npr--2020-11-10--Report: The Pandemic Is Not Good For Freedom And Democracy. But There Are Exceptions

Report : The Pandemic Is Not Good For Freedom And Democracy .
But There Are Exceptions The pandemic has had a chilling effect on freedom around the globe , according to a new report from Freedom House , a nonpartisan group that advocates for democracy and whose founders include Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie .
The notion that democracy is being `` impinged upon in this pandemic is not surprising .
The idea that people 's freedoms are being curtailed is absolutely true and objectively verifiable and is happening , '' says Margaret Kruk , professor of health systems at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health , who was not involved with the report .
Certain countries show how a global health emergency can have far-ranging repercussions on the overall health and well-being of a country — but also how countries can rally and do the right thing .
The report , Democracy Under Lockdown : The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for Freedom , was published in October in partnership with the survey firm GQR .
Researchers surveyed nearly 400 journalists , activists and other experts in governance and democracy from March to September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affecting freedom in 192 countries .
The picture looks bleak .
Since the outbreak began , the condition for democracy and human rights has grown worse in 80 countries .
The report points to clear cases where governments have used COVID-19 as a pretext to shut down opposition , marginalize minority groups and control information .
It is too early to say whether these infringements will persist after the pandemic , Kruk says .
According to the report , 64 % of survey respondents agreed that the impact of COVID-19 would have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three to five years .
`` I would just caution that in the middle of a pandemic , assessing something as big as the future of democracy seems a bit premature to me , '' she says .
Still , Kruk says , `` we should carefully monitor '' these abuses `` just as the virus has to be carefully monitored . ''
Here are three highlights from the report .
According to the survey , 59 out of 192 countries saw some kind of violence or abuse of power as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Police were using the quarantine as an excuse to beat people or forcibly take them into custody , '' says Sarah Repucci , coauthor of the report .
She cites cases in Zimbabwe as one of the most egregious examples .
The country has been using `` COVID-19 restrictions as an excuse for a widespread campaign of threats , harassment and physical assault on opposition '' she says .
In July , the U.N. 's human rights office received reports of Zimbabwean police using force to arrest at least 12 nurses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for better salaries and work conditions .
According to the authorities , these protesters were breaching lockdown restrictions .
In a July tweet directed to Zimbabwean officials , the U.N. said COVID-19 measures `` should not be used to clamp down on fundamental freedoms , including freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly . ''
Some authorities are using the virus as pretext for a political agenda that was already in place .
`` There have been a lot of crackdowns on minority groups who had already been a target before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' explains Repucci .
`` They 've been scapegoated throughout COVID-19 as being spreaders of the virus . ''
Indeed , in April , NPR correspondent Lauren Frayer reported that Muslims say they have faced increased discrimination , harassment and attacks in India .
The violence has been fueled , victims and observers say , by right-wing Hindu nationalist TV channels , misinformation on social media and statements from ruling party politicians .
At least 91 of 192 countries had some kind of restriction on news media during the outbreak , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really an alarming figure , '' says Repucci .
`` The media is the only way that people can get information that is not just the government line .
Even if the media might have certain biases in certain countries , they serve a really important role for getting people information . ''
In an effort to control information , governments have cracked down on the media , from preventing journalists from covering COVID-19-related press events to harassment , intimidation and arrests .
The report cites examples from around the world : In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged collapse of a COVID-19 isolation center was detained by the authorities and threatened with criminal prosecution on false news charges in May .
In Tanzania , a journalist was suspended for allegedly reporting about a COVID-19 patient without the patient 's consent in April .
And in Singapore , the government is using its new anti-fake news law to take down social media posts and news stories that clash with government messaging .
One of Freedom House 's measures of democracy in the report is transparency around coronavirus information .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been great at that .
The Trump Administration has been criticized for using a number of tactics to control the narrative around the virus .
This includes scapegoating , pushing unproven cures and downplaying the severity of the crisis .
What the U.S. does in this pandemic matters , says Repucci .
`` So many countries look to the U.S. as a model . ''
In response to these charges , White House spokesman Michael Bars emailed NPR this statement : '' The Administration 's coronavirus strategy is fundamentally rooted in the bedrock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country – our schools , businesses , churches and other institutions – safely open and stay open ... .
[ W ] e now have more information on how to better treat patients and protect the most vulnerable through increased care , life-saving therapeutics , state-of-the-art testing , mitigation techniques to prevent community spread and hospitals that are better prepared . ''
Only one country reported a positive trend over the past few months : Malawi .
`` They had a really bad election in 2019 — lots of fraud — and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stand , '' Repucci says .
`` But then it was contested and it went to the Supreme Court .
And the Supreme Court actually surprised everyone with a show of independence from the ruling party and said , yes — the election was fraudulent , it needs to be redone . ''
In June , Malawi was successfully able to hold a rerun election , voting out the ruling party and transitioning to a new regime .
It 's notable that the country was able to keep its democratic process on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains Repucci , because half of the 22 countries that held an election this year were affected by the pandemic .
According to the report , officials in seven countries moved the election date and four changed election rules , citing COVID-19 .
Another country surprised Repucci : Tunisia .
`` The activists we surveyed were largely positive about the government response , '' she says .
Working quickly to shut down schools , mosques and transportation , Tunisia was one of the first countries in the Middle East to contain their COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Brookings Institution , a think tank .
And Tunisia 's communication strategy was widely lauded for being `` transparent and extensive , '' according to the report .
The government broadcast daily press conferences on TV and the radio ; it also created a website and two Facebook pages with coronavirus information .
`` People felt that the government was in control and that they had instituted measures [ to control the virus ] that were necessary , '' says Repucci , `` and in the process of that , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infringements on freedom . ''

Report: The Pandemic Is Not Good For Freedom And Democracy. But There Are Exceptions
Enlarge this image toggle caption Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters
The pandemic has had a chilling effect on freedom around the globe, according to a new report from Freedom House, a nonpartisan group that advocates for democracy and whose founders include Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie.
The notion that democracy is being "impinged upon in this pandemic is not surprising. The idea that people's freedoms are being curtailed is absolutely true and objectively verifiable and is happening," says Margaret Kruk, professor of health systems at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who was not involved with the report.
Certain countries show how a global health emergency can have far-ranging repercussions on the overall health and well-being of a country — but also how countries can rally and do the right thing.
The report, Democracy Under Lockdown: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for Freedom, was published in October in partnership with the survey firm GQR. Researchers surveyed nearly 400 journalists, activists and other experts in governance and democracy from March to September to find out how the pandemic is affecting freedom in 192 countries.
The picture looks bleak. Since the outbreak began, the condition for democracy and human rights has grown worse in 80 countries. The report points to clear cases where governments have used COVID-19 as a pretext to shut down opposition, marginalize minority groups and control information.
It is too early to say whether these infringements will persist after the pandemic, Kruk says. According to the report, 64% of survey respondents agreed that the impact of COVID-19 would have a negative impact on democracy over the next three to five years.
"I would just caution that in the middle of a pandemic, assessing something as big as the future of democracy seems a bit premature to me," she says.
Still, Kruk says, "we should carefully monitor" these abuses "just as the virus has to be carefully monitored."
Here are three highlights from the report.
Abuse of power
According to the survey, 59 out of 192 countries saw some kind of violence or abuse of power as a result of lockdowns and other pandemic measures. "Police were using the quarantine as an excuse to beat people or forcibly take them into custody," says Sarah Repucci, coauthor of the report.
She cites cases in Zimbabwe as one of the most egregious examples. The country has been using "COVID-19 restrictions as an excuse for a widespread campaign of threats, harassment and physical assault on opposition" she says. In July, the U.N.'s human rights office received reports of Zimbabwean police using force to arrest at least 12 nurses and health care workers protesting on the street for better salaries and work conditions. According to the authorities, these protesters were breaching lockdown restrictions. In a July tweet directed to Zimbabwean officials, the U.N. said COVID-19 measures "should not be used to clamp down on fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly."
Some authorities are using the virus as pretext for a political agenda that was already in place. "There have been a lot of crackdowns on minority groups who had already been a target before the pandemic, such as Muslims in India," explains Repucci. "They've been scapegoated throughout COVID-19 as being spreaders of the virus."
Indeed, in April, NPR correspondent Lauren Frayer reported that Muslims say they have faced increased discrimination, harassment and attacks in India. The violence has been fueled, victims and observers say, by right-wing Hindu nationalist TV channels, misinformation on social media and statements from ruling party politicians.
Control of information
At least 91 of 192 countries had some kind of restriction on news media during the outbreak, according to the survey. "That's really an alarming figure," says Repucci. "The media is the only way that people can get information that is not just the government line. Even if the media might have certain biases in certain countries, they serve a really important role for getting people information."
In an effort to control information, governments have cracked down on the media, from preventing journalists from covering COVID-19-related press events to harassment, intimidation and arrests. The report cites examples from around the world: In Nigeria, a journalist who covered the alleged collapse of a COVID-19 isolation center was detained by the authorities and threatened with criminal prosecution on false news charges in May. In Tanzania, a journalist was suspended for allegedly reporting about a COVID-19 patient without the patient's consent in April. And in Singapore, the government is using its new anti-fake news law to take down social media posts and news stories that clash with government messaging.
One of Freedom House's measures of democracy in the report is transparency around coronavirus information. According to survey respondents, the U.S. has not been great at that. The Trump Administration has been criticized for using a number of tactics to control the narrative around the virus. This includes scapegoating, pushing unproven cures and downplaying the severity of the crisis.
What the U.S. does in this pandemic matters, says Repucci. "So many countries look to the U.S. as a model."
In response to these charges, White House spokesman Michael Bars emailed NPR this statement:
"The Administration's coronavirus strategy is fundamentally rooted in the bedrock objective of saving lives and helping our country – our schools, businesses, churches and other institutions – safely open and stay open .... [W]e now have more information on how to better treat patients and protect the most vulnerable through increased care, life-saving therapeutics, state-of-the-art testing, mitigation techniques to prevent community spread and hospitals that are better prepared."
Bright spots
Only one country reported a positive trend over the past few months: Malawi.
"They had a really bad election in 2019 — lots of fraud — and people just assumed that the result was going to stand," Repucci says. "But then it was contested and it went to the Supreme Court. And the Supreme Court actually surprised everyone with a show of independence from the ruling party and said, yes — the election was fraudulent, it needs to be redone."
In June, Malawi was successfully able to hold a rerun election, voting out the ruling party and transitioning to a new regime. It's notable that the country was able to keep its democratic process on track despite concerns about the coronavirus, explains Repucci, because half of the 22 countries that held an election this year were affected by the pandemic. According to the report, officials in seven countries moved the election date and four changed election rules, citing COVID-19.
Another country surprised Repucci: Tunisia. "The activists we surveyed were largely positive about the government response," she says. Working quickly to shut down schools, mosques and transportation, Tunisia was one of the first countries in the Middle East to contain their COVID-19 outbreak, according to a July report from the Brookings Institution, a think tank. And Tunisia's communication strategy was widely lauded for being "transparent and extensive," according to the report. The government broadcast daily press conferences on TV and the radio; it also created a website and two Facebook pages with coronavirus information.
"People felt that the government was in control and that they had instituted measures [to control the virus] that were necessary," says Repucci, "and in the process of that, the government was able to refrain from serious infringements on freedom."


