npr--2020-10-28--2020 Not Scary Enough? Try A Haunted Car Wash

2020 Not Scary Enough ?
Try A Haunted Car Wash It 's just a few days until Halloween , and with coronavirus infection rates climbing again , the prospect of trick-or-treating is looking more and more grim for kids with cautious parents , or those taking advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
And the old Halloween standby — the haunted house — which is a scary place any year , does n't feel safe to many people this year , even with a mask .
But there is one type of business providing a frighteningly good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through car wash .
In cities across the country , car wash owners have embraced the idea .
It 's not exactly a new thing , and while no one is officially keeping track , `` There are definitely more this year , `` says Rich DiPaolo , associate publisher at Professional Carwashing & Detailing Magazine .
`` I love Halloween , '' said Prashant Patel , who owns the Wash Doctor Carwash , in Birmingham , Ala. , as as hundreds of cars lined up last weekend to get spooked .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option for Halloween this year . ''
`` Haunted car wash tunnels are COVID- friendly , '' Patel 's wife and co-owner Mittel Patel added .
`` You know , nobody 's actually coming to touch you , grab you , or anything .
You 're in your car , throughout the whole process , you 're sitting in your car . ''
Unless , of course , your window is open .
`` Now our staff , if you roll your windows down , will , you know , try to reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't pull you out or anything . ''
The Patel 's car wash has strobe lights , signs , and creepy clowns and characters walking around and in between cars waiting to go through the tunnel .
There is Pennywise , the clown from Stephen King 's book and movie It , Jason from Friday the 13th , and , of course Michael Myers , from the movie Halloween .
Not to mention someone in a bunny head wielding a chainsaw .
Once a driver edges into the tunnel and puts the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanism takes over and the driver must surrender all control to the haunted car wash .
The red neon lights make the water falling down look like blood , as it mixes with the soap and creates a crimson foam , that slides down the windshield like a scene in a horror movie .
The Patels promise a free shampoo for anyone who wets their seat .
Becoming scary is a way for car wash businesses to recoup some of the money lost earlier this year when the shutdown began .
The Patels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a family-run business and they did n't have to let any employees go .
They 're donating some of the proceeds to charity .
But just giving Halloween fans a new option for celebrating this year could be considered worthy , in and of itself .
And , customers drive away with a clean car .

2020 Not Scary Enough? Try A Haunted Car Wash
Enlarge this image toggle caption Melanie Peeples/NPR Melanie Peeples/NPR
It's just a few days until Halloween, and with coronavirus infection rates climbing again, the prospect of trick-or-treating is looking more and more grim for kids with cautious parents, or those taking advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And the old Halloween standby — the haunted house — which is a scary place any year, doesn't feel safe to many people this year, even with a mask. But there is one type of business providing a frighteningly good good time for everyone: The drive through car wash.
In cities across the country, car wash owners have embraced the idea. It's not exactly a new thing, and while no one is officially keeping track, "There are definitely more this year, " says Rich DiPaolo, associate publisher at Professional Carwashing & Detailing Magazine.
"I love Halloween," said Prashant Patel, who owns the Wash Doctor Carwash, in Birmingham, Ala., as as hundreds of cars lined up last weekend to get spooked. "We're gonna give everyone an option for Halloween this year."
"Haunted car wash tunnels are COVID- friendly," Patel's wife and co-owner Mittel Patel added. "You know, nobody's actually coming to touch you, grab you, or anything. You're in your car, throughout the whole process, you're sitting in your car."
Unless, of course, your window is open.
toggle caption Melanie Peeples/NPR
"Now our staff, if you roll your windows down, will, you know, try to reach in and grab you, but they won't pull you out or anything."
The Patel's car wash has strobe lights, signs, and creepy clowns and characters walking around and in between cars waiting to go through the tunnel. There is Pennywise, the clown from Stephen King's book and movie It, Jason from Friday the 13th, and, of course Michael Myers, from the movie Halloween. Not to mention someone in a bunny head wielding a chainsaw.
Once a driver edges into the tunnel and puts the car in neutral, the car wash mechanism takes over and the driver must surrender all control to the haunted car wash. The red neon lights make the water falling down look like blood, as it mixes with the soap and creates a crimson foam, that slides down the windshield like a scene in a horror movie.
The Patels promise a free shampoo for anyone who wets their seat.
Becoming scary is a way for car wash businesses to recoup some of the money lost earlier this year when the shutdown began. The Patels say they are lucky. Theirs is a family-run business and they didn't have to let any employees go. They're donating some of the proceeds to charity. But just giving Halloween fans a new option for celebrating this year could be considered worthy, in and of itself.
And, customers drive away with a clean car.


npr--2020-10-28--A Pandemic Sticker Shock: Used-Car Prices Are Through The Roof

A Pandemic Sticker Shock : Used-Car Prices Are Through The Roof Aaron Springer of Odenton , Md.
, was n't looking to sell his 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen , which he bought used a couple of years ago .
`` I love this car , '' he says .
But Springer heard the used-car market was hot , so he decided he might as well check .
To his astonishment , used-car site Carvana offered him $ 1,500 more than he paid for the vehicle in 2018 .
`` I mean , it 's just too good of a price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Add used-car values to the list of things turned topsy-turvy in 2020 .
Springer 's experience is exceptional , but it 's also a sign of the times : Prices for used cars , trucks and SUVs rose remarkably all summer long as demand far outstripped supply .
According to Cox Automotive , as of September , wholesale used-vehicle values were up 15 % compared with last year .
And listings on CarGurus are now averaging $ 22,470 , which is over $ 1,800 more than at the start of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have calmed down , but prices remain remarkably high .
`` Anybody who tracks them ... would be shocked , I think .
Almost flabbergasted , '' says Ivan Drury , the senior director of insights at Edmunds , the automotive information company .
Drury , like Springer , felt the benefit firsthand .
He bought two cars last year and sold them both a couple of months ago .
He broke even on one vehicle and made money off the other , which Drury calls `` remarkable , to say the least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic started to spread , auto plants temporarily shut down operations for safety .
That has created a shortage of new-car inventory , pushing more people onto the used-car market .
Meanwhile , plenty of people are looking for cars .
Partly that 's because of concerns over the safety of carpooling or riding public transit ( although transit systems are taking steps to promote safety ) .
There was a policy-based boost in demand as well , as buyers put their coronavirus relief checks toward new vehicles .
`` People were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit more money down , '' says used-car salesman Orby Galarza of Harrisonburg , Va. , who saw a direct connection between relief checks and sales .
In short , the pandemic reduced the supply of cars at the same time it increased demand for them .
It 's Econ 101 — the result was prices went up .
And up .
And up .
For those who have good-condition cars to sell or trade in , this is a big boost .
Some drivers are putting that extra money toward even pricier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also benefit from these rising prices if their leases are ending soon .
The buyout price that was set at the start of the lease , based on projected value , might now be thousands of dollars less than the vehicle 's actual value .
That means drivers can buy out their leases , then turn around to trade that vehicle in or sell it for cash — and immediately turn a tidy profit .
But for buyers looking for affordable used vehicles , the spiking prices are bad news , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustration .
It 's another sign of how the pandemic and the economic upheaval it created are hitting the haves and the have-nots very differently .
Some drivers are stuck with older , less reliable vehicles that they are driving into the ground , waiting for the market to calm down enough so that they can afford to buy a replacement .
Others do n't have that choice .
Danielle Jennings of Baltimore needed a new vehicle this summer after her 17-year-old car finally gave up the ghost .
But she scoured the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her price range , with no luck .
`` I just wanted to be able to get to work and be able to take care of my family , '' she says .
`` My back was against the wall . ''
Jennings , much to her relief , wound up getting a 2013 Chrysler 200 through a nonprofit called Vehicles for Change , which takes donated cars and gives them at a discount to people who need transportation .
Vehicles for Change says it has seen an increase in need because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires participants to have a job , it 's also finding that many applicants are disqualified .
Vehicle affordability is not a new issue .
Even if car prices were dropping instead of rising , many low-income Americans would still struggle with transportation costs .
But this surprising spike in prices certainly is n't helping would-be car buyers on tight budgets .
And until prices return to normal , bargains will be few and far between .

