usatoday--2020-07-21--At least two pharmaceutical companies promise affordable COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic

At least two COVID-19 vaccine companies receiving millions of dollars from the U.S. government plan to eschew profits or set a single global price if their vaccines prove successful .
A House subcommittee on Tuesday is set to grill the heads of five pharmaceutical companies leading the effort , revealing differing timelines and thoughts on cost and access .
They are AstraZeneca , Johnson & Johnson , Merck , Moderna and Pfizer .
The United States has so far invested nearly $ 2.3 billion in the effort to find a vaccine to stop SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans .
AstraZeneca said it will make two billion doses of its vaccine on a non-profit basis , according to prepared remarks posted Monday night by Executive Vice President Menelas Pangalos .
The British-Swedish company has entered into agreements with the U.S. and several other countries and organizations to supply vaccine .
`` The cost of the doses of the vaccine under those agreements will provide no profit for AstraZeneca , '' the statement said .
AstraZeneca , which is creating a vaccine in conjunction with the United Kingdom 's University of Oxford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine available by early next year .
More : We 'll need enormous numbers of Americans to test COVID-19 vaccines ; a 'very encouraging ' 138,600 have signed up More : Coronavirus updates : Global fatalities pass 600,000 ; virus on track to become a leading cause of worldwide deaths The United States paid $ 1.2 billion for access to 300 million doses of the candidate vaccine through Operation Warp Speed , a White House task force focused on bringing therapies and vaccines for coronavirus to market as soon as safely possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the overall success of possible vaccines .
The results showed the Oxford candidate vaccine , AZD-1222 , led to strong immune responses for nearly two months in a trial that continues to track more than 1,000 healthy adults .
Pangalos said his company plans to supply approximately two billion doses globally to provide `` broad and equitable access . ''
The company is building parallel supply chains around the world to produce those doses , he said .
Johnson & Johnson will charge one price globally for its vaccine , regardless of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the written statement of Dr. Macaya Douoguih head of clinical development and medical affairs .
The company is committed to making an affordable COVID-19 vaccine available on a `` not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use , '' her statement said .
It will pursue external validation for calculating the price point and will make an external audit or certification available .
The company has received approximately $ 500 million from Operation Warp Speed for its work .
Johnson & Johnson plans to being testing its vaccine candidate in humans late this month in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preliminary results are positive , it will launch a global Phase 3 clinical trial in September .
Phase 3 trials are the final and largest testing stage for vaccines once they have become established , do n't cause immediate adverse effects and provoke an immune response .
COVID-19 Phase 3 trials will involve 30,000 patients for each vaccine candidate and take many months .
U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck is pursuing two possible vaccine candidates .
It is focused on its long track record developing vaccines and the need for safety , and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not a given .
`` If approaches developed by others ultimately are proven superior to those being pursued by Merck , we will work to support those efforts for the benefit of global health during the pandemic , '' said the statement by Dr. Julie Gerberding , the company 's executive vice president and chief patient officer .
Merck holds the record for creating the fastest vaccine ever brought to market , a mumps vaccine in 1967 that took four years from start to finish .
But the company has repeatedly emphasized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Speed is important , but we will not compromise scientific efficacy , quality , and above all , safety , despite the sense of urgency we all feel , ” said Gerberding 's testimony .
Merck 's CEO , Kenneth Fraizer , said last week a vaccine ca n't be rushed and rigorous science is necessary .
`` When people tell the public that there 's going to be a vaccine by the end of 2020 , for example , I think they do a grave disservice to the public , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Harvard Business School .
Merck has received $ 38 million for vaccine research from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority .
Moderna has made agreements with a Swiss-based vaccine manufacturer with sites in the United States and around the world , which will allow it to reach an annual manufacturing capacity of more than 500 million doses , according to the statement by company president Dr. Stephen Hoge .
Its candidate vaccine research has been partially facilitated by $ 536 million from Operation Warp Speed .
Moderna , headquartered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials of its vaccine candidate this month , its president , Dr. Stephen Hoge , said in his written statement .
Phase 1 results were presented last week .
The vaccine appears to be safe and to trigger an immune response .
