usatoday--2020-12-29--Red tape, confusion block COVID homeless aid from cash-strapped cities, counties across US

Winter in Oregon ’ s Columbia River Gorge is wet and freezing , a life-threatening situation for the area ’ s homeless residents even without a pandemic .
Darcy Long-Curtiss understands that better than most .
The shelter that normally provided nighttime refuge was closed because of COVID-19 , and federal aid money meant to help protect homeless people from the pandemic came late and with confusing restrictions .
By the time Long-Curtiss , a councilwoman in The Dalles , a city of about 16,000 at the eastern edge of the gorge , got permission to erect temporary shelters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She had just one week to ready the site and make potentially life-and-death decisions .
`` I have to find out who doesn ’ t have any other option , who would be most likely to have frostbite or die if they didn ’ t get a shelter and then go from there , ” Long-Curtiss said .
“ But those are incredibly difficult decisions to make when you know everybody personally . ''
The challenge facing the small community in The Dalles is a microcosm of the difficulty faced by homeless service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how best to use the largest influx of homeless aid in American history .
Congress included in its pandemic relief package in March $ 4 billion to help homeless people , among the most vulnerable in the COVID-19 pandemic .
Potential recipients saw great opportunity in the aid .
But nine months after passage of the CARES Act , many communities have yet to benefit from the funding .
Others have had to derail plans , and some simply don ’ t have the capacity to capitalize on the one-time windfall .
Fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , states , cities and territories had accessed all of their funding by the start of December , according to an analysis of government data by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism .
And 37 communities hadn ’ t tapped any of their emergency homeless aid .
“ It was remarkable that inside the context of a pandemic , right , there was this lag , ” said Marc Dones , a nationally recognized homeless consultant .
“ The federal government should have acted faster to make sure that money got to jurisdictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through an existing federal homeless assistance program , known as the Emergency Solutions Grants .
The money flows directly to large cities and counties and indirectly to smaller or rural areas via the states .
Recipients need Department of Housing and Urban Development approval for their spending plans to access the funds .
Because of the pandemic , HUD had promised greater flexibility in its spending rules .
So many communities , hesitant to incur expenses that might not be reimbursed , waited for the new guidelines .
HUD released them Sept. 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CARES Act .
“ In a normally operating government , that document should not have taken five months in a pandemic , ” said Ann Oliva , HUD 's former deputy assistant secretary for special needs and now a visiting senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities .
'We 're not wanted ' : Homeless people were put in hotels to keep them safe .
Now they 're being evicted The delay hit some areas harder than others .
Birmingham , the largest city in Alabama , has been unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beds — about half its capacity — that it lost to accommodate social distancing requirements , according to Gordon Sullivan , director of operations at One Roof , which serves as central Alabama ’ s Continuum of Care , a HUD-approved coordinating entity for homeless services .
At the end of November , the city was still working on the necessary paperwork to get its financial aid , Sullivan said , and relying heavily on local nonprofits for homeless assistance .
The city has also been seeking help from private donors and foundations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mental health services .
In Augusta , HUD ’ s delay meant the second-largest city in Georgia didn ’ t act on its homeless grant for fear of running afoul of the pending guidance .
In the interim , said Daniel Evans , community development manager in the Housing and Community Development Department , the city relied on local nonprofits such as the Salvation Army to provide food , shelter and medical attention .
As of early December , city officials were waiting on HUD ’ s approval of the plan they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter we usually pack this place , so it 's kind of worrisome what we 're going to do , ” said Chris Bailey , Salvation Army ’ s marketing manager .
One spending flexibility that garnered immediate attention was HUD ’ s decision to allow , for the first time , homeless funds to be used to buy property for temporary emergency shelter , up to $ 2.5 million per purchase .
Some homeless providers saw that as a chance for permanent improvements , such as buying old buildings or hotels for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the pandemic .
The main roadblock to ending homelessness , experts say , is a lack of affordable housing .
The “ real property ” purchase waiver was a frequent topic of HUD ’ s national weekly webinars through the fall and quickly became a subject of confusion over whether the guidelines required that HUD be repaid for purchased property when the homeless grants expire in 2022 .
“ This info was just given to us and completely derailed our plans for being able to have a lasting impact with this funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Family and Children ’ s Service said during a Sept. 25 webinar .
She declined a Howard Center request for an interview .
Hungry for the holidays : Amid COVID recession , record number of Americans are requesting charity Homeless providers in South Carolina said they had already identified three buildings as possible purchases for pandemic shelter and later permanent housing .
After HUD ’ s announcement , Lorain Crowl , chief executive of United Housing Connections in Greenville , decided to use other funding to renovate a building for a winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The homeless grant will be used to run the program , including staffing costs .
“ That was a little bit of an uh-oh , ” Crowl said .
“ Cold weather ’ s coming whether we like it or not , so it 's not something that we can just , you know , take our time.
” In Wenatchee , Washington , housing programs coordinator Oliver Crain said the city was interested in taking advantage of the federal grant to buy property for a new emergency shelter .
It had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start a shelter that would accept anyone , without preconditions , he said .
After hearing HUD ’ s confusing statements on purchasing property , he said the city decided to recommend the grant be used to temporarily house homeless people in hotels and motels .
Providers in Oregon , including Long-Curtiss , were also confused .
At first , they thought they ’ d be able to purchase the modular emergency shelters with federal funds , but on Sept. 16 they learned that would not be an allowable expense .
Then on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be purchased with the homeless grant funds but would need to be reimbursed — either by paying HUD to retain the property title or by selling the property to repay HUD .
Mike Savara , an assistant director at Oregon Housing and Community Services , said he would have preferred “ an asset that we get to keep on using for years and years ” rather than paying a nightly rate set by a motel operator .
Rural communities were the hardest-hit because they had fewer options than urban areas for housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the federal restrictions on purchasing property should be changed .
“ We really need to kind of throw out the old playbook in some ways and look for new ways of investing in our homeless services system with an eye toward sustainability , ” Savara said .
HUD said it was bound by Office of Management and Budget rules on property purchased with federal funds .
But in a statement to the Howard Center , HUD also said it was “ working with program counsel to explore possible options for providing recipients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use $ 45,000 of her community ’ s emergency homeless funds to buy the prefabricated shelters because she had no other options .
“ If it keeps people from freezing to death , it ’ s worth it to take the risk of paying HUD back , ” she quoted a city official as saying .
Sarah Kellems , her grant partner in nearby Hood River , chose to use general pandemic aid from Congress ’ coronavirus relief fund to purchase her shelters because that money must be used by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hood River Shelter Services , will use the homeless grants to cover staff and utility costs .
Experts say that “ braiding ” different funding streams is the best strategy for dealing with both homeless needs and HUD ’ s various rules and regulations .
But it ’ s an option only for communities with strategic plans and additional resources .
In Indianapolis , homeless service providers are using general pandemic aid to rent hotel rooms for homeless people , while the homeless grant is being used to get people into permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention '' COVID-19 , and the resources coming to address it , can be a catalyst for really focusing on permanent housing as a health solution and as a way ... to keep entire communities healthy and safe , '' she said .
In early November , 19 personal shelters went up in Oregon ’ s Columbia River Gorge — six in an industrial site in The Dalles and 13 in a church parking lot in a residential area of Hood River .
Harold , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly three years , thought he might have to leave the area after warming shelters closed .
But now he ’ s able to stay put .
He and a friend will share one of the 64-square-foot prefab units , which have room for two beds , a heater and electrical outlets , through the end of winter .
And unlike a traditional shelter , said Harold , who didn ’ t want his last name used , “ you get a key , so it 's come and go as you like.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The body needs the rest , ” Harold added .
“ Once those things are taken care of , then the mind can focus on other things.
” Reporters Molly Bohannon and Helen Wieffering contributed to this story .
It was produced by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University ’ s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication , an initiative of the Scripps Howard Foundation in honor of the late news industry executive and pioneer Roy W. Howard .
For more see https : //azpbs.org/homelessfunding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @

By Shaena Montanari and Natalie Walters, Howard Center for Investigative Reporting

