csmonitor--2020-03-30--Instacart workers plan strike as online grocery orders surge

A possible strike by Instacart workers highlights the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the grocery delivery business , where workers are worried about their safety as they try to meet a surge in demand for online groceries .
A group called the Gig Workers Collective is calling for a nationwide walk-out on Monday .
They 've been asking Instacart to provide workers with hazard pay and protective gear , among other demands .
Instacart said on Sunday it would soon provide workers with a new hand sanitizer upon request and outlined changes to its tip system .
The group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late .
While some workers say they intend to join the strike for at least a day – or have stopped filling orders already for fear of getting the virus – other , newer workers are content to have a paying job at a time of mass layoffs in other industries .
The San Francisco-based delivery app is trying to hire 300,000 more workers – more than doubling its workforce – to fulfill orders it says have surged by 150 % year-over year in the past weeks .
The company said 50,000 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past week .
Some customers are waiting days to receive orders .
Instacart currently has a workforce of more than 200,000 contracted workers who make multiple trips a day to various grocery stores to fulfill and deliver orders that customers make through the app .
It also directly employs about 20,000 part-time workers who are assigned to a single store , collecting groceries that are subsequently delivered to clients by a contracted Instacart worker .
Chloe Grozdina , a part-time Instacart in-store shopper assigned to a Mariano 's grocery store in the Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of apocalypse orders '' from customers hunkered down in their homes .
Panic shopping has cleared out the shelves , meaning she often has to replace a customer ’ s orders with a lesser item or notify them that it 's not available .
Ms. Grozdina , who makes $ 13 an hour and does n't get tips , said the crowds of fellow Instacart shoppers have made it tough to keep a safe distance while racing to fulfill orders .
Ms. Grozdina said she wears a mask to work that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she gets home .
Among their demands , the strike organizers want hazard pay of $ 5 an order and supplies of hand sanitizer , wipes , and cleaning supplies free of charge .
On Sunday , the company said it had contracted with a third-party manufacturer to make a hand sanitizer spray that workers can request at no cost via a website starting Monday , with shipments starting in a few days .
Data show online grocery orders jumping even before some cities and states imposed `` stay at home '' orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Instacart , Amazon , and Walmart grocery delivery services each saw at least a 65 % sales increase compared to the same time last year , according to estimates from Earnest Research .
Instacart has started offering bonuses of between $ 25 and $ 200 for its hourly employees dependent on hours worked until April 15 .
The strike organizers also demanded that Instacart raise the tip default in its app to 10 % from the current 5 % .
Instead , Instacart announced Sunday it would change the default to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tips have increased considerably during the virus crisis .
Instacart said previously that it has added more `` promotions '' – or extra pay for contracted full-service shoppers to accept certain orders .
That was not enough to lure back Shanna Foster , a single mother who stopped working her Instacart gig two weeks ago out of fear of contracting the virus .
`` They need to give us hazard pay right now and it should be guaranteed , '' said Ms. Foster , of Simi Valley , California .
Other companies such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiring sprees to meet a surge for both deliveries and in-store essentials .
Amazon has increased pay for its workers , including those at its Whole Foods Grocery stores .
While such low-wage jobs put people on the front lines of the pandemic , many people are applying as layoffs surge in retail , restaurant , hospitality , and other industries .
Summer Cooper started working as an Instacart shopper in the Tampa Bay area recently after losing her position as a server at a hotel restaurant .
She was unaware of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grateful to have some way to make money , '' Ms. Cooper said .
Darrin Burdette , an Instacart shopper in Colorado Springs , said joining a strike would `` not help me in any way . ''
An Uber driver , Mr. Burdette said he relies entirely on his Instacart gig since demand for ride-hailing services plunged .
He said he is earning about $ 30 an hour as Instacart orders rise .
On his app , he can see that many orders have come from people using the service for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the app shortly after her family returned from a trip abroad and decided to self-isolate for two weeks .
She said Instacart shoppers have gone out of their way to fulfill orders .
One , she said , returned with a chicken after previously being unable to find meat at local stores .
`` It ’ s amazing that they are doing this .
I ’ m grateful .
I ’ m hopeful they are able to take care of their families through this , '' said Ms. Ellwood of Canandaigua , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
Curt Anderson reported from St. Petersburg , Florida .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

A possible strike by Instacart workers highlights the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the grocery delivery business, where workers are worried about their safety as they try to meet a surge in demand for online groceries.
A group called the Gig Workers Collective is calling for a nationwide walk-out on Monday. They've been asking Instacart to provide workers with hazard pay and protective gear, among other demands. Instacart said on Sunday it would soon provide workers with a new hand sanitizer upon request and outlined changes to its tip system. The group said the measures were too little too late.
While some workers say they intend to join the strike for at least a day – or have stopped filling orders already for fear of getting the virus – other, newer workers are content to have a paying job at a time of mass layoffs in other industries.
The San Francisco-based delivery app is trying to hire 300,000 more workers – more than doubling its workforce – to fulfill orders it says have surged by 150% year-over year in the past weeks. The company said 50,000 new shoppers joined its platform in just the past week. Some customers are waiting days to receive orders.
Instacart currently has a workforce of more than 200,000 contracted workers who make multiple trips a day to various grocery stores to fulfill and deliver orders that customers make through the app. It also directly employs about 20,000 part-time workers who are assigned to a single store, collecting groceries that are subsequently delivered to clients by a contracted Instacart worker.
Chloe Grozdina, a part-time Instacart in-store shopper assigned to a Mariano's grocery store in the Chicago area, says workers are seeing "a lot of apocalypse orders" from customers hunkered down in their homes. Panic shopping has cleared out the shelves, meaning she often has to replace a customer’s orders with a lesser item or notify them that it's not available.
Ms. Grozdina, who makes $13 an hour and doesn't get tips, said the crowds of fellow Instacart shoppers have made it tough to keep a safe distance while racing to fulfill orders. Ms. Grozdina said she wears a mask to work that she bought herself and immediately showers when she gets home.
Among their demands, the strike organizers want hazard pay of $5 an order and supplies of hand sanitizer, wipes, and cleaning supplies free of charge. On Sunday, the company said it had contracted with a third-party manufacturer to make a hand sanitizer spray that workers can request at no cost via a website starting Monday, with shipments starting in a few days.
Data show online grocery orders jumping even before some cities and states imposed "stay at home" orders. During the week of March 2, Instacart, Amazon, and Walmart grocery delivery services each saw at least a 65% sales increase compared to the same time last year, according to estimates from Earnest Research.
Instacart has started offering bonuses of between $25 and $200 for its hourly employees dependent on hours worked until April 15.
The strike organizers also demanded that Instacart raise the tip default in its app to 10% from the current 5%. Instead, Instacart announced Sunday it would change the default to the amount the customer last tipped, saying tips have increased considerably during the virus crisis.
Instacart said previously that it has added more "promotions" – or extra pay for contracted full-service shoppers to accept certain orders.
That was not enough to lure back Shanna Foster, a single mother who stopped working her Instacart gig two weeks ago out of fear of contracting the virus.
"They need to give us hazard pay right now and it should be guaranteed," said Ms. Foster, of Simi Valley, California.
Other companies such as Amazon and Walmart have also announced hiring sprees to meet a surge for both deliveries and in-store essentials. Amazon has increased pay for its workers, including those at its Whole Foods Grocery stores.
While such low-wage jobs put people on the front lines of the pandemic, many people are applying as layoffs surge in retail, restaurant, hospitality, and other industries.
Summer Cooper started working as an Instacart shopper in the Tampa Bay area recently after losing her position as a server at a hotel restaurant. She was unaware of the possible strike.
"I’m grateful to have some way to make money," Ms. Cooper said.
Darrin Burdette, an Instacart shopper in Colorado Springs, said joining a strike would "not help me in any way."
An Uber driver, Mr. Burdette said he relies entirely on his Instacart gig since demand for ride-hailing services plunged. He said he is earning about $30 an hour as Instacart orders rise. On his app, he can see that many orders have come from people using the service for the first time.
Michelle Ellwood began using the app shortly after her family returned from a trip abroad and decided to self-isolate for two weeks. She said Instacart shoppers have gone out of their way to fulfill orders. One, she said, returned with a chicken after previously being unable to find meat at local stores.
"It’s amazing that they are doing this. I’m grateful. I’m hopeful they are able to take care of their families through this," said Ms. Ellwood of Canandaigua, New York.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Curt Anderson reported from St. Petersburg, Florida.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-07--DeVos' new Title IX regs bolster rights of accused on campus

