usatoday--2020-07-29--New kind of 'barber shop talk': Mississippi barbers get mental health training to aid Black communit

JACKSON , Miss .
– The barber ’ s chair may be the new therapy couch for parts of the South where mental health care is in short supply .
In Mississippi , one of six Southern states ranked in the bottom 10 for mental health care access , approximately 60 Black barbers have been trained over the past year to engage their clients in mental health discussions that may not otherwise happen .
`` As a barber , people listen to our advice a lot , and the training just brought that out more , '' said Antonio Wiggins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trendsetters Barber College in Jackson , Miss .
`` I didn ’ t even realize I was helping people mentally and how important that was . ''
Conversation is part of the allure in barbershops like Trendsetters .
Men will wait 6 to 7 hours on a Saturday for a cut and spend the day swapping sports opinions , vetting conspiracy theories or debating grandiose hypotheticals — “ What ’ s the worst thing you think has ever happened ?
” “ We like to say we ’ re like the Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You come to the barbershop and people automatically feel comfortable .
It ’ s the barbershop talk.
” In June , Wiggins was one of 20 who participated in the latest round of training by The Confess Project , an Arkansas-based group that has taught Black barbers across the South how to fold emotional support into that `` shop talk '' and de-stigmatize those conversations in predominantly male waiting areas .
Wiggins said the training showed him that what goes unsaid can be just as important to listen for .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who committed suicide , clients who had depression , ” Wiggins said .
`` This has made me pay attention more to different words a client might use .
Or if a client wants to let others get before them , basically they don ’ t really want a haircut and maybe want to talk more .
It makes me pay more attention , because it may be something that could save that person ’ s life.
” Studies have shown Black people nationwide have a higher risk of post traumatic stress disorder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That risk is heightened in Southern states like Mississippi where high rates of poverty , violence and abuse can deepen trauma .
Still , in Mississippi and other parts of the South , barriers to mental health access remain high .
The state ranks No .
48 nationally for mental health care access , according to the MHA report , which analyzed how many people received treatment and how many adults could n't get treatment due to cost , among other factors .
The lack of access received national attention in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s mental health care system .
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled , in part , that the state unnecessarily institutionalized people in state hospitals and `` has major gaps in its community care . ''
Mississippi also had the second fewest psychiatrists per capita in 2018 , according to 2018 report by University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center .
“ Mississippi has pretty much turned its back on mental health issues , ” said barber Darius Campbell , who also participated in the Confess Project .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health issues .
The only place we really have to deal with mental health is the state hospital and for the most part , everybody don ’ t belong there .
Some people just need that little sit-down to release what ’ s on their mind and what ’ s on their heart.
” Overall , the South accounts for six of the bottom 10 states for mental health care access nationwide , according to the MHA report : Georgia , Mississippi , South Carolina , Alabama , North Carolina and Tennessee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in each of those states except Alabama .
And Confess Project founder Lorenzo Lewis said he has seen encouraging results .
`` On the micro level we ’ re working to build stronger , healthier relationships , '' Lewis said .
`` On the macro level , we see that poverty may be decreased .
Men come in the shops that have better employment outcomes and better mental health . ''
Tiffany Haynes , an associate professor at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , studied the barriers to mental health care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In that 2017 study , she found that lack of access to insurance/cost as well as a healthcare provider shortage were primary factors .
Haynes also found that within the Black community , a clear need for mental health care often clashed with a lack of access to mental health literacy and deeply-rooted stigmas against seeking therapy .
`` Participants in our study talked a lot about stigma .
In smaller communities , it ’ s really hard to access these services without someone else knowing what you ’ re doing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something Lewis knows all too well .
Lewis lost his father in the third grade .
He still remembers someone telling him to `` man up . ''
`` I think that experience manifests with a lot of men , '' Lewis said .
Lewis likes to use personal experience to connect with the barbers he 's training , and as someone who is both a 10-year behavioral health worker and a formerly incarcerated juvenile diagnosed with depression , Lewis likes to say he understands mental health needs both `` personally and professionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aunt 's beauty store in Little Rock , Ark.
, where he found a nurturing environment and his first mentor .
`` That 's where I saw that I could be the best I could be .
And I saw lives being changed there all those years , '' Lewis said .
In retrospect , barbershops seem ideal for filling in mental health gaps for Black Mississippians .
The barber chair is a great equalizer , where every member of the community sits with self-improvement already in mind .
And barbers are familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for non-judgement and discretion .
Black mental health workers comprise only 2 % of American Psychological Association members , according to a 2017 staffing analysis .
`` I learned during the COVID shutdown that barbershops are most people ’ s counseling sessions , '' Campbell said .
`` If you could be a fly on the wall and listen to some of the things that ’ s shared , you ’ d be like , wow , they don ’ t ever need to shut barbershops down again . ''
The inclusion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shop in the 1,100-person town of Terry , Miss.
, could mean a boost in mental health literacy in rural areas .
In the past year , Campbell said he saw `` a lot of broken young men '' coming into his shop , which led to his involvement with The Confess Project .
While many are not yet comfortable with opening up , he said he continues to apply lessons he 's learned .
He watches for those avoiding eye contact or drooping their head .
`` Now when I see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask , '' Campbell said .
`` Or I don ’ t open up with questions and I start by saying , ‘ Man , you are so worth it .
You don ’ t know how much you helped me today , ’ and they say , ‘ Wow , for real ?
’ '' Wiggins , a longtime barber who has seen kids grow from kindergarten to college from behind the barber chair , said he knows of clients with diagnosed mental illnesses .
But more often , he sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There was the mother who would always come to get her eyebrows shaped .
After one session , she did n't get up from the chair and instead burst into tears and began talking about her son 's drug habit .
`` She was asking what advice I can give and if I can talk to him .
And I did , because I cut his hair also , '' Wiggins said .
`` Stuff like that happens all the time.
” When a regular of his , James Bennett , came into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew how he wanted his hair cut : a taper on the side and taken low all over .
And after seven years of cutting Bennett 's hair every weekend , Wiggins also knew something was off .
`` I knew something was wrong because he had his head down the whole time .
We ’ d normally be laughing and joking and talking about regular barbershop stuff , '' Wiggins said .
“ I didn ’ t know he had a gun in his pocket that night . ''
As Bennett put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ongoing divorce had him angry enough to `` do crazy stuff '' and `` want to hurt somebody , anybody . ''
Wiggins , sensing the recklessness in his friend , told Bennett not to do anything that would steal time from his mother or his three children .
A week later , Bennett returned to the shop .
He explained that he had a gun the week before and thanked Wiggins for being the voice he needed to hear .
`` I went back and told him , ‘ You helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be cutting my hair no more because I ’ d be locked up in jail , ' '' Bennett said .
Three years later , Bennett still frequents the shop .
Sometimes he looks for answers , but since that night in 2017 , he also looks for others who need the help he was once given .
Reflecting on that night , Bennett said therapy had been an option for him , but he did n't feel comfortable speaking with someone who had n't had a similar upbringing .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t help me but at that point I was looking for someone who 's been through it , '' Bennett said .
`` For Black people , the barbershop is where men go to speak with other men to get a point of view from everybody .
I sit and listen and take all of it in , and it works for me .
It keeps me positive . ''
Sometimes , getting a little off the top can take a weight off your shoulders .