A Pandemic Sticker Shock: Used-Car Prices Are Through The Roof
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Aaron Springer of Odenton, Md., wasn't looking to sell his 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, which he bought used a couple of years ago.
"I love this car," he says.
But Springer heard the used-car market was hot, so he decided he might as well check. To his astonishment, used-car site Carvana offered him $1,500 more than he paid for the vehicle in 2018.
"I mean, it's just too good of a price to not sell it," he says.
Add used-car values to the list of things turned topsy-turvy in 2020. Springer's experience is exceptional, but it's also a sign of the times: Prices for used cars, trucks and SUVs rose remarkably all summer long as demand far outstripped supply.
Loading...
According to Cox Automotive, as of September, wholesale used-vehicle values were up 15% compared with last year. And listings on CarGurus are now averaging $22,470, which is over $1,800 more than at the start of 2020.
The rate of growth appears to have calmed down, but prices remain remarkably high.
"Anybody who tracks them ... would be shocked, I think. Almost flabbergasted," says Ivan Drury, the senior director of insights at Edmunds, the automotive information company.
Drury, like Springer, felt the benefit firsthand. He bought two cars last year and sold them both a couple of months ago.
He broke even on one vehicle and made money off the other, which Drury calls "remarkable, to say the least."
This spring, when the coronavirus pandemic started to spread, auto plants temporarily shut down operations for safety. That has created a shortage of new-car inventory, pushing more people onto the used-car market.
Meanwhile, plenty of people are looking for cars. Partly that's because of concerns over the safety of carpooling or riding public transit (although transit systems are taking steps to promote safety).
There was a policy-based boost in demand as well, as buyers put their coronavirus relief checks toward new vehicles.
"People were able to come up with a little bit more money down," says used-car salesman Orby Galarza of Harrisonburg, Va., who saw a direct connection between relief checks and sales.
In short, the pandemic reduced the supply of cars at the same time it increased demand for them. It's Econ 101 — the result was prices went up. And up. And up.
For those who have good-condition cars to sell or trade in, this is a big boost. Some drivers are putting that extra money toward even pricier brand-new cars.
Drivers who lease vehicles can also benefit from these rising prices if their leases are ending soon. The buyout price that was set at the start of the lease, based on projected value, might now be thousands of dollars less than the vehicle's actual value.
That means drivers can buy out their leases, then turn around to trade that vehicle in or sell it for cash — and immediately turn a tidy profit.
But for buyers looking for affordable used vehicles, the spiking prices are bad news, and the shortage of inventory can lead to frustration.
It's another sign of how the pandemic and the economic upheaval it created are hitting the haves and the have-nots very differently.
Some drivers are stuck with older, less reliable vehicles that they are driving into the ground, waiting for the market to calm down enough so that they can afford to buy a replacement. Others don't have that choice.
Danielle Jennings of Baltimore needed a new vehicle this summer after her 17-year-old car finally gave up the ghost. But she scoured the used-car market for a reliable vehicle in her price range, with no luck.
"I just wanted to be able to get to work and be able to take care of my family," she says. "My back was against the wall."
Jennings, much to her relief, wound up getting a 2013 Chrysler 200 through a nonprofit called Vehicles for Change, which takes donated cars and gives them at a discount to people who need transportation.
Vehicles for Change says it has seen an increase in need because of the pandemic, but because the program requires participants to have a job, it's also finding that many applicants are disqualified.
Vehicle affordability is not a new issue. Even if car prices were dropping instead of rising, many low-income Americans would still struggle with transportation costs.
But this surprising spike in prices certainly isn't helping would-be car buyers on tight budgets. And until prices return to normal, bargains will be few and far between.


npr--2020-10-28--Female Doctors Spend More Time With Patients, But Earn Less Money Than Men

Female Doctors Spend More Time With Patients , But Earn Less Money Than Men When Minnesota family physician Jay-Sheree Allen begins a visit with one of her patients , she starts by turning on the faucet and washing her hands .
She no longer shakes hands to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission , so she takes a little more time with her hand-washing routine to chat before addressing her patients ' medical concerns .
Allen recently read a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine that found female primary care physicians spend more time with their patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.4 minutes per visit , to be specific .
But female physicians still make less money .
Allen worries her hand-washing routine is contributing to the problem .
`` That 's my two minutes there , '' says Allen , who uses the time to establish a rapport with her patients .
`` That 's the amount of time I take in the beginning , talking and having that social banter . ''
That 2.4 minutes may seem inconsequential .
But the New England Journal study authors argue that the extra time female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly and has profound implications for the pay gap between women and men .
The study 's authors analyzed data from over 24 million primary care visits in 2017 , digging deep into information from Athenahealth , an electronic medical records company that 's widely used in primary care practices .
The sample included about 5 % of all primary care doctors in the U.S. , according to senior author Hannah Neprash , an assistant professor of health policy at the University of Minnesota .
Using `` timestamps '' that track when patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her team analyzed exactly how long primary care doctors spent with their patients .
They compared male and female physicians not just throughout the country , but within the same practices , which helped control for regional variations in the number of patients doctors are expected to see in a day .
Female primary care physicians spent about 15 % more time with patients in each visit compared to male primary care physicians .
As a result , they saw fewer patients over the course of a year .
In the U.S. healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the number of patients they see — not how much time they spend with them — this means that women physicians generated about 11 % less annual revenue for their practices than their male colleagues .
This could account for why female physicians are paid less than men , Neprash argues : They actually spend more time with patients .
The study results did n't surprise me .
I 'm a female primary care physician , and I often spend time asking about my patients ' families and work , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birth control .
Often patients come in for a straightforward medical concern , and I find myself discussing how stressed out they are about child care , or how hard it 's been to pay the bills on time during the COVID-19 crisis .
I love talking about these topics ; I like to think it 's part of what makes me a good doctor .
But by not getting down to business immediately , could I end getting paid less than male doctors ?
`` The pay gap in medicine by gender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
`` It 's been written about for decades , but the understanding of what exactly drives that is pretty sparse . ''
Estimates of pay equity between men and women in medicine vary widely , since they 're mostly based on what doctors themselves report .
They also depend on medical specialty and the region of the country where doctors practice .
In one 2016 study , researchers found that the median salary for male physicians in the United States was almost $ 86,000 more per year than the median salary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another study published earlier this year found that in their very first jobs after training , male physicians earned about $ 36,000 more , on average , than their female counterparts .
Some researchers hypothesize that female physicians are more likely to work part-time , which they argue could account for the difference in pay , Neprash says .
But her new paper disputes that idea .
`` When you look at how many minutes they are spending with their patients over a year , female physicians are spending 20 hours more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing fewer of them , and they 're earning less money , '' Neprash says .
Some researchers say female doctors spend more time with their patients , because patients have higher expectations of them .
Allen says she feels it 's important to ask about her patients ' home lives .
But that kind of small talk adds up .
Many evenings she finds herself still working in the office , long after her male co-workers have gone home .
`` I do wonder if some of our male colleagues second guess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the ways some of us as women tend to do , '' Allen says .
There 's evidence that Allen is n't alone in feeling like her patients expect more of her .
`` Different types of topics are addressed with male and female physicians , '' says Dr. Katherine Gold , a family physician and associate professor at the University of Michigan .
`` We know that women have longer visits in general .
They 're twice as likely to raise emotional content in their visits , which generally takes longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their visits generally taking longer , women also go to the doctor more than men , and female physicians are more likely to see female patients .
Research suggests that the extra time female doctors spend connecting with patients may have a positive impact .
One study found significant differences in the practice style of female and male doctors , and found the patients of female physicians tend to be more satisfied with their care .
And a widely publicized 2016 study found that when elderly hospitalized patients are cared for by female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die or return to the hospital compared to patients who have male doctors .
It 's not certain that longer primary care visits translate to healthier patients , Neprash cautions .
It 's possible that people can get care that is just as high-quality in a shorter amount of time .
But surveys show both doctors and patients of all genders prefer to have more time together .
`` It is really clear that both patients and doctors want to be able to spend more time with each other .
It 's the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neprash says .
`` It 's strange to see such a concordant preference , and see it not happening . ''
I became a primary care doctor because I like getting to know my patients as people , not just as a list of diseases .
I truly believe it helps me provide better care .
But getting to know them takes time , and that means squeezing fewer patients into each workday .
That could mean less money for my practice .
It seems to be a price that many female primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mara Gordon is a family physician in Camden , N.J. , and a contributor to NPR .
You can follow her on Twitter : @ MaraGordonMD .

