csmonitor--2020-03-16--Tending to those most vulnerable and alone

As the coronavirus scrambles the normal ties of community , the best response has been a focus on those most vulnerable .
In California , homeless people are a high priority .
For low-income Americans , Medicaid is easing the flow of money .
Almost everywhere , school closings are safeguarding children from exposure .
Yet the greatest concern is for older people , especially those living alone or in care facilities .
Perhaps the most radical show of concern for seniors is Britain ’ s plan to ask people over the age of 70 to stay at home for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no pubs ...
BUT family visits and neighbours etc.
, ” tweeted the United Kingdom health secretary , Matt Hancock .
More typical is Florida ’ s ban on certain people from visiting nursing homes and other elder-care centers .
Such social distancing has triggered a wave of empathy to socially engage older people and lift their morale .
The obvious tools are digital videoing , such as with FaceTime , Duo , or Skype , all a step up from phone calls .
Yet sending handwritten letters – with photos – might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memorable .
Just as compassionate are offers to deliver essentials to the door , such as personal care items , or favorite foods and flowers .
In many places , people are organizing to aid seniors through hashtags like # HowCanIHelp .
During this crisis , isolation may be the greatest concern of older people .
Only 47 % of U.S. adults over the age of 60 worry about dying from the coronavirus , according to The Harris Poll , compared with 57 % of millennials .
One marker of a civilization is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mass illness in support of older generations .
In the United States , where more than a quarter of those 60 and older live alone , the challenge is greater than in most other countries .
Family and friends must find creative ways to prevent mental isolation of loved ones .
They need to weave new threads of contact into a senior ’ s social fabric .
Especially hard for many seniors is not being able to attend religious gatherings .
Yet clergy and the faithful are inventing ways to meet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have long sat in the pews .
For most religions , giving to those most vulnerable is a divine calling , a reflection of God ’ s infinite love .
The virus crisis is forcing people to readjust their physical ties to one another , especially with at-risk seniors .
Yet the bonds of affection in a community or a family are still there .
They just need new and careful forms of expression , the kind that both protect and prop up the weakest during a pandemic .

As the coronavirus scrambles the normal ties of community, the best response has been a focus on those most vulnerable. In California, homeless people are a high priority. For low-income Americans, Medicaid is easing the flow of money. Almost everywhere, school closings are safeguarding children from exposure. Yet the greatest concern is for older people, especially those living alone or in care facilities.
Perhaps the most radical show of concern for seniors is Britain’s plan to ask people over the age of 70 to stay at home for four months. “No bingo, no pubs ... BUT family visits and neighbours etc.,” tweeted the United Kingdom health secretary, Matt Hancock. More typical is Florida’s ban on certain people from visiting nursing homes and other elder-care centers.
Such social distancing has triggered a wave of empathy to socially engage older people and lift their morale. The obvious tools are digital videoing, such as with FaceTime, Duo, or Skype, all a step up from phone calls. Yet sending handwritten letters – with photos – might be better for many seniors and more memorable. Just as compassionate are offers to deliver essentials to the door, such as personal care items, or favorite foods and flowers. In many places, people are organizing to aid seniors through hashtags like #HowCanIHelp.
During this crisis, isolation may be the greatest concern of older people. Only 47% of U.S. adults over the age of 60 worry about dying from the coronavirus, according to The Harris Poll, compared with 57% of millennials.
One marker of a civilization is the humility and sacrifice expressed during times of mass illness in support of older generations. In the United States, where more than a quarter of those 60 and older live alone, the challenge is greater than in most other countries. Family and friends must find creative ways to prevent mental isolation of loved ones. They need to weave new threads of contact into a senior’s social fabric.
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Especially hard for many seniors is not being able to attend religious gatherings. Yet clergy and the faithful are inventing ways to meet the spiritual desires of the oldest people who have long sat in the pews. For most religions, giving to those most vulnerable is a divine calling, a reflection of God’s infinite love.
The virus crisis is forcing people to readjust their physical ties to one another, especially with at-risk seniors. Yet the bonds of affection in a community or a family are still there. They just need new and careful forms of expression, the kind that both protect and prop up the weakest during a pandemic.


