csmonitor--2020-11-16--Singaporean volunteer group gives more than money to help needy

Fion Phua has been volunteering for so long , she is nicknamed Robin Hood for her efforts helping the poor .
Singapore ’ s partial lockdown as the coronavirus was spreading in April left her fretting over how the blind , bedridden , and elderly living alone would cope .
She had to stop her volunteer activities for a month , but Ms. Phua decided to keep going in May with visits every two weeks .
Her core team of volunteers met urgent needs – plumbers , handymen , and people who could dispense medicine or tap on government resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keeping Hope Alive , has toiled tirelessly for over two decades to reach Singapore ’ s less fortunate in different neighborhoods .
Its model is built on people offering their time and unique skills rather than donating money .
They ’ ve resumed their weekly visits now , and on a recent Sunday morning , suited up in personal protective gear , masks , and face shields despite the tropical heat .
Then small teams fanned out to knock on doors at the Henderson rental flats .
Once the residents ’ most-pressing needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – installing bicycle bells on wheelchairs , trimming nails , cleaning bed bug-infested homes , and checking if household items need replacement .
Trained hairdresser Mark Yuen is one of the volunteers .
“ To some people , a haircut is more than beauty and hygiene , it also provides comfort .
It makes one feel that they are not alone … that someone cares , ” he said .
An array of donated items was arranged for distribution to the residents – rice , cooking oil , eggs , boxes of fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s toys .
Residents eagerly queued to stock up on essential or eyed big-ticket items like washing machines , hospital beds , and sofas .
One resident ’ s refrigerator broke down a month ago .
Volunteers verified her situation , then carted a new fridge straight to her kitchen and provided a stash of supermarket vouchers , garlic , onions , and vegetables .
As a gesture of thanks , she made tea for the volunteers .
“ I felt happy and very appreciative as they helped me .
It is hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and my salary is $ 1,300 ( Singapore ; US $ 965 ) .
I need to pay the house bills and my son needs study materials , ” Sukkuriya Beevi , a cleaner from India , said .
During Singapore ’ s partial lockdown , senior-centric activities were suspended to protect vulnerable elderly .
Ms. Phua ’ s network handed out donated smartphones and taught the recipients how to video call and access government services online .
They were overjoyed to see their loved ones through the screen , even if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recalled .
“ In this digital world , it ’ s a new form of caring , a new form of love .
… It ’ s cyber love , ” she said .
Ms. Phua hopes during a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic that people retain their sense of empathy .
“ COVID will not be over in one , two days and not one , two months , even not one , two years .
So we ought to adjust our living lifestyle so that we look after the weak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are in depression and are unable to find a solution to it .
We ought to be there for them.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Fion Phua has been volunteering for so long, she is nicknamed Robin Hood for her efforts helping the poor. Singapore’s partial lockdown as the coronavirus was spreading in April left her fretting over how the blind, bedridden, and elderly living alone would cope.
She had to stop her volunteer activities for a month, but Ms. Phua decided to keep going in May with visits every two weeks. Her core team of volunteers met urgent needs – plumbers, handymen, and people who could dispense medicine or tap on government resources.
“We support social distancing, not social isolation,” Ms. Phua said.
The informal network she founded, Keeping Hope Alive, has toiled tirelessly for over two decades to reach Singapore’s less fortunate in different neighborhoods. Its model is built on people offering their time and unique skills rather than donating money.
They’ve resumed their weekly visits now, and on a recent Sunday morning, suited up in personal protective gear, masks, and face shields despite the tropical heat. Then small teams fanned out to knock on doors at the Henderson rental flats.
Once the residents’ most-pressing needs were identified, the volunteers acted immediately – installing bicycle bells on wheelchairs, trimming nails, cleaning bed bug-infested homes, and checking if household items need replacement.
Trained hairdresser Mark Yuen is one of the volunteers. “To some people, a haircut is more than beauty and hygiene, it also provides comfort. It makes one feel that they are not alone … that someone cares,” he said.
An array of donated items was arranged for distribution to the residents – rice, cooking oil, eggs, boxes of fresh produce, vitamins, and children’s toys. Residents eagerly queued to stock up on essential or eyed big-ticket items like washing machines, hospital beds, and sofas.
One resident’s refrigerator broke down a month ago. Volunteers verified her situation, then carted a new fridge straight to her kitchen and provided a stash of supermarket vouchers, garlic, onions, and vegetables. As a gesture of thanks, she made tea for the volunteers.
“I felt happy and very appreciative as they helped me. It is hard as I am the only person working and my salary is $1,300 (Singapore; US$965). I need to pay the house bills and my son needs study materials,” Sukkuriya Beevi, a cleaner from India, said.
During Singapore’s partial lockdown, senior-centric activities were suspended to protect vulnerable elderly. Ms. Phua’s network handed out donated smartphones and taught the recipients how to video call and access government services online.
They were overjoyed to see their loved ones through the screen, even if they couldn’t hug, Ms. Phua recalled. “In this digital world, it’s a new form of caring, a new form of love. … It’s cyber love,” she said.
Ms. Phua hopes during a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic that people retain their sense of empathy.
“COVID will not be over in one, two days and not one, two months, even not one, two years. So we ought to adjust our living lifestyle so that we look after the weak, the poor, the sick, and people who are in depression and are unable to find a solution to it. We ought to be there for them.”
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-11-16--As Ohio goes, so goes the nation? Not anymore.

As Ohio goes , so goes the nation .
That ’ s the way it had been in the United States presidential elections for more than half a century , until this year , when Republican Donald Trump won a decisive victory in the state while losing the presidency to Democrat Joe Biden .
Mr. Biden becomes the first president elected without carrying Ohio since fellow Democrat John F. Kennedy in 1960 .
Mr. Trump ’ s statewide victory – his second , after carrying Ohio in 2016 – brings an end to Ohio ’ s role as a presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a battleground state in doubt .
“ The bellwether has been unrung , ” Mark Weaver , a veteran Republican strategist , says .
“ Ohio , like most states , changes over time , and those changes have political impacts.
” Ohio ’ s population no longer mirrors the nation .
It ’ s whiter , slightly older , and less educated than the United States on whole .
Roughly two-thirds of the state ’ s voters in this year ’ s election were ages 45 and older , including about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to AP VoteCast , a broad survey of the electorate .
A majority of those older voters , 56 % , supported Mr. Trump .
Heather Miller , a registered Democrat who lives near Toledo , agonized over her decision .
She liked how the economy was humming along during Mr. Trump ’ s first three years and was worried about taxes going up under a Biden administration .
“ Part of me was so conflicted I almost didn ’ t come out and vote , ” she said , later adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for Mr. Biden .
Mike Master , a Columbus pipefitter , had no such hesitation .
He said he would have voted this fall for Mr. Trump “ twice if I could.
” Not only are Ohio ’ s voters getting older , those who stayed home on Election Day were predominantly young voters .
Among registered voters who chose not to cast a ballot , 70 % were under 45 , according to VoteCast .
The survey also showed the vast majority of Ohio voters were white .
About two-thirds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Mr. Trump .
Even Kyle Kondik , the author of a political history titled “ The Bellwether : Why Ohio Picks the President , ” is skeptical about Ohio being either a predictor or even a swing state that Democrats that stand a chance of winning back in the 2024 presidential campaign .
Mr. Trump won Ohio each time by a margin of around 8 percentage points .
“ It ’ s definitely moving off of the really competitive presidential playing field , ” said Mr. Kondik , a political analyst at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had said even before this election that Ohio ’ s demographics were going to make it redder .
Although Mr. Biden made a late push into Ohio after polling gave his campaign some hope , he wound up winning only in six counties – those with the state ’ s biggest cities and one with a college .
Mr. Trump , meanwhile , showed even more strength this time in the working-class Mahoning Valley counties in northeast Ohio .
“ The president ’ s a really good salesman , ” said third-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown had expected more backlash from workers against Mr. Trump , after General Motors last year idled and then sold its Lordstown plant .
Mr. Trump had visited the region earlier and told people not to sell their homes because jobs were coming .
“ He ’ s found really fertile ears in places like the Mahoning Valley , but really all over the state and in many parts of the country , ” Mr. Brown said , nonetheless .
Even within the erstwhile bellwether state , certain counties have been more prescient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the longest streaks of voting for the winning presidential candidate all went for Mr. Trump this year , including Sandusky County , where the president won by a whopping 2-to-1 margin .
Assuming they seek reelection , Ohio ’ s GOP incumbents , including Gov .
Mike DeWine and U.S. Sen .
Rob Portman , will likely begin the 2022 election season as strong favorites .
“ The Democrats have really had four terrible elections in a row in Ohio , ” Mr. Kondik said .
“ You can ’ t really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only Democrat ever to defeat Mr. DeWine – when he unseated him as U.S. senator in 2006 – said he ’ s looking ahead to 2024 .
“ Well , I hope to stay healthy and stay in the Senate , ” Mr. Brown said in an interview .
“ I don ’ t want any Cabinet position , I don ’ t want an administration job , I don ’ t want to run for governor .
I love the Senate .
So jump to whatever conclusion.
” Mr. Kondik said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the map currently .
He says in upcoming presidential elections , the focus will likely be on the so-called “ Blue Wall ” states of Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , and Michigan and the Sun Belt states of Arizona , Georgia , and North Carolina .
Ohioans could thus at least take solace in four years from reduced barrages of the negative campaign ads they would normally expect in the weeks before an election .
“ The losers from this last election are Ohio radio and television station owners , which will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr. Weaver summarized .
But Mr. Brown said while Ohio has become a tough challenge for Democrats , he still thinks it should be considered a swing state .
He himself is a prime example of how Democrats still can win statewide .
“ It ’ s a more difficult one than Pennsylvania , it ’ s a more difficult one maybe even than Georgia now , but things change , ” Mr. Brown said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writer Julie Carr Smyth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

