csmonitor--2020-03-17--Rescue plan: White House seeks $850 billion economic stimulus

The White House is proposing a roughly $ 850 billion emergency economic rescue package Tuesday for businesses and taxpayers amid the coronavirus crisis , a sweeping stimulus package unseen since the Great Recession .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will outline the package to Senate Republicans at a private lunch , with officials aiming to have Congress approve it this week .
`` The Senate will not adjourn until we have passed significant and bold new steps above and beyond what the House has passed to help our strong nation and our strong underlying economy weather this storm , '' Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank bailout or the 2009 recovery act , the White House proposal aims to provide relief for small businesses , $ 50 billion for the airline industry , and include a massive tax cut for wage-earners .
Two people familiar with the request described it to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were n't authorized to speak publicly .
The White House hopes the measure will pass quickly , possibly this week , an enormous political undertaking as the administration scrambled to contain the economic fallout of the severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
White House officials offered senators a preliminary briefing late Monday at the Capitol , saying they want the plan approved by Congress as soon as possible , suggesting in a matter of days .
`` ASAP , '' White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said late Monday .
`` There 's an urgency . ''
The rush to inject cash and resources into the economy is an effort unlike any since the 2008 economic crisis , with political and economic interventions and eye-popping sums to try to protect Americans from the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve got a lot of work to do from here , '' Mr. Mnuchin told reporters late Monday .
At the same time , Democrats have proposed their own $ 750 billion package .
Senators returned to an emptied out U.S. Capitol , clear of tourists or colleagues from the House , to confront an even more dire situation than the one they left for a long weekend , before President Donald Trump declared a national emergency .
Pending is the House-passed aid package approved early Saturday – with sick pay , free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is endorsed by Mr. Trump and ready to become law .
But action was stalled for much of the day as the Senate waited on the House for technical corrections as Republicans and a leading small business group raised objections , a setback only resolved late in the evening with a House voice vote of approval .
Senate passage could follow as early as Tuesday .
All sides – the House , Senate , and White House – agree the pending bill is not the last and not nearly enough to handle what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month , Congress approved $ 8.3 billion in initial aid .
Mr. Trump quickly signed into law the measure , which provided federal agencies money for vaccines , tests , and potential treatments , and funding to help state and local governments respond to the threat .
`` We will need big , bold , urgent federal action to deal with this crisis , '' Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday .
Mr. Schumer floated the Democrats ' proposal for at least $ 750 billion to boost hospital capacity , unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American households , businesses , and the health care industry .
Republican senators conferred privately over their priorities .
Republicans often reluctant to spend federal dollars did not flinch at the head-spinning number , as a roster of America 's big and small industries – airlines , hotels , retailers – lined up for aid .
Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , called for sending $ 1,000 to every adult American .
The president conveyed that lawmakers should `` not be impeded by the price tag , '' said Eric Ueland , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Mitch McConnell said he wants a `` comprehensive '' approach with `` significant steps '' for the economy , particularly Main Street businesses .
He opened the Senate on Monday with a message to Americans : `` The Senate stands with you . ''
The days ahead will test whether Congress can quickly respond to the crisis .
Industries representing a broad swath of the economy are seeking help in withstanding the fallout as schools close and Americans are being told to stay inside , skip nonessential travel , and avoid gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means no dining out , no boarding planes , no shopping the malls as a great national shutdown sparks business closures , layoffs , and lost paychecks for rents , mortgages , and everyday needs .
The nation 's largest business organization , the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , asked the Trump administration and Congress on Monday to act rapidly to help companies have access to cash and avert a `` potentially devastating '' hit to the economy .
The request from the U.S. airlines alone could easily top $ 50 billion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade group representing the carriers .
`` We 're going to back the airlines 100 % , '' Mr. Trump said at a White House briefing .
`` We 've told the airlines we 're going to help them . ''
In a letter to Mr. Trump and congressional leaders , the Chamber of Commerce called for legislation including a three-month cancellation of the taxes companies pay to support Social Security , Medicare , and unemployment insurance .
`` No family and no business should go bankrupt just because of the temporary disruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said the chamber 's CEO , Thomas J. Donohue .
The nation 's governors were also calling on Congress to swiftly bring economic aid , particularly for the unemployment insurance system to help displaced workers , and fast .
`` We need a better response from the federal government , '' said Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo , a Democrat .
`` I am out of patience . ''
Pulling together the new package will challenge the basic logistics of governing as Congress itself struggled to adapt to the new normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference call they wo n't be recalled to Washington until the next package is ready for action , according to people familiar with the call but unauthorized to discuss it and granted anonymity .
The 100-member Senate convened for an evening vote – a potentially stunning sight in the new era of social distancing .
While different authorities around the country have issued conflicting advice , the Trump administration said at a Monday news conference that Americans should not gather in groups of more than 10 people over the next 15 days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dick Durbin of Illinois , counting the number of senators on the floor , questioned what example they were setting .
He urged swift passage of the House package .
`` What are we waiting for ? ''
he asked .
Despite Mr. Trump 's robust support , a handful of Republicans said they wanted to make changes in the House-passed measure .
`` It doesn ’ t go far enough , '' said Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark .
In addition , the National Federation of Independent Business , which counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially opposed it .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Andrew Taylor , Matthew Daly , and Kevin Freking in Washington , Philip Marcelo in Boston , and David Eggert in Lansing , Michigan , contributed to this report .