Female Doctors Spend More Time With Patients, But Earn Less Money Than Men
Enlarge this image Lily Padula for NPR Lily Padula for NPR
When Minnesota family physician Jay-Sheree Allen begins a visit with one of her patients, she starts by turning on the faucet and washing her hands. She no longer shakes hands to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission, so she takes a little more time with her hand-washing routine to chat before addressing her patients' medical concerns.
Allen recently read a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine that found female primary care physicians spend more time with their patients than male doctors — an average of 2.4 minutes per visit, to be specific. But female physicians still make less money. Allen worries her hand-washing routine is contributing to the problem.
"That's my two minutes there," says Allen, who uses the time to establish a rapport with her patients. "That's the amount of time I take in the beginning, talking and having that social banter."
That 2.4 minutes may seem inconsequential. But the New England Journal study authors argue that the extra time female physicians spend with their patients adds up quickly and has profound implications for the pay gap between women and men.
The study's authors analyzed data from over 24 million primary care visits in 2017, digging deep into information from Athenahealth, an electronic medical records company that's widely used in primary care practices. The sample included about 5% of all primary care doctors in the U.S., according to senior author Hannah Neprash, an assistant professor of health policy at the University of Minnesota.
Using "timestamps" that track when patients check in and out, Neprash and her team analyzed exactly how long primary care doctors spent with their patients. They compared male and female physicians not just throughout the country, but within the same practices, which helped control for regional variations in the number of patients doctors are expected to see in a day.
Female primary care physicians spent about 15% more time with patients in each visit compared to male primary care physicians. As a result, they saw fewer patients over the course of a year.
In the U.S. healthcare system where most insurance companies pay doctors based on the number of patients they see — not how much time they spend with them — this means that women physicians generated about 11% less annual revenue for their practices than their male colleagues.
This could account for why female physicians are paid less than men, Neprash argues: They actually spend more time with patients.
The study results didn't surprise me. I'm a female primary care physician, and I often spend time asking about my patients' families and work, before we talk about their blood pressure or birth control. Often patients come in for a straightforward medical concern, and I find myself discussing how stressed out they are about child care, or how hard it's been to pay the bills on time during the COVID-19 crisis.
I love talking about these topics; I like to think it's part of what makes me a good doctor. But by not getting down to business immediately, could I end getting paid less than male doctors?
"The pay gap in medicine by gender is very well documented," Neprash says. "It's been written about for decades, but the understanding of what exactly drives that is pretty sparse."
Estimates of pay equity between men and women in medicine vary widely, since they're mostly based on what doctors themselves report. They also depend on medical specialty and the region of the country where doctors practice.
In one 2016 study, researchers found that the median salary for male physicians in the United States was almost $86,000 more per year than the median salary for female physicians in the early 2010s. Another study published earlier this year found that in their very first jobs after training, male physicians earned about $36,000 more, on average, than their female counterparts.
Some researchers hypothesize that female physicians are more likely to work part-time, which they argue could account for the difference in pay, Neprash says. But her new paper disputes that idea.
"When you look at how many minutes they are spending with their patients over a year, female physicians are spending 20 hours more — despite the fact that they're seeing fewer of them, and they're earning less money," Neprash says.
Some researchers say female doctors spend more time with their patients, because patients have higher expectations of them.
Allen says she feels it's important to ask about her patients' home lives. But that kind of small talk adds up. Many evenings she finds herself still working in the office, long after her male co-workers have gone home.
"I do wonder if some of our male colleagues second guess themselves, or go above and beyond in the ways some of us as women tend to do," Allen says.
There's evidence that Allen isn't alone in feeling like her patients expect more of her.
"Different types of topics are addressed with male and female physicians," says Dr. Katherine Gold, a family physician and associate professor at the University of Michigan. "We know that women have longer visits in general. They're twice as likely to raise emotional content in their visits, which generally takes longer to manage."
In addition to their visits generally taking longer, women also go to the doctor more than men, and female physicians are more likely to see female patients.
Research suggests that the extra time female doctors spend connecting with patients may have a positive impact.
One study found significant differences in the practice style of female and male doctors, and found the patients of female physicians tend to be more satisfied with their care. And a widely publicized 2016 study found that when elderly hospitalized patients are cared for by female physicians, they are less likely to die or return to the hospital compared to patients who have male doctors.
It's not certain that longer primary care visits translate to healthier patients, Neprash cautions. It's possible that people can get care that is just as high-quality in a shorter amount of time. But surveys show both doctors and patients of all genders prefer to have more time together.
"It is really clear that both patients and doctors want to be able to spend more time with each other. It's the most clear survey preference ever," Neprash says. "It's strange to see such a concordant preference, and see it not happening."
I became a primary care doctor because I like getting to know my patients as people, not just as a list of diseases. I truly believe it helps me provide better care. But getting to know them takes time, and that means squeezing fewer patients into each workday. That could mean less money for my practice.
It seems to be a price that many female primary care physicians are willing to pay.
Mara Gordon is a family physician in Camden, N.J., and a contributor to NPR. You can follow her on Twitter: @MaraGordonMD.


npr--2020-10-28--Oklahoma Ice Storm Leaves 300,000 Without Power

An abnormally early but powerful ice storm has crippled large swaths of Oklahoma , causing power outages for hundreds of thousands and toppling thousands of trees .
The mix of rain , snow , sleet , freezing rain and gusty winds , which first struck on Monday night , caught public utility companies unprepared for the massive power losses .
And restoring service remains difficult as weather forecasts indicate more freezing rain will continue to batter the state through Wednesday , causing even greater damage .
`` Additional weight on tree limbs caused by ice accumulating on leaves has resulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into contact with energized lines , '' Public Service Company of Oklahoma officials said in a statement Tuesday .
They added : `` Due to continued ice , sleet , freezing rain and high winds , we 're unable to provide specific information on when service will be restored . ''
PSO officials said more than 650 workers , including line workers , tree crews and support staff , were dedicated to restoring power safely and as quickly as possible .
An additional 385 workers from outside the area are expected to arrive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sagging under the weight of sometimes 2-inch thick ice casings , continue to crash over homes and other buildings , setting many of them ablaze .
The Oklahoma City Fire Department has been issuing updates on new fires since the storm descended on Oklahoma City .
`` Numerous house fires , vehicle accidents , smoke investigations , and power lines down .
Firefighters working in this report that roads are getting slicker .
Slow down , be careful , stay away from downed power lines and anything they are touching ! ''
the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the state are expressing their shock on social media about how quickly the frigid rain fell over warm surfaces , freezing nearly everything it touched .
One resident even photographed a black and yellow spider dangling from a tree branch and frozen in midair .
Others grabbed tape measures to show how much ice had accumulated on various objects .
One Twitter user remarked on the `` wild scenes '' in southeast Norman , Okla. , where he said he could `` hear healthy branches coming down almost every minute . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ road signs .
Few trees were spared from at least some damage in Oklahoma City , including the `` Survivor Tree , '' an American elm at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum .
The tree , which was undamaged in the 1995 terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building , commemorates the 168 people who were killed .
A banner on the museum website said it would remain closed until Oct. 29 because of the storm .
`` We lost a branch but have propped up others to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Memorial & Museum on Facebook .
`` We will continue to monitor it 24/7 throughout this historic storm . ''

Oklahoma Ice Storm Leaves 300,000 Without Power
An abnormally early but powerful ice storm has crippled large swaths of Oklahoma, causing power outages for hundreds of thousands and toppling thousands of trees.
The mix of rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain and gusty winds, which first struck on Monday night, caught public utility companies unprepared for the massive power losses. And restoring service remains difficult as weather forecasts indicate more freezing rain will continue to batter the state through Wednesday, causing even greater damage.
"Additional weight on tree limbs caused by ice accumulating on leaves has resulted in severe tree damage and limbs coming into contact with energized lines," Public Service Company of Oklahoma officials said in a statement Tuesday.
They added: "Due to continued ice, sleet, freezing rain and high winds, we're unable to provide specific information on when service will be restored."
PSO officials said more than 650 workers, including line workers, tree crews and support staff, were dedicated to restoring power safely and as quickly as possible. An additional 385 workers from outside the area are expected to arrive in stages.
Power lines, already sagging under the weight of sometimes 2-inch thick ice casings, continue to crash over homes and other buildings, setting many of them ablaze. The Oklahoma City Fire Department has been issuing updates on new fires since the storm descended on Oklahoma City.
"Numerous house fires, vehicle accidents, smoke investigations, and power lines down. Firefighters working in this report that roads are getting slicker. Slow down, be careful, stay away from downed power lines and anything they are touching!" the department warned residents over Twitter.
People across the state are expressing their shock on social media about how quickly the frigid rain fell over warm surfaces, freezing nearly everything it touched.
One resident even photographed a black and yellow spider dangling from a tree branch and frozen in midair.
Others grabbed tape measures to show how much ice had accumulated on various objects.
One Twitter user remarked on the "wild scenes" in southeast Norman, Okla., where he said he could "hear healthy branches coming down almost every minute." Others posted videos of icicles dangling from road signs.
Few trees were spared from at least some damage in Oklahoma City, including the "Survivor Tree," an American elm at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The tree, which was undamaged in the 1995 terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, commemorates the 168 people who were killed. A banner on the museum website said it would remain closed until Oct. 29 because of the storm.
"We lost a branch but have propped up others to save them," wrote the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum on Facebook. "We will continue to monitor it 24/7 throughout this historic storm."


