usatoday--2020-09-20--'A leader of all humanity': Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a hero, icon, fighter for women and girls across

Time froze for girls and women across the nation Friday night as millions learned that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – the second woman in U.S. history to sit on the high court – had died of complications from pancreatic cancer .
For many , it was the loss of a hero , an icon and a champion .
Vanessa Cantley was at her son 's first high school football game in Louisville , Kentucky , on Friday night when she got an alert on her phone .
`` My heart just stopped , and I started to cry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm 43 years old , and I 've never cried over the death of a public figure or a famous person – somebody I didn ’ t know personally , '' Cantley said .
`` I guess I always sort of had in the back of my mind that she might live forever because if anybody could do it , she could . ''
Cantley organized a small vigil for Ginsburg on Saturday morning , where about 20 people talked about what Ginsburg 's life meant to them .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two , so she ’ s truly a trailblazer for me , '' Cantley said .
USA TODAY spoke with girls and women across the nation about the impact of Ginsburg 's life and work on their lives , and how her grit , intellect and compassion inspired them .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg : Second woman on Supreme Court had been nation 's leading litigator for women 's rights ' A leader of all humanity , not just women' Once one of nine women in a law school class of 500 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women ’ s rights founded the Women ’ s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union and argued six cases before the court on which she would one day sit , winning five .
Ginsburg pursued a new legal strategy in gender discrimination cases , finding male plaintiffs to challenge laws that discriminated `` on the basis of sex . ''
As an associate justice , Ginsburg authored the 7-1 ruling that opened the doors of the Virginia Military Institute to women .
She voted with the majority to strike down state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama 's Affordable Care Act for the second time .
And she became the first justice in history to preside at a same-sex wedding ceremony .
Melinda Ojermark , a recently retired global health expert in Washington , D.C. , went to the Supreme Court building Saturday morning to pay her respects .
She said Ginsburg 's `` brilliance , humility and tenacity were unparalleled . ''
`` She was a role model for women , but more important also men have taken note and learned from her life and leadership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as I watched people paying their respect , there were many men among those through .
She was a leader of all humanity , not just women . ''
Yvonne Joyner , 58 , who lives outside Philadelphia and runs an art group in Brooklyn , New York , said she had been thinking about Ginsburg this week , keeping up with news of her receiving the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center the night before her death .
Joyner was coming from the grocery store with a bottle of wine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report on TV .
`` I just sat there and , some tears kind of fell , and I sat there in shock , thinking – what 's going to happen now ?
Not just politically , but all the things she stood for that were so important .
Who is going to embrace everybody now ? ''
Joyner said .
`` It was too much .
To be honest , I was kind of in shock . ''
Joyner said she immediately started a group chat with her daughters and stepson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to talk .
`` Oddly enough , it was my stepson who proclaimed the loudest pain , '' Joyner said .
`` I think that she was standing up in that way goes to show the spectrum of people she 's impacted .
As a Black woman , it makes me say , no , we deserve equal rights across the board .
We deserve the same rights white men get with the Constitution . ''
For many , the diminutive woman was more than a judge on the nation 's highest court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ginsburg took the stage at operas , was embodied in many a Saturday Night Live skit , was portrayed in the feature film `` On the Basis of Sex '' and featured in an Oscar-nominated 2018 documentary , `` RBG , '' which included a scene of the justice lifting weights while wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words `` super diva ! ''
That documentary helped 25-year-old Nebraska native Kishahnica Rajendran express to her mother why she wants to pursue law .
`` My mom is from India , so she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process here , '' said Rajendran , who was studying for the bar when she heard of Ginsburg 's death .
`` When she saw the documentary , how RBG did it , and what she went through in her life , it was a way my mom saw me .
She was like , you can do that , too .
She was smiling the biggest smile , and she was so proud that I was going into this profession .
That 's one moment I will always remember . ''
Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mugs , pillows , totes , face masks and more .
There are Ginsburg-inspired tattoos , jewelry lines , action figures and bobbleheads .
In the wake of her death , `` Notorious R.B.G . ''
memes – a play on the late rapper Notorious B.I.G .
– and photos of Ginsburg Halloween costumes , complete with `` dissenting collar , '' robe , glasses , earrings and gavel , began to recirculate online .
Novelist Donna Dechen Birdwell , who lives in Austin , Texas , joked she 's `` never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` growing up in an era where there were very few women of high character and achievement whom I 'd want to emulate , Justice Ginsburg was there .
She was an anchor of hope for my daughter 's future . ''
Fighting through pain , standing up for health care access Several women said they would remember Ginsburg as someone who stood up for access to health care , fought through her own health struggles and inspired them to care for others .
Barbara Wood , a clinical psychologist who practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's life work and grit makes her want to give back .
`` To me , she is someone who battled everyday to fulfill the highest ideals of our founders that we are all created equal and deserve equal treatment under the law , Wood said .
`` Her example will always inspire me to remember that each day , regardless of physical or emotional pain , I have the opportunity and obligation to contribute to the welfare of others . ''
New York City resident Tati Chin , 26 , who works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on women 's reproductive rights were most important to her .
In 2014 , Ginsburg dissented in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby , which determined that family-owned and other closely held companies can not be forced to offer insurance coverage for certain birth control methods .
`` For me , it was just powerful because I have an IUD and am strongly propelled for reproductive rights for women , so her dissenting meant a lot to me at the time , '' Chin said .
San Diego resident Sue Eng Ly , 29 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her the strength to file a Title XI suit against the man who assaulted her in graduate school , and to persevere through the process when she had doubts about `` ruffling people 's feathers . ''
`` You know how people pray to the Rosary when terrible things happen ?
I ’ d try to channel her strength , '' Ly said .
`` In a lot of ways , Justice Ginsburg , her fierce advocacy showed me , particularly as a woman of color , that I was worthy . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the ACLU of Alabama , said Ginsburg is the reason she went to law school and advocates for women 's reproductive rights .
Her cat 's name is Ginsburg .
`` I think she has made me a better lawyer .
I aim to always emulate everything that she has done , '' said Welborn , who was wearing a `` Notorious RBG '' T-shirt .
`` I admire the adversity that she went through and how she was able to keep her integrity , and her values , and still succeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a partner in life , Marty Ginsburg , who was an equal partner . ''
Welborn recalled working at a college bookstore in 2007 , making $ 2 less than her male counterpart , the year that Ginsburg dissented in Ledbetter v. Goodyear .
The court ruled employers can not be sued over race or gender pay discrimination if the claims are based on decisions made by the employer 180 days ago or more .
Ginsburg later urged Congress to right the court ’ s wrong , and Congress passed the Lily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That showed me that even when you lose , it is meaningful to make that stance – that you might still win in the long run because you ’ re laying the groundwork for the future , '' Welborn said .
`` Small wins make a difference .
And the fact that you are doing it at all makes a difference for your clients , and the rest of women in America . ''
As a lawyer focusing on domestic violence law , Parisa Pirooz , 29 , said Ginsburg 's stamina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Supreme Court Justice has given her courage when she finds herself in difficult positions .
`` As someone who has to constantly be in that position to be in that fight , and when you see someone in that position , you know the pain and the strength and the amount of energy that that drains , '' Pirooz said .
`` To be in these spaces where you can ’ t put your guard down at any moment , to exhibit that amount of strength consistently is difficult . ''
Pirooz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reactions from friends and colleagues to Ginsburg 's death – some critical of the justice 's past decisions .
`` I don ’ t think it 's fair to her legacy to expect that she always have the right opinions or answers to our societal issues , '' Pirooz said .
`` I think it ’ s conducive to our nation ’ s progression to celebrate – give her credit where credit is due . ''
An inspiration for all ages , to make a difference at all ages Women of all ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives .
Katherine Nguyen , 27 , a nurse in the Philadelphia area , said Ginsburg taught her you 're never too young or too old to make a difference .
`` She fought for rights I take for granted and reap the benefits from and am still learning about , '' Nguyen said .
`` She was outspoken , passionate , and remained politically active past a typical 'retirement ' age . ''
Lucy Stack , 10 , said she was coming home from riding her bike Friday when she saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She broke the news to Lucy .
`` I have a portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg , and then I have one of her most favorite quotes , '' Lucy said .
`` Someone asked her when there would be enough women on the court , she said when there are nine because there are nine supreme court justices . ''
Lucy said the framed portrait and quote are on her wall of inspiring women in her bedroom .
They drive her to pursue her dream of acting .
`` Last night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Lucy 's mother , Rachel Slack .
`` But she said to me , we just have to make sure that someday there are nine . ''