As Ohio goes, so goes the nation. That’s the way it had been in the United States presidential elections for more than half a century, until this year, when Republican Donald Trump won a decisive victory in the state while losing the presidency to Democrat Joe Biden.
Mr. Biden becomes the first president elected without carrying Ohio since fellow Democrat John F. Kennedy in 1960. Mr. Trump’s statewide victory – his second, after carrying Ohio in 2016 – brings an end to Ohio’s role as a presidential bellwether and even puts its future as a battleground state in doubt.
“The bellwether has been unrung,” Mark Weaver, a veteran Republican strategist, says. “Ohio, like most states, changes over time, and those changes have political impacts.”
Ohio’s population no longer mirrors the nation. It’s whiter, slightly older, and less educated than the United States on whole.
Roughly two-thirds of the state’s voters in this year’s election were ages 45 and older, including about a quarter who were 65 and up, according to AP VoteCast, a broad survey of the electorate. A majority of those older voters, 56%, supported Mr. Trump.
Heather Miller, a registered Democrat who lives near Toledo, agonized over her decision. She liked how the economy was humming along during Mr. Trump’s first three years and was worried about taxes going up under a Biden administration.
“Part of me was so conflicted I almost didn’t come out and vote,” she said, later adding she decided at the last moment to vote for Mr. Biden.
Mike Master, a Columbus pipefitter, had no such hesitation. He said he would have voted this fall for Mr. Trump “twice if I could.”
Not only are Ohio’s voters getting older, those who stayed home on Election Day were predominantly young voters. Among registered voters who chose not to cast a ballot, 70% were under 45, according to VoteCast.
The survey also showed the vast majority of Ohio voters were white. About two-thirds of white voters without a college degree voted for Mr. Trump.
Even Kyle Kondik, the author of a political history titled “The Bellwether: Why Ohio Picks the President,” is skeptical about Ohio being either a predictor or even a swing state that Democrats that stand a chance of winning back in the 2024 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump won Ohio each time by a margin of around 8 percentage points.
“It’s definitely moving off of the really competitive presidential playing field,” said Mr. Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics who had said even before this election that Ohio’s demographics were going to make it redder.
Although Mr. Biden made a late push into Ohio after polling gave his campaign some hope, he wound up winning only in six counties – those with the state’s biggest cities and one with a college. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, showed even more strength this time in the working-class Mahoning Valley counties in northeast Ohio.
“The president’s a really good salesman,” said third-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. Mr. Brown had expected more backlash from workers against Mr. Trump, after General Motors last year idled and then sold its Lordstown plant. Mr. Trump had visited the region earlier and told people not to sell their homes because jobs were coming.
“He’s found really fertile ears in places like the Mahoning Valley, but really all over the state and in many parts of the country,” Mr. Brown said, nonetheless.
Even within the erstwhile bellwether state, certain counties have been more prescient than others. The three Ohio counties with the longest streaks of voting for the winning presidential candidate all went for Mr. Trump this year, including Sandusky County, where the president won by a whopping 2-to-1 margin.
Assuming they seek reelection, Ohio’s GOP incumbents, including Gov. Mike DeWine and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, will likely begin the 2022 election season as strong favorites.
“The Democrats have really had four terrible elections in a row in Ohio,” Mr. Kondik said. “You can’t really sugarcoat it.”
Mr. Brown, the only Democrat ever to defeat Mr. DeWine – when he unseated him as U.S. senator in 2006 – said he’s looking ahead to 2024.
“Well, I hope to stay healthy and stay in the Senate,” Mr. Brown said in an interview. “I don’t want any Cabinet position, I don’t want an administration job, I don’t want to run for governor. I love the Senate. So jump to whatever conclusion.”
Mr. Kondik said he doesn’t see an Ohio-like bellwether on the map currently. He says in upcoming presidential elections, the focus will likely be on the so-called “Blue Wall” states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan and the Sun Belt states of Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Ohioans could thus at least take solace in four years from reduced barrages of the negative campaign ads they would normally expect in the weeks before an election.
“The losers from this last election are Ohio radio and television station owners, which will be seeing much less revenue from political ads,” Mr. Weaver summarized.
But Mr. Brown said while Ohio has become a tough challenge for Democrats, he still thinks it should be considered a swing state. He himself is a prime example of how Democrats still can win statewide.
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“It’s a more difficult one than Pennsylvania, it’s a more difficult one maybe even than Georgia now, but things change,” Mr. Brown said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-11-16--In Uganda, reopening schools brings new hurdles

One cash-strapped parent asked to pay her child ’ s school tuition fees with bags of the rice she grows , leading headmaster Mike Ssekaggo to request a sample before he would agree .
Eventually he did .
Many other parents in African countries , unable to pay in cash or kind , say their children will have to miss the new term as classes resume after months of delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Mr. Ssekaggo , headmaster of Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary School on the outskirts of Uganda ’ s capital , Kampala , has fielded complaints from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time since March .
Relief over the gradual reopening of schools is matched by anxiety over the financial strain caused by the pandemic and over how to protect students in often crowded classrooms from the coronavirus .
Only about half of 430 students had reported the day after he began admitting students for the new term , Mr. Ssekaggo told The Associated Press .
School officials worry some children might not return to class because their parents have not been working , Mr. Ssekaggo said .
In Uganda , authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they can admit students , most of whom could remain at home until as late as next year .
Schools must have enough hand-washing stations and enough room in classrooms and dorms for social distancing .
Although the pandemic has disrupted education around the world , the crisis is more acute in Africa , where up to 80 % of students don ’ t have access to the internet and distance learning is out of reach for many .
Sub-Saharan Africa already had the highest rates of children out of school anywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of children between 6 and 11 and more than one-third of youths between 12 and 14 not in school , according to the United Nations .
Although schools now have reopened in many African countries that had imposed anti-COVID-19 lockdowns , the pandemic ’ s full impact on education in the world ’ s most youthful continent of over 1.3 billion people remains to be seen .
In some cases , the decision to reopen remains problematic , especially as the level of testing remains low .
“ One of the things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we monitor the situation in schools where we have large numbers of students , ” said Dr. Rashid Aman , Kenya ’ s chief administrative secretary of health .
“ I think definitely we will require to be doing some level of testing in those populations to see whether there is transmission of asymptomatic cases.
” As in Uganda , Kenya is implementing a phased reopening of schools .
Students taking exams to move to upper grade school , high school , and college reported in October .
The rest will return in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that schools were reopened too early as some have reported outbreaks .
Similar challenges are reported in Zimbabwe , the cash-strapped southern African nation where more than 100,000 public teachers have been striking since schools reopened , demanding better pay as well as protective gear .
“ Results of the disaster happening with unmonitored school children will be with us for a long time , ” said Raymond Majongwe , secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe , warning parents against sending their children to school while teachers are on strike .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million Africans and killed more than 45,000 as of Nov. 9 .
But up to 80 % of Africa ’ s virus cases are believed to be asymptomatic , the World Health Organization ’ s Africa director said in September , citing preliminary analysis .
Authorities in Uganda and Kenya are not testing students for the virus before enrollment .
John Nkengasong , head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , told reporters Thursday that while his group isn ’ t monitoring schools , “ we naturally expect there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary School , which had 1,800 students before the outbreak , officials at the gates took the temperatures of arriving students , who also were required to bring at least two masks .
Later , a nurse briefed them about safety .
“ I think we are safe as per now , ” said student Sylvia Namuyomba , pondering the hand-washing stations strategically placed across the green lawns .
A stern-looking teacher wearing a face shield patrolled the compound , rebuking students who even momentarily removed their masks .
In one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per desk instead of the usual three , a measure of the social distancing that will be hard to maintain when hundreds more report back to school early next year .
“ We are just leaving it in prayer that by January there will be no COVID , ” said Vincent Odoi , a teacher of business studies .
“ Otherwise we won ’ t manage.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Farai Mutsaka in Harare , Zimbabwe , contributed .