Whether the immune response is enough to protect someone from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 remains unclear , according to several experts who reviewed the results .
Alone among the five companies that will testify Tuesday , Pfizer has not taken any money from the U.S. government as it works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are uniquely positioned with the scientific expertise and experience , manufacturing scale and financial resources to have the potential to deliver a potential vaccine without funding from the federal government , '' John Young , Pfizer 's chief business officer , said in a prepared statement .
He anticipated the company will invest about $ 1 billion in its vaccine development efforts during 2020 .
Pfizer is partnering with a German biotech company BioNTech to work on a COVID-19 vaccine .
It is currently running early state clinical trials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week it announced two of its four vaccine candidates had received fast-track designation from the Food and Drug Administration .
It hopes to begin Phase 2 testing later this month .
If the clinical trials progress well , the company hopes to manufacture up to 100 million doses by the end of 2020 , and potentially more than 1.3 billion doses in 2021 globally , Young 's statement said .

At least two pharmaceutical companies promise affordable COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic
Show Caption Hide Caption NIH 'optimistic' COVID-19 vaccine by end of 2020 Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health said Thursday that "we are all optimistic" that the Trump administration's vaccine-acceleration program will produce a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 by year end. (July 2) AP
At least two COVID-19 vaccine companies receiving millions of dollars from the U.S. government plan to eschew profits or set a single global price if their vaccines prove successful.
A House subcommittee on Tuesday is set to grill the heads of five pharmaceutical companies leading the effort, revealing differing timelines and thoughts on cost and access. They are AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna and Pfizer.
The United States has so far invested nearly $2.3 billion in the effort to find a vaccine to stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, which has killed more than 140,000 Americans.
AstraZeneca said it will make two billion doses of its vaccine on a non-profit basis, according to prepared remarks posted Monday night by Executive Vice President Menelas Pangalos.
The British-Swedish company has entered into agreements with the U.S. and several other countries and organizations to supply vaccine.
"The cost of the doses of the vaccine under those agreements will provide no profit for AstraZeneca," the statement said.
AstraZeneca, which is creating a vaccine in conjunction with the United Kingdom's University of Oxford, said Monday it hopes to have a vaccine available by early next year.
More: We'll need enormous numbers of Americans to test COVID-19 vaccines; a 'very encouraging' 138,600 have signed up
More: Coronavirus updates: Global fatalities pass 600,000; virus on track to become a leading cause of worldwide deaths
The United States paid $1.2 billion for access to 300 million doses of the candidate vaccine through Operation Warp Speed, a White House task force focused on bringing therapies and vaccines for coronavirus to market as soon as safely possible.
A paper published Monday gave hope to the overall success of possible vaccines. The results showed the Oxford candidate vaccine, AZD-1222, led to strong immune responses for nearly two months in a trial that continues to track more than 1,000 healthy adults.
Pangalos said his company plans to supply approximately two billion doses globally to provide "broad and equitable access." The company is building parallel supply chains around the world to produce those doses, he said.
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson will charge one price globally for its vaccine, regardless of country or income tier, according to the written statement of Dr. Macaya Douoguih head of clinical development and medical affairs.
The company is committed to making an affordable COVID-19 vaccine available on a "not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use," her statement said. It will pursue external validation for calculating the price point and will make an external audit or certification available.
The company has received approximately $500 million from Operation Warp Speed for its work.
Johnson & Johnson plans to being testing its vaccine candidate in humans late this month in the United States and Belgium. If preliminary results are positive, it will launch a global Phase 3 clinical trial in September.
Phase 3 trials are the final and largest testing stage for vaccines once they have become established, don't cause immediate adverse effects and provoke an immune response. COVID-19 Phase 3 trials will involve 30,000 patients for each vaccine candidate and take many months.
Merck
U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck is pursuing two possible vaccine candidates. It is focused on its long track record developing vaccines and the need for safety, and was open-minded about the possibility that a breakthrough is not a given.
"If approaches developed by others ultimately are proven superior to those being pursued by Merck, we will work to support those efforts for the benefit of global health during the pandemic," said the statement by Dr. Julie Gerberding, the company's executive vice president and chief patient officer.