'A leader of all humanity': Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a hero, icon, fighter for women and girls across the nation
Time froze for girls and women across the nation Friday night as millions learned that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – the second woman in U.S. history to sit on the high court – died of complications from pancreatic cancer.
For many, it was the loss of a hero, an icon and a champion.
Vanessa Cantley was at her son's first high school football game in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday night when she got an alert on her phone.
"My heart just stopped, and I started to cry, which was notable for me because I'm 43 years old, and I've never cried over the death of a public figure or a famous person – somebody I didn’t know personally," Cantley said. "I guess I always sort of had in the back of my mind that she might live forever because if anybody could do it, she could."
Cantley organized a small vigil for Ginsburg on Saturday morning, where about 20 people talked about what Ginsburg's life meant to them. "I'm a practicing attorney and also a mother of two, so she’s truly a trailblazer for me," Cantley said.
USA TODAY spoke with girls and women about the impact of Ginsburg's life and work on their lives, and how her grit, intellect and compassion inspired them.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Second woman on Supreme Court had been nation's leading litigator for women's rights
Opinion: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life and work propelled women's equality front and center
'A leader of all humanity , not just women '
Once one of nine women in a law school class of 500, the nation’s preeminent litigator for women’s rights founded the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union and argued six cases before the court on which she would one day sit, winning five. Ginsburg pursued a new legal strategy in gender discrimination cases, finding male plaintiffs to challenge laws that discriminated "on the basis of sex."
As an associate justice, Ginsburg wrote the 7-1 ruling that opened the doors of the Virginia Military Institute to women. She voted with the majority to strike down state laws banning same-sex marriage and helped save President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act for the second time. She became the first justice in history to preside at a same-sex wedding ceremony.
Melinda Ojermark, a recently retired global health expert in Washington, went to the Supreme Court building Saturday morning to pay her respects. She said Ginsburg's "brilliance, humility and tenacity were unparalleled."
"She was a role model for women, but more important, also men have taken note and learned from her life and leadership," Ojermark said. "This morning, as I watched people paying their respect, there were many men among those. She was a leader of all humanity, not just women."
Yvonne Joyner, 58, who lives outside Philadelphia and runs an art group in Brooklyn, New York, said she had been keeping up with news of Ginsburg receiving the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center the night before her death. Joyner was coming from the grocery store with a bottle of wine for a night in when she saw the report on TV.
"I just sat there, and some tears kind of fell, and I sat there in shock, thinking – what's going to happen now? Not just politically but all the things she stood for that were so important. Who is going to embrace everybody now?" Joyner said. "It was too much. To be honest, I was kind of in shock."
Joyner said she started a group chat with her daughters and stepson and planned a time for them all to talk.
"Oddly enough, it was my stepson who proclaimed the loudest pain," Joyner said. "I think that she was standing up in that way goes to show the spectrum of people she's impacted. As a Black woman, it makes me say, no, we deserve equal rights across the board. We deserve the same rights white men get with the Constitution."
'Notorious RBG' : The pop culture icon
For many, the diminutive woman was more than a judge on the nation's highest court; she was a pop culture phenomenon.
Ginsburg took the stage at operas, was embodied in many a "Saturday Night Live" skit, was portrayed in the feature film "On the Basis of Sex" and featured in an Oscar-nominated 2018 documentary, "RBG," which included a scene of the justice lifting weights while wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words "super diva!"
That documentary helped Nebraska native Kishahnica Rajendran, 25, express to her mother why she wants to pursue law.
"My mom is from India, so she didn't really understand the law school process here," said Rajendran, who was studying for the bar when she heard of Ginsburg's death. "When she saw the documentary, how RBG did it, and what she went through in her life, it was a way my mom saw me. She was like, you can do that, too. She was smiling the biggest smile, and she was so proud that I was going into this profession. That's one moment I will always remember."
Ginsburg's face adorns candles, clothing, mugs, pillows, totes, face masks and more. There are Ginsburg-inspired tattoos, jewelry lines, action figures and bobbleheads. In the wake of her death, "Notorious R.B.G." memes – a play on the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. – and photos of Ginsburg Halloween costumes, complete with "dissenting collar," robe, glasses, earrings and gavel, began to recirculate online.
Novelist Donna Dechen Birdwell, who lives in Austin, Texas, joked she's "never been into hero worship," but "growing up in an era where there were very few women of high character and achievement whom I'd want to emulate, Justice Ginsburg was there. She was an anchor of hope for my daughter's future."
Fighting through pain , standing up for health care access
Several women said they would remember Ginsburg as someone who stood up for access to health care, fought through her own health struggles and inspired them to care for others.
Barbara Wood, a clinical psychologist who practices in Bethesda, Maryland, said Ginsburg's life work and grit makes her want to give back.
"To me, she is someone who battled every day to fulfill the highest ideals of our founders that we are all created equal and deserve equal treatment under the law," Wood said. "Her example will always inspire me to remember that each day, regardless of physical or emotional pain, I have the opportunity and obligation to contribute to the welfare of others."
New York City resident Tati Chin, 26, who works in finance, said Ginsburg's rulings on women's reproductive rights were most important to her. In 2014, Ginsburg dissented in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, which determined that family-owned and other closely held companies cannot be forced to offer insurance coverage for certain birth control methods.
"For me, it was just powerful because I have an IUD and am strongly propelled for reproductive rights for women, so her dissenting meant a lot to me at the time," Chin said.
San Diego resident Sue Eng Ly, 29, said Ginsburg's example is what gave her the strength to file a Title XI suit against a man she said assaulted her in graduate school and to persevere through the process when she had doubts about "ruffling people's feathers."
"You know how people pray to the rosary when terrible things happen? I’d try to channel her strength," Ly said. "In a lot of ways, Justice Ginsburg, her fierce advocacy showed me, particularly as a woman of color, that I was worthy."
Driving women into law
Kaitlin Welborn, 34, who works for the ACLU of Alabama, said Ginsburg is the reason she went to law school and advocates for women's reproductive rights. Her cat's name is Ginsburg.
"I think she has made me a better lawyer. I aim to always emulate everything that she has done," said Welborn, who wore a "Notorious RBG" T-shirt. "I admire the adversity that she went through and how she was able to keep her integrity and her values and still succeed. And that she was able to find a partner in life, Marty Ginsburg, who was an equal partner."
Welborn recalled working at a college bookstore in 2007, making $2 less than her male counterpart, the year that Ginsburg dissented in Ledbetter v. Goodyear. The court ruled employers cannot be sued over race or gender pay discrimination if the claims are based on decisions made by the employer 180 days ago or more. Ginsburg urged Congress to right the court’s wrong, and Congress passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009.
"That showed me that even when you lose, it is meaningful to make that stance – that you might still win in the long run because you’re laying the groundwork for the future," Welborn said. "Small wins make a difference. And the fact that you are doing it at all makes a difference for your clients, and the rest of women in America."
As a lawyer focusing on domestic violence law, Parisa Pirooz, 29, said Ginsburg's stamina as an outspoken woman, Jew, and Supreme Court justice gives her courage when she finds herself in difficult positions.
"As someone who has to constantly be in that position to be in that fight, and when you see someone in that position, you know the pain and the strength and the amount of energy that that drains," Pirooz said. "To be in these spaces where you can’t put your guard down at any moment, to exhibit that amount of strength consistently is difficult."
Pirooz said she's seen a range of reactions from friends and colleagues to Ginsburg's death – some critical of the justice's decisions.
"I don’t think it's fair to her legacy to expect that she always have the right opinions or answers to our societal issues," Pirooz said. "I think it’s conducive to our nation’s progression to celebrate – give her credit where credit is due."
An inspiration for all ages , to make a difference at all ages
Women of all ages said Ginsburg had a profound impact on their lives.
Katherine Nguyen, 27, a nurse in the Philadelphia area, said Ginsburg taught her you're never too young or too old to make a difference.
"She fought for rights I take for granted and reap the benefits from and am still learning about," Nguyen said. "She was outspoken, passionate and remained politically active past a typical 'retirement' age."
Lucy Stack, 10, said she was coming home from riding her bike Friday when she saw her mom crying in their Louisville home. She broke the news to Lucy.
"I have a portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and then I have one of her most favorite quotes … Someone asked her when there would be enough women on the court," Lucy said. "She said when there are nine because there are nine Supreme court justices."
Lucy said the framed portrait and quote are on her wall of inspiring women in her bedroom. They drive her to pursue her dream of acting.
"Last night, we were pretty sad," said Lucy's mother, Rachel Stack. "But she said to me, we just have to make sure that someday there are nine."
Contributing: Patrick Ryan and Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY; Emma Austin, Louisville Courier Journal


usatoday--2020-09-20--'Like smoking multiple packs a day': Hazardous air quality worries West Coast parents