Red tape, confusion block COVID homeless aid from cash-strapped cities, counties across US
Show Caption Hide Caption Shams DaBaron: From Homeless Hero to Housing Hero Shams “Da Homeless Hero” DaBaron is demanding more and better services for those experiencing homelessness in New York City, while living in a shelter himself. Jasper Colt, USA TODAY
Winter in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge is wet and freezing, a life-threatening situation for the area’s homeless residents even without a pandemic. Darcy Long-Curtiss understands that better than most.
The shelter that normally provided nighttime refuge was closed because of COVID-19, and federal aid money meant to help protect homeless people from the pandemic came late and with confusing restrictions. By the time Long-Curtiss, a councilwoman in The Dalles, a city of about 16,000 at the eastern edge of the gorge, got permission to erect temporary shelters, temperatures were already dipping below freezing. She had just one week to ready the site and make potentially life-and-death decisions.
"I have to find out who doesn’t have any other option, who would be most likely to have frostbite or die if they didn’t get a shelter and then go from there,” Long-Curtiss said. “But those are incredibly difficult decisions to make when you know everybody personally."
The challenge facing the small community in The Dalles is a microcosm of the difficulty faced by homeless service providers nationwide as they race to figure how best to use the largest influx of homeless aid in American history.
Congress included in its pandemic relief package in March $4 billion to help homeless people, among the most vulnerable in the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential recipients saw great opportunity in the aid. But nine months after passage of the CARES Act, many communities have yet to benefit from the funding. Others have had to derail plans, and some simply don’t have the capacity to capitalize on the one-time windfall.
Fewer than half of the eligible 362 counties, states, cities and territories had accessed all of their funding by the start of December, according to an analysis of government data by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. And 37 communities hadn’t tapped any of their emergency homeless aid.
“It was remarkable that inside the context of a pandemic, right, there was this lag,” said Marc Dones, a nationally recognized homeless consultant. “The federal government should have acted faster to make sure that money got to jurisdictions."
Delays and uncertainty
The emergency coronavirus funding comes through an existing federal homeless assistance program, known as the Emergency Solutions Grants. The money flows directly to large cities and counties and indirectly to smaller or rural areas via the states. Recipients need Department of Housing and Urban Development approval for their spending plans to access the funds.
Because of the pandemic, HUD had promised greater flexibility in its spending rules. So many communities, hesitant to incur expenses that might not be reimbursed, waited for the new guidelines. HUD released them Sept. 1, five months after passage of the CARES Act.
“In a normally operating government, that document should not have taken five months in a pandemic,” said Ann Oliva, HUD's former deputy assistant secretary for special needs and now a visiting senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
'We're not wanted': Homeless people were put in hotels to keep them safe. Now they're being evicted
The delay hit some areas harder than others.
Birmingham, the largest city in Alabama, has been unable to make up for the 178 shelter beds – about half its capacity – that it lost to accommodate social distancing requirements, according to Gordon Sullivan, director of operations at One Roof, which serves as central Alabama’s Continuum of Care, a HUD-approved coordinating entity for homeless services.
At the end of November, the city was still working on the necessary paperwork to get its financial aid, Sullivan said, and relying heavily on local nonprofits for homeless assistance. The city has also been seeking help from private donors and foundations for food, transportation, and medical and mental health services.
In Augusta, HUD’s delay meant the second-largest city in Georgia didn’t act on its homeless grant for fear of running afoul of the pending guidance. In the interim, said Daniel Evans, community development manager in the Housing and Community Development Department, the city relied on local nonprofits such as the Salvation Army to provide food, shelter and medical attention. As of early December, city officials were waiting on HUD’s approval of the plan they submitted Nov. 17.
"In the winter, we usually pack this place, so it's kind of worrisome what we're going to do,” said Chris Bailey, Salvation Army’s marketing manager.
Real property waiver
One spending flexibility that garnered immediate attention was HUD’s decision to allow, for the first time, homeless funds to be used to buy property for temporary emergency shelter, up to $2.5 million per purchase.
Some homeless providers saw that as a chance for permanent improvements, such as buying old buildings or hotels for temporary shelters and using them as housing after the pandemic. The main roadblock to ending homelessness, experts say, is a lack of affordable housing.
The “real property” purchase waiver was a frequent topic of HUD’s national weekly webinars through the fall and quickly became a subject of confusion over whether the guidelines required that HUD be repaid for purchased property when the homeless grants expire in 2022.
“This info was just given to us and completely derailed our plans for being able to have a lasting impact with this funding,” Beth Sharber of Nashville’s Family and Children’s Service, said during a Sept. 25 webinar. She declined a Howard Center request for an interview.
Hungry for the holidays: Amid COVID recession, record number of Americans are requesting charity
Homeless providers in South Carolina said they had already identified three buildings as possible purchases for pandemic shelter and later permanent housing. After HUD’s announcement, Lorain Crowl, chief executive of United Housing Connections in Greenville, decided to use other funding to renovate a building for a winter shelter as opposed to buying one. The homeless grant will be used to run the program, including staffing costs.
“That was a little bit of an uh-oh,” Crowl said. “Cold weather’s coming whether we like it or not, so it's not something that we can just, you know, take our time.”
In Wenatchee, Washington, housing programs coordinator Oliver Crain said the city was interested in taking advantage of the federal grant to buy property for a new emergency shelter. It had been searching for three years for funds to start a shelter that would accept anyone, without preconditions, he said. After hearing HUD’s confusing statements on purchasing property, he said the city decided to recommend the grant be used to temporarily house homeless people in hotels and motels.
Providers in Oregon, including Long-Curtiss, were also confused. At first, they thought they’d be able to purchase the modular emergency shelters with federal funds, but on Sept. 16, they learned that would not be an allowable expense. Then on Oct. 2, HUD said the property could be purchased with the homeless grant funds but would need to be reimbursed – either by paying HUD to retain the property title or by selling the property to repay HUD.
Mike Savara, an assistant director at Oregon Housing and Community Services, said he would have preferred “an asset that we get to keep on using for years and years” rather than paying a nightly rate set by a motel operator.
Rural communities were the hardest-hit because they had fewer options than urban areas for housing and funding, he said, adding that the federal restrictions on purchasing property should be changed.
“We really need to kind of throw out the old playbook in some ways and look for new ways of investing in our homeless services system with an eye toward sustainability,” Savara said.
HUD said it was bound by Office of Management and Budget rules on property purchased with federal funds. But in a statement to the Howard Center, HUD also said it was “working with program counsel to explore possible options for providing recipients with additional flexibility.”
Housing is health
Long-Curtiss decided to use $45,000 of her community’s emergency homeless funds to buy the prefabricated shelters because she had no other options.
“If it keeps people from freezing to death, it’s worth it to take the risk of paying HUD back,” she quoted a city official as saying.
Sarah Kellems, her grant partner in nearby Hood River, chose to use general pandemic aid from Congress’ coronavirus relief fund to purchase her shelters because that money must be used by the end of this year. Kellems, executive director of Hood River Shelter Services, will use the homeless grants to cover staff and utility costs.
Experts say that “braiding” different funding streams is the best strategy for dealing with both homeless needs and HUD’s various rules and regulations. But it’s an option only for communities with strategic plans and additional resources.
In Indianapolis, homeless service providers are using general pandemic aid to rent hotel rooms for homeless people, while the homeless grant is being used to get people into permanent housing, said Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, executive director of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention
"COVID-19, and the resources coming to address it, can be a catalyst for really focusing on permanent housing as a health solution and as a way ... to keep entire communities healthy and safe," she said.
In early November, 19 personal shelters went up in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge – six in an industrial site in The Dalles and 13 in a church parking lot in a residential area of Hood River.
Harold, a 46-year-old man who has been homeless nearly three years, thought he might have to leave the area after warming shelters closed. But now he’s able to stay put.
He and a friend will share one of the 64-square-foot prefab units, which have room for two beds, a heater and electrical outlets, through the end of winter. And unlike a traditional shelter, said Harold, who didn’t want his last name used, “you get a key, so it's come and go as you like.”
“The body needs to eat. The body needs the rest,” Harold added. “Once those things are taken care of, then the mind can focus on other things.”
Reporters Molly Bohannon and Helen Wieffering contributed to this story. It was produced by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, an initiative of the Scripps Howard Foundation in honor of the late news industry executive and pioneer Roy W. Howard. For more see https://azpbs.org/homelessfunding. Contact us at howardcenter@asu.edu.


usatoday--2020-12-29--Colleges say SAT, ACT score is optional for application during COVID-19. Families don't believe them

Colleges say SAT, ACT score is optional for application during COVID-19. Families don't believe them.