npr--2020-10-27--LA Dodgers Win World Series In Game 6, Defeating Tampa Bay 3-1

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2020 World Series in Game 6 Tuesday night , defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 .
It was the longest of waits for the LA Dodgers and their long-suffering fans .
The last World Series title was back in 1988 .
That 's 32 long years .
Yet they have played in three of the last four World Series — including in 2017 , losing to the Houston Astros ( who , as you may recall , cheated -- or more accurately -- illegally used technology to steal signs and relay upcoming pitches to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this most unusual of years for the Dodgers to find a way to win it all .
Major League Baseball shortened its regular season from the usual 162-games to just 60 because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Games were played in teams ' home stadiums without fans .
A few early-season COVID outbreaks threatened to derail the season altogether .
The Dodgers to become the top team in baseball , finishing with the best regular season persevered record .
LA led with its offensive prowess , quality pitching and stellar defense .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Series with momentum swings , long home runs and impressive defensive stops .
But LA always found a way to win .
In a bit of postseason scheduling luck , the Dodgers essentially had home field advantage .
They played the National Division Series , the N.L .
Championship and the World Series in the same stadium : Globe Life Field in Arlington , Texas .
Major League Baseball played almost the entire playoffs at neutral sites to minimize travel and reduce the coronavirus exposure risk .
It was the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was held at a single site .

LA Dodgers Win World Series In Game 6, Defeating Tampa Bay 3-1
Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2020 World Series in Game 6 Tuesday night, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.
It was the longest of waits for the L.A. Dodgers and their long-suffering fans. The last World Series title was back in 1988. That's 32 long years. Yet they have played in three of the last four World Series — including in 2017, losing to the Houston Astros (who, as you may recall, cheated--or more accurately--illegally used technology to steal signs and relay upcoming pitches to Astros batters).
But it took this most unusual of years for the Dodgers to find a way to win it all. Major League Baseball shortened its regular season from the usual 162-games to just 60 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Games were played in teams' home stadiums without fans. A few early-season COVID outbreaks threatened to derail the season altogether.
The Dodgers persevered to become the top team in baseball (finishing with the best regular season record). L.A. led with its offensive prowess, quality pitching and stellar defense. Both teams sparkled during the World Series with momentum swings, long home runs and impressive defensive stops. But L.A. found a way to win.
In a bit of postseason scheduling luck, the Dodgers essentially had home field advantage. They played the National Division Series, the N.L. Championship and the World Series in the same stadium: Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Major League Baseball played almost the entire playoffs at neutral sites to minimize travel and reduce the coronavirus exposure risk. It was the first time since 1944 that the World Series was held at a single site.


npr--2020-10-27--New Study Points To Invisible Killer Of Infants

New Study Points To Invisible Killer Of Infants As wildfires raged up and down the Pacific Coast last month , families across California and Oregon lived in – and breathed in — smoky , toxic air for weeks .
Many days , the region 's air quality ranked among the worst in the world .
Officials warned residents that the air pollution could exacerbate many health issues , such cardiovascular disease , asthma and other respiratory diseases .
And it could increase the risk catching COVID-19 .
But what about the youngest members of society ?
How does air pollution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Now an international team of researchers have a better understanding of that answer .
Air pollution , both inside and outside the home , contributed to the deaths of about 500,000 newborns in 2019 , the team reports in the State of Global Air 2020 .
`` The number is just staggering , '' says epidemiologist Rakesh Ghosh at the University of California , San Francisco , who led the study .
Each year about 2.42 million infants die within the first 27 days of life .
The new study suggests air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those deaths Most of these deaths occurred in poor countries , with nearly half in sub-Saharan Africa .
And about two-thirds of the deaths were associated with air pollution inside of people 's homes , when they burn coal and wood to cook or stay warm .
But pediatrician Susan Niermeyer says the air pollution problem is , by no means , exclusive to low-income regions or where people cook with hard fuels .
`` I think you can easily dismiss this finding as something that only happens to people who live far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us , '' says Niermeyer , a professor at the University of Colorado Medicine .
`` But air pollution effects our babies , as well . ''
For example , families who live right near a highway can be exposed to large amounts of fine particulates , called PM 2.5 , and carbon monoxide , Niermeyer says .
And several studies have clearly linked air pollution exposure around airports to an increased risk of premature birth here in the U.S. Fine particulates , or PM 2.5 , are especially dangerous forms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach deep into a person 's lungs and even absorb into the bloodstream , as well .
Once inside the bloodstream of a pregnant woman , PM 2.5 pollutants may behave like tobacco smoke .
They can trigger inflammation in the blood , which , in turn , can decrease the transfer of oxygen and nutrients across the placenta , Niermeyer says .
`` This inflammation can impact growth of the fetus .
And if it 's significant enough , inflammation can trigger preterm labor . ''
In the new research , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 20 studies , which linked exposure to PM 2.5 during pregnancy to an increase risk of giving birth prematurely or to a low-weight baby ( that is , a baby weighing less than 5.5 pounds ) .
Both conditions reduce a child 's chance of surviving the first month of life .
For each 10 unit increase in PM 2.5 over the course of pregnancy , a woman 's risk of giving birth to a low-weight baby increases by about 6 % , Ghosh and his team report in the journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear small , '' Ghosh says , `` but when you multiply that 6 % by the enormous amount of exposure that moms have in some countries , their risk multiples by orders of magnitude . ''
The findings raise awareness about an invisible killer of newborns , says epidemiologist Xueying Zhang at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai .
`` Doctors will never say person died of air pollution , '' Zhang says .
`` They will say the cause of death is cancer , a stroke or respiratory disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause of cancer , strokes and respiratory syndromes . ''
And with this new report , policy makers and health officials can see that air pollution is also an important cause of premature and low-weight births .
`` Once people see how much air pollution threatens babies , they are more likely to look for ways to protect them . ''
And a first step could be as simple as teaching families that cooking over coal fires could be as harmful as tobacco smoke .
Then , says Zhang , perhaps they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuels or better ventilate their homes .