New kind of 'barber shop talk': Mississippi barbers get mental health training to aid Black communities
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: People flock to reopened public places during pandemic Visitors flocked to Utah's Sand Hollow State Park and barber shops in Georgia after some states reopened some public places. USA TODAY, USA TODAY
JACKSON, Miss. – The barber’s chair may be the new therapy couch for parts of the South where mental health care is in short supply.
In Mississippi, one of six Southern states ranked in the bottom 10 for mental health care access, approximately 60 Black barbers have been trained over the past year to engage their clients in mental health discussions that may not otherwise happen.
"As a barber, people listen to our advice a lot, and the training just brought that out more," said Antonio Wiggins, who cuts hair and teaches at the Trendsetters Barber College in Jackson, Miss. "I didn’t even realize I was helping people mentally and how important that was."
Conversation is part of the allure in barbershops like Trendsetters.
Men will wait 6 to 7 hours on a Saturday for a cut and spend the day swapping sports opinions, vetting conspiracy theories or debating grandiose hypotheticals — “What’s the worst thing you think has ever happened?”
“We like to say we’re like the Black country club,” Wiggins said. “You come to the barbershop and people automatically feel comfortable. It’s the barbershop talk.”
In June, Wiggins was one of 20 who participated in the latest round of training by The Confess Project, an Arkansas-based group that has taught Black barbers across the South how to fold emotional support into that "shop talk" and de-stigmatize those conversations in predominantly male waiting areas.
Wiggins said the training showed him that what goes unsaid can be just as important to listen for.
“I’ve had clients (before) who committed suicide, clients who had depression,” Wiggins said. "This has made me pay attention more to different words a client might use. Or if a client wants to let others get before them, basically they don’t really want a haircut and maybe want to talk more. It makes me pay more attention, because it may be something that could save that person’s life.”
Barriers to mental health care
Studies have shown Black people nationwide have a higher risk of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other ethnic groups. That risk is heightened in Southern states like Mississippi where high rates of poverty, violence and abuse can deepen trauma.
Still, in Mississippi and other parts of the South, barriers to mental health access remain high.
The state ranks No. 48 nationally for mental health care access, according to the MHA report, which analyzed how many people received treatment and how many adults couldn't get treatment due to cost, among other factors.
The lack of access received national attention in 2017 when the federal government seized oversight of the state’s mental health care system. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled, in part, that the state unnecessarily institutionalized people in state hospitals and "has major gaps in its community care."
Mississippi also had the second fewest psychiatrists per capita in 2018, according to 2018 report by University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center.
“Mississippi has pretty much turned its back on mental health issues,” said barber Darius Campbell, who also participated in the Confess Project. “There’s no funding for mental health issues. The only place we really have to deal with mental health is the state hospital and for the most part, everybody don’t belong there. Some people just need that little sit-down to release what’s on their mind and what’s on their heart.”
Overall, the South accounts for six of the bottom 10 states for mental health care access nationwide, according to the MHA report: Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee.
The Confess Project has worked with barbers in each of those states except Alabama. And Confess Project founder Lorenzo Lewis said he has seen encouraging results.
"On the micro level we’re working to build stronger, healthier relationships," Lewis said. "On the macro level, we see that poverty may be decreased. Men come in the shops that have better employment outcomes and better mental health."
Tiffany Haynes, an associate professor at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, studied the barriers to mental health care for Black people who live in rural areas. In that 2017 study, she found that lack of access to insurance/cost as well as a healthcare provider shortage were primary factors.
Haynes also found that within the Black community, a clear need for mental health care often clashed with a lack of access to mental health literacy and deeply-rooted stigmas against seeking therapy.
"Participants in our study talked a lot about stigma. In smaller communities, it’s really hard to access these services without someone else knowing what you’re doing," Haynes said.
That stigma is something Lewis knows all too well.
Lewis lost his father in the third grade. He still remembers someone telling him to "man up."
"I think that experience manifests with a lot of men," Lewis said.
Lewis likes to use personal experience to connect with the barbers he's training, and as someone who is both a 10-year behavioral health worker and a formerly incarcerated juvenile diagnosed with depression, Lewis likes to say he understands mental health needs both "personally and professionally."
But it was in his aunt's beauty store in Little Rock, Ark., where he found a nurturing environment and his first mentor.
"That's where I saw that I could be the best I could be. And I saw lives being changed there all those years," Lewis said.
Barbershop therapy
In retrospect, barbershops seem ideal for filling in mental health gaps for Black Mississippians.
The barber chair is a great equalizer, where every member of the community sits with self-improvement already in mind. And barbers are familiar, relatable faces in a space known for non-judgement and discretion.
Black mental health workers comprise only 2% of American Psychological Association members, according to a 2017 staffing analysis.
"I learned during the COVID shutdown that barbershops are most people’s counseling sessions," Campbell said. "If you could be a fly on the wall and listen to some of the things that’s shared, you’d be like, wow, they don’t ever need to shut barbershops down again."
The inclusion of barbers such as Campbell, who owns a shop in the 1,100-person town of Terry, Miss., could mean a boost in mental health literacy in rural areas.
In the past year, Campbell said he saw "a lot of broken young men" coming into his shop, which led to his involvement with The Confess Project. While many are not yet comfortable with opening up, he said he continues to apply lessons he's learned. He watches for those avoiding eye contact or drooping their head.
"Now when I see bigger issues, I know the questions to ask," Campbell said. "Or I don’t open up with questions and I start by saying, ‘Man, you are so worth it. You don’t know how much you helped me today,’ and they say, ‘Wow, for real?’"
Wiggins, a longtime barber who has seen kids grow from kindergarten to college from behind the barber chair, said he knows of clients with diagnosed mental illnesses. But more often, he sees someone who needs a kind ear.
There was the mother who would always come to get her eyebrows shaped. After one session, she didn't get up from the chair and instead burst into tears and began talking about her son's drug habit.
"She was asking what advice I can give and if I can talk to him. And I did, because I cut his hair also," Wiggins said. "Stuff like that happens all the time.”
When a regular of his, James Bennett, came into the shop three years ago, Wiggins knew how he wanted his hair cut: a taper on the side and taken low all over.
And after seven years of cutting Bennett's hair every weekend, Wiggins also knew something was off.
"I knew something was wrong because he had his head down the whole time. We’d normally be laughing and joking and talking about regular barbershop stuff," Wiggins said. “I didn’t know he had a gun in his pocket that night."
As Bennett put it in a recent phone call, an ongoing divorce had him angry enough to "do crazy stuff" and "want to hurt somebody, anybody."
Wiggins, sensing the recklessness in his friend, told Bennett not to do anything that would steal time from his mother or his three children.
A week later, Bennett returned to the shop. He explained that he had a gun the week before and thanked Wiggins for being the voice he needed to hear.
"I went back and told him, ‘You helped me out. You probably wouldn’t be cutting my hair no more because I’d be locked up in jail,'" Bennett said.
Three years later, Bennett still frequents the shop. Sometimes he looks for answers, but since that night in 2017, he also looks for others who need the help he was once given. Reflecting on that night, Bennett said therapy had been an option for him, but he didn't feel comfortable speaking with someone who hadn't had a similar upbringing.
"I’m not saying a therapist can’t help me but at that point I was looking for someone who's been through it," Bennett said. "For Black people, the barbershop is where men go to speak with other men to get a point of view from everybody. I sit and listen and take all of it in, and it works for me. It keeps me positive."
Sometimes, getting a little off the top can take a weight off your shoulders.
Follow Andrew Yawn on Twitter: @yawn_meister.


usatoday--2020-07-29--Indian teenagers discover asteroid near Mars moving toward Earth

• The asteroid is slowly shifting in its orbit near the red planet and is moving toward Earth • The asteroid will be officially christened only after NASA confirms its orbit .
• The girls used specialized software to analyze the images snapped by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii Two teenage schoolgirls in India discovered an asteroid near Mars , a space education institute in India reported recently .
The two girls , Vaidehi Vekariya and Radhika Lakhani , both 14 and in 10th grade , were participants in a project sponsored by Space India and NASA .
The project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a telescope in Hawaii .
Vaidehi and Radhika used specialized software to analyze the images snapped by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii , and made the discovery in June , Space India told Reuters .
The asteroid , which is named HLV2514 , is slowly shifting in its orbit near the red planet and is moving toward Earth , CNN said .
It wo n't be near Earth for 1 million years , however , and even then will still be 10 times as far away as the moon .
The two girls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state of Gujarat in western India .
The pair gave it a random name for now but are looking forward to the opportunity to possible name it something else once confirmed , according to VICE .
`` I look forward to ... when we will get a chance to name the asteroid , ” Vaidehi told Reuters , adding that she wants to become an astronaut when she is older .
Radhika said she is working hard on her education .
“ I don ’ t even have a TV at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my studies , ” according to Reuters .
The asteroid will be officially christened only after NASA confirms its orbit .
Read this : NASA will launch a balloon the size of a football stadium into the stratosphere

Indian teenagers discover asteroid near Mars moving toward Earth
Two teenage schoolgirls in India discovered an asteroid near Mars, a space education institute in India reported recently.
The two girls, Vaidehi Vekariya and Radhika Lakhani, both 14 and in 10th grade, were participants in a project sponsored by Space India and NASA. The project allows students to look at images from a telescope in Hawaii.
Vaidehi and Radhika used specialized software to analyze the images snapped by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, and made the discovery in June, Space India told Reuters.
The asteroid, which is named HLV2514, is slowly shifting in its orbit near the red planet and is moving toward Earth, CNN said. It won't be near Earth for 1 million years, however, and even then will still be 10 times as far away as the moon.
The two girls live in the city of Surat in the state of Gujarat in western India.
The pair gave it a random name for now but are looking forward to the opportunity to possible name it something else once confirmed, according to VICE.
DISCOVERY ALERT!
We are proud to announce VAIDEHI VEKARIYA SANJAYBHAI and RADHIKA LAKHANI PRAFULBHAI, two students of P.P. SAVANI CHAITANYA VIDYA SANKUL (CBSE) from Surat with the help of SPACE-AIASC discovered a new Asteroid which is a Near-Earth Object named HLV2514. pic.twitter.com/HXpOvrwxNY — SPACE India (@Spacian) July 25, 2020
"I look forward to ...when we will get a chance to name the asteroid,” Vaidehi told Reuters, adding that she wants to become an astronaut when she is older.
Radhika said she is working hard on her education. “I don’t even have a TV at home, so that I can concentrate on my studies,” according to Reuters.
The asteroid will be officially christened only after NASA confirms its orbit.
Read this: NASA will launch a balloon the size of a football stadium into the stratosphere


usatoday--2020-07-29--Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. says there's 'definitely an agenda' behind coronavirus