One cash-strapped parent asked to pay her child’s school tuition fees with bags of the rice she grows, leading headmaster Mike Ssekaggo to request a sample before he would agree. Eventually he did.
Many other parents in African countries, unable to pay in cash or kind, say their children will have to miss the new term as classes resume after months of delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Ssekaggo, headmaster of Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary School on the outskirts of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, has fielded complaints from parents scrambling to have their children enrolled for the first time since March.
Relief over the gradual reopening of schools is matched by anxiety over the financial strain caused by the pandemic and over how to protect students in often crowded classrooms from the coronavirus.
Only about half of 430 students had reported the day after he began admitting students for the new term, Mr. Ssekaggo told The Associated Press.
School officials worry some children might not return to class because their parents have not been working, Mr. Ssekaggo said.
In Uganda, authorities have set standards that schools must meet before they can admit students, most of whom could remain at home until as late as next year. Schools must have enough hand-washing stations and enough room in classrooms and dorms for social distancing.
Although the pandemic has disrupted education around the world, the crisis is more acute in Africa, where up to 80% of students don’t have access to the internet and distance learning is out of reach for many.
Sub-Saharan Africa already had the highest rates of children out of school anywhere in the world, with nearly one-fifth of children between 6 and 11 and more than one-third of youths between 12 and 14 not in school, according to the United Nations.
Although schools now have reopened in many African countries that had imposed anti-COVID-19 lockdowns, the pandemic’s full impact on education in the world’s most youthful continent of over 1.3 billion people remains to be seen.
In some cases, the decision to reopen remains problematic, especially as the level of testing remains low.
“One of the things that we have been discussing is how do we monitor the situation in schools where we have large numbers of students,” said Dr. Rashid Aman, Kenya’s chief administrative secretary of health. “I think definitely we will require to be doing some level of testing in those populations to see whether there is transmission of asymptomatic cases.”
As in Uganda, Kenya is implementing a phased reopening of schools. Students taking exams to move to upper grade school, high school, and college reported in October. The rest will return in January, but there is widespread concern that schools were reopened too early as some have reported outbreaks.
Similar challenges are reported in Zimbabwe, the cash-strapped southern African nation where more than 100,000 public teachers have been striking since schools reopened, demanding better pay as well as protective gear.
“Results of the disaster happening with unmonitored school children will be with us for a long time,” said Raymond Majongwe, secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, warning parents against sending their children to school while teachers are on strike.
The coronavirus had infected more than 1.9 million Africans and killed more than 45,000 as of Nov. 9. But up to 80% of Africa’s virus cases are believed to be asymptomatic, the World Health Organization’s Africa director said in September, citing preliminary analysis.
Authorities in Uganda and Kenya are not testing students for the virus before enrollment. John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters Thursday that while his group isn’t monitoring schools, “we naturally expect there will be infections.”
At Uganda’s Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary School, which had 1,800 students before the outbreak, officials at the gates took the temperatures of arriving students, who also were required to bring at least two masks. Later, a nurse briefed them about safety.
“I think we are safe as per now,” said student Sylvia Namuyomba, pondering the hand-washing stations strategically placed across the green lawns.
A stern-looking teacher wearing a face shield patrolled the compound, rebuking students who even momentarily removed their masks.
In one classroom, the masked students sat one per desk instead of the usual three, a measure of the social distancing that will be hard to maintain when hundreds more report back to school early next year.
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“We are just leaving it in prayer that by January there will be no COVID,” said Vincent Odoi, a teacher of business studies. “Otherwise we won’t manage.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Farai Mutsaka in Harare, Zimbabwe, contributed.


csmonitor--2020-11-16--Rethinking perspectives on American criminal justice

The “ counternarrative ” is a cornerstone of Monitor journalism .
These are stories that challenge assumptions .
And , they change perceptions .
At the Monitor , Samantha Laine Perfas is a master of the counternarrative .
Sam is the digital story team leader who launched our popular Perception Gaps podcast last year .
That series looks at everything from guns to political polarization and explores what happens when what you think is true doesn ’ t line up with reality .
Now Sam ’ s back with the podcast ’ s second season : Perception Gaps : Locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two other reporters on our staff : Washington-based Jessica Mendoza , and Henry Gass , who covers criminal justice and other issues from Austin , Texas .
This season , the Perception Gaps team dug deep into misconceptions about a single topic : the American criminal justice system and what can be done to make it more effective and fair .
One sobering statistic in the series : 74 % of all people in U.S. jails today haven ’ t been convicted of a crime .
I spoke with Sam , Jessica , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them what other elements of the criminal justice system might surprise readers – or challenge their assumptions about innocence and guilt .
SAMANTHA LAINE PERFAS : One of the biggest things that surprised me was how we believe the justice system to be fair and just , but in many ways , it ’ s not .
We often think that if you do something wrong , you will then go through a system that will treat you fairly , follow an “ innocent until proven guilty ” framework and that the punishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s simply not true .
There are many people who are locked up that have not been convicted of a crime , and there are hundreds of thousands of Americans with criminal records simply because they took a plea deal to avoid being incarcerated pretrial .
HENRY GASS : The power prosecutors have is one thing that would surprise people .
There ’ s just lots of discretionary power there , and they usually have a big advantage in terms of resources over the people they ’ re prosecuting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or even whether charges are filed , are the decisions that animate the justice system , and prosecutors make those decisions all the time with few restraints .
Once a prosecutor has made that call then all you can do is fight them in court .
Corrections officers are a big one as well .
Their opinions and interests aren ’ t very well-publicized , and their portrayals in popular culture are overwhelmingly negative , so I think people would be surprised to learn how dehumanized they can feel in that job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the diversity of experiences and backgrounds among those who ’ ve been touched by the justice system .
We have so many stereotypes about who commits crimes , what kinds of crimes are often committed , what it looks like in courts and in jails and prisons .
But hearing from people who ’ ve been there – whether it ’ s those behind bars , those with friends and family who ’ ve been incarcerated , corrections officers , crime victims – made me realize that many more of us are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assume .
The first season of Perception Gaps focused on many different topics from the opioid crisis to immigration .
Why did you focus all six episodes of season two on the criminal justice system ?
SLP : After completing the first season , one piece of feedback we received was that devoting only 30 minutes to each topic seemed too short .
Our listeners said that given the choice , they would prefer to go deeper into issues rather than learn only a little about many different topics .
So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirety of Season 2 on the justice system .
The United States locks up more people than any other country in the world , and it ’ s an issue that affects every American in ways they may not realize .
We wanted to shed light on this vast institution , and allow people to acknowledge and address some of the misperceptions they had about the system .
You worked mostly on your own on the first Perception Gaps series , but the 2nd season was a team effort with Henry Gass and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring to the series , that one solo reporter couldn ’ t .
SLP : Working with Jess and Henry on this series was an incredible experience .
Henry has reported on the justice system for years for the Monitor and has a really good understanding of the system ’ s nuances .
Many of the sources we interviewed throughout the series were academics , formerly incarcerated individuals , and professionals that Henry has met throughout his reporting career .
Jess , who used to work on our politics team in DC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , knowing the right questions and areas to explore when discussing policy .
With my knowledge from reporting the first season , we truly were a power team .
It was an incredible group effort and allowed us to cover more ground than any one of us could ’ ve done alone .
JM : This was the first truly collaborative big project I ’ ve worked on for the Monitor that really pulled from each of our strengths in meaningful ways .
It was different , and somehow more organic than partnering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or sharing a byline with a colleague for a story you both made calls for .
Locked Up needed Henry ’ s expertise with the justice system , his knowledge of the issues , and the sources .
It needed Sam ’ s experience with audio storytelling , which is truly a different animal than print .
It also needed her project management skills , because there were a thousand things that needed to be done to get this off the ground before , during , and after reporting and producing that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the piece .
And I like to think it needed my sense for narrative writing – for taking seemingly disparate pieces and turning them into a story with a beginning , middle , and end – and my passion for learning how to produce and tell stories through audio .
HG : It helped me to work with two colleagues , Jess and Sam , who had less experience covering the criminal justice system .
When you report on this stuff day in , day out , it ’ s easy to forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons and jails are different things , for example , or that most immigrant detention facilities aren ’ t actually staffed and operated by ICE .
Having them serve as a kind of proxy for the casual listener with less knowledge of the justice system helped make the series more accessible , I think .
Sam , you work primarily in audio journalism .
What does audio bring to the table that a well-reported text and photo story doesn ’ t ?
SLP : I have come to love and embrace audio storytelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have predicted .
I was trained as a long-form print journalist and always thought that writing would be my bread and butter .
But when I ventured into the audio landscape , I realized the power of speaking directly to our audience , and the power of giving our sources a platform to share their stories directly with the world .
There ’ s something different about hearing someone ’ s story in their own words .
There ’ s power in listening to them , hearing their voice crack as they share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope in their voice as they continue to push progress forward .
That intimacy is really difficult to capture in print .
JM : There ’ s still so much for me to learn and so much I ’ m coming to understand about the ways that audio is different from print : where its storytelling power lies , how to use it most effectively , what skills I need to hone and gain to become a better reporter for audio .
Locked Up was essentially my first dip in that pool .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to write for sound and to plan and interview for audio .
I knew it was going to be different than what I was used to , but I was still surprised at how different it was , and at which print skills wound up being useful and which were more of a hindrance .
But it ’ s incredibly exciting .
I ’ m very glad the Monitor is willing to give this kind of storytelling space and support .
The numbers are pretty devastating in terms of the damage the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - both for those in prison , and the families affected by someone behind bars .
Are there any signs of progress that you and the team uncovered during the series ?
HG : Yes I ’ d say there ’ s progress happening .
The overall feeling that the tough-on-crime era wasn ’ t the best approach to achieving public safety and justice is being accepted by more and more people across the ideological spectrum .
As ever though , the devil is in the details , and there is a fundamental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I think will be really difficult -- maybe impossible -- to overcome .
Reforming a system responsible for some of our society ’ s most violent and dangerous people is understandably a system that many people are only willing to change slowly .
There is broad support for reform , I just think it ’ s going to happen slowly and incrementally .
JM : The system is still pretty opaque , and there are still a lot of issues to deal with .
But in meaningful ways , we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarceration to being willing to talk about the issues that exist and to find ways to address them .
Opportunities are still restricted for people with criminal records , but more employers are open to hiring folks who were previously incarcerated .
There are a lot of these small but important steps that are happening in many different parts of the justice system .
These things aren ’ t really big-P “ progress , ” but they show that the work of decades is making a difference .
SLP : I would encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Season 2 !
But essentially , we see a lot of progress happening at the local level .
So much of the justice system operates in our own neighborhoods and cities .
Different states have experimented with various models that show tremendous potential .
And there are also new models and approaches being experimented with internationally .
All of these initiatives create opportunities to learn about what works and what doesn ’ t and might help the U.S. reimagine how it achieves justice .
With all the interviews you and the team did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sticks out for you - has made a lasting impression on you ?
SLP : Jennifer Bishop Jenkins , a victims rights advocate , was featured in Episode 5 .
Her sister and brother-in-law were murdered by a teenager , and it was a terrible tragedy that defined her life .
Even as she experienced this trauma and continues to fight for the rights of other victims , she still operates with empathy and compassion for the perpetrators of violence .
The fact that she can hold her own pain while also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiring , and something that I hope we can all carry with us .
HG : She has such a tragic and compelling story , and she told it to us in such a powerful way , I don ’ t think I ’ ll ever forget it .
And then to hear her perspective on how powerless crime victims and their families often feel -- how elusive real justice can feel for them , and how traumatizing the machinery of justice can be for them -- was eye-opening .
JM : As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to life in prison for homicide .
He told us about his awful early years , the trauma of a friend committing suicide behind bars , and his struggle to get a college degree .
After a Supreme Court ruling eventually led to his release after 25 years inside , Jeremiah ’ s dedicated his life to giving voice to what incarceration looks like .
The Perception Gaps - Locked up podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google Podcasts , and Stitcher .
Or you can visit the Perception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all of the podcasts .