csmonitor--2020-03-16--Daily for March 16, 2020

Daily for March 16, 2020

When she opened her invitation last August , Fatima Zainab felt excited and a little daunted .
The letter informed her that she had been chosen for a Citizens ’ Jury that would consider what Leeds should do about climate change .
Ms. Zainab , who lives with her parents , was about to start her first year at Leeds University .
“ I don ’ t know much about climate change .
I don ’ t have any strong opinions , ” she recalls thinking .
She was one of 21 people who served on the Leeds Climate Change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 hours over nine weeks last fall .
That put her at the crux of two key dangers threatening today ’ s world : global warming and weakening faith in democracy .
Some suggest these dangers can be fought in tandem by convening Athenian-style citizen forums , a process known as deliberative democracy .
“ Climate is an issue that brings people together , ” says Laurie Drake , a Canadian expert on such forums , arguing that climate doesn ’ t have to be a divisive problem .
“ Deliberative democracy … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be created between the average citizen and government.
” Last March , Leeds municipal council declared a climate emergency .
Next , elected officials wanted to know what residents thought should be done to cut carbon emissions in this city of 800,000 in northern England .
To find out , the council sought an alternative forum for collegial debate .
The idea of citizens ’ juries or assemblies is to put a representative sample of citizens in a room where they hear a range of opinions as part of a structured debate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ common position .
By doing so , say proponents of this method , participants grapple with complex policy dilemmas that have become mired in a polarized political impasse .
“ The name of the game is not to get people to change their minds but to make sure that their view is better informed , ” says David Farrell , a politics professor at University College Dublin .
The need for corrective action seems acute now , as voters throw up their hands at corrosive , zero-sum politics .
Those who do engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to reflect elite interests rather than respond to ordinary voters ’ demands .
Those same leaders fret about how to govern in an era of news cycles driven by social media and hyperbolic political tribalism .
Many countries have experimented with direct democracy ; it has proved especially useful in Ireland , where the method helped resolve two deep-seated and contentious issues .
In 2012 , politicians and citizens came together for a constitutional convention that recommended legalizing same-sex marriage .
In 2017 , an Irish Citizens ’ Assembly recommended lifting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were put to public referendums and passed by large majorities .
But Professor Farrell , who lobbied for these experiments , says the goal was much broader than policy change .
After the financial crash in 2008-09 , many in Ireland had lost faith in its representative political system .
Deliberative assemblies were “ a way to bring angry citizens into the room and save our democracy , ” he says .
Today angry citizens abound .
An exhaustive global study by Cambridge University in January found that voters in nearly all democracies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions .
Since the 1990s , the average share of dissatisfied voters in mature democracies has risen from one-third to one-half , with sharp recent upticks in the United States and the United Kingdom .
But climate is an issue that energizes voters , particularly younger voters , who have rallied to demand that politicians act .
Could the climate emergency , a global challenge that defies borders , become a galvanizing cause that , over time , helps to bind a fractured democracy like the U.K. ?
And could deliberative assemblies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catalyst for change ?
“ A lot of countries and cities and communities are choosing to go down this ( citizens ’ assembly ) route , ” says Lorraine Whitmarsh , a professor of environmental psychology who directs the UK Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations at Cardiff University .
“ It ’ s a contentious issue and this is an ideal type of issue where you want that kind of debate .
You need to break down the kind of polarization that is starting to emerge.
” One demand of Extinction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.K. in 2018 , was that the British government should hold a national citizens ’ assembly on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions .
That demand is now a reality : Climate Assembly UK held its first meeting in late January .
The 110-member body , culled from a U.K.-wide invitation list of 30,000 , was due to make its recommendations in April on how the government can meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050 .
That deadline will now be missed , however , due to the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting in March .
The U.K. approach echoes a similar undertaking in France .
Its Citizens ’ Convention on the Climate , which has 150 members , launched last year ; President Emmanuel Macron has promised that its proposals will be put directly to the government or to a national referendum .
Spain may be next after its coalition government declared a climate emergency on Jan. 21 and said it also wanted to hold a citizens ’ assembly .
“ Politicians focus on the issues that voters are concerned about , and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Rachel Reeves , a member of Parliament who chairs the House of Commons select committee on business , energy , and industrial strategy , which cosponsored the U.K. assembly .
“ It ’ s about bringing people together to try and find out what changes people are willing to make , individually and collectively as a country , to meet our ambitious ( climate ) targets , ” she says .
This surge of interest in deliberative bodies doesn ’ t surprise Peter Bryant of Shared Future CIC , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Climate Change Citizens ’ Jury and who is now working with authorities in nearby Lancaster on another climate jury .
Mr. Bryant has organized 35 juries across the U.K. on local issues ranging from natural gas fracking to alcohol licensing to hate crimes .
He sees them as a way to strengthen democracy at a time when trust in politicians is fraying .
“ People are just put off by party politics and the system that we have .
But they ’ re really interested in being involved in decision-making around issues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
In Britain , faith in democracy is at a nadir after the long Brexit stalemate .
In an annual survey , published last April by the independent research group Hansard Society , nearly half of respondents said they felt that they had no influence over national policy .
That was the highest level since the survey began in 2004 .
Members of the new national Climate Assembly may have such influence , but they may not .
When the assembly opened in Birmingham the filmmaker and environmentalist David Attenborough thanked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all of us.
” But he also warned that it may prove hard to make MPs – who serve five-year terms – focus on climate change .
`` It is very difficult to persuade politicians that they should give money and time and attention and worry about an issue which is not going to come to a climax – and people wo n't know if it is successful or not successful – for 10 years hence , 15 years hence , '' Mr. Attenborough said .
This tension is intrinsic to climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question whether democracies are up to the task .
Are voters ready to elect politicians who promise not more but less – less flying , less driving , less red meat – as necessary sacrifices , even if they may not live to see the rewards ?
“ The climate crisis is an issue that requires long-term thinking across the generations , yet electoral politics is geared toward responding to immediate grievances , ” wrote David Runciman , a politics and history professor at Cambridge University , in Foreign Policy last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Professor Runciman suggested .
But only if politicians are bound by their proposals so that their deliberations actually matter .
Ms. Reeves , the MP , says the climate assembly will help inform Parliament ’ s decisions , in particular by signaling what trade-offs voters are ready to make so as to reduce emissions .
“ We need to be confident that we are taking people with us , and that we ’ re hearing what they ’ ve got to say , ” she says .
That has not always happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignored recommendations made by a citizens ’ assembly on senior care that it had set up .
Even in Ireland , which is frequently held up as an exemplar of deliberative democracy , lawmakers did little to put a citizens ’ assembly ’ s proposals on climate change into effect .
Citizens ’ assemblies aren ’ t the only route to muster political will on climate .
The Netherlands has drawn up an ambitious carbon reduction plan after a year-long consultation known as a polder , which brought together industry , consumers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The model is uniquely Dutch , a legacy of centuries of cooperation to maintain dikes and canals .
“ We had to cooperate because the water made no difference between citizens , ” says Ed Nijpels , a former lawmaker who led the climate negotiations .
The climate polder hit speed bumps , however , when its initial report was criticized for burdening households with the cost of a clean-energy transition .
“ The moment these proposals began touching people ’ s cars and houses they got scared , ” says Louise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations .
This political backlash was quelled by proposals to shift more of the financial burden of the transition onto industry .
Last summer , the Netherlands ’ four-party coalition government approved an accord aimed at cutting emissions by 49 % in 2030 from 1990 levels .
Mr. Nijpels says that normal party politics would likely have scuppered a deal .
“ To be honest , I don ’ t think they could ’ ve done this without [ the polder process ] .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this target of 49 % , ” he says .
In Leeds , Ms. Zainab and her fellow jurors found plenty of common ground at their weekly meetings , held in the open-plan offices of an engineering company .
They swapped stories of their lives and their interests , and friendships blossomed on the sidelines .
Each session lasted three hours .
Experts vetted by an independent panel briefed the jury and answered their questions .
One member didn ’ t believe there was a climate emergency , but saw the health benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air pollution .
( Proponents say it ’ s important not to exclude skeptics from these bodies ; at Climate Assembly UK , 19 of the 110 participants identified themselves as “ not at all ” or “ not very ” concerned about climate change . )
Ms. Zainab was among the youngest jurors , and she deferred at first to older members .
“ They had louder voices , ” she says .
By the end , though , she was all-in , and was chosen as the first speaker for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final recommendations , which ranged from better bus services to more generous subsidies for home insulation and more government help for green startups .
One item had unanimous support : The city should take over privately-run bus routes and expand them , a move that – along with congestion charges and bike lanes – would help make private cars “ a last resort for transportation.
” That resonates with panel member Maxine Wood , an office administrator who bought her first car after having a baby .
“ The reason people drive is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buses , ” she says .
Like Ms. Zainab , she was struck by the jury ’ s group dynamics , which contrasted starkly with the vituperative political debates she sees on social media .
“ When you put people in a room and they ’ re facing each other , the human element comes in , ” she says .
One issue highlighted the tradeoffs implicit in climate decisions and the messy nature of real-life politics : the planned expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport from 4 million to 7 million annual passenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions .
Many of the jurors used the airport , and discussion was heated .
But in the end they voted nearly unanimously to oppose the expansion .
This was largely symbolic , since the airport is private and already had planning permission to expand , so jurors also called on the municipal council to block a planned highway to the new terminal .
In December the council did so , deciding on a rail link instead .
But Daniel Corner , a university student on the jury , felt let down by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t as bad as cars , but it ’ s still putting people on planes that are churning out pollution , ” he says .
Still , he hopes that deliberative bodies like the one he served on offer a way forward .
“ If you get people from both sides of the political spectrum and put them in a room together and teach them on a subject ... we are all able to reach a compromise , ” he says .
Asked about his own behavior , he pulls out a handwritten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing my shopping after this , ” he says .
He used to eat meat daily .
Now the only animal protein on the list is cod fillets .
Third in our Navigating Uncertainty series .