Members of a family whose house burned down in the Almeda fire near Medford , Oregon , carry donated goods into the home where they are staying .
Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY Clarissa Carson cradled her baby girl in her arms and felt her heart drop .
The ICU nurse looked out her front window , barely making out trees across the street .
Dense , choking smoke — the result of nearby wildfires — had settled in her hometown of Medford , Oregon , a city of 82,000 located 27 miles north of the California border .
It was 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her daughter , who had just started crawling , outside to their yard , to let her feel a ray of sunshine on her face , let the grass tickle her knees .
She knew sensory input was critical to her development .
This was the summer Carson 's blue-eyed baby girl started balling up her fists and shaking her hands when she got excited , drool spilling onto her chubby cheeks .
Carson knew if they went outside , she ’ d get that reaction .
But she also knew that with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t a good idea .
Earlier this week , Carson ’ s daughter had a meltdown — “ I just wan na swing !
I wan na swing high !
” she bawled — when Carson wouldn ’ t let her go outside .
Three years later , the problems persist .
As climate change evolves and fire season burns hotter and longer , the West Coast is increasingly blanketed in dangerous air for long stretches .
In Oregon , the Air Quality Index has regularly registered over 500 in much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( healthy air quality is from 0-50 ; anything above 301 is considered hazardous ) .
Battling wildfires year-round is now the norm .
How did we get here ?
Extremely unhealthy air isn ’ t unique to Oregon .
Smoke has hung over the Bay Area in California and parts of Los Angeles County for most of the past month , and Washington state is dealing with similar problems .
County and state officials everywhere have repeatedly urged residents to stay inside to avoid the smoke as much as possible .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hazardous particles , leaving Carson and other parents to wonder about the risk for young children with still-developing lungs and respiratory systems .
Should parents be concerned , they ask — and if their kid already has breathing problems , should they be thinking of leaving permanently ?
“ Do my kids have asthma ?
Not yet , ” said Zach Kuhlow , 42 , an ER nurse who has a 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son .
“ They ’ re healthy right now , at their baseline , but I worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , I feel like I ’ m just setting them up for failure.
” Rains are expected in Oregon this weekend , which will help clear out much of the bad air .
But fire season on the West Coast is likely to stretch into late fall , which means this is merely the beginning terrible air .
The Kuhlows lost their home in the Alameda fire that destroyed the small towns of Talent and Phoenix just outside of Medford .
Currently cooped up at a hotel , Kuhlow is all but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family to leave the Pacific Northwest .
Originally from Florida , he ’ s heard from friends that Asheville , North Carolina , at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains , is a great place to raise a family .
“ I ’ m putting my foot down , ” he said .
“ We can ’ t stay here .
We have such a great community , and it ’ s gon na be hard to leave but … if you equate the Air Quality Index to smoking cigarettes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re smoking multiple packs a day if you go outside.
” Children inhaling polluted air in any form isn ’ t ideal , said Dr. Holger Link , a pulmonology pediatrics expert at Doernbecher Children ’ s Hospital in Portland .
But studies related to air pollution from fires , both wildland and urban , are almost non-existent for a variety of reasons .
“ The truth is , we don ’ t know the long-term effects , ” Link said .
“ This is all quite new , the extent and severity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … We need to invest in public health and really study these things to understand what it means for our children.
” Studying children ’ s lung functions can be tricky , Link said .
First , it ’ s important to remember that smoke exposure is different when you ’ re talking about a wildland fire ( where mostly vegetation is burning ) vs. an urban fire ( where toxic building materials often burn ) .
That results in “ very different things , different particles , in your lungs , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects , ” Link said .
Second , it ’ s nearly impossible to test children under 6 for lung function , because the test calls for patients to take a deep breath then blow out out as hard as they can for as long as they can , typically 5-6 seconds .
They repeat the process three times .
But that ’ s a technically challenging test requiring comprehension and coordination — not to mention an attention span — that ’ s tough for any child under 6 .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reliably blow her nose , to understand that you blow out , ” Carson said .
“ There ’ s no way she could do a pulmonary function test.
” Other options involve chest X-rays and heat scans , but doctors try to limit young children ’ s exposure to radiation whenever possible .
Plus , no matter the method used , it ’ s hard to keep track of a large group of people if you want to study their health for 5-10 years .
“ It ’ s clear we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s no question about that , ” Link said .
“ And air pollution does and can have a negative effect … the concern is about the cumulative effect on young health.
” 'Everything 's gone ' : Many neighborhoods destroyed as fire , smoke devastate Oregon families , workers and homeless Link said humans ’ lungs have “ significant reserves ” built into them ; they ’ re pretty tough .
Lung function naturally declines with old age and eventually most people hit a wall .
With kids who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question comes down to when you hit that wall , ” Link said .
“ Is it when you ’ re 60 or when you ’ re 30 ?
” 'Our bodies can only take so much' Staying inside and away from bad air seems like a no-brainer when the air quality is so bad it doesn ’ t even register on the agreed upon scale ( though the AQI technically goes up to only 500 , parts of Oregon registered into the 800s in the first days of the fires ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be burning to feel the impact , either .
Jenna Friedenberg grew up surrounded by smog in Los Angeles County 's San Fernando Valley , a fact that “ disturbed my parents , they felt so guilty about it.
” She remembers driving to middle school and thinking that if a huge vacuum could come suck up all the gross , gray air that hung over the city , it would make everything better .
Now , her kids — Emmett , age 7 and Rosemary , age 4 — are living with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeast LA .
“ I grew up with wildfires and never felt particularly bothered , but our bodies can only take so much before there ’ s damage , right ?
” said Friedenberg , 42 .
Her husband has severe enough asthma that he takes daily medication to ward off attacks , and Emmett has spells that require his own inhaler .
Since smoke started rolling through Southern California , Friedenberg has noticed Emmett getting bleary eyed and “ rubbing his nose so much he ’ s trying to rub it off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them developing worse ailments later on , because we chose for them to grow up in this environment ?
That ’ s quite a burden , ” Friedenberg said .
Wildfire survival : Oregon man survives wildfires by sheltering on river , fending off embers with plastic chair Last week , when smoke crept into their house , they fled to a rental in Joshua Tree in search of blue skies .
Friedenberg recognizes her family is extremely privileged , that for many people , leaving isn ’ t an option .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wondering if they should leave for good .
“ You know , Omaha is a very pleasant city .
If we all moved there it could be nice .
Or Duluth , that could be a lot of fun , ” she said wryly .
She turned serious again , and let out a sigh of frustration .
“ All of this stuff , COVID , the fires , everything , it ’ s only illuminating the horrible inequities in our system .
The fact that we could go online and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people can ’ t do that.
” In Oregon , the city of Phoenix ( population : 4,600 ) is home to a large Latino community .
Jonathan Chavez Baez , 35 , is the assistant director for Latino programs at Southern Oregon University in Medford , working with about 3,000 area Latinos .
He knows for many residents in that community who work in agriculture , there ’ s no break .
“ We have so many families — parents , aunts and uncles , high schoolers — who are working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to make ends meet and they go to work rain , shine or smoke , ” Chavez Baez said .
There ’ s no guarantee that their homes have sophisticated filtration systems to keep out bad air anyway .
Many of those families can ’ t afford day care , either , which means young kids are left in the care of older kids .
It 's hard to know how much older siblings are paying attention to hazardous air readings .
Too often in disaster situations , Chavez Baez said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are stuck with one set of strategies that we know work for people who have means , but we don ’ t stop to think about others.
” It ’ s naive to assume every family has a television tuned to the news 24/7 , or access to a smartphone with high speed internet .
“ At the end of the day , you have to understand that some people don ’ t have the choice , means , opportunity or access to housing that you do , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the equity director for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization in Portland , worries about compounding issues in marginalized communities .
“ This air is wreaking havoc on your body , even if you can ’ t see it , ” she said , “ and we already know that communities of color have higher rates of asthma.
” In Los Angeles , Friedenberg thinks a lot about a conversation she had before the pandemic forced everyone to stay home .
Walking to school one morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Friedenberg if either of her children had asthma .
Emmett does , Friedenberg said .
“ Wow , ” the other mom remarked .
“ Every single one of us has a kid with asthma .
Weird coincidence.
” Is it though ?
Friedenberg wondered .
Or is it the result of long-term exposure to terrible air quality , which will only become more common as the west continues to burn ?