The White House is proposing a roughly $850 billion emergency economic rescue package Tuesday for businesses and taxpayers amid the coronavirus crisis, a sweeping stimulus package unseen since the Great Recession.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will outline the package to Senate Republicans at a private lunch, with officials aiming to have Congress approve it this week.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, opening the Senate on Tuesday morning, promised swift action.
"The Senate will not adjourn until we have passed significant and bold new steps above and beyond what the House has passed to help our strong nation and our strong underlying economy weather this storm," Mr. McConnell said.
Bigger than the 2008 bank bailout or the 2009 recovery act, the White House proposal aims to provide relief for small businesses, $50 billion for the airline industry, and include a massive tax cut for wage-earners.
Two people familiar with the request described it to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.
The White House hopes the measure will pass quickly, possibly this week, an enormous political undertaking as the administration scrambled to contain the economic fallout of the severe disruptions to American life from the outbreak.
White House officials offered senators a preliminary briefing late Monday at the Capitol, saying they want the plan approved by Congress as soon as possible, suggesting in a matter of days.
"ASAP," White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said late Monday. "There's an urgency."
The rush to inject cash and resources into the economy is an effort unlike any since the 2008 economic crisis, with political and economic interventions and eye-popping sums to try to protect Americans from the health and financial fallout.
"We’ve got a lot of work to do from here," Mr. Mnuchin told reporters late Monday.
At the same time, Democrats have proposed their own $750 billion package.
Senators returned to an emptied out U.S. Capitol, clear of tourists or colleagues from the House, to confront an even more dire situation than the one they left for a long weekend, before President Donald Trump declared a national emergency.
Pending is the House-passed aid package approved early Saturday – with sick pay, free testing, and emergency food – that is endorsed by Mr. Trump and ready to become law.
But action was stalled for much of the day as the Senate waited on the House for technical corrections as Republicans and a leading small business group raised objections, a setback only resolved late in the evening with a House voice vote of approval. Senate passage could follow as early as Tuesday.
All sides – the House, Senate, and White House – agree the pending bill is not the last and not nearly enough to handle what's coming. At the start of the month, Congress approved $8.3 billion in initial aid. Mr. Trump quickly signed into law the measure, which provided federal agencies money for vaccines, tests, and potential treatments, and funding to help state and local governments respond to the threat.
"We will need big, bold, urgent federal action to deal with this crisis," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday.
Mr. Schumer floated the Democrats' proposal for at least $750 billion to boost hospital capacity, unemployment insurance, and other direct aid for American households, businesses, and the health care industry. Republican senators conferred privately over their priorities.
Republicans often reluctant to spend federal dollars did not flinch at the head-spinning number, as a roster of America's big and small industries – airlines, hotels, retailers – lined up for aid.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, called for sending $1,000 to every adult American.
The president conveyed that lawmakers should "not be impeded by the price tag," said Eric Ueland, the White House legislative director.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he wants a "comprehensive" approach with "significant steps" for the economy, particularly Main Street businesses. He opened the Senate on Monday with a message to Americans: "The Senate stands with you."
The days ahead will test whether Congress can quickly respond to the crisis.
Industries representing a broad swath of the economy are seeking help in withstanding the fallout as schools close and Americans are being told to stay inside, skip nonessential travel, and avoid gatherings with 10 people or more.
That means no dining out, no boarding planes, no shopping the malls as a great national shutdown sparks business closures, layoffs, and lost paychecks for rents, mortgages, and everyday needs.
The nation's largest business organization, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, asked the Trump administration and Congress on Monday to act rapidly to help companies have access to cash and avert a "potentially devastating" hit to the economy.
The request from the U.S. airlines alone could easily top $50 billion, according to Airlines for America, the trade group representing the carriers.
"We're going to back the airlines 100%," Mr. Trump said at a White House briefing. "We've told the airlines we're going to help them."
In a letter to Mr. Trump and congressional leaders, the Chamber of Commerce called for legislation including a three-month cancellation of the taxes companies pay to support Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance.
"No family and no business should go bankrupt just because of the temporary disruption in income caused by the coronavirus," said the chamber's CEO, Thomas J. Donohue.
The nation's governors were also calling on Congress to swiftly bring economic aid, particularly for the unemployment insurance system to help displaced workers, and fast.
"We need a better response from the federal government," said Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat. "I am out of patience."
Pulling together the new package will challenge the basic logistics of governing as Congress itself struggled to adapt to the new normal.
House Democrats were told on a conference call they won't be recalled to Washington until the next package is ready for action, according to people familiar with the call but unauthorized to discuss it and granted anonymity.
The 100-member Senate convened for an evening vote – a potentially stunning sight in the new era of social distancing. While different authorities around the country have issued conflicting advice, the Trump administration said at a Monday news conference that Americans should not gather in groups of more than 10 people over the next 15 days.
The No. 2 Senate Democratic leader, Dick Durbin of Illinois, counting the number of senators on the floor, questioned what example they were setting. He urged swift passage of the House package. "What are we waiting for?" he asked.
Despite Mr. Trump's robust support, a handful of Republicans said they wanted to make changes in the House-passed measure. "It doesn’t go far enough," said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.
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In addition, the National Federation of Independent Business, which counts hundreds of thousands of small-business members, initially opposed it.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Andrew Taylor, Matthew Daly, and Kevin Freking in Washington, Philip Marcelo in Boston, and David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-03-17--ROTC at black colleges? How Pentagon aims to diversify military brass.

Minority soldiers should be able to “ look upward and see themselves , ” retired Gen. Carter Ham , president of the Association of the U.S. Army , told a Heritage Foundation panel held in January .
Right now , he said , the officer corps “ does not look like America.
” Recent years have been tough on military recruiters in general .
But the biggest challenge , which the Pentagon says it is determined to tackle , is the face of military leadership in an increasingly nonwhite nation .
Yet even when African Americans are commissioned , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posts .
Retired Gen. Larry Spencer , former Air Force vice chief of staff , says that black officers can be unintentionally sidelined , in part because senior officials aren ’ t aware of the barriers to diversity in their organizations .
African Americans may be overrepresented in the United States military , but not in the officer corps : Only 9 % of officers are black , compared with 19 % of enlisted troops .
To right this imbalance , the Pentagon wants to expand its training programs on historically black college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improving the pipeline of future military leaders lie in social media campaigns targeted at minority communities .
As a first-generation college student in Texas , George Bolton was hooked on an Army career through the stories of the Buffalo soldiers , the black cavalry units formed in 1866 to serve on the western frontier , becoming icons of African American military service .
Today , Lieutenant Colonel Bolton runs the Reserve Officers ’ Training Corps ( ROTC ) program at the historically black Alabama A & M University outside Huntsville .
He often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take on the combat jobs that can in future vault them to the highest echelons of military leadership .
The more leaders of color willing to serve , he says , the better the military becomes .
“ When you have people that can bring diversity to the policymakers , then you have a better product for the nation .
And that ’ s how you become part of the solution , ” he says .
Judging by the current makeup of the United States military , that solution is still lacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 in 5 of the enlisted ranks , they comprise only 9 % of officers .
Across all minorities , the distribution is similarly lopsided : More than half of all enlisted women , and 43 % of enlisted men , are Hispanic or a racial minority .
Yet virtually all U.S. combat brigade commanders – a stepping stone to becoming a general – are white .
The Pentagon is working to change this by using social media campaigns and recruiting potential officers in cities with large minority populations .
In January , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand ROTC programs on the nation ’ s 102 historically black colleges and universities ( HBCU ) campuses , roughly one quarter of which have them .
Among all colleges and universities , more than 1,700 currently host ROTC programs .
The White House has not yet provided details of how it will expand onto the campuses .
Minority soldiers should be able to “ look upward and see themselves , ” retired Gen. Carter Ham , president of the Association of the United States Army , told a Heritage Foundation panel held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military and HBCUs .
Right now , he said , the officer corps “ does not look like America.
” A strong U.S. labor market – at least until the coronavirus-induced economic shock – has made it harder for the U.S. military to replenish all ranks including minority officers .
The Army , which is the largest military branch , missed its recruiting target in 2018 for the first time in more than a decade .
“ I find that competing with a highly functioning economy forces the military to take a broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to recruit , ” says Nathalie Grogan , an analyst at the Center for a New American Security .
While the South has long supplied a disproportionate number of troops , military services are now focusing on urban areas like Chicago and Detroit .
The Pentagon is also trying new recruiting strategies : The Navy targets roughly 20 % of its ads toward “ multicultural and female prospects.
” For their part , Army leaders have reached out to the 55-strong Congressional Black Caucus , asking lawmakers to beat the drum and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military recruits from their districts are on leadership tracks .
“ The message is , ‘ If you ’ re serious about advancing the opportunities of your constituents , here ’ s an avenue you ’ re not taking advantage of , ’ ” says General Ham .
Yet once recruiters bring service members of color in , it needs to do a better job keeping them , says Ms. Grogan , noting that midcareer black officers are more likely to leave than their white colleagues .
Between the promotion from lieutenant colonel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Army – 64 % of black officers chose to leave , compared to 51 % of white officers .
To retain black officers , Pentagon leaders need to be attuned to the ways they are unintentionally sidelined , says retired Gen. Larry Spencer , former Air Force vice chief of staff .
“ It doesn ’ t mean that folks at the top are against or have any issues with diversity , but left alone to work itself out , it ’ s complicated , ” he says .
Years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest in being the military assistant to the next secretary of the Air Force – a plum assignment .
The problem , he was told , was that the leading candidate was African American , and it would look like favoritism for him to choose a black aide .
“ White males hire white males all the time .
That ’ s still the case.
” Most students who receive a full scholarship on an ROTC program are obliged to serve for four years after graduation , providing a pipeline for future top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they receive the sort of leadership coaching that pushes them to tackle everything from the tyranny of low expectations to the pressure they put on themselves when they ’ re the only nonwhite people in the room .
“ I see what works and what doesn ’ t , ” says Mia Robinson , a senior at Howard University who plans to become a military intelligence officer .
“ Those people with leadership qualities that work , they go far .
I also want to be a good leader for my peers.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is vital , she adds .
“ I notice that in the event they don ’ t have someone who looks like them , they ’ re not going to feel as comfortable.
” Yet White House efforts to reach out to potential black recruits come at a time when many African Americans are wary of President Trump , says Katherine Washington-Williams , northeast regional head of the National Association for Black Veterans .
“ I used to tell young people , ‘ Join the military , ’ because it ’ s one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever done .
But now I look at our commander in chief , and I ’ m not seeing anything positive .
I ’ m a proud American , but where ’ s the love ?
” Maj. Gen. John Evans , head of U.S. Army Cadet Command , says he ’ s promoted women and officers of color onto his staff and that it ’ s made him a better leader .
Their varied experience and backgrounds are particularly important , he says , because he came up in the notoriously white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own fault or not , it was hard to get diversity into the conversation , because there weren ’ t other [ non-white ] officers you could bring in.
” Military officials say that they are increasingly pushing young officers of color into jobs that aren ’ t their first choice to give them a better shot at career advancement .
In the Army for example , the top generals overwhelmingly come from the fighting fields – infantry , armor , field artillery – known collectively as the “ combat arms.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black officers chose these fields , versus some 25 % of white officers , according to the Military Leadership Diversity Commission .
“ This means that women and minorities have fewer opportunities for advancement and will , therefore , be underrepresented among leadership , ” it concluded in a 2011 study .
It ’ s a good illustration of why mentors must be “ insistent ” about pushing young minority officers into combat specialties , says Major General Evans .
One drawback is that combat jobs don ’ t easily transfer into civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You don ’ t get paid a lot of money on the outside to go and kill someone with precision , ” he says .
For his part , Lieutenant Colonel Bolton says he ’ s “ tripled ” interest in infantry and armor careers among his students at Alabama A & M , particularly among female cadets , who could not until recently pursue these jobs because women were banned from combat arms .
Those who had marked it 5th or 6th on their list of top career fields “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.
” He takes up a new job next month as a battalion commander in an Armor division , one of the Army fields most likely to produce four-star generals .
He wants to work his way up and into one of the rare military positions where he can create policy – and be a role model .
“ When we see success at a high level , ” he tells his students , “ We say , ‘ Yes , this is possible .
For everyone .
’ ”