Days after federal health officials pleaded with Americans to refrain from traveling over Thanksgiving , the organization that runs the SAT exam offered students a piece of advice .
If any would-be test-takers had plans to travel to find an open testing center , they should “ follow any quarantine requirements or travel restrictions , ” wrote the College Board , the nonprofit behind the SAT college admissions exam .
The guidance , at least on Twitter , received a failing grade .
Why , after all , should students travel to take a test that colleges across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given limitations and safety concerns from the coronavirus ?
But the nonprofit ’ s message was in line with measures many families were already taking themselves , believing students who find a way to take standardized tests will have an edge in elite college admissions .
Headline after headline has documented students ’ efforts to take either the SAT or the competitor test , the ACT , even as places to take the exams in person become increasingly unavailable .
Students are driving to other states where the tests are offered , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 taking a test in a room with other teens .
Many higher education administrators insist students don ’ t need an ACT or SAT score to be admitted to college this year .
So why the skepticism ?
Much of the college application process has long seemed veiled and uncertain to families .
A high test score may seem like a concrete indicator of a student ’ s ability to get into a college with acceptance rates in the single digits .
And some families and students have questioned why colleges have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why not say they won ’ t consider test scores at all ?
Optional ?
Not to these families : ACT website crashes when registration opens after canceled exams In the Facebook group Paying for College 101 , parents have been asking how “ optional ” the tests actually are .
“ I do think parents believe test-optional colleges when they communicate that students without test scores will be competitive applicants , ” said Debbie Schwartz , founder and operator of the Facebook group .
“ But there ’ s still skepticism whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an advantage over a student without a test score.
” Colleges say they know students likely won ’ t have easy access to the exams , and the admissions officers interviewed by USA TODAY said they would never encourage students to put their safety at risk to take a test .
At the same time , they said they don ’ t want to penalize students who may have already taken a test and who believe it may benefit them .
And they insist “ optional ” does , in fact , mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a bunch of people signed letters , ” said Rick Clark , the director of admissions at the Georgia Institute of Technology .
“ It ’ s obviously not resonating.
” That 's true for millions of students nationally based on testing numbers from the ACT and College Board .
Since April , more than 1 million people have taken the ACT , said John Wannemacher , the ACT 's chief marketing officer .
And 1 million students have taken the SAT since August , the College Board said this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company did not respond to USA TODAY 's request for comment . )
`` While a number of schools have gone test-optional , it has n't been very clear to parents and students what that actually means , '' Wannemacher said .
Plus , he said , some students rely on high test scores to help round out their applications , especially those who might have weaker grades in high school .
ACT officials have taken safety precautions such as requiring the use of masks or booking large venues — empty hotel conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for social distancing .
Students ' travel , he said , indicated high demand for the exam .
The College Board , for its part , said it had asked colleges to extend their deadlines for students to submit exam scores and `` to equally consider students for admission who are unable to take the test due to COVID-19 . ''
Ditching the tests : Unthinkable , or the new normal ?
Coronavirus may have accelerated the so-called “ test-optional ” movement , but by no means did it birth it .
CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exams as “ unthinkable , ” though many colleges had in previous years allowed students to decide whether submitting test scores was right for them .
Currently , about 1,600 colleges , from highly selective private schools to those that accept most students who apply , have temporarily waived requirements for the SAT or ACT exam , according to the Center for Fair and Open Testing .
( A notable exception : the University of Florida . )
Some colleges indicated this pause would be a year long .
Others , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tennessee , had been considering a test-optional approach , and the pandemic provided an excuse to launch years-long pilot programs .
The pilot , said J. Carey Thompson , the dean of admissions at Rhodes , is necessary to gather enough data to draw conclusions .
“ I think a lot of colleges are finding out after a period of adjustment that they can do this , ” Thompson said .
Time will tell , he said , if colleges might lose information usually obtained via an SAT score that indicates how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year of higher education .
At Rhodes , students aren ’ t waiting to see if the optional adjustment sticks .
Thompson said more than 50 % of prospective students so far had applied this year without a test score .
Other colleges , such as Indiana University , had planned to go test-optional this year , even before the pandemic .
The university approved the test-optional approach in January , the culmination of a years-long effort that required coordination among the state ’ s multiple universities .
At the time , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large as the Bloomington campus marked a huge milestone in the test-optional movement .
Prior to that , one of the most notable adopters had been the University of Chicago , a highly selective private institution .
IU had expected somewhere between 11 % and 18 % of students would submit their applications without exam scores , said Sacha Thieme , executive director of admissions .
Instead , roughly 40 % of prospective students so far have applied without scores this year .
“ The opportunity for students to decide whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ score has really created some access points for students who otherwise may have felt excluded , ” she said .
College admissions is a big business : This Harvard grad has made millions on international students Scores give officials a shortcut , may help with scholarships Critics say the SAT and ACT favor wealthy students who have the time and resources to prepare for the tests .
And some researchers argue students ' grade point averages in high school are better predictors of how they 'll fare in college .
The exams also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some institutions .
The Georgia Institute of Technology has a heavy focus on science , engineering and math , all of which require calculus , said Rick Clark , director of admissions .
“ The SAT barely touches precalculus , ” Clark said .
“ Ninety-seven percent of our incoming students have already taken calculus or higher.
” His college so far has seen about 1 in 3 students apply this year without test scores , many of whom will be admitted soon .
He hopes that will be enough proof for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sure , at the most competitive tier of college applications , a standardized test could benefit a student ’ s application .
But in almost all cases and at most institutions , a test score is just one of many factors admissions officers are reviewing .
A score can give a shortcut to reviewers , said Jeff Schiffman , director of admissions at Tulane University in New Orleans .
That university went test-optional for the year .
When a score is n't in an application , it doesn ’ t mean colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ potential ; instead , they may look at other portions of the application more deeply .
Admissions officers told USA TODAY they rely equally , if not more , on other markers , such as how a student performed in their advanced placement classes and on their admissions essays .
They ’ ll consider what students did outside the classroom or what was said in their letters of recommendation .
When it comes to merit scholarships , Schiffman said , a standardized test score might make a difference .
Once applicants are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is comparing straight-A students to other straight-A students , and officials are looking for tiebreakers .
That could be a high test score , Schiffman said , but it also could be a great letter of recommendation or outstanding extracurricular activity .
And many colleges have stressed a test score would not impede students ’ chances at merit scholarships .
( If students or families are unsure , they should contact the college . )
As for Tulane , which has an acceptance rate in the low teens , Schiffman said a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for fall 2021 didn ’ t submit exam scores , which he hopes will be encouraging for others .
Schiffman ’ s guidance for students since Tulane went test-optional has been simple .
They can take standardized tests repeatedly in an effort to get the best possible score .
They could take a test once and move on .
Or they can unsubscribe from the testing world altogether .
He said he couldn ’ t tell them which path to take , but the ones who chose to apply without worrying about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus restrictions are lifted , some colleges are likely to reinstate their testing requirements .
Plenty of others will keep the tests optional , permanently — giving students and families lots of options if they decide their patience for exams has been tested enough .