npr--2020-11-11--For Dads In The Pandemic: Lows, Highs And Constant Uncertainty

For Dads In The Pandemic : Lows , Highs And Constant Uncertainty Zachary Austrew is still trying to come to terms with what it means to be the sole breadwinner in his household .
`` We 're not that family where I go to work , and she stays home and cleans the house , and I expect dinner when I return , '' he says .
`` That 's not how we operate . ''
And yet , with two young children stuck at home and Austrew 's project management job deemed essential , they more or less are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife Ashley quit her full-time job in marketing and is now homeschooling the kids .
`` She was a homemaker almost immediately , and I was outside of the house , '' he says .
`` I definitely felt some guilt . ''
Many men are facing this new reality as women have quit the workforce in droves recently .
The number of women on U.S. payrolls overtook men for a brief period of three months through February this year .
No longer .
And as schools have remained closed or partially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dwindled , life for countless families has been upended .
While women still shoulder the bulk of child care and household duties in America , many men are being forced to confront new realities at home .
Unlike Austrew , many others have found themselves out of a job , and single dads are finding ways to manage on their own .
Whatever the situation , one thing is clear : The pandemic is taking fathers on all sorts of journeys they may never have chosen otherwise .
You can get a glimpse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video he shared online this fall .
Station knew his children were bummed about virtual learning .
They did n't want to put on nice clothes or do their hair for the annual first-day-of-school picture .
They just wanted to get it over with and go back to the living room .
To shake things up , he turned on some music , sent the kids out the front door with their backpacks , and had them turn around and ring the doorbell .
He then greeted them back with a big welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instantly , everyone 's mood brightened .
It set a new tone for the school year , one that has turned out to be as different for dad as it is for the kids .
Station , a vice president at Boeing , normally travels several times a month for work , logging as many as 200,000 miles a year .
His wife April , who works full-time for Microsoft , was the parent who looked after most of their children 's school needs .
Station says he often did not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` My wife would tell me obviously , and if I had time , maybe I 'd meet them , you know , once or twice a year , '' he says .
Now , with online schooling , he not only sees the teachers regularly ( online ) but watches how they interact with his children .
`` I got to see my kids and see their world in a way that I 've never experienced before , '' he says .
`` It 's very special . ''
Station has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and while he 's still logging a lot of hours from home , he is overseeing more of the schoolwork than ever and spending more time with the children .
He gets emotional thinking about how much he 's missed and how much he 's getting to experience now .
`` Even with all the chaos , this has been a bonus year for me , '' Station says .
Eight months into the pandemic , the shift in how fathers view their responsibilities at home is worth watching , says economist Misty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gender inequality in the workforce is driven in part by similar forces in the domestic sphere .
Far more mothers than fathers interrupt or scale back their careers to care for young children and manage the household .
Eroding or eliminating the imbalance on the home front will likely lead to greater equality in the labor market , Heggeness says .
Anecdotally , you hear many stories of dads stepping up in the pandemic .
Census data also suggest a larger number of men are spending more time at home .
Heggeness examined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who live with school-age children .
She found 50 % more of them were not actively working this fall compared with a year ago .
This includes fathers who are not working and not looking for work , and fathers who might have taken sick leave or administrative leave or were on vacation .
It also includes unemployed fathers like Nathan Bieck .
Early this year , Bieck was putting in long days preparing for the April grand opening of the new Loews Hotel in downtown Kansas City : 800 rooms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space .
`` We had giant media events planned .
People flying in from all over to cut ribbons , '' says Bieck , who worked in business travel sales .
Those plans were scrapped when the nation went into lockdown .
By early May , Bieck was furloughed .
Meanwhile his wife Ashley was going bonkers at her job in health care , working 16-hour days dealing with changing policies surrounding COVID-19 payments and reimbursements .
`` It 's a complete role reversal , from the laundry to the food , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 'm a much better cook than I was six months ago . ''
With their 9-year-old daughter Maddie in remote school , he has also assumed another role .
`` I am Teacher Dad , '' he says .
`` I get up every morning , and I wake her up , get her breakfast ready .
We get her online . ''
Under his tutelage , Maddie 's reading and math scores have gone way up , an achievement he proudly shares .
He may not be bringing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he says , but `` this one , I can say hey , maybe this is working . ''
While Maddie is in class , Bieck has been applying for jobs .
At 45 , he says the process can feel humiliating .
He prays for the day that his boss calls him to say the hotel , which opened in June under strict COVID-19 restrictions , is ready to bring him back .
But who knows when that might be ?
It 's just a really tough market , he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to worry about job security this year .
He 's been with his company for 14 years , and even in the pandemic , new opportunities have come up — positions he might have sprung for in normal times .
Instead , he 's choosing to play it safe , not wanting to rock the boat and add more strain on his family .
`` The stability of my career is the most important thing that we have financially right now , '' he says .
`` I want to do my day-to-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so I can get home and deal with all the other ... stresses that we 're not used to having . ''
He feels he owes that to his family , and especially to his wife , whose career is on hold for the foreseeable future .
`` One day I hope to make it up to her , '' he says .
`` Hopefully after everything returns back to some sense of normalcy , she can return to what she really wants to do .
And I 'll definitely support her @ @ @ @ @ @