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday issued a new policy that will reshape the way schools and universities respond to complaints of sexual misconduct , bolstering the rights of the accused and narrowing the scope of cases colleges are required to investigate .
`` We released a final rule that recognizes we can continue to combat sexual misconduct without abandoning our core values of fairness , presumption of innocence and due process , '' Ms. DeVos said in a call with reporters .
In announcing the new policy , which carries the weight of law , Ms. DeVos condemned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach '' that turned campus disciplinary panels into `` kangaroo courts . ''
Ms. DeVos ' changes narrow the definition of sexual harassment and require colleges to investigate claims only if they 're reported to certain officials .
Schools can be held accountable for mishandling complaints only if they acted with `` deliberate indifference . ''
Students will be allowed to question one another through representatives during live hearings .
The regulation largely mirrors a proposal Ms. DeVos issued in November 2018 but tempers some measures that drew some of the heaviest criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , suggested that colleges would not be required to handle complaints arising beyond campus borders , but the final rule clarifies that their duties extend to fraternity and sorority houses , along with other scenarios in which the college exercises `` substantial control '' over the accused student and the `` context '' where the alleged misconduct occurred .
Ms. DeVos also clarified for the first time that dating violence , stalking , and domestic violence also must be addressed under Title IX , and she added new language ordering schools to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they file a formal complaint .
Title IX is the 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex in education .
The law and Ms. DeVos ' regulation apply to the nation 's colleges and universities , along with elementary and secondary schools .
Ms. Devos said the new rule `` takes historic steps to strengthen Title IX protections for all students and to ensure all students can pursue an education free from sex discrimination . ''
The changes take effect Aug. 14 .
The Education Department finalized them after reviewing more than 120,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeVos ' proposal .
The final policy was quickly condemned by opponents who say it weakens protections for victims and will discourage many from reporting misconduct .
The National Women 's Law Center promised to take legal action .
`` We refuse to go back to the days when rape and harassment in schools were ignored and swept under the rug , '' said Fatima Goss Graves , the group 's president and CEO .
`` We wo n't let DeVos succeed in requiring schools to be complicit in harassment , turning Title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students into a law that protects abusers and harassers . ''
Rep. Bobby Scott , D-Va. , chairman of the House education committee , said the policy `` creates new barriers to justice '' for victims .
`` While the department 's stated intent was to secure due process for those accused of sexual misconduct , the actual effect of its rule will be to erode protections for students , weaken accountability for schools and make it more difficult for survivors seeking redress , '' he said .
The overhaul drew praise from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. , chairman of the Senate 's education committee , said it `` respects and supports victims and preserves due process rights for both the victim and the accused . ''
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education , a civil liberties group , called it an `` important victory . ''
`` Students should n't have to relinquish their basic rights when they step foot on a college campus , but at almost every top college in this country , that 's exactly what happens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's senior fellow .
Among the most hotly contested changes is Ms. DeVos ' rule allowing students to question one another at live hearings .
Advocates for victims say it 's a `` cruel '' policy that forces victims to relive the trauma of sexual violence .
Ms. DeVos added new limits around the hearings in her final rule , saying students must never be allowed to question one another directly , and she said only questions that campus officials deem `` relevant '' can be asked .
The Association of Public and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 200 public universities , said it still has significant concerns about cross examinations , saying the requirement will likely discourage reporting .
`` Some will worry about an anguish-inducing process that includes requiring them to face direct questioning by respondents ' aggressive counsel in a live hearing courtroom-like setting , '' said Peter McPherson , the group 's president .
While cross examinations will be required at the college level , the final rule makes it optional for primary and secondary schools .
Under the new rules , the definition of sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe , pervasive , and objectively offensive '' that it denies a person access to a school 's education programs or activity .
The Obama administration , by contrast , used a broader definition that included any `` unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature , '' including `` sexual advances , requests for sexual favors and other verbal , nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature . ''
Colleges now will be required to dismiss complaints that fall short of the updated definition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual assault will be deemed to have met the definition .
Opponents also take issue with a measure in the final policy allowing schools to choose a higher standard of proof when deciding cases of sexual misconduct .
The Obama administration encouraged schools to use a `` preponderance of the evidence '' standard , meaning that the allegation is more likely than not true .
But the new rules allow schools to use a `` clear and convincing '' standard , meaning the claim is highly probable .
Democrats and some education groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final rule until after the coronavirus pandemic , saying schools were too busy responding to the crisis to implement complex federal rules .
The American Council on Education , an association of college presidents , urged Ms. DeVos on Wednesday to delay the policy until summer 2021 , saying the timing reflected `` appallingly poor judgment . ''
`` This is irrational , unrealistic and completely at odds with the Trump administration 's oft-repeated statement to tread lightly when imposing complex new regulations , '' the group said in a statement .
Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning .
`` Civil rights really ca n't wait , and students ' cases continue to be decided now , '' she said .
`` We 've been working on this for more than two years , so it 's not a surprise to institutions that it 's been coming . ''
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 .