Minority soldiers should be able to “look upward and see themselves,” retired Gen. Carter Ham, president of the Association of the U.S. Army, told a Heritage Foundation panel held in January. Right now, he said, the officer corps “does not look like America.”
Recent years have been tough on military recruiters in general. But the biggest challenge, which the Pentagon says it is determined to tackle, is the face of military leadership in an increasingly nonwhite nation.
The U.S. military’s enlistees reflect the nation’s growing racial and ethnic diversity. Not so among the officers corps, and that’s a challenge for the Pentagon. Officer training on college campuses may be the answer.
Yet even when African Americans are commissioned, their careers can stall before they approach command posts. Retired Gen. Larry Spencer, former Air Force vice chief of staff, says that black officers can be unintentionally sidelined, in part because senior officials aren’t aware of the barriers to diversity in their organizations.
African Americans may be overrepresented in the United States military, but not in the officer corps: Only 9% of officers are black, compared with 19% of enlisted troops. To right this imbalance, the Pentagon wants to expand its training programs on historically black college and university campuses. Other paths to improving the pipeline of future military leaders lie in social media campaigns targeted at minority communities.
As a first-generation college student in Texas, George Bolton was hooked on an Army career through the stories of the Buffalo soldiers, the black cavalry units formed in 1866 to serve on the western frontier, becoming icons of African American military service.
Today, Lieutenant Colonel Bolton runs the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at the historically black Alabama A&M University outside Huntsville. He often invokes these stories to inspire his students to take on the combat jobs that can in future vault them to the highest echelons of military leadership.
The more leaders of color willing to serve, he says, the better the military becomes. “When you have people that can bring diversity to the policymakers, then you have a better product for the nation. And that’s how you become part of the solution,” he says.
Why We Wrote This The U.S. military’s enlistees reflect the nation’s growing racial and ethnic diversity. Not so among the officers corps, and that’s a challenge for the Pentagon. Officer training on college campuses may be the answer.
Judging by the current makeup of the United States military, that solution is still lacking. While African Americans make up nearly 1 in 5 of the enlisted ranks, they comprise only 9% of officers. Across all minorities, the distribution is similarly lopsided: More than half of all enlisted women, and 43% of enlisted men, are Hispanic or a racial minority. Yet virtually all U.S. combat brigade commanders – a stepping stone to becoming a general – are white.
The Pentagon is working to change this by using social media campaigns and recruiting potential officers in cities with large minority populations. In January, President Donald Trump announced an initiative to expand ROTC programs on the nation’s 102 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) campuses, roughly one quarter of which have them. Among all colleges and universities, more than 1,700 currently host ROTC programs. The White House has not yet provided details of how it will expand onto the campuses.
Minority soldiers should be able to “look upward and see themselves,” retired Gen. Carter Ham, president of the Association of the United States Army, told a Heritage Foundation panel held in January on the ties between the military and HBCUs. Right now, he said, the officer corps “does not look like America.”
A strong U.S. labor market – at least until the coronavirus-induced economic shock – has made it harder for the U.S. military to replenish all ranks including minority officers. The Army, which is the largest military branch, missed its recruiting target in 2018 for the first time in more than a decade. “I find that competing with a highly functioning economy forces the military to take a broader look at the populations they’re trying to recruit,” says Nathalie Grogan, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security.
Urban strategy
While the South has long supplied a disproportionate number of troops, military services are now focusing on urban areas like Chicago and Detroit. The Pentagon is also trying new recruiting strategies: The Navy targets roughly 20% of its ads toward “multicultural and female prospects.”
For their part, Army leaders have reached out to the 55-strong Congressional Black Caucus, asking lawmakers to beat the drum and sharing data on how few African American military recruits from their districts are on leadership tracks. “The message is, ‘If you’re serious about advancing the opportunities of your constituents, here’s an avenue you’re not taking advantage of,’” says General Ham.
Yet once recruiters bring service members of color in, it needs to do a better job keeping them, says Ms. Grogan, noting that midcareer black officers are more likely to leave than their white colleagues. Between the promotion from lieutenant colonel to colonel – a key career marker in the Army – 64% of black officers chose to leave, compared to 51% of white officers.
To retain black officers, Pentagon leaders need to be attuned to the ways they are unintentionally sidelined, says retired Gen. Larry Spencer, former Air Force vice chief of staff. “It doesn’t mean that folks at the top are against or have any issues with diversity, but left alone to work itself out, it’s complicated,” he says.
Years ago, for example, General Spencer expressed interest in being the military assistant to the next secretary of the Air Force – a plum assignment. The problem, he was told, was that the leading candidate was African American, and it would look like favoritism for him to choose a black aide. “White males hire white males all the time. That’s still the case.”
Most students who receive a full scholarship on an ROTC program are obliged to serve for four years after graduation, providing a pipeline for future top leadership.
At HBCUs, ROTC students say they receive the sort of leadership coaching that pushes them to tackle everything from the tyranny of low expectations to the pressure they put on themselves when they’re the only nonwhite people in the room. “I see what works and what doesn’t,” says Mia Robinson, a senior at Howard University who plans to become a military intelligence officer. “Those people with leadership qualities that work, they go far. I also want to be a good leader for my peers.”
Among her own mentees, this is vital, she adds. “I notice that in the event they don’t have someone who looks like them, they’re not going to feel as comfortable.”
Barriers to diversity
Yet White House efforts to reach out to potential black recruits come at a time when many African Americans are wary of President Trump, says Katherine Washington-Williams, northeast regional head of the National Association for Black Veterans. “I used to tell young people, ‘Join the military,’ because it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. But now I look at our commander in chief, and I’m not seeing anything positive. I’m a proud American, but where’s the love?”
Maj. Gen. John Evans, head of U.S. Army Cadet Command, says he’s promoted women and officers of color onto his staff and that it’s made him a better leader. Their varied experience and backgrounds are particularly important, he says, because he came up in the notoriously white special operations world where, “through our own fault or not, it was hard to get diversity into the conversation, because there weren’t other [non-white] officers you could bring in.”
Military officials say that they are increasingly pushing young officers of color into jobs that aren’t their first choice to give them a better shot at career advancement.
In the Army for example, the top generals overwhelmingly come from the fighting fields – infantry, armor, field artillery – known collectively as the “combat arms.” Yet less than 10% of young black officers chose these fields, versus some 25% of white officers, according to the Military Leadership Diversity Commission. “This means that women and minorities have fewer opportunities for advancement and will, therefore, be underrepresented among leadership,” it concluded in a 2011 study.
It’s a good illustration of why mentors must be “insistent” about pushing young minority officers into combat specialties, says Major General Evans. One drawback is that combat jobs don’t easily transfer into civilian jobs compared to logistics and other fields. “You don’t get paid a lot of money on the outside to go and kill someone with precision,” he says.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
For his part, Lieutenant Colonel Bolton says he’s “tripled” interest in infantry and armor careers among his students at Alabama A&M, particularly among female cadets, who could not until recently pursue these jobs because women were banned from combat arms. Those who had marked it 5th or 6th on their list of top career fields “turned it into a 1 or a 2.”
He takes up a new job next month as a battalion commander in an Armor division, one of the Army fields most likely to produce four-star generals. He wants to work his way up and into one of the rare military positions where he can create policy – and be a role model. “When we see success at a high level,” he tells his students, “We say, ‘Yes, this is possible. For everyone.’”