'I'm A Much Better Cook': For Dads, Being Forced To Stay At Home Is Eye-Opening
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jovelle Tamayo for NPR Jovelle Tamayo for NPR
Zachary Austrew is still trying to come to terms with what it means to be the sole breadwinner in his household.
"We're not that family where I go to work, and she stays home and cleans the house, and I expect dinner when I return," he says. "That's not how we operate."
And yet, with two young children stuck at home and Austrew's project management job deemed essential, they more or less are — for now. This summer, his wife Ashley quit her full-time job in marketing and is now homeschooling the kids.
"She was a homemaker almost immediately, and I was outside of the house," he says. "I definitely felt some guilt."
Many men are facing this new reality, as women have quit the workforce in droves recently. The number of women on U.S. payrolls overtook men for a brief period of three months through February this year. No longer.
And as schools have remained closed or partially closed, and child care options have dwindled, life for countless families has been upended. While women still shoulder the bulk of child care and household duties in America, many men are being forced to confront new realities at home.
Unlike Austrew, many others have found themselves out of a job, and single dads are finding ways to manage on their own. Whatever the situation, one thing is clear: The pandemic is taking fathers on all sorts of journeys they may never have chosen otherwise.
You can get a glimpse of Will Station's journey in a video he shared online this fall. Station knew his children were bummed about virtual learning. They didn't want to put on nice clothes or do their hair for the annual first-day-of-school picture. They just wanted to get it over with and go back to the living room.
To shake things up, he turned on some music, sent the kids out the front door with their backpacks, and had them turn around and ring the doorbell. He then greeted them back with a big welcome and what he called a silly dance. Instantly, everyone's mood brightened. It set a new tone for the school year, one that has turned out to be as different for dad as it is for the kids.
Station, a vice president at Boeing, normally travels several times a month for work, logging as many as 200,000 miles a year. His wife April, who works full-time for Microsoft, was the parent who looked after most of their children's school needs. Station says he often did not know the names of his kids' teachers.
"My wife would tell me obviously, and if I had time, maybe I'd meet them, you know, once or twice a year," he says. Now, with online schooling, he not only sees the teachers regularly (online) but watches how they interact with his children.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jovelle Tamayo for NPR Jovelle Tamayo for NPR
"I got to see my kids and see their world in a way that I've never experienced before," he says. "It's very special."
Station hasn't traveled for work since February, and while he's still logging a lot of hours from home, he is overseeing more of the schoolwork than ever and spending more time with the children. He gets emotional thinking about how much he's missed and how much he's getting to experience now.
"Even with all the chaos, this has been a bonus year for me," Station says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jovelle Tamayo for NPR Jovelle Tamayo for NPR
Eight months into the pandemic, the shift in how fathers view their responsibilities at home is worth watching, says economist Misty Heggeness of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Gender inequality in the workforce is driven in part by similar forces in the domestic sphere. Far more mothers than fathers interrupt or scale back their careers to care for young children and manage the household. Eroding or eliminating the imbalance on the home front will likely lead to greater equality in the labor market, Heggeness says.
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Anecdotally, you hear many stories of dads stepping up in the pandemic. Census data also suggest a larger number of men are spending more time at home. Heggeness examined data from a subset of fathers: those who live with school-age children. She found 50% more of them were not actively working this fall compared with a year ago. This includes fathers who are not working and not looking for work, and fathers who might have taken sick leave or administrative leave or were on vacation.
It also includes unemployed fathers like Nathan Bieck. Early this year, Bieck was putting in long days preparing for the April grand opening of the new Loews Hotel in downtown Kansas City: 800 rooms, 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
"We had giant media events planned. People flying in from all over to cut ribbons," says Bieck, who worked in business travel sales. Those plans were scrapped when the nation went into lockdown. By early May, Bieck was furloughed.
Meanwhile his wife Ashley was going bonkers at her job in health care, working 16-hour days dealing with changing policies surrounding COVID-19 payments and reimbursements.
"It's a complete role reversal, from the laundry to the food," Nathan Bieck says of their home life. "I'm a much better cook than I was six months ago."
With their 9-year-old daughter Maddie in remote school, he has also assumed another role.
"I am Teacher Dad," he says. "I get up every morning, and I wake her up, get her breakfast ready. We get her online."
Under his tutelage, Maddie's reading and math scores have gone way up, an achievement he proudly shares. He may not be bringing in a bunch of money for the family, he says, but "this one, I can say hey, maybe this is working."
While Maddie is in class, Bieck has been applying for jobs. At 45, he says the process can feel humiliating. He prays for the day that his boss calls him to say the hotel, which opened in June under strict COVID-19 restrictions, is ready to bring him back. But who knows when that might be? It's just a really tough market, he says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Zachary Austrew Zachary Austrew
Meanwhile, Austrew has not had to worry about job security this year. He's been with his company for 14 years, and even in the pandemic, new opportunities have come up — positions he might have sprung for in normal times. Instead, he's choosing to play it safe, not wanting to rock the boat and add more strain on his family.
"The stability of my career is the most important thing that we have financially right now," he says. "I want to do my day-to-day activities as quickly and efficiently as possible, so I can get home and deal with all the other ... stresses that we're not used to having."
He feels he owes that to his family, and especially to his wife, whose career is on hold for the foreseeable future.
"One day I hope to make it up to her," he says. "Hopefully after everything returns back to some sense of normalcy, she can return to what she really wants to do. And I'll definitely support her any way I can."


npr--2020-11-11--From Obscure To Sold Out: The Story Of Four Seasons Total Landscaping In Just 4 Days

From Obscure To Sold Out : The Story Of Four Seasons Total Landscaping In Just 4 Days Four Seasons Total Landscaping wants to `` Make America Rake Again . ''
Just a day after the Philadelphia family business became the unlikely backdrop for a belligerent Trump campaign press conference , its owners cashed in on the viral fame — and even crossed party lines .
On Sunday night , the company rolled out a line of T-shirts , hoodies and stickers featuring the slogans `` Lawn and Order '' and its riff on MAGA .
On Monday , it started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , everything had sold out .
Four Seasons ' pivot to apparel had clearly paid off .
The company posted on its Facebook page that it was temporarily suspending sales of most of its items due to lack of stock .
`` We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we 've received !
You all are amazing ! ''
the post said .
It 's still not entirely clear how the Trump campaign ended up holding a press conference in Northeast Philadelphia near a sex shop , a crematorium and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning with a Trump tweet about an event at the Philadelphia Four Seasons .
That message was quickly deleted and a new tweet clarified that instead of the swanky downtown hotel , the presser would be held at the Four Seasons Total Landscaping , a business that offers services such as mulching , weed control , pruning shrubs and leaf removal , among other jobs .
At the press event , Trump 's lawyer Rudy Giuliani claimed without evidence that Joe Biden 's victory in Pennsylvania was due to voter fraud .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
Whatever its original motivation , the company is capitalizing on its fame by pitching itself to consumers from across the political spectrum .
Not only is it offering `` Make America Rake Again '' and `` Lawn and Order '' merchandise , but it has also `` liked '' and retweeted a number of left-leaning accounts .
And for those who do n't care for politics , it offers a picture of its parking lot as a Zoom background .
Wendy Gordon , a Philly expat now living in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
The Biden supporter said she never wants to forget that surreal half-hour on Saturday when a week 's worth of election anxiety finally started to dissipate .
`` It 's so funny , and so just completely innocuous and random and silly , that it was kind of like a collective exhale , '' said Gordon , 60 .
By Tuesday morning , much of the Four Seasons Total Landscaping seemed back to normal , except for a small memorial to Saturday 's events outside the front door — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business continued to attract a steady stream of tourists .
`` It 's interesting , it 's definitely very industrial .
A big pile of dirt and an old building , '' said Brian Gannon , a 42-year-old Virginia resident who had come to Philadelphia for a doctor 's appointment .
Zoe Grobman , a Philadelphia-based graduate student , trekked across town with a friend to check out the now-iconic business .
`` [ We are here ] to see the newest Philly landmark , '' the 27-year-old said .
Grobman , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the fact that the press conference ended up here of all places speaks to what she loves about her home city .
`` The moral of the story is , like , do n't mess with Philly , '' she said .
Aficionados of the landscaping business now have another event to look forward to : On Nov. 29 , runners can take part in an 11-mile charity run from Four Seasons Total Landscaping to the Four Seasons hotel inside the Comcast Center .

From Obscure To Sold Out: The Story Of Four Seasons Total Landscaping In Just 4 Days
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris McGrath/Getty Images Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Four Seasons Total Landscaping wants to "Make America Rake Again."
Just a day after the Philadelphia family business became the unlikely backdrop for a belligerent Trump campaign press conference, its owners cashed in on the viral fame — and even crossed party lines.
On Sunday night, the company rolled out a line of T-shirts, hoodies and stickers featuring the slogans "Lawn and Order" and its riff on MAGA.
On Monday, it started offering face masks as well.
By Tuesday, everything had sold out.
Four Seasons' pivot to apparel had clearly paid off. The company posted on its Facebook page that it was temporarily suspending sales of most of its items due to lack of stock.
"We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we've received! You all are amazing!" the post said.
It's still not entirely clear how the Trump campaign ended up holding a press conference in Northeast Philadelphia near a sex shop, a crematorium and a jail. The hoopla was kicked off Saturday morning with a Trump tweet about an event at the Philadelphia Four Seasons.
That message was quickly deleted and a new tweet clarified that instead of the swanky downtown hotel, the presser would be held at the Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a business that offers services such as mulching, weed control, pruning shrubs and leaf removal, among other jobs.
At the press event, Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani claimed without evidence that Joe Biden's victory in Pennsylvania was due to voter fraud. Four Seasons Total Landscaping declined requests for comment.
Whatever its original motivation, the company is capitalizing on its fame by pitching itself to consumers from across the political spectrum.
Not only is it offering "Make America Rake Again" and "Lawn and Order" merchandise, but it has also "liked" and retweeted a number of left-leaning accounts. And for those who don't care for politics, it offers a picture of its parking lot as a Zoom background.
Wendy Gordon, a Philly expat now living in Washington, D.C., ordered a Four Seasons T-shirt on Monday. The Biden supporter said she never wants to forget that surreal half-hour on Saturday when a week's worth of election anxiety finally started to dissipate.
"It's so funny, and so just completely innocuous and random and silly, that it was kind of like a collective exhale," said Gordon, 60.
By Tuesday morning, much of the Four Seasons Total Landscaping seemed back to normal, except for a small memorial to Saturday's events outside the front door — a few candles and some flowers.
The business continued to attract a steady stream of tourists.
"It's interesting, it's definitely very industrial. A big pile of dirt and an old building," said Brian Gannon, a 42-year-old Virginia resident who had come to Philadelphia for a doctor's appointment.
Zoe Grobman, a Philadelphia-based graduate student, trekked across town with a friend to check out the now-iconic business.
"[We are here] to see the newest Philly landmark," the 27-year-old said.
Grobman, who had already purchased a Four Seasons T-shirt, said the fact that the press conference ended up here of all places speaks to what she loves about her home city.
"The moral of the story is, like, don't mess with Philly," she said.
Aficionados of the landscaping business now have another event to look forward to: On Nov. 29, runners can take part in an 11-mile charity run from Four Seasons Total Landscaping to the Four Seasons hotel inside the Comcast Center.