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday issued a new policy that will reshape the way schools and universities respond to complaints of sexual misconduct, bolstering the rights of the accused and narrowing the scope of cases colleges are required to investigate.
"We released a final rule that recognizes we can continue to combat sexual misconduct without abandoning our core values of fairness, presumption of innocence and due process," Ms. DeVos said in a call with reporters.
In announcing the new policy, which carries the weight of law, Ms. DeVos condemned the Obama administration for adopting a "failed approach" that turned campus disciplinary panels into "kangaroo courts."
Ms. DeVos' changes narrow the definition of sexual harassment and require colleges to investigate claims only if they're reported to certain officials. Schools can be held accountable for mishandling complaints only if they acted with "deliberate indifference." Students will be allowed to question one another through representatives during live hearings.
The regulation largely mirrors a proposal Ms. DeVos issued in November 2018 but tempers some measures that drew some of the heaviest criticism.
The earlier proposal, for example, suggested that colleges would not be required to handle complaints arising beyond campus borders, but the final rule clarifies that their duties extend to fraternity and sorority houses, along with other scenarios in which the college exercises "substantial control" over the accused student and the "context" where the alleged misconduct occurred.
Ms. DeVos also clarified for the first time that dating violence, stalking, and domestic violence also must be addressed under Title IX, and she added new language ordering schools to provide special support for victims regardless of whether they file a formal complaint.
Title IX is the 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex in education. The law and Ms. DeVos' regulation apply to the nation's colleges and universities, along with elementary and secondary schools.
Ms. Devos said the new rule "takes historic steps to strengthen Title IX protections for all students and to ensure all students can pursue an education free from sex discrimination."
The changes take effect Aug. 14. The Education Department finalized them after reviewing more than 120,000 public comments submitted in response to Ms. DeVos' proposal.
The final policy was quickly condemned by opponents who say it weakens protections for victims and will discourage many from reporting misconduct. The National Women's Law Center promised to take legal action.
"We refuse to go back to the days when rape and harassment in schools were ignored and swept under the rug," said Fatima Goss Graves, the group's president and CEO. "We won't let DeVos succeed in requiring schools to be complicit in harassment, turning Title IX from a law that protects all students into a law that protects abusers and harassers."
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., chairman of the House education committee, said the policy "creates new barriers to justice" for victims.
"While the department's stated intent was to secure due process for those accused of sexual misconduct, the actual effect of its rule will be to erode protections for students, weaken accountability for schools and make it more difficult for survivors seeking redress," he said.
The overhaul drew praise from Republicans and from groups that represent the accused. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate's education committee, said it "respects and supports victims and preserves due process rights for both the victim and the accused."
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a civil liberties group, called it an "important victory."
"Students shouldn't have to relinquish their basic rights when they step foot on a college campus, but at almost every top college in this country, that's exactly what happens," said Samantha Harris, the group's senior fellow.
Among the most hotly contested changes is Ms. DeVos' rule allowing students to question one another at live hearings. Advocates for victims say it's a "cruel" policy that forces victims to relive the trauma of sexual violence.
Ms. DeVos added new limits around the hearings in her final rule, saying students must never be allowed to question one another directly, and she said only questions that campus officials deem "relevant" can be asked.
The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, an association of more than 200 public universities, said it still has significant concerns about cross examinations, saying the requirement will likely discourage reporting.
"Some will worry about an anguish-inducing process that includes requiring them to face direct questioning by respondents' aggressive counsel in a live hearing courtroom-like setting," said Peter McPherson, the group's president.
While cross examinations will be required at the college level, the final rule makes it optional for primary and secondary schools.
Under the new rules, the definition of sexual harassment is narrowed to include "unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive" that it denies a person access to a school's education programs or activity.
The Obama administration, by contrast, used a broader definition that included any "unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature," including "sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature."
Colleges now will be required to dismiss complaints that fall short of the updated definition, although any allegation of rape or sexual assault will be deemed to have met the definition.
Opponents also take issue with a measure in the final policy allowing schools to choose a higher standard of proof when deciding cases of sexual misconduct.
The Obama administration encouraged schools to use a "preponderance of the evidence" standard, meaning that the allegation is more likely than not true. But the new rules allow schools to use a "clear and convincing" standard, meaning the claim is highly probable.
Democrats and some education groups had asked Ms. DeVos to postpone the final rule until after the coronavirus pandemic, saying schools were too busy responding to the crisis to implement complex federal rules.
The American Council on Education, an association of college presidents, urged Ms. DeVos on Wednesday to delay the policy until summer 2021, saying the timing reflected "appallingly poor judgment."
"This is irrational, unrealistic and completely at odds with the Trump administration's oft-repeated statement to tread lightly when imposing complex new regulations," the group said in a statement.
Ms. DeVos said schools had been given fair warning.
"Civil rights really can't wait, and students' cases continue to be decided now," she said. "We've been working on this for more than two years, so it's not a surprise to institutions that it's been coming."
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--2020-05-07--New twist in Trump-Russia investigation: DOJ drops Flynn case