Colleges say SAT, ACT score is optional for application during COVID-19, but families don’t believe them
Show Caption Hide Caption Meghan Markle, Prince Harry quit, more 2020 moments 2020 was a year that felt like a century. Staff Video, USA TODAY
Days after federal health officials pleaded with Americans to refrain from traveling over Thanksgiving, the organization that runs the SAT exam offered students a piece of advice.
If any would-be test-takers had plans to travel to find an open testing center, they should “follow any quarantine requirements or travel restrictions,” wrote the College Board, the nonprofit behind the SAT college admissions exam.
The guidance, at least on Twitter, received a failing grade.
Why, after all, should students travel to take a test that colleges across the country are insisting is optional this year, given limitations and safety concerns from the coronavirus?
If you're traveling to take this weekend's SAT, it's your responsibility to know and follow any quarantine requirements or travel restrictions in the location where you're testing. Test centers may require proof at check-in that you've done so. https://t.co/bX89BYaW8B — The College Board (@CollegeBoard) December 1, 2020
But the nonprofit’s message was in line with measures many families were already taking themselves, believing students who find a way to take standardized tests will have an edge in elite college admissions. Headline after headline has documented students’ efforts to take either the SAT or the competitor test, the ACT, even as places to take the exams in person become increasingly unavailable. Students are driving to other states where the tests are offered, and at least one student said she contracted COVID-19 taking a test in a room with other teens.
Many higher education administrators insist students don’t need an ACT or SAT score to be admitted to college this year. So why the skepticism?
Much of the college application process has long seemed veiled and uncertain to families. A high test score may seem like a concrete indicator of a student’s ability to get into a college with acceptance rates in the single digits. And some families and students have questioned why colleges have simply said the exams are optional. Why not say they won’t consider test scores at all?
Optional? Not to these families: ACT website crashes when registration opens after canceled exams
In the Facebook group Paying for College 101, parents have been asking how “optional” the tests actually are.
“I do think parents believe test-optional colleges when they communicate that students without test scores will be competitive applicants,” said Debbie Schwartz, founder and operator of the Facebook group. “But there’s still skepticism whether students with a test score will have an advantage over a student without a test score.”
Colleges say they know students likely won’t have easy access to the exams, and the admissions officers interviewed by USA TODAY said they would never encourage students to put their safety at risk to take a test.
At the same time, they said they don’t want to penalize students who may have already taken a test and who believe it may benefit them. And they insist “optional” does, in fact, mean optional.
“We put out statements, and a bunch of people signed letters,” said Rick Clark, the director of admissions at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “It’s obviously not resonating.”
2 million tests and counting
That's true for millions of students nationally based on testing numbers from the ACT and College Board.
Since April, more than 1 million people have taken the ACT, said John Wannemacher, the ACT's chief marketing officer. And 1 million students have taken the SAT since August, the College Board said this month.
"While a number of schools have gone test-optional, it hasn't been very clear to parents and students what that actually means," Wannemacher said. Plus, he said, some students rely on high test scores to help round out their applications, especially those who might have weaker grades in high school.
ACT officials have taken safety precautions such as requiring the use of masks or booking large venues — empty hotel conference centers, for example — to allow for social distancing. Students' travel, he said, indicated high demand for the exam.
The College Board, for its part, said it had asked colleges to extend their deadlines for students to submit exam scores. Spokesman Jerome White said colleges were right to be flexible with tests this year and defended the SAT as a data tool for higher education.
"The College Board’s mission isn’t to ensure all colleges require the SAT, it’s to expand access to college for more students and help them succeed when they get there," he said in a statement. "Whether required for admission or not, SAT scores help colleges create data-driven programs to ensure admitted students get the supports they need to graduate."
Ditching the tests: Unthinkable, or the new normal?
Coronavirus may have accelerated the so-called “test-optional” movement, but by no means did it birth it. CNN in April even described the abandonment of the exams as “unthinkable,” though many colleges had in previous years allowed students to decide whether submitting test scores was right for them.
Currently, about 1,600 colleges, from highly selective private schools to those that accept most students who apply, have temporarily waived requirements for the SAT or ACT exam, according to the Center for Fair and Open Testing. (A notable exception: the University of Florida.) Some colleges indicated this pause would be a year long. Others, such as the private Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, had been considering a test-optional approach, and the pandemic provided an excuse to launch years-long pilot programs.
The pilot, said J. Carey Thompson, the dean of admissions at Rhodes, is necessary to gather enough data to draw conclusions.
“I think a lot of colleges are finding out after a period of adjustment that they can do this,” Thompson said.
Time will tell, he said, if colleges might lose information usually obtained via an SAT score that indicates how well students might do in their first year of higher education.
At Rhodes, students aren’t waiting to see if the optional adjustment sticks. Thompson said more than 50% of prospective students so far had applied this year without a test score.
Other colleges, such as Indiana University, had planned to go test-optional this year, even before the pandemic.
The university approved the test-optional approach in January, the culmination of a years-long effort that required coordination among the state’s multiple universities. At the time, a public institution with a student body as large as the Bloomington campus marked a huge milestone in the test-optional movement. Prior to that, one of the most notable adopters had been the University of Chicago, a highly selective private institution.
IU had expected somewhere between 11% and 18% of students would submit their applications without exam scores, said Sacha Thieme, executive director of admissions. Instead, roughly 40% of prospective students so far have applied without scores this year.
“The opportunity for students to decide whether or not to be represented academically by this test score has really created some access points for students who otherwise may have felt excluded,” she said.
College admissions is a big business: This Harvard grad has made millions on international students
Scores give officials a shortcut, may help with scholarships
Critics say the SAT and ACT favor wealthy students who have the time and resources to prepare for the tests. And some researchers argue students' grade point averages in high school are better predictors of how they'll fare in college. The exams also may not cover the subjects most important to some institutions.
The Georgia Institute of Technology has a heavy focus on science, engineering and math, all of which require calculus, said Rick Clark, director of admissions.
“The SAT barely touches precalculus,” Clark said. “Ninety-seven percent of our incoming students have already taken calculus or higher.”
His college so far has seen about 1 in 3 students apply this year without test scores, many of whom will be admitted soon. He hopes that will be enough proof for those families still harboring doubts.
To be sure, at the most competitive tier of college applications, a standardized test could benefit a student’s application.
But in almost all cases and at most institutions, a test score is just one of many factors admissions officers are reviewing.
A score can give a shortcut to reviewers, said Jeff Schiffman, director of admissions at Tulane University in New Orleans. That university went test-optional for the year. When a score isn't in an application, it doesn’t mean colleges don’t understand or see students’ potential; instead, they may look at other portions of the application more deeply.
Admissions officers told USA TODAY they rely equally, if not more, on other markers, such as how a student performed in their advanced placement classes and on their admissions essays. They’ll consider what students did outside the classroom or what was said in their letters of recommendation.
When it comes to merit scholarships, Schiffman said, a standardized test score might make a difference. Once applicants are admitted, he said, a college is comparing straight-A students to other straight-A students, and officials are looking for tiebreakers. That could be a high test score, Schiffman said, but it also could be a great letter of recommendation or outstanding extracurricular activity. And many colleges have stressed a test score would not impede students’ chances at merit scholarships. (If students or families are unsure, they should contact the college.)
As for Tulane, which has an acceptance rate in the low teens, Schiffman said a “sizable” chunk of students recently admitted for fall 2021 didn’t submit exam scores, which he hopes will be encouraging for others.
Schiffman’s guidance for students since Tulane went test-optional has been simple. They can take standardized tests repeatedly in an effort to get the best possible score. They could take a test once and move on. Or they can unsubscribe from the testing world altogether. He said he couldn’t tell them which path to take, but the ones who chose to apply without worrying about the tests were the least stressed.
When coronavirus restrictions are lifted, some colleges are likely to reinstate their testing requirements. Plenty of others will keep the tests optional, permanently — giving students and families lots of options if they decide their patience for exams has been tested enough.


usatoday--2020-12-29--Shopping malls were struggling before COVID-19 and now have more empty stores. What's next after the

Shopping malls were struggling before COVID-19 and now have more empty stores. What's next after the pandemic?