npr--2020-11-11--The 2020 Election Was A Good One For Republicans Not Named Trump

The 2020 Election Was A Good One For Republicans Not Named Trump Republicans outperformed the polls up and down the ballot in the 2020 election , to the surprise even of many Republican political operatives and survey researchers .
To be clear , Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Trump ; Democrats will still control the House and still have a chance of picking up the Senate .
But Republicans made gains in the House — so far netting five seats ( with 22 races not yet called ) .
Given their presumed strength in the suburbs , Democrats had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became increasingly likely the closer the election got — and not just because of public polls .
That was also the expectation of Republicans , who conduct their own private polling and work on , run and advise campaigns .
In the Senate , Democrats have so far gained one seat , but they need three with a Biden win to take over the chamber .
Democrats still have a chance of doing that with two runoff elections in Georgia .
But that 's seen as possible , not likely .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats had put lots of Senate races in play , ones not expected to go their way at the beginning of the 2020 cycle , places like Kansas and Montana .
To be sure , many of the Senate races were expected to be close , perhaps with razor-thin margins , and a Democratic-controlled Senate was never an assured outcome .
But when you look at the average of the polls in the last week of the election versus the ultimate result , it 's clear that Republicans were underrepresented all across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except Colorado and Alabama , were within single digits in the polls .
Colorado , a state Biden won handily , wound up pretty close to the average .
Alabama , a state Trump won by a lot , was an even bigger blowout than expected .
Many of the supposedly tightest races did n't wind up tight at all .
Maine is perhaps the most stunning one .
Biden won the state by 9 percentage points , but Republican incumbent Susan Collins won re-election by 9 points .
Not only was Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day in an average of the polls in the week before the election , but she led in one — ONE — poll in all of 2020 .
And that was back in July .
That 's one poll out of almost three dozen .
In South Carolina , money flowed to Democrat Jaime Harrison , who looked like he actually had a shot of defeating incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham .
The Cook Political Report , which talks to the committees that help elect the candidates in each part , and others rated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls seemed to bear that out , showing the race even .
But in the end , it was n't even close .
Graham won by 10 percentage points .
It was always going to be tough for a Democrat to win statewide in South Carolina in a presidential year .
Alaska 's margin could tighten with mail-in votes still out and only 58 % of the votes in , so put an asterisk next to that one , but that was supposed to be a 3-point race .
There is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polling industry .
Survey researchers are already combing their numbers for patterns of what went wrong .
Some theories at this point include : Early voting : Surveys having too many people in their samples saying they would vote early .
The pollsters had a tough time adjusting for that , because there 's no historical trend to go by ; Democratic overresponse : Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents seem to have been more willing to talk to pollsters , and pro-Trump Republicans just did n't want to participate as much because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls and the media .
This is not the idea of a `` shy '' Trump voter .
While survey researchers — Democratic , Republican and nonpartisan — all found people less willing to say they are Trump supporters to their friends and families , especially women , they have found little evidence they are n't telling pollsters they support the president .
The bigger problem may be Trump supporters simply not wanting to participate at all .
That would seem to make sense , considering the consistent underestimation of Republican vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump phenomenon : The other thing that is tough to quantify is whether this is something unique to when Trump is on the ballot .
He has vilified polls and the media to a far-greater extent than any other presidential candidate .
Supporting the idea that this was simply a Trump phenomenon is that polls were right in the 2018 midterm elections and nearly every special election in the last four years .
These are just early theories , but it 's probably going to be best practice to put even less stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to use rough , more artful measures , including demography , ad spending and private campaign poll reporting to find out where the campaigns think is important and where a candidate may or may not have a shot .

The 2020 Election Was A Good One For Republicans Not Named Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Scott Eisen/Getty Images Scott Eisen/Getty Images
Republicans outperformed the polls up and down the ballot in the 2020 election, to the surprise even of many Republican political operatives and survey researchers.
To be clear, Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Trump; Democrats will still control the House and still have a chance of picking up the Senate.
But Republicans made gains in the House — so far netting five seats (with 22 races not yet called). Given their presumed strength in the suburbs, Democrats had been expected to expand their majority.
That became increasingly likely the closer the election got — and not just because of public polls. That was also the expectation of Republicans who conduct their own private polling and work on, run and advise campaigns.
In the Senate, Democrats have so far gained one seat, but they need three with a Biden win to take over the chamber. Democrats still have a chance of doing that with two runoff elections in Georgia. That's seen as possible, but not likely.
It wasn't expected to be this way. Democrats had put lots of Senate races in play, ones not expected to go their way at the beginning of the 2020 cycle, places like Kansas and Montana.
To be sure, many of the Senate races were expected to be close, perhaps with razor-thin margins, and a Democrat-controlled Senate was never an assured outcome. But when you look at the average of the polls in the last week of the election versus the ultimate result, it's clear that Republicans were underrepresented all across the country.
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All of these races, except Colorado and Alabama, were within single digits in the polls. Colorado, a state Biden won handily, wound up pretty close to the average. Alabama, a state Trump won by a lot, was an even bigger blowout than expected.
Many of the supposedly tightest races didn't wind up tight at all. Maine is perhaps the most stunning one. Biden won the state by 9 percentage points, but Republican incumbent Susan Collins won reelection by 9 points.
Not only was Collins down by 4 points heading into Election Day in an average of the polls in the week before the election, but she led in just one poll in all of 2020. And that was back in July. That's one poll out of almost three dozen.
In South Carolina, money flowed to Democrat Jaime Harrison, who looked as if he actually had a shot of defeating incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham. The Cook Political Report, which talks to the committees that help elect the candidates in each part, and others rated the race as a toss-up.
The polls seemed to bear that out, showing the race even. But in the end, it wasn't even close. Graham won by 10 percentage points. It was always going to be tough for a Democrat to win statewide in South Carolina in a presidential year.
In Alaska, incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan's double-digit margin could tighten with mail-in votes still out and only 74% of the votes in as of Wednesday, so put an asterisk next to that one, but that was supposed to be a 3-point race.
There is going to be a reckoning — again — within the polling industry. Survey researchers are already combing their numbers for patterns of what went wrong.
Some theories at this point include:
Early voting: Surveys having too many people in their samples saying they would vote early. The pollsters had a tough time adjusting for that, because there's no historical trend to go by.
Democratic overresponse: Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents seem to have been more willing to talk to pollsters, and pro-Trump Republicans just didn't want to participate as much because of their deep distrust of and disdain for the polls and the media.
This is not the idea of a "shy" Trump voter. While survey researchers — Democratic, Republican and nonpartisan — all found people, especially women, less willing to say they are Trump supporters to their friends and families, there is little evidence they aren't telling pollsters they support the president.
The bigger problem may be Trump supporters simply not wanting to participate at all. That would seem to make sense, considering the consistent underestimation of Republican vote, especially in Republican-leaning states.
A Trump phenomenon: The other thing that is tough to quantify is whether this is something unique to when Trump is on the ballot. He has vilified polls and the media to a far greater extent than any other presidential candidate. Supporting the idea that this was simply a Trump phenomenon is that polls were right in the 2018 midterm elections and nearly every special election in the last four years.
These are just early theories, but it's probably going to be best practice to put even less stock in horse-race polling as an exact science and to use rough, more artful measures, including demography, ad spending and private campaign poll reporting to find out where the campaigns think is important and where a candidate may or may not have a shot.


npr--2020-11-11--New Memorial Recognizes Generations Of Military Service By Native American Veterans