The Justice Department on Thursday said it is dropping the criminal case against President Donald Trump 's first national security adviser , Michael Flynn , abandoning a prosecution that became a rallying cry for the president and his supporters in attacking the FBI 's Trump-Russia investigation .
The action was a stunning reversal for one of the signature cases brought by special counsel Robert Mueller .
It comes even though prosecutors for the past three years have maintained that Mr. Flynn lied to the FBI in a January 2017 interview about his conversations with the Russian ambassador .
Mr. Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before asking to withdraw the plea , and became a key cooperator for Mr. Mueller as the special counsel investigated ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign .
Thursday 's action was swiftly embraced by Mr. Trump , who has relentlessly tweeted about the `` outrageous '' case and last week pronounced Mr. Flynn `` exonerated . ''
It could also newly energize supporters who have taken up the retired Army lieutenant general as a cause .
But it will also add to Democratic complaints that Attorney General Barr is excessively loyal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a distraction for a Justice Department that for months has sought to focus on crimes arising from the coronavirus .
`` He was an innocent man , '' Mr. Trump declared of Mr. Flynn after the announcement .
He accused Obama administration officials of targeting Mr. Flynn and said , `` I hope that a big price is going to be paid . ''
In court documents filed Thursday , the Justice Department said it is dropping the case `` after a considered review of all the facts and circumstances of this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The documents were obtained by The Associated Press .
The department said it had concluded that Mr. Flynn 's interview by the FBI was `` untethered to , and unjustified by , the FBI 's counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn '' and that the interview was `` conducted without any legitimate investigative basis . ''
The U.S. attorney reviewing the Flynn case , Jeff Jensen , formally recommended dropping it to Mr. Barr last week , the course of action vehemently and publicly recommended by Mr. Trump , who appointed Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Barr has increasingly challenged the Russia investigation , saying in a television interview last month that it was started `` without any basis . ''
In February , he overruled a decision by prosecutors in the case of Roger Stone , another former Trump adviser , in favor of a more lenient sentence for the longtime Trump friend .
Mr. Jensen said in a statement : `` Through the course of my review of General Flynn 's case , I concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings , advised him on these conclusions , and he agreed . ''
Shortly before the filing was submitted , Brandon Van Grack , a Mueller team member and veteran prosecutor on the case , withdrew from the prosecution , a possible sign that he disagreed with the decision .
The department 's action comes amid an internal review into the handling of the case and an aggressive effort by Mr. Flynn 's lawyers to challenge the basis for the prosecution .
The lawyers cited newly disclosed FBI emails and notes last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trapped into lying when agents interviewed him at the White House days after Mr. Trump 's inauguration .
Though none of the documents appeared to undercut the central allegation that Mr. Flynn had lied to the FBI , Mr. Trump last week pronounced him `` exonerated . ''
The decision is the latest dramatic development in a years-old case full of twists and turns .
In recent months , Mr. Flynn 's attorneys have leveled a series of allegations about the FBI 's actions and asked to withdraw his guilty plea .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not ruled on others , including the bid to revoke the plea .
Earlier this year , Mr. Barr appointed U.S. Attorney Jensen of St. Louis to investigate the handling of Mr. Flynn 's case .
As part of that process , the Justice Department gave Mr. Flynn 's attorneys a series of emails and notes , including one handwritten note from a senior FBI official that mapped out internal deliberations about the purpose of the Flynn interview : `` What 's our goal ?
Truth/admission or to get him to lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get him fired ? ''
the official wrote .
Other documents show that the FBI had been prepared weeks before its interview of Mr. Flynn to drop its investigation into whether he was acting at the direction of Russia .
Later that month , though , as the White House insisted that Mr. Flynn had never discussed sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak , FBI officials grew more concerned by Mr. Flynn 's conversations with the diplomat and what he had communicated to the White House .
The investigation remained open , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House on Jan. 24 , 2017 .
Justice Department officials visited the White House two days later to warn officials that they feared that Mr. Flynn was compromised and vulnerable to blackmail by Russia because of his account of what was said on the call .
White House officials waited several weeks to oust him from the job , saying they 'd concluded that Mr. Flynn had lied to them .
Mr. Flynn pleaded guilty that December , among the first of the president 's aides to admit guilt in Mr. Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lied about his conversations with Mr. Kislyak , in which he encouraged Russia not to retaliate against the U.S. for sanctions imposed by the Obama administration over election interference .
He provided such extensive cooperation that prosecutors said he was entitled to a sentence of probation instead of prison .
As it turned out , that sentencing hearing was abruptly cut short after Mr. Flynn , facing a stern rebuke from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan , asked to be able to continue cooperating and earn credit toward a more lenient sentence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were already on display when his then-attorneys pointedly noted in their sentencing memo that the FBI had not warned him that it was against the law to lie when they interviewed him at the White House in January 2017 .
Since then , he has hired new attorneys – including Sidney Powell , a conservative commentator and outspoken critic of Mr. Mueller 's investigation – who have taken a far more confrontational stance to the government .
The lawyers have accused prosecutors of withholding documents and evidence they said was favorable to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the two agents who interviewed Mr. Flynn was fired from the FBI for having sent derogatory text messages about Mr. Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign .
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 .

The Justice Department on Thursday said it is dropping the criminal case against President Donald Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, abandoning a prosecution that became a rallying cry for the president and his supporters in attacking the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation.
The action was a stunning reversal for one of the signature cases brought by special counsel Robert Mueller. It comes even though prosecutors for the past three years have maintained that Mr. Flynn lied to the FBI in a January 2017 interview about his conversations with the Russian ambassador.
Mr. Flynn himself admitted as much, pleading guilty before asking to withdraw the plea, and became a key cooperator for Mr. Mueller as the special counsel investigated ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.
Thursday's action was swiftly embraced by Mr. Trump, who has relentlessly tweeted about the "outrageous" case and last week pronounced Mr. Flynn "exonerated." It could also newly energize supporters who have taken up the retired Army lieutenant general as a cause.
But it will also add to Democratic complaints that Attorney General Barr is excessively loyal to the president, and could be a distraction for a Justice Department that for months has sought to focus on crimes arising from the coronavirus.
"He was an innocent man," Mr. Trump declared of Mr. Flynn after the announcement. He accused Obama administration officials of targeting Mr. Flynn and said, "I hope that a big price is going to be paid."
In court documents filed Thursday, the Justice Department said it is dropping the case "after a considered review of all the facts and circumstances of this case, including newly discovered and disclosed information." The documents were obtained by The Associated Press.
The department said it had concluded that Mr. Flynn's interview by the FBI was "untethered to, and unjustified by, the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn" and that the interview was "conducted without any legitimate investigative basis."
The U.S. attorney reviewing the Flynn case, Jeff Jensen, formally recommended dropping it to Mr. Barr last week, the course of action vehemently and publicly recommended by Mr. Trump, who appointed Mr. Barr to head the Justice Department.
Mr. Barr has increasingly challenged the Russia investigation, saying in a television interview last month that it was started "without any basis." In February, he overruled a decision by prosecutors in the case of Roger Stone, another former Trump adviser, in favor of a more lenient sentence for the longtime Trump friend.
Mr. Jensen said in a statement: "Through the course of my review of General Flynn's case, I concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case. I briefed Attorney General Barr on my findings, advised him on these conclusions, and he agreed."
Shortly before the filing was submitted, Brandon Van Grack, a Mueller team member and veteran prosecutor on the case, withdrew from the prosecution, a possible sign that he disagreed with the decision.
The department's action comes amid an internal review into the handling of the case and an aggressive effort by Mr. Flynn's lawyers to challenge the basis for the prosecution. The lawyers cited newly disclosed FBI emails and notes last week to allege that Mr. Flynn was improperly trapped into lying when agents interviewed him at the White House days after Mr. Trump's inauguration. Though none of the documents appeared to undercut the central allegation that Mr. Flynn had lied to the FBI, Mr. Trump last week pronounced him "exonerated."
The decision is the latest dramatic development in a years-old case full of twists and turns. In recent months, Mr. Flynn's attorneys have leveled a series of allegations about the FBI's actions and asked to withdraw his guilty plea. A judge has rejected most of the claims and not ruled on others, including the bid to revoke the plea.
Earlier this year, Mr. Barr appointed U.S. Attorney Jensen of St. Louis to investigate the handling of Mr. Flynn's case. As part of that process, the Justice Department gave Mr. Flynn's attorneys a series of emails and notes, including one handwritten note from a senior FBI official that mapped out internal deliberations about the purpose of the Flynn interview: "What's our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?" the official wrote.
Other documents show that the FBI had been prepared weeks before its interview of Mr. Flynn to drop its investigation into whether he was acting at the direction of Russia. Later that month, though, as the White House insisted that Mr. Flynn had never discussed sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, FBI officials grew more concerned by Mr. Flynn's conversations with the diplomat and what he had communicated to the White House. The investigation remained open, and agents went to visit him in the White House on Jan. 24, 2017.
Justice Department officials visited the White House two days later to warn officials that they feared that Mr. Flynn was compromised and vulnerable to blackmail by Russia because of his account of what was said on the call. White House officials waited several weeks to oust him from the job, saying they'd concluded that Mr. Flynn had lied to them.
Mr. Flynn pleaded guilty that December, among the first of the president's aides to admit guilt in Mr. Mueller's investigation. He acknowledged that he lied about his conversations with Mr. Kislyak, in which he encouraged Russia not to retaliate against the U.S. for sanctions imposed by the Obama administration over election interference.
He provided such extensive cooperation that prosecutors said he was entitled to a sentence of probation instead of prison.
As it turned out, that sentencing hearing was abruptly cut short after Mr. Flynn, facing a stern rebuke from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, asked to be able to continue cooperating and earn credit toward a more lenient sentence.
Mr. Flynn's misgivings about the case were already on display when his then-attorneys pointedly noted in their sentencing memo that the FBI had not warned him that it was against the law to lie when they interviewed him at the White House in January 2017.
Since then, he has hired new attorneys – including Sidney Powell, a conservative commentator and outspoken critic of Mr. Mueller's investigation – who have taken a far more confrontational stance to the government. The lawyers have accused prosecutors of withholding documents and evidence they said was favorable to the case and have repeatedly noted that one of the two agents who interviewed Mr. Flynn was fired from the FBI for having sent derogatory text messages about Mr. Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.
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--2020-03-31--Wi-Fi buses help bridge the digital divide for online learning