For generations , malls were a type of town square , a one-stop shop for restless teenagers and busy parents wanting to pick up gifts , fill out wardrobes or just get out of the house .
But in recent years their future has been in doubt as online shopping gained steam and one-time anchor retailers like Sears and Macy 's struggled financially and shuttered stores .
Then came COVID-19 .
Now , as coronavirus vaccines roll out across the U.S. , top-tier shopping centers are likely to bounce back in the new year , retail experts predict .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 crisis may disappear more quickly , as shoppers bypass them for malls offering a more upscale experience , or simply choose to click and shop online .
Save better , send better : We 'll tell you how and send money tips , advice delivered right to your inbox .
Sign up here More J.C. Penney store closings : After exiting bankruptcy , 15 additional stores will shutter in spring 2021 .
See the list .
`` In 2021 , the good malls will continue to do well , '' said Neil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultancy GlobalData .
`` It ’ s the weaker ones that will suffer ...
The future of the mall isn ’ t doomed or completely redundant .
It ’ s just that 2021 will be a year of reckoning for underperforming properties . ''
Stores struggled across the board in 2020 , as local officials ordered all but those deemed essential to shut their doors or limit the number of customers to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
But malls were particularly hard hit during the pandemic .
The temporary shutdown of movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping shopping centers stand out from Amazon and other online sellers dealt them a significant blow .
Then in May , the bankruptcies of department stores and apparel retailers with a heavy commitment to malls started pouring in .
Fashion chain J .
Crew Group and luxury department store retailer Neiman Marcus Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the first week of May .
J.C. Penney and Tuesday Morning , an off-price home goods retailer , also filed that month .
A slew of fashion retailers filed in subsequent months from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's in December .
As those mall staples shuttered stores , other retail tenants missed rental payments because of dwindling foot traffic , putting a dent in mall owners ' income .
`` Retail rental payments are ultimately funded by sales , '' said Tom McGee , president and CEO of the International Council of Shopping Centers .
`` In a year where stores were forced to close and federal aid was insufficient , missed payments happened . ''
Simon Property Group received roughly 51 % of the rent it was owed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Coresight Research .
Mall owner Macerich said that roughly 40 % of its tenants paid the rent that was due for that same two-month period .
And J.C. Penney , Nordstrom and The Cheesecake Factory were among the retailers that had not fully paid their rent or were negotiating temporary rent reductions as of mid summer .
In past years , the holiday shopping season kickoff was heralded by family and friends gathering to grab doorbusters .
But this holiday season , Americans have generally shied away from shopping in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday was `` the quietest in 20 years '' as foot traffic plummeted , according to a report by Coresight Research , which tracks retail data .
Preliminary data from Sensormatic Solutions showed in-store Black Friday traffic dropped by 52.1 % . Foot traffic analytics firm Placer.ai found similar results and said the average foot traffic at 16 leading malls was down nearly 50 % this year .
U.S. retail sales are still expected to rise 7.6 % during the 2020 holiday shopping season , compared with a year ago , research firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the rapidly growing number of shoppers making their purchases online .
`` For the first time ever , stores will not be the focal point , '' Hilding Anderson , head of retail strategy , North America at digital consultancy Publicis Sapient , told USA TODAY .
`` COVID restrictions coupled with the tremendous shift towards e-commerce we ’ ve seen this year makes it likely that stores will largely be an afterthought for consumers . ''
That shift is contributing to a shrinking number of retailers and a growing number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent CoStar report , more than 40 major retailers have declared bankruptcy and more than 11,000 stores have been announced for closure in 2020 , which beats past store closings records .
More store closures are on the horizon , with 1,444 already expected in 2021 as compared to 1,625 openings , according to Coresight Research .
And mall occupancy rates hit 94.4 % during the second quarter of 2020 , their lowest level in at least ten years , according to CoStar Group , which tracks real estate .
Just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordering virtually any item online , the crisis may hasten the closure of underperforming malls and the repurposing of many centers that remain open .
Ultimately , 1 in 4 malls and as many as 1 in 2 could eventually go out of business , according to projections by Coresight analysts and executives .
`` The U.S. has too much retail space which means a correction is needed , '' Saunders said .
`` The pandemic has accelerated the speed at which this correction will happen as we move into 2021 .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vacancies as stores shut , and they will increasingly become unviable . ''
Those weaker , or so-called `` B '' and `` C '' malls , already have empty storefronts as well as lower-priced retailers as tenants .
Malls poised to survive and even thrive in 2021 are top tier `` A '' malls that house luxury retailers whose higher profits bolstered their ability to weather this year 's downturn .
Shopping centers that have fewer vacancies , feature popular brands like Apple and Lululemon and offer entertainment and other experiences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in good shape , Saunders says .
`` As vaccines are rolled out , we ’ re hopeful malls will be able to reopen at full capacity and that shoppers will gladly return , '' McGee says .
`` Brick-and-mortar retail is a staple of our economy , and as soon as it ’ s safe , people are excited to return to normalcy as much as possible , and retail is part of that . ''
Changes likely here to stay Even if shoppers want to resume old routines , some changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic are likely to continue , McGee says , from safety precautions to parking spaces set aside for shoppers who make purchases online , then pick them up in person .
`` The pandemic will certainly impact the way retail real estate invests in its spaces over the next few years , '' says McGee .
`` We ’ ve seen trends take place in the last nine months that may have otherwise occurred over the span of a decade . ''
Bill Taubman , chief operating officer for Taubman Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he expects to see some lasting effects from COVID .
“ I think it 's possible that curbside pickup could be with us forever , ” he said .
`` And that will mean that we 're going to need to make physical changes to the space in order to accommodate it.
” RetailMeNot shopping and trends expert Sara Skirboll said retailers have tailored the shopping experience to consumers ' needs and she would n't be surprised if early senior hours and social-distancing floor decals also remain .
But with shoppers becoming more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said some might not feel the need to return to the mall after the pandemic .
`` For mall retailers , that means they will need to leverage in-store promotions or offer unique experiences to draw consumers in , whether that be a cocktail bar in the shoe department , free yoga classes , beauty treatments or customization counters , ” Skirboll said .
Weaker malls , meanwhile , will likely need to be transformed .
Many owners are considering turning some empty retail spaces into residences and offices , Saunders says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent report .
`` From co-working spaces and fitness chains in malls to department stores and classic indoor retailers in strip centers , the crossovers that were already being seen in 2019 will likely pick up pace even more in 2021 , '' the firm wrote .
There have also been reports that Simon was looking to convert empty department stores including Sears and J.C. Penney anchor spaces into Amazon distribution centers .
`` Others are looking at giving more mall space over to fulfillment operations and warehousing , both of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online sales , '' Saunders said .
But , he added , `` how successful either of these strategies is remains to be seen . ''
Follow USA TODAY reporters Charisse Jones and Kelly Tyko on Twitter : @ charissejones and @ KellyTyko