New Memorial Recognizes Generations Of Military Service By Native American Veterans After 25 years in the making , a new monument on the National Mall in Washington , D.C. , opens on Veterans Day — the National Native American Veterans Memorial .
`` It 's an article of faith in Indian country that Native Americans serve at a greater rate than basically any other group , '' said Kevin Gover , the director of the Smithsonian 's National Museum of the American Indian and a citizen of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma .
He said the steel ring sculpture over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground .
`` When people bring their memories and bring their prayers to a place , they make it sacred , '' he said .
`` We wish for this to be a sacred place , not just for Native Americas , but for all Americans . ''
For now , most of those prayers and memories are being sent virtually because of the pandemic , but plenty of Native veterans are hoping to sanctify the site whenever it becomes safe to travel there .
`` My ancestors were warriors .
Rain-in-the-Face who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bighorn or Greasy Grass that they called it , '' says Marcella LeBeau , a 101- year-old former Army nurse .
`` My father was a Spanish American war veteran .
My brother , oldest brother was a veteran .
All down the line . ''
'Hoping recognition of Native service will be nationwide' LeBeau is a citizen of the Two Kettle Band , Cheyenne River Sioux .
She recalls hearing a constant barrage of German `` buzz bombs '' during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II , while she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25th General Hospital in Liege , Belgium , just miles from the front .
`` To me it was a great honor , '' she said — and one recognized by her tribe when she returned home to South Dakota .
With the memorial , she 's hoping recognition of Native service will be nationwide .
For other Native veterans , a tradition of military service is n't something they heard so much about .
`` For a lot of years I thought I was a first-generation military person , '' says Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Came to find out both of my grandfathers and uncles had served in the Territorial Guard during world war two , '' he said .
Don has served 27 years so far , including tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan .
Learning about his family history of US military service was emotional and complicated .
`` Not just Native Americans , but some of the other minority groups — ultimately they chose to serve , to represent their people and also to serve a country that sometimes did n't have what proved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they still did it , '' he said .
Don said now that the country is wrestling with questions about racial justice , he hopes the memorial can play a part .
'Validation or maybe an inspiration' Army vet Allen Hoe feels the same .
He 's native Hawaiian , and was drafted in 1966 .
He then volunteered as a combat medic in Vietnam .
Both his sons followed in his footsteps and served in the Army after 9/11 .
His oldest son Nainoa K. Hoe was killed in action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mosul , Iraq .
`` He was a young man who felt the same I did and the same way his ancestors did .
For me , his loss obviously very painful as his father , but I look back and say the greater feeling is that he worked so hard to do so much for this country and he will not be able to enjoy that , '' Hoe said .
`` His younger brother is a staff sergeant .
His name is Nakoa .
The meaning of Nakoa is 'the warrior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And you know , from the two sons he 's had to carry the heavier load than his big brother did , simply because he 's left with the legacy of his older brother 's accomplishments , as well as now having to make sure mom and dad are OK , '' Hoe said .
Those are the kind of stories of service and sacrifice Hoe wants Americans to learn about at the new Native American Veterans Memorial .
For Native visitors , Hoe wants it to be a validation or maybe even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Native who experiences that Memorial for the first time , in 50 years from now , he 'll be the president of the United States .
Who knows ?
Or he 'll be the next great general ? ''
Hoe said .

New Memorial Recognizes Generations Of Military Service By Native American Veterans
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alan Karchmer/National Native American Veterans Memorial Alan Karchmer/National Native American Veterans Memorial
Twenty-five years in the making, a new monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., opens on Veterans Day — the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
"It's an article of faith in Indian country that Native Americans serve at a greater rate than basically any other group," said Kevin Gover, the director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and a citizen of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. He said the steel ring sculpture over a carved stone drum, in a wooded area near the museum's entrance, will become hallowed ground.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alan Karchmer/National Native American Veterans Memorial Alan Karchmer/National Native American Veterans Memorial
"When people bring their memories and bring their prayers to a place, they make it sacred," he said. "We wish for this to be a sacred place, not just for Native Americas, but for all Americans."
For now, most of those prayers and memories are being sent virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, but plenty of Native veterans are hoping to sanctify the site when it becomes safe to travel there.
"My ancestors were warriors. Rain-in-the-Face who fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn or Greasy Grass that they called it," says Marcella LeBeau, a 101- year-old former Army nurse. "My father was a Spanish American war veteran. My brother, oldest brother was a veteran. All down the line."
'Hoping recognition of Native service will be nationwide'
LeBeau is a citizen of the Two Kettle Band, Cheyenne River Sioux. She recalls hearing a constant barrage of German "buzz bombs" during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, while she worked as a surgical nurse at the 25th General Hospital in Liege, Belgium, just miles from the front.
"To me it was a great honor," she said — and one recognized by her tribe when she returned home to South Dakota. With the memorial, she's hoping recognition of Native service will be nationwide.
Enlarge this image toggle caption American Veterans Center American Veterans Center
For other Native veterans, a tradition of military service isn't something they heard so much about.
"For a lot of years, I thought I was a first-generation military person," says Army Col. Wayne Don, a native Alaskan.
"Came to find out both of my grandfathers and uncles had served in the Territorial Guard during World War II," he said.
Don has served 27 years so far, including tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Learning about his family history of military service was emotional and complicated.
"Not just Native Americans, but some of the other minority groups — ultimately they chose to serve, to represent their people and also to serve a country that sometimes didn't have what proved to be their best interest in mind. But they still did it," he said.
Don said now that the country is wrestling with questions about racial justice, he hopes the memorial can play a part.
'Validation or maybe an inspiration'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Allen Hoe Allen Hoe
Army vet Allen Hoe feels the same. He's native Hawaiian and was drafted in 1966. He then volunteered as a combat medic in Vietnam. Both his sons followed in his footsteps and served in the Army after Sept. 11. His oldest son Nainoa K. Hoe, was killed in action in 2005 at age 27, in Mosul, Iraq.
"He was a young man who felt the same I did and the same way his ancestors did. For me, his loss obviously very painful as his father, but I look back and say the greater feeling is that he worked so hard to do so much for this country and he will not be able to enjoy that," Hoe said.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Allen Hoe Allen Hoe
"His younger brother is a staff sergeant. His name is Nakoa. The meaning of Nakoa is 'the warrior who is brave and courageous.' And you know, from the two sons he's had to carry the heavier load than his big brother did, simply because he's left with the legacy of his older brother's accomplishments, as well as now having to make sure Mom and Dad are OK," Hoe said.
Those are the kind of stories of service and sacrifice Hoe wants Americans to learn about at the new Native American Veterans Memorial For Native visitors, Hoe wants it to be a validation or maybe even an inspiration.
"Maybe some young Native who experiences that memorial for the first time, in 50 years from now, he'll be the president of the United States. Who knows? Or he'll be the next great general?" Hoe said.


npr--2020-11-11--Their Service Entitles Them To Low-Cost Loans. But Veterans Often Pay More

Their Service Entitles Them To Low-Cost Loans .
But Veterans Often Pay More At the start of the year , John Forr saw interest rates falling and figured it was a good time to refinance the mortgage on his house in Punta Gorda , Fla. Forr is a retired Marine Corps colonel .
He served for 27 years .
He wanted to get a VA loan — backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — because he knew he was supposed to be able to get a better deal on the interest rate and other terms .
Those are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor of their service .
But a new study finds that the rates charged on VA loans vary widely and that veterans like Forr often pay more than they should for their mortgages .
That can end up costing them tens of thousands more over the life of the loan .
Forr started calling around .
He says Quicken Loans and Loan Depot told him they could offer him a rate around 3.75 % .
That was lower than the rate he had at the time .
He says he was just about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he happened to see an ad for a VA loan through a company called Own Up .
`` They just popped up on Facebook one day , you know , I was probably looking at the grandkids or something .
And I just clicked on the Facebook ad , '' Forr says .
He went through Own Up and says he paid lower fees and got more than a full percentage point lower on the rate : 2.625 % .
On his $ 330,000 loan , that means about $ 2,500 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quicken Loans and Loan Depot were offering .
He says when he told those lenders about the better deal , they then offered him a much lower rate .
`` I was shocked that they did n't just tell me outright what the best rate was , '' Forr says .
He thought as a veteran , with a loan backed by the VA , that 's how it would work .
A lot of veterans assume the same thing , according to Patrick Boyaggi , the CEO of Own Up .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a good deal on home loans through a group of lenders .
And today , on Veterans Day , his company is releasing a study that finds a wide disparity in VA loan rates from different lenders .
Boyaggi says that , like Forr , many veterans think they 're supposed to get a special deal on a VA loan , and so many do n't shop around .
But he says , while these loans are backed by the VA , they 're made by private companies .
And he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much costlier and worse deal than they qualify for .
`` And they 're veterans , '' Boyaggi says .
`` To sit there and think to yourself that this person who served our country is now going to get taken advantage of and they had no clue , they had no idea . ''
The Own Up study examined federal lending data for the top 20 lenders for VA loans in the U.S. , and looked at the annual percentage rate the companies offered on all the loans they made in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread , candidly , we were quite surprised that it was as wide as it was , '' Boyaggi says .
`` The best lenders and the worst lenders were so far apart from one another . ''
The study found Navy Federal Credit Union offered the lowest rates .
At the high end was a lender called New Day USA , which sponsors the Army-Navy football game .
New Day 's TV ads , featuring plenty of American flags , say that it wants to `` do whatever is best for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study found on average , New Day 's APR was 1.25 percentage points higher compared to Navy Federal .
Over the life of a $ 300,000 , 30-year loan that 's more than $ 70,000 in additional interest payments .
In a statement , New Day said its goal is `` to assist servicemembers and veterans to receive the benefits that they so rightly deserve . ''
The company added , `` we take great pride in our important work .
Serving veterans is at the core of all we do . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` has a serious flaw . ''
The company said that 's because the study lumped different types of VA loans together , such as purchase loans with cash-out refinances .
But lending watchdogs are skeptical of that explanation .
Mike Calhoun , president of the nonprofit Center for Responsible Lending , says the study 's methodology is sound .
`` The information from this lender does not explain why their borrowers are being charged so much more than other lenders are charging their VA borrowers , '' he said .
The study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked only at a single VA loan category such as cash-out refinances .
It found that Quicken Loans and Loan Depot , both charged borrowers about the average APR that Americans paid on mortgages in 2019 .
Quicken Loans ' Rocket Mortgage said in a statement that it 's `` very hard to make accurate comparisons of rates offered to different clients , from different lenders , at different points in time , '' and that the company goes `` above and beyond to provide the best client experience in the industry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ big takeaway from the Own Up study is that people need to shop around and find the best rate they can , and negotiate for the best rate .
If you do n't , Boyaggi says , `` it could be one of the most costly mistakes you make in your financial life . ''
Editor 's note : Quicken and Loan Depot are recent financial supporters of NPR .