Students struggling to get online in a rural South Carolina county received a boost last week with the arrival of six buses equipped with Wi-Fi , some of the hundreds the state has rolled out since schools were closed by the coronavirus outbreak .
With routers mounted inside , the buses broadcast enough bandwidth in an area the size of a small parking lot for parents to drive up and children to access the internet from inside their cars .
One of the buses set up outside the apartment complex of Lacheyle Moore , who had been limiting her own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cellphone plan for her daughter 's schoolwork .
`` I have to put extra data on my phone to make sure her work gets done , so she can get graded for it , '' said Ms. Moore , who works as a cashier and shifted her schedule to help instruct her two children .
The pandemic that launched a massive , unplanned experiment with distance learning has created extraordinary hurdles for schoolchildren left behind by the digital divide .
School districts and governments are now racing to give the millions of U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping up .
Nationwide , nearly 3 million students make do without home internet because of the high costs of service and gaps in its availability .
The disadvantaged students are more likely to be students of color , from low-income families , or in households with lower parental education levels .
The nation 's largest school districts , including Los Angeles and New York , are spending millions of dollars to provide devices and internet connections for students .
Smaller districts are finding ways to boost wireless internet in school parking lots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others are sticking with paper assignments and books because the digital equity issues are too much to overcome .
`` What we 're seeing is a widening of the achievement gap , so that children who are in well-funded districts were able to immediately pivot to online learning strategies , because the infrastructure was already in place , '' said Maura McInerney , legal director of the Education Law Center , which advocates for disadvantaged students .
`` In sharp contrast , underfunded districts , who did not have these resources and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , are scrambling to address the educational needs of students . ''
In Fairfield County , South Carolina , 51 % of households have no broadband internet access , according to an Associated Press analysis of census data .
Nationwide , an estimated 18 % of U.S. students do not have home access to broadband internet .
`` Lots of mothers and fathers are really not equipped to be home school parents , '' said J.R. Green , the school superintendent .
Across South Carolina , hundreds of buses were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeting low-income and rural areas , state education spokesman Ryan Brown said .
The state was ready to equip thousands of buses , but Mr. Brown said that service providers ' offers of low-cost and even free service plans has lessened the demand .
So deep are the equity challenges for the Philadelphia School District that it initially prohibited online instruction during the shutdown .
Only about half the district 's high school students have a laptop or tablet and home internet service .
As schools now appear likely to be closed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy 50,000 Chromebooks and begin online instruction by mid-April .
Comcast , which is based in the city , has raised speeds on its $ 10-a-month `` Internet Essentials '' plan for low-income families and offered two months of free service to new customers .
`` We have the $ 10 internet [ plan ] .
It 's not for doing lessons , cause it 's really slow .
If we needed to do the Google classroom , we would need , I think , the regular internet , which I ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said earlier this month .
Ms. Thompson , who can not work because of health issues , lives with her 21-year-old son , a district student with severe autism who attends Martin Luther King High School .
She believes they would also need a Chromebook and perhaps a printer , so her son , who has a full-time support person , can do worksheets .
For now , they rely on her cellphone and a 10-year-old tablet .
Some districts also are hoping for some help from the federal government .
Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools in Georgia , said parents should take advantage of offers for reduced-cost internet from service providers .
But he would also like the Federal Communications Commission to redeploy money used to subsidize school internet connections to instead pay to supply students with devices and internet at home – an idea that has been endorsed also by many U.S. senators .
In central Ohio , Hilliard City Schools sent students home with school-issued iPads they can use to download , complete , and then upload assignments .
The iPads allow them to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to district Superintendent John Marschhausen , though they 'll need to connect to submit completed work and download new assignments .
The district 's two dozen schools are extending their Wi-Fi into their parking lots so families can complete downloads from their vehicles .
The superintendent said he thinks it will be a smooth transition for most , but he worries about a radical shift for the younger students who typically spend less than half an hour on their devices in the classroom .
`` We 're going to have to do a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of learning along with our families if this is truly something that will continue into the summer , '' he said .
In Columbus , Mississippi , Wi-Fi equipment installed on nine buses to allow children to do homework on the way to and from school was transferred to school and community buildings after officials discovered routers would only run for two hours after buses were shut off .
But Superintendent Cherie Labat said the district is giving out paper lesson packets at schools where meals are being picked up , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home for independent reading .
With 100 % of students in the predominantly African American district eligible for free or reduced price lunches , Ms. Labat said she ca n't assume students have resources at home .
`` That 's why I 'm working from the ground up , '' she said .
`` That 's why I 'm doing paper . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Jeff Amy in Atlanta and Kantele Franko in Columbus , Ohio , contributed to this report .
Editor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Students struggling to get online in a rural South Carolina county received a boost last week with the arrival of six buses equipped with Wi-Fi, some of the hundreds the state has rolled out since schools were closed by the coronavirus outbreak.
With routers mounted inside, the buses broadcast enough bandwidth in an area the size of a small parking lot for parents to drive up and children to access the internet from inside their cars. One of the buses set up outside the apartment complex of Lacheyle Moore, who had been limiting her own usage to leave enough data on her cellphone plan for her daughter's schoolwork.
"I have to put extra data on my phone to make sure her work gets done, so she can get graded for it," said Ms. Moore, who works as a cashier and shifted her schedule to help instruct her two children.
The pandemic that launched a massive, unplanned experiment with distance learning has created extraordinary hurdles for schoolchildren left behind by the digital divide. School districts and governments are now racing to give the millions of U.S. students without home internet a chance of keeping up.
Nationwide, nearly 3 million students make do without home internet because of the high costs of service and gaps in its availability. The disadvantaged students are more likely to be students of color, from low-income families, or in households with lower parental education levels.
The nation's largest school districts, including Los Angeles and New York, are spending millions of dollars to provide devices and internet connections for students. Smaller districts are finding ways to boost wireless internet in school parking lots and distribute hot spots. Still, others are sticking with paper assignments and books because the digital equity issues are too much to overcome.
"What we're seeing is a widening of the achievement gap, so that children who are in well-funded districts were able to immediately pivot to online learning strategies, because the infrastructure was already in place," said Maura McInerney, legal director of the Education Law Center, which advocates for disadvantaged students. "In sharp contrast, underfunded districts, who did not have these resources and their children do not have access to Chromebooks, for example, are scrambling to address the educational needs of students."
In Fairfield County, South Carolina, 51% of households have no broadband internet access, according to an Associated Press analysis of census data. Nationwide, an estimated 18% of U.S. students do not have home access to broadband internet.
"Lots of mothers and fathers are really not equipped to be home school parents," said J.R. Green, the school superintendent.
Across South Carolina, hundreds of buses were requested by school districts in a program targeting low-income and rural areas, state education spokesman Ryan Brown said. The state was ready to equip thousands of buses, but Mr. Brown said that service providers' offers of low-cost and even free service plans has lessened the demand.
So deep are the equity challenges for the Philadelphia School District that it initially prohibited online instruction during the shutdown. Only about half the district's high school students have a laptop or tablet and home internet service. As schools now appear likely to be closed for longer than anticipated, the district plans to buy 50,000 Chromebooks and begin online instruction by mid-April.
Comcast, which is based in the city, has raised speeds on its $10-a-month "Internet Essentials" plan for low-income families and offered two months of free service to new customers.
"We have the $10 internet [plan]. It's not for doing lessons, cause it's really slow. If we needed to do the Google classroom, we would need, I think, the regular internet, which I can't afford," parent Cecelia Thompson, said earlier this month. Ms. Thompson, who cannot work because of health issues, lives with her 21-year-old son, a district student with severe autism who attends Martin Luther King High School.
She believes they would also need a Chromebook and perhaps a printer, so her son, who has a full-time support person, can do worksheets. For now, they rely on her cellphone and a 10-year-old tablet.
Some districts also are hoping for some help from the federal government.
Mike Looney, the superintendent of Fulton County schools in Georgia, said parents should take advantage of offers for reduced-cost internet from service providers. But he would also like the Federal Communications Commission to redeploy money used to subsidize school internet connections to instead pay to supply students with devices and internet at home – an idea that has been endorsed also by many U.S. senators.
In central Ohio, Hilliard City Schools sent students home with school-issued iPads they can use to download, complete, and then upload assignments. The iPads allow them to do much of their work offline, according to district Superintendent John Marschhausen, though they'll need to connect to submit completed work and download new assignments.
The district's two dozen schools are extending their Wi-Fi into their parking lots so families can complete downloads from their vehicles. The superintendent said he thinks it will be a smooth transition for most, but he worries about a radical shift for the younger students who typically spend less than half an hour on their devices in the classroom.
"We're going to have to do a lot of adapting and adjusting and a lot of learning along with our families if this is truly something that will continue into the summer," he said.
In Columbus, Mississippi, Wi-Fi equipment installed on nine buses to allow children to do homework on the way to and from school was transferred to school and community buildings after officials discovered routers would only run for two hours after buses were shut off.
But Superintendent Cherie Labat said the district is giving out paper lesson packets at schools where meals are being picked up, as well as books that students can take home for independent reading. With 100% of students in the predominantly African American district eligible for free or reduced price lunches, Ms. Labat said she can't assume students have resources at home.
"That's why I'm working from the ground up," she said. "That's why I'm doing paper."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Jeff Amy in Atlanta and Kantele Franko in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