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said on his verified Snapchat account that there is an `` agenda '' behind the COVID-19 pandemic and that the novel coronavirus is being used to `` control '' people and is `` being overblown . ''
Porter 's comments came at the end of a question and answer session he did on the social media app while killing time in the NBA bubble in Florida .
The final question posed to Porter , 22 , stated : “ Bro speak on this coronavirus being ( overblown ) to scare people into being controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about all that.
” “ That ’ s facts , '' Porter , who previously in the Q & A responded to a question regarding the `` Pizzagate '' conspiracy theory , began in response .
`` Personally , I think the coronavirus is being used obviously for a bigger agenda .
It ’ s being used for population control just in terms of being able to control the masses of people .
Because this virus , the whole world is being controlled .
You ’ re required to wear masks and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes out .
You might have to have the vaccine in order to travel , that ’ d be crazy .
I ’ ve never been vaccinated in my life , I ’ ve never had any shots or anything like that .
`` It could get crazy , but it ’ s definitely an agenda behind everything that ’ s going on right now , and all you can do is sit back and watch what ’ s going on and not get too emotionally involved .
“ But it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real thing , but yeah , this is being overblown.
” Porter , the No .
14 pick in the 2018 NBA draft , has averaged 7.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14 minutes per game this season .
He has appeared in 48 contests , after missing all of 2018-19 due to injury .
The star high school recruit attended Missouri in 2017-18 , but appeared in just three games – one in November and two in March – due to injury .
Though Porter says he 's never been vaccinated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` requires that all newly enrolled or readmitted MU students born after Dec. 31 , 1956 comply with the two-dose MMR Immunization Policy '' through documentation of receiving vaccinations or by providing `` documentation of immunity to measles ( rubeola ) , mumps and rubella . ''
The university site says `` students who do not comply ... will not be allowed to register or pre-register for their second semester at MU . ''

Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. says there's 'definitely an agenda' behind coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption NBA story lines you may have forgotten SportsPulse: Need a refresher on where we left off with the NBA before play was halted? Mackenzie Salmon hits the rewind button and gets us up to speed. USA TODAY
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said on his verified Snapchat account that there is an "agenda" behind the COVID-19 pandemic and that the novel coronavirus is being used to "control" people and is "being overblown."
Porter's comments came at the end of a question and answer session he did on the social media app while killing time in the NBA bubble in Florida.
The final question posed to Porter, 22, stated: “Bro speak on this coronavirus being (overblown) to scare people into being controlled, (I know) you know about all that.”
“That’s facts," Porter, who previously in the Q&A responded to a question regarding the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, began in response.
"Personally, I think the coronavirus is being used obviously for a bigger agenda. It’s being used for population control just in terms of being able to control the masses of people. Because this virus, the whole world is being controlled. You’re required to wear masks and who knows what will happen when this vaccine comes out. You might have to have the vaccine in order to travel, that’d be crazy. I’ve never been vaccinated in my life, I’ve never had any shots or anything like that.
"It could get crazy, but it’s definitely an agenda behind everything that’s going on right now, and all you can do is sit back and watch what’s going on and not get too emotionally involved.
“But it is a serious thing, it’s a real thing, but yeah, this is being overblown.”
The Nuggets have had to deal with COVID-19 positive tests and were forced to shut down their practice facility late last month. Nuggets coach Michael Malone and center Nikola Jokic have tested positive, and several players, including Porter, arrived late to Orlando for the restart. The Nuggets were not able to go five-on-five in practice in Orlando because they didn't have enough players. Their only five-on-five action was during the three scrimmages against other teams.
On Monday, Porter told reporters on a video conference call he played five-on-five with friends in Missouri because "guys down there really weren’t paying the virus too much attention early on."
Porter, the No. 14 pick in the 2018 NBA draft, has averaged 7.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14 minutes per game this season. He has appeared in 48 contests, after missing all of 2018-19 due to injury.
The star high school recruit attended Missouri in 2017-18, but appeared in just three games – one in November and two in March – due to injury. Though Porter says he's never been vaccinated, per the university's website, Missouri "requires that all newly enrolled or readmitted MU students born after Dec. 31, 1956 comply with the two-dose MMR Immunization Policy" through documentation of receiving vaccinations or by providing "documentation of immunity to measles (rubeola), mumps and rubella." The university site says "students who do not comply... will not be allowed to register or pre-register for their second semester at MU."
The NBA does not have a standard vaccination policy for players, the league has supported pro-vaccination campaigns over the years.
A year ago, Porter found himself in another Snapchat conundrum when he accidentally posted NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's cell phone number. Silver was speaking on stage at the NBA Rookie Transition Program with his contact information on a screen behind him. Silver was bombarded with texts and calls and had to change his cell number. Porter apologized to the commissioner.


usatoday--2020-07-29--'Unimaginable loss': Chicago police deputy chief dies by apparent suicide in department facility

CHICAGO – A newly-promoted Chicago police officer and father of two has died by suicide , city officials said Tuesday – at least the second officer this year to die by suicide in a department that has long struggled with officers taking their own lives .
Deputy Chief of Criminal Networks Dion Boyd , 57 , died last night , Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said .
Several news outlets reported that Boyd was found at the Homan Square police facility on the West Side Tuesday morning .
Several news outlets in Chicago reported that Boyd died of a gunshot wound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Superintendent David Brown said he was `` heartbroken '' by Boyd 's death , which he referred to as a suicide .
Department spokesperson Anthony Spicuzza said Tuesday afternoon that the incident was being classified as a death investigation .
The Cook County medical examiner said an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday .
Boyd worked in the Chicago Police Department for more than 30 years , serving the city 's South Side as Commander of Area 1 and the 2nd District , along with numerous other roles , Lightfoot said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of criminal networks on July 15 .
`` Deputy Chief Boyd was a man who commanded respect , and our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends , particularly his two sons , who are now grieving over this unimaginable loss .
Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers , '' Brown said in a statement .
In the afternoon press conference , Brown said that `` the job of a Chicago police officer is not easy , especially at a time when there is intensified stress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need of help to reach out for assistance and said that , over the coming weeks , the city would be taking steps to bolster its support network for first responders .
`` To every officer , we want you to know that you are deserving of help and healing , and no one needs to struggle alone , '' Lightfoot said .
The city 's police union offered condolences to Boyd 's family in a statement Tuesday .
`` Our Condolences go out to the family , friends , and colleagues of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them in your prayers as they navigate their way through this terrible tragedy .
Rest In Peace , Sir , '' the union said .
Boyd 's death by suicide is not the first in recent years in the Chicago Police Department .
An off-duty police detective died in February , according to Lightfoot at the time .
And last year , at least eight officers died by suicide , according to the Sun-Times .
Suicide is a `` significant problem '' in the CPD , a 2017 review of the agency by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s officer suicide rate was more than 60 % higher than the national average , the review found .
Police officers , in general , are at particularly high risk of alcohol abuse , depression , suicidal thoughts , posttraumatic stress disorder and other challenges , according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness .
Nearly 1 in 4 officers has thoughts of suicide at some point in their life .
Moreover , Boyd 's death comes amid the heightened mental and emotional stress of the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests for racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have taken on Americans ’ mental health is profound : Three times as many U.S. adults reported symptoms of serious psychological distress in April compared with two years earlier , according to a study in the medical journal JAMA .
The Federal Communications Commission approved a proposal earlier this month to implement a three-digit suicide prevention hotline , 988 .
According to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai , the nation ’ s suicide rates are at the highest point since World War II .
If you or someone you know may be struggling with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK ( 8255 ) any time day or night , or chat online .
Crisis Text Line also provides free , 24/7 , confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741 .

'Unimaginable loss': Chicago police deputy chief dies by apparent suicide in department facility
CHICAGO – A newly-promoted Chicago police officer and father of two has died by suicide, city officials said Tuesday – at least the second officer this year to die by suicide in a department that has long struggled with officers taking their own lives.
Deputy Chief of Criminal Networks Dion Boyd, 57, died last night, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.
Several news outlets reported that Boyd was found at the Homan Square police facility on the West Side Tuesday morning. Several news outlets in Chicago reported that Boyd died of a gunshot wound.
In a press conference Tuesday, Police Superintendent David Brown said he was "heartbroken" by Boyd's death, which he referred to as a suicide.
Department spokesperson Anthony Spicuzza said Tuesday afternoon that the incident was being classified as a death investigation.
The Cook County medical examiner said an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
Boyd worked in the Chicago Police Department for more than 30 years, serving the city's South Side as Commander of Area 1 and the 2nd District, along with numerous other roles, Lightfoot said. He had been sworn in as deputy chief of criminal networks on July 15.
"Deputy Chief Boyd was a man who commanded respect, and our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends, particularly his two sons, who are now grieving over this unimaginable loss. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers," Brown said in a statement.
In the afternoon press conference, Brown said that "the job of a Chicago police officer is not easy, especially at a time when there is intensified stress."
Lightfoot encouraged any officer in need of help to reach out for assistance and said that, over the coming weeks, the city would be taking steps to bolster its support network for first responders.
"To every officer, we want you to know that you are deserving of help and healing, and no one needs to struggle alone," Lightfoot said.
The city's police union offered condolences to Boyd's family in a statement Tuesday.
"Our Condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of Deputy Chief Dion Boyd. Please keep them in your prayers as they navigate their way through this terrible tragedy. Rest In Peace, Sir," the union said.
A 'significant problem' in the Chicago Police Department
Boyd's death by suicide is not the first in recent years in the Chicago Police Department. An off-duty police detective died in February, according to Lightfoot at the time. And last year, at least eight officers died by suicide, according to the Sun-Times.
Suicide is a "significant problem" in the CPD, a 2017 review of the agency by the Department of Justice found.The CPD’s officer suicide rate was more than 60% higher than the national average, the review found.
Police officers, in general, are at particularly high risk of alcohol abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, posttraumatic stress disorder and other challenges, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nearly 1 in 4 officers has thoughts of suicide at some point in their life.
Moreover, Boyd's death comes amid the heightened mental and emotional stress of the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests for racial justice. The toll that these events have taken on Americans’ mental health is profound: Three times as many U.S. adults reported symptoms of serious psychological distress in April compared with two years earlier, according to a study in the medical journal JAMA.
The Federal Communications Commission approved a proposal earlier this month to implement a three-digit suicide prevention hotline, 988. According to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the nation’s suicide rates are at the highest point since World War II.
Suicide disproportionately affects marginalized groups – Black Americans, Native Americans, rural residents, teens and young adults and LGBTQ people.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.
Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
Contributing: Joshua Bote