How to deal with the climate emergency? Ask your neighbor. Collapse
Danny Lawson/PA/AP View caption Hide caption Protesters rally in Leeds, England, on Nov. 29, 2019. Tens of thousands of children across the U.K. skipped school as part of a global climate strike.
When she opened her invitation last August, Fatima Zainab felt excited and a little daunted. The letter informed her that she had been chosen for a Citizens’ Jury that would consider what Leeds should do about climate change.
Ms. Zainab, who lives with her parents, was about to start her first year at Leeds University. “I don’t know much about climate change. I don’t have any strong opinions,” she recalls thinking.
She was one of 21 people who served on the Leeds Climate Change Citizens’ Jury that deliberated for nearly 30 hours over nine weeks last fall. That put her at the crux of two key dangers threatening today’s world: global warming and weakening faith in democracy.
Some suggest these dangers can be fought in tandem by convening Athenian-style citizen forums, a process known as deliberative democracy. “Climate is an issue that brings people together,” says Laurie Drake, a Canadian expert on such forums, arguing that climate doesn’t have to be a divisive problem. “Deliberative democracy … offers a different way for trust to be created between the average citizen and government.”
Last March, Leeds municipal council declared a climate emergency. Next, elected officials wanted to know what residents thought should be done to cut carbon emissions in this city of 800,000 in northern England.
Simon Montlake/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Fatima Zainab took part in a Citizens' Jury on climate change from September through November 2019 in Leeds, England. The UK is experimenting with deliberative forms of democracy that bring together voters in search of solutions to difficult policy questions.
To find out, the council sought an alternative forum for collegial debate. The idea of citizens’ juries or assemblies is to put a representative sample of citizens in a room where they hear a range of opinions as part of a structured debate. Citizens then reason from facts toward a common position. By doing so, say proponents of this method, participants grapple with complex policy dilemmas that have become mired in a polarized political impasse.
“The name of the game is not to get people to change their minds but to make sure that their view is better informed,” says David Farrell, a politics professor at University College Dublin.
Angry citizens, acute need
The need for corrective action seems acute now, as voters throw up their hands at corrosive, zero-sum politics. Those who do engage in politics are distrustful of leaders who seem to reflect elite interests rather than respond to ordinary voters’ demands. Those same leaders fret about how to govern in an era of news cycles driven by social media and hyperbolic political tribalism.
Many countries have experimented with direct democracy; it has proved especially useful in Ireland, where the method helped resolve two deep-seated and contentious issues.
In 2012, politicians and citizens came together for a constitutional convention that recommended legalizing same-sex marriage. In 2017, an Irish Citizens’ Assembly recommended lifting a constitutional ban on abortion. Both proposals were put to public referendums and passed by large majorities.
But Professor Farrell, who lobbied for these experiments, says the goal was much broader than policy change. After the financial crash in 2008-09, many in Ireland had lost faith in its representative political system. Deliberative assemblies were “a way to bring angry citizens into the room and save our democracy,” he says.
Today angry citizens abound. An exhaustive global study by Cambridge University in January found that voters in nearly all democracies have become increasingly dissatisfied with their political institutions. Since the 1990s, the average share of dissatisfied voters in mature democracies has risen from one-third to one-half, with sharp recent upticks in the United States and the United Kingdom.
SOURCE: 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer | Jacob Turcotte/Staff
But climate is an issue that energizes voters, particularly younger voters, who have rallied to demand that politicians act.
Could the climate emergency, a global challenge that defies borders, become a galvanizing cause that, over time, helps to bind a fractured democracy like the U.K.? And could deliberative assemblies that channel public voices into decision-making provide a catalyst for change?
“A lot of countries and cities and communities are choosing to go down this (citizens’ assembly) route,” says Lorraine Whitmarsh, a professor of environmental psychology who directs the UK Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations at Cardiff University.
“It’s a contentious issue and this is an ideal type of issue where you want that kind of debate. You need to break down the kind of polarization that is starting to emerge.”
Fabio De Paola/PA/AP View caption Hide caption Members of the citizens' assembly on climate change met on Jan. 25, 2020, on their first weekend of discussions in Birmingham, England. More than 100 members of the public took part in discussions over the next four weekends as part of the Climate Assembly UK.
Ask the people
One demand of Extinction Rebellion, the civil disobedience group formed in the U.K. in 2018, was that the British government should hold a national citizens’ assembly on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
That demand is now a reality: Climate Assembly UK held its first meeting in late January. The 110-member body, culled from a U.K.-wide invitation list of 30,000, was due to make its recommendations in April on how the government can meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050. That deadline will now be missed, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced organizers to postpone the last meeting in March.
The U.K. approach echoes a similar undertaking in France. Its Citizens’ Convention on the Climate, which has 150 members, launched last year; President Emmanuel Macron has promised that its proposals will be put directly to the government or to a national referendum. Spain may be next after its coalition government declared a climate emergency on Jan. 21 and said it also wanted to hold a citizens’ assembly.
Yoan Valat/Reuters View caption Hide caption French President Emmanuel Macron attends the Citizens' Convention for Climate at the French Economic, Social, and Environmental Council in Paris, France, Jan. 10, 2020.
“Politicians focus on the issues that voters are concerned about, and our voters are increasingly concerned about climate change,” says Rachel Reeves, a member of Parliament who chairs the House of Commons select committee on business, energy, and industrial strategy, which cosponsored the U.K. assembly.
“It’s about bringing people together to try and find out what changes people are willing to make, individually and collectively as a country, to meet our ambitious (climate) targets,” she says.
This surge of interest in deliberative bodies doesn’t surprise Peter Bryant of Shared Future CIC, a nonprofit, who helped run the Leeds Climate Change Citizens’ Jury and who is now working with authorities in nearby Lancaster on another climate jury.
Mr. Bryant has organized 35 juries across the U.K. on local issues ranging from natural gas fracking to alcohol licensing to hate crimes. He sees them as a way to strengthen democracy at a time when trust in politicians is fraying.
“People are just put off by party politics and the system that we have. But they’re really interested in being involved in decision-making around issues that affect them and their communities,” he says.
In Britain, faith in democracy is at a nadir after the long Brexit stalemate. In an annual survey, published last April by the independent research group Hansard Society, nearly half of respondents said they felt that they had no influence over national policy. That was the highest level since the survey began in 2004.
Members of the new national Climate Assembly may have such influence, but they may not. When the assembly opened in Birmingham the filmmaker and environmentalist David Attenborough thanked them for “deliberating carefully on behalf of all of us.” But he also warned that it may prove hard to make MPs – who serve five-year terms – focus on climate change.
"It is very difficult to persuade politicians that they should give money and time and attention and worry about an issue which is not going to come to a climax – and people won't know if it is successful or not successful – for 10 years hence, 15 years hence," Mr. Attenborough said.
Bridge that gap!
This tension is intrinsic to climate policymaking and has led some analysts to question whether democracies are up to the task. Are voters ready to elect politicians who promise not more but less – less flying, less driving, less red meat – as necessary sacrifices, even if they may not live to see the rewards?
“The climate crisis is an issue that requires long-term thinking across the generations, yet electoral politics is geared toward responding to immediate grievances,” wrote David Runciman, a politics and history professor at Cambridge University, in Foreign Policy last year.
Citizens’ assemblies could bridge that gap, Professor Runciman suggested. But only if politicians are bound by their proposals so that their deliberations actually matter.
Ms. Reeves, the MP, says the climate assembly will help inform Parliament’s decisions, in particular by signaling what trade-offs voters are ready to make so as to reduce emissions. “We need to be confident that we are taking people with us, and that we’re hearing what they’ve got to say,” she says.
That has not always happened. In 2018, Parliament all but ignored recommendations made by a citizens’ assembly on senior care that it had set up. Even in Ireland, which is frequently held up as an exemplar of deliberative democracy, lawmakers did little to put a citizens’ assembly’s proposals on climate change into effect.
Simon Montlake/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Maxine Wood, an office administrator, was struck by the 'human element' that emerged in a Citizens' Jury in Leeds, England, in which she participated for three months in the fall of 2019.
The cooperative Dutch
Citizens’ assemblies aren’t the only route to muster political will on climate. The Netherlands has drawn up an ambitious carbon reduction plan after a year-long consultation known as a polder, which brought together industry, consumers, and politicians to create a consensual framework.
The model is uniquely Dutch, a legacy of centuries of cooperation to maintain dikes and canals. “We had to cooperate because the water made no difference between citizens,” says Ed Nijpels, a former lawmaker who led the climate negotiations.
The climate polder hit speed bumps, however, when its initial report was criticized for burdening households with the cost of a clean-energy transition. “The moment these proposals began touching people’s cars and houses they got scared,” says Louise van Schaik, head of sustainability and climate change at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations.
This political backlash was quelled by proposals to shift more of the financial burden of the transition onto industry. Last summer, the Netherlands’ four-party coalition government approved an accord aimed at cutting emissions by 49% in 2030 from 1990 levels.
Mr. Nijpels says that normal party politics would likely have scuppered a deal. “To be honest, I don’t think they could’ve done this without [the polder process]. It was the only way to get to this target of 49%,” he says.
Swapping stories, making recommendations
In Leeds, Ms. Zainab and her fellow jurors found plenty of common ground at their weekly meetings, held in the open-plan offices of an engineering company. They swapped stories of their lives and their interests, and friendships blossomed on the sidelines.
Each session lasted three hours. Experts vetted by an independent panel briefed the jury and answered their questions.
One member didn’t believe there was a climate emergency, but saw the health benefit of policies to cut road congestion and air pollution. (Proponents say it’s important not to exclude skeptics from these bodies; at Climate Assembly UK, 19 of the 110 participants identified themselves as “not at all” or “not very” concerned about climate change.)
Ms. Zainab was among the youngest jurors, and she deferred at first to older members. “They had louder voices,” she says. By the end, though, she was all-in, and was chosen as the first speaker for the public launch of the jury’s final recommendations, which ranged from better bus services to more generous subsidies for home insulation and more government help for green startups.
SOURCE: Pew Research Center | Jacob Turcotte/Staff
One item had unanimous support: The city should take over privately-run bus routes and expand them, a move that – along with congestion charges and bike lanes – would help make private cars “a last resort for transportation.”
That resonates with panel member Maxine Wood, an office administrator who bought her first car after having a baby. “The reason people drive is convenience. There aren’t enough buses,” she says.
Like Ms. Zainab, she was struck by the jury’s group dynamics, which contrasted starkly with the vituperative political debates she sees on social media. “When you put people in a room and they’re facing each other, the human element comes in,” she says.
An airport protest changes a diet
One issue highlighted the tradeoffs implicit in climate decisions and the messy nature of real-life politics: the planned expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport from 4 million to 7 million annual passenger capacity, and consequent rise in carbon emissions.
Many of the jurors used the airport, and discussion was heated. But in the end they voted nearly unanimously to oppose the expansion. This was largely symbolic, since the airport is private and already had planning permission to expand, so jurors also called on the municipal council to block a planned highway to the new terminal.
In December the council did so, deciding on a rail link instead. But Daniel Corner, a university student on the jury, felt let down by the compromise. “Trains aren’t as bad as cars, but it’s still putting people on planes that are churning out pollution,” he says.
Still, he hopes that deliberative bodies like the one he served on offer a way forward.
“If you get people from both sides of the political spectrum and put them in a room together and teach them on a subject ... we are all able to reach a compromise,” he says.
Asked about his own behavior, he pulls out a handwritten groceries list. “I’m doing my shopping after this,” he says. He used to eat meat daily. Now the only animal protein on the list is cod fillets.
Third in our Navigating Uncertainty series.