Imparters of good

The person who passed me on the other side of the road , as we each walked down an uncrowded country lane , gave me a look that said , “ Stay away.
” I understood .
In a time when there is fear of contagion , there can be a tendency to view others – and even ourselves – as potential “ carriers ” of danger , or as vulnerable to something harmful .
While it ’ s loving and right to support efforts to contain the coronavirus , we can do so without letting fear or distrust cloud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vein , I ’ ve been thinking about some ideas Mary Baker Eddy , the discoverer of Christian Science , once shared with some church members in New York .
These ideas can be beneficial and uplifting to all of us .
Rather than dwelling on the question , “ What am I ?
” she said to affirm , “ I am able to impart truth , health , and happiness , and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing ” ( “ The First Church of Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p. 165 ) .
Instead of identifying ourselves or others as nothing more than potential “ carriers ” of something bad , we can think of individuals as “ imparters ” – imparters of good , of truth , health , and happiness .
This isn ’ t about imparting just human goodness , although that ’ s important .
It has to do with the deep good that is God Himself , and with everyone ’ s true , spiritual identity as children of God .
As such , we are inseparable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inseparable from the health and joy God expresses throughout creation .
And , because of this unity , we reflect and express these divine attributes naturally and continually .
To be imparters of God ’ s grace , to feel and express God ’ s love and care in our lives , we must first welcome in divine Truth .
This Truth reveals that God , good , is the only legitimate cause of all that exists .
Since God is good , that means the effect of God ’ s creating must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This realization inspires us to strive to exercise more patience , cooperation , and generosity , and to trust that God , divine Love , is providing for all of us , all of God ’ s family .
And here ’ s the best part : Not only are we created as imparters of good , but everyone around us can be seen this way , too .
Each of God ’ s spiritual ideas , or children , is imparting truth , health , and happiness .
That is our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and our reason for existing .
We can all be imparters of good today .
It ’ s something we can do wherever we are , even when we can ’ t physically interact with others .
And this spirit of love for others will uplift and encourage not only ourselves , but others upon whom our thoughts rest , too .

The person who passed me on the other side of the road, as we each walked down an uncrowded country lane, gave me a look that said, “Stay away.” I understood. In a time when there is fear of contagion, there can be a tendency to view others – and even ourselves – as potential “carriers” of danger, or as vulnerable to something harmful.
While it’s loving and right to support efforts to contain the coronavirus, we can do so without letting fear or distrust cloud the way we think. In that vein, I’ve been thinking about some ideas Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, once shared with some church members in New York. These ideas can be beneficial and uplifting to all of us. Rather than dwelling on the question, “What am I?” she said to affirm, “I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing” (“The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,” p. 165).
Instead of identifying ourselves or others as nothing more than potential “carriers” of something bad, we can think of individuals as “imparters” – imparters of good, of truth, health, and happiness.
This isn’t about imparting just human goodness, although that’s important. It has to do with the deep good that is God Himself, and with everyone’s true, spiritual identity as children of God. As such, we are inseparable from the Truth that is God, inseparable from the health and joy God expresses throughout creation. And, because of this unity, we reflect and express these divine attributes naturally and continually.
To be imparters of God’s grace, to feel and express God’s love and care in our lives, we must first welcome in divine Truth. This Truth reveals that God, good, is the only legitimate cause of all that exists. Since God is good, that means the effect of God’s creating must be constructive and beneficial – never harmful. This realization inspires us to strive to exercise more patience, cooperation, and generosity, and to trust that God, divine Love, is providing for all of us, all of God’s family.
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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.
And here’s the best part: Not only are we created as imparters of good, but everyone around us can be seen this way, too. Each of God’s spiritual ideas, or children, is imparting truth, health, and happiness. That is our individual and collective rock, our salvation, and our reason for existing.
We can all be imparters of good today. It’s something we can do wherever we are, even when we can’t physically interact with others. And this spirit of love for others will uplift and encourage not only ourselves, but others upon whom our thoughts rest, too.