usatoday--2020-07-29--Biased Big Tech algorithms limit our lives and choices. Stop the online discrimination.

The leaders of Amazon , Apple , Facebook , and Google have some serious explaining to do about bias and discrimination when they appear Wednesday at an antitrust hearing before the House Judiciary Committee .
The abuse of trust by the platform-based companies we rely on most has largely flown under the radar as a global pandemic heightens and highlights fissures in our society .
But our data and our choices continue to be manipulated in problematic ways — often by algorithms that subtly introduce bias into the prices we pay and the information and options made available to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our digital gatekeepers accountable .
The algorithms at issue have a veritable fire hose of our data at their disposal , and they aren ’ t the neutral equations we might assume them to be .
They are the product of humans , and because of that they have a tendency to perpetuate human biases .
To cite just three examples : ►In 2017 , Consumer Reports and ProPublica discovered that drivers living in predominantly minority urban neighborhoods were charged higher auto insurance premiums on average than drivers with similar safety records in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
►In 2018 , software created by Amazon to help companies identify the most promising job candidates was discovered to be biased against women , according to Reuters .
The algorithm had learned to spot `` good '' résumés on a diet of examples heavily skewed toward males .
►Apple ’ s new credit card came under investigation in November , after a customer complained that its lending algorithm offered him a line of credit 20 times higher than it offered his wife — even though her credit score was better than his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of blatant discrimination if it happened at a neighborhood grocery store or a car lot , but we have quietly allowed it run rampant in the digital marketplace without oversight or accountability .
A follow-up joint investigation recently conducted by Consumer Reports and The Markup revealed how better data can alter the power relationship between company and consumer .
The latest example of how algorithms , however unintentionally , negatively affect our lives and our pocketbooks : Allstate , the fourth largest auto insurer in the country , proposed big premium hikes exclusively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less likely than others to shop around .
In targeting what the investigation concluded was a “ suckers list ” of drivers deemed by an algorithm to be less likely to switch providers , Allstate used factors that have nothing to do with consumers ’ driving records and their risk for filing a claim .
In this case , it was middle-age consumers who ended up being discriminated against for no reason other than their shopping tendencies .
The result was they were overcharged quite a bit more for the same coverage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a computer error .
Now he wants to fix the system .
Facial recognition algorithms used in police departments have been found to misidentify African American and Asian faces up to 100 times as often as Caucasian faces , leading to false arrests and baseless confrontations .
Boston is among the municipalities that have recently taken steps to prevent facial recognition technology from being used by city agencies , including the police .
Amazon has imposed a one-year suspension on the sale of its Rekognition software to law enforcement .
Progress has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of efforts by Joy Buolamwini , a computer scientist and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League , and others to call attention to the very real potential harms of this technology .
In the years ahead , algorithms are poised to influence an ever larger share of what we pay , receive , see , learn and decide between — from the cost of goods and services to the headlines and search results that do and do not make it into our personal feeds .
As their influence rises , the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard against algorithmic biases and hold our tech giants accountable for maintaining fairness in the digital marketplace ?
So far , we haven ’ t pursued policies to ensure that fairness , or even transparency for that matter .
We haven ’ t created avenues of recourse for consumers who get the short end of the stick .
We also know that industry thus far can ’ t be counted on to self-regulate — in many cases , they aren ’ t even aware that potential discrimination is going on until after journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Too often , the watchdogs aren ’ t watching closely enough .
Failure to enforce : Despite COVID-19 pandemic , tech giants still profit from anti-vaccination movement The good news is that consumers hold tremendous power to set us on a better path .
By wielding our collective influence , we can press for policymakers to enact new laws and standards to bring fairness and transparency to the hidden world of algorithms .
Companies should not be permitted to use `` proxy '' data , like users ' ZIP codes or credit scores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relevant — these are data points that frequently lead to discriminatory outputs .
And we need vigorous oversight and enforcement of laws that prohibit bias .
As the CEOs of the most powerful tech companies take questions , we must get answers on platform accountability and plans to limit discrimination .
Many biases may still be hardwired in our society , but that doesn ’ t mean we have to sit idly by as they replicate themselves in the digital economy .
It is within our power — and , indeed , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the digital world evolves in the direction of greater fairness and greater trust .
Marta L. Tellado is the president and chief executive officer of Consumer Reports .
Follow her on Twitter : @ MLTellado

Biased Big Tech algorithms limit our lives and choices. Stop the online discrimination. We would never tolerate age, sex or race discrimination at a grocery store or car lot, but we have allowed it to run rampant in the digital world.
The leaders of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google have some serious explaining to do about bias and discrimination when they appear Wednesday at an antitrust hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
The abuse of trust by the platform-based companies we rely on most has largely flown under the radar as a global pandemic heightens and highlights fissures in our society. But our data and our choices continue to be manipulated in problematic ways — often by algorithms that subtly introduce bias into the prices we pay and the information and options made available to us. It is essential that we hold our digital gatekeepers accountable.
The algorithms at issue have a veritable fire hose of our data at their disposal, and they aren’t the neutral equations we might assume them to be. They are the product of humans, and because of that they have a tendency to perpetuate human biases.
Biased algorithms across Big Tech
To cite just three examples:
►In 2017, Consumer Reports and ProPublica discovered that drivers living in predominantly minority urban neighborhoods were charged higher auto insurance premiums on average than drivers with similar safety records in nonminority neighborhoods with comparable levels of risk.
►In 2018, software created by Amazon to help companies identify the most promising job candidates was discovered to be biased against women, according to Reuters. The algorithm had learned to spot "good" résumés on a diet of examples heavily skewed toward males.
►Apple’s new credit card came under investigation in November, after a customer complained that its lending algorithm offered him a line of credit 20 times higher than it offered his wife — even though her credit score was better than his.
We would never tolerate that sort of blatant discrimination if it happened at a neighborhood grocery store or a car lot, but we have quietly allowed it run rampant in the digital marketplace without oversight or accountability.
A follow-up joint investigation recently conducted by Consumer Reports and The Markup revealed how better data can alter the power relationship between company and consumer. The latest example of how algorithms, however unintentionally, negatively affect our lives and our pocketbooks: Allstate, the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, proposed big premium hikes exclusively for customers who its formulas concluded were less likely than others to shop around.
In targeting what the investigation concluded was a “suckers list” of drivers deemed by an algorithm to be less likely to switch providers, Allstate used factors that have nothing to do with consumers’ driving records and their risk for filing a claim. In this case, it was middle-age consumers who ended up being discriminated against for no reason other than their shopping tendencies. The result was they were overcharged quite a bit more for the same coverage.
Tech fail:He was arrested because of a computer error. Now he wants to fix the system.
Facial recognition algorithms used in police departments have been found to misidentify African American and Asian faces up to 100 times as often as Caucasian faces, leading to false arrests and baseless confrontations.
Boston is among the municipalities that have recently taken steps to prevent facial recognition technology from being used by city agencies, including the police. Amazon has imposed a one-year suspension on the sale of its Rekognition software to law enforcement.
Progress has been made on this front in part because of efforts by Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, and others to call attention to the very real potential harms of this technology.
Require fairness from tech giants
In the years ahead, algorithms are poised to influence an ever larger share of what we pay, receive, see, learn and decide between — from the cost of goods and services to the headlines and search results that do and do not make it into our personal feeds. As their influence rises, the question becomes more critical: How can we guard against algorithmic biases and hold our tech giants accountable for maintaining fairness in the digital marketplace?
So far, we haven’t pursued policies to ensure that fairness,or even transparency for that matter. We haven’t created avenues of recourse for consumers who get the short end of the stick. We also know that industry thus far can’t be counted on to self-regulate — in many cases, they aren’t even aware that potential discrimination is going on until after journalists or customers happen to unravel it. Too often, the watchdogs aren’t watching closely enough.
Failure to enforce: Despite COVID-19 pandemic, tech giants still profit from anti-vaccination movement
The good news is that consumers hold tremendous power to set us on a better path. By wielding our collective influence, we can press for policymakers to enact new laws and standards to bring fairness and transparency to the hidden world of algorithms. Companies should not be permitted to use "proxy" data, like users' ZIP codes or credit scores, in algorithms where it isn't relevant — these are data points that frequently lead to discriminatory outputs. And we need vigorous oversight and enforcement of laws that prohibit bias.
As the CEOs of the most powerful tech companies take questions, we must get answers on platform accountability and plans to limit discrimination. Many biases may still be hardwired in our society, but that doesn’t mean we have to sit idly by as they replicate themselves in the digital economy. It is within our power — and, indeed, it is our responsibility — to ensure that the digital world evolves in the direction of greater fairness and greater trust.
Marta L. Tellado is the president and chief executive officer of Consumer Reports. Follow her on Twitter: @MLTellado


usatoday--2020-07-28--Orca mother who carried her dead calf for for 1,000 miles over 17 days is pregnant again