New Study Points To Invisible Killer Of Infants
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
As wildfires raged up and down the Pacific Coast last month, families across California and Oregon lived in – and breathed in — smoky, toxic air for weeks. Many days, the region's air quality ranked among the worst in the world.
Officials warned residents that the air pollution could exacerbate many health issues, such cardiovascular disease, asthma and other respiratory diseases. And it could increase the risk catching COVID-19.
But what about the youngest members of society? How does air pollution affect pregnant women and their newborn babies?
Now an international team of researchers have a better understanding of that answer. Air pollution, both inside and outside the home, contributed to the deaths of about 500,000 newborns in 2019, the team reports in the State of Global Air 2020.
"The number is just staggering," says epidemiologist Rakesh Ghosh at the University of California, San Francisco, who led the study. Each year about 2.42 million infants die within the first 27 days of life. The new study suggests air pollutions contribute to about 20% of those deaths
Most of these deaths occurred in poor countries, with nearly half in sub-Saharan Africa. And about two-thirds of the deaths were associated with air pollution inside of people's homes, when they burn coal and wood to cook or stay warm. But pediatrician Susan Niermeyer says the air pollution problem is, by no means, exclusive to low-income regions or where people cook with hard fuels.
"I think you can easily dismiss this finding as something that only happens to people who live far away in thatched roof houses and not to us," says Niermeyer, a professor at the University of Colorado Medicine. "But air pollution effects our babies, as well."
For example, families who live right near a highway can be exposed to large amounts of fine particulates, called PM 2.5, and carbon monoxide, Niermeyer says. And several studies have clearly linked air pollution exposure around airports to an increased risk of premature birth here in the U.S.
Fine particulates, or PM 2.5, are especially dangerous forms of pollution because the particles are small enough to reach deep into a person's lungs and even absorb into the bloodstream, as well.
Once inside the bloodstream of a pregnant woman, PM 2.5 pollutants may behave like tobacco smoke. They can trigger inflammation in the blood, which, in turn, can decrease the transfer of oxygen and nutrients across the placenta, Niermeyer says. "This inflammation can impact growth of the fetus. And if it's significant enough, inflammation can trigger preterm labor."
In the new research, Rakesh Ghosh and colleagues analyzed data from more than 20 studies, which linked exposure to PM 2.5 during pregnancy to an increase risk of giving birth prematurely or to a low-weight baby (that is, a baby weighing less than 5.5 pounds). Both conditions reduce a child's chance of surviving the first month of life.
For each 10 unit increase in PM 2.5 over the course of pregnancy, a woman's risk of giving birth to a low-weight baby increases by about 6%, Ghosh and his team report in the journal The Lancet.
"This risk might appear small," Ghosh says, "but when you multiply that 6% by the enormous amount of exposure that moms have in some countries, their risk multiples by orders of magnitude."
The findings raise awareness about an invisible killer of newborns, says epidemiologist Xueying Zhang at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
"Doctors will never say person died of air pollution," Zhang says. "They will say the cause of death is cancer, a stroke or respiratory disease. But air pollution is an important cause of cancer, strokes and respiratory syndromes."
And with this new report, policy makers and health officials can see that air pollution is also an important cause of premature and low-weight births. "Once people see how much air pollution threatens babies, they are more likely to look for ways to protect them."
And a first step could be as simple as teaching families that cooking over coal fires could be as harmful as tobacco smoke. Then, says Zhang, perhaps they will be more likely to switch to cleaner fuels or better ventilate their homes.


npr--2020-10-28--'None Of This Has Been Easy': Melbourne, Australia, Ends Its 111-Day Lockdown

'None Of This Has Been Easy ' : Melbourne , Australia , Ends Its 111-Day Lockdown Melbourne , the second-most populous city in Australia , ended its 111-day lockdown on Wednesday .
The state of Victoria , where Melbourne is located , eased restrictions after recording zero new coronavirus cases on Monday — for the first time since June .
`` Now is the time to open up , '' Daniel Andrews , the state 's top official , said during a media briefing .
`` Now is the time to congratulate every single Victorian for staying the course .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will still limit residents to traveling within 25 kilometers ( about 16 miles ) of their homes .
A border between regional Victoria and Melbourne will also remain .
But Melbourne residents can now leave their homes without permission .
Shops , cafes , salons , restaurants , bars and places of worship can reopen — affecting 180,000 jobs , according to the state government .
The city plans to continue shedding restrictions in the coming weeks .
While most of Australia has seen relatively low coronavirus numbers , cases began spiking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five weeks , Australia has reported a weekly average of about 123 new cases .
The continent reported 907 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began , 819 of which were in Victoria .
`` None of this has been easy , '' Andrews said .
`` But Victorians have shown what they 're made of . ''
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR 's News Desk .

'None Of This Has Been Easy': Melbourne, Australia, Ends Its 111-Day Lockdown
Enlarge this image toggle caption Darrian Traynor/Getty Images Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Melbourne, the second-most populous city in Australia, ended its 111-day lockdown on Wednesday.
The state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, eased restrictions after recording zero new coronavirus cases on Monday — for the first time since June.
"Now is the time to open up," Daniel Andrews, the state's top official, said during a media briefing. "Now is the time to congratulate every single Victorian for staying the course."
The city of 5 million people will still limit residents to traveling within 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) of their homes. A border between regional Victoria and Melbourne will also remain.
But Melbourne residents can now leave their homes without permission. Shops, cafes, salons, restaurants, bars and places of worship can reopen — affecting 180,000 jobs, according to the state government.
The city plans to continue shedding restrictions in the coming weeks.
While most of Australia has seen relatively low coronavirus numbers, cases began spiking in July and August.
Over the last five weeks, Australia has reported a weekly average of about 123 new cases. The continent reported 907 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began, 819 of which were in Victoria.
"None of this has been easy," Andrews said. "But Victorians have shown what they're made of."
Reese Oxner is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


npr--2020-10-28--Dodgers 3rd Baseman Tests Positive For COVID-19 — Then Celebrates With Teammates

Dodgers 3rd Baseman Tests Positive For COVID-19 — Then Celebrates With Teammates After your team wins the World Series , it 's only natural to run onto the field to celebrate with your teammates .
But when you 've been diagnosed with COVID-19 — and gotten a warning from security to leave the field — that natural instinct can lead to a `` full investigation '' by Major League Baseball .
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner finds himself in just such a situation , having taken the field Tuesday night after the Dodgers won their first World Series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6 .
Turner took a COVID-19 test on Monday , but on it came back inconclusive during the second inning of Tuesday 's game , CBS Sports explains .
So the lab expedited a retest , which came back positive .
Turner was removed from the game after the seventh inning .
He was quarantined in a doctor 's office near the field .
`` I feel great , no symptoms at all , '' Turner wrote on Twitter shortly after the game .
`` Just experienced every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't believe I could n't be out there to celebrate with my guys !
So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of LA . ''
But after Turner 's tweet , he came back onto the field where he not only carried the trophy , but also participated in the team photo — taking off his mask and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with his fellow players .
MLB higher-ups are not happy .
`` Turner was placed into isolation for the safety of those around him , '' the MLB said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the Dodgers ' victory , it is clear that Turner chose to disregard the agreed-upon joint protocols and the instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of others .
`` While a desire to celebrate is understandable , Turner 's decision to leave isolation and enter the field was wrong and put everyone he came in contact with at risk , '' the statement continued .
`` When MLB Security raised the matter of being on the field with Turner , he emphatically refused to comply . ''
The league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full investigation '' into the matter , the MLB said .
But Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman defended Turner 's actions .
`` I think the people who were around him would be in the contact tracing web anyway — which is how close a lot of us have been around each other , '' Friedman said , according to The Orange County Register .
And Turner 's teammates seemed not to mind his return to the field .
`` He 's part of our team , '' Dodgers right fielder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that .
He 's part of the team .
We 're not excluding him from anything . ''

Dodgers 3rd Baseman Tests Positive For COVID-19 — Then Celebrates With Teammates
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
After your team wins the World Series, it's only natural to run onto the field to celebrate with your teammates.
But when you've been diagnosed with COVID-19 — and gotten a warning from security to leave the field — that natural instinct can lead to a "full investigation" by Major League Baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner finds himself in just such a situation, having taken the field Tuesday night after the Dodgers won their first World Series championship since 1988, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6.
Turner took a COVID-19 test on Monday, but on it came back inconclusive during the second inning of Tuesday's game, CBS Sports explains. So the lab expedited a retest, which came back positive. Turner was removed from the game after the seventh inning. He was quarantined in a doctor's office near the field.
"I feel great, no symptoms at all," Turner wrote on Twitter shortly after the game. "Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can't believe I couldn't be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of LA."
But after Turner's tweet, he came back onto the field where he not only carried the trophy, but also participated in the team photo — taking off his mask and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with his fellow players.
MLB higher-ups are not happy. "Turner was placed into isolation for the safety of those around him," the MLB said in a statement. "However, following the Dodgers' victory, it is clear that Turner chose to disregard the agreed-upon joint protocols and the instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of others.
"While a desire to celebrate is understandable, Turner's decision to leave isolation and enter the field was wrong and put everyone he came in contact with at risk," the statement continued. "When MLB Security raised the matter of being on the field with Turner, he emphatically refused to comply."
The league commissioner's office will conduct a "full investigation" into the matter, the MLB said.
But Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman defended Turner's actions. "I think the people who were around him would be in the contact tracing web anyway — which is how close a lot of us have been around each other," Friedman said, according to The Orange County Register.
And Turner's teammates seemed not to mind his return to the field.
"He's part of our team," Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts told reporters. "Forget all that. He's part of the team. We're not excluding him from anything."


npr--2020-10-28--Philadelphia Issues Curfew As It Braces For More Protests In Walter Wallace Shooting