Charisse Jones and Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY

Shopping malls were struggling before COVID-19 and now have more empty stores: What's next after the pandemic?
Show Caption Hide Caption Can malls survive COVID-19 pandemic and permanent store closings? Consumers are scared to go out and retailers are floundering. Is there a future for the traditional indoor shopping mall? USA TODAY, Wochit
For generations, malls were a type of town square, a one-stop shop for restless teenagers and busy parents wanting to pick up gifts, fill out wardrobes, or just get out of the house.
But in recent years their future has been in doubt as online shopping gained steam and one-time anchor retailers like Sears and Macy's struggled financially and shuttered stores. The COVID-19 pandemic added to the downturn.
Now, as coronavirus vaccines roll out across the U.S., top-tier shopping centers are likely to bounce back in the new year, retail experts predict. But those that were in trouble before the COVID-19 crisis may disappear more quickly, as shoppers bypass them for malls offering a more upscale experience, or simply choose to click and shop online.
Save better, send better: We'll tell you how and send money tips, advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up here
More J.C. Penney store closings: After exiting bankruptcy, 15 additional stores will shutter in spring 2021. See the list.
"In 2021, the good malls will continue to do well,'' said Neil Saunders, managing director of the retail consultancy GlobalData. "It’s the weaker ones that will suffer...The future of the mall isn’t doomed or completely redundant. It’s just that 2021 will be a year of reckoning for underperforming properties."
2020 may be a watershed year
Stores struggled across the board in 2020, as local officials ordered all but those deemed essential to shut their doors or limit the number of customers to slow the spread of COVID-19.
But malls were particularly hard hit during the pandemic. The temporary shutdown of movie theaters, gyms and restaurants that were helping shopping centers stand out from Amazon and other online sellers dealt them a significant blow.
Then in May, the bankruptcies of department stores and apparel retailers with a heavy commitment to malls started pouring in.
Fashion chain J. Crew Group and luxury department store retailer Neiman Marcus Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the first week of May.
J.C. Penney and Tuesday Morning, an off-price home goods retailer, also filed that month. A slew of fashion retailers filed in subsequent months from Ascena Retail Group in July to Francesca's in December.
As those mall staples shuttered stores, other retail tenants missed rental payments because of dwindling foot traffic, putting a dent in mall owners' income.
"Retail rental payments are ultimately funded by sales,'' said Tom McGee, president and CEO of the International Council of Shopping Centers. "In a year where stores were forced to close and federal aid was insufficient, missed payments happened.''
Simon Property Group received roughly 51% of the rent it was owed by its U.S. properties for April and May, according to Coresight Research. Mall owner Macerich said that roughly 40% of its tenants paid the rent that was due for that same two-month period.
And J.C. Penney, Nordstrom and The Cheesecake Factory were among the retailers that had not fully paid their rent or were negotiating temporary rent reductions as of mid-summer.
A quieter Black Friday
In past years, the holiday shopping season kickoff was heralded by family and friends gathering to grab doorbusters. But this holiday season, Americans have generally shied away from shopping in groups and hunkered down online.
Black Friday was "the quietest in 20 years" as foot traffic plummeted, according to a report by Coresight Research, which tracks retail data. Preliminary data from Sensormatic Solutions showed in-store Black Friday traffic dropped by 52.1%.
Foot traffic analytics firm Placer.ai found similar results and said the average foot traffic at 16 leading malls was down nearly 50% this year.
U.S. retail sales were expected to rise 7.6% during the 2020 holiday shopping season, compared with a year ago, research firm IHS Markit projected, but largely because of the rapidly growing number of shoppers making their purchases online.
"For the first time ever, stores will not be the focal point," Hilding Anderson, head of retail strategy, North America at digital consultancy Publicis Sapient, told USA TODAY. "COVID restrictions coupled with the tremendous shift towards e-commerce we’ve seen this year makes it likely that stores will largely be an afterthought for consumers."
Black Friday shopping looked different in 2020 due to COVID-19 Many retailers encouraged shoppers to go online for the best deals, but there were still some lines to be found in stores. USA TODAY
Store closings, mall closures coming?
That shift is contributing to a shrinking number of retailers and a growing number of vacant spaces inside malls.
According to a recent CoStar report, more than 40 major retailers have declared bankruptcy and more than 11,000 stores were announced for closure in 2020, which beats past store closings records.
More store closures are on the horizon, with 1,444 already expected in 2021 as compared to 1,625 openings, according to Coresight Research.
And mall occupancy rates hit 94.4% during the second quarter of 2020, their lowest level in at least ten years, according to CoStar Group, which tracks real estate.
Just as the pandemic sped up the shift to ordering virtually any item online, the crisis may hasten the closure of underperforming malls and the repurposing of many centers that remain open. Ultimately, 1 in 4 malls and as many as 1 in 2 could eventually go out of business, according to projections by Coresight analysts and executives.
"The U.S. has too much retail space which means a correction is needed,'' Saunders said. "The pandemic has accelerated the speed at which this correction will happen as we move into 2021. This ultimately means that weaker malls will see more vacancies as stores shut, and they will increasingly become unviable."
Those weaker, or so-called "B'' and "C'' malls, already have empty storefronts as well as lower-priced retailers as tenants.
Malls poised to survive and even thrive in 2021 are top tier "A'' malls that house luxury retailers whose higher profits bolstered their ability to weather this year's downturn. Shopping centers that have fewer vacancies, feature popular brands like Apple and Lululemon and offer entertainment and other experiences beyond retail are also likely to be in good shape, Saunders says.
"As vaccines are rolled out, we’re hopeful malls will be able to reopen at full capacity and that shoppers will gladly return,'' McGee says. "Brick-and-mortar retail is a staple of our economy, and as soon as it’s safe, people are excited to return to normalcy as much as possible, and retail is part of that."
Stores and shoppers look to a shopping new normal As retailers and others try to stay viable during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re hoping steps like cleaning during store hours, offering hand sanitizer and other safety measures will bring back customers to what has become shopping's new normal. (July 6) AP
Changes likely here to stay
Even if shoppers want to resume old routines, some changes put in place or ramped up because of the pandemic are likely to continue, McGee says, from safety precautions to parking spaces set aside for shoppers who make purchases online, then pick them up in person.
"The pandemic will certainly impact the way retail real estate invests in its spaces over the next few years,'' says McGee. "We’ve seen trends take place in the last nine months that may have otherwise occurred over the span of a decade."
Bill Taubman, chief operating officer for Taubman Centers, previously told USA TODAY, that he expects to see some lasting effects from COVID-19.
“I think it's possible that curbside pickup could be with us forever,” he said. "And that will mean that we're going to need to make physical changes to the space in order to accommodate it.”
RetailMeNot shopping and trends expert Sara Skirboll said retailers have tailored the shopping experience to consumers' needs and she wouldn't be surprised if early senior hours and social distancing floor decals also remain.
But with shoppers becoming more comfortable with online shopping and delivery, she said some might not feel the need to return to the mall after the pandemic.
"For mall retailers, that means they will need to leverage in-store promotions or offer unique experiences to draw consumers in, whether that be a cocktail bar in the shoe department, free yoga classes, beauty treatments or customization counters,” Skirboll said.
Revamping vacant space
Weaker malls, meanwhile, will likely need to be transformed. Many owners are considering turning some empty retail spaces into residences and offices, Saunders says.
Placer.ai also noted the trend in a recent report. "From co-working spaces and fitness chains in malls to department stores and classic indoor retailers in strip centers, the crossovers that were already being seen in 2019 will likely pick up pace even more in 2021," the firm wrote.
There have also been reports that Simon was looking to convert empty department stores including Sears and J.C. Penney anchor spaces into Amazon distribution centers.
"Others are looking at giving more mall space over to fulfillment operations and warehousing, both of which are booming because of the rise in online sales,'' Saunders said. But, he added, "how successful either of these strategies is remains to be seen.''
Contributing: Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY
Follow USA TODAY reporters Charisse Jones and Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @charissejones and @KellyTyko


usatoday--2020-12-29--A Wisconsin cranberry grower saved a doe trapped on ice. The 'perfect' rescue went viral.

TOWN OF CRANMOOR , Wis. – Gil Lancour was driving home for lunch when he saw the deer struggling on the ice-covered reservoir used for growing cranberries .
He just had to stop .
Lancour , a 32-year-old worker for the Elm Lake Cranberry Co. west of Wisconsin Rapids , is a lifelong hunter , angler and general outdoorsman .
But he had never seen anything like this before .
The doe was out on glassy , super-slippery ice that had frozen over the reservoir , which was part of another , neighboring cranberry farm .
She was on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ice .
`` You 've seen people slip and fall on the ice , but she has hooves , and she could n't get up , '' Lancour said .
`` It was just hard to see her struggle out there .
I could n't just leave her . ''
What happened just a short while later on Dec. 22 propelled Lancour and his boss and friend , John Moss , into internet celebrity status .
Moss ended up taking a short video of Lancour pushing the deer to safety and posting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version of the video attracted 415 `` likes '' and other reactions from people , 73 comments and 581 shares .
The video and the two men have been featured on radio spots and newscasts throughout the country .
All the attention caught both men by surprise .
`` To be honest , we almost did n't even post the video at all , '' Moss said .
`` It just kind of blew up .
Within 24 hours , we were on ( NBC 's ) Today show .
That part was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video , just a few days before Christmas , is likely part of its allure , Moss said .
`` I think it was a good time .
It was right before Christmas , and it was a video showing an act of kindness that fits with that time of year , and with how 2020 has been , I think people want to see acts of kindness . ''
What happened was this : After stopping the first time , Lancour noticed that his truck was clearly scaring the deer ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So he drove to his home , located nearby on the cranberry farm , and got a dog leash and some ice cleats from his ice-fishing equipment box .
Lancour tried calling friends for help , but no one was answering .
When he returned to the scene , he parked a distance away from the deer , and started walking on the ice , circling around so as not to scare the doe or cause her to go further out onto the ice .
While he was walking , he called Moss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family have owned the cranberry farm for four generations , and Lancour has been working and living on the farm for 13 years .
By the time Moss got to the reservoir , Lancour was sitting next to the deer , talking to her softly to keep her calm .
As Moss got closer , Lancour slowly put his hand out to calm the deer .
He did n't know what to expect .
`` She just let me , '' Lancour said .
`` She just sat there .
I kept my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed her to shore . ''
Lancour could n't see much more than the deer because his hat got pushed low over his eyes .
His ice gripper was slipping off his boot , because it 's sized for the larger , insulated snowboots he wears when he 's ice fishing .
When they were close to shore , they encountered a ridge in the ice .
`` You 're gon na have to get over that ridge , unless you go to the side , '' Moss told Lancour .
Lancour gently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she got shakily to her feet .
He stood behind her and helped nudge her to the edge of the ice .
She then ran across the gravel road and across a stretch of railroad tracks .
`` You 're welcome , '' Lancour said on the video , and he laughed .
`` I do n't even remember saying that , '' Lancour said .
`` I was concerned , because I did n't know if she was hurt . ''
She was shaky , and she laid down for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after seeming to compose herself , she took off .
And Lancour and Moss became internet celebrities .
There 's a bit of irony at play here .
Lancour has a Facebook account , but does n't really get into it .
`` I tried to quit that , '' he said .
Most of his posts are of him on hunts , or his Labrador retriever , Drake .
Moss laughs at the idea of Lancour being part of a viral video on social media .
`` Gil is the last person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to get people to watch it , '' Moss said .
But it 's entirely in character that Lancour would drop everything and try to help a struggling animal .
`` He 's a hunter , but he cares very much about animals , and ... hunting in an ethical way , '' Moss said .
`` Taking care of animals and the environment is very important to him . ''
Lancour is happy that the clip is getting shared and people like it .
`` People have told me that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this , '' Lancour said .
`` And if it makes them happy to watch it , that 's great . ''