Orca mother who carried her dead calf for 17 days is pregnant again Two years ago , an orca known @ @ @ @ @ calf for 17 days and more than 1,000 miles .
Scientists say that she is @ @ @ @

Orca mother who carried her dead calf for 17 days is pregnant again
Two years ago, an orca known as Tahlequah carried her dead calf for 17 days and more than 1,000 miles. Scientists say that she is now pregnant again.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-29--Joe Biden is set to pick his VP the first week of August, but who is on the short list?

Joe Biden spotted with notes about one of his VP picks As talk swirls around Joe Biden 's pick for @ @ @ @ @ Democratic nominee was seen holding a note with Sen. Kamala Harris ' name at the @ @

Joe Biden spotted with notes about one of his VP picks
As talk swirls around Joe Biden's pick for a VP, the presumptive Democratic nominee was seen holding a note with Sen. Kamala Harris' name at the top.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-07-29--Trump boasts deal with Kodak to fight coronavirus, calls Senate stimulus plan 'semi-irrelevant'

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump returned to the briefing room Tuesday to tout his administration 's deal with camera company Kodak to manufacture pharmaceuticals and dismissed Senate Republicans ' economic stimulus proposal as `` semi-irrelevant . ''
The administration plans to give Eastman Kodak Co. a $ 765 million loan to launch a pharmaceuticals division .
The loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is the first of its kind under the Defense Production Act .
`` It 's a breakthrough in bringing pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States , '' Trump told reporters , adding that members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , where the camera company is based , to `` finalize this groundbreaking deal . ''
Trump said it was the 33rd time his administration had used the Korean War-era law to spur production of medical equipment needed to combat the virus .
Trump said that in many instances , the White House used the DPA as a `` threat '' to pressure companies to voluntarily increase production for ventilators , masks and other items .
As the president spoke , congressional leaders wrapped up talks on Capitol Hill on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grapple with the economic fallout caused by the pandemic .
Trump panned the $ 1 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill unveiled by Senate Republicans , telling reporters there are some provisions in the proposal he does n't support .
`` It 's sort of semi-irrelevant because the Democrats come with their needs and asks and the Republicans go with theirs , '' he said .
`` We 'll be talking about it . ''
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Trump 's chief of staff Mark Meadows , the two White House officials tasked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting with congressional leaders to hash out the details of the GOP plan to ensure it addresses the president 's demands .
The Health , Economic Assistance , Liability protection , and Schools Act , or HEALS Act , includes another round of direct checks to Americans , more help for small businesses and money to help encourage schools to return to the classroom in the fall – a top priority for the administration .
House Democrats in May approved their own version of a relief package with a price tag of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make little progress in their meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
The four are due to meet again on Wednesday , according to Pelosi .
Congress is under mounting pressure to pass a bill quickly as federal unemployment insurance expires this week for millions of Americans made jobless by the pandemic .
Democrats want to extend the weekly $ 600 federal unemployment bonus through January while Republicans have settled on capping assistance at 70 % of workers ' pay .
When asked what he thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate GOP plan `` semi-irrelevant , '' Meadows said : `` I think everybody recognizes there 's a long way between $ 1 trillion and $ 3 trillion and to suggest that there 's room for negotiation , it actually is going to be built from the ground up . ''
Asked if both sides were any closer to a stimulus deal following the meeting , Meadows told reporters : `` I do n't know if I would characterize it as getting closer . ''
Trump also reiterated his support for using hydroxychloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed a post the president retweeted in which a group called `` America 's Frontline Doctors '' said `` there is a cure '' for the coronavirus without citing any evidence .
Twitter said Trump 's tweet `` was in violation of our COVID-19 misinformation policy . ''
Trump told reporters that `` many doctors think it is extremely successful . ''
`` I took it for a 14-day period , and I 'm here .
Right ?
I 'm here , '' he said of the antimalarial drug , noting that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think you lose anything by doing it , other than politically .
It does n't seem to be too popular you know why ?
Because I recommend it . ''
The president has continued to promote hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment , despite warnings from his own medical experts .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's top infectious disease expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force , stressed the drug is `` not effective '' in an interview with ABC 's `` Good Morning America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials that have looked at the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine have indicated that it is not effective in coronavirus disease , '' he said .
Fauci 's interview came hours after Trump retweeted a post that said Fauci had `` misled the American public '' on the drug , among other things .
When asked if he believed that Fauci misled the public , Trump dismissed the accusation before praising Fauci 's approval rating .
`` He 's got this high approval rating , so why do n't I have a high approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – with respect to the virus ? ''
he asked .
`` It sort of is curious – a man works for us , with us very closely , Dr. Fauci and Dr. ( Deborah ) Birx , also highly thought of – and yet they 're highly thought of , but nobody likes me .
It can only be my personality , '' he added .

John Fritze and Courtney Subramanian, USA TODAY

Trump boasts deal with Kodak to fight coronavirus, calls Senate stimulus plan 'semi-irrelevant'
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump defends his response to coronavirus in Fox News interview President Trump defended his response to coronavirus, including his claims that COVID-19 will "disappear." USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump returned to the briefing room Tuesday to tout his administration's deal with camera company Kodak to manufacture pharmaceuticals and dismissed Senate Republicans' economic stimulus proposal as "semi-irrelevant."
The administration plans to give Eastman Kodak Co. a $765 million loan to launch a pharmaceuticals division. The loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is the first of its kind under the Defense Production Act.
"It's a breakthrough in bringing pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States," Trump told reporters, adding that members of his administration are in Rochester, New York, where the camera company is based, to "finalize this groundbreaking deal."
Trump said it was the 33rd time his administration had used the Korean War-era law to spur production of medical equipment needed to combat the virus. Trump said that in many instances, the White House used the DPA as a "threat" to pressure companies to voluntarily increase production for ventilators, masks and other items.
As the president spoke, congressional leaders wrapped up talks on Capitol Hill on the latest economic relief package to help Americans grapple with the economic fallout caused by the pandemic.
Trump panned the $1 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill unveiled by Senate Republicans, telling reporters there are some provisions in the proposal he doesn't support.
"It's sort of semi-irrelevant because the Democrats come with their needs and asks and the Republicans go with theirs," he said. "We'll be talking about it."
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows, the two White House officials tasked with negotiations, have spent the last week meeting with congressional leaders to hash out the details of the GOP plan to ensure it addresses the president's demands.
The Health, Economic Assistance, Liability protection, and Schools Act, or HEALS Act, includes another round of direct checks to Americans, more help for small businesses and money to help encourage schools to return to the classroom in the fall – a top priority for the administration. House Democrats in May approved their own version of a relief package with a price tag of $3 trillion.
Mnuchin and Meadows appeared to make little progress in their meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The four are due to meet again on Wednesday, according to Pelosi.
Congress is under mounting pressure to pass a bill quickly as federal unemployment insurance expires this week for millions of Americans made jobless by the pandemic. Democrats want to extend the weekly $600 federal unemployment bonus through January while Republicans have settled on capping assistance at 70% of workers' pay.
When asked what he thought of the president's comments calling the Senate GOP plan "semi-irrelevant," Meadows said: "I think everybody recognizes there's a long way between $1 trillion and $3 trillion and to suggest that there's room for negotiation, it actually is going to be built from the ground up."
Asked if both sides were any closer to a stimulus deal following the meeting, Meadows told reporters: "I don't know if I would characterize it as getting closer."
Trump also reiterated his support for using hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus a day after Twitter removed a post the president retweeted in which a group called "America's Frontline Doctors" said "there is a cure" for the coronavirus without citing any evidence.
Twitter said Trump's tweet "was in violation of our COVID-19 misinformation policy."
Trump told reporters that "many doctors think it is extremely successful."
"I took it for a 14-day period, and I'm here. Right? I'm here," he said of the antimalarial drug, noting that he took it earlier this year. "I don't think you lose anything by doing it, other than politically. It doesn't seem to be too popular you know why? Because I recommend it."
The president has continued to promote hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment, despite warnings from his own medical experts.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, stressed the drug is "not effective" in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America."
"The overwhelming, prevailing clinical trials that have looked at the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine have indicated that it is not effective in coronavirus disease," he said.
Fauci's interview came hours after Trump retweeted a post that said Fauci had "misled the American public" on the drug, among other things. When asked if he believed that Fauci misled the public, Trump dismissed the accusation before praising Fauci's approval rating.
"He's got this high approval rating, so why don't I have a high approval rating with respect – and the administration – with respect to the virus?" he asked.
"It sort of is curious – a man works for us, with us very closely, Dr. Fauci and Dr. (Deborah) Birx, also highly thought of – and yet they're highly thought of, but nobody likes me. It can only be my personality," he added.
Contributing: Nicholas Wu, Ledyard King


usatoday--2020-07-29--Joe Biden plans to name vice presidential running mate next week