Their Service Entitles Them To Low-Cost Loans. But Veterans Often Pay More
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eve Edelheit for NPR Eve Edelheit for NPR
At the start of the year, John Forr saw interest rates falling and figured it was a good time to refinance the mortgage on his house in Punta Gorda, Fla. Forr is a retired Marine Corps colonel. He served for 27 years.
He wanted to get a VA loan — backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — because he knew he was supposed to be able to get a better deal on the interest rate and other terms. Those are perks offered to vets and service members for their service.
But a new study finds that the rates charged on VA loans vary widely and that veterans like Forr often pay more than they should for their mortgages. That can end up costing them tens of thousands more over the life of the loan.
Forr started calling around. He says Quicken Loans and Loan Depot told him they could offer him a rate around 3.75%. That was lower than the rate he had at the time. He says he was just about to do the deal with Loan Depot when he happened to see an ad for a VA loan through a company called Own Up.
"They just popped up on Facebook one day, you know, I was probably looking at the grandkids or something. And I just clicked on the Facebook ad," Forr says. He went through Own Up and says he paid lower fees and got more than a full percentage point lower on the rate: 2.625%.
On his $330,000 loan, that means about $2,500 a year in lower payments compared to what Quicken Loans and Loan Depot were offering. He says when he told those lenders about the better deal, they then offered him a much lower rate.
"I was shocked that they didn't just tell me outright what the best rate was," Forr says. He thought as a veteran, with a loan backed by the VA, that's how it would work.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eve Edelheit for NPR Eve Edelheit for NPR
A lot of veterans assume the same thing, according to Patrick Boyaggi, the CEO of Own Up. It's a new company that helps people find a good deal on home loans through a group of lenders.
And today, on Veterans Day, his company is releasing a study that finds a wide disparity in VA loan rates from different lenders.
Boyaggi says that, like Forr, many veterans think they're supposed to get a special deal on a VA loan, and so many don't shop around. But he says, while these loans are backed by the VA, they're made by private companies. And he says some lenders will hit people with a much costlier and worse deal than they qualify for.
"And they're veterans," Boyaggi says. "To sit there and think to yourself that this person who served our country is now going to get taken advantage of and they had no clue, they had no idea."
The Own Up study examined federal lending data for the top 20 lenders for VA loans in the U.S., and looked at the annual percentage rate the companies offered on all the loans they made in 2019.
"When we looked at the spread, candidly, we were quite surprised that it was as wide as it was," Boyaggi says. "The best lenders and the worst lenders were so far apart from one another."
The study found Navy Federal Credit Union offered the lowest rates. At the high end was a lender called New Day USA, which sponsors the Army-Navy football game. New Day's TV ads, featuring plenty of American flags, say that it wants to "do whatever is best for the individual service person."
But the study found on average, New Day's APR was 1.25 percentage points higher compared to Navy Federal. Over the life of a $300,000, 30-year loan, that's more than $70,000 in additional interest payments.
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In a statement, New Day said its goal is "to assist servicemembers and veterans to receive the benefits that they so rightly deserve." The company added, "we take great pride in our important work. Serving veterans is at the core of all we do."
New Day also claimed that the study "has a serious flaw." The company said that's because the study lumped different types of VA loans together, such as purchase loans with cash-out refinances.
But lending watchdogs are skeptical of that explanation. Mike Calhoun, president of the nonprofit Center for Responsible Lending, says the study's methodology is sound. "The information from this lender does not explain why their borrowers are being charged so much more than other lenders are charging their VA borrowers," he said.
The study also found similar cost disparities when it looked only at a single VA loan category such as cash-out refinances.
It found that Quicken Loans and Loan Depot both charged borrowers about the average APR that Americans paid on mortgages in 2019.
Quicken Loans' Rocket Mortgage said in a statement that it's "very hard to make accurate comparisons of rates offered to different clients, from different lenders, at different points in time," and that the company goes "above and beyond to provide the best client experience in the industry."
Calhoun and Boyaggi both say the big takeaway from the Own Up study is that people need to shop around and find the best rate they can, and negotiate for the best rate. If you don't, Boyaggi says, "it could be one of the most costly mistakes you make in your financial life."
Editor's note: Quicken and Loan Depot are recent financial supporters of NPR.


npr--2020-11-11--How A Minneapolis Clinic Is Narrowing Racial Gaps In Health

How A Minneapolis Clinic Is Narrowing Racial Gaps In Health North Minneapolis , one of the most racially diverse neighborhoods in Minnesota , was already dealing with high coronavirus infection and death rates when George Floyd was killed by police outside a corner store just 3 miles away .
His death on May 25 sparked deeper conversations all across the U.S. about the ways racial inequality plays out , including when it comes to health .
Nationally , Black people are at least twice as likely to die from heart disease , from COVID-19 or in childbirth , compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those trends .
Nearly two-thirds of Latinos in the area who get tested for the coronavirus test positive — that 's a rate nearly 10 times higher than the state 's rate overall .
`` We were not surprised , because we serve a community that has health disparities , '' says Stella Whitney-West , CEO of NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center , a community health and dental clinic and social services agency located in the heart of north Minneapolis .
But NorthPoint also has a five-decade history of addressing public health through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded with a mission to increase access to health care and social services in a community that today is 90 % Black , Latino or Asian .
Central to its approach is tackling the social problems that contribute to illness — in order to better prevent and treat disease .
Over the years , the center has made strides in public health : increasing the rates for child vaccinations and screenings for things like cancer , depression and dental care needs .
Of course the coronavirus pandemic has also added weight to many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health : loss of employment and insurance , poverty and food scarcity , stress and anxiety .
Whitney-West says the racial strife layered on top of that also feels like a step backward .
`` It 's been hard — not only for the community but patients , clients and our staff , '' says Whitney-West .
`` Our staff is reflective of our community that we serve .
Civil unrest — the riots in the aftermath of George Floyd 's death — brings us back to the history of how NorthPoint was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a time eerily reminiscent of today .
NorthPoint is located at a corner of Plymouth Avenue that burned down during protests and rioting in 1967 , when long-standing grievances in the Black community over lack of access to adequate housing , education and health care turned violent .
`` I was 10 years old at the time , but it was very traumatizing to see all these Black people getting beat up by police and the fires right on our block , '' says Gary Cunningham , who lived on Plymouth Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inadequate access to medical care was a major issue that shaped life for Cunningham and his neighbors .
`` There was an issue with ambulance service , '' Cunningham says .
`` The ambulance would n't serve the Black community there , '' so he and his mother would take the bus across town when they needed care .
`` Most Blacks went to Dr. Brown — his office would be like 200 people in the waiting room because he was one of the few Black physicians . ''
The federal government tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minorities .
Among other efforts , President Lyndon B. Johnson 's War on Poverty established pilot programs in 14 cities to offer health and social services .
North Minneapolis got one of those programs .
Months after the 1967 riots , Pilot City — which later became NorthPoint — opened in an old synagogue on Plymouth Avenue .
`` I just remember it being a place where community gathered .
The health center and social service center at that time were one place , '' Cunningham recalls .
Nearly four decades later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO .
By then , Pilot City had fallen into disarray — its public image was that of an impoverished clinic of last resort .
By 2002 , when Cunningham took over , he says , it was running a $ 2 million annual deficit , and few patients were getting regular vaccinations or mammogram screenings .
So Cunningham refocused on Pilot City 's original mission : to increase access to health care by also identifying and enhancing social services to support that goal .
Cunningham 's team developed some innovative solutions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bus tokens to patients who could n't otherwise afford transportation .
NorthPoint 's new approach reached a growing Somali and Hmong population in the area through hosting lunch events with religious leaders and featuring food from those communities .
Over the last 15 years , vaccination and health screening rates more than doubled , to close to 80 % .
That has meant more prevention of disease and lower costs for treatment and care .
Diabetes , lead poisoning and depression are also big problems in the community .
So NorthPoint lobbied local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from homes .
The center stocks a free-food shelf with healthy , culturally relevant food .
All patients — regardless of what health problem they come in for — are now automatically screened for depression and dental care needs and are told to bring their family members in as well .
These measures have increased NorthPoint 's reach into a diverse community — something many other medical centers facing similar dynamics are struggling with today .
As a child , Rashida Jackson , 52 , came to NorthPoint for health care , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her grandchildren see their doctors there .
Jackson is now on NorthPoint 's board of directors , which draws a majority of its seats from patients like her , who are members of the community .
`` This is one of those powerful institutions that developed out of a lot of civil unrest and pain , '' says Jackson , `` and it 's a thing of pride to see this small community health clinic explode and grow .
Whatever social service support you need , they have . ''
That 's why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , she says : `` We own it , it 's family — it 's almost a living , walking , breathing thing . ''
And today , NorthPoint is once again being held up as a model .
This past summer , in the wake of George Floyd 's death , Minneapolis and the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners declared racism a public health crisis .
Irene Fernando , one of the co-authors of the county 's declaration , says just as NorthPoint has done in the health realm , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy — by looking at how race affects outcomes in education , employment and criminal justice .
`` NorthPoint listens to the community , '' says Fernando , who also serves on NorthPoint 's board .
`` Earlier than other entities , NorthPoint was reporting on race ; earlier than other entities , NorthPoint was willing to do free testing for COVID . ''
So thinking about improving access to health care `` is in how NorthPoint operates , '' she says .
One reason its approach differs from those of other health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health clinic , not a hospital , says Ed Ehlinger , former Minnesota health commissioner , who has written about racism in health .
That means , he says , its mandate is to improve public health in the community ; it 's not under the same commercial pressures many private hospitals are up against .
Ehlinger compares NorthPoint to medical centers in countries that have universal public health care .
`` They focus on community-oriented primary care and have much better outcomes and lower health care costs , '' he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as many of those neighborhood health centers left , I see them as the model that we should look to replicate , in moving forward . ''
At a time when few patients trust their health care providers , NorthPoint has bucked that trend .
LaVonne Moore , a midwife and lactation consultant with the center , says that 's in part because NorthPoint recruits its leaders and doctors from the community it serves .
Moore , who lives nearby , says that interconnection between residents and staff fosters enduring , trusted relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is highly unusual today .
`` I 'm a provider , '' she says .
`` I have dropped medicines for COVID-19 patients at their door : I just leave it at the door , go back in the car , make sure they know what 's out there , and they come to the door and pick it up . ''
That trust is critical , especially given the gravity of problems that north Minneapolis faces these days : Nearly two-thirds of Latino patients who test for the coronavirus at NorthPoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alarmingly high rate , CEO Whitney-West says it 's also a positive sign .
A significant number of those patients are undocumented immigrants , she notes , and the findings suggest they trust NorthPoint enough to get tested at the center .
And from a public health standpoint , that 's a win , she says , because you need to know where the virus is in order to stop its spread .