Members of a family whose house burned down in the Almeda fire near Medford, Oregon, carry donated goods into the home where they are staying. Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY
El Dorado Forest Fire rages in San Bernardino County Winds increased activity of the El Dorado Fire on September 9, San Bernardino firefighters said, as crews made a hard stance to save numerous homes. Storyful
Clarissa Carson cradled her baby girl in her arms and felt her heart drop. The ICU nurse looked out her front window, barely making out trees across the street. Dense, choking smoke — the result of nearby wildfires — had settled in her hometown of Medford, Oregon, a city of 82,000 located 27 miles north of the California border.
It was 2017, and Carson badly wanted to take her daughter, who had just started crawling, outside to their yard, to let her feel a ray of sunshine on her face, let the grass tickle her knees. She knew sensory input was critical to her development. This was the summer Carson's blue-eyed baby girl started balling up her fists and shaking her hands when she got excited, drool spilling onto her chubby cheeks.
Carson knew if they went outside, she’d get that reaction. But she also knew that with the hazardous air quality, it wasn’t a good idea. Earlier this week, Carson’s daughter had a meltdown — “I just wanna swing! I wanna swing high!” she bawled — when Carson wouldn’t let her go outside.
Betty Stevens, her husband, Fred Andrews, and their daughter Eleanor went to a friend's house in Medford, Ore., after losing their home in the Almeda wildfire. Trevor Hughes
Three years later, the problems persist. As climate change evolves and fire season burns hotter and longer, the West Coast is increasingly blanketed in dangerous air for long stretches. In Oregon, the Air Quality Index has regularly registered over 500 in much of the state over the past 10 days (healthy air quality is from 0-50; anything above 301 is considered hazardous).
Battling wildfires year-round is now the norm. How did we get here?
Extremely unhealthy air isn’t unique to Oregon. Smoke has hung over the Bay Area in California and parts of Los Angeles County for most of the past month, and Washington state is dealing with similar problems.
County and state officials everywhere have repeatedly urged residents to stay inside to avoid the smoke as much as possible. But no one is completely safe from inhalation of hazardous particles, leaving Carson and other parents to wonder about the risk for young children with still-developing lungs and respiratory systems.
Should parents be concerned, they ask — and if their kid already has breathing problems, should they be thinking of leaving permanently?
“Do my kids have asthma? Not yet,” said Zach Kuhlow, 42, an ER nurse who has a 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. “They’re healthy right now, at their baseline, but I worry about their cardio pulmonary health. Staying here, I feel like I’m just setting them up for failure.”
Zach Kuhlow of Oregon, an ER nurse and father of two We can’t stay here. ... it’s basically like you’re smoking multiple packs a day if you go outside. Quote icon
Rains are expected in Oregon this weekend, which will help clear out much of the bad air. But fire season on the West Coast is likely to stretch into late fall, which means this is merely the beginning terrible air.
The Kuhlows lost their home in the Alameda fire that destroyed the small towns of Talent and Phoenix just outside of Medford. Currently cooped up at a hotel, Kuhlow is all but decided that it’s time for the family to leave the Pacific Northwest. Originally from Florida, he’s heard from friends that Asheville, North Carolina, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a great place to raise a family.
“I’m putting my foot down,” he said. “We can’t stay here. We have such a great community, and it’s gonna be hard to leave but … if you equate the Air Quality Index to smoking cigarettes, it’s basically like you’re smoking multiple packs a day if you go outside.”
Air quality studies not common
Children inhaling polluted air in any form isn’t ideal, said Dr. Holger Link, a pulmonology pediatrics expert at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. But studies related to air pollution from fires, both wildland and urban, are almost non-existent for a variety of reasons.
“The truth is, we don’t know the long-term effects,” Link said. “This is all quite new, the extent and severity of the pollution due to wildfires. … We need to invest in public health and really study these things to understand what it means for our children.”
Studying children’s lung functions can be tricky, Link said. First, it’s important to remember that smoke exposure is different when you’re talking about a wildland fire (where mostly vegetation is burning) vs. an urban fire (where toxic building materials often burn). That results in “very different things, different particles, in your lungs, which makes it hard to know the specific effects,” Link said.
Second, it’s nearly impossible to test children under 6 for lung function, because the test calls for patients to take a deep breath then blow out out as hard as they can for as long as they can, typically 5-6 seconds. They repeat the process three times. But that’s a technically challenging test requiring comprehension and coordination — not to mention an attention span — that’s tough for any child under 6.
Dr. Holger Link, a pulmonology pediatrics expert at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland This is all quite new … We need to invest in public health and really study these things to understand what it means for our children. Quote icon
Carson, the ICU nurse, agrees.
“I’m just now starting to get her to reliably blow her nose, to understand that you blow out,” Carson said. “There’s no way she could do a pulmonary function test.”
Other options involve chest X-rays and heat scans, but doctors try to limit young children’s exposure to radiation whenever possible. Plus, no matter the method used, it’s hard to keep track of a large group of people if you want to study their health for 5-10 years.
“It’s clear we all agree clean air is good, there’s no question about that,” Link said. “And air pollution does and can have a negative effect … the concern is about the cumulative effect on young health.”
'Everything's gone': Many neighborhoods destroyed as fire, smoke devastate Oregon families, workers and homeless
Link said humans’ lungs have “significant reserves” built into them; they’re pretty tough. Lung function naturally declines with old age and eventually most people hit a wall. With kids who are annually inhaling hazardous smoke, “the question comes down to when you hit that wall,” Link said. “Is it when you’re 60 or when you’re 30?”
'Our bodies can only take so much'
Staying inside and away from bad air seems like a no-brainer when the air quality is so bad it doesn’t even register on the agreed upon scale (though the AQI technically goes up to only 500, parts of Oregon registered into the 800s in the first days of the fires).
Your backyard doesn’t have to be burning to feel the impact, either.
The Almeda fire left charred vehicles inside an auto-repair shop outside Medford, Ore. Trevor Hughes
Jenna Friedenberg grew up surrounded by smog in Los Angeles County's San Fernando Valley, a fact that “disturbed my parents, they felt so guilty about it.” She remembers driving to middle school and thinking that if a huge vacuum could come suck up all the gross, gray air that hung over the city, it would make everything better.
Now, her kids — Emmett, age 7 and Rosemary, age 4 — are living with the same reality in Eagle Rock in northeast LA.
“I grew up with wildfires and never felt particularly bothered, but our bodies can only take so much before there’s damage, right?” said Friedenberg, 42. Her husband has severe enough asthma that he takes daily medication to ward off attacks, and Emmett has spells that require his own inhaler. Since smoke started rolling through Southern California, Friedenberg has noticed Emmett getting bleary eyed and “rubbing his nose so much he’s trying to rub it off his face.”
“The idea of them developing worse ailments later on, because we chose for them to grow up in this environment? That’s quite a burden,” Friedenberg said.
Wildfire survival: Oregon man survives wildfires by sheltering on river, fending off embers with plastic chair
Last week, when smoke crept into their house, they fled to a rental in Joshua Tree in search of blue skies. Friedenberg recognizes her family is extremely privileged, that for many people, leaving isn’t an option. The air is getting so bad she’s wondering if they should leave for good.
“You know, Omaha is a very pleasant city. If we all moved there it could be nice. Or Duluth, that could be a lot of fun,” she said wryly. She turned serious again, and let out a sigh of frustration. “All of this stuff, COVID, the fires, everything, it’s only illuminating the horrible inequities in our system. The fact that we could go online and set up an Airbnb to escape, so many people can’t do that.”
In Oregon, the city of Phoenix (population: 4,600) is home to a large Latino community. Jonathan Chavez Baez, 35, is the assistant director for Latino programs at Southern Oregon University in Medford, working with about 3,000 area Latinos. He knows for many residents in that community who work in agriculture, there’s no break.
“We have so many families — parents, aunts and uncles, high schoolers — who are working the in the field every day, trying to make ends meet and they go to work rain, shine or smoke,” Chavez Baez said. There’s no guarantee that their homes have sophisticated filtration systems to keep out bad air anyway. Many of those families can’t afford day care, either, which means young kids are left in the care of older kids. It's hard to know how much older siblings are paying attention to hazardous air readings.
Too often in disaster situations, Chavez Baez said, when information sharing is crucial, “we are stuck with one set of strategies that we know work for people who have means, but we don’t stop to think about others.” It’s naive to assume every family has a television tuned to the news 24/7, or access to a smartphone with high speed internet.
“At the end of the day, you have to understand that some people don’t have the choice, means, opportunity or access to housing that you do,” he said.
Linda Castillo, the chair of Oregon’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the equity director for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization in Portland, worries about compounding issues in marginalized communities.
“This air is wreaking havoc on your body, even if you can’t see it,” she said, “and we already know that communities of color have higher rates of asthma.”
In Los Angeles, Friedenberg thinks a lot about a conversation she had before the pandemic forced everyone to stay home. Walking to school one morning with six other families, another mom asked Friedenberg if either of her children had asthma. Emmett does, Friedenberg said.
“Wow,” the other mom remarked. “Every single one of us has a kid with asthma. Weird coincidence.”
Is it though? Friedenberg wondered. Or is it the result of long-term exposure to terrible air quality, which will only become more common as the west continues to burn?
Graphics by Karl Gelles


usatoday--2020-09-20--Coronavirus updates: US on brink of 200,000 deaths; Britain considers 2-week lockdown amid surge