csmonitor--2020-03-16--Why tough times can mean better neighbors

“ In times of great stress , helping others is a powerful way to reassert control in a moment where many of us feel helpless , ” says Jamil Zaki , author of “ The War for Kindness : Building Empathy in a Fractured World.
” “ Kindness toward others actually can be a great source of healing.
” While not everyone is behaving altruistically – witness panic-buying at groceries and hoarding of hand sanitizer – the global crisis has roused a sense of shared humanity that ’ s compelling people to reach out to their immediate communities .
Amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a countervailing surge of kindness among strangers .
“ My husband and I are both on parental leave , so one of us can absolutely go and get some noodles and beans for somebody who lives a couple streets over , ” says Ms. Wilson .
When Germans began retreating behind closed doors last week , Molly Wilson realized she didn ’ t know any of the elderly people in her Berlin neighborhood .
Ms. Wilson , an American who moved to Germany in 2016 , teamed up with an upstairs neighbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of those who felt unable to go outside .
On Saturday morning , residents of a 30-unit cohousing neighborhood in Boston emerged from their apartments for a flash mob .
Staying more than 6 feet apart , the neighbors waved to each other and joined together in singing the Beatles song “ Let it Be.
” One of the residents , a professional cellist , played an accompaniment for a singalong of “ Lean on Me ” by Bill Withers .
“ Everyone appreciated the activity , which brought much-needed levity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolating time , ” resident Minda Sanchez says via email .
Similar scenes are playing out in quarantined neighborhoods across the world .
In Wuhan , China , whole blocks of apartment buildings chanted , “ Keep up the fight.
” In Rome and in Siena , Italians on lockdown lean out of windows and balconies with tambourines and accordions to sing songs of solidarity .
On Saturday night , cloistered citizens throughout Spain began clapping in unison to cheer health care workers .
As the practice of “ social distancing ” burgeons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart to heart even though they can ’ t meet face to face .
They ’ re leaning on video calling and social networks to meet an innate desire for social connection .
But people aren ’ t just staying in touch with friends and family .
If anything , the global crisis has roused a sense of shared humanity that ’ s compelling people to reach out to their immediate communities .
Amid the outbreak of COVID-19 , there ’ s a countervailing surge of kindness among strangers .
“ In times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a powerful way to reassert control in a moment where many of us feel helpless , ” says Jamil Zaki , author of “ The War for Kindness : Building Empathy in a Fractured World.
” “ Kindness toward others actually can be a great source of healing.
” One of the most common ways that millions of people are being kind to others right now is by practicing the self-sacrifice of social distancing .
For many , the key motivation is that they want to protect others .
There are precedents for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a psychologist at The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California , Berkeley .
A study demonstrated the most effective way for hospitals to motivate health care professionals to wash their hands isn ’ t by noting the importance of safeguarding oneself from disease .
It ’ s stressing the impact it has on protecting patients .
To be sure , not everyone is acting altruistically at the moment .
Fights have broken out in supermarkets as people wrestle for the last remaining item on a shelf .
Some are hoarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toilet paper .
Many individuals ignored widespread pleas to practice social distancing this weekend by gathering at bars , restaurants , clubs , and music venues .
In response , governors in several states , including Massachusetts and Ohio , shut down restaurants and bars except for delivery and takeout and canceled all concerts .
Kindness can go viral , too Even so , instances of selflessness have become increasingly common .
In Longmont , Colorado , The Roost restaurant and pub has offered free meals to families whose children would have relied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with lunches .
Professional basketball players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo , Zion Williamson , and Blake Griffin have donated money to cover the salaries of arena workers affected by the suspension of the season .
And when Jordana Shmidman ’ s bat mitzvah was canceled due to the coronavirus , parents volunteered to deliver 150 boxes of the catered food to quarantined families across several boroughs in New York .
Witnessing acts of kindness inspires others to pay it forward , says Mr. Zaki , a psychologist at Stanford University in California .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Scientific American , Kindness Contagion , that included findings of studies about how people “ catch ” cooperation and generosity from others .
This deep-seated desire to help and connect with others intensifies during times of crisis and it crosses lanes of class , race , and other divisions that typically keep people apart .
Case in point : When Germans began retreating behind closed doors last week , Molly Wilson realized she didn ’ t know any of the elderly people in her Berlin neighborhood .
Ms. Wilson , an American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teamed up with an upstairs neighbor to post flyers on mailboxes and trash cans on their street .
Their notes offered to go shopping on behalf of those who felt unable to go outside .
“ My husband and I are both on parental leave , so one of us can absolutely go and get some noodles and beans for somebody who lives a couple streets over , ” says Ms. Wilson .
She also posted her note on Twitter to inspire others .
“ We need to do something off-line in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s OK to reach out for help.
” When in-person interaction is limited , technology can temporarily mend rips in the social fabric .
Good Samaritans are using social media platforms to post offers to help strangers .
For example , Jerry Xu , a tech professional in San Francisco , used the app NextDoor to volunteer his services .
( Free to join , NextDoor connects members to others in their geographic locale . )
“ We can help people use apps/websites to get goods ; we can help delivery with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with medical emergencies , ” Mr. Xu wrote in an email response to the Monitor .
To Marc Dunkelman , author of “ The Vanishing Neighbor , ” these neighborly responses to the coronavirus crisis are notable in their contrast to normal times .
Most people ’ s acquaintances resemble a model like the rings of Saturn , with the innermost bands representing the most intimate connections and each successive loop becoming less intimate .
Over the past 50 years , people have invested more time on the innermost ring of friends and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in the outermost rings with online acquaintances they don ’ t know personally but with whom they share common interests such as sports , hobbies , or politics .
People have largely abandoned those rings in the middle , says Mr. Dunkelman , a research fellow at Brown University ’ s A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions .
Those are the face-to-face rings of contacts , such as neighbors and once-popular associations such as bowling leagues , Boy Scouts , or Rotary clubs .
Yet the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opportunity for greater local connection .
“ Could it be that in the context of this crisis , people do break through that initial barrier and say to one another , even though they ’ re not supposed to be accosting one another or having real intimacy , ‘ Hello .
You know , I live in apartment 2B .
You must live above me ’ ?
” says Mr. Dunkelman .
For his part , Mr. Dunkelman maintains a listserv of nearby neighbors and they ’ re using it to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some have gone further .
In Massachusetts , Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville ( MAMAS ) has created a shareable , public Google document to connect those with specific skill sets to those in need .
In addition to sharing links to helpful resources during the coronavirus , it organizes neighborhood pods of hyperlocal text message groups or phone trees since not everyone has access to online communication .
Other areas have used the document ’ s guide on how to replicate it .
In the U.K. , the burgeoning COVID-19 Mutual Aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and counting .
The crisis will necessarily alter the way we connect socially during the crisis .
What matters most is how we interact with others , says Ms. Suttie of Greater Good , pointing to two major research papers on how emotions are contagious within social circles – including online associations .
“ They found that it spreads within three degrees , ” says Ms. Suttie , who recommends “ trying to calm each other to the extent that we can and not raise panic because that helps all of us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things more clearly.
” At the Jamaica Plain cohousing neighborhood in Boston , Ms. Sanchez is going to institute more sing-a-longs .
On Sunday they reconvened to sing the Bill Withers song “ Lovely Day.
” On Monday , they sang , “ With a Little Help From My Friends ” by the Beatles and danced to Gloria Gaynor ’ s “ I Will Survive.
” The activity not only brought community members to their feet to dance in the sun , it brought many to tears .
“ Neighbors have already started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says .
“ Looks like we ’ re going to develop a playlist for community in troubled times.
” Editor 's note : As a public service , we 've removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It 's free .