Philadelphia Issues Curfew As It Braces For More Protests In Walter Wallace Shooting Philadelphia officials issued a citywide curfew on Wednesday after consecutive nights of protests — which at times turned violent — following the fatal police shooting of a 27-year-old Black man , Walter Wallace Jr .
He was holding a knife when police shot him .
The curfew goes into effect at 9 p.m. Wednesday and lasts until 6 a.m. Thursday , Mayor Jim Kenney said .
Kenney also lamented the looting and property destruction that 's taken place during nighttime protests .
`` By looting , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have struggled in the midst of the pandemic , but they 're doing a great disservice to the many others who want to exercise their First Amendment rights by protesting , '' Kenney said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon .
Grocery stores , restaurants and pharmacies may operate in a delivery-only capacity once the curfew is in effect .
City officials said 81 people had been arrested overnight , including 53 for burglary , seven for disorderly conduct and eight accused of assaulting police .
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and officer-worn body camera footage `` in the near future . ''
`` Before that happens , however , we 'll be meeting with members of Wallace 's family to ensure they get an opportunity to view the materials first , '' Outlaw said .
City officials urged residents in certain districts to remain indoors Tuesday night due to `` widespread demonstrations that have turned violent with looting . ''
Several hundred troops from the Pennsylvania National Guard will be deployed to Philadelphia at the county 's request as soon as Wednesday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday evening at Malcolm X Park , not far from the West Philadelphia neighborhood where Wallace was killed .
The gathering featured speeches and preceded a march , Philadelphia member station WHYY reported , adding that one speaker noted there were `` far too many comfortable white people here tonight . ''
`` Stop this looting and stop and stop burning our city down , '' the elder Wallace told CNN .
`` It 's not going to solve anything , '' he said .
`` I do n't want to leave a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family with this looting and chaos stuff . ''
Wallace 's killing was captured on cellphone video and posted to social media , where it went viral .
The video sparked fresh outrage and a series of yet-to-be answered questions about why officers used deadly force during the encounter with Wallace .
Police said the officers have been placed on desk duty pending an investigation .
Family reportedly called for an ambulance , not police Wallace was experiencing a psychological episode on Monday , an attorney for the family says .
His mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and called for an ambulance , WHYY 's Peter Crimmins reported .
According to Shaka Johnson , an attorney for the family , Wallace 's wife told the officers when they arrived that her husband had bipolar disorder and urged the officers to stand down .
A police spokesperson said Monday that officers were responding to a report of a man with a knife .
They ordered Wallace to drop the weapon , saying that he `` advanced towards officers . ''
Both officers fired their guns at Wallace .
He was taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pronounced dead .

Curfew In Philadelphia Lifts As City Is Roiled By Protests In Walter Wallace Shooting
Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Slocum/AP Matt Slocum/AP
Updated at 2 a.m. ET Thursday
Philadelphia officials issued a citywide curfew on Wednesday after consecutive nights of protests — which at times turned violent — following the fatal police shooting of a 27-year-old Black man, Walter Wallace Jr.
He was holding a knife when police shot him.
The was in effect from 9 p.m. Wednesday and lasts until 6 a.m. Thursday.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney lamented the looting and property destruction that's taken place during nighttime protests.
"By looting, people are not only hurting retail businesses that have struggled in the midst of the pandemic, but they're doing a great disservice to the many others who want to exercise their First Amendment rights by protesting," Kenney said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Grocery stores, restaurants and pharmacies may operate in a delivery-only capacity once the curfew is in effect.
City officials said Wednesday afternoon that 81 people had been arrested during the previous night's demonstrations, including 53 for burglary, seven for disorderly conduct and eight accused of assaulting police.
Wednesday night a cell phone video was posted online which shows Philadelphia police surrounding an SUV during the protests, smashing the windows and pulling the driver, a passenger and a toddler from the vehicle.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Aapril Rice, 30, said she livestreamed the video early Tuesday from her rooftop, hours after Wallace had been killed. The police said an investigation has been opened into the incident.
Police will soon release 911 tapes, body camera footage
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Wednesday her department would be releasing 911 tapes and officer-worn body camera footage "in the near future."
"Before that happens, however, we'll be meeting with members of Wallace's family to ensure they get an opportunity to view the materials first," Outlaw said.
City officials urged residents in certain districts to remain indoors Tuesday night due to "widespread demonstrations that have turned violent with looting."
Several hundred troops from the Pennsylvania National Guard will be deployed to Philadelphia at the county's request as soon as Wednesday evening.
Community members gather in West Philly
A racially diverse crowd came together Tuesday evening at Malcolm X Park, not far from the West Philadelphia neighborhood where Wallace was killed.
The gathering featured speeches and preceded a march, Philadelphia member station WHYY reported, adding that one speaker noted there were "far too many comfortable white people here tonight."
Wallace's father, Walter Wallace Sr., urged protesters not to turn violent.
"Stop this looting and stop and stop burning our city down," the elder Wallace told CNN.
"It's not going to solve anything," he said. "I don't want to leave a bad scar on my son and my family with this looting and chaos stuff."
Wallace's killing was captured on cellphone video and posted to social media, where it went viral.
The video sparked fresh outrage and a series of yet-to-be answered questions about why officers used deadly force during the encounter with Wallace.
Police said the officers have been placed on desk duty pending an investigation.
Family reportedly called for an ambulance, not police
Wallace was experiencing a psychological episode on Monday, an attorney for the family says. His mother tried to calm him but was unsuccessful and called for an ambulance, WHYY's Peter Crimmins reported.
But police arrived first.
According to Shaka Johnson, an attorney for the family, Wallace's wife told the officers when they arrived that her husband had bipolar disorder and urged the officers to stand down.
A police spokesperson said Monday that officers were responding to a report of a man with a knife.
They ordered Wallace to drop the weapon, saying that he "advanced towards officers."
Both officers fired their guns at Wallace. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.


npr--2020-10-28--Billions In COVID-19 Relief Loans May Have Been Handed Out To Scammers, Report Says

Billions In COVID-19 Relief Loans May Have Been Handed Out To Scammers , Report Says The Small Business Administration may have handed out billions of dollars in loans to businesses that falsely claimed to have been damaged by the coronavirus lockdowns , a report from the agency said on Wednesday .
Officials at the agency were so inundated with requests for disaster aid starting last March that they could n't adequately vet the applicants , according to the report from the Office of SBA Inspector General Michael Ware .
In one case , the agency approved 10 loans for 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city as part of the SBA 's Economic Injury Disaster Loan ( EIDL ) program .
`` However , we were not able to locate any bathroom renovation companies in that company 's name in that city .
Additionally , the email address indicates it is for a burrito restaurant , which we did locate in that city .
SBA disbursed $ 1.4 million for these potentially fraudulent companies , '' the report said .
In another case , applicants using the same email address at a fish market applied for 85 loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores , psychiatric services , construction , gas stations , and other non-seafood businesses . ''
All but one of the loans were approved .
Overall , the report says the SBA approved $ 78 billion in program applications to potentially fraudulent or ineligible applicants , although not all of that was ultimately disbursed .
The inspector general 's report said the level of fraud was partly due to the speed with which the agency had to operate after the economy seized up in March because of the pandemic .
In days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in .
On March 31 , more than 680,000 applications came in , the highest number applications ever received in a single day .
By April 10 , more than 4.5 million loan applications had come in .
`` [ The ] SBA has now approved and disbursed more loans for COVID-19 relief than for all other disasters combined in the agency 's history , '' the report said .
As a result , loan officers were given just 15 minutes to process each application , which `` resulted in cursory reviews rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans were given to eligible businesses , '' the report noted .
The fact that some amount of fraud took place is not a surprise .
The Justice Department has charged several dozen people with fraudulently applying for loans under the main coronavirus assistance programs , and law enforcement officials say investigations are continuing .
The suspected fraud took place as scammers and others took advantage of the programs set up by Congress to provide assistance to small businesses and others in the midst of the pandemic .
SBA officials quickly took issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mischaracterized many of the applications .
SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza said many of the `` potentially fraudulent '' loans were legitimate transactions that had been mischaracterized .
Many of the examples of shared IP and e-mail addresses involved loan applications by people who relied on certified public accountants , law firms , loan packagers , or religious and cultural centers to submit their loan applications , she said .
The report `` does not fully and accurately portray SBA 's highly successful delivery of an unprecedented volume of disaster assistance .
Rather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of fraud , waste , and abuse in the ... program , '' she said .