The United States was on the verge Sunday of surpassing 200,000 coronavirus deaths as experts warned the total could double by year 's end .
The news comes as states grapple with opening restaurants , small businesses — and crucially , schools — amid signs that new cases are on the rise in some areas .
Fatigue for social distancing , colder weather and continued contention over mask-wearing and reopening may compound COVID-19 cases and deaths as the year goes on .
“ It ’ s hard for me to think of a positive scenario where things are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ said Dr. John Swartzberg , professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley .
“ I don ’ t see behavior changing adequately .
I don ’ t see testing ramping up .
I see political winds continue to be oppressive to doing the right things . ''
COVID-19 deaths have outpaced projections made as recently as May , when experts at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at University of Washington predicted about 180,000 deaths by October .
Now , their prediction is estimated at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States reached 100,000 deaths in May .
• The U.S. is n't the only country where COVID-19 restrictions have created unrest : Police in London clashed with protesters Saturday at a rally against coronavirus restrictions .
• An eighth death has been linked to a coronavirus outbreak stemming from a wedding and reception in the northern part of Maine .
• Disease investigators have released a list of places where possible COVID-19 exposures have happened in Southern Nevada , and dozens of popular hotel-casinos have been named .
• Nearly half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest cities reported serious financial problems amid the pandemic , with 72 % of Latino households reporting money problems , according to a new report .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 6.7 million cases and 199,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
Globally , there have been more than 30 million cases and more than 950,000 fatalities .
New seven-day case records were set in Montana , Utah and Wyoming .
Record numbers of deaths over a seven day period were reported in Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia , according to a USA TODAY analysis of the data through late Saturday .
📰 What we 're reading : Did n't hear from contact tracers about that guy coughing on your flight ?
You might not — even if he had COVID-19 .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak , state by state This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
Britain ’ s government is upping the ante , increasing possible fines to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Secretary Mark Hancock told the BBC on Sunday the United Kingdom is `` facing a tipping point '' due to a sharp surge in coronavirus infections .
More than 19,000 fines already have been issued in England and Wales for alleged breaches of coronavirus laws , authorities said .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering a two-week mini lockdown in England — a `` circuit breaker '' — to stem a recent surge in cases .
On Saturday , 4,422 new COVID-19 cases and 27 deaths were reported in the U.K. '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can avoid further national lockdown , '' Hancock said .
Without readily available coronavirus testing with quick results — still a major hurdle across much of the country — the resulting confusion and proliferation of cases of COVID-19 and the flu could result in what some are calling a “ twindemic , ’ ’ capable of overwhelming the healthcare system .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the flu has killed an average of 37,000 Americans per year since 2010 .
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact on the coronavirus crisis of an early peak to the flu season , which typically crests in January and February .
The chances for disease transmission are markedly enhanced as schools and colleges reopen , even when it ’ s still not certain the extent to which children spread the coronavirus .
Recent studies indicate they can be transmitters even if asymptomatic .
“ There ’ s a question about what role schools are going to play with COVID , but there ’ s absolutely no question what role schools play with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swartzberg , professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley .
“ Schools are the breeding ground for influenza . ''
Baylor did not play its season opener Saturday against Houston and Florida Atlantic ’ s opener against Georgia Southern also was postponed due to positive tests .
Baylor said it was unable to meet the Big 12 roster threshold of a minimum of 53 players available to play .
There ’ s now been 16 Bowl Subdivision games postponed or canceled because of virus issues since Aug. 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the start date delayed until Nov. 25 .
The marquee basketball tournament on Maui has been moved to North Carolina .
Meanwhile , the Pac-12 is considering getting back into fall football .
US borders with Canada , Mexico to remain closed through Oct. 21 America 's borders with Canada and Mexico will reopen Monday as planned .
Chad Wolf , acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , said in a tweet that the borders will remain closed through Oct. 21 .
`` We continue to work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of # COVID19 , '' he wrote .
`` Accordingly , we have agreed to extend the limitation of non-essential travel at our shared land ports of entry through October 21 . ''
Both borders were closed to all but essential traffic in mid-March after the coronavirus pandemic hit , with government officials announcing multiple extensions as case counts continued to rise , especially in the U.S .
The most recent extension , announced in mid-August , was due to expire Sept. 21 .
Neither extension comes as much of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rise in cases since August , but Canada lags far behind the U.S. and Mexico in both new infections and deaths .
Medical debt is piling up as millions of unemployed Americans struggle to stay afloat after losing their health insurance coverage following a historic wave of layoffs this year .
Cathy Munzer , 53 , a single mother who lost her health insurance during the pandemic , said her medical bills are in collections after she fell behind on payments from being treated in an emergency room for kidney stones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My biggest fear is depleting my savings , ” said Munzer , who was a yoga and fitness instructor at two major gyms in Manhattan before she was laid off .
“ What happens when unemployment runs out ?
How will I survive ?
” In August , consumer finance company Credit Karma conducted an analysis of nearly 20 million members in the U.S. and found that they have a total of $ 45 billion of medical debt in collections , which averages to about $ 2,200 of debt per member .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , rising 7 % from the end of last year and just over 3 % from when the pandemic started , Credit Karma says .
Experts expect it to continue to rise in the coming months since there ’ s a 180-day lag before unpaid medical debts can show up on consumers ’ credit reports , according to Colleen McCreary , chief people officer at Credit Karma .
Read more here .
In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .

Coronavirus updates: US on brink of 200K deaths; CDC updates guidance on droplets, airborne particles; Britain considers 2-week lockdown
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The United States was on the verge Sunday of surpassing 200,000 coronavirus deaths as experts warned the total could double by year's end.
The news comes as states grapple with opening restaurants, small businesses — and crucially, schools — amid signs that new cases are on the rise in some areas. Fatigue for social distancing, colder weather and continued contention over mask-wearing and reopening may compound COVID-19 cases and deaths as the year goes on.
“It’s hard for me to think of a positive scenario where things are going to get better in October and November,’’ said Dr. John Swartzberg, professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley. “I don’t see behavior changing adequately. I don’t see testing ramping up. I see political winds continue to be oppressive to doing the right things."
COVID-19 deaths have outpaced projections made as recently as May, when experts at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at University of Washington predicted about 180,000 deaths by October. Now, their prediction is estimated at around 410,000 deaths by January. The U.S. reached 100,000 deaths in May.
Some significant developments:
The U.S. isn't the only country where COVID-19 restrictions have created unrest: Police in London clashed with protesters Saturday at a rally against coronavirus restrictions.
An eighth death has been linked to a coronavirus outbreak stemming from a wedding and reception in the northern part of Maine.
Disease investigators have released a list of places where possible COVID-19 exposures have happened in Southern Nevada, and dozens of popular hotel-casinos have been named.
Nearly half of U.S. households in the nation's four largest cities reported serious financial problems amid the pandemic, with 72% of Latino households reporting money problems, according to a new report.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported nearly 6.8 million cases and more than 199,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Globally, there have been more than 30.9 million cases and 959,000 fatalities. New seven-day case records were set in Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Record numbers of deaths over a seven-day period were reported in Montana, North Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia, according to a USA TODAY analysis of the data through late Saturday.
📰 What we're reading: Didn't hear from contact tracers about that guy coughing on your flight? You might not — even if he had COVID-19.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak, state by state
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
The CDC has updated its guidance regarding how COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, spreads, now noting "it is possible that COVID-19 may spread through the droplets and airborne particles that are formed when a person who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes."
The updated guidance says, "There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet."
CNN reported the guidance was updated Friday, the same day the agency reversed course on controversial testing guidance. According to the CDC, "indoor environments without good ventilation" increase the risk of infection via suspended droplets and airborne particles.
Even a few million doses of vaccine would be sufficient for the U.S. to obtain "80% to 90% of the benefit" of mass vaccinations, White House coronavirus task force member Adm. Brett Giroir said Sunday. Giroir, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," said a few million doses could be available in late November or December. Vaccinating nursing home workers, teachers, people with pre-existing conditions and the people surrounding them will be crucial to stemming the COVID-19 tide,, Giroir said.
"A vaccine as early as possible, even in a few million doses, will be a godsend in terms of outcomes, hospitalizations, morbidities and deaths," Giroir said.
Britain’s government is upping the ante, increasing possible fines to $13,000 for refusing to self isolate. Health Secretary Mark Hancock told the BBC on Sunday the United Kingdom is "facing a tipping point" due to a sharp surge in coronavirus infections.
More than 19,000 fines already have been issued in England and Wales for alleged breaches of coronavirus laws, authorities said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering a two-week mini lockdown in England — a "circuit breaker" — to stem a recent surge in cases. On Saturday, 4,422 new COVID-19 cases and 27 deaths were reported in the U.K.
"If everybody follows the rules, then we can avoid further national lockdown," Hancock said.
Without readily available coronavirus testing with quick results — still a major hurdle across much of the country — the resulting confusion and proliferation of cases of COVID-19 and the flu could result in what some are calling a “twindemic,’’ capable of overwhelming the healthcare system.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu has killed an average of 37,000 Americans per year since 2010. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has said he’s especially worried about the possible impact on the coronavirus crisis of an early peak to the flu season, which typically crests in January and February.
The chances for disease transmission are markedly enhanced as schools and colleges reopen, even when it’s still not certain the extent to which children spread the coronavirus. Recent studies indicate they can be transmitters even if asymptomatic.
“There’s a question about what role schools are going to play with COVID, but there’s absolutely no question what role schools play with influenza,’’ said Dr. John Swartzberg, professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley. “Schools are the breeding ground for influenza."
– Jorge L. Ortiz
America's borders with Canada and Mexico will reopen Monday as planned. Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said in a tweet that the borders will remain closed through Oct. 21. "We continue to work with our Canadian and Mexican partners to slow the spread of #COVID19," he wrote. "Accordingly, we have agreed to extend the limitation of non-essential travel at our shared land ports of entry through October 21."
Both borders were closed to all but essential traffic in mid-March after the coronavirus pandemic hit, with government officials announcing multiple extensions as case counts continued to rise, especially in the U.S. The most recent extension, announced in mid-August, was due to expire Sept. 21. Neither extension comes as much of a surprise: All three countries have seen a rise in cases since August, but Canada lags far behind the U.S. and Mexico in both new infections and deaths.
– Jayme Deerwester
Medical debt is piling up as millions of unemployed Americans struggle to stay afloat after losing their health insurance coverage following a historic wave of layoffs this year. Cathy Munzer, 53, a single mother who lost her health insurance during the pandemic, said her medical bills are in collections after she fell behind on payments from being treated in an emergency room for kidney stones.
“This is going to bankrupt me. My biggest fear is depleting my savings,” said Munzer, who was a yoga and fitness instructor at two major gyms in Manhattan before she was laid off. “What happens when unemployment runs out? How will I survive?”
In August, consumer finance company Credit Karma conducted an analysis of nearly 20 million members in the U.S. and found that they have a total of $45 billion of medical debt in collections, which averages to about $2,200 of debt per member.
Medical debt has been growing further during the pandemic, rising 7% from the end of last year and just over 3% from when the pandemic started, Credit Karma says. Experts expect it to continue to rise in the coming months since there’s a 180-day lag before unpaid medical debts can show up on consumers’ credit reports, according to Colleen McCreary, chief people officer at Credit Karma. Read more here.
– Jessica Menton
COVID-19 resources from USA TODAY
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter. On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. J oin our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. J to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Contributing: Jordan Culver, USA TODAY; The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-20--Which NFL figures need to prove in Week 2 that first game wasn't a fluke?