The “counternarrative” is a cornerstone of Monitor journalism. These are stories that challenge assumptions. And, they change perceptions.
At the Monitor, Samantha Laine Perfas is a master of the counternarrative. Sam is the digital story team leader who launched our popular Perception Gaps podcast last year. That series looks at everything from guns to political polarization and explores what happens when what you think is true doesn’t line up with reality.
Now Sam’s back with the podcast’s second season: Perception Gaps: Locked Up. She’s joined by two other reporters on our staff: Washington-based Jessica Mendoza, and Henry Gass, who covers criminal justice and other issues from Austin, Texas.
This season, the Perception Gaps team dug deep into misconceptions about a single topic: the American criminal justice system and what can be done to make it more effective and fair.
One sobering statistic in the series: 74% of all people in U.S. jails today haven’t been convicted of a crime. I spoke with Sam, Jessica, and Henry recently and began by asking them what other elements of the criminal justice system might surprise readers – or challenge their assumptions about innocence and guilt.
SAMANTHA LAINE PERFAS: One of the biggest things that surprised me was how we believe the justice system to be fair and just, but in many ways, it’s not. We often think that if you do something wrong, you will then go through a system that will treat you fairly, follow an “innocent until proven guilty” framework and that the punishment will be appropriate for the crimes committed. That’s simply not true. There are many people who are locked up that have not been convicted of a crime, and there are hundreds of thousands of Americans with criminal records simply because they took a plea deal to avoid being incarcerated pretrial.
HENRY GASS: The power prosecutors have is one thing that would surprise people. There’s just lots of discretionary power there, and they usually have a big advantage in terms of resources over the people they’re prosecuting. The decision on which charges to file, or even whether charges are filed, are the decisions that animate the justice system, and prosecutors make those decisions all the time with few restraints. Once a prosecutor has made that call then all you can do is fight them in court.
Corrections officers are a big one as well. Their opinions and interests aren’t very well-publicized, and their portrayals in popular culture are overwhelmingly negative, so I think people would be surprised to learn how dehumanized they can feel in that job.
JESSICA MENDOZA: What struck me was the diversity of experiences and backgrounds among those who’ve been touched by the justice system. We have so many stereotypes about who commits crimes, what kinds of crimes are often committed, what it looks like in courts and in jails and prisons. But hearing from people who’ve been there – whether it’s those behind bars, those with friends and family who’ve been incarcerated, corrections officers, crime victims – made me realize that many more of us are affected by the system than we tend to assume.
Ann Hermes/Staff/File View caption Hide caption Judge Marilyn Cassidy addresses participants in the Human Trafficking Specialized Docket about their progress in the program at the Cleveland Municipal Court.
The first season of Perception Gaps focused on many different topics from the opioid crisis to immigration. Why did you focus all six episodes of season two on the criminal justice system?
SLP: After completing the first season, one piece of feedback we received was that devoting only 30 minutes to each topic seemed too short. Our listeners said that given the choice, they would prefer to go deeper into issues rather than learn only a little about many different topics. So we listened! We decided to focus the entirety of Season 2 on the justice system. The United States locks up more people than any other country in the world, and it’s an issue that affects every American in ways they may not realize. We wanted to shed light on this vast institution, and allow people to acknowledge and address some of the misperceptions they had about the system.
You worked mostly on your own on the first Perception Gaps series, but the 2nd season was a team effort with Henry Gass and Jess Mendoza, what strengths did that bring to the series, that one solo reporter couldn’t.
SLP: Working with Jess and Henry on this series was an incredible experience. Henry has reported on the justice system for years for the Monitor and has a really good understanding of the system’s nuances. Many of the sources we interviewed throughout the series were academics, formerly incarcerated individuals, and professionals that Henry has met throughout his reporting career. Jess, who used to work on our politics team in DC, brought critical political expertise to our reporting, knowing the right questions and areas to explore when discussing policy. With my knowledge from reporting the first season, we truly were a power team. It was an incredible group effort and allowed us to cover more ground than any one of us could’ve done alone.
JM: This was the first truly collaborative big project I’ve worked on for the Monitor that really pulled from each of our strengths in meaningful ways. It was different, and somehow more organic than partnering with a photographer for a big piece or sharing a byline with a colleague for a story you both made calls for. Locked Up needed Henry’s expertise with the justice system, his knowledge of the issues, and the sources. It needed Sam’s experience with audio storytelling, which is truly a different animal than print. It also needed her project management skills, because there were a thousand things that needed to be done to get this off the ground before, during, and after reporting and producing that had nothing to do with the content of the piece. And I like to think it needed my sense for narrative writing – for taking seemingly disparate pieces and turning them into a story with a beginning, middle, and end – and my passion for learning how to produce and tell stories through audio.
HG: It helped me to work with two colleagues, Jess and Sam, who had less experience covering the criminal justice system. When you report on this stuff day in, day out, it’s easy to forget that most readers may not know that prisons and jails are different things, for example, or that most immigrant detention facilities aren’t actually staffed and operated by ICE. Having them serve as a kind of proxy for the casual listener with less knowledge of the justice system helped make the series more accessible, I think.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP/File View caption Hide caption A low-risk inmate waits for treatment at a new mental health treatment unit at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Feb. 14, 2013.
Sam, you work primarily in audio journalism. What does audio bring to the table that a well-reported text and photo story doesn’t?
SLP: I have come to love and embrace audio storytelling in a way that I would never have predicted. I was trained as a long-form print journalist and always thought that writing would be my bread and butter. But when I ventured into the audio landscape, I realized the power of speaking directly to our audience, and the power of giving our sources a platform to share their stories directly with the world. There’s something different about hearing someone’s story in their own words. There’s power in listening to them, hearing their voice crack as they share something painful, but also hearing the hope in their voice as they continue to push progress forward. That intimacy is really difficult to capture in print.
JM: There’s still so much for me to learn and so much I’m coming to understand about the ways that audio is different from print: where its storytelling power lies, how to use it most effectively, what skills I need to hone and gain to become a better reporter for audio. Locked Up was essentially my first dip in that pool. I realized I had to re-learn how to write for sound and to plan and interview for audio. I knew it was going to be different than what I was used to, but I was still surprised at how different it was, and at which print skills wound up being useful and which were more of a hindrance. But it’s incredibly exciting. I’m very glad the Monitor is willing to give this kind of storytelling space and support.
The numbers are pretty devastating in terms of the damage the U.S. prison system has done to human lives - both for those in prison, and the families affected by someone behind bars. Are there any signs of progress that you and the team uncovered during the series?
HG: Yes I’d say there’s progress happening. The overall feeling that the tough-on-crime era wasn’t the best approach to achieving public safety and justice is being accepted by more and more people across the ideological spectrum. As ever though, the devil is in the details, and there is a fundamental fear of rapid change in this space that I think will be really difficult -- maybe impossible -- to overcome. Reforming a system responsible for some of our society’s most violent and dangerous people is understandably a system that many people are only willing to change slowly. There is broad support for reform, I just think it’s going to happen slowly and incrementally.
JM: The system is still pretty opaque, and there are still a lot of issues to deal with. But in meaningful ways, we’ve moved from totally dismissing the experience of incarceration to being willing to talk about the issues that exist and to find ways to address them. Opportunities are still restricted for people with criminal records, but more employers are open to hiring folks who were previously incarcerated. There are a lot of these small but important steps that are happening in many different parts of the justice system. These things aren’t really big-P “progress,” but they show that the work of decades is making a difference.
SLP: I would encourage everyone to listen to Episode 6 of Season 2! But essentially, we see a lot of progress happening at the local level. So much of the justice system operates in our own neighborhoods and cities. Different states have experimented with various models that show tremendous potential. And there are also new models and approaches being experimented with internationally. All of these initiatives create opportunities to learn about what works and what doesn’t and might help the U.S. reimagine how it achieves justice.
Ann Hermes/Staff/File View caption Hide caption Visitors post bail for themselves and their family members at the bond room at the Cook County Jail on February 10, 2017 in Chicago.
With all the interviews you and the team did for this series was there one person that sticks out for you - has made a lasting impression on you?
SLP: Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, a victims rights advocate, was featured in Episode 5. Her sister and brother-in-law were murdered by a teenager, and it was a terrible tragedy that defined her life. Even as she experienced this trauma and continues to fight for the rights of other victims, she still operates with empathy and compassion for the perpetrators of violence. The fact that she can hold her own pain while also recognizing the humanity of others is truly inspiring, and something that I hope we can all carry with us.
HG: She has such a tragic and compelling story, and she told it to us in such a powerful way, I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. And then to hear her perspective on how powerless crime victims and their families often feel -- how elusive real justice can feel for them, and how traumatizing the machinery of justice can be for them -- was eye-opening.
JM: As a young teenager, Jeremiah Bourgeois was sentenced to life in prison for homicide. He told us about his awful early years, the trauma of a friend committing suicide behind bars, and his struggle to get a college degree. After a Supreme Court ruling eventually led to his release after 25 years inside, Jeremiah’s dedicated his life to giving voice to what incarceration looks like.
The Perception Gaps - Locked up podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. Or you can visit the Perception Gaps home page for more background information and all of the podcasts.