“In times of great stress, helping others is a powerful way to reassert control in a moment where many of us feel helpless,” says Jamil Zaki, author of “The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World.” “Kindness toward others actually can be a great source of healing.”
While not everyone is behaving altruistically – witness panic-buying at groceries and hoarding of hand sanitizer – the global crisis has roused a sense of shared humanity that’s compelling people to reach out to their immediate communities. Amid the outbreak of COVID-19, there’s a countervailing surge of kindness among strangers.
As the practice of “social distancing” burgeons during the coronavirus crisis, people are finding ways to meet heart to heart even though they can’t meet face to face.
“My husband and I are both on parental leave, so one of us can absolutely go and get some noodles and beans for somebody who lives a couple streets over,” says Ms. Wilson.
When Germans began retreating behind closed doors last week, Molly Wilson realized she didn’t know any of the elderly people in her Berlin neighborhood. Ms. Wilson, an American who moved to Germany in 2016, teamed up with an upstairs neighbor to post flyers offering to go shopping on behalf of those who felt unable to go outside.
On Saturday morning, residents of a 30-unit cohousing neighborhood in Boston emerged from their apartments for a flash mob. Staying more than 6 feet apart, the neighbors waved to each other and joined together in singing the Beatles song “Let it Be.” One of the residents, a professional cellist, played an accompaniment for a singalong of “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers.
“Everyone appreciated the activity, which brought much-needed levity and connection during this otherwise solemn, isolating time,” resident Minda Sanchez says via email.
Similar scenes are playing out in quarantined neighborhoods across the world. In Wuhan, China, whole blocks of apartment buildings chanted, “Keep up the fight.” In Rome and in Siena, Italians on lockdown lean out of windows and balconies with tambourines and accordions to sing songs of solidarity. On Saturday night, cloistered citizens throughout Spain began clapping in unison to cheer health care workers.
Why We Wrote This As the practice of “social distancing” burgeons during the coronavirus crisis, people are finding ways to meet heart to heart even though they can’t meet face to face.
As the practice of “social distancing” burgeons, people are finding ways to meet heart to heart even though they can’t meet face to face. They’re leaning on video calling and social networks to meet an innate desire for social connection. But people aren’t just staying in touch with friends and family. If anything, the global crisis has roused a sense of shared humanity that’s compelling people to reach out to their immediate communities. Amid the outbreak of COVID-19, there’s a countervailing surge of kindness among strangers.
“In times of great stress, helping others is a powerful way to reassert control in a moment where many of us feel helpless,” says Jamil Zaki, author of “The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World.” “Kindness toward others actually can be a great source of healing.”
This video will warm your heart. How one Boston housing community is staying connected while practicing #SocialDistancing (1:24 min for a dancing toddler) pic.twitter.com/PROYP9t3Y5 — The Christian Science Monitor (@csmonitor) March 16, 2020
One of the most common ways that millions of people are being kind to others right now is by practicing the self-sacrifice of social distancing. For many, the key motivation is that they want to protect others. There are precedents for that impulse, says Jill Suttie, a psychologist at The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. A study demonstrated the most effective way for hospitals to motivate health care professionals to wash their hands isn’t by noting the importance of safeguarding oneself from disease. It’s stressing the impact it has on protecting patients.
To be sure, not everyone is acting altruistically at the moment. Fights have broken out in supermarkets as people wrestle for the last remaining item on a shelf. Some are hoarding hand sanitizer, face masks, and toilet paper. Many individuals ignored widespread pleas to practice social distancing this weekend by gathering at bars, restaurants, clubs, and music venues. In response, governors in several states, including Massachusetts and Ohio, shut down restaurants and bars except for delivery and takeout and canceled all concerts.
Kindness can go viral, too
Even so, instances of selflessness have become increasingly common. In Longmont, Colorado, The Roost restaurant and pub has offered free meals to families whose children would have relied on the closed schools to provide them with lunches. Professional basketball players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson, and Blake Griffin have donated money to cover the salaries of arena workers affected by the suspension of the season. And when Jordana Shmidman’s bat mitzvah was canceled due to the coronavirus, parents volunteered to deliver 150 boxes of the catered food to quarantined families across several boroughs in New York.
Witnessing acts of kindness inspires others to pay it forward, says Mr. Zaki, a psychologist at Stanford University in California. In 2016, he published an article in Scientific American, Kindness Contagion, that included findings of studies about how people “catch” cooperation and generosity from others. This deep-seated desire to help and connect with others intensifies during times of crisis and it crosses lanes of class, race, and other divisions that typically keep people apart.
Case in point: When Germans began retreating behind closed doors last week, Molly Wilson realized she didn’t know any of the elderly people in her Berlin neighborhood. Ms. Wilson, an American who moved to Germany in 2016, teamed up with an upstairs neighbor to post flyers on mailboxes and trash cans on their street. Their notes offered to go shopping on behalf of those who felt unable to go outside.
“My husband and I are both on parental leave, so one of us can absolutely go and get some noodles and beans for somebody who lives a couple streets over,” says Ms. Wilson. She also posted her note on Twitter to inspire others. “We need to do something off-line in order to let old people know that it’s OK to reach out for help.”
When in-person interaction is limited, technology can temporarily mend rips in the social fabric. Good Samaritans are using social media platforms to post offers to help strangers. For example, Jerry Xu, a tech professional in San Francisco, used the app NextDoor to volunteer his services. (Free to join, NextDoor connects members to others in their geographic locale.) “We can help people use apps/websites to get goods; we can help delivery with our vehicles; we can even help with medical emergencies,” Mr. Xu wrote in an email response to the Monitor.
Beyond offering a cup of sugar
To Marc Dunkelman, author of “The Vanishing Neighbor,” these neighborly responses to the coronavirus crisis are notable in their contrast to normal times. Most people’s acquaintances resemble a model like the rings of Saturn, with the innermost bands representing the most intimate connections and each successive loop becoming less intimate. Over the past 50 years, people have invested more time on the innermost ring of friends and family. People have also invested more time in the outermost rings with online acquaintances they don’t know personally but with whom they share common interests such as sports, hobbies, or politics.
People have largely abandoned those rings in the middle, says Mr. Dunkelman, a research fellow at Brown University’s A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions. Those are the face-to-face rings of contacts, such as neighbors and once-popular associations such as bowling leagues, Boy Scouts, or Rotary clubs. Yet the coronavirus, striking close to home, offers up the opportunity for greater local connection.
“Could it be that in the context of this crisis, people do break through that initial barrier and say to one another, even though they’re not supposed to be accosting one another or having real intimacy, ‘Hello. You know, I live in apartment 2B. You must live above me’?” says Mr. Dunkelman.
For his part, Mr. Dunkelman maintains a listserv of nearby neighbors and they’re using it to stay in contact and assist each other. Some have gone further. In Massachusetts, Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS) has created a shareable, public Google document to connect those with specific skill sets to those in need. In addition to sharing links to helpful resources during the coronavirus, it organizes neighborhood pods of hyperlocal text message groups or phone trees since not everyone has access to online communication. Other areas have used the document’s guide on how to replicate it. In the U.K., the burgeoning COVID-19 Mutual Aid UK network is up to 87 groups and counting.
The crisis will necessarily alter the way we connect socially during the crisis. What matters most is how we interact with others, says Ms. Suttie of Greater Good, pointing to two major research papers on how emotions are contagious within social circles – including online associations.
“They found that it spreads within three degrees,” says Ms. Suttie, who recommends “trying to calm each other to the extent that we can and not raise panic because that helps all of us to be a bit calmer and to see things more clearly.”
At the Jamaica Plain cohousing neighborhood in Boston, Ms. Sanchez is going to institute more sing-a-longs. On Sunday they reconvened to sing the Bill Withers song “Lovely Day.” On Monday, they sang, “With a Little Help From My Friends” by the Beatles and danced to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
The activity not only brought community members to their feet to dance in the sun, it brought many to tears.
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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.
“Neighbors have already started sharing song requests with me,” she says. “Looks like we’re going to develop a playlist for community in troubled times.”
Editor's note: As a public service, we've removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It's free.


csmonitor--2020-03-16--Across the US, American lifestyle changed by mitigation efforts

On Sunday , officials across the United States curtailed many elements of American lifestyle , with public health officials recommending that groups of 50 or more do n't get together and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed .
State governors were closing restaurants , bars , and schools as the nation was coming to terms with the COVID-19 crisis .
Travelers returning home from overseas trips were stuck in line for hours at major airports for screenings , causing them to be crammed into just the kind of crowded spaces that public health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sign of the impending economic gloom on the horizon , the Federal Reserve slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero .
President Donald Trump sought to calm a jittery nation by declaring that the government has “ tremendous control ” over the situation and urging people to stop the panic buying of grocery staples that has depleted the shelves of stores around the country .
Gun stores started seeing a similar run on weapons and ammunition .
As Americans struggled to come to terms with how to change their daily habits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention issued a new recommendation : because large events can fuel the spread of the disease , it said gatherings of 50 people or more should be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks .
It added that , at any event , proper precautions should be taken , including making sure people are washing their hands and not getting too close .
But in a sign of the difficulty of striking the right balance , the statement from the CDC also said the recommendation does not apply to “ the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools , institutes of higher learning , or businesses.
” Even before the warning , parts of the country already looked like a ghost town , and others were about to follow as theme parks closed , Florida beaches shooed away spring breakers , Starbucks said it will accept only drive-thru and takeout orders , and the governors of Ohio , Illinois , and Massachusetts ordered bars and restaurants shuttered or restricted to take-out only .
California 's governor asked the state 's bars and restaurants to do the same , but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Jersey , and elsewhere are considering similar measures .
`` The time for persuasion and public appeals is over , ” Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said .
“ This is not a joke .
No one is immune to this.
” His decision came hours after Dr. Anthony Fauci , the federal government 's top infectious disease expert , said he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed to prevent the virus 's spread .
“ I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a country are doing , ” said Mr. Fauci , a member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus .
He heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health .
There is no indication that President Trump is considering such a move .
The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 162,000 people and left more than 6,000 dead , with thousands of new cases confirmed each day .
The death toll in the United States climbed to 64 , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism rained on Mr. Trump and his administration Sunday from state and local officials over long lines of returning international passengers at some U.S. airports that could have turned them into coronavirus carriers as they tried to get home .
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lambasted the administration for allowing about 3,000 Americans returning from Europe to be stuck for hours inside the customs area at O'Hare International Airport on Saturday , violating federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people practice “ social distancing . ''
The passengers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears they would be stuck in Europe , were screened for coronavirus symptoms before they were allowed to leave the airport .
Long lines also formed Saturday in Boston , Dallas , and others of the 13 airports that are accepting return flights from Europe .
“ People were forced into conditions that are against CDC guidance and are totally unacceptable , ” Ms. Lightfoot said .
Elizabeth Pulvermacher , a University of Wisconsin student , arrived Saturday at O'Hare from Madrid , where she had been studying and spent hours in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unsafe , '' she said .
Dr. Robert Murphy , executive director of Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University , said he was “ appalled ” by what he saw Saturday at nearby O'Hare .
“ From a public health perspective , this is malpractice , ” Murphy said in a statement Sunday .
“ The lack of preparation and concern is unfathomable.
” But the situation improved markedly on Sunday at O'Hare and elsewhere .
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said wait times are down to 30 minutes after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the influx and extra personnel sent to the airports that are “ funneling ” passengers returning from overseas .
Bailey Miles , a 20-year-old sophomore at Taylor University in Indiana , arrived also from Madrid fearing the worst , but she got through customs and a health screening in about an hour .
She said officials seemed to have learned their lesson from Saturday , when some of her friends returned .
`` The employees were really helpful , had positive attitudes and had a lot of grace , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ snacks .
At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey , Amanda Kay said she was asked to keep her distance from other passengers when she arrived from Paris .
“ They wanted 50 people at a time .
So the first 50 people got off , and they asked us to keep a large distance between ourselves , ” she said .
“ We showed them the first form and then as we walk there ’ s a person who has the scan for your temperature .
And then you go through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Going forward , Mr. Wolf said he could not rule out a future halt to air travel within the U.S. Mr. Fauci said earlier Sunday on television that halting domestic travel had been discussed , though not seriously .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms .
The vast majority of people recover .
And that may have given some people false hope , causing them to venture into crowds that Mr. Fauci and others would prefer they avoid .
Even if someone does n't become visibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease and spread it to others , say health officials .
In New Orleans and Chicago , people clad in green for St. Patrick 's Day packed bars and spilled onto crowded sidewalks on Saturday even after the cities canceled their parades .
New York City , which has the nation 's largest public school district , announced that it will be closed starting Monday , joining most of the rest of the country .
Mayor Bill de Blasio had originally balked , but under pressure from Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the course of today that there is no other choice.
” In Florida , Walt Disney World and Universal-Orlando were closing Sunday night for the rest of the month , joining their California siblings , which already closed .
Farther south , Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale officials announced that they are closing their beaches , where thousands of college spring breakers from around the world have flocked .
The cities also ordered restaurants and bars closed by 10 p.m. and to keep crowds below 250 .
“ Spring break is over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber .
Starbucks said Sunday it is closing seating in its cafes and patio areas nationwide , but customers can still order at the counter , at drive-thrus or on the Starbucks app .
It will also close or reduce hours in areas where there are a high-number of cases .
But not all government officials were as concerned .
Oklahoma 's Republican Gov .
Kevin Stitt tweeted a picture of himself and his children at a crowded metro restaurant Saturday night .
Republican Rep. Devin Nunes had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , encouraging people to go to local restaurants and pubs despite the warnings of health officials .
This story was reported by The Associated Press with additional reporting from Mallika Sen , Vanessa Alvarez , Seth Wenig , Lisa Marie Pane , Christopher Weber , Eugene Johnson , and John Seewer .