csmonitor--2020-03-17--Universal to offer rentals to moviegoers stuck at home

U.S. movie theaters nationwide are preparing to shut down after President Donald Trump announced new guidelines urging against gatherings of more than 10 people because of the coronavirus pandemic .
With big screens across the country going dark , Hollywood moved to rush some new releases onto home entertainment platforms .
The coronavirus pandemic also cracked Hollywood 's traditional theatrical window .
Universal Pictures on Monday said it will make its current and upcoming films available for on-demand rental , becoming the first major studio to turn directly to home viewing in light of the virus .
The studio said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – `` Invisible Man , '' `` The Hunt , '' `` Emma '' – up for rental beginning as early as Friday .
It also said that `` Trolls World Tour , '' one of the only major releases left on the April film release calendar , will debut in theaters and on-demand services simultaneously .
A 48-hour rental will cost $ 19.99 .
The move came as theaters worldwide have closed and many North American cinemas were shuttering .
On Sunday , the mayors of New York and Los Angeles ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Massachusetts and Quebec also shuttered .
Overseas , most European cinemas have shut down , as have those in China , India , and elsewhere .
`` Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape , we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable , '' said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell in a statement .
`` We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible . ''
The extraordinary move marked what could be seen as either a watershed moment for Hollywood or an aberration due to extremely unusual circumstances .
With few exceptions , the major studios have guarded the usual 90-day exclusivity window even as digital newcomers like Netflix and Amazon have challenged it .
For the studios , box office still represents the industry 's primary revenue generator .
Last week , the Motion Picture Association said worldwide ticket sales reached $ 42.2 billion last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's second largest theater chain , said on Monday that it would close all cinemas beginning on Tuesday .
AMC Theaters , the largest theater circuit , did n't immediately respond to messages .
Earlier in the day , AMC said it would limit audiences to less than 50 people for every screening to facilitate social distancing .
Over the weekend , ticket sales plunged to their lowest levels in at least 20 years at the box office for U.S. and Canadian theaters .
Not since a quiet September weekend in 2000 has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to data firm Comscore .
More people went to the movies the weekend after Sept. 11 , 2001 .
The National Association of Theater Owners , the trade group that represents movie exhibitors , declined to comment .
NBCUniversal is prepping its own streaming service , dubbed Peacock , but it is n't to launch until July 15 .
On Sunday , the Walt Disney Co. made `` Frozen 2 '' available on its streaming service , Disney Plus .
But that film had already completed its theatrical run .
Discussing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunt '' and `` Invisible Man '' on Sunday , Universal 's distribution chief Jim Orr called the situation a unique time for the industry .
`` But we 'll get to the other side of it , and the box office will come back very healthy , '' said Mr. Orr .
`` It 's just a matter of when that might be . ''
Hollywood has postponed most of its upcoming releases .
This week 's previously most anticipated movie , `` A Quiet Place Part II , '' has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Disney 's `` Mulan '' and the James Bond film `` Die Another Day '' have been put off .
Universal earlier pushed its latest `` Fast and Furious '' movie , `` F9 , '' from late May to April of next year .
Other distributors are also shuffling plans .
The boutique studio A24 said Monday that it will re-release the acclaimed `` First Cow , '' which opened in limited release on March 6 , later this year since its initial bow has been marred by theater closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down .
Broadway theaters , major museums , and theme parks have closed their doors .
Concerts have been called off : Elton John was the latest as on Monday he announced dates in North America for his `` Farewell Yellow Brick Road '' tour from March 26 to May 2 would be postponed : later dates remain unchanged .
Festivals including South by Southwest in Austin , Texas , and the Tribeca Film Festival in New York have been canceled or delayed .
Most live-action film and TV production has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus .
According to the World Health Organization , people with mild illness recover in about two weeks , while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