csmonitor--2020-04-01--Census 2020: How to make sure you are counted

Census Day – the date used to reference where a person lives for the once-a-decade count – arrived Wednesday with a nation almost paralyzed by the spread of the novel coronavirus .
But census officials vowed the job would be completed by its year-end deadline .
The virus 's spread has forced the U.S. Census Bureau to suspend field operations for a month , from mid-March to mid-April , when the hiring process would be ramping up for up to 500,000 temporary census takers .
The bureau also has delayed the start of counts for the homeless and people living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes , and has pushed back the deadline for wrapping up the head count from the end of July to mid-August .
The Census Bureau is required by federal statute to send the president the counts that will be used to carve up congressional districts – a process known as apportionment – and draw state legislative districts by December 31 .
Some groups are suggesting that the deadline be pushed back , though it 's currently mandated by federal law .
`` We are laser-focused on the statute 's December 31 deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will continue to assess all of our operations to see if there are any changes that need to be made , '' Michael Cook , chief of the Public Information Office at the U.S. Census Bureau , said Tuesday .
The head count started in late January in rural , native villages in Alaska , but the rest of the country was n't able to start answering the questionnaire until the second week of March when the Census Bureau 's self-response website went live and people received notices in the mail that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that was only a week before many governors and mayors started issuing stay-at-home orders to slow the virus 's spread , greatly hindering in-person rallies , meetings and door-knocking by activists to raise awareness about the 2020 census .
Experts say connecting with trusted community leaders in person is the best way to reach people in hard-to-count groups that may be wary of the federal government .
`` There is the issue of attention .
Certainly when folks are anxious about the public health issue , and kids are away from school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , it 's a concern that the census is n't on top of people 's mind as you would want it to be , '' said Thomas Saenz , president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund .
The U.S. Census Bureau is spending $ 500 million on outreach efforts , including advertising , and it 's relying on more than 300,000 nonprofits , businesses , local governments , and civic groups to encourage participation in their communities .
Those efforts have been hamstrung by the nationwide shutdown .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the messaging was reaching an audience – at least before the coronavirus outbreak .
Pew conducted two surveys , one in early January and another in late February and early March .
During that time , those who had seen or heard something about the census grew from half to two-thirds of respondents , the center survey found .
Most of the census takers wo n't be sent out until late May to knock on the doors of homes where people have n't yet answered the questions online , by telephone or by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , the Census Bureau is pushing people to answer the questions so they wo n't have anyone knocking on their doors in late spring and summer .
As of Monday , more than 36 % of households had already answered the questions , and the Census Bureau reported this week that 40,300 temporary workers were on the payroll as of mid-March .
The 2020 census will help determine how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets , as well as the distribution of some $ 1.5 trillion in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry that changed accommodations made in response to the coronavirus may present a distorted picture of where people are living on Census Day .
Some people have left their usual residences to move back in with parents or elderly relatives , escaped to vacation homes , or had to move because they could n't pay rent due to lost jobs during the pandemic , they said .
Urban Institute researchers said the Census Bureau needs more processing time to identify duplicate responses and offer additional guidelines about how people should respond when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living on April 1 is no longer clear for some .
They 're asking that the Dec. 31 deadline be postponed , which would require an act of Congress .
`` There 's no way reliable counts are going to be generated by the end of December , '' said Robert Santos , vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute .
`` It 's implausible . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s free .

Census Day – the date used to reference where a person lives for the once-a-decade count – arrived Wednesday with a nation almost paralyzed by the spread of the novel coronavirus. But census officials vowed the job would be completed by its year-end deadline.
The virus's spread has forced the U.S. Census Bureau to suspend field operations for a month, from mid-March to mid-April, when the hiring process would be ramping up for up to 500,000 temporary census takers. The bureau also has delayed the start of counts for the homeless and people living in group quarters like college dorms and nursing homes, and has pushed back the deadline for wrapping up the head count from the end of July to mid-August.
The Census Bureau is required by federal statute to send the president the counts that will be used to carve up congressional districts – a process known as apportionment – and draw state legislative districts by December 31. Some groups are suggesting that the deadline be pushed back, though it's currently mandated by federal law.
"We are laser-focused on the statute's December 31 deadline for apportionment counts and population counts. We will continue to assess all of our operations to see if there are any changes that need to be made," Michael Cook, chief of the Public Information Office at the U.S. Census Bureau, said Tuesday.
The head count started in late January in rural, native villages in Alaska, but the rest of the country wasn't able to start answering the questionnaire until the second week of March when the Census Bureau's self-response website went live and people received notices in the mail that they could start answering the questions. But that was only a week before many governors and mayors started issuing stay-at-home orders to slow the virus's spread, greatly hindering in-person rallies, meetings and door-knocking by activists to raise awareness about the 2020 census.
Experts say connecting with trusted community leaders in person is the best way to reach people in hard-to-count groups that may be wary of the federal government.
"There is the issue of attention. Certainly when folks are anxious about the public health issue, and kids are away from school, and they're being away from work, it's a concern that the census isn't on top of people's mind as you would want it to be," said Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The U.S. Census Bureau is spending $500 million on outreach efforts, including advertising, and it's relying on more than 300,000 nonprofits, businesses, local governments, and civic groups to encourage participation in their communities. Those efforts have been hamstrung by the nationwide shutdown.
Two surveys by the Pew Research Center suggest the messaging was reaching an audience – at least before the coronavirus outbreak. Pew conducted two surveys, one in early January and another in late February and early March. During that time, those who had seen or heard something about the census grew from half to two-thirds of respondents, the center survey found.
Most of the census takers won't be sent out until late May to knock on the doors of homes where people haven't yet answered the questions online, by telephone or by mailing back a paper questionnaire. Until then, the Census Bureau is pushing people to answer the questions so they won't have anyone knocking on their doors in late spring and summer.
As of Monday, more than 36% of households had already answered the questions, and the Census Bureau reported this week that 40,300 temporary workers were on the payroll as of mid-March.
The 2020 census will help determine how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of some $1.5 trillion in federal spending.
Researchers at the Urban Institute worry that changed accommodations made in response to the coronavirus may present a distorted picture of where people are living on Census Day. Some people have left their usual residences to move back in with parents or elderly relatives, escaped to vacation homes, or had to move because they couldn't pay rent due to lost jobs during the pandemic, they said.
Urban Institute researchers said the Census Bureau needs more processing time to identify duplicate responses and offer additional guidelines about how people should respond when the traditional recommendation to answer where you are living on April 1 is no longer clear for some. They're asking that the Dec. 31 deadline be postponed, which would require an act of Congress.
"There's no way reliable counts are going to be generated by the end of December," said Robert Santos, vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute. "It's implausible."
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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.
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--2020-04-01--Conventions and campaigns in the time of coronavirus