On Sunday, officials across the United States curtailed many elements of American lifestyle, with public health officials recommending that groups of 50 or more don't get together and a government expert saying a 14-day national shutdown may be needed.
State governors were closing restaurants, bars, and schools as the nation was coming to terms with the COVID-19 crisis. Travelers returning home from overseas trips were stuck in line for hours at major airports for screenings, causing them to be crammed into just the kind of crowded spaces that public health officials have been urging people to avoid.
In a sign of the impending economic gloom on the horizon, the Federal Reserve slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero. President Donald Trump sought to calm a jittery nation by declaring that the government has “tremendous control” over the situation and urging people to stop the panic buying of grocery staples that has depleted the shelves of stores around the country. Gun stores started seeing a similar run on weapons and ammunition.
As Americans struggled to come to terms with how to change their daily habits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new recommendation: because large events can fuel the spread of the disease, it said gatherings of 50 people or more should be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks. It added that, at any event, proper precautions should be taken, including making sure people are washing their hands and not getting too close.
But in a sign of the difficulty of striking the right balance, the statement from the CDC also said the recommendation does not apply to “the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.”
Even before the warning, parts of the country already looked like a ghost town, and others were about to follow as theme parks closed, Florida beaches shooed away spring breakers, Starbucks said it will accept only drive-thru and takeout orders, and the governors of Ohio, Illinois, and Massachusetts ordered bars and restaurants shuttered or restricted to take-out only. California's governor asked the state's bars and restaurants to do the same, but didn't order it. New York City, New Jersey, and elsewhere are considering similar measures.
"The time for persuasion and public appeals is over,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “This is not a joke. No one is immune to this.”
His decision came hours after Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government's top infectious disease expert, said he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed to prevent the virus's spread.
“I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” said Mr. Fauci, a member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus. He heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
There is no indication that President Trump is considering such a move.
The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 162,000 people and left more than 6,000 dead, with thousands of new cases confirmed each day. The death toll in the United States climbed to 64, while infections passed 3,200.
Meanwhile, harsh criticism rained on Mr. Trump and his administration Sunday from state and local officials over long lines of returning international passengers at some U.S. airports that could have turned them into coronavirus carriers as they tried to get home.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lambasted the administration for allowing about 3,000 Americans returning from Europe to be stuck for hours inside the customs area at O'Hare International Airport on Saturday, violating federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that people practice “social distancing."
The passengers, many of them rushing home because of fears they would be stuck in Europe, were screened for coronavirus symptoms before they were allowed to leave the airport.
Long lines also formed Saturday in Boston, Dallas, and others of the 13 airports that are accepting return flights from Europe.
“People were forced into conditions that are against CDC guidance and are totally unacceptable,” Ms. Lightfoot said.
Elizabeth Pulvermacher, a University of Wisconsin student, arrived Saturday at O'Hare from Madrid, where she had been studying and spent hours in line. The customs process made her feel “unsafe," she said.
Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University, said he was “appalled” by what he saw Saturday at nearby O'Hare. “From a public health perspective, this is malpractice,” Murphy said in a statement Sunday. “The lack of preparation and concern is unfathomable.”
But the situation improved markedly on Sunday at O'Hare and elsewhere. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said wait times are down to 30 minutes after processes have been adjusted to better handle the influx and extra personnel sent to the airports that are “funneling” passengers returning from overseas.
Bailey Miles, a 20-year-old sophomore at Taylor University in Indiana, arrived also from Madrid fearing the worst, but she got through customs and a health screening in about an hour. She said officials seemed to have learned their lesson from Saturday, when some of her friends returned.
"The employees were really helpful, had positive attitudes and had a lot of grace," she said. She said a woman even passed out snacks.
At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Amanda Kay said she was asked to keep her distance from other passengers when she arrived from Paris. “They wanted 50 people at a time. So the first 50 people got off, and they asked us to keep a large distance between ourselves,” she said. “We showed them the first form and then as we walk there’s a person who has the scan for your temperature. And then you go through Customs and then that was it.”
Going forward, Mr. Wolf said he could not rule out a future halt to air travel within the U.S. Mr. Fauci said earlier Sunday on television that halting domestic travel had been discussed, though not seriously.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. The vast majority of people recover. And that may have given some people false hope, causing them to venture into crowds that Mr. Fauci and others would prefer they avoid. Even if someone doesn't become visibly ill, they can still carry the disease and spread it to others, say health officials.
In New Orleans and Chicago, people clad in green for St. Patrick's Day packed bars and spilled onto crowded sidewalks on Saturday even after the cities canceled their parades.
New York City, which has the nation's largest public school district, announced that it will be closed starting Monday, joining most of the rest of the country. Mayor Bill de Blasio had originally balked, but under pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others said Sunday, "I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice.”
In Florida, Walt Disney World and Universal-Orlando were closing Sunday night for the rest of the month, joining their California siblings, which already closed. Farther south, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale officials announced that they are closing their beaches, where thousands of college spring breakers from around the world have flocked. The cities also ordered restaurants and bars closed by 10 p.m. and to keep crowds below 250.
“Spring break is over. The party is over,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
Starbucks said Sunday it is closing seating in its cafes and patio areas nationwide, but customers can still order at the counter, at drive-thrus or on the Starbucks app. It will also close or reduce hours in areas where there are a high-number of cases.
But not all government officials were as concerned. Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted a picture of himself and his children at a crowded metro restaurant Saturday night.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Republican Rep. Devin Nunes had a similar message on Fox News Sunday, encouraging people to go to local restaurants and pubs despite the warnings of health officials.
This story was reported by The Associated Press with additional reporting from Mallika Sen, Vanessa Alvarez, Seth Wenig, Lisa Marie Pane, Christopher Weber, Eugene Johnson, and John Seewer.


csmonitor--2020-03-16--NFL players union agrees to longer season, more pay and benefits