U.S. movie theaters nationwide are preparing to shut down after President Donald Trump announced new guidelines urging against gatherings of more than 10 people because of the coronavirus pandemic. With big screens across the country going dark, Hollywood moved to rush some new releases onto home entertainment platforms.
The coronavirus pandemic also cracked Hollywood's traditional theatrical window. Universal Pictures on Monday said it will make its current and upcoming films available for on-demand rental, becoming the first major studio to turn directly to home viewing in light of the virus.
The studio said it will put movies currently in theaters – "Invisible Man," "The Hunt," "Emma" – up for rental beginning as early as Friday. It also said that "Trolls World Tour," one of the only major releases left on the April film release calendar, will debut in theaters and on-demand services simultaneously. A 48-hour rental will cost $19.99.
The move came as theaters worldwide have closed and many North American cinemas were shuttering. On Sunday, the mayors of New York and Los Angeles ordered their cities' theaters closed. Theaters in Massachusetts and Quebec also shuttered. Overseas, most European cinemas have shut down, as have those in China, India, and elsewhere.
"Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable," said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell in a statement.
"We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible."
The extraordinary move marked what could be seen as either a watershed moment for Hollywood or an aberration due to extremely unusual circumstances. With few exceptions, the major studios have guarded the usual 90-day exclusivity window even as digital newcomers like Netflix and Amazon have challenged it. For the studios, box office still represents the industry's primary revenue generator. Last week, the Motion Picture Association said worldwide ticket sales reached $42.2 billion last year.
Regal Cinema's the national's second largest theater chain, said on Monday that it would close all cinemas beginning on Tuesday. AMC Theaters, the largest theater circuit, didn't immediately respond to messages. Earlier in the day, AMC said it would limit audiences to less than 50 people for every screening to facilitate social distancing.
Over the weekend, ticket sales plunged to their lowest levels in at least 20 years at the box office for U.S. and Canadian theaters. Not since a quiet September weekend in 2000 has weekend box office revenue been so low, according to data firm Comscore. More people went to the movies the weekend after Sept. 11, 2001.
The National Association of Theater Owners, the trade group that represents movie exhibitors, declined to comment.
NBCUniversal is prepping its own streaming service, dubbed Peacock, but it isn't to launch until July 15. On Sunday, the Walt Disney Co. made "Frozen 2" available on its streaming service, Disney Plus. But that film had already completed its theatrical run.
Its digital release didn't break the traditional 90-day theatrical exclusivity window.
Discussing ticket receipts for titles including "The Hunt" and "Invisible Man" on Sunday, Universal's distribution chief Jim Orr called the situation a unique time for the industry. "But we'll get to the other side of it, and the box office will come back very healthy," said Mr. Orr. "It's just a matter of when that might be."
Hollywood has postponed most of its upcoming releases. This week's previously most anticipated movie, "A Quiet Place Part II," has been removed from the schedule. Other releases, including Disney's "Mulan" and the James Bond film "Die Another Day" have been put off. Universal earlier pushed its latest "Fast and Furious" movie, "F9," from late May to April of next year.
Other distributors are also shuffling plans. The boutique studio A24 said Monday that it will re-release the acclaimed "First Cow," which opened in limited release on March 6, later this year since its initial bow has been marred by theater closures.
Most of the entertainment world has shut down. Broadway theaters, major museums, and theme parks have closed their doors.
Concerts have been called off: Elton John was the latest as on Monday he announced dates in North America for his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour from March 26 to May 2 would be postponed: later dates remain unchanged.
Festivals including South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and the Tribeca Film Festival in New York have been canceled or delayed.
Most live-action film and TV production has been put on hiatus.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-04-13--Oil nations agree to unprecedented global production cut

OPEC , Russia , and other oil-producing nations on Sunday finalized an unprecedented production cut of nearly 10 million barrels , or a tenth of global supply , in hopes of boosting crashing prices amid the coronavirus pandemic and a price war , officials said .
“ This could be the largest reduction in production from OPEC for perhaps a decade , maybe longer , '' said U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette , who credited President Donald Trump 's personal involvement in getting dueling parties to the table and helping to end a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes have largely halted global travel and slowed down other energy-chugging sectors such as manufacturing .
It has devastated the oil industry in the U.S. , which now pumps more crude than any other country .
But some producers have been reluctant to ease supply .
The cartel and other nations on Sunday agreed to allow Mexico to cut only 100,000 barrels a month , a sticking point for an accord initially reached Friday after a marathon video conference between 23 nations .
The nations together agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout May and June .
The group reached the deal just hours before Asian markets reopened Monday and as international benchmark Brent crude traded at just over $ 31 a barrel and American shale producers struggle .
Video aired by the Saudi-owned satellite channel Al-Arabiya showed the moment that Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman , a son of King Salman , assented to the deal .
“ I go with the consent , so I agree , ” the prince said , chuckling , drawing a round of applause from those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply criticized Russia days earlier over what it described as comments critical of the kingdom , which finds itself trying to appease Mr. Trump , a longtime OPEC critic .
Even U.S. senators had warned Saudi Arabia to find a way to boost prices as American shale firms face far-higher production costs .
American troops had been deployed to the kingdom for the first time since the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks over concerns of Iranian retaliation amid regional tensions .
“ They 've spent over the last month waging war on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theirs .
This is not how friends treat friends , ” said Sen. Kevin Cramer , a Republican from North Dakota , before the OPEC+ deal .
U.S. producers have already been reducing output .
The American Petroleum Institute lauded Sunday 's global pact , saying it will help get other nations ' state-owned oil production to follow the lead of U.S. producers that are trying to adjust to plunging demand .
Mr. Brouillette said the U.S. did not make commitments of its own production cuts , but was able to show the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is expected to slash U.S. oil production .
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh also told state television that Kuwait , Saudi Arabia , and the United Arab Emirates would cut another 2 million barrels of oil a day between them atop the OPEC+ deal .
The three countries did not immediately acknowledge the cut themselves , though Mr. Zanganeh attended the video conference .
Officials said other planned cuts would stand in the deal , meaning an 8 million barrel per day cut from July through the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 months beginning in 2021 .
“ This will enable the rebalancing of the oil markets and the expected rebound of prices by $ 15 per barrel in the short term , ” said a statement from Nigeria 's oil ministry .
Mexico had initially blocked the deal but its president , Andrés Manuel López Obrador , had said Friday that he had agreed with Mr. Trump that the U.S. will compensate what Mexico can not add to the proposed cuts .
“ The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy jobs in the United States , '' Mr. Trump said in a tweet .
“ I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia . ''
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin held a joint call with Mr. Trump and Saudi King Salman to express support of the deal .
It also said Mr. Putin spoke separately with Mr. Trump about the oil market and other issues .
“ The pure size of the cut is unprecedented , but , then again , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on demand , ” said Mohammed Ghulam , an energy analyst at Raymond James .
The output reduction falls short of completely offsetting an estimated 30 million bpd drop in worldwide fuel consumption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` In the short term , the WTI [ West Texas Intermediate benchmark ] may hold above $ 20 after the deal but it could fall below that level unless all the countries follow up their words with actions , '' said Tatsufumi Okoshi , senior economist at Nomura Securities , told Reuters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it may not be enough .
“ This is at least a temporary relief for the energy industry and for the global economy .
This industry is too big to be let to fail and the alliance showed responsibility with this agreement , ” said Per Magnus Nysveen , the head of analysis at Rystad Energy .
“ Even though the production cuts are smaller than what the market needed and only postpone the stock building constraints problem , the worst is for now avoided.
” This story was reported by The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