Small sample sizes can lead to some confounding conclusions .
In the NFL world , it can be difficult to tell which results are actually a preview of what 's to come .
In 2019 , there were several meaningful showings — including Lamar Jackson igniting the Baltimore Ravens ' offense to a rout of the Miami Dolphins — as well as some dangerous harbingers — like the Cleveland Browns ' flop against the Tennessee Titans .
But the first week of games has also produced plenty of outliers over the years — for example , the Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 .
With that in mind , we asked our NFL reporters , columnists and editors : Which NFL player , team or coach needs to prove Week 1 was n't a fluke ?
Here are their responses : I wasn ’ t outright stunned the Arizona Cardinals beat the defending NFC and NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers in their own building to kick off the 2020 season .
The Cards showed copious spunk in the second half of last season , even if their efforts didn ’ t always translate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to click when midseason trade acquisition RB Kenyan Drake teamed with eventual offensive rookie of the year Kyler Murray — that duo was definitely effective against the vaunted Niners defense , along with newly acquired superstar WR DeAndre Hopkins and his career-best 14 catches .
But I was most impressed by Arizona ’ s defense , one that often has to fight out of bad spots when the Air Raid goes three-and-out with lightning efficiency .
It did a good job keeping San Fran ’ s run game — the NFC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in check … though it helped that the 49ers were without their top wide receivers , and TE George Kittle was a ghost after halftime following a knee injury .
San Francisco ’ s pre-game preparation also included lots of questions about the wildfires raging throughout California .
It ’ s fair to say circumstances aligned on Arizona ’ s side , but I also definitely think the Cardinals will contend for one of the NFC ’ s seven playoff spots .
With upcoming home games against Washington and Detroit , they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a strong claim toward season-long legitimacy .
I 'm going to go with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen .
He had quite a dynamic Week 1 outing , passing for 312 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown in a 27-17 victory over the Jets .
But .
.
.
it was the Jets .
I need to see more before I 'm willing to view Allen as having matured into that well-rounded game-changer level quarterback .
Until Sunday , he had never recorded a 300-yard passing day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he do it again ?
This week he faces a Dolphins defense that yielded only four 300-yard outings last season , and who just held Cam Newton and the Patriots below 200 passing yards .
The Bills certainly are hoping that Year 3 represents a breakout for Allen .
Another big day versus a divisional opponent would go a long way towards him living up to his potential .
The Washington Football Team opened its new-name era with an upset win thanks to a talented defense that powered eight sacks and two interceptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Arizona offense that outlasted San Francisco ’ s vaunted defense in Week 1 ?
A frenetic Kyler Murray will do his best to stop them .
Count on Murray to elude Washington better than Carson Wentz did .
Add in electric option DeAndre Hopkins ( 14 catches , 151 yards in opener ) and Murray will be a problem .
Prove us wrong , Washington .
No Week 1 result was more puzzling than the Jacksonville Jaguars ' 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts .
From Gardner Minshew 's 19-of-20 passing performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than it gained ( 445-241 ) , Jacksonville wo n't be able to count on replicating the same formula moving forward .
A reality check might await with Sunday 's trip to face the Tennessee Titans , whom the Jaguars have n't beaten in Nashville since 2013 .
Outsiders ' expectations remain low , but a win against another divisional foe would alter the complexion of a franchise that has been defined in the last year and a half by the casting off of its top talent .

Which NFL figures need to prove in Week 2 that first game wasn't a fluke?
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: Best bets to consider for NFL Week 2 SportsPulse: Lorenzo almost had a perfect weekend to start the season. He's back for Week 2 and giving you his best bets for Sunday. USA TODAY
Small sample sizes can lead to some confounding conclusions.
In the NFL world, it can be difficult to tell which results are actually a preview of what's to come. In 2019, there were several meaningful showings — including Lamar Jackson igniting the Baltimore Ravens' offense to a rout of the Miami Dolphins — as well as some dangerous harbingers — like the Cleveland Browns' flop against the Tennessee Titans. But the first week of games has also produced plenty of outliers over the years — for example, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' win over the New Orleans Saints in 2018.
With that in mind, we asked our NFL reporters, columnists and editors: Which NFL player, team or coach needs to prove Week 1 wasn't a fluke?
Here are their responses:
I wasn’t outright stunned the Arizona Cardinals beat the defending NFC and NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers in their own building to kick off the 2020 season. The Cards showed copious spunk in the second half of last season, even if their efforts didn’t always translate to the win column. The backfield started to click when midseason trade acquisition RB Kenyan Drake teamed with eventual offensive rookie of the year Kyler Murray — that duo was definitely effective against the vaunted Niners defense, along with newly acquired superstar WR DeAndre Hopkins and his career-best 14 catches. But I was most impressed by Arizona’s defense, one that often has to fight out of bad spots when the Air Raid goes three-and-out with lightning efficiency. It did a good job keeping San Fran’s run game — the NFC’s most effective in 2019 — largely in check … though it helped that the 49ers were without their top wide receivers, and TE George Kittle was a ghost after halftime following a knee injury. San Francisco’s pre-game preparation also included lots of questions about the wildfires raging throughout California. It’s fair to say circumstances aligned on Arizona’s side, but I also definitely think the Cardinals will contend for one of the NFC’s seven playoff spots. With upcoming home games against Washington and Detroit, they have a golden opportunity at a 3-0 September — a strong claim toward season-long legitimacy.
I'm going to go with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen. He had quite a dynamic Week 1 outing, passing for 312 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown in a 27-17 victory over the Jets. But . . . it was the Jets. I need to see more before I'm willing to view Allen as having matured into that well-rounded game-changer level quarterback. Until Sunday, he had never recorded a 300-yard passing day in his two previous seasons. Can he do it again? This week he faces a Dolphins defense that yielded only four 300-yard outings last season, and who just held Cam Newton and the Patriots below 200 passing yards. The Bills certainly are hoping that Year 3 represents a breakout for Allen. Another big day versus a divisional opponent would go a long way towards him living up to his potential.
The Washington Football Team opened its new-name era with an upset win thanks to a talented defense that powered eight sacks and two interceptions. Can they replicate the disruption against an Arizona offense that outlasted San Francisco’s vaunted defense in Week 1? A frenetic Kyler Murray will do his best to stop them. Count on Murray to elude Washington better than Carson Wentz did. Add in electric option DeAndre Hopkins (14 catches, 151 yards in opener) and Murray will be a problem. Prove us wrong, Washington.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
No Week 1 result was more puzzling than the Jacksonville Jaguars' 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. From Gardner Minshew's 19-of-20 passing performance to triumphing despite yielding 204 yards more than it gained (445-241), Jacksonville won't be able to count on replicating the same formula moving forward. A reality check might await with Sunday's trip to face the Tennessee Titans, whom the Jaguars haven't beaten in Nashville since 2013. Outsiders' expectations remain low, but a win against another divisional foe would alter the complexion of a franchise that has been defined in the last year and a half by the casting off of its top talent.
Follow USA TODAY's NFL coverage on Twitter @usatodaynfl.


usatoday--2020-09-20--Getting Black communities to vote is personal for LeBron James, other NBA stars: 'We've seen our voi