Merck holds the record for creating the fastest vaccine ever brought to market, a mumps vaccine in 1967 that took four years from start to finish. But the company has repeatedly emphasized safety over speed in its COVID-19 work.
“Speed is important, but we will not compromise scientific efficacy, quality, and above all, safety, despite the sense of urgency we all feel,” said Gerberding's testimony.
Merck's CEO, Kenneth Fraizer, said on June 30 that a vaccine can't be rushed and rigorous science is necessary.
"When people tell the public that there's going to be a vaccine by the end of 2020, for example, I think they do a grave disservice to the public," he said during an interview with the Harvard Business School.
Merck has received $38 million for vaccine research from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
Moderna
Moderna has made agreements with a Swiss-based vaccine manufacturer with sites in the United States and around the world, which will allow it to reach an annual manufacturing capacity of more than 500 million doses, according to the statement by company president Dr. Stephen Hoge.
Its candidate vaccine research has been partially facilitated by $536 million from Operation Warp Speed.
Moderna, headquartered in Massachusetts, hopes to begin Phase 3 clinical trials of its vaccine candidate this month, its president, Dr. Stephen Hoge, said in his written statement.
Phase 1 results were presented last week. The vaccine appears to be safe and to trigger an immune response. Whether the immune response is enough to protect someone from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 remains unclear, according to several experts who reviewed the results.
Pfizer
Alone among the five companies that will testify Tuesday, Pfizer has not taken any money from the U.S. government as it works on four different vaccine candidates for COVID-19.
"We are uniquely positioned with the scientific expertise and experience, manufacturing scale and financial resources to have the potential to deliver a potential vaccine without funding from the federal government," John Young, Pfizer's chief business officer, said in a prepared statement.
He anticipated the company will invest about $1 billion in its vaccine development efforts during 2020.
Pfizer is partnering with a German biotech company BioNTech to work on a COVID-19 vaccine. It is currently running early state clinical trials in the U.S. and the European Union.
Last week it announced two of its four vaccine candidates had received fast-track designation from the Food and Drug Administration. It hopes to begin Phase 2 testing later this month.
If the clinical trials progress well, the company hopes to manufacture up to 100 million doses by the end of 2020, and potentially more than 1.3 billion doses in 2021 globally, Young's statement said.
Contributing: Karen Weintraub


usatoday--2020-07-20--Black children are more likely to die after surgery than their white peers, study says

A study found Black children were more likely than white children to die after common surgeries , mirroring similar disparities found in adults .
Researchers at Nationwide Children ’ s Hospital in Columbus , Ohio found that Black children were nearly 3.5 times more likely to die within 30 days after surgery compared to white peers .
The study , published Monday in the peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics , examined national data on nearly 173,000 operations from 2012 through 2017 , where appendix removal and orthopedic operations were among the most common surgeries .
While there were few overall deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of surgery compared with 13 white children .
`` Generally , we expect that healthier patients should do well with surgeries .
Healthy kids have low complication rates , '' lead study author Dr. Olubukola Nafiu , pediatric anesthesiologist and vice chair for Academic Affairs and Research at Nationwide Children 's Hospital , said in a news release .
`` The expectation should be that complication rates and/or mortality among healthy children wo n't vary based on racial category – what we found is that they do . ''
Children were younger than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their surgeries .
While Black children had slightly more heart and digestive problems , pre-existing conditions were uncommon .
Dr. Shant Shekherdimian , pediatric surgeon at the University of California , Los Angeles , Mattel Children 's Hospital , said that while the difference in outcomes is a mere .05 % , the study 's inclusion of more than 170,000 procedures reinforces its results .
`` When we take a patient to the operating room , we subconsciously assume that everyone comes to the operating room in equal circumstances and leaves the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ This ( study ) contributes to the growing body of literature that shows that ’ s not the case . ''
An editorial in Pediatrics says the research sheds new light on a concerning problem and should prompt doctors and hospitals to confront their own biases .