Former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump , said Tuesday he would choose his running mate the first week of August .
But he was coy about whether he would be able to meet in person with all of the potential candidates because of the challenge of dodging reporters outside his house .
“ I ’ m going to have a choice in the first week in August , '' Biden said .
`` I promise I ’ ll let you know when I do . ''
Biden 's choice has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing a woman .
But key Democratic activists have urged him to choose a Black woman , in order to build enthusiasm among voters of color and younger progressives .
The spotlight on top candidates has focused on Sen. Kamala Harris of California , Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , Rep. Val Demings of Florida , Rep. Karen Bass of California , former National Security Adviser Susan Rice , Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham .
Biden dodged a question about whether he 'd be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of news crews staking out his home .
`` I 've got to try to figure out how to trick you all so I can meet with them in person , '' Biden said .
`` You 've got crews outside my house . ''

Joe Biden plans to name vice presidential running mate next week
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden spotted with notes about one of his VP picks As talk swirls around Joe Biden's pick for a VP, the presumptive Democratic nominee was seen holding a note with Sen. Kamala Harris' name at the top. USA TODAY
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump, said Tuesday he would choose his running mate the first week of August.
But he was coy about whether he would be able to meet in person with all of the potential candidates because of the challenge of dodging reporters outside his house.
“I’m going to have a choice in the first week in August," Biden said. "I promise I’ll let you know when I do."
Biden's choice has been closely monitored because he has committed to choosing a woman. But key Democratic activists have urged him to choose a Black woman, in order to build enthusiasm among voters of color and younger progressives.
The spotlight on top candidates has focused on Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rep. Val Demings of Florida, Rep. Karen Bass of California, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Biden dodged a question about whether he'd be able to meet with all of his finalists because of news crews staking out his home.
"I've got to try to figure out how to trick you all so I can meet with them in person," Biden said. "You've got crews outside my house."


usatoday--2020-07-30--US hits 150,000 deaths from COVID-19 as states struggle to halt resurgence

The U.S. surged past 150,000 COVID-19 fatalities Wednesday as states battle a resurgence of the virus with differing attitudes about how to stop the spread .
The bleak milestone , reported by Johns Hopkins , comes on the heels of the U.S. hitting 4 million confirmed infections July 23 .
The death toll stood at 150,034 as of 4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday .
And there is not much relief in sight .
The three most populous states – California , Texas and Florida – were among several that set seven-day records for virus deaths this week .
Others set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arkansas set records for both .
The first known U.S. death was Feb. 6 .
Almost six months later the number of deaths is appalling – and could reach 200,000 in less than two months from now .
That 's based on the current average of 1,019 deaths per day this last week .
Exact models and projections are even more disturbing .
A coronavirus forecast cited by the White House now projects more than 220,000 Americans could die of Covid-19 by Nov. 1 .
Experts say the increase in cases and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reopening their economies too soon .
“ We were not careful and it became like a domino effect , ” Dr. Anne Rimoin , epidemiologist and director of UCLA ’ s COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative , told USA TODAY .
State and local laws differ widely on how to curb the spread of the virus : Some governors are advocating more aggressive social distancing and masks ; others have fought mandatory restrictions and balked a shutting down their economies a second time in the face of a surge .
“ Everybody rushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to be doing was doubling down , ” Rimoin said .
“ We are not doing enough to suppress the spread of the virus . ''
Increasingly , the virus is having a ripple effect on other areas of health .
The United Nations said this week that coronavirus-linked hunger is leading to the deaths of 10,000 children a month because of fears of contamination and movement restrictions .
Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House coronavirus task force warned local and state leaders of a concerning rise in cases in 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Center for Public Integrity .
She listed Baltimore , Cleveland , Columbus , Ohio ; Indianapolis , Las Vegas , Miami , Minneapolis , Nashville , Tennessee ; New Orleans , Pittsburgh and St. Louis .
“ What started out very much as a southern and western epidemic is starting to move up the East Coast into Tennessee , Arkansas , up into Missouri , up across Colorado , and obviously we ’ re talking about increases now in Baltimore , ” Birx said .
“ So this is really critical that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re being aggressive about mitigation efforts.
” The record numbers of new weekly coronavirus cases that Arizona , Florida , Texas and California experienced a month ago are now playing out as record numbers of deaths in those states .
Texas ' death toll continues to rise , and the state had a record 1,607 deaths in the week ending Monday , a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows .
That translates into a Texan dying every 6 minutes , 16 seconds .
Texas ' weekly death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week through April .
An analysis of Johns Hopkins data released late Monday show eight states set records for new coronavirus counts – and eight set records for deaths .
Many states that were seeing cases surge several weeks ago have stopped breaking records for new cases , including Alabama , Georgia , Nevada and South Carolina .
But all of those states broke records for deaths on Monday night .
The U.S. is “ knee-deep ” in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic , Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` And I would say , this would not be considered a wave .
It was a surge or a resurgence of infections superimposed upon a baseline . ''
Southern and Southwestern states became a hotbed for the resurgence soon after they reopened in late May and early June .
In about one month , Florida saw its case rate quadruple .
In the west , Arizona 's death toll is now more than five times worse than its worst week in the spring , while Florida is well over double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its worst spring death toll .
According to a federal report , the `` Red Zone '' states climbed to 21 , meaning they reached more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in one week .
According to The New York Times , the `` Red Zone '' states are Alabama , Arizona , Kansas , California , Florida , Georgia , Idaho , Iowa , Kansas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Missouri , Nevada , North Carolina , North Dakota , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , Utah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are preparing for precautions to continue into the fall season .
According to The Harris Poll survey of 1,970 U.S. adults from July 18-19 , 61 % of Americans are anticipating a stay-at-home fall with jobs continuing to be remote and parents choosing virtual courses from home .
Meanwhile , more and more retailers are mandating that face masks or coverings be worn in their stores , including large companies like Walmart , Target , CVS , Home Depot and Walgreens .
Those decisions only add to the hot button issue as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional rights while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended masks as a way to prevent the spread of the virus .
Only recently did President Donald Trump make his first attempt at encouraging the use of face masks since the pandemic started .
He also brought back daily coronavirus task force briefings this month after suspending them in April .
The resurgence in cases , he claims , has been fueled by protests over the death of George Floyd , an increase in travel , migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spike in cases on lax restrictions , the resurgence has left some states reconsidering their safety mandates .
Infectious disease physician Alysse Wurcel told USA TODAY that some states might consider going back to an earlier phase .
She said people wo n't see immediate effects of safety protocols such as wearing a mask , but that wearing one is a best practice in preventing the spread of the virus .
`` I think actions now will only show benefits in a month or two because the infection that spreads today will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will cause the death a month or so later , '' Wurcel said .
`` It ’ s really hard to convince people that whatever they are doing today , you won ’ t see the benefits of it for a month.
” A COVID-19 vaccine at what price ?
Should all Americans be able to get a shot for free ?
As for a potential COVID-19 vaccine , scientists across the world are rushing to develop one .
The Trump administration announced a $ 1.95 billion deal with Pfizer and BioNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate , which the companies hope to get approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by October .
The firms said Americans will receive the vaccine for free .
Meanwhile , the National Institutes of Health and a U.S. biotech company called Moderna began the first large-scale American test for a potential vaccine with 30,000 volunteers .