By a close vote , with some 500 union members not participating , NFL players approved a new labor agreement with the league .
It features a 17-game regular season , higher salaries , increased roster sizes , and larger pensions for current and former players .
The deal , which runs through the 2030 season , was accepted by the 32 team owners last month .
The NFL Players Association 's membership spent the last week voting on the 439-page document after its executive board narrowly rejected it by a 6-5 vote , and the player representatives voted 17-14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clearly , there was some strong player opposition to this collective bargaining agreement , though .
Many stars , including Aaron Rodgers , Russell Wilson , J.J. Watt , and Todd Gurley , spoke out against it .
The total vote , among the nearly 2,500 union members who participated , was 1,019-959 .
Ratification required a simple majority – results were announced Sunday – and there could be lasting resentment among union members , given how close the vote was .
“ Can ’ t believe we agreed to that lol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We can only play this game for so long and y ’ all didn ’ t want everything we could get out of it ?
... 2030 y ’ all do better.
” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey expressed displeasure about the turnout for voting .
“ Around 500 players didn ’ t even vote on the new CBA ... , '' he tweeted .
`` It ’ s good and bad to this deal .
I could see why anyone would vote either way .
I just think it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Almost immediately , players were urging unity , particularly in the face of the criticism from within their ranks about approving the deal .
“ The democratic process has played itself out , ” tweeted Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins , one of the most influential voices in the union .
“ We must be committed to unifying our current and former members .
While I don ’ t agree with the decision because of its negative impacts on some current and former players , I do respect our process and will push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not surprisingly , praised the players ' acceptance of the new CBA .
“ We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA , which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players , increase jobs , ensure continued progress on player safety , and give our fans more and better football , ” Mr. Goodell said in a statement .
“ We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership , both of whom devoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive , transformative agreement.
” After discussions with the union during the day , the NFL sent a memo to all teams Sunday night that the league will open the 2020 NFL business season on Wednesday , as scheduled , with free agency and trades .
A delay had been considered a possibility given league restrictions on travel as a safeguard against the new coronavirus .
There was no immediate word on timing and potential format changes for the draft , scheduled for Las Vegas from April 23-25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be discussed by the NFL and NFLPA .
A 17-game schedule wo n't happen before the 2021 season .
The mechanics for an uneven number of games – neutral sites or which teams get nine home games – will be worked out in the interim .
Extending the season was a nonissue with the players in 2011 , when the current 10-year deal was finalized after a 4 1/2 month lockout .
It has upset many of them as it will become a reality in another season or so .
Jaguars receiver Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of items .
“ Players voted for a 17-game season , ” he said on Instagram .
“ No extra bye week .
A disproportionate pay increase that will be less than promised because of the growth of the leagues revenue .
No resolved player restrictions or tags .
Added mandatory fines for hold outs that take an accrued season from veteran players .
On top of that this CBA cut benefits for some players in shaky medical condition .
The worst part is that 500 people did n't vote .
We look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for this reason they will continue to try to low ball and take advantage of players rights.
” Earlier , NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith explained the ins and outs of negotiating the new deal in a lengthy “ open letter ” tweet after the voting had concluded Saturday night .
“ The current proposal contains increases across almost every category of wages , hours , working conditions , and benefits for former and current players , ” he said .
`` Like any contested negotiation ... the proposal also reflects trades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be carefully weighed and assessed across the entirety of the deal .
Please be confident that I hear – loudly and clearly – those of you who have passionately expressed their perspective that these gains are not enough when weighed against , for example , adding another game .
That position reflects how some members have chosen to weigh what aspect of the deal is important to them .
“ The fact is , however , that there are literally hundreds of issues in any collective bargaining agreement that affect thousands of circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players which we must consider carefully.
” The gains the players make in the new agreement in sharing “ a bigger portion of the growing pie , ” according to outgoing NFLPA President Eric Winston , swayed the vote .
• An increase from the 47 % of league revenues given to the players , with that percentage dependent on the length of the season .
• A reduction of the preseason , initially from four games to three .
More time off during training camps .
• Upgraded pensions , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included in past agreements .
• Two more roster spots per team 's practice squad , with players having more freedom to move up to the regular roster and back .
Two more will be added later in the agreement .
• Narrowing the testing period for players for marijuana use , plus lowered discipline for using it ; and a reduction in on-field fines .
Adding two playoff teams was not part of the bargaining process , but the owners were able to do so without union approval .
That will occur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team in each conference getting a wild-card bye .
With labor peace for the rest of the decade , the NFL now will turn to negotiating new deals with its broadcast partners .
Results of that , including digital media , should , as Mr. Winston mentioned , substantially grow the financial pie .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP Pro Football Writers Dennis Waszak Jr. and Dave Campbell , and AP Sports Writers Tim Booth , Mark Long , and Steve Megargee contributed to this report .

By a close vote, with some 500 union members not participating, NFL players approved a new labor agreement with the league. It features a 17-game regular season, higher salaries, increased roster sizes, and larger pensions for current and former players.
The deal, which runs through the 2030 season, was accepted by the 32 team owners last month. The NFL Players Association's membership spent the last week voting on the 439-page document after its executive board narrowly rejected it by a 6-5 vote, and the player representatives voted 17-14 in favor, with one abstention.
Clearly, there was some strong player opposition to this collective bargaining agreement, though. Many stars, including Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, J.J. Watt, and Todd Gurley, spoke out against it. The total vote, among the nearly 2,500 union members who participated, was 1,019-959. Ratification required a simple majority – results were announced Sunday – and there could be lasting resentment among union members, given how close the vote was.
“Can’t believe we agreed to that lol," Colts tight end Eric Ebron tweeted. "We can only play this game for so long and y’all didn’t want everything we could get out of it? ... 2030 y’all do better.”
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey expressed displeasure about the turnout for voting.
“Around 500 players didn’t even vote on the new CBA ...," he tweeted. "It’s good and bad to this deal. I could see why anyone would vote either way. I just think it’s amazing guys don’t even care.”
Almost immediately, players were urging unity, particularly in the face of the criticism from within their ranks about approving the deal.
“The democratic process has played itself out,” tweeted Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, one of the most influential voices in the union. “We must be committed to unifying our current and former members. While I don’t agree with the decision because of its negative impacts on some current and former players, I do respect our process and will push forward accordingly.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, not surprisingly, praised the players' acceptance of the new CBA.
“We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football,” Mr. Goodell said in a statement. “We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership, both of whom devoted nearly a year to detailed, good faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive, transformative agreement.”
After discussions with the union during the day, the NFL sent a memo to all teams Sunday night that the league will open the 2020 NFL business season on Wednesday, as scheduled, with free agency and trades. A delay had been considered a possibility given league restrictions on travel as a safeguard against the new coronavirus.
There was no immediate word on timing and potential format changes for the draft, scheduled for Las Vegas from April 23-25, something that was also expected to be discussed by the NFL and NFLPA.
A 17-game schedule won't happen before the 2021 season. The mechanics for an uneven number of games – neutral sites or which teams get nine home games – will be worked out in the interim.
Extending the season was a nonissue with the players in 2011, when the current 10-year deal was finalized after a 4 1/2 month lockout. It has upset many of them as it will become a reality in another season or so.
Jaguars receiver Chris Conley posted his objections to a variety of items.
“Players voted for a 17-game season,” he said on Instagram. “No extra bye week. A disproportionate pay increase that will be less than promised because of the growth of the leagues revenue. No resolved player restrictions or tags. Added mandatory fines for hold outs that take an accrued season from veteran players. On top of that this CBA cut benefits for some players in shaky medical condition. The worst part is that 500 people didn't vote. We look like a weak union to the owners and for this reason they will continue to try to low ball and take advantage of players rights.”
Earlier, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith explained the ins and outs of negotiating the new deal in a lengthy “open letter” tweet after the voting had concluded Saturday night.
“The current proposal contains increases across almost every category of wages, hours, working conditions, and benefits for former and current players,” he said. "Like any contested negotiation ... the proposal also reflects trades with the counter party which have to be carefully weighed and assessed across the entirety of the deal. Please be confident that I hear – loudly and clearly – those of you who have passionately expressed their perspective that these gains are not enough when weighed against, for example, adding another game. That position reflects how some members have chosen to weigh what aspect of the deal is important to them.
“The fact is, however, that there are literally hundreds of issues in any collective bargaining agreement that affect thousands of circumstances and impact thousands of current and former players which we must consider carefully.”
The gains the players make in the new agreement in sharing “a bigger portion of the growing pie,” according to outgoing NFLPA President Eric Winston, swayed the vote.
Among those gains:
An increase from the 47% of league revenues given to the players, with that percentage dependent on the length of the season.
A reduction of the preseason, initially from four games to three. More time off during training camps.
Upgraded pensions, with the addition of groups of previous players not included in past agreements.
Two more roster spots per team's practice squad, with players having more freedom to move up to the regular roster and back. Two more will be added later in the agreement.
Narrowing the testing period for players for marijuana use, plus lowered discipline for using it; and a reduction in on-field fines.
Adding two playoff teams was not part of the bargaining process, but the owners were able to do so without union approval. That will occur this season, with only the top team in each conference getting a wild-card bye.
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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.
With labor peace for the rest of the decade, the NFL now will turn to negotiating new deals with its broadcast partners. Results of that, including digital media, should, as Mr. Winston mentioned, substantially grow the financial pie.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP Pro Football Writers Dennis Waszak Jr. and Dave Campbell, and AP Sports Writers Tim Booth, Mark Long, and Steve Megargee contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-03-16--Monday Sunrise Briefing: Will Fed confidence-building steps work?