csmonitor--2020-11-16--Monday Sunrise Briefing: Trump, sort of, acknowledges Biden won

From Florida to Arizona , thousands of Americans clung to hope , marching in support of President Donald Trump in the “ Million MAGA March ” on Saturday .
In Washington , D.C. , Mr. Trump gave a thumbs up to supporters on his way to play golf .
Later Saturday evening , pro-Trump and counter-protesters clashed violently in the nation ’ s capital .
On Sunday , Mr. Trump tweeted for the first time that Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 , election but also doubled down on unsubstantiated fraud claims and tweeted that “ I concede NOTHING !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s campaign legal challenges in key states have been thrown out and none have included evidence that might reverse the reported outcome .
On Sunday night , Mr. Trump ’ s campaign removed the allegation in a federal lawsuit that hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania were illegally processed without GOP representatives watching .
As more than 35 states now mandate mask wearing and new state and local restrictions are enacted , President-elect Joe Biden ’ s scientific advisers are scheduled to meet directly with vaccinemakers this week to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition remains stalled .
2 .
Asia ’ s push for freer markets .
China and 14 other countries - but not the United States - agreed Sunday to set up the world ’ s largest trading bloc in a deal many in Asia are hoping will help hasten an economic recovery from the pandemic .
The accord shows that nearly four years after President Trump launched his “ America First '' policy of forging trade deals with individual countries , Asian leaders see prosperity in committing to multi-nation efforts toward freer trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or RCEP , will take already low tariffs on trade between member countries still lower , but it is less comprehensive than an 11-nation trans-Pacific trade deal that Mr. Trump pulled out of in 2017 .
3 .
Protesting corruption .
Peru ’ s interim president stepped down Sunday just five days after assuming the office .
Huge street protests against Manuel Merino ’ s leadership - representing a corrupt ruling class - left two dead Saturday and triggered his resignation .
The South American nation is in the throws of its worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth protests were unleashed a week ago when Congress ousted the nation ’ s popular leader President Martín Vizcarra .
The legislature removed the president for “ permanent moral incapacity.
” Mr. Vizcarra was accused of taking $ 630,000 in bribes but he has not been charged and denies the accusations .
It wasn ’ t clear Monday who would lead the nation , and attention now turns to the high court to rule on the constitutionality of the “ moral incapacity ” decision .
Mask mandate challenged .
The Wisconsin state Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a lawsuit challenging Gov .
Tony Evers ' mask mandate .
At least 35 states have issued mask mandates .
South Africa corruption hearing .
Ex-President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to testify before an anti-graft judicial panel about allegations of corruption during his nine years in office .
Terrorist attack thwarted .
A trial opens in France for four people charged with an attempted terrorist attack on an Amsterdam-Paris train in 2015 that was thwarted by French , American , and British passengers who subdued the attacker when his rifle jammed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Clint Eastwood movie about the event .
Free speech on Facebook .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey are scheduled to testify in a Senate hearing about their company 's censorship role and publishing misinformation in an election year .
Security vs. transparency .
French lawmakers are scheduled to debate a bill this week that would outlaw filming police and posting images online .
The intent is to protect police from personal attacks .
Detractors say it reduces transparency and makes it hard to report police wrongdoing .
Space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to conduct a space walk outside the International Space Station .
They are prepping the station for the arrival of a new Russian research lab to replace the current Pirs module .
Best of Latin music .
The 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards are scheduled to be anchored from Miami and shown live on Univision at 8 p.m Democracy watch .
Georgia ’ s secretary of state will certify the statewide election results and the slate of presidential electors no later than Nov. 20 .
Fox News called Democrat Joe Biden the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 14,000 votes ) , but a manual recount is underway .
In September , 9-year-old Reese Osterberg didn ’ t just lose her home to the Creek Fire in California , she lost her entire 100-piece baseball card collection .
She was crushed .
But local first responders , and CalFire , put out a call for help : Baseball card donations for Reese , please .
San Jose , California , resident Kevin Ashford responded by giving Reese his entire 25,000 card collection , worth between $ 35,000 and $ 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t stop there .
Then , San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey - Reese 's favorite player - surprised her with a Zoom call .
And there ’ s still more .
People from all over the United States donated thousands of baseball cards - and sent the Little Leaguer notes of encouragement .
The response far exceeded the need .
So , Reese ( and her parents ) set up a website to pay it forward .
She ’ s sharing her newfound card wealth with friends and plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided a distraction from the destruction that surrounded Reese and her community .
The notes showed her the love , hope , and peace that can be shared through a simple gesture , ” the Cards From Reese website says .
She plans to start by sharing her cards with children at the nearby Children ’ s Hospital of Central California .
And she plans to send cards and encouraging notes to more children .
According to her website , she also wants to share her favorite Bible verse too , from Philippians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things through Him who gives me strength . ''
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : A pollution solution where the rubber meets the road In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our 10 best books of November .
Finally , check out the Monitor ’ s selected stories from Friday 's subscription-only Daily Edition : • It ’ s not just an election that divides America , it ’ s where to go for facts • US , China , Taiwan : Why the tense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • On college campuses , one surprising relief from pandemic stress : friends You have unlimited access to all our pandemic coverage .
If you value our credibly hopeful and nonpartisan approach , please consider subscribing .
This is an experiment with a Monday morning news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below .
Thank you !