OPEC, Russia, and other oil-producing nations on Sunday finalized an unprecedented production cut of nearly 10 million barrels, or a tenth of global supply, in hopes of boosting crashing prices amid the coronavirus pandemic and a price war, officials said.
“This could be the largest reduction in production from OPEC for perhaps a decade, maybe longer," said U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, who credited President Donald Trump's personal involvement in getting dueling parties to the table and helping to end a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Oil prices have collapsed as the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes have largely halted global travel and slowed down other energy-chugging sectors such as manufacturing. It has devastated the oil industry in the U.S., which now pumps more crude than any other country.
But some producers have been reluctant to ease supply. The cartel and other nations on Sunday agreed to allow Mexico to cut only 100,000 barrels a month, a sticking point for an accord initially reached Friday after a marathon video conference between 23 nations. The nations together agreed to cut 9.7 million barrels a day throughout May and June.
The group reached the deal just hours before Asian markets reopened Monday and as international benchmark Brent crude traded at just over $31 a barrel and American shale producers struggle.
Video aired by the Saudi-owned satellite channel Al-Arabiya showed the moment that Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, a son of King Salman, assented to the deal.
“I go with the consent, so I agree,” the prince said, chuckling, drawing a round of applause from those on the video call.
Saudi Arabia sharply criticized Russia days earlier over what it described as comments critical of the kingdom, which finds itself trying to appease Mr. Trump, a longtime OPEC critic.
Even U.S. senators had warned Saudi Arabia to find a way to boost prices as American shale firms face far-higher production costs. American troops had been deployed to the kingdom for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks over concerns of Iranian retaliation amid regional tensions.
“They've spent over the last month waging war on American oil producers while we are defending theirs. This is not how friends treat friends,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, before the OPEC+ deal.
U.S. producers have already been reducing output. The American Petroleum Institute lauded Sunday's global pact, saying it will help get other nations' state-owned oil production to follow the lead of U.S. producers that are trying to adjust to plunging demand.
Mr. Brouillette said the U.S. did not make commitments of its own production cuts, but was able to show the obvious – that plunging demand because of the pandemic is expected to slash U.S. oil production.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh also told state television that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates would cut another 2 million barrels of oil a day between them atop the OPEC+ deal. The three countries did not immediately acknowledge the cut themselves, though Mr. Zanganeh attended the video conference.
Officials said other planned cuts would stand in the deal, meaning an 8 million barrel per day cut from July through the end of the year and a 6 million barrel cut for 16 months beginning in 2021.
“This will enable the rebalancing of the oil markets and the expected rebound of prices by $15 per barrel in the short term,” said a statement from Nigeria's oil ministry.
Mexico had initially blocked the deal but its president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had said Friday that he had agreed with Mr. Trump that the U.S. will compensate what Mexico cannot add to the proposed cuts.
“The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done. This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States," Mr. Trump said in a tweet. “I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia."
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin held a joint call with Mr. Trump and Saudi King Salman to express support of the deal. It also said Mr. Putin spoke separately with Mr. Trump about the oil market and other issues.
Analysts offered cautious praise.
“The pure size of the cut is unprecedented, but, then again, so is the impact the coronavirus is having on demand,” said Mohammed Ghulam, an energy analyst at Raymond James.
The output reduction falls short of completely offsetting an estimated 30 million bpd drop in worldwide fuel consumption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "In the short term, the WTI [West Texas Intermediate benchmark] may hold above $20 after the deal but it could fall below that level unless all the countries follow up their words with actions," said Tatsufumi Okoshi, senior economist at Nomura Securities, told Reuters.
Ghulam, Okoshi, and others worried it may not be enough.
“This is at least a temporary relief for the energy industry and for the global economy. This industry is too big to be let to fail and the alliance showed responsibility with this agreement,” said Per Magnus Nysveen, the head of analysis at Rystad Energy. “Even though the production cuts are smaller than what the market needed and only postpone the stock building constraints problem, the worst is for now avoided.”
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


Humanity’s ultimate laboratory

Someone once told me that marriage is not about finding someone you love .
It is about finding someone with whom you can discover what love is .
Families can give us joy and heartache , fellowship and frustration , support and aggravation .
Over Thanksgiving , they can give us all those things in the space of one weekend .
Which is why this week ’ s cover story strikes such a deep and universal chord .
Stephen Humphries tells the stories of families that were broken – seemingly irrevocably – and how the perspective brought by the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .
The stories are as varied as the families in them .
Misunderstandings , neglect , or anger led to estrangements – fathers from children , brothers from sisters .
In one case , a sister had long imagined never reconciling with her brother , and was untroubled by the thought .
Until now .
The coronavirus crisis has , Stephen notes , stripped away so many layers of daily life – be it a sense of security or routine or comfort .
And for some , the exposed bedrock beneath is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diminished in some significant degree , showing that an indissoluble love was still there , after all .
And that has brought meaning to a time when so much seems uncertain .
But the stories Stephen writes about are not easy .
Reconciliation is rarely an endpoint , but a beginning – a mutual moment of grace that creates the space for more .
And that is what draws me back to what my friend told me years ago .
Families are humankind ’ s ultimate laboratory for love .
And Stephen ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what that kind of love requires .
Why should we set the boundary for that kind of affection at a blood connection ?
One answer might be that this kind of love is too difficult : How could we possibly summon such patience and humility with everyone ?
But , of course , we do all the time .
Not just those who adopt or take in foster children , but all of us , to our varying degrees .
What is a neighborhood but a group of people who know us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the dead of winter when our heater breaks ( as neighbors have for my family ) ?
Or what about our work colleagues and friends who have our backs or help us celebrate ?
Or what about churches or nonprofits or entire governments that help feed the hungry , heal the sick , and clothe the needy ?
Family is just the beginning , really .
Just because something is hard does not mean that it is unnecessary , and our families give us ample evidence of that every day – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronicles , the rewards of loving , even when it seems impossible , can be transformational .
Can that kind of love be applied to entire communities , countries , continents ?
Who is our family ?
Those are difficult questions , particularly in polarized times .
But each of us proves some part of the answer every day .

Someone once told me that marriage is not about finding someone you love. It is about finding someone with whom you can discover what love is.
Families can give us joy and heartache, fellowship and frustration, support and aggravation. Over Thanksgiving, they can give us all those things in the space of one weekend. Which is why this week’s cover story strikes such a deep and universal chord. Stephen Humphries tells the stories of families that were broken – seemingly irrevocably – and how the perspective brought by the coronavirus pandemic has begun to knit them back together.
The stories are as varied as the families in them. Misunderstandings, neglect, or anger led to estrangements – fathers from children, brothers from sisters. In one case, a sister had long imagined never reconciling with her brother, and was untroubled by the thought. Until now.
The coronavirus crisis has, Stephen notes, stripped away so many layers of daily life – be it a sense of security or routine or comfort. And for some, the exposed bedrock beneath is family. Hurts and disagreements have unexpectedly diminished in some significant degree, showing that an indissoluble love was still there, after all. And that has brought meaning to a time when so much seems uncertain.
But the stories Stephen writes about are not easy. Reconciliation is rarely an endpoint, but a beginning – a mutual moment of grace that creates the space for more. And that is what draws me back to what my friend told me years ago. Families are humankind’s ultimate laboratory for love. And Stephen’s cover story could be a textbook on what that kind of love requires.
Why should we set the boundary for that kind of affection at a blood connection? One answer might be that this kind of love is too difficult: How could we possibly summon such patience and humility with everyone? But, of course, we do all the time. Not just those who adopt or take in foster children, but all of us, to our varying degrees.
What is a neighborhood but a group of people who know us and are willing to give us shelter in the dead of winter when our heater breaks (as neighbors have for my family)? Or what about our work colleagues and friends who have our backs or help us celebrate? Or what about churches or nonprofits or entire governments that help feed the hungry, heal the sick, and clothe the needy? Family is just the beginning, really.
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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.
Just because something is hard does not mean that it is unnecessary, and our families give us ample evidence of that every day – and perhaps now, especially. As Stephen chronicles, the rewards of loving, even when it seems impossible, can be transformational.
Can that kind of love be applied to entire communities, countries, continents? Who is our family? Those are difficult questions, particularly in polarized times. But each of us proves some part of the answer every day.


