one likes to fail , and yet the failing is the thing that makes us grow .
On the relationship between Grace and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much is that this is a movie about two women and they 're not pitted against each other .
They 're definitely in their roles and in the positions that they 're in with each other , but there 's a safety between them and they 're both fighting against the same thing : the world 's idea of who they should be .
There 's not many female music producers .
And Maggie is trying to do something in a world that thinks she should be bringing them coffee .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young girl in the music world , is to be the one that 's servicing the people that are at the board .
And Grace , we know what her journey is .
So I love that dynamic in the movie because the truth is , it so much mirrors and reflects the life that I live and the people that I 'm around .
My mom is an international treasure and has had great influence on my life and many people 's and has touched us deeply .
I think the thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role was written , which was one of the many things that drew me to it , is that so often in our culture we forget that those people that do incredible things , that touch us deeply and have such a big impact on our lives , are real people .
That they 're human beings with hearts and fears and insecurities .
And Grace was so beautifully written in that she was n't a caricature of that quote-unquote diva .
On being terrified to sing The initial fear comes from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very large voice , and her space in the world is taken up and she 's known because of her voice .
So to step into my own voice , the fear of comparison , the fear of criticism felt daunting and huge .
I had , on my journey in life , seen other children of [ musicians ] be shredded to pieces in terms of comparison , and why would you even try to take this leap ?
I understood that the fear that I have I came by honestly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up .
It was sort of like , could I tolerate the criticism and discomfort without it creating another wound in and of itself , and was it worth taking that risk ?
And it absolutely is and was , because it was a fire burning inside me , and it is a piece of my identity that for me , on my own personal journey , which is to wholeness and freedom , is an important element of me walking towards that , and not closing the door on any parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to walk through .
On recording in a studio for the first time The process in the recording studio was crazy .
I 'm a person who thinks I can sing , but I sing in the shower , I sing with the music in the car , I sing around the house , I sing jokingly , all of those things .
So when I went into the studio with Rodney Jerkins , the first thing he said was `` You 're going to have to trust me . ''
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sure . ''
The first thing that happened was I got terrified and I shut down .
And what I learned and have understood is vocal chords are a muscle ; if you are tense , nothing is going to come out of you .
You know when you 're nervous , how you ca n't hear , your brain is like , clogged with fear ?
So I said , `` You know what ?
I have to go to the bathroom . ''
And I went to the bathroom — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bathroom — and I got down on my knees and I was talking to some higher power and I was like , `` Listen I 'm terrified and I need to give this over to somebody else . ''
And then I had a conversation with the little girl inside me .
I was like , `` This is what you 've wanted .
And I know that it 's scary , but let 's get out of our way , let 's just try it . ''
And so I went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he first played me `` Back To Me , '' and I said to Rodney , `` No way .
You promise me you did n't put any sauce on it ? ''
He 's like , `` There 's no sauce on this — I would n't have even had time to put sauce on it between you coming out of the booth and coming in here to hear it . ''
Not only did it sound good and I was on key , it sounded like me !
I realized I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sound like anybody else .
It would actually be weird if I sounded like someone other than me .
My job was actually to tell the truth through my voice .
Yes , I surprised myself and I was really tickled by the fact that it sounds like my talking voice , just a singing version of it .
On her mom hearing her music for the first time My mom has not seen the movie but my mom has heard my music and she cried .
It was really special .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we sat in our driveway because the car is a really great place to listen to music .
`` Love Myself '' was the first one I played .
She sat in the passenger seat and she was looking forward and she has lots of hair like me so I could n't see her face .
But we were holding hands , and when the song finished she was like `` Stop it , stop it for a second . ''
She looked at me and there were tears all over her face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mallory Yu and Sarah Handel produced and edited the audio of this interview .
Mano Sundaresan adapted it for the Web .

Tracee Ellis Ross Can Hit The High Notes, Too
Enlarge this image toggle caption Maarten de Boer/Courtesy of the artist Maarten de Boer/Courtesy of the artist
Over her decades-long career, Tracee Ellis Ross has starred in beloved shows such as Black-ish and Girlfriends. But as she sees it, her latest role is her most daunting one yet. In The High Note, available to stream on Apple TV on May 29, she plays a superstar singer named Grace Davis, who's facing career stagnancy. Meanwhile, Davis' personal assistant Maggie (played by Dakota Johnson) has musical ambitions of her own as an aspiring producer.
When I spoke with Ross the other day, she told me that at the beginning of the movie, Grace finds herself at a crossroads. Does she keep doing the same song-and-dance over and over or does she take a risk and produce an album with all new material?
"First of all, it was so identifiable for me," Ross says. "But Grace Davis is this woman who has reached huge success and she got trapped in something that worked and was giving her all of the people, places and things but wasn't giving her the fulfillment of what she really wanted to be sharing."