Differences in hospital quality and doctor bias have been suggested as contributors to racial health inequities in other research , but Nafiu said those factors are beyond the study 's scope and that reasons for the disparities found are uncertain .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team and I , ” he said .
'Very encouraging':107,000 Americans signed up to test COVID vaccines Two COVID Americas : One hopes for an extension of federal unemployment and stimulus .
The other is saving and spending Nafiu and his team plans to review the data to see if other traditional explanations could account for these results such as socioeconomic status , type of hospital and postoperative recovery environment .
However , the observational study ’ s data is limiting .
For example , his team doesn ’ t have access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care .
“ That ’ s important because we know that not every hospital has the level of expertise and the level of support when complications occur , ” he said .
One thing Nafiu doesn ’ t want Black families to take away from the study is that hospitals and surgeries are unsafe for their children .
“ Surgery is safe ... mortality rates are low , ” he said .
“ Our paper is not suggesting that African American parents should stop bringing their children to the hospital… we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so we can better serve the children that we care for.
” Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics , Innovation and Competition in Healthcare .
The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input .

Black children are more likely to die after surgery than their white peers, study says
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump believes these CDC school guidelines are too strict President Donald Trump criticizes the CDC guidelines for the upcoming school year. Which includes children, teachers, and staff getting regularly tested. USA TODAY
A study found Black children were more likely than white children to die after common surgeries, mirroring similar disparities found in adults.
Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio found that Black children were nearly 3.5 times more likely to die within 30 days after surgery compared to white peers.
The study, published Monday in the peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics, examined national data on nearly 173,000 operations from 2012 through 2017, where appendix removal and orthopedic operations were among the most common surgeries.
While there were few overall deaths, 23 Black children died within 30 days of surgery compared with 13 white children.
"Generally, we expect that healthier patients should do well with surgeries. Healthy kids have low complication rates," lead study author Dr. Olubukola Nafiu, pediatric anesthesiologist and vice chair for Academic Affairs and Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital, said in a news release. "The expectation should be that complication rates and/or mortality among healthy children won't vary based on racial category – what we found is that they do."
Children were younger than 17 and were considered relatively healthy before their surgeries. While Black children had slightly more heart and digestive problems, pre-existing conditions were uncommon.
Dr. Shant Shekherdimian, pediatric surgeon at the University of California, Los Angeles, Mattel Children's Hospital, said that while the difference in outcomes is a mere .05%, the study's inclusion of more than 170,000 procedures reinforces its results.
"When we take a patient to the operating room, we subconsciously assume that everyone comes to the operating room in equal circumstances and leaves the hospital to equal playing conditions,” he said. “This (study) contributes to the growing body of literature that shows that’s not the case."
An editorial in Pediatrics says the research sheds new light on a concerning problem and should prompt doctors and hospitals to confront their own biases.
Differences in hospital quality and doctor bias have been suggested as contributors to racial health inequities in other research, but Nafiu said those factors are beyond the study's scope and that reasons for the disparities found are uncertain.
“That’s the next assignment for my team and I,” he said.
'Very encouraging': 107,000 Americans signed up to test COVID vaccines
Two COVID Americas: One hopes for an extension of federal unemployment and stimulus. The other is saving and spending
Nafiu and his team plans to review the data to see if other traditional explanations could account for these results such as socioeconomic status, type of hospital and postoperative recovery environment.
However, the observational study’s data is limiting. For example, his team doesn’t have access to the names of hospitals where patients received care.
“That’s important because we know that not every hospital has the level of expertise and the level of support when complications occur,” he said.
One thing Nafiu doesn’t want Black families to take away from the study is that hospitals and surgeries are unsafe for their children.
“Surgery is safe ... mortality rates are low,” he said. “Our paper is not suggesting that African American parents should stop bringing their children to the hospital… we want to highlight differences to see what we can do so we can better serve the children that we care for.”
Contributing: Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.


usatoday--2020-07-20--Winn-Dixie parent company Southeastern Grocers reverses course and will require masks at all stores

Southeastern Grocers , parent company of Winn-Dixie , BI-LO and Harveys Supermarkets , is reversing course and says it will require that shoppers wear masks in its hundreds of stores throughout the Southern states .