Jessica Flores and Autumn Schoolman, USA TODAY

US hits 150,000 deaths from COVID-19 as states struggle to halt resurgence
Show Caption Hide Caption US hits 150,000 COVID-19 deaths, states reconsider reopenings The US recently topped 4 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and now has reached another unenviable milestone. USA TODAY
The U.S. surged past 150,000 COVID-19 fatalities Wednesday as states battle a resurgence of the virus with differing attitudes about how to stop the spread.
The bleak milestone, reported by Johns Hopkins, comes on the heels of the U.S. hitting 4 million confirmed infections July 23. The death toll stood at 150,034 as of 4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.
And there is not much relief in sight. The three most populous states – California, Texas and Florida – were among several that set seven-day records for virus deaths this week. Others set records for new cases. Tennessee and Arkansas set records for both.
The first known U.S. death was Feb. 6. Almost six months later the number of deaths is appalling – and could reach 200,000 in less than two months from now. That's based on the current average of 1,019 deaths per day this last week.
Exact models and projections are even more disturbing. A coronavirus forecast cited by the White House now projects more than 220,000 Americans could die of Covid-19 by Nov. 1.
Experts say the increase in cases and deaths is largely because of states easing restrictions and reopening their economies too soon.
“We were not careful and it became like a domino effect,” Dr. Anne Rimoin, epidemiologist and director of UCLA’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative, told USA TODAY.
State and local laws differ widely on how to curb the spread of the virus: Some governors are advocating more aggressive social distancing and masks; others have fought mandatory restrictions and balked a shutting down their economies a second time in the face of a surge.
“Everybody rushed back to normal when what we really needed to be doing was doubling down,” Rimoin said. “We are not doing enough to suppress the spread of the virus."
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Increasingly, the virus is having a ripple effect on other areas of health. The United Nations said this week that coronavirus-linked hunger is leading to the deaths of 10,000 children a month because of fears of contamination and movement restrictions.
Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House coronavirus task force warned local and state leaders of a concerning rise in cases in 11 cities, according to audio obtained by the Center for Public Integrity. She listed Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.
“What started out very much as a southern and western epidemic is starting to move up the East Coast into Tennessee, Arkansas, up into Missouri, up across Colorado, and obviously we’re talking about increases now in Baltimore,” Birx said. “So this is really critical that everybody is following this and making sure they’re being aggressive about mitigation efforts.”
The record numbers of new weekly coronavirus cases that Arizona, Florida, Texas and California experienced a month ago are now playing out as record numbers of deaths in those states. Texas' death toll continues to rise, and the state had a record 1,607 deaths in the week ending Monday, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows.
That translates into a Texan dying every 6 minutes, 16 seconds. Texas' weekly death toll is more than seven times its worst week through April.
An analysis of Johns Hopkins data released late Monday show eight states set records for new coronavirus counts – and eight set records for deaths. Many states that were seeing cases surge several weeks ago have stopped breaking records for new cases, including Alabama, Georgia, Nevada and South Carolina. But all of those states broke records for deaths on Monday night.
The U.S. is “knee-deep” in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, recently said. "And I would say, this would not be considered a wave. It was a surge or a resurgence of infections superimposed upon a baseline."
Southern and Southwestern states became a hotbed for the resurgence soon after they reopened in late May and early June. In about one month, Florida saw its case rate quadruple.
In the west, Arizona's death toll is now more than five times worse than its worst week in the spring, while Florida is well over double. California is about 24% above its worst spring death toll.
According to a federal report, the "Red Zone" states climbed to 21, meaning they reached more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in one week. According to The New York Times, the "Red Zone" states are Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
With deaths rising, Americans are preparing for precautions to continue into the fall season. According to The Harris Poll survey of 1,970 U.S. adults from July 18-19, 61% of Americans are anticipating a stay-at-home fall with jobs continuing to be remote and parents choosing virtual courses from home.
Meanwhile, more and more retailers are mandating that face masks or coverings be worn in their stores, including large companies like Walmart, Target, CVS, Home Depot and Walgreens. Those decisions only add to the hot button issue as some believe that wearing a mask violates constitutional rights while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended masks as a way to prevent the spread of the virus.
Only recently did President Donald Trump make his first attempt at encouraging the use of face masks since the pandemic started. He also brought back daily coronavirus task force briefings this month after suspending them in April. The resurgence in cases, he claims, has been fueled by protests over the death of George Floyd, an increase in travel, migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and summer holidays.
Though experts generally blame the spike in cases on lax restrictions, the resurgence has left some states reconsidering their safety mandates. Infectious disease physician Alysse Wurcel told USA TODAY that some states might consider going back to an earlier phase. She said people won't see immediate effects of safety protocols such as wearing a mask, but that wearing one is a best practice in preventing the spread of the virus.
"I think actions now will only show benefits in a month or two because the infection that spreads today will cause the illness in 14 days, which will cause the death a month or so later," Wurcel said. "It’s really hard to convince people that whatever they are doing today, you won’t see the benefits of it for a month.”
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As for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, scientists across the world are rushing to develop one. The Trump administration announced a $1.95 billion deal with Pfizer and BioNTech for 100 million doses of their vaccine candidate, which the companies hope to get approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by October. The firms said Americans will receive the vaccine for free.
Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health and a U.S. biotech company called Moderna began the first large-scale American test for a potential vaccine with 30,000 volunteers.


usatoday--2020-07-30--Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized for non-surgical procedure

WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Associate Justice and four-time cancer survivor Ruth Bader Ginsburg is back in the hospital , but only for a relatively routine procedure .
The court said Ginsburg , the court 's eldest justice at 87 , underwent `` a minimally invasive , non-surgical procedure '' Wednesday at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City to revise a bile duct stent inserted nearly a year ago .
The procedure was performed using endoscopy and medical imaging guidance to minimize the risk of future infection , and her doctors said such stent revisions are common .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects to be released from the hospital by the end of the week , '' the court said .
Ginsburg 's health is of paramount concern to Democrats because if she were forced to leave the court in the next few months , President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans would have an opportunity to replace her and expand the court 's 5-4 conservative majority .
Ginsburg announced two weeks ago that she is battling cancer again , just days after being hospitalized for a possible infection .
A periodic scan and biopsy revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , causing her to resume chemotherapy treatment in May .
The lesions most likely stem from last year 's pancreatic cancer , which followed lung cancer in 2018 and earlier bouts of pancreatic and colon cancer one and two decades earlier .
She said earlier this month that she would continue bi-weekly chemotherapy `` to keep my cancer at bay '' and would maintain an active daily routine , keeping up with court work .
That work is lessened during the summer , when the justices do not sit for oral arguments or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begins in October .
Ginsburg said at the time that she would stay on the court `` as long as I can do the job full steam , '' a phrase she has used many times in the past .
For years , Ginsburg 's health has been a concern for Democrats and liberal interest groups who worry that the high court 's conservative majority could be expanded if she were to leave the bench before the November presidential election .
Even if Democrats sweep to victories , Republicans will control the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump will be in office at least until Jan. 20 .
Ginsburg , the second-longest-serving justice on the bench , was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993 .
She is the leader of the court 's liberal wing , which includes Associate Justices Stephen Breyer , Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan .
That group is outnumbered by five conservative justices , led by Chief Justice John Roberts , who has become the swing vote of the court .
To his right are Associate Justices Clarence Thomas , Samuel Alito , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her fourth cancer was diagnosed last year , Ginsburg had said she hoped to stay on the bench for at least five more years , noting that the late Associate Justice John Paul Stevens served until age 90 .
Stevens died a year ago at 99 .
The second pancreatic cancer was concerning because it is the deadliest kind , with an average five-year survival rate of 9 % , lowest of all cancers .
But Ginsburg has lived 11 years since her first bout of pancreatic cancer .

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized for non-surgical procedure
Show Caption Hide Caption Ruth Bader Ginsburg is tougher than she looks There's a reason Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is called Notorious RBG. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Associate Justice and four-time cancer survivor Ruth Bader Ginsburg is back in the hospital, but only for a relatively routine procedure.
The court said Ginsburg, the court's eldest justice at 87, underwent "a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure" Wednesday at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City to revise a bile duct stent inserted nearly a year ago.
The procedure was performed using endoscopy and medical imaging guidance to minimize the risk of future infection, and her doctors said such stent revisions are common.
"The justice is resting comfortably and expects to be released from the hospital by the end of the week," the court said.
Ginsburg's health is of paramount concern to Democrats because if she were forced to leave the court in the next few months, President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans would have an opportunity to replace her and expand the court's 5-4 conservative majority.
More: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg battling cancer again
Ginsburg announced two weeks ago that she is battling cancer again, just days after being hospitalized for a possible infection. A periodic scan and biopsy revealed lesions on her liver earlier this year, causing her to resume chemotherapy treatment in May.
The lesions most likely stem from last year's pancreatic cancer, which followed lung cancer in 2018 and earlier bouts of pancreatic and colon cancer one and two decades earlier.
She said earlier this month that she would continue bi-weekly chemotherapy "to keep my cancer at bay" and would maintain an active daily routine, keeping up with court work. That work is lessened during the summer, when the justices do not sit for oral arguments or decide argued cases. Their next term begins in October.
Ginsburg said at the time that she would stay on the court "as long as I can do the job full steam," a phrase she has used many times in the past.
For years, Ginsburg's health has been a concern for Democrats and liberal interest groups who worry that the high court's conservative majority could be expanded if she were to leave the bench before the November presidential election. Even if Democrats sweep to victories, Republicans will control the Senate at least until Jan. 3, and President Donald Trump will be in office at least until Jan. 20.
Ginsburg, the second-longest-serving justice on the bench, was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993. She is the leader of the court's liberal wing, which includes Associate Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
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That group is outnumbered by five conservative justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, who has become the swing vote of the court. To his right are Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
More: Year of surprise Supreme Court rulings shows influence of Chief Justice John Roberts
Before her fourth cancer was diagnosed last year, Ginsburg had said she hoped to stay on the bench for at least five more years, noting that the late Associate Justice John Paul Stevens served until age 90. Stevens died a year ago at 99.
The second pancreatic cancer was concerning because it is the deadliest kind, with an average five-year survival rate of 9%, lowest of all cancers. But Ginsburg has lived 11 years since her first bout of pancreatic cancer.