Billions In COVID-19 Relief Loans May Have Been Handed Out To Scammers, Report Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
The Small Business Administration may have handed out billions of dollars in loans to businesses that falsely claimed to have been damaged by the coronavirus lockdowns, a report from the agency said on Wednesday.
Officials at the agency were so inundated with requests for disaster aid starting last March that they couldn't adequately vet the applicants, according to the report from the Office of SBA Inspector General Michael Ware.
In one case, the agency approved 10 loans for 10 different bathroom renovation companies in the same city as part of the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
"However, we were not able to locate any bathroom renovation companies in that company's name in that city. Additionally, the email address indicates it is for a burrito restaurant, which we did locate in that city. SBA disbursed $1.4 million for these potentially fraudulent companies," the report said.
In another case, applicants using the same email address at a fish market applied for 85 loans "in various company names of jewelry stores, psychiatric services, construction, gas stations, and other non-seafood businesses." All but one of the loans were approved.
Overall, the report says the SBA approved $78 billion in program applications to potentially fraudulent or ineligible applicants, although not all of that was ultimately disbursed.
The inspector general's report said the level of fraud was partly due to the speed with which the agency had to operate after the economy seized up in March because of the pandemic.
In days, an unprecedented number of loan applications came in. On March 31, more than 680,000 applications came in, the highest number applications ever received in a single day. By April 10, more than 4.5 million loan applications had come in.
"[The] SBA has now approved and disbursed more loans for COVID-19 relief than for all other disasters combined in the agency's history," the report said.
As a result, loan officers were given just 15 minutes to process each application, which "resulted in cursory reviews rather than the deeper reviews required to ensure loans were given to eligible businesses," the report noted.
The fact that some amount of fraud took place is not a surprise.
The Justice Department has charged several dozen people with fraudulently applying for loans under the main coronavirus assistance programs, and law enforcement officials say investigations are continuing.
The suspected fraud took place as scammers and others took advantage of the programs set up by Congress to provide assistance to small businesses and others in the midst of the pandemic.
SBA officials quickly took issue with the report, saying it had mischaracterized many of the applications.
SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza said many of the "potentially fraudulent" loans were legitimate transactions that had been mischaracterized.
Many of the examples of shared IP and e-mail addresses involved loan applications by people who relied on certified public accountants, law firms, loan packagers, or religious and cultural centers to submit their loan applications, she said.
The report "does not fully and accurately portray SBA's highly successful delivery of an unprecedented volume of disaster assistance. Rather, the [report] grossly overstates the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse in the ... program," she said.


npr--2020-10-28--Government Signs Deal For COVID-19 Treatments From Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly has struck a deal with the federal government to provide 300,000 doses of a drug that 's designed to keep people infected with COVID-19 out of the hospital .
The cost per dose : $ 1,250 .
The federal government plans to distribute the 300,000 doses at no cost , but that does n't mean treatment will be free .
The Lilly drug , a type of monoclonal antibody , is given by intravenous infusion .
Those infusions , typically given in hospitals or standalone clinics , can cost well over $ 1,000 .
People with health insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars in copayments .
`` Our goal is zero out-of-pocket expenses , wherever possible , for any patient receiving a Lilly COVID-19 antibody treatment , '' said CEO Dave Ricks .
However , his statement acknowledged that `` health care facilities may charge a fee for the product 's administration . ''
The Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to grant emergency use authorization for this drug , along with a similar product developed by Regeneron .
The Lilly deal is contingent on the FDA clearing the medicine for emergency use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 .
He has told Americans they , too , would get it at little or no out-of-pocket cost .
However , the federal government has not addressed the issue of infusion costs .
The Lilly drug was tested on people who had been infected with the coronavirus but were n't sick enough to go to the hospital .
As outlined in a paper published online Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine , 1.6 % of people who got the drug ended up in the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 6.3 % of people who got the placebo .
That translates to $ 125,000 in upfront drug costs to prevent five trips to the emergency room or hospital , or $ 25,000 a piece .
But adding in infusion costs could double the expense .
Since only a small percentage of people who are infected with the coronavirus require hospitalization , taking a drug to reduce that risk would be a judgment call .
Is it worthwhile to go to the emergency room for an infusion , and possibly face a substantial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of having to go back to the hospital later with COVID-19 ?
`` A lot of people are already reluctant to get infusions of antibodies , '' Dr. Scott Gottlieb , former FDA commissioner , said Tuesday on a webcast .
Compared with pills , he said , `` people inherently look at an infusion as more invasive , as potentially more risky . ''
Ultimately drug companies hope to make antibodies available as injections rather than infusions , but the first-generation products need to be given in large quantities , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA will need to make is about the proper dosage .
The study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the dose that appeared most effective required 2,800 milligrams of the drug .
However , Lilly is arguing that 700 milligrams would be sufficient – in fact , that 's the dosage that it has sold to the federal government .
Lilly says it has requested that the drug be made available specifically to those at higher risk – older Americans and people with obesity .
Its study in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit for that at-risk group : 4 % of the people in that group ended up in the hospital , compared with 15 % of people over 65 or with obesity in the placebo group .
However , the study was not designed to look at this subgroup , so this could be a statistical fluke .
That at-risk group still represents a large population .
In August alone , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 164,000 cases of coronavirus in Americans over 60 .
Obesity affects 40 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ translate into another 300,000 people a month potentially eligible for this treatment .
So , the 300,000 doses the government has purchased could be used up quickly if demand is high .
Lilly hopes to produce up to a million doses by the end of 2020 , and intends to make it available worldwide .
Supplies could last longer if the FDA also grants emergency access to the Regeneron antibodies .
That product is a combination of two antibodies .
The company says its treatment is most effective in people who have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own antibodies ( those usually appear in the blood about a week after infection ) .
If the FDA restricts the use of that product to people who have tested negative for coronavirus antibodies , the two products could target somewhat different populations .
The federal government announced in July it would purchase up to 300,000 doses of the Regeneron antibodies .
Late Wednesday , Regeneron announced it has submitted more data to the FDA , bolstering its case that the company 's monoclonal antibodies reduce the amount of virus in patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a significant decrease in the need for further medical attention and lessen the need for medical care , '' Dr. George Yancopoulos , the company 's president and CEO , said in a statement .
You can contact Richard Harris at rharris @ npr.org .

Government Signs Deal For COVID-19 Treatments From Eli Lilly
Enlarge this image toggle caption David Morrison/AP David Morrison/AP
Eli Lilly has struck a deal with the federal government to provide 300,000 doses of a drug that's designed to keep people infected with COVID-19 out of the hospital. The cost per dose: $1,250.
The federal government plans to distribute the 300,000 doses at no cost, but that doesn't mean treatment will be free.
The Lilly drug, a type of monoclonal antibody, is given by intravenous infusion. Those infusions, typically given in hospitals or standalone clinics, can cost well over $1,000. People with health insurance are often required to pay hundreds of dollars in copayments.
"Our goal is zero out-of-pocket expenses, wherever possible, for any patient receiving a Lilly COVID-19 antibody treatment," said CEO Dave Ricks. However, his statement acknowledged that "health care facilities may charge a fee for the product's administration."
The Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to grant emergency use authorization for this drug, along with a similar product developed by Regeneron. The Lilly deal is contingent on the FDA clearing the medicine for emergency use.
President Trump received the Regeneron treatment shortly after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He has told Americans they, too, would get it at little or no out-of-pocket cost. However, the federal government has not addressed the issue of infusion costs.
The Lilly drug was tested on people who had been infected with the coronavirus but weren't sick enough to go to the hospital. As outlined in a paper published online Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine, 1.6% of people who got the drug ended up in the hospital or at the emergency room, compared with 6.3% of people who got the placebo.
That translates to $125,000 in upfront drug costs to prevent five trips to the emergency room or hospital, or $25,000 a piece. But adding in infusion costs could double the expense.
Since only a small percentage of people who are infected with the coronavirus require hospitalization, taking a drug to reduce that risk would be a judgment call. Is it worthwhile to go to the emergency room for an infusion, and possibly face a substantial copayment, in order to reduce the risk of having to go back to the hospital later with COVID-19?
"A lot of people are already reluctant to get infusions of antibodies," Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner, said Tuesday on a webcast. Compared with pills, he said, "people inherently look at an infusion as more invasive, as potentially more risky."
Ultimately drug companies hope to make antibodies available as injections rather than infusions, but the first-generation products need to be given in large quantities, so they require infusions.
One decision the FDA will need to make is about the proper dosage. The study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the dose that appeared most effective required 2,800 milligrams of the drug. However, Lilly is arguing that 700 milligrams would be sufficient – in fact, that's the dosage that it has sold to the federal government.
Lilly says it has requested that the drug be made available specifically to those at higher risk – older Americans and people with obesity. Its study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows greater benefit for that at-risk group: 4% of the people in that group ended up in the hospital, compared with 15% of people over 65 or with obesity in the placebo group. However, the study was not designed to look at this subgroup, so this could be a statistical fluke.
That at-risk group still represents a large population. In August alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 164,000 cases of coronavirus in Americans over 60. Obesity affects 40% of US adults, so that could translate into another 300,000 people a month potentially eligible for this treatment. So, the 300,000 doses the government has purchased could be used up quickly if demand is high. Lilly hopes to produce up to a million doses by the end of 2020, and intends to make it available worldwide.
Supplies could last longer if the FDA also grants emergency access to the Regeneron antibodies. That product is a combination of two antibodies. The company says its treatment is most effective in people who have been infected but who have not yet developed their own antibodies (those usually appear in the blood about a week after infection). If the FDA restricts the use of that product to people who have tested negative for coronavirus antibodies, the two products could target somewhat different populations.
The federal government announced in July it would purchase up to 300,000 doses of the Regeneron antibodies.
Late Wednesday, Regeneron announced it has submitted more data to the FDA, bolstering its case that the company's monoclonal antibodies reduce the amount of virus in patients.
"These viral reductions are associated with a significant decrease in the need for further medical attention and lessen the need for medical care," Dr. George Yancopoulos, the company's president and CEO, said in a statement.
You can contact Richard Harris at rharris@npr.org.