NPR's Ailsa Chang spoke with Tracee Ellis Ross about fulfilling a life-long dream of singing, gate-keeping in the music industry and what her mom, singer Diana Ross, thinks of her latest endeavor. Listen in the audio player above and read on for highlights of the interview.
YouTube
Interview Highlights
On the message of The High Note
What was really interesting to me about this story is how universally identifiable it is. I'm not, and most people are not, international icons. So not that part of the story, but the fact that so often we get to this place where we have a dream, a passion, a fire that we want to explore or experience and we either hear the naysayers, the societal pull to stay in your lane, or the personal fear of what it would mean to take a risk and possibly fail. And I really connected to that personally, with the singing. I've always wanted to sing since I was a little girl, and somewhere along the way I hid that part of me away. But also in my life, there are so many times where I go, "Is it worth the risk for me to do something that I know I want to try?" When you're already practiced at being at who you are, it's hard to put yourself in a position where you're going to flail about. No one likes to fail, and yet the failing is the thing that makes us grow.
On the relationship between Grace and Maggie
One of the things I love so much is that this is a movie about two women and they're not pitted against each other. They're definitely in their roles and in the positions that they're in with each other, but there's a safety between them and they're both fighting against the same thing: the world's idea of who they should be. There's not many female music producers. And Maggie is trying to do something in a world that thinks she should be bringing them coffee. That's the appropriate place for an attractive young girl in the music world, is to be the one that's servicing the people that are at the board. And Grace, we know what her journey is. So I love that dynamic in the movie because the truth is, it so much mirrors and reflects the life that I live and the people that I'm around.
On people inevitably comparing Diana Ross to Grace Davis
My mom is an international treasure and has had great influence on my life and many people's and has touched us deeply. I think the thing that was really interesting about how this role was written, which was one of the many things that drew me to it, is that so often in our culture we forget that those people that do incredible things, that touch us deeply and have such a big impact on our lives, are real people. That they're human beings with hearts and fears and insecurities. And Grace was so beautifully written in that she wasn't a caricature of that quote-unquote diva.
On being terrified to sing
The initial fear comes from the idea that that my mother has a very large voice, and her space in the world is taken up and she's known because of her voice. So to step into my own voice, the fear of comparison, the fear of criticism felt daunting and huge. I had, on my journey in life, seen other children of [musicians] be shredded to pieces in terms of comparison, and why would you even try to take this leap? I understood that the fear that I have I came by honestly. It wasn't something that I had made up. It was sort of like, could I tolerate the criticism and discomfort without it creating another wound in and of itself, and was it worth taking that risk? And it absolutely is and was, because it was a fire burning inside me, and it is a piece of my identity that for me, on my own personal journey, which is to wholeness and freedom, is an important element of me walking towards that, and not closing the door on any parts of myself even if it is terrifying to walk through.
YouTube
On recording in a studio for the first time
The process in the recording studio was crazy. I'm a person who thinks I can sing, but I sing in the shower, I sing with the music in the car, I sing around the house, I sing jokingly, all of those things. So when I went into the studio with Rodney Jerkins, the first thing he said was "You're going to have to trust me." And I was like [sarcastically] "Okay, sure." The first thing that happened was I got terrified and I shut down. And what I learned and have understood is vocal chords are a muscle; if you are tense, nothing is going to come out of you. You know when you're nervous, how you can't hear, your brain is like, clogged with fear? So I said, "You know what? I have to go to the bathroom." And I went to the bathroom — I didn't have to go to the bathroom — and I got down on my knees and I was talking to some higher power and I was like, "Listen I'm terrified and I need to give this over to somebody else." And then I had a conversation with the little girl inside me. I was like, "This is what you've wanted. And I know that it's scary, but let's get out of our way, let's just try it."
And so I went back in. Then I remember when he first played me "Back To Me," and I said to Rodney, "No way. You promise me you didn't put any sauce on it?" He's like, "There's no sauce on this — I wouldn't have even had time to put sauce on it between you coming out of the booth and coming in here to hear it." Not only did it sound good and I was on key, it sounded like me! I realized I realized that my job was not to sound like anybody else. It would actually be weird if I sounded like someone other than me. My job was actually to tell the truth through my voice. Yes, I surprised myself and I was really tickled by the fact that it sounds like my talking voice, just a singing version of it.
On her mom hearing her music for the first time
My mom has not seen the movie but my mom has heard my music and she cried. It was really special. I picked her up in my car and we sat in our driveway because the car is a really great place to listen to music. "Love Myself" was the first one I played. She sat in the passenger seat and she was looking forward and she has lots of hair like me so I couldn't see her face. But we were holding hands, and when the song finished she was like "Stop it, stop it for a second." She looked at me and there were tears all over her face and she said "Finally. Finally."
Mallory Yu and Sarah Handel produced and edited the audio of this interview. Mano Sundaresan adapted it for the Web.