The new requirement will begin Monday , July 27 , and follows moves by other retailers to require face coverings , including Walmart , Sam 's Club , CVS and Walgreens , whose new mandates went into effect nationwide Monday .
The announcement comes a day after the company confirmed to USA TODAY that stores were n't requiring face coverings during the pandemic to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers .
On Monday , the company said its position evolved after listening to customer feedback .
Masks required : Walmart , Lowe 's , Aldi , Target among retailers adding face masks requirements due to COVID-19 .
See the full list .
Trader Joe 's petition : Trader Joe 's says it is working on changing its ethnic brands but a petition is still growing '' This unprecedented period requires a willingness to be adaptable and flexible to ever-changing circumstances , and we will continue to adjust as needed over time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communications at Southeastern Grocers , said in a statement .
Caldwell said the majority of stores are already under local or state mandates .
`` Given the continued rise of positive COVID cases in our communities across the Southeast , beginning Monday , July 27 , we will be requiring masks to be worn by customers to help reduce the spread of the disease , '' Caldwell said .
`` Our communities count on us , and we are counting on our customers to show kindness as we go through these challenging times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that wearing a mask infringes on their rights .
Caldwell said the company believes `` enforcement should be placed upon our state and federally elected officials . ''
`` We will continue to work with our peers in the retail industry to advocate for this sensible mandate to be passed into law to remove the burden from employers and their heroic frontline associates , '' he said .
A growing number of retailers are requiring face coverings for patrons and workers to curb the spread of the virus .
One retailer , Dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requiring shoppers wear masks , but last week but switched to requesting shoppers wear masks in stores not covered by state and local ordinances .

Winn-Dixie parent company Southeastern Grocers reverses course and will require masks at all stores
Show Caption Hide Caption Face masks causing confrontations as businesses enforce guidelines Businesses and cities across the country are requiring people to wear masks, which some people say infringe upon their individual rights. USA TODAY
Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie, BI-LO and Harveys Supermarkets, is reversing course and says it will require that shoppers wear masks in its hundreds of stores throughout the Southern states.
The new requirement will begin Monday, July 27, and follows moves by other retailers to require face coverings, including Walmart, Sam's Club, CVS and Walgreens, whose new mandates went into effect nationwide Monday.
The announcement comes a day after the company confirmed to USA TODAY that stores weren't requiring face coverings during the pandemic to avoid "undue friction" between customers and staffers. On Monday, the company said its position evolved after listening to customer feedback.
Masks required: Walmart, Lowe's, Aldi, Target among retailers adding face masks requirements due to COVID-19. See the full list.
Trader Joe's petition: Trader Joe's says it is working on changing its ethnic brands but a petition is still growing
"This unprecedented period requires a willingness to be adaptable and flexible to ever-changing circumstances, and we will continue to adjust as needed over time," Joe Caldwell, director of corporate communications at Southeastern Grocers, said in a statement.
Caldwell said the majority of stores are already under local or state mandates.
"Given the continued rise of positive COVID cases in our communities across the Southeast, beginning Monday, July 27, we will be requiring masks to be worn by customers to help reduce the spread of the disease," Caldwell said. "Our communities count on us, and we are counting on our customers to show kindness as we go through these challenging times together."
Some shoppers have complained that wearing a mask infringes on their rights.
Caldwell said the company believes "enforcement should be placed upon our state and federally elected officials."
"We will continue to work with our peers in the retail industry to advocate for this sensible mandate to be passed into law to remove the burden from employers and their heroic frontline associates," he said.
A growing number of retailers are requiring face coverings for patrons and workers to curb the spread of the virus.
One retailer, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, recently began requiring shoppers wear masks, but last week but switched to requesting shoppers wear masks in stores not covered by state and local ordinances.
Contributing: Dalvin Brown
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko


usatoday--2020-07-21--NFL and NFLPA continue to work for solutions even as teams begin reporting for training camp

On the same day that rookies for the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans reported to their respective team headquarters for the initial COVID-19 tests of training camp , NFL Players Association executives and league owners continued to haggle about how to deliver a season amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Texans and Chiefs are scheduled to meet in the regular-season opener Sept. 10 .