It ’ s becoming clearer by the day that the coronavirus crisis has completely upended the 2020 election .
I ’ m not talking about the politics , though that ’ s also been scrambled .
I mean the process of getting to November – the conventions , the fundraising , the campaigning , and perhaps the logistics of voting itself .
Joe Biden made this clear on Tuesday when he cast doubt on whether the Democrats would hold their quadrennial convention in Milwaukee in July .
All those people crammed into an arena , wearing Uncle Sam hats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier to envision the Republican convention going on , since it isn ’ t scheduled until the last week in August , in Charlotte .
And President Donald Trump does love the visual pop of a big raucous crowd .
But what about Mr. Trump ’ s rallies ?
They ’ re the opposite of social distancing .
It could be mid-summer before they seem like a good idea .
Basic door-to-door campaigning for lower-level officials seems out of the question for now , too .
Enter Zoom .
Virtual campaigning , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” gathered around laptops , may be the wave of the next few months .
The Biden campaign has already converted some previously scheduled speeches into virtual events .
Down-ballot candidates will certainly follow .
The technology is cheap and eliminates the wear and tear of travel .
Virtual campaigning may persist in politics even after the pandemic ebbs .
“ You may be seeing how the future looks , ” GOP consultant Rick Wilson told NBC earlier this month .
As for voting , that ’ s already been affected , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have postponed primaries .
It ’ s quite possible that in coming months more states will allow more voters to opt for mail-in ballots .
They might also lengthen or encourage early voting , allowing lines to spread out or shorten for an election whose turnout has long been projected to be possibly record-breaking .
Let us know what you ’ re thinking at csmpolitics @ csmonitor.com .

Dear reader:
It’s becoming clearer by the day that the coronavirus crisis has completely upended the 2020 election.
I’m not talking about the politics, though that’s also been scrambled. I mean the process of getting to November – the conventions, the fundraising, the campaigning, and perhaps the logistics of voting itself.
Joe Biden made this clear on Tuesday when he cast doubt on whether the Democrats would hold their quadrennial convention in Milwaukee in July. All those people crammed into an arena, wearing Uncle Sam hats and cheering?
“It’s hard to envision that,” Mr. Biden told Brian Williams of MSNBC.
It’s a bit easier to envision the Republican convention going on, since it isn’t scheduled until the last week in August, in Charlotte. And President Donald Trump does love the visual pop of a big raucous crowd.
But what about Mr. Trump’s rallies? They’re the opposite of social distancing. It could be mid-summer before they seem like a good idea. Basic door-to-door campaigning for lower-level officials seems out of the question for now, too.
Enter Zoom. Virtual campaigning, with an on-screen candidate hosting a “crowd” gathered around laptops, may be the wave of the next few months. The Biden campaign has already converted some previously scheduled speeches into virtual events. Down-ballot candidates will certainly follow.
The technology is cheap and eliminates the wear and tear of travel. Virtual campaigning may persist in politics even after the pandemic ebbs.
“You may be seeing how the future looks,” GOP consultant Rick Wilson told NBC earlier this month.
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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.
As for voting, that’s already been affected, as at least 14 states and Puerto Rico have postponed primaries. It’s quite possible that in coming months more states will allow more voters to opt for mail-in ballots. They might also lengthen or encourage early voting, allowing lines to spread out or shorten for an election whose turnout has long been projected to be possibly record-breaking.
Let us know what you’re thinking at csmpolitics@csmonitor.com.


csmonitor--2020-04-14--Breakthrough against chemical weapons

Breakthrough against chemical weapons

One of the world ’ s most popular treaties is the Chemical Weapons Convention , supported by 193 states .
Last week , the agency charged with enforcing the treaty achieved a historic first .
It directly attributed a series of poisonous gas attacks on civilians to a particular government – Syria ’ s – holding it accountable for violating a global norm against such an indiscriminate tool of war .
The 82-page report from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) did not receive much attention .
The world is currently focused on a biological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation of the Syrian military ’ s use of sarin and chlorine gas in 2017 is a breakthrough in how the world deals with the most dangerous substances .
If leaders are now being held responsible for stopping the spread of the coronavirus , surely the Syrian regime can be held to account for inflicting deadly gases on innocent people during the country ’ s long civil war .
Both Europe and the United States are eyeing new sanctions on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to stop further attacks in opposition strongholds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been stymied at the United Nations by Russia , a close ally of Syria .
With this new report , however , Russia ’ s obstruction tactics may be weakened .
Enforcement of the chemical weapons treaty has been uneven but generally successful .
The OPCW has verified the elimination of 97 % of the world ’ s declared chemical weapons .
Now those types of weapons remaining in Syria need special attention by the international community .
Over the past century , as humans have tried to understand , use , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have also expanded their understanding of their moral responsibilities .
A key one is the universal right to life for innocent people during a conflict , enshrined in international agreements .
Weapons of mass killing have no place in such a world .
Pinpointing blame for their use is a giant step in that direction

One of the world’s most popular treaties is the Chemical Weapons Convention, supported by 193 states. Last week, the agency charged with enforcing the treaty achieved a historic first. It directly attributed a series of poisonous gas attacks on civilians to a particular government – Syria’s – holding it accountable for violating a global norm against such an indiscriminate tool of war.
The 82-page report from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) did not receive much attention. The world is currently focused on a biological threat, COVID-19. Yet the detailed investigation of the Syrian military’s use of sarin and chlorine gas in 2017 is a breakthrough in how the world deals with the most dangerous substances. If leaders are now being held responsible for stopping the spread of the coronavirus, surely the Syrian regime can be held to account for inflicting deadly gases on innocent people during the country’s long civil war.
Both Europe and the United States are eyeing new sanctions on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to stop further attacks in opposition strongholds. Past efforts by the West have been stymied at the United Nations by Russia, a close ally of Syria. With this new report, however, Russia’s obstruction tactics may be weakened.
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Enforcement of the chemical weapons treaty has been uneven but generally successful. The OPCW has verified the elimination of 97% of the world’s declared chemical weapons. Now those types of weapons remaining in Syria need special attention by the international community.
Over the past century, as humans have tried to understand, use, and control the physical world, the more they have also expanded their understanding of their moral responsibilities. A key one is the universal right to life for innocent people during a conflict, enshrined in international agreements. Weapons of mass killing have no place in such a world. Pinpointing blame for their use is a giant step in that direction