How A Minneapolis Clinic Is Narrowing Racial Gaps In Health
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nina Robinson for NPR Nina Robinson for NPR
North Minneapolis, one of the most racially diverse neighborhoods in Minnesota, was already dealing with high coronavirus infection and death rates when George Floyd was killed by police outside a corner store just 3 miles away.
His death on May 25 sparked deeper conversations all across the U.S. about the ways racial inequality plays out, including when it comes to health. Nationally, Black people are at least twice as likely to die from heart disease, from COVID-19 or in childbirth, compared with white people, and north Minneapolis mirrors those trends. Nearly two-thirds of Latinos in the area who get tested for the coronavirus test positive — that's a rate nearly 10 times higher than the state's rate overall.
"Civil unrest — the riots in the aftermath of George Floyd's death — brings us back to the history of how NorthPoint was started."
"We were not surprised, because we serve a community that has health disparities," says Stella Whitney-West, CEO of NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, a community health and dental clinic and social services agency located in the heart of north Minneapolis.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nina Robinson for NPR Nina Robinson for NPR
But NorthPoint also has a five-decade history of addressing public health through the lens of race. It was founded with a mission to increase access to health care and social services in a community that today is 90% Black, Latino or Asian.
Central to its approach is tackling the social problems that contribute to illness — in order to better prevent and treat disease. Over the years, the center has made strides in public health: increasing the rates for child vaccinations and screenings for things like cancer, depression and dental care needs.
Of course the coronavirus pandemic has also added weight to many existing social burdens that contribute to poor health: loss of employment and insurance, poverty and food scarcity, stress and anxiety. Whitney-West says the racial strife layered on top of that also feels like a step backward.
"It's been hard — not only for the community but patients, clients and our staff," says Whitney-West. "Our staff is reflective of our community that we serve. Civil unrest — the riots in the aftermath of George Floyd's death — brings us back to the history of how NorthPoint was started."
The NorthPoint center began during a time eerily reminiscent of today.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Minnesota Historical Society/Corbis via Getty Images Minnesota Historical Society/Corbis via Getty Images
NorthPoint is located at a corner of Plymouth Avenue that burned down during protests and rioting in 1967, when long-standing grievances in the Black community over lack of access to adequate housing, education and health care turned violent.
"I was 10 years old at the time, but it was very traumatizing to see all these Black people getting beat up by police and the fires right on our block," says Gary Cunningham, who lived on Plymouth Avenue and watched it burn that night.
Inadequate access to medical care was a major issue that shaped life for Cunningham and his neighbors.
"There was an issue with ambulance service," Cunningham says. "The ambulance wouldn't serve the Black community there," so he and his mother would take the bus across town when they needed care. "Most Blacks went to Dr. Brown — his office would be like 200 people in the waiting room because he was one of the few Black physicians."
The federal government tried to increase access to health care for minorities. Among other efforts, President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty established pilot programs in 14 cities to offer health and social services.
North Minneapolis got one of those programs. Months after the 1967 riots, Pilot City — which later became NorthPoint — opened in an old synagogue on Plymouth Avenue.
"We own it, it's family — it's almost a living, walking, breathing thing."
"I just remember it being a place where community gathered. The health center and social service center at that time were one place," Cunningham recalls.
Nearly four decades later, Cunningham took over as the clinic's CEO.
By then, Pilot City had fallen into disarray — its public image was that of an impoverished clinic of last resort. By 2002, when Cunningham took over, he says, it was running a $2 million annual deficit, and few patients were getting regular vaccinations or mammogram screenings.
So Cunningham refocused on Pilot City's original mission: to increase access to health care by also identifying and enhancing social services to support that goal.
Cunningham's team developed some innovative solutions to bring more patients in, including providing bus tokens to patients who couldn't otherwise afford transportation. NorthPoint's new approach reached a growing Somali and Hmong population in the area through hosting lunch events with religious leaders and featuring food from those communities. Over the last 15 years, vaccination and health screening rates more than doubled, to close to 80%.
That has meant more prevention of disease and lower costs for treatment and care.
Diabetes, lead poisoning and depression are also big problems in the community. So NorthPoint lobbied local agencies to get lead paint safely removed from homes. The center stocks a free-food shelf with healthy, culturally relevant food. All patients — regardless of what health problem they come in for — are now automatically screened for depression and dental care needs and are told to bring their family members in as well.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Yuki Noguchi/NPR Yuki Noguchi/NPR
These measures have increased NorthPoint's reach into a diverse community — something many other medical centers facing similar dynamics are struggling with today.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nina Robinson for NPR Nina Robinson for NPR
As a child, Rashida Jackson, 52, came to NorthPoint for health care, and now her mother, children and all her grandchildren see their doctors there.
Jackson is now on NorthPoint's board of directors, which draws a majority of its seats from patients like her, who are members of the community.
"This is one of those powerful institutions that developed out of a lot of civil unrest and pain," says Jackson, "and it's a thing of pride to see this small community health clinic explode and grow. Whatever social service support you need, they have."
That's why the center is so beloved by the community, she says: "We own it, it's family — it's almost a living, walking, breathing thing."
And today, NorthPoint is once again being held up as a model.
This past summer, in the wake of George Floyd's death, Minneapolis and the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners declared racism a public health crisis.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nina Robinson for NPR Nina Robinson for NPR
Irene Fernando, one of the co-authors of the county's declaration, says just as NorthPoint has done in the health realm, the county wants other government agencies to rethink policy — by looking at how race affects outcomes in education, employment and criminal justice.
"NorthPoint listens to the community," says Fernando, who also serves on NorthPoint's board. "Earlier than other entities, NorthPoint was reporting on race; earlier than other entities, NorthPoint was willing to do free testing for COVID." So thinking about improving access to health care "is in how NorthPoint operates," she says.
One reason its approach differs from those of other health centers is that it is a community health clinic, not a hospital, says Ed Ehlinger, former Minnesota health commissioner, who has written about racism in health.
That means, he says, its mandate is to improve public health in the community; it's not under the same commercial pressures many private hospitals are up against.
Ehlinger compares NorthPoint to medical centers in countries that have universal public health care. "They focus on community-oriented primary care and have much better outcomes and lower health care costs," he says. "So even though there aren't as many of those neighborhood health centers left, I see them as the model that we should look to replicate, in moving forward."
At a time when few patients trust their health care providers, NorthPoint has bucked that trend.
LaVonne Moore, a midwife and lactation consultant with the center, says that's in part because NorthPoint recruits its leaders and doctors from the community it serves.
Moore, who lives nearby, says that interconnection between residents and staff fosters enduring, trusted relationships with patients and a level of care that is highly unusual today.
"I'm a provider," she says. "I have dropped medicines for COVID-19 patients at their door: I just leave it at the door, go back in the car, make sure they know what's out there, and they come to the door and pick it up."
That trust is critical, especially given the gravity of problems that north Minneapolis faces these days: Nearly two-thirds of Latino patients who test for the coronavirus at NorthPoint are testing positive. While that's an alarmingly high rate, CEO Whitney-West says it's also a positive sign. A significant number of those patients are undocumented immigrants, she notes, and the findings suggest they trust NorthPoint enough to get tested at the center.
And from a public health standpoint, that's a win, she says, because you need to know where the virus is in order to stop its spread.
Credit: Nancy Rosenbaum assisted with research and field recording


npr--2020-11-11--Meat Manufacturer Sues New Mexico After Plant Ordered To Close Due To COVID-19 Cases