csmonitor--2020-06-05--For whistleblowers, an honest day’s pay

For whistleblowers, an honest day’s pay

It might seem there is no benefit in whistleblowing in the U.S , but consider this : On Thursday , the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced it had given its largest reward ever – nearly $ 50 million – to a whistleblower .
The SEC did not name the recipient but said the truth-teller provided “ firsthand observations of misconduct ” from inside a financial firm .
The reward is the latest in a remarkable string of achievements for the SEC in promoting honest governance in corporations .
Since last October , the agency has handed out more bounty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in successful action against corruption .
Since 2012 , when the SEC first began giving monetary incentives to whistleblowers , it has awarded over $ 500 million .
Of that amount , it gave $ 100 million just in the past eight months .
The Wall Street Journal did identify the recipient of the $ 50 million as Grant Wilson , a former currency trader at Bank of New York Mellon Corp .
The bank ended up paying $ 714 million in fines and other compensation after Mr. Wilson led the SEC to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Governments have learned that it is not enough to protect whistleblowers from retaliation by employers .
Corporate integrity must be encouraged by rewarding individuals driven by conscience to shine a light on malfeasance .
The success of the SEC program comes at a good time .
With the U.S. government handing out trillions of dollars to keep companies afloat during the COVID-19 crisis , many more employees are reporting misuse of those funds .
The SEC took in about 4,000 complaints from mid-March to mid-May , or a 35 % increase from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud in coronavirus-related spending is not only in the U.S .
In April , 92 organizations around the world , including Transparency International , called on governments and corporations to guarantee the safety of whistleblowers during the pandemic .
The vast majority of money recovered in U.S. fraud cases is a result of tips from whistleblowers .
For their integrity and risk-taking , they deserve a portion of the proceeds .
For many of them , honesty is its own reward .
But if taking a reward encourages others to follow suit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it forward .

It might seem there is no benefit in whistleblowing in the U.S, but consider this: On Thursday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced it had given its largest reward ever – nearly $50 million – to a whistleblower. The SEC did not name the recipient but said the truth-teller provided “firsthand observations of misconduct” from inside a financial firm.
The reward is the latest in a remarkable string of achievements for the SEC in promoting honest governance in corporations. Since last October, the agency has handed out more bounty than ever to tipsters whose information resulted in successful action against corruption. Since 2012, when the SEC first began giving monetary incentives to whistleblowers, it has awarded over $500 million. Of that amount, it gave $100 million just in the past eight months.
The Wall Street Journal did identify the recipient of the $50 million as Grant Wilson, a former currency trader at Bank of New York Mellon Corp. The bank ended up paying $714 million in fines and other compensation after Mr. Wilson led the SEC to investigate allegations of fraud at BNY Mellon.
Governments have learned that it is not enough to protect whistleblowers from retaliation by employers. Corporate integrity must be encouraged by rewarding individuals driven by conscience to shine a light on malfeasance.
The success of the SEC program comes at a good time. With the U.S. government handing out trillions of dollars to keep companies afloat during the COVID-19 crisis, many more employees are reporting misuse of those funds. The SEC took in about 4,000 complaints from mid-March to mid-May, or a 35% increase from a year ago.
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The concern about fraud in coronavirus-related spending is not only in the U.S. In April, 92 organizations around the world, including Transparency International, called on governments and corporations to guarantee the safety of whistleblowers during the pandemic.
The vast majority of money recovered in U.S. fraud cases is a result of tips from whistleblowers. For their integrity and risk-taking, they deserve a portion of the proceeds. For many of them, honesty is its own reward. But if taking a reward encourages others to follow suit, their honesty is a way to pay it forward.


csmonitor--2020-05-20--Back to the future office

Back to the future office

The office is a place where people display their second selves .
They dress differently from home and think about topics unlike those spoken around the kitchen table .
It ’ s a place to join a different “ family ” pursuing its own goals .
But now after COVID-19 lockdowns pushed many people to work at home , the line between those personal and public selves is looking fuzzier than ever .
The nature of office work may change forever , but the changes are still hard to predict .
Early reports are surprisingly positive .
Many companies find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logging in from home ( or elsewhere ) .
And workers have seen benefits , too , such as saving the time and cost of commuting .
One recent survey found nearly half of the people now working from home say they would like to continue to do so .
What might this mean ?
As large numbers of workers remain at home , what happens to big cities and their office towers ?
One survey of corporate real estate users revealed that nearly 7 out of 10 thought companies will be using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of remote work .
Office vacancies in the United States ( now 16.8 % ) will rise to 19.4 % by the end of the year , research firm REIS estimates .
Some companies may abandon a central headquarters altogether .
But not every business ( or every worker ) wants to walk away from the communal office .
Companies that want or need at least some employees on-site are expected to ease them back to their desks slowly and safely , a few at a time .
It ’ s a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lest workers sense their bosses care more about the bottom line than about their health .
All sorts of new ways are being imagined to make workplaces safer , from limiting the number of people in elevators to one-way hallways , touchless door openers , and a return to high-walled cubicles .
After the 9/11 disaster at New York ’ s twin towers , some predicted the demise of the office skyscraper .
They reasoned that workers would be afraid to enter big buildings .
But that hasn ’ t happened .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ places ( video cameras , body scanners , more visible guards ) no longer seems alarming .
New measures meant to ensure office buildings are “ healthy ” may eventually have the same effect .
Making workplaces safe is still a work in progress .
Those who ’ ve kept going to workplaces all along , such as at Amazon warehouses and post offices , haven ’ t always felt their safety has been top of mind .
More than 13,600 complaints and referrals related to COVID-19 have been filed with the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include being forced to work next to sick co-workers and not being provided with adequate safety equipment .
The key to a new and safe workplace is strong mutual trust between companies and their employees .
“ The hope is that the pandemic will have shown managers that workers can be trusted to do their jobs without constant supervision , ” says Kate Lister , president of Global Workplace Analytics .
In return , employers must keep the welfare of employees atop their list of priorities .