Keith Uhlig, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

A Wisconsin cranberry grower saved a doe trapped on ice. The 'perfect' rescue went viral.
TOWN OF CRANMOOR, Wis. – Gil Lancour was driving home for lunch when he saw the deer struggling on the ice-covered reservoir used for growing cranberries. He just had to stop.
Lancour, a 32-year-old worker for the Elm Lake Cranberry Co. west of Wisconsin Rapids, is a lifelong hunter, angler and general outdoorsman. But he had never seen anything like this before. The doe was out on glassy, super-slippery ice that had frozen over the reservoir, which was part of another, neighboring cranberry farm. She was on her haunches, struggling to get traction on the ice.
"You've seen people slip and fall on the ice, but she has hooves, and she couldn't get up," Lancour said. "It was just hard to see her struggle out there. I couldn't just leave her."
What happened just a short while later on Dec. 22 propelled Lancour and his boss and friend, John Moss, into internet celebrity status. Moss ended up taking a short video of Lancour pushing the deer to safety and posting it to his Facebook account. That version of the video attracted 415 "likes" and other reactions from people, 73 comments and 581 shares. The video and the two men have been featured on radio spots and newscasts throughout the country.
All the attention caught both men by surprise.
"To be honest, we almost didn't even post the video at all," Moss said. "It just kind of blew up. Within 24 hours, we were on (NBC's) Today show. That part was crazy."
The timing of the video, just a few days before Christmas, is likely part of its allure, Moss said.
"I think it was a good time. It was right before Christmas, and it was a video showing an act of kindness that fits with that time of year, and with how 2020 has been, I think people want to see acts of kindness."
What happened was this: After stopping the first time, Lancour noticed that his truck was clearly scaring the deer; and she started thrashing about a bit. So he drove to his home, located nearby on the cranberry farm, and got a dog leash and some ice cleats from his ice-fishing equipment box.
Lancour tried calling friends for help, but no one was answering. When he returned to the scene, he parked a distance away from the deer, and started walking on the ice, circling around so as not to scare the doe or cause her to go further out onto the ice.
While he was walking, he called Moss, who answered. Moss and his family have owned the cranberry farm for four generations, and Lancour has been working and living on the farm for 13 years.
By the time Moss got to the reservoir, Lancour was sitting next to the deer, talking to her softly to keep her calm. As Moss got closer, Lancour slowly put his hand out to calm the deer. He didn't know what to expect.
"She just let me," Lancour said. "She just sat there. I kept my hand on her, and I slowly pushed her to shore."
Lancour couldn't see much more than the deer because his hat got pushed low over his eyes. His ice gripper was slipping off his boot, because it's sized for the larger, insulated snowboots he wears when he's ice fishing.
When they were close to shore, they encountered a ridge in the ice.
"You're gonna have to get over that ridge, unless you go to the side," Moss told Lancour.
Lancour gently pushed the doe over the ridge, and she got shakily to her feet. He stood behind her and helped nudge her to the edge of the ice. She then ran across the gravel road and across a stretch of railroad tracks.
"You're welcome," Lancour said on the video, and he laughed.
"I don't even remember saying that," Lancour said. "I was concerned, because I didn't know if she was hurt."
She was shaky, and she laid down for a while in the woods. Then, after seeming to compose herself, she took off. And Lancour and Moss became internet celebrities.
There's a bit of irony at play here. Lancour has a Facebook account, but doesn't really get into it. "I tried to quit that," he said. Most of his posts are of him on hunts, or his Labrador retriever, Drake.
Moss laughs at the idea of Lancour being part of a viral video on social media. "Gil is the last person who would put up a video and try to get people to watch it," Moss said.
But it's entirely in character that Lancour would drop everything and try to help a struggling animal.
"He's a hunter, but he cares very much about animals, and ... hunting in an ethical way," Moss said. "Taking care of animals and the environment is very important to him."
Lancour is happy that the clip is getting shared and people like it.
"People have told me that it was the perfect time for a story like this," Lancour said. "And if it makes them happy to watch it, that's great."
Follow Keith Uhlig on Twitter: @UhligK.


usatoday--2020-12-30--'I love Nashville': Petula Clark 'shocked' her 'Downtown' song was used in Christmas bombing

British singer Petula Clark is speaking out about the use of her 1964 song `` Downtown '' during the Christmas Day bombing that destroyed dozens of business in downtown Nashville .
In a message posted on Facebook , Clark , 88 , says she was first shocked at the news of the explosion on Second Avenue in the heart of the city 's entertainment district .
`` I love Nashville and its people , '' the message read .
`` Why this violent act - leaving behind it such devastation ? ''
Days after the investigation , Nashville police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parked on the street and playing a warning about a bomb about to explode .
Officer James Luellen said he heard a song began to play from the RV and recalled some of the lyrics he heard .
“ What I remembered was ‘ Downtown where the lights shined bright , ’ ” Luellen said during a press conference .
More:500 tips come in as FBI investigates Christmas Day explosion in Nashville Anthony Warner was Christmas Day bomber in Nashville and likely died in explosion , authorities say Luellen said the ATF agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified it as ‘ Downtown ’ by Petula Clark .
`` Of all the thousands of songs - why this one ? ''
Clark 's message states .
`` Of course , the opening lyric is 'When you ’ re alone and life is making you lonely you can always go Downtown ' .
But millions of people all over the world have been uplifted by this joyful song .
Perhaps you can read something else into these words - depending on your state of mind .
It ’ s possible . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bomb squad was en route .
The force of the explosion knocked an officer to the ground and gave another officer temporary hearing loss .
Three people were hospitalized with injuries .
At least 41 businesses were damaged in the explosion .
`` I would like to wrap my arms around Nashville - give you all a hug - and wish you Love , a Happy and Healthy New Year ... '' Clark 's message continued .
Clark first captivated American audiences in the 1960s as the most popular female artist to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long string of now-classic hit records that have a style all their own .
More : Man identified as Christmas Day bomber was longtime Nashville resident with electronics expertise

'I love Nashville': Petula Clark 'shocked' her 'Downtown' song was used in Christmas bombing
British singer Petula Clark is speaking out about the use of her 1964 song "Downtown" during the Christmas Day bombing that destroyed dozens of business in downtown Nashville.
In a message posted on Facebook, Clark, 88, says she was first shocked at the news of the explosion on Second Avenue in the heart of the city's entertainment district.
"I love Nashville and its people," the message read. "Why this violent act - leaving behind it such devastation?"
Days after the investigation, Nashville police officers detailed their experience responding to an RV parked on the street and playing a warning about a bomb about to explode.
Officer James Luellen said he heard a song began to play from the RV and recalled some of the lyrics he heard.
“What I remembered was ‘Downtown where the lights shined bright,’” Luellen said during a press conference.
More: 500 tips come in as FBI investigates Christmas Day explosion in Nashville
Anthony Warner was Christmas Day bomber in Nashville and likely died in explosion, authorities say
Luellen said the ATF agent he spoke to pulled it up and identified it as ‘Downtown’ by Petula Clark.
"Of all the thousands of songs - why this one?" Clark's message states.
"Of course, the opening lyric is 'When you’re alone and life is making you lonely you can always go Downtown'. But millions of people all over the world have been uplifted by this joyful song. Perhaps you can read something else into these words - depending on your state of mind. It’s possible."
The RV exploded at 6:30 a.m. as the bomb squad was en route. The force of the explosion knocked an officer to the ground and gave another officer temporary hearing loss.
Three people were hospitalized with injuries. At least 41 businesses were damaged in the explosion.
"I would like to wrap my arms around Nashville - give you all a hug - and wish you Love, a Happy and Healthy New Year..." Clark's message continued.
Clark first captivated American audiences in the 1960s as the most popular female artist to emerge during the British musical invasion with a long string of now-classic hit records that have a style all their own.
More: Man identified as Christmas Day bomber was longtime Nashville resident with electronics expertise


usatoday--2020-12-30--Murder rates have increased, but reporting on crime data is still woefully out of date