usatoday--2020-07-30--AG Barr tests negative for coronavirus after encounter with Rep. Louie Gohmert

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Bill Barr tested negative for the coronavirus Wednesday after coming into contact with a Texas congressman who has tested positive .
The Justice Department reported the result late Wednesday after being notified of the positive test for Rep. Louie Gohmert , R-Texas .
The two had a brief interaction during Barr 's appearance at a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday , said an official with knowledge of the matter .
The official , who is not authorized to comment publicly , said it is not believed that the two had physical contact .
Gohmert joins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
The Texas Republican has previously refused to wear a mask while speaking on the House floor , and reporters on Capitol Hill have frequently spotted him without one .
Gohmert was supposed to accompany President Donald Trump to Texas on Wednesday , but was scratched from the Air Force One manifest because of a positive COVID-19 test , an administration official said , speaking on condition of anonymity because the incident involves the congressman ’ s health records .
Gohmert told a local television outlet Wednesday he plans to self-quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has worn a mask more `` in the last week or two , '' than he has in the past four months , suggesting he may have contracted the virus that way .
`` I ca n't help but think if I had n't been wearing a mask so much in the last 10 days or so , I really wonder if I would n't have gotten it , '' he said , speculating that he was bound to have `` put some virus on the mask '' from it `` moving around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steny Hoyer , D-Md.
, denounced Gohmert during a call with reporters Wednesday .
He called Gohmert 's actions “ irresponsible ” and said it was time to reevaluate testing for all members of Congress after leadership declined in May to institute widespread testing because of shortages nationwide .
“ To be frank , too many Republicans have continued to act extraordinarily irresponsibly , including Louie Gohmert .
Louie Gohmert ought to quarantine himself right now , ” he said .
On Tuesday , Gohmert participated in the questioning of Barr and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without masks in video from The Hill that was posted on Twitter .
Prominent Republican lawmakers have called on Americans to cover their faces in public , such as Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , who said `` everyone should just wear a damn mask '' in June , according to The Hill .
There remains a faction of Republicans , such as Gohmert , however , who remain ambivalent to the public health precaution .
Trump called masks a `` double-edged sword '' last month .
Gohmert told CNN in June he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracted the virus .
`` I do n't have the coronavirus , turns out as of yesterday I 've never had it .
But if I get it , you 'll never see me without a mask , '' he said .
`` But I keep being tested and I do n't have it .
So I 'm not afraid of you , but if I get it I 'll wear a mask . ''
Democratic lawmakers have recently called out Republican members of Congress for not wearing masks around the Capitol .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of the House Democratic Caucus , said at a news conference Wednesday he was `` concerned about the irresponsible behavior '' of House Republicans who did not wear masks in the Capitol .
He asked his Republican colleagues to follow public health guidelines for their `` health , safety , and well-being . ''
House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , directly criticized three Republican committee members for not wearing masks during the hearing with Barr on Tuesday .
Trump and Putin : Trump says he did not ask Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would remind Mr. ( Jim ) Jordan , Mr. ( Andy ) Biggs and Mr. ( Mike ) Johnson to stop violating the rules of the committee , to stop violating the safety of the members of the committee , to stop holding themselves out as not caring by refusing to wear their masks , '' Nadler said .
Following Gohert 's diagnosis on Wednesday , lawmakers condemned fellow members of Congress for refusing to wear masks .
`` I do n't know who needs to hear this , but if you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask on Capitol Hill , you 're not only putting your colleagues at risk – you 're endangering the staff who works here , including many of my constituents , '' said Rep. Jennifer Wexton , D-Va. Rep. Don Beyer , D-Va. , recirculated an open letter he and seven other lawmakers addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , in June .
`` We called out colleagues weeks ago for endangering people – our constituents – around them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support personnel , and journalists who work on Capitol Hill , '' he said .
`` Again , to my colleagues : the mask is to protect OTHER PEOPLE . ''
The original letter called on Pelosi and McCarthy to `` issue strong , explicit directives to Members of the House regarding proper face coverings , social distancing , and other public health precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and local public health departments with all possible haste . ''

Jason Lalljee, Kevin Johnson and David Jackson, USA TODAY

AG Barr tests negative for coronavirus after encounter with Rep. Louie Gohmert
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19 R-0 may be the most important scientific term you’ve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Bill Barr tested negative for the coronavirus Wednesday after coming into contact with a Texas congressman who has tested positive.
The Justice Department reported the result late Wednesday after being notified of the positive test for Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas.
The two had a brief interaction during Barr's appearance at a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, said an official with knowledge of the matter. The official, who is not authorized to comment publicly, said it is not believed that the two had physical contact.
Gohmert joins a growing number of lawmakers to contract the virus. The Texas Republican has previously refused to wear a mask while speaking on the House floor, and reporters on Capitol Hill have frequently spotted him without one.
Gohmert was supposed to accompany President Donald Trump to Texas on Wednesday, but was scratched from the Air Force One manifest because of a positive COVID-19 test, an administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the incident involves the congressman’s health records.
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Gohmert told a local television outlet Wednesday he plans to self-quarantine for 10 days.
He said he has worn a mask more "in the last week or two," than he has in the past four months, suggesting he may have contracted the virus that way.
"I can't help but think if I hadn't been wearing a mask so much in the last 10 days or so, I really wonder if I wouldn't have gotten it," he said, speculating that he was bound to have "put some virus on the mask" from it "moving around so much."
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., denounced Gohmert during a call with reporters Wednesday. He called Gohmert's actions “irresponsible” and said it was time to reevaluate testing for all members of Congress after leadership declined in May to institute widespread testing because of shortages nationwide.
“To be frank, too many Republicans have continued to act extraordinarily irresponsibly, including Louie Gohmert. Louie Gohmert ought to quarantine himself right now,” he said.
On Tuesday, Gohmert participated in the questioning of Barr and the two were seen walking in close proximity without masks in video from The Hill that was posted on Twitter.
ACTUALLY... here is a video of AG Barr and Gohmert.
While Barr arrived with a mask, it was off when he walked into the hearing room, so both men were not wearing masks at this time. pic.twitter.com/xm6wuq6QvW — Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) July 29, 2020
Prominent Republican lawmakers have called on Americans to cover their faces in public, such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who said "everyone should just wear a damn mask" in June, according to The Hill.
There remains a faction of Republicans, such as Gohmert, however, who remain ambivalent to the public health precaution. Trump called masks a "double-edged sword" last month.
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Gohmert told CNN in June he would only wear a mask if he contracted the virus.
"I don't have the coronavirus, turns out as of yesterday I've never had it. But if I get it, you'll never see me without a mask," he said. "But I keep being tested and I don't have it. So I'm not afraid of you, but if I get it I'll wear a mask."
Democratic lawmakers have recently called out Republican members of Congress for not wearing masks around the Capitol.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said at a news conference Wednesday he was "concerned about the irresponsible behavior" of House Republicans who did not wear masks in the Capitol.
He asked his Republican colleagues to follow public health guidelines for their "health, safety, and well-being."
House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., directly criticized three Republican committee members for not wearing masks during the hearing with Barr on Tuesday.
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“I would remind Mr. (Jim) Jordan, Mr. (Andy) Biggs and Mr. (Mike) Johnson to stop violating the rules of the committee, to stop violating the safety of the members of the committee, to stop holding themselves out as not caring by refusing to wear their masks," Nadler said.
Following Gohert's diagnosis on Wednesday, lawmakers condemned fellow members of Congress for refusing to wear masks.
"I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're a Member of Congress who refuses to wear a mask on Capitol Hill, you're not only putting your colleagues at risk – you're endangering the staff who works here, including many of my constituents," said Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va.
I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're a Member of Congress who refuses to wear a mask on Capitol Hill, you're not only putting your colleagues at risk—you're endangering the staff who works here, including many of my constituents.
Wear a damn mask. — Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) July 29, 2020
Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., recirculated an open letter he and seven other lawmakers addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in June.
"We called out colleagues weeks ago for endangering people – our constituents – around them, including thousands of staff, police, support personnel, and journalists who work on Capitol Hill," he said. "Again, to my colleagues: the mask is to protect OTHER PEOPLE."
The original letter called on Pelosi and McCarthy to "issue strong, explicit directives to Members of the House regarding proper face coverings, social distancing, and other public health precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and local public health departments with all possible haste."
We called out colleagues weeks ago for endangering people - our constituents - around them, including thousands of staff, police, support personnel, and journalists who work on Capitol Hill.
Again, to my colleagues: the mask is to protect OTHER PEOPLE.
Wear the damn mask. https://t.co/WLPnYUkgwa — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) July 29, 2020
Contributing: Nicholas Wu, Christal Hayes