The U.S. Federal Reserve took the dramatic step Sunday of cutting benchmark interest rates to near zero .
The message to investors : We understand that the economy is slowing sharply .
We ’ re on it .
There was no mention of the “ R ” word , but similarly aggressive steps were taken during the 2008-2009 recession .
The Fed also says it will buy $ 700 billion in Treasury and mortgage bonds , effectively adding a large squirt of WD-40 to the gears of the financial system .
“ We have to hope that the Fed getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mention other central banks , pushes the economy in the right direction , ’ ’ Adam Posen , president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics told the Associated Press .
But markets in Asia and Europe tumbled Monday .
2 .
Global mitigation Sunday : In Europe , the U.S. , and parts of Africa and Southeast Asia , travel restrictions grew while schools , bars , restaurants , cinemas were closed - and houses of worship went online .
Increasingly , mitigation strategies are being adopted - and the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schoolroom .
On Monday , Germany closed its borders with five of 9 countries .
In Ireland , pubs and bars were ordered closed , even for St. Patrick ’ s Day on Tuesday .
Morocco suspended all international flights .
With new infections dwindling in Asia , Europe is emerging as the latest front line of the fight against COVID-19 .
About 100 million Europeans were confined to their homes as national lockdowns spread .
In the U.S. , the governors of California , Illinois , Massachusetts , and Ohio this weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve only takeout .
Nike and Apple are closing their U.S. stores , while other retailers , such as Walmart , are reducing hours .
New York City will shutter the nation 's largest public school system Tuesday , sending over 1.1 million children home .
Travelers returning to the U.S. faced hours-long waits for medical screenings .
Drive-through testing in the US is expected to expand this week , a lesson learned from South Korea .
3 .
Democrats debate : The two leading Democratic candidates shared the stage alone for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatically different visions of leadership to a nation focused on the health and safety of their loved ones .
Many voters are looking for reassurance and decisive action .
Former Vice President Biden pledged to deploy the U.S. military to help with mitigation efforts and warned that a federal financial bailout may be necessary .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called for a tax on the wealthy and argued that a government-run health insurance system would respond faster to a health crisis .
Mr. Biden made news by committing to select a woman as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would “ in all likelihood ” do the same .
Most analysts gave the night to Mr. Biden , who ’ s centrist approach seems made for a country seeking a steadying hand .
Justice revisited : The first Catholic church official convicted in the U.S. over covering up the sexual abuse of children by priests is set to face another trial Monday , in Philadelphia .
In the 2012 case , Msgr .
William J. Lynn was sent to prison for three years .
And in France , a court is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case of a former priest accused of abusing scores of boy scouts over decades , even though the church hierarchy was aware of complaints .
Joe Biden again ?
Four more states ( Florida , Illinois , Ohio , and Arizona ) hold presidential primaries .
Polls favor the former vice president in each state .
Sen. Bernie Sanders needs an upset win or two to rebound in the delegate race .
Spring arrives .
In the northern hemisphere , the vernal equinox marks a turning point in the year , when days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( by a few minutes ) than it has in the past 124 years , according the Farmer ’ s Almanac .
We ’ ve all done it : Driven past a panhandler , someone with a sign or a cup .
Officer Michael Rivers of the Goldsboro Police Department in North Carolina drove past a lady with this message on her t-shirt : `` Homeless .
The fastest way of becoming a nobody . ''
But his conscience tugged at him .
And he went back .
“ God put it on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the 29-year-old officer told CNN .
`` So I turned around and I asked her , 'Hey , did you eat today ? '
And she said , 'No . '
'' A passerby , Cassie Lea Parker , snapped a photo of the two sharing a pizza by the side of the road and her boyfriend posted it on Facebook .
The photo has been shared 5,000 times .
Perhaps more impressive that giving her a free meal was Officer Rivers gift of time and human connection .
He stayed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman , who identified herself as Michelle .
To Officer Rivers , she was somebody .
His example was praised by hundreds on Facebook .
“ When you are in the midst of chaos , small yet kind gestures like these assures you humanity exists , ” wrote Abhay Kulkarni .
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our story about Harry Potter 's Quidditch as a path to equality for Ugandan women .
Finally , check out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's subscription-only Daily Edition : • Why coronavirus chaos may keep Putin in office until 2036 • 2,000 miles and a tough choice : Asylum in Guatemala , or go home ?
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think .
Thank you !

The U.S. Federal Reserve took the dramatic step Sunday of cutting benchmark interest rates to near zero. The message to investors: We understand that the economy is slowing sharply. We’re on it. There was no mention of the “R” word, but similarly aggressive steps were taken during the 2008-2009 recession. The Fed also says it will buy $700 billion in Treasury and mortgage bonds, effectively adding a large squirt of WD-40 to the gears of the financial system. “We have to hope that the Fed getting out in front of events, not to mention other central banks, pushes the economy in the right direction,’’ Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics told the Associated Press. But markets in Asia and Europe tumbled Monday.
2. Global mitigation Sunday: In Europe, the U.S., and parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, travel restrictions grew while schools, bars, restaurants, cinemas were closed - and houses of worship went online. Increasingly, mitigation strategies are being adopted - and the public is adjusting to a digital workplace and schoolroom. On Monday, Germany closed its borders with five of 9 countries. In Ireland, pubs and bars were ordered closed, even for St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday. Morocco suspended all international flights. With new infections dwindling in Asia, Europe is emerging as the latest front line of the fight against COVID-19. About 100 million Europeans were confined to their homes as national lockdowns spread.
In the U.S., the governors of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Ohio this weekend told bars to close and restaurants to serve only takeout. Nike and Apple are closing their U.S. stores, while other retailers, such as Walmart, are reducing hours. New York City will shutter the nation's largest public school system Tuesday, sending over 1.1 million children home. Travelers returning to the U.S. faced hours-long waits for medical screenings. Drive-through testing in the US is expected to expand this week, a lesson learned from South Korea.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, March 16, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are three news events from this past weekend (while you may have been Netflix binging on Love is Blind, spelunking, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
3. Democrats debate: The two leading Democratic candidates shared the stage alone for the first time Sunday night, and offered dramatically different visions of leadership to a nation focused on the health and safety of their loved ones. Many voters are looking for reassurance and decisive action. Former Vice President Biden pledged to deploy the U.S. military to help with mitigation efforts and warned that a federal financial bailout may be necessary. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called for a tax on the wealthy and argued that a government-run health insurance system would respond faster to a health crisis. Mr. Biden made news by committing to select a woman as his running mate. Mr. Sanders said he would “in all likelihood” do the same. Most analysts gave the night to Mr. Biden, who’s centrist approach seems made for a country seeking a steadying hand.
Peter Read Miller via AP View caption Hide caption It will take one more game to get here. NFL players approved a new labor agreement Sunday with a 17-game season, higher salaries, increased roster sizes and larger pensions. Above, Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Nnadi celebrates after Super Bowl 54 Feb. 2, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Look Ahead
Monday, March 16
Justice revisited: The first Catholic church official convicted in the U.S. over covering up the sexual abuse of children by priests is set to face another trial Monday, in Philadelphia. In the 2012 case, Msgr. William J. Lynn was sent to prison for three years.
And in France, a court is expected to issue a verdict in the case of a former priest accused of abusing scores of boy scouts over decades, even though the church hierarchy was aware of complaints.
Tuesday, March 17
Joe Biden again? Four more states (Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Arizona) hold presidential primaries. Polls favor the former vice president in each state. Sen. Bernie Sanders needs an upset win or two to rebound in the delegate race.
Thursday, March 19
Spring arrives. In the northern hemisphere, the vernal equinox marks a turning point in the year, when days finally grow longer. It starts earlier (by a few minutes) than it has in the past 124 years, according the Farmer’s Almanac.
Generosity Watch
Chris Barnes via Facebook View caption Hide caption Officer Michael Rivers of the Goldsboro, North Carolina police department buys a homeless woman lunch on March 11, 2020 and joins her.
We’ve all done it: Driven past a panhandler, someone with a sign or a cup.
Officer Michael Rivers of the Goldsboro Police Department in North Carolina drove past a lady with this message on her t-shirt: "Homeless. The fastest way of becoming a nobody." But his conscience tugged at him. And he went back.
“God put it on my heart to get her lunch," the 29-year-old officer told CNN. "So I turned around and I asked her, 'Hey, did you eat today?' And she said, 'No.'" A passerby, Cassie Lea Parker, snapped a photo of the two sharing a pizza by the side of the road and her boyfriend posted it on Facebook. The photo has been shared 5,000 times.
Perhaps more impressive that giving her a free meal was Officer Rivers gift of time and human connection. He stayed and talked, and got to know the woman, who identified herself as Michelle. To Officer Rivers, she was somebody. His example was praised by hundreds on Facebook. “When you are in the midst of chaos, small yet kind gestures like these assures you humanity exists,” wrote Abhay Kulkarni.
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
‘Something human’: Mideast fight against virus elicits rare unity
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our story about Harry Potter's Quidditch as a path to equality for Ugandan women.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!