The office is a place where people display their second selves. They dress differently from home and think about topics unlike those spoken around the kitchen table. It’s a place to join a different “family” pursuing its own goals.
But now after COVID-19 lockdowns pushed many people to work at home, the line between those personal and public selves is looking fuzzier than ever. The nature of office work may change forever, but the changes are still hard to predict.
Early reports are surprisingly positive. Many companies find they can function just fine with employees logging in from home (or elsewhere). And workers have seen benefits, too, such as saving the time and cost of commuting. One recent survey found nearly half of the people now working from home say they would like to continue to do so.
What might this mean? As large numbers of workers remain at home, what happens to big cities and their office towers? One survey of corporate real estate users revealed that nearly 7 out of 10 thought companies will be using less real estate in the future because of remote work. Office vacancies in the United States (now 16.8%) will rise to 19.4% by the end of the year, research firm REIS estimates.
Some companies may abandon a central headquarters altogether. But not every business (or every worker) wants to walk away from the communal office. Companies that want or need at least some employees on-site are expected to ease them back to their desks slowly and safely, a few at a time. It’s a job that will need to be done sensitively, lest workers sense their bosses care more about the bottom line than about their health.
All sorts of new ways are being imagined to make workplaces safer, from limiting the number of people in elevators to one-way hallways, touchless door openers, and a return to high-walled cubicles.
After the 9/11 disaster at New York’s twin towers, some predicted the demise of the office skyscraper. They reasoned that workers would be afraid to enter big buildings. But that hasn’t happened. And the extra security put into public places (video cameras, body scanners, more visible guards) no longer seems alarming. New measures meant to ensure office buildings are “healthy” may eventually have the same effect.
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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.
Making workplaces safe is still a work in progress. Those who’ve kept going to workplaces all along, such as at Amazon warehouses and post offices, haven’t always felt their safety has been top of mind. More than 13,600 complaints and referrals related to COVID-19 have been filed with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They include being forced to work next to sick co-workers and not being provided with adequate safety equipment.
The key to a new and safe workplace is strong mutual trust between companies and their employees. “The hope is that the pandemic will have shown managers that workers can be trusted to do their jobs without constant supervision,” says Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics. In return, employers must keep the welfare of employees atop their list of priorities.


csmonitor--2020-05-25--No longer isolated: Volunteers reach out with a phone call

For Dell Kaplan , the offer to get calls from a stranger just to chat while staying home during the coronavirus pandemic was immediately appealing .
`` It gets pretty lonely here by yourself , '' said Ms. Kaplan , an octogenarian who lives in a Dallas suburb .
She 's been missing meals out with friends , family get-togethers , and going to classes at a nearby college .
The program being offered by the city of Plano is among those that have popped up across the United States during the pandemic to help older adults with a simple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's really just to give them a social outlet that they might not have otherwise , '' said Holly Ryckman , a library support supervisor who is among about 15 staffers from several city departments in Plano who together have been making about 50 calls a week starting in April .
Brent Bloechle , a library manager who helped organize the program , said the city plans to keep it up through at least mid-summer , and maybe permanently .
The people receiving the calls have various amounts of social interaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many , she said , talk about relatives who are in touch , so her call might just be `` one piece of the puzzle '' helping them stay engaged .
That 's the case for Ms. Kaplan , who regularly talks with her daughter , granddaughters , and friends , keeps up with people on Facebook , and has been participating online in her adult-learning classes .
But Ms. Kaplan said her biweekly chats with Ms. Ryckman give her something to look forward to `` besides the usual . ''
Laurie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people across the U.S. from her California home as part of the AARP 's Friendly Voices program .
Ms. Onofrio-Collier said her goal is for each person she calls `` to feel uplifted , to feel good . ''
Like the Plano program , the volunteers for the Friendly Voices program guide people to resources if they need help from local groups for things like getting groceries – AARP 's Community Connections site lists groups across the U.S. offering help – but the main point is conversation .
Ms. Onofrio-Collier said some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while others live alone .
She said conversations touch on everything from hobbies to vacations to happy memories .
Ms. Onofrio-Collier bonded with one caller over a shared experience : `` We ended up talking about how ... when we were kids we loved to read so much that we would read under the covers with a flashlight . ''
`` I get off the phone with a smile , '' Ms. Onofrio-Collier said .
She is among about 1,000 volunteers making the calls , according to Andy Miller , senior vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miller said some people want help with technology so they can stay connected with their grandchildren .
One volunteer helped a woman figure out how to play online checkers with her grandchild .
`` We 're seeing a lot of that – where people are just trying to stay connected to family in ways that they probably did n't do before , '' Mr. Miller said .
Older adults are among those who are particularly vulnerable to severe illness and death from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
That 's why health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home even as some states loosen restrictions put in place because of the pandemic .
`` Some seniors may be the last ones out because of the vulnerability , '' Mr. Miller said .
Ms. Kaplan , who retired 11 years ago after more than two decades managing Plano 's senior center , said she and Ms. Ryckman did n't know each other , but found common ground in talking about the city and dealing with isolating at home .
Ms. Ryckman said the calls have been `` a gift '' for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels it 's safe for her to venture to places other than the grocery store , she plans to visit the library and meet Ms. Ryckman in person .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

For Dell Kaplan, the offer to get calls from a stranger just to chat while staying home during the coronavirus pandemic was immediately appealing.
"It gets pretty lonely here by yourself," said Ms. Kaplan, an octogenarian who lives in a Dallas suburb. She's been missing meals out with friends, family get-togethers, and going to classes at a nearby college.
The program being offered by the city of Plano is among those that have popped up across the United States during the pandemic to help older adults with a simple offer to engage in small talk.
"It's really just to give them a social outlet that they might not have otherwise," said Holly Ryckman, a library support supervisor who is among about 15 staffers from several city departments in Plano who together have been making about 50 calls a week starting in April.
Brent Bloechle, a library manager who helped organize the program, said the city plans to keep it up through at least mid-summer, and maybe permanently.
The people receiving the calls have various amounts of social interaction in their lives, Ms. Ryckman said. Many, she said, talk about relatives who are in touch, so her call might just be "one piece of the puzzle" helping them stay engaged.
That's the case for Ms. Kaplan, who regularly talks with her daughter, granddaughters, and friends, keeps up with people on Facebook, and has been participating online in her adult-learning classes.
But Ms. Kaplan said her biweekly chats with Ms. Ryckman give her something to look forward to "besides the usual."
Laurie Onofrio-Collier has been making calls to older people across the U.S. from her California home as part of the AARP's Friendly Voices program. Ms. Onofrio-Collier said her goal is for each person she calls "to feel uplifted, to feel good."
Like the Plano program, the volunteers for the Friendly Voices program guide people to resources if they need help from local groups for things like getting groceries – AARP's Community Connections site lists groups across the U.S. offering help – but the main point is conversation.
Ms. Onofrio-Collier said some people she has called live with a spouse, while others live alone.
She said conversations touch on everything from hobbies to vacations to happy memories.
Ms. Onofrio-Collier bonded with one caller over a shared experience: "We ended up talking about how ... when we were kids we loved to read so much that we would read under the covers with a flashlight."
"I get off the phone with a smile," Ms. Onofrio-Collier said.
She is among about 1,000 volunteers making the calls, according to Andy Miller, senior vice president of AARP Innovations Labs.
Mr. Miller said some people want help with technology so they can stay connected with their grandchildren. One volunteer helped a woman figure out how to play online checkers with her grandchild.
"We're seeing a lot of that – where people are just trying to stay connected to family in ways that they probably didn't do before," Mr. Miller said.
Older adults are among those who are particularly vulnerable to severe illness and death from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. That's why health officials are encouraging people over 65 to stay home even as some states loosen restrictions put in place because of the pandemic.
"Some seniors may be the last ones out because of the vulnerability," Mr. Miller said.
Ms. Kaplan, who retired 11 years ago after more than two decades managing Plano's senior center, said she and Ms. Ryckman didn't know each other, but found common ground in talking about the city and dealing with isolating at home.
Ms. Ryckman said the calls have been "a gift" for her.
Ms. Kaplan said that when she feels it's safe for her to venture to places other than the grocery store, she plans to visit the library and meet Ms. Ryckman in person.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.