When he became eligible to vote , LeBron James did not consider it to be important .
At 18 years old , James cared about other things .
Then a high school senior at St. Vincent-St Mary ’ s in Akron , Ohio , James remained more consumed about winning a division championship and ensuring his spot in the NBA Draft .
Not only did James stay focused with fulfilling his childhood dream .
He also wanted to support his mother , Gloria , “ for everything she sacrificed for me ” as a single mother .
So after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1 pick in the 2003 draft , James bought his mom a house and supported her financially .
James had other reasons , though , not to care about voting .
“ Black people in the community don ’ t believe that their vote matters , ” James said .
“ We grow up and don ’ t think that our vote actually matters .
It doesn ’ t .
We ’ ve seen recounts before .
We ’ ve seen our voices be muted our whole lives.
” At 35 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be muted .
The Los Angeles Lakers star has become the NBA ’ s leading voice with speaking out about the importance of voting .
James has founded “ More Than a Vote , ” an organization that has increased voter registration on its website and has held voting drives in the Black community .
The group has donated $ 100,000 to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to help pay outstanding debts of former felons so that they can register to vote .
The group has also enlisted other NBA players ( Damian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ben Simmons , C.J .
McCollum , Jaylen Brown , Kyle Lowry , Udonis Haslem , Eric Bledsoe , Mo Bamba ) , former NBA playersand current and former WNBA players such as Chiney Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins .
All NBA players will wear warm-up shirts with the message `` Vote '' during the Eastern and Western Conference Finals as well as the NBA Finals .
But those players did not always listen to that message .
“ A lot of people , including when you get to the NBA , still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you were younger , ” James said .
“ My goal is to change that and to educate not only my peers , but their communities as well to let them know that our voice is being heard .
Our vote is being counted.
” NBA teams have also pledged to ensure that every vote counts .
The Sacramento Kings have overseen “ Rally the Vote , ” a non-partisan voting registration initiative that partners with “ When We All Vote , ” “ RISE ” and 20 sports teams from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Bulls , Denver Nuggets , Indiana Pacers , Milwaukee Bucks , Minnesota Timberwolves , Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards are participating .
The Atlanta Hawks , Los Angeles Clippers , Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors joined the “ I am a voter ” platform and the Good Trouble campaign to encourage fans to text for voting information .
Efforts around the league seem to be making an impact .
“ When We All Vote ” CEO Kyle Lierman said that the organization has registered 150,000 people to vote this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The NBA players union reported that 62 % of its eligible players have registered to vote , and that it is `` making considerable progress '' toward having all players registered through its own online portal .
It is not clear how many people `` More than a Vote '' has helped register .
“ It ’ s a particularly authentic story when someone says I ’ m registering and voting for the first time and I hope you do it with me , ” Lierman told USA TODAY Sports .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , get their voice heard and lead by example on that front .
Then they share their process , journey and their story with their fans .
`` I guarantee you for every player that didn ’ t vote in previous elections , they have tens of thousands of fans that didn ’ t vote in previous elections .
But they can also influence them in the future.
” While the Warriors , Clippers , Rockets , Lakers , Clippers and Detroit Pistons have announced either their practice facilities or arenas will serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all 30 NBA teams agreed with the players union that teams that own their venues will turn that facility into a voting site for the general election .
The NBA and NBPA said 20 out of 30 teams so far “ have confirmed the use of their arena or team facilities for voting and civic engagement programming.
” The Bucks and the Miami Heat failed to get approval , however , for their respective venues .
Alex Lasry , the Bucks ’ senior vice president , told USA TODAY Sports there “ was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission saying the deadline already passed for Fiserv Forum to become a polling site Nov. 3 .
The Heat expressed disappointment , though , that Miami Dade-County chose Frost Museum of Science as a polling site instead of American Airlines Arena .
The Celtics ' Brown viewed these incidents as another example of voter suppression .
“ Every arena was supposed to be the case , not just arenas that were owned by the team that we play for .
Every arena needs to be open , ” said Brown , who grew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voter suppression is real .
I don ’ t understand why that is a problem or that ’ s an issue .
Every arena should be open , should be available and access to be able to have people of color and disadvantaged people to feel like they can vote .
Voting shouldn ’ t be this hard.
” And yet it is .
Clippers coach Doc Rivers , whose father worked as a police officer in Maywood , Illinois , said his father told him that he often saw poll workers stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take literacy tests .
Although they never experienced voter suppression directly , Kings forward Harrison Barnes , Wizards guard Ish Smith and Bucks guard Wesley Mathews have friends who have dealt with long lines at polling sites or have been turned away because they did not have the correct forms .
Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce reported hearing similar stories during Georgia ’ s gubernatorial election in 2018 when Democrat Stacey Abrams accused Republican Brian Kemp of efforts to suppress the Black vote .
Haslem explained why he did n't feel like his vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miami ; he attended a high school in Jacksonville and Miami . )
“ You ’ re thinking that the president is going to be who it is , no matter what you do .
You ’ re feeling like you have no voice and no power .
Just growing up in the inner city , we just weren ’ t very educated , ” Haslem told USA TODAY Sports .
“ In the inner city , we always said that they didn ’ t hear our cries .
We always were taught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out.
” When the NBA players union invited Rivers to speak as it mulled over whether to continue the season after Wisconsin police shot Jacob Blake , an unarmed Black man , the Clippers coach urged everyone to register to vote .
Other players have reached out individually to try to make a difference this year .
Haslem said he has talked with teammates about registering for absentee ballots amid concerns about waiting in long lines on Election Day during the coronavirus pandemic .
Lakers guard J.R. Smith worked with local officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center to be a polling place for the general election .
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and former NBA star Shaquille O ’ Neal have joined the “ MyStartingFiveChallenge , ” nominating five people to register to vote by using # MyStartingFive on social media .
“ There ’ s more to getting things done than just peacefully protesting , ” O ’ Neal told USA TODAY Sports .
“ Peacefully protesting brings the awareness .
Now that you ’ re bringing the awareness , now we have to go to plan two.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentiments varies .
Barnes , who grew up attending the Iowa caucuses , learned from his mother about the importance of voting .
For others , the interest came much later .
James said he became more civic minded when Barack Obama became the first Black president in American history in 2008 .
Green did after Donald Trump was elected in 2016 .
Other players became increasingly concerned this year due to the pandemic and after seeing incidents of police brutality against unarmed Black people .
“ Voting has never been something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been trendy , especially among minorities , ” the Bucks ' Matthews told USA TODAY Sports .
“ In this point in time amid the social injustice and the pandemic , we ’ re forced to change our perspectives and change our ideologies .
Now is the perfect time to change for the better .
”

Getting Black communities to vote is personal for LeBron James, other NBA stars: 'We've seen our voices muted our whole lives'
Show Caption Hide Caption LeBron James, Doc Rivers on voting: Yes, your vote does matter Sports Pulse: Top athletes speak to the importance of voting SportsPulse, USA TODAY
When he became eligible to vote, LeBron James did not consider it to be important. At 18 years old, James cared about other things.
Then a high school senior at St. Vincent-St Mary’s in Akron, Ohio, James remained more consumed about winning a division championship and ensuring his spot in the NBA Draft. Not only did James stay focused with fulfilling his childhood dream. He also wanted to support his mother, Gloria, “for everything she sacrificed for me” as a single mother. So after the Cleveland Cavaliers selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft, James bought his mom a house and supported her financially.
James had other reasons, though, not to care about voting.
“Black people in the community don’t believe that their vote matters,” James said. “We grow up and don’t think that our vote actually matters. It doesn’t. We’ve seen recounts before. We’ve seen our voices be muted our whole lives.”
At 35, James has not allowed his voice to be muted. The Los Angeles Lakers star has become the NBA’s leading voice with speaking out about the importance of voting.
James has founded “More Than a Vote,” an organization that has increased voter registration on its website and has held voting drives in the Black community. The group has donated $100,000 to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to help pay outstanding debts of former felons so that they can register to vote. The group has also enlisted other NBA players (Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Trae Young, Ben Simmons, C.J. McCollum, Jaylen Brown, Kyle Lowry, Udonis Haslem, Eric Bledsoe, Mo Bamba), former NBA playersand current and former WNBA players such as Chiney Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins.
All NBA players will wear warm-up shirts with the message "Vote" during the Eastern and Western Conference Finals as well as the NBA Finals. But those players did not always listen to that message.
“A lot of people, including when you get to the NBA, still have those same things that haunted you when you were younger,” James said. “My goal is to change that and to educate not only my peers, but their communities as well to let them know that our voice is being heard. Our vote is being counted.”
NBA teams have also pledged to ensure that every vote counts.
The Sacramento Kings have overseen “Rally the Vote,” a non-partisan voting registration initiative that partners with “When We All Vote,” “RISE” and 40 sports teams from the various pro leagues. The Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards are participating.
The Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors joined the “I am a voter” platform and the Good Trouble campaign to encourage fans to text for voting information.
Efforts around the league seem to be making an impact. “When We All Vote” CEO Kyle Lierman said that the organization has registered 150,000 people to vote this year partly because of athletes’ influences. The NBA players union reported that 62% of its eligible players have registered to vote, and that it is "making considerable progress" toward having all players registered through its own online portal. It is not clear how many people "More than a Vote" has helped register.
“It’s a particularly authentic story when someone says I’m registering and voting for the first time and I hope you do it with me,” Lierman told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s critical that they get registered, get their voice heard and lead by example on that front. Then they share their process, journey and their story with their fans.
"I guarantee you for every player that didn’t vote in previous elections, they have tens of thousands of fans that didn’t vote in previous elections. But they can also influence them in the future.”
Opening arenas as polling sites
While the Warriors, Clippers, Rockets, Lakers, Clippers and Detroit Pistons have announced either their practice facilities or arenas will serve as voting sites on Election Day, all 30 NBA teams agreed with the players union that teams that own their venues will turn that facility into a voting site for the general election. The NBA and NBPA said 20 out of 30 teams so far “have confirmed the use of their arena or team facilities for voting and civic engagement programming.”
The Bucks and the Miami Heat failed to get approval, however, for their respective venues. Alex Lasry, the Bucks’ senior vice president, told USA TODAY Sports there “was nothing nefarious” about the Milwaukee Election Commission saying the deadline already passed for Fiserv Forum to become a polling site Nov. 3. The Heat expressed disappointment, though, that Miami Dade-County chose Frost Museum of Science as a polling site instead of American Airlines Arena.
The Celtics' Brown viewed these incidents as another example of voter suppression.
“Every arena was supposed to be the case, not just arenas that were owned by the team that we play for. Every arena needs to be open,” said Brown, who grew up in Marietta, Georgia. “Voter suppression is real. I don’t understand why that is a problem or that’s an issue. Every arena should be open, should be available and access to be able to have people of color and disadvantaged people to feel like they can vote. Voting shouldn’t be this hard.”
And yet it is.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers, whose father worked as a police officer in Maywood, Illinois, said his father told him that he often saw poll workers stop Black people from voting by demanding they take literacy tests. Although they never experienced voter suppression directly, Kings forward Harrison Barnes, Wizards guard Ish Smith and Bucks guard Wesley Mathews have friends who have dealt with long lines at polling sites or have been turned away because they did not have the correct forms.
Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce reported hearing similar stories during Georgia’s gubernatorial election in 2018 when Democrat Stacey Abrams accused Republican Brian Kemp of efforts to suppress the Black vote.
Haslem explained why he didn't feel like his vote mattered. (Haslem grew up in Miami; he attended a high school in Jacksonville and Miami.)
“You’re thinking that the president is going to be who it is, no matter what you do. You’re feeling like you have no voice and no power. Just growing up in the inner city, we just weren’t very educated,” Haslem told USA TODAY Sports. “In the inner city, we always said that they didn’t hear our cries. We always were taught to fend for ourselves and figure it out.”
Moving beyond protest
When the NBA players union invited Rivers to speak as it mulled over whether to continue the season after Wisconsin police shot Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man, the Clippers coach urged everyone to register to vote.
Other players have reached out individually to try to make a difference this year. Haslem said he has talked with teammates about registering for absentee ballots amid concerns about waiting in long lines on Election Day during the coronavirus pandemic. Lakers guard J.R. Smith worked with local officials in Newark, New Jersey, for Prudential Center to be a polling place for the general election. Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal have joined the “MyStartingFiveChallenge,” nominating five people to register to vote by using #MyStartingFive on social media.
“There’s more to getting things done than just peacefully protesting,” O’Neal told USA TODAY Sports. “Peacefully protesting brings the awareness. Now that you’re bringing the awareness, now we have to go to plan two.”
What has sparked players to change their sentiments varies.
Barnes, who grew up attending the Iowa caucuses, learned from his mother about the importance of voting. For others, the interest came much later. James said he became more civic minded when Barack Obama became the first Black president in American history in 2008. Green did after Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Other players became increasingly concerned this year due to the pandemic and after seeing incidents of police brutality against unarmed Black people.
“Voting has never been something that has been cool. It’s never been trendy, especially among minorities,” the Bucks' Matthews told USA TODAY Sports. “In this point in time amid the social injustice and the pandemic, we’re forced to change our perspectives and change our ideologies. Now is the perfect time to change for the better.”
Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