From Florida to Arizona, thousands of Americans clung to hope, marching in support of President Donald Trump in the “Million MAGA March” on Saturday. In Washington, D.C., Mr. Trump gave a thumbs up to supporters on his way to play golf. Later Saturday evening, pro-Trump and counter-protesters clashed violently in the nation’s capital. On Sunday, Mr. Trump tweeted for the first time that Joe Biden won the Nov. 3, election but also doubled down on unsubstantiated fraud claims and tweeted that “I concede NOTHING!” To date, most of Mr. Trump’s campaign legal challenges in key states have been thrown out and none have included evidence that might reverse the reported outcome. On Sunday night, Mr. Trump’s campaign removed the allegation in a federal lawsuit that hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania were illegally processed without GOP representatives watching.
As more than 35 states now mandate mask wearing and new state and local restrictions are enacted, President-elect Joe Biden’s scientific advisers are scheduled to meet directly with vaccinemakers this week to discuss distribution plans as the White House transition remains stalled.
2. Asia’s push for freer markets. China and 14 other countries - but not the United States - agreed Sunday to set up the world’s largest trading bloc in a deal many in Asia are hoping will help hasten an economic recovery from the pandemic. The accord shows that nearly four years after President Trump launched his “America First" policy of forging trade deals with individual countries, Asian leaders see prosperity in committing to multi-nation efforts toward freer trade. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, will take already low tariffs on trade between member countries still lower, but it is less comprehensive than an 11-nation trans-Pacific trade deal that Mr. Trump pulled out of in 2017.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are three news events from this past weekend (while you may have been making cranberry sauce, jumping rope, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
3. Protesting corruption. Peru’s interim president stepped down Sunday just five days after assuming the office. Huge street protests against Manuel Merino’s leadership - representing a corrupt ruling class - left two dead Saturday and triggered his resignation. The South American nation is in the throws of its worst constitutional crisis in two decades. Massive youth protests were unleashed a week ago when Congress ousted the nation’s popular leader President Martín Vizcarra. The legislature removed the president for “permanent moral incapacity.” Mr. Vizcarra was accused of taking $630,000 in bribes but he has not been charged and denies the accusations. It wasn’t clear Monday who would lead the nation, and attention now turns to the high court to rule on the constitutionality of the “moral incapacity” decision.
REUTERS/Mike Segar View caption Hide caption Brother love. Dustin Johnson celebrates with his brother and caddie Austin Johnson after winning The Masters tournament Sunday Nov. 15, 2020 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Look Ahead
Monday, Nov. 16
Mask mandate challenged. The Wisconsin state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Tony Evers' mask mandate. At least 35 states have issued mask mandates.
South Africa corruption hearing. Ex-President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to testify before an anti-graft judicial panel about allegations of corruption during his nine years in office.
Terrorist attack thwarted. A trial opens in France for four people charged with an attempted terrorist attack on an Amsterdam-Paris train in 2015 that was thwarted by French, American, and British passengers who subdued the attacker when his rifle jammed. The three Americans later played themselves in a Clint Eastwood movie about the event.
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Free speech on Facebook. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey are scheduled to testify in a Senate hearing about their company's censorship role and publishing misinformation in an election year.
Security vs. transparency. French lawmakers are scheduled to debate a bill this week that would outlaw filming police and posting images online. The intent is to protect police from personal attacks. Detractors say it reduces transparency and makes it hard to report police wrongdoing.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Space rehab job. Two Russian cosmonauts are expected to conduct a space walk outside the International Space Station. They are prepping the station for the arrival of a new Russian research lab to replace the current Pirs module.
Thursday, Nov. 19
Best of Latin music. The 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards are scheduled to be anchored from Miami and shown live on Univision at 8 p.m
Friday, Nov. 20
Democracy watch. Georgia’s secretary of state will certify the statewide election results and the slate of presidential electors no later than Nov. 20. Fox News called Democrat Joe Biden the winner in the presidential vote (by some 14,000 votes), but a manual recount is underway.
Generosity Watch
Eric Paul Zamora/The Fresno Bee via AP View caption Hide caption Reese Osterburg, 9, waves to Kevin Ashford of San Jose, who surprised her more than 25,000 baseball cards collected and delivered to her at the Fresno County Fire Hurley Station near Prather, California on Oct. 30, 2020,
In September, 9-year-old Reese Osterberg didn’t just lose her home to the Creek Fire in California, she lost her entire 100-piece baseball card collection. She was crushed. But local first responders, and CalFire, put out a call for help: Baseball card donations for Reese, please.
San Jose, California, resident Kevin Ashford responded by giving Reese his entire 25,000 card collection, worth between $35,000 and $50,000, reported CNN. But the generosity didn’t stop there.
Then, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey - Reese's favorite player - surprised her with a Zoom call.
And there’s still more.
People from all over the United States donated thousands of baseball cards - and sent the Little Leaguer notes of encouragement. The response far exceeded the need. So, Reese (and her parents) set up a website to pay it forward. She’s sharing her newfound card wealth with friends and plans to help other children. “The cards provided a distraction from the destruction that surrounded Reese and her community. The notes showed her the love, hope, and peace that can be shared through a simple gesture,” the Cards From Reese website says.
She plans to start by sharing her cards with children at the nearby Children’s Hospital of Central California. And she plans to send cards and encouraging notes to more children. According to her website, she also wants to share her favorite Bible verse too, from Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
A pollution solution where the rubber meets the road
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our 10 best books of November.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
You have unlimited access to all our pandemic coverage. If you value our credibly hopeful and nonpartisan approach, please consider subscribing.
This is an experiment with a Monday morning news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below. Thank you!


csmonitor--2020-11-15--Trump supporters hold MAGA rallies in US cities

Fervent supporters of United States President Donald Trump rallied in Washington on Saturday behind his spurious claim of a stolen election and swarmed his motorcade in adulation when he detoured for a drive-by on his way out of town .
Hours later , after night fell in the nation ’ s capital , demonstrators favoring Mr. Trump clashed in the streets with counterprotesters , videos posted on social media showing fistfights , projectiles and clubs .
Police arrested at least 20 people on a variety of charges , including assault and weapons possession , officials said .
One stabbing was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and several firearms were also recovered by police .
A week after Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election , demonstrations in support of Mr. Trump also took place in other cities .
Fury at the prospect of a transfer of executive power showed no signs of abating , taking a cue from the president ’ s unrelenting assertion of victory in a race he actually lost .
“ I just want to keep up his spirits and let him know we support him , ” one loyalist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said from outside the Supreme Court , where a few thousand assembled after a march along Pennsylvania Avenue from Freedom Plaza , near the White House .
A broad coalition of top government and industry officials has declared that the Nov. 3 voting and the following count unfolded smoothly with no more than the usual minor hiccups – “ the most secure in American history , ” they said , repudiating Mr. Trump ’ s efforts to undermine the integrity of the contest .
In Delray Beach , Florida , several hundred people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Count every vote ” and “ We can not live under a Marxist government.
” In Lansing , Michigan , protesters gathered at the Capitol to hear speakers cast doubt on results that showed Biden winning the state by more than 140,000 votes .
Phoenix police estimated 1,500 people gathered outside the Arizona Capitol to protest Mr. Biden ’ s narrow victory in the state .
Protesters in Salem , Oregon , gathered at the Capitol .
The crowd in Washington was beginning to gather Saturday morning when cheers rang out as Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People lined both sides of the street , some standing just a few feet away from Mr. Trump ’ s vehicle .
Others showed their enthusiasm by running along with the caravan .
They chanted “ USA , USA ” and “ four more years , ” and many carried American flags and signs to show their displeasure with the vote tally .
After making the short detour for the slow drive around the site , the motorcade headed to the president ’ s Virginia golf club .
Among the speakers was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. House .
Marjorie Taylor Greene , who has expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories , urged people to march peacefully toward the Supreme Court .
The marchers included members of the Proud Boys , a neo-fascist group known for street brawling with ideological opponents at political rallies .
The march was largely peaceful during the day before turning tense at night , with multiple confrontations as small groups of Trump supporters attempted to enter the area around Black Lives Matter Plaza , about a block from the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathered .
In a pattern that kept repeating itself , those Trump supporters who approached the area were harassed , doused with water , and saw their MAGA hats and pro-Trump flags snatched and burned , amid cheers .
As night fell , multiple police lines kept the two sides apart .
Videos posted on social media showed some demonstrators and counterdemonstrators trading shoves , punches and slaps .
A man with a bullhorn yelling “ Get out of here !
” was shoved and pushed to the street by a man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoved and punched until he fell face first into the street .
Bloody and dazed , he was picked up and walked to a police officer .
The “ Million MAGA March ” was heavily promoted on social media , raising concerns that it could spark conflict with anti-Trump demonstrators , who have gathered near the White House in Black Lives Matter Plaza for weeks .
In preparation , police closed off wide swaths of downtown , where many stores and offices have been boarded up since Election Day .
Chris Rodriguez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security and Emergency Management Agency , said the police were experienced at keeping the peace .
The issues that Mr. Trump ’ s campaign and its allies have pointed to are typical in every election : problems with signatures , secrecy envelopes , and postal marks on mail-in ballots , as well as the potential for a small number of ballots miscast or lost .
With Mr. Biden leading Mr. Trump by wide margins in key battleground states , none of those issues would have any impact on the outcome of the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also filed legal challenges complaining that their poll watchers were unable to scrutinize the voting process .
Many of those challenges have been tossed out by judges , some within hours of their filing .
A former administration official , Sebastian Gorka , whipped up the crowd by the Supreme Court by saying , “ We can win because he did win.
” But , he added , “ It ’ s going to be tough.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .

Fervent supporters of United States President Donald Trump rallied in Washington on Saturday behind his spurious claim of a stolen election and swarmed his motorcade in adulation when he detoured for a drive-by on his way out of town.
Hours later, after night fell in the nation’s capital, demonstrators favoring Mr. Trump clashed in the streets with counterprotesters, videos posted on social media showing fistfights, projectiles and clubs. Police arrested at least 20 people on a variety of charges, including assault and weapons possession, officials said. One stabbing was reported, two police officers were injured, and several firearms were also recovered by police.
A week after Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election, demonstrations in support of Mr. Trump also took place in other cities. Fury at the prospect of a transfer of executive power showed no signs of abating, taking a cue from the president’s unrelenting assertion of victory in a race he actually lost.
“I just want to keep up his spirits and let him know we support him,” one loyalist, Anthony Whittaker of Winchester, Virginia, said from outside the Supreme Court, where a few thousand assembled after a march along Pennsylvania Avenue from Freedom Plaza, near the White House.
A broad coalition of top government and industry officials has declared that the Nov. 3 voting and the following count unfolded smoothly with no more than the usual minor hiccups – “the most secure in American history,” they said, repudiating Mr. Trump’s efforts to undermine the integrity of the contest.
In Delray Beach, Florida, several hundred people marched, some carrying signs reading “Count every vote” and “We cannot live under a Marxist government.” In Lansing, Michigan, protesters gathered at the Capitol to hear speakers cast doubt on results that showed Biden winning the state by more than 140,000 votes. Phoenix police estimated 1,500 people gathered outside the Arizona Capitol to protest Mr. Biden’s narrow victory in the state. Protesters in Salem, Oregon, gathered at the Capitol.
The crowd in Washington was beginning to gather Saturday morning when cheers rang out as Mr. Trump’s limousine neared Freedom Plaza. People lined both sides of the street, some standing just a few feet away from Mr. Trump’s vehicle. Others showed their enthusiasm by running along with the caravan.
They chanted “USA, USA” and “four more years,” and many carried American flags and signs to show their displeasure with the vote tally. After making the short detour for the slow drive around the site, the motorcade headed to the president’s Virginia golf club.
Among the speakers was a Georgia Republican newly elected to the U.S. House. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories, urged people to march peacefully toward the Supreme Court.
The marchers included members of the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group known for street brawling with ideological opponents at political rallies.
The march was largely peaceful during the day before turning tense at night, with multiple confrontations as small groups of Trump supporters attempted to enter the area around Black Lives Matter Plaza, about a block from the White House, where several hundred anti-Trump demonstrators had gathered.
In a pattern that kept repeating itself, those Trump supporters who approached the area were harassed, doused with water, and saw their MAGA hats and pro-Trump flags snatched and burned, amid cheers. As night fell, multiple police lines kept the two sides apart.
Videos posted on social media showed some demonstrators and counterdemonstrators trading shoves, punches and slaps. A man with a bullhorn yelling “Get out of here!” was shoved and pushed to the street by a man who was then surrounded by several people and shoved and punched until he fell face first into the street. Bloody and dazed, he was picked up and walked to a police officer.
The “Million MAGA March” was heavily promoted on social media, raising concerns that it could spark conflict with anti-Trump demonstrators, who have gathered near the White House in Black Lives Matter Plaza for weeks.
In preparation, police closed off wide swaths of downtown, where many stores and offices have been boarded up since Election Day. Chris Rodriguez, director of the city’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, said the police were experienced at keeping the peace.
The issues that Mr. Trump’s campaign and its allies have pointed to are typical in every election: problems with signatures, secrecy envelopes, and postal marks on mail-in ballots, as well as the potential for a small number of ballots miscast or lost. With Mr. Biden leading Mr. Trump by wide margins in key battleground states, none of those issues would have any impact on the outcome of the election.
Mr. Trump’s campaign has also filed legal challenges complaining that their poll watchers were unable to scrutinize the voting process. Many of those challenges have been tossed out by judges, some within hours of their filing.
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A former administration official, Sebastian Gorka, whipped up the crowd by the Supreme Court by saying, “We can win because he did win.” But, he added, “It’s going to be tough.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-11-15--A non-concession: Trump acknowledges Biden victory

President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to acknowledge for the first time that Joe Biden won the White House , but made clear he would not concede and would keep trying to overturn the election result .
Mr. Trump ’ s statements came in tweets that included several baseless claims about the Nov. 3 vote , which state and federal officials say was safe and secure .
Mr. Trump , without using Mr. Biden ’ s name , tweeted that “ He won , ” something Mr. Trump had not said before publicly , though he said the Democrat ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eyes ” of the media .
Mr. Biden defeated Mr. Trump by winning back a trio of battleground states that switched from the Democratic column in 2016 – Michigan , Wisconsin , and Pennsylvania – and topped the 270 electoral vote threshold to clinch the presidency .
Mr. Biden so far has 78.8 million votes , the most ever by a winning candidate , to Mr. Trump ’ s total – more than 73 million .
“ If the president ’ s prepared to begin to recognize that reality , that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incoming chief of staff , Ron Klain told NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” Still , Mr. Klain said , “ Donald Trump ’ s Twitter feed doesn ’ t make Joe Biden president or not president .
The American people did that.
” A Republican governor said “ it was good actually ” to see Mr. Trump ’ s tweet that Mr. Biden won .
“ I think that ’ s the start of an acknowledgment .
... We want to make sure that there is a smooth transition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC .
The president has previously refused to accept the results of the election and , in a later tweet Sunday , he dug in again , saying , “ I concede NOTHING !
We have a long way to go.
” Even while seemingly acknowledging Mr. Biden ’ s victory , he also argued without evidence that the former vice president only won because the election was “ rigged.
” Mr. Trump then made unsubstantiated complaints about access for poll watchers and about vote tabulations and asserted , “ WE WILL WIN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the tweets .
There has been no widespread fraud in the 2020 election .
In fact , election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities .
Mr. Trump ’ s campaign has tried to mount legal challenges across the country , but many of the lawsuits have been thrown out and none has included any evidence that the outcome might be reversed .
Former President Barack Obama , in an interview conducted and aired Sunday on CBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would remind Mr. Trump that , as president , he is a public servant and a temporary occupant of the office .
“ And when your time is up then it is your job to put the country first and think beyond your own ego , and your own interests , and your own disappointments , ” Mr. Obama said .
“ My advice to President Trump is , if you want at this late stage in the game to be remembered as somebody who put country first , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing.
” Mr. Obama also criticized those Republicans going along with Mr. Trump ’ s false claims of widespread voter fraud .
“ I ’ m more troubled by the fact that other Republican officials who clearly know better are going along with this , are humoring him in this fashion .
It is one more step in delegitimizing not just the incoming Biden administration , but democracy generally .
And that ’ s a dangerous path , ” he said .
Nearly two weeks after Election Day , Mr. Trump has neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concession , and White House officials have insisted that they are preparing for a second term .
In recent days , Mr. Trump appeared to be inching closer to acknowledging the reality of his loss .
In comments Friday in the Rose Garden about a coronavirus vaccine , Mr. Trump said his administration would “ not be going to a lockdown ” to slow the spread of COVID-19 , and added that “ whatever happens in the future , who knows which administration it will be ?
I guess time will tell.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks on an election technology firm , Dominion Voting Systems , without evidence of any serious irregularities .
Dominion has said it “ denies claims about any vote switching or alleged software issues with our voting systems.
” The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency , a federal agency that oversees U.S. election security , said in a statement last week that the “ November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.
” The agency said , ” There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromised.
” In his latest fundraising email , Mr. Trump told supporters that “ we are fighting to ensure EVERY SINGLE LEGAL ballot is counted ” and that he had “ legal teams on the ground in every critical state.
” John Bolton , a former Trump national security adviser , said it was important for party leaders to explain to voters that Mr. Trump did lose and that his claims of election fraud are baseless .
Mr. Bolton left the administration last year .
He says he resigned ; Mr. Trump says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think as every day goes by , it ’ s clearer and clearer there isn ’ t any evidence .
But if the Republican voters are only hearing Donald Trump ’ s misrepresentations , it ’ s not surprising that they believe it , ” Mr. Bolton said on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” “ It ’ s critical for other Republican leaders to stand up and explain what actually happened .
Donald Trump lost what by any evidence we have so far was a free and fair election.
” Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s personal attorney who is helping lead Mr. Trump ’ s national legal front on the election challenge .
In a television appearance that Mr. Trump previewed on Twitter after his morning tweets , Mr. Giuliani denied Mr. Trump was conceding – “ No , no , no , far from it.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Will Weissert in Wilmington , Delaware , and Zeke Miller contribute to this report .