Meat Manufacturer Sues New Mexico After Plant Ordered To Close Due To COVID-19 Cases A meat manufacturer is suing New Mexico , saying the state violated an executive order from President Trump by ordering a plant to temporarily close .
Health officials ordered Stampede Meat to close its Sunland Park , N.M. , plant last week after six employees tested positive for the coronavirus in a five-day period in late October .
A state directive calls for businesses to be shut down for 14 days if four or more employees test positive within a 14-day period .
Stampede Meat argues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 executive order , according to a complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for New Mexico .
The order invokes the Defense Production Act to ensure meat plants continue running during the pandemic .
Stampede Meat , which is based in Illinois , says closing will lead to `` millions of pounds of meat '' being lost and `` countless employees '' left without work .
It asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the closure .
On Tuesday , U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez denied the company 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Stampede Meat 's complaint by Monday .
Stampede Meat is one of eight businesses the New Mexico Department of Health has ordered to close , including a Walmart Supercenter in Farmington .
Stampede Meat argued the threshold for closure is too small considering the size of its plant , according to the complaint .
It said there were 550 to 575 employees working in the plant during the two-week period .
The company dismisses the notion it 's a public health risk .
`` On the contrary , Stampede Meat is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and enforces strict distancing , personal protective equipment , and other measures to maximize safety , '' the company said in the complaint .
`` And it does so while providing essential , critical food supplies to the country . ''
In May , the New Mexico plant suffered a worse outbreak , when 57 employees tested positive for the coronavirus .
The company did not respond to NPR 's request for comment by publication time .
Nationally , meatpacking plants have been among the worst coronavirus hot spots , reports NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected and dozens have died .
However , widespread testing has helped slow the spread .
The U.S. is in the midst of the most widespread surge of reported infections , NPR 's Rob Stein reports .
It recorded roughly 1 million cases in 10 days .

Meat Manufacturer Sues New Mexico After Plant Ordered To Close Due To COVID-19 Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Susan Montoya Bryan/AP Susan Montoya Bryan/AP
A meat manufacturer is suing New Mexico, saying the state violated an executive order from President Trump by ordering a plant to temporarily close.
Health officials ordered Stampede Meat to close its Sunland Park, N.M., plant last week after six employees tested positive for the coronavirus in a five-day period in late October. A state directive calls for businesses to be shut down for 14 days if four or more employees test positive within a 14-day period.
Stampede Meat argues the closure violates President Trump's April 28 executive order, according to a complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court for New Mexico. The order invokes the Defense Production Act to ensure meat plants continue running during the pandemic.
Stampede Meat, which is based in Illinois, says closing will lead to "millions of pounds of meat" being lost and "countless employees" left without work. It asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the closure.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez denied the company's motion but ordered the state to respond to Stampede Meat's complaint by Monday.
Stampede Meat is one of eight businesses the New Mexico Department of Health has ordered to close, including a Walmart Supercenter in Farmington.
Stampede Meat argued the threshold for closure is too small considering the size of its plant, according to the complaint. It said there were 550 to 575 employees working in the plant during the two-week period.
The company dismisses the notion it's a public health risk.
"On the contrary, Stampede Meat is a private facility, closed to the public, and enforces strict distancing, personal protective equipment, and other measures to maximize safety," the company said in the complaint. "And it does so while providing essential, critical food supplies to the country."
In May, the New Mexico plant suffered a worse outbreak, when 57 employees tested positive for the coronavirus. The company did not respond to NPR's request for comment by publication time.
Nationally, meatpacking plants have been among the worst coronavirus hot spots, reports NPR's Dan Charles. Thousands of workers have been infected and dozens have died.
However, widespread testing has helped slow the spread.
The U.S. is in the midst of the most widespread surge of reported infections, NPR's Rob Stein reports. It recorded roughly 1 million cases in 10 days.


npr--2020-11-10--Indianapolis Grand Jury Declines To Indict Officer Who Killed Dreasjon Reed

An Indianapolis police officer who fatally shot a man after a high-speed car chase that was captured on Facebook Live will not face criminal charges .
A grand jury on Tuesday declined to indict Dejoure Mercer who shot and killed Dreasjon `` Sean '' Reed on May 6 .
Mercer was one of several Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers , including Chief Randal Taylor , who were in pursuit of Reed for driving recklessly , according to police .
After about 10 minutes the chief allegedly called off the chase because of how fast the 21-year-old was driving .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and park , went after him on foot .
By then , Reed had been live streaming the chase on Facebook Live and thousands of people were watching .
Police officials say there was a confrontation between the two and that Mercer and Reed exchanged gunfire .
With Mercer behind him , Reed is presumably struck by a stun gun which can be heard in the video .
Both he and the camera fall to the ground and a series of gunshots ring out .
Moments later another officer remarks that Reed will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no police body camera or dashcam video of the shooting .
Both Reed and Mercer are Black .
As NPR reported , the incident was the first of two fatal shootings by IMPD officers within eight hours .
A special prosecutor was appointed to investigate Reed 's killing , but after reviewing the evidence presented , a six-person grand jury said there was insufficient evidence to indict Mercer .
Madison County Deputy Prosecutor Rosemary Khoury , in a press conference Tuesday , said the Indiana State Police had conducted a thorough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was a part of this entire process can look at this and feel comfortable that the investigation was done in an impartial manner because that 's exactly what my team and I did , '' Khoury added .
Reed 's killing sparked multiple protests throughout the summer .
Within a couple hours of the grand jury 's decision on Tuesday demonstrators began gathering in downtown Indianapolis .
His family filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the police department .
In a June press conference , the day that marked what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his mother offered a tearful pledge to seek justice for her son , The Indianapolis Star reported .
`` We talked about how this day was supposed to go .
But I ca n't stand here with him because he was taken away from me , '' said Demetree Wynn .
`` Now he 's flying away and I ca n't bring him back .
For 21 years I got to hug my son , and on his 22nd I ca n't .
`` This fight is not over .
His life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forget who my son is because you ca n't see him . ''

Indianapolis Grand Jury Declines To Indict Officer Who Killed Dreasjon Reed
Enlarge this image toggle caption Darron Cummings/AP Darron Cummings/AP
An Indianapolis police officer who fatally shot a man after a high-speed car chase that was captured on Facebook Live will not face criminal charges.
A grand jury on Tuesday declined to indict Dejoure Mercer who shot and killed Dreasjon "Sean" Reed on May 6.
Mercer was one of several Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers, including Chief Randal Taylor, who were in pursuit of Reed for driving recklessly, according to police. After about 10 minutes the chief allegedly called off the chase because of how fast the 21-year-old was driving. But Mercer, who saw Reed pull over and park, went after him on foot.
By then, Reed had been live streaming the chase on Facebook Live and thousands of people were watching.
Police officials say there was a confrontation between the two and that Mercer and Reed exchanged gunfire.
With Mercer behind him, Reed is presumably struck by a stun gun which can be heard in the video. Both he and the camera fall to the ground and a series of gunshots ring out. Moments later another officer remarks that Reed will need a "closed casket."
There is no police body camera or dashcam video of the shooting.
Both Reed and Mercer are Black. As NPR reported, the incident was the first of two fatal shootings by IMPD officers within eight hours.
A special prosecutor was appointed to investigate Reed's killing, but after reviewing the evidence presented, a six-person grand jury said there was insufficient evidence to indict Mercer.
Madison County Deputy Prosecutor Rosemary Khoury, in a press conference Tuesday, said the Indiana State Police had conducted a thorough investigation.
Khoury called the case "a very heavy burden," reported WFYI's Jill Sheridan.
"I hope that anyone that was a part of this entire process can look at this and feel comfortable that the investigation was done in an impartial manner because that's exactly what my team and I did," Khoury added.
Reed's killing sparked multiple protests throughout the summer. Within a couple hours of the grand jury's decision on Tuesday demonstrators began gathering in downtown Indianapolis.
His family filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the police department.
In a June press conference, the day that marked what would have been Reed's 22nd birthday, his mother offered a tearful pledge to seek justice for her son, The Indianapolis Star reported.
"We talked about how this day was supposed to go. But I can't stand here with him because he was taken away from me," said Demetree Wynn. "Now he's flying away and I can't bring him back. For 21 years I got to hug my son, and on his 22nd I can't.
"This fight is not over. His life is not over. And don't forget who my son is because you can't see him."