A weird thing happened in baseball several years ago as home runs began exploding off the bat more than ever before .
In mid-2017 , columnist Rob Arthur published an article on FiveThirtyEight showing that lower seams on baseballs were leading to less resistance in flight and , in turn , more home runs .
Arthur made this assessment by analyzing “ the speed of the ball shortly after the pitcher releases it and then again when it crosses the plate.
” This incredible analysis was possible because Major League Baseball had invested years earlier in revolutionary technologies to track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field — including the spin and velocity of the baseball .
Thanks to these new technologies and data , baseball teams and fans were able make unprecedented insight into the nature of their beloved game .
As this shows , data that is timely , precise and accurate can be critical to identifying new trends and developing appropriate strategies .
Criminal justice data , unfortunately , sits at the other end of the spectrum .
The rise in murder nationally has driven home just how inadequate the nation ’ s crime data reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September that murder was up almost 15 % in agencies that reported three to six months of comparable data for both 2019 and 2020 .
But the antiquated national crime data collection and reporting system makes it hard to confidently say what is causing the spike or what can be done about it .
There is a substantial lack of data on a variety of critical measures across the criminal justice system , including incidents involving potential police misconduct .
The FBI often lacks data on who is stopped by police and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a substantial lack of data on police shooting victimizations .
Forward thinking prosecutors ' offices in places such as Chicago and Philadelphia have begun publishing open data on their activities .
But publicly reported data on what happens in the criminal justice system after a crime occurs or an arrest is made is all too often a black hole .
These critical issues would greatly benefit from national data collection , but unfortunately , the models for reporting even the most basic statistics on criminal justice are severely broken .
Policing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , media The FBI has used the Uniform Crime Reporting Summary Reporting System , which was created in 1929 , for the past nine decades .
There are about 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States .
Only a bit more than 16,000 of them reported monthly crime figures last year in eight relatively broad categories that the FBI aggregated and published .
This annual collection system is shoddy .
Some agencies do n't report data every year and others report incomplete data .
There have been changes over the decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same today as it was 90 years ago .
And the most glaring issues remain : Agencies are n't required to report data , and those that do report are often not asked to provide data in a way that 's useful .
For example , agencies are n't required to separate assaults during which individuals are shot from other attempted aggravated assaults by firearm .
In general , assault-by-firearm cases are massively underreported , severely reducing insight into national gun violence trends .
Efforts have been made to improve collection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime data .
The FBI ’ s report in September was the first time the bureau produced a quarterly summary report .
The FBI also built a website that improves access to raw crime data , and in January the agency will drop the summary reporting system and transition solely to a National Incident Based Reporting System ( NIBRS ) , which will provide a more nuanced look at trends .
The incident-based reporting system categorizes crime into more than 52 offense types , which provide more insight into the types of crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better , wo n't solve all crime data reporting problems .
Shootings , for example , will still not be specifically categorized under NIBRS .
It is also unclear how many agencies will participate in NIBRS next year .
Just 51 % of the participating agencies reported under NIBRS as of 2019 .
The switch to NIBRS-only does n't appear to solve the problem of lengthy delays in reporting crime data to the public .
The 2019 stats , for example , were n't released until the end of this year .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We should look to them for ways to improve reporting on a national level .
New York and Washington , D.C. , are among many that report aggregated crime counts in daily , weekly , monthly or quarterly increments .
Column : My college student 's transformation provides best argument for abolishing death penalty Open data is another option for improving access .
More than 100 agencies publish crime and policing datasetsonline on topics ranging from traffic citations and stops in New Orleans to shootings in Cincinnati and Rochester , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of what is reported and how often , but hundreds of agencies publicly reporting roughly the same crime data on a weekly or monthly schedule would be enormously helpful for understanding national trends in near real time .
Everything that happens on a baseball diamond is measured using 21st century technologies so that it can be analyzed and understood to improve results .
A similar prioritization of criminal justice data would enable governments , researchers and the general public to better see what is happening , figure out why it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address issues and build on successes .
Jeff Asher and Benjamin Horwitz are data analysts based in New Orleans and co-founders of AH Datalytics .
You can follow them on Twitter at @ Crimealytics and @ IT4Policy

Jeff Asher and Ben Horwitz, Opinion contributors

Murder rates have increased, but reporting on crime data is still woefully out of date Some local police jurisdictions and baseball lead the way on best methods for collecting real-time information.
A weird thing happened in baseball several years ago as home runs began exploding off the bat more than ever before. In mid-2017, columnist Rob Arthur published an article on FiveThirtyEight showing that lower seams on baseballs were leading to less resistance in flight and, in turn, more home runs.
Arthur made this assessment by analyzing “the speed of the ball shortly after the pitcher releases it and then again when it crosses the plate.” This incredible analysis was possible because Major League Baseball had invested years earlier in revolutionary technologies to track nearly everything that happens on a baseball field — including the spin and velocity of the baseball. Thanks to these new technologies and data, baseball teams and fans were able make unprecedented insight into the nature of their beloved game.
As this shows, data that is timely, precise and accurate can be critical to identifying new trends and developing appropriate strategies.
Criminal justice data, unfortunately, sits at the other end of the spectrum.
The rise in murder nationally has driven home just how inadequate the nation’s crime data reporting system is. The FBI reported in September that murder was up almost 15% in agencies that reported three to six months of comparable data for both 2019 and 2020. But the antiquated national crime data collection and reporting system makes it hard to confidently say what is causing the spike or what can be done about it.
There is a substantial lack of data on a variety of critical measures across the criminal justice system, including incidents involving potential police misconduct. The FBI often lacks data on who is stopped by police and what transpired during the interaction. There is also a substantial lack of data on police shooting victimizations.
Forward thinking prosecutors' offices in places such as Chicago and Philadelphia have begun publishing open data on their activities. But publicly reported data on what happens in the criminal justice system after a crime occurs or an arrest is made is all too often a black hole. These critical issues would greatly benefit from national data collection, but unfortunately, the models for reporting even the most basic statistics on criminal justice are severely broken.
Policing the USA: A look at race, justice, media
The FBI has used the Uniform Crime Reporting Summary Reporting System, which was created in 1929, for the past nine decades. There are about 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States. Only a bit more than 16,000 of them reported monthly crime figures last year in eight relatively broad categories that the FBI aggregated and published. This annual collection system is shoddy. Some agencies don't report data every year and others report incomplete data.
There have been changes over the decades, but crime data reporting is mostly the same today as it was 90 years ago. And the most glaring issues remain: Agencies aren't required to report data, and those that do report are often not asked to provide data in a way that's useful. For example, agencies aren't required to separate assaults during which individuals are shot from other attempted aggravated assaults by firearm. In general, assault-by-firearm cases are massively underreported, severely reducing insight into national gun violence trends.
Efforts have been made to improve collection, but there is still no timely national crime data. The FBI’s report in September was the first time the bureau produced a quarterly summary report.
Column: 'Survivors of solitary confinement'
The FBI also built a website that improves access to raw crime data, and in January the agency will drop the summary reporting system and transition solely to a National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which will provide a more nuanced look at trends.
The incident-based reporting system categorizes crime into more than 52 offense types, which provide more insight into the types of crimes recorded. But that system, while better, won't solve all crime data reporting problems. Shootings, for example, will still not be specifically categorized under NIBRS.
It is also unclear how many agencies will participate in NIBRS next year. Just 51% of the participating agencies reported under NIBRS as of 2019. The switch to NIBRS-only doesn't appear to solve the problem of lengthy delays in reporting crime data to the public.
The 2019 stats, for example, weren't released until the end of this year.
Some cities are getting crime data reporting right. We should look to them for ways to improve reporting on a national level. New York and Washington, D.C., are among many that report aggregated crime counts in daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly increments.
Column: My college student's transformation provides best argument for abolishing death penalty
Open data is another option for improving access. More than 100 agencies publish crime and policing datasets online on topics ranging from traffic citations and stops in New Orleans to shootings in Cincinnati and Rochester, New York.
There is no standardization among agencies in terms of what is reported and how often, but hundreds of agencies publicly reporting roughly the same crime data on a weekly or monthly schedule would be enormously helpful for understanding national trends in near real time.
Everything that happens on a baseball diamond is measured using 21st century technologies so that it can be analyzed and understood to improve results.
A similar prioritization of criminal justice data would enable governments, researchers and the general public to better see what is happening, figure out why it is happening, and create stronger data-driven strategies to address issues and build on successes.
Jeff Asher and Benjamin Horwitz are data analysts based in New Orleans and co-founders of AH Datalytics. You can follow them on Twitter at @Crimealytics and @IT4Policy