President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to acknowledge for the first time that Joe Biden won the White House, but made clear he would not concede and would keep trying to overturn the election result. Mr. Trump’s statements came in tweets that included several baseless claims about the Nov. 3 vote, which state and federal officials say was safe and secure.
Mr. Trump, without using Mr. Biden’s name, tweeted that “He won,” something Mr. Trump had not said before publicly, though he said the Democrat’s victory was only “in the eyes” of the media. Mr. Biden defeated Mr. Trump by winning back a trio of battleground states that switched from the Democratic column in 2016 – Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania – and topped the 270 electoral vote threshold to clinch the presidency. Mr. Biden so far has 78.8 million votes, the most ever by a winning candidate, to Mr. Trump’s total – more than 73 million.
“If the president’s prepared to begin to recognize that reality, that’s positive,” Mr. Biden’s incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Still, Mr. Klain said, “Donald Trump’s Twitter feed doesn’t make Joe Biden president or not president. The American people did that.”
A Republican governor said “it was good actually” to see Mr. Trump’s tweet that Mr. Biden won. “I think that’s the start of an acknowledgment. ... We want to make sure that there is a smooth transition,” said Arkansas’ Asa Hutchinson on NBC.
The president has previously refused to accept the results of the election and, in a later tweet Sunday, he dug in again, saying, “I concede NOTHING! We have a long way to go.” Even while seemingly acknowledging Mr. Biden’s victory, he also argued without evidence that the former vice president only won because the election was “rigged.” Mr. Trump then made unsubstantiated complaints about access for poll watchers and about vote tabulations and asserted, “WE WILL WIN!” Twitter soon posted warning labels about the tweets.
There has been no widespread fraud in the 2020 election. In fact, election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well and international observers confirmed there were no serious irregularities.
Mr. Trump’s campaign has tried to mount legal challenges across the country, but many of the lawsuits have been thrown out and none has included any evidence that the outcome might be reversed.
Former President Barack Obama, in an interview conducted and aired Sunday on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” said he would remind Mr. Trump that, as president, he is a public servant and a temporary occupant of the office.
“And when your time is up then it is your job to put the country first and think beyond your own ego, and your own interests, and your own disappointments,” Mr. Obama said. “My advice to President Trump is, if you want at this late stage in the game to be remembered as somebody who put country first, it’s time for you to do the same thing.”
Mr. Obama also criticized those Republicans going along with Mr. Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud.
“I’m more troubled by the fact that other Republican officials who clearly know better are going along with this, are humoring him in this fashion. It is one more step in delegitimizing not just the incoming Biden administration, but democracy generally. And that’s a dangerous path,” he said.
Nearly two weeks after Election Day, Mr. Trump has neither called Mr. Biden nor made a formal concession, and White House officials have insisted that they are preparing for a second term.
In recent days, Mr. Trump appeared to be inching closer to acknowledging the reality of his loss. In comments Friday in the Rose Garden about a coronavirus vaccine, Mr. Trump said his administration would “not be going to a lockdown” to slow the spread of COVID-19, and added that “whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be? I guess time will tell.”
Mr. Trump on Sunday renewed his groundless attacks on an election technology firm, Dominion Voting Systems, without evidence of any serious irregularities. Dominion has said it “denies claims about any vote switching or alleged software issues with our voting systems.”
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, a federal agency that oversees U.S. election security, said in a statement last week that the “November 3rd election was the most secure in American history.” The agency said, ”There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.”
In his latest fundraising email, Mr. Trump told supporters that “we are fighting to ensure EVERY SINGLE LEGAL ballot is counted” and that he had “legal teams on the ground in every critical state.”
John Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser, said it was important for party leaders to explain to voters that Mr. Trump did lose and that his claims of election fraud are baseless. Mr. Bolton left the administration last year. He says he resigned; Mr. Trump says he fired Mr. Bolton.
“I think as every day goes by, it’s clearer and clearer there isn’t any evidence. But if the Republican voters are only hearing Donald Trump’s misrepresentations, it’s not surprising that they believe it,” Mr. Bolton said on ABC’s “This Week.” “It’s critical for other Republican leaders to stand up and explain what actually happened. Donald Trump lost what by any evidence we have so far was a free and fair election.”
Having none of that was Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney who is helping lead Mr. Trump’s national legal front on the election challenge. In a television appearance that Mr. Trump previewed on Twitter after his morning tweets, Mr. Giuliani denied Mr. Trump was conceding – “No, no, no, far from it.”
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“I guess,’’ Mr. Giuliani told Fox News Channel’s ”Sunday Morning Futures,” “you would call it sarcastic.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Will Weissert in Wilmington, Delaware, and Zeke Miller contribute to this report.


csmonitor--2020-11-17--The intricate inner workings of a Japanese police department

Before turning mystery novelist , Hideo Yokoyama worked as an investigative reporter for a newspaper in Gunma Prefecture , Japan .
His book “ Prefecture D ” is actually four novellas , each an intriguing story describing the complex relationships and bureaucratic tensions between individuals in the prefecture ’ s police force .
This book is a perfect introduction to the political and social undercurrents that govern Japanese society .
Like all good mysteries , each novella holds the reader in suspense until the surprising end .
In “ Season of Shadows , ” the first novella , Shinji Futawatari @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department of Prefecture D ’ s police headquarters , is told he must solve the problem of a revered , legendary detective who refuses to step down from an executive position .
The detective has his own agenda that he refuses to reveal .
To solve the mystery , Futawatari must carefully navigate not only the bureaucracy but also the complex hierarchy separating him from his superiors .
Internal Affairs officer Takayoshi Shindo , in “ Cry of the Earth , ” is told by Division Chief Takegami to look into an anonymous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief of Public Safety at Station Q , of seeing the proprietress of a red-light district establishment – a warning he soon learns is a red herring .
The third novella , “ Black Lines , ” focuses on the women working as police officers in Prefecture D. When forensics sergeant Yoshio Sone fails to show up for work , she is presumed missing , and Section Chief Tomoko Nanao is tasked with finding her .
Like the rest of the world , Japan has its own problems with gender discrimination .
Nanao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unravel the mystery of her colleague ’ s disappearance .
“ Briefcase , ” the fourth novella , begins when Prefecture D ’ s government members plan to take part in a question-and-answer session with the police .
Political Liaison Masaki Tsuge learns that a wronged politician is preparing his revenge against the police , and he must quickly find out what he can do to silence the angry man .
At first , it seems a briefcase may hold the answer , but twists and turns abound .
Yokoyama ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain twists .
His psychological insights into his characters ’ behavior – together with his succinct , descriptive prose – make for enjoyable reading .
Japanese can be a difficult language to translate and translators need to pay close attention to cultural nuances to ensure the correct context is represented .
A shout-out needs to be given to the book ’ s translator , Jonathan Lloyd-Davies , born in Wales , who has done a yeoman ’ s job here .
Yokoyama never clearly defines the location of Prefecture D. Though Japan has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s probably based on one in a mountainous location in the middle of the country .
Regardless , his attention-grabbing prose soon sweeps you into his mysteries and holds your attention until the end .
“ Prefecture D ” may be missing the mayhem of the usual crime novel , but its page-turning narrative is not only captivating but also provides insight into Japanese society .

Before turning mystery novelist, Hideo Yokoyama worked as an investigative reporter for a newspaper in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. His book “Prefecture D” is actually four novellas, each an intriguing story describing the complex relationships and bureaucratic tensions between individuals in the prefecture’s police force. This book is a perfect introduction to the political and social undercurrents that govern Japanese society. Like all good mysteries, each novella holds the reader in suspense until the surprising end.
In “Season of Shadows,” the first novella, Shinji Futawatari, who works in the Administrative Affairs department of Prefecture D’s police headquarters, is told he must solve the problem of a revered, legendary detective who refuses to step down from an executive position. The detective has his own agenda that he refuses to reveal. To solve the mystery, Futawatari must carefully navigate not only the bureaucracy but also the complex hierarchy separating him from his superiors.
Internal Affairs officer Takayoshi Shindo, in “Cry of the Earth,” is told by Division Chief Takegami to look into an anonymous letter accusing Yoshio Sone, the Division Chief of Public Safety at Station Q, of seeing the proprietress of a red-light district establishment – a warning he soon learns is a red herring.
The third novella, “Black Lines,” focuses on the women working as police officers in Prefecture D. When forensics sergeant Yoshio Sone fails to show up for work, she is presumed missing, and Section Chief Tomoko Nanao is tasked with finding her. Like the rest of the world, Japan has its own problems with gender discrimination. Nanao must deal with this as she seeks to unravel the mystery of her colleague’s disappearance.
“Briefcase,” the fourth novella, begins when Prefecture D’s government members plan to take part in a question-and-answer session with the police. Political Liaison Masaki Tsuge learns that a wronged politician is preparing his revenge against the police, and he must quickly find out what he can do to silence the angry man. At first, it seems a briefcase may hold the answer, but twists and turns abound.
Yokoyama’s storytelling is unusual, and his denouements contain twists. His psychological insights into his characters’ behavior – together with his succinct, descriptive prose – make for enjoyable reading.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Japanese can be a difficult language to translate and translators need to pay close attention to cultural nuances to ensure the correct context is represented. A shout-out needs to be given to the book’s translator, Jonathan Lloyd-Davies, born in Wales, who has done a yeoman’s job here.
Yokoyama never clearly defines the location of Prefecture D. Though Japan has 47 prefectures from which to choose, it’s probably based on one in a mountainous location in the middle of the country. Regardless, his attention-grabbing prose soon sweeps you into his mysteries and holds your attention until the end. “Prefecture D” may be missing the mayhem of the usual crime novel, but its page-turning narrative is not only captivating but also provides insight into Japanese society.