usatoday--2020-09-20--Stars shine as Celtics regroup to beat Heat in Game 3 of Eastern Conference finals

LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla. — The Boston Celtics regrouped and rebounded on Saturday .
Not only from a loss in the previous game , but from the emotional and heated postgame exchanges after the Celtics fell in a 2-0 series hole against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals two days prior .
`` I mean , listen , when you want something really bad and you come up short , especially when it 's going well for you , '' Celtics coach Brad Stevens said , `` there 's going to be some scarring and for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night that showed itself and that 's part of a team .
And then the team reconnects , recenters and gets back to go to work .
That 's what you do . ''
The Celtics defeated the Heat 117-106 in Game 3 , making it a 2-1 series .
Game 4 is Wednesday ( 8:30 p.m .
ET , ESPN ) .
Boston ’ s Jayson Tatum had 25 points , 14 rebounds and eight assists , and Jaylen Brown had 26 points , seven rebounds , five assists and three steals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Marcus Smart contributed 20 points and six assists .
`` What I do best is get to the basket , so I wanted to come out and just be the best version of myself , '' Brown said .
The Celtics received big games from their most important players .
It was a game Boston needed to win — though it let a safe lead dwindle to dangerous territory in the final minutes — and it found better ways to attack Miami ’ s defense , especially the zone .
The Celtics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concerted effort to attack the rim .
Boston outscored the Heat 60-36 in the paint , and ball movement led to 27 assists on 41 baskets .
`` We wanted to really attack , '' Stevens said .
`` If we 're putting it on the floor , we want to get to the rim and make a play for ourselves or others . ''
Said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra : `` They came out , Boston did , with great force in this game and you do have to credit them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the better majority of the game .
We were on our heels most of the game , flattening us out with our execution , getting us into the end of the clock on too many possessions .
`` And then I think everybody can see that the dribble attack penetration in the paint , we were n't able to contain the ball all night , and you have to credit them .
They were playing with great force . ''
Gordon Hayward played for the first time since spraining his right ankle against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round on Aug. 17 .
He left the bubble for treatment , returned for quarantine and then rehabbed his way into availability for Game 3 .
He had just six points but made an impact with five rebounds , four assists and three steals in 30 minutes .
`` He asked to come out a couple times , '' Stevens said .
`` The wind caught up to him a couple times .
I thought he did what he 's done all year .
He did n't shoot it quite as much .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our team .
He just can make the right play and make a play for somebody else at the right time .
And he hit the big three as they were making a run , so I think he makes us better , that 's for sure . ''
The Heat looked lethargic and lackadaisical , a step too slow offensively and defensively and careless with the basketball .
Miami 's Tyler Herro scored 22 points and had a stretch in the second quarter where he scored 11 points in 2:18 .
Bam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but take away the shooting numbers from Herro and Adebayo and the Heat were just 28.3 % from the field .
The Heat made nine of their first 20 3-pointers , then missed 15 consecutive before Duncan Robinson made one midway through the fourth quarter .
Miami had a couple of chances to get back in the game .
It trailed just 51-48 with 2:40 left in the second quarter and went into halftime down 63-50 .
With 1:08 left in the third quarter , Herro ’ s layup cut the Celtics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the fourth quarter , Boston had a 97-78 advantage .
This was just Miami ’ s second loss of the postseason .
It swept Indiana , beat Milwaukee in five games then took the first two games against Boston .
Now it ’ s the Heat ’ s turn to see if they can regroup .
`` We did n't play hard enough , '' Miami 's Jimmy Butler said .
`` I think we did n't do anything that we said that we were going to do .
We knew how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were n't helping each other .
We were n't making an extra pass a lot of the times .
We have to play basketball the way we have been playing the games that we have been winning .
We understand that . ''

Stars shine as Celtics regroup to beat Heat in Game 3 of Eastern Conference finals
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Boston Celtics regrouped and rebounded on Saturday.
Not only from a loss in the previous game, but from the emotional and heated postgame exchanges after the Celtics fell in a 2-0 series hole against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals two days prior.
"I mean, listen, when you want something really bad and you come up short, especially when it's going well for you," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, "there's going to be some scarring and for us, there was some scarring the other night that showed itself and that's part of a team. And then the team reconnects, recenters and gets back to go to work. That's what you do."
The Celtics defeated the Heat 117-106 in Game 3, making it a 2-1 series. Game 4 is Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Boston’s Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, and Jaylen Brown had 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kemba Walker added 21 points, and Marcus Smart contributed 20 points and six assists.
"What I do best is get to the basket, so I wanted to come out and just be the best version of myself," Brown said.
The Celtics received big games from their most important players.
It was a game Boston needed to win — though it let a safe lead dwindle to dangerous territory in the final minutes — and it found better ways to attack Miami’s defense, especially the zone. The Celtics exposed seams in the zone and made a concerted effort to attack the rim. Boston outscored the Heat 60-36 in the paint, and ball movement led to 27 assists on 41 baskets.
"We wanted to really attack," Stevens said. "If we're putting it on the floor, we want to get to the rim and make a play for ourselves or others."
Said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: "They came out, Boston did, with great force in this game and you do have to credit them for that. They sustained it for the better majority of the game. We were on our heels most of the game, flattening us out with our execution, getting us into the end of the clock on too many possessions.
"And then I think everybody can see that the dribble attack penetration in the paint, we weren't able to contain the ball all night, and you have to credit them. They were playing with great force."
Gordon Hayward played for the first time since spraining his right ankle against Philadelphia in Game 1 on the first round on Aug. 17. He left the bubble for treatment, returned for quarantine and then rehabbed his way into availability for Game 3.
He had just six points but made an impact with five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 30 minutes.
"He asked to come out a couple times," Stevens said. "The wind caught up to him a couple times. I thought he did what he's done all year. He didn't shoot it quite as much. But he is a stabilizing force for our team. He just can make the right play and make a play for somebody else at the right time. And he hit the big three as they were making a run, so I think he makes us better, that's for sure."
The Heat looked lethargic and lackadaisical, a step too slow offensively and defensively and careless with the basketball.
Miami's Tyler Herro scored 22 points and had a stretch in the second quarter where he scored 11 points in 2:18. Bam Adebayo had 27 points and 16 rebounds, but take away the shooting numbers from Herro and Adebayo and the Heat were just 28.3% from the field.
The Heat made nine of their first 20 3-pointers, then missed 15 consecutive before Duncan Robinson made one midway through the fourth quarter.
Miami had a couple of chances to get back in the game. It trailed just 51-48 with 2:40 left in the second quarter and went into halftime down 63-50. With 1:08 left in the third quarter, Herro’s layup cut the Celtics’ lead to 82-73. Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Boston had a 97-78 advantage.
This was just Miami’s second loss of the postseason. It swept Indiana, beat Milwaukee in five games then took the first two games against Boston.
Now it’s the Heat’s turn to see if they can regroup.
"We didn't play hard enough," Miami's Jimmy Butler said. "I think we didn't do anything that we said that we were going to do. We knew how they were going to attack us. We weren't helping each other. We weren't making an extra pass a lot of the times. We have to play basketball the way we have been playing the games that we have been winning. We understand that."
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.