npr--2020-10-28--Ex-Homeland Security Official Outs Himself As 'Anonymous' Anti-Trump Author

Ex-Homeland Security Official Outs Himself As 'Anonymous ' Anti-Trump Author Miles Taylor , the former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security , has revealed himself to be `` Anonymous , '' the author of a New York Times op-ed and book critical of the Trump presidency .
`` To be clear , writing those works was not about eminence ( they were published without attribution ) , not about money ( I declined a hefty monetary advance and pledged to donate the bulk of the proceeds ) , and not about crafting a score-settling 'tell all ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself and his character , not denigrating former colleagues ) , '' Taylor wrote in a Medium post .
`` Nevertheless , I made clear I was n't afraid to criticize the President under my name . ''
Taylor , in media interviews as recently as August , denied being `` Anonymous . ''
Throughout his post , Taylor was explicit about his commitment to the Republican Party and asserted he `` wanted this President to succeed '' when he joined the administration alongside John Kelly , Trump 's first Homeland Security secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff .
But Taylor went on to say , `` Too often in times of crisis , I saw Donald Trump prove he is a man without character , and his personal defects have resulted in leadership failures so significant that they can be measured in lost American lives .
I witnessed Trump 's inability to do his job over the course of two-and-a-half years . ''
He said the president 's flaws were evident to `` everyone '' but that most were `` were hesitant to speak up for fear of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads for Republican Voters Against Trump , a group that is supporting Joe Biden in the presidential contest .
He also wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in August detailing what he said were actions by the president that made the country `` less secure . ''
But it was his anonymous op-ed in The New York Times in September 2018 in which he declared he was `` part of the resistance inside the Trump administration '' that delighted the president 's critics and added to fears within the administration of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Trump 's orders .
He parlayed that into a book , A Warning , a year later .
In his Medium post , Taylor defended his works under the cover of anonymity , explaining that he `` wrestled '' with the decision and that ultimately it helped hold Trump 's feet to the fire .
`` Issuing my critiques without attribution forced the President to answer them directly on their merits or not at all , rather than creating distractions through petty insults and name-calling , '' Taylor wrote .
The White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement by spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany .
`` This low-level , disgruntled former staffer is a liar and a coward who chose anonymity over action and leaking over leading .
He was ineffective and incompetent during his time as DHS Chief of Staff which is why he was promptly fired after only serving in this role for a matter of weeks , '' McEnany said .
`` It is appalling a low-ranking official would be granted anonymity and it is clear The New York Times is doing the bidding of Never-Trumpers and Democrats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement , also unleashing a litany of insults at Taylor .
`` He 's just another standard-issue arrogant , Washington , DC swamp bro who loved President Trump until he figured out he could try to make money by attacking him , '' officials wrote .
The campaign also noted that Taylor denied being `` Anonymous '' in a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper .
During the interview , Cooper asks about Anonymous and says , `` Are you aware of who that is ? ''
`` I am not .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who that might be , '' Taylor replies .
Cooper later asks more pointedly , `` Are you Anonymous ? ''
Taylor replies , `` I only wear a mask for two things Anderson : Halloweens and pandemics .
So no . ''
Taylor served at DHS from 2017 to 2019 and was chief of staff to Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen as well as Chad Wolf , now the acting DHS chief .

Ex-Homeland Security Official Outs Himself As 'Anonymous' Anti-Trump Author
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tim Godbee/Department of Homeland Security via AP Tim Godbee/Department of Homeland Security via AP
Miles Taylor, the former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security, has revealed himself to be "Anonymous," the author of a New York Times op-ed and book critical of the Trump presidency.
"To be clear, writing those works was not about eminence (they were published without attribution), not about money (I declined a hefty monetary advance and pledged to donate the bulk of the proceeds), and not about crafting a score-settling 'tell all' (my focus was on the President himself and his character, not denigrating former colleagues)," Taylor wrote in a Medium post.
"Nevertheless, I made clear I wasn't afraid to criticize the President under my name."
Taylor, in media interviews as recently as August, denied being "Anonymous."
Throughout his post, Taylor was explicit about his commitment to the Republican Party and asserted he "wanted this President to succeed" when he joined the administration alongside John Kelly, Trump's first Homeland Security secretary who later became the White House chief of staff.
But Taylor went on to say, "Too often in times of crisis, I saw Donald Trump prove he is a man without character, and his personal defects have resulted in leadership failures so significant that they can be measured in lost American lives. I witnessed Trump's inability to do his job over the course of two-and-a-half years."
He said the president's flaws were evident to "everyone" but that most were "were hesitant to speak up for fear of reprisals."
Taylor has appeared in ads for Republican Voters Against Trump, a group that is supporting Joe Biden in the presidential contest. He also wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in August detailing what he said were actions by the president that made the country "less secure."
But it was his anonymous op-ed in The New York Times in September 2018 in which he declared he was "part of the resistance inside the Trump administration" that delighted the president's critics and added to fears within the administration of a "deep state" that was acting against Trump's orders. He parlayed that into a book, A Warning, a year later.
In his Medium post, Taylor defended his works under the cover of anonymity, explaining that he "wrestled" with the decision and that ultimately it helped hold Trump's feet to the fire.
"Issuing my critiques without attribution forced the President to answer them directly on their merits or not at all, rather than creating distractions through petty insults and name-calling," Taylor wrote.
The White House responded to the revelation in a statement by spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany.
"This low-level, disgruntled former staffer is a liar and a coward who chose anonymity over action and leaking over leading. He was ineffective and incompetent during his time as DHS Chief of Staff which is why he was promptly fired after only serving in this role for a matter of weeks," McEnany said.
"It is appalling a low-ranking official would be granted anonymity and it is clear The New York Times is doing the bidding of Never-Trumpers and Democrats."
Minutes later the Trump campaign released a statement, also unleashing a litany of insults at Taylor.
"He's just another standard-issue arrogant, Washington, DC swamp bro who loved President Trump until he figured out he could try to make money by attacking him," officials wrote.
The campaign also noted that Taylor denied being "Anonymous" in a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper.
During the interview, Cooper asks about Anonymous and says, "Are you aware of who that is?"
"I am not . ... I've got my own thoughts of who that might be," Taylor replies.
Cooper later asks more pointedly, "Are you Anonymous?"
Taylor replies, "I only wear a mask for two things Anderson: Halloweens and pandemics. So no."
Taylor served at DHS from 2017 to 2019 and was chief of staff to Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen as well as Chad Wolf, now the acting DHS chief.