So in order to begin the return to action process , their rookies were required to show up both Monday and Tuesday to be tested for COVID-19 outside the teams ' facilities .
Players receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next phase , including two days of medical exams and equipment fittings .
Quarterbacks and injured players around the league are expected to report for duty Thursday , while all 32 teams expect to have their full teams in by July 28 .
But a number of pressing matters still must be addressed for the NFL to return in earnest , the league and union continuing to work feverishly in search of solutions .
The owners held a video conference call at 2 p.m .
ET on Monday in an attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league officials and NFLPA leaders planned to resume their discussions , according to two people familiar with the situation .
They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the process .
Here 's where matters stand as player begin filtering back to work : Monday afternoon , the league and union agreed on daily COVID-19 testing for players , coaches and designated staff who interact with them throughout the first two weeks of training camp .
Testing could then scale down to alternating days if positive rates dip to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams have submitted their infectious disease emergency response ( IDER ) plans to NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills , and 25 had been approved and forwarded to the NFLPA .
Although they want to play , players have concerns about their own safety as well as that of their family members .
As we ’ ve seen in other sports , some players could decide not to play this season .
As of Monday afternoon , the owners and union had yet to agree on a deadline for those opt-out decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 1 deadline .
However , the players see a need for more time , especially since training camps will not even be in full swing by that date .
They would prefer to have until just before the first preseason game – assuming there is one – to decide .
The league and union also disagree on compensation for players who opt out .
Owners initially proposed a $ 150,000 stipend for players who elect not to play because of health risk concerns .
The union would prefer a sliding scale to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial assistance .
Signs point to the owners obliging .
The NFLPA and league 's joint task force agreed that to help minimize the risk of injury , players should undergo an acclimation period that allows for 21 days of strength and conditioning once camps start , 10 days of non-padded practices and 14 days of game preparations .
To make this window possible , owners had wanted players to report two weeks early .
But the union resisted given the terms already laid out in the collective bargaining agreement .
The need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the practicality of a preseason .
From the players ’ perspective , there ’ s no way to acclimate their bodies and play games in August .
The owners initially countered with the reduction from four games to two .
Players remained opposed to that idea .
No fans for Giants , Jets : Teams will comply with New Jersey governor 's order , meaning empty home games amid pandemic Fall without Football : 'There 's just no way ' to play amid the coronavirus pandemic without 'high risk' As Sunday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veterans still deem it important that the owners prioritize player health and safety above the revenue they would earn from preseason games .
And on Monday , the owners wound up conceding , meeting the players ’ request for no preseason games , according to a person familiar with the discussions .
The person requested anonymity because the offer was not yet public .
This will provide a more adequate acclimation period and ramp-up window for the players .
The only potential losers in this scenario are the players at the bottom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from game action and the chance to showcase their skills to other teams .
“ We believe that the right focus for our players and our business is not only coming up with a way to start the season , but to contemplate a way to finish the season , ” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said during a conference call with reporters Friday .
“ And engaging in two games where players would be flying all over the country and then meeting together to engage in work , we feel that doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properly influence or increase the likelihood of starting and finishing the season on time.
” Although the sides have made progress on health and safety aspects , they remain divided on determining how to absorb the financial blows that COVID-19 will deliver .
Because it appears unlikely that stadiums will be filled this season –some may even be empty – teams could lose enough revenue that the salary cap might fall from approximately $ 198 million per club this year to fewer than $ 130 million apiece in 2021 .
Earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of player salaries in escrow to help compensate for revenue losses .
The players opposed such a proposal , arguing they actually were already subjecting themselves to great risk by simply taking the field amid the pandemic and thus shouldn ’ t be further penalized .
Players realize that a loss in revenue means a hit to the subsequent cap , however they propose spreading those shortfalls over the 10-year life of the CBA to make the financial impact less painful for all parties .
The owners have now abandoned the escrow idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including various benefit reductions .
The players oppose that solution , so discussions remain ongoing .
Follow USA TODAY Sports ’ Mike Jones on Twitter @ ByMikeJones and listen to the Football Jones podcast on iTunes If you love talking football , we have the perfect spot for you .
Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders .
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NFL and NFLPA continue to work for solutions even as teams begin reporting for training camp
Show Caption Hide Caption Why lack of robust COVID-19 testing could lead to a fall without football SportsPulse: There's one major reason why a fall without football is a real possibility: lack of robust COVID-19 testing. We dissect why. USA TODAY
On the same day that rookies for the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans reported to their respective team headquarters for the initial COVID-19 tests of training camp, NFL Players Association executives and league owners continued to haggle about how to deliver a season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Texans and Chiefs are scheduled to meet in the regular-season opener Sept. 10. So in order to begin the return to action process, their rookies were required to show up both Monday and Tuesday to be tested for COVID-19 outside the teams' facilities. Players receiving consecutive negative tests will move on to the next phase, including two days of medical exams and equipment fittings.
Quarterbacks and injured players around the league are expected to report for duty Thursday, while all 32 teams expect to have their full teams in by July 28.
But a number of pressing matters still must be addressed for the NFL to return in earnest, the league and union continuing to work feverishly in search of solutions.
The owners held a video conference call at 2 p.m. ET on Monday in an attempt to resolve outstanding issues. From there, league officials and NFLPA leaders planned to resume their discussions, according to two people familiar with the situation. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the process.
Here's where matters stand as player begin filtering back to work:
Testing and safety
Monday afternoon, the league and union agreed on daily COVID-19 testing for players, coaches and designated staff who interact with them throughout the first two weeks of training camp. Testing could then scale down to alternating days if positive rates dip to fewer than 5%.
All 32 teams have submitted their infectious disease emergency response (IDER) plans to NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills, and 25 had been approved and forwarded to the NFLPA.
Opt-out protocols
Although they want to play, players have concerns about their own safety as well as that of their family members. As we’ve seen in other sports, some players could decide not to play this season. As of Monday afternoon, the owners and union had yet to agree on a deadline for those opt-out decisions, though the league had floated an August 1 deadline.
However, the players see a need for more time, especially since training camps will not even be in full swing by that date. They would prefer to have until just before the first preseason game – assuming there is one – to decide. The league and union also disagree on compensation for players who opt out. Owners initially proposed a $150,000 stipend for players who elect not to play because of health risk concerns. The union would prefer a sliding scale to more adequately benefit players who most need financial assistance. Signs point to the owners obliging.
Acclimation process and preseason
The NFLPA and league's joint task force agreed that to help minimize the risk of injury, players should undergo an acclimation period that allows for 21 days of strength and conditioning once camps start, 10 days of non-padded practices and 14 days of game preparations. To make this window possible, owners had wanted players to report two weeks early. But the union resisted given the terms already laid out in the collective bargaining agreement.
The need for an acclimation process has triggered questions about the practicality of a preseason. From the players’ perspective, there’s no way to acclimate their bodies and play games in August. The owners initially countered with the reduction from four games to two. Players remained opposed to that idea.
No fans for Giants, Jets: Teams will comply with New Jersey governor's order, meaning empty home games amid pandemic
Fall without Football: 'There's just no way' to play amid the coronavirus pandemic without 'high risk'
Fall without football a real possibility: NFL players, others raise questions amid pandemic
As Sunday’s social media blitz indicated, many veterans still deem it important that the owners prioritize player health and safety above the revenue they would earn from preseason games.
And on Monday, the owners wound up conceding, meeting the players’ request for no preseason games, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The person requested anonymity because the offer was not yet public. This will provide a more adequate acclimation period and ramp-up window for the players.
The only potential losers in this scenario are the players at the bottom of the roster, who could have benefited from game action and the chance to showcase their skills to other teams.
“We believe that the right focus for our players and our business is not only coming up with a way to start the season, but to contemplate a way to finish the season,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said during a conference call with reporters Friday.
“And engaging in two games where players would be flying all over the country and then meeting together to engage in work, we feel that doing that prior to the season doesn't properly influence or increase the likelihood of starting and finishing the season on time.”
Economic impacts
Although the sides have made progress on health and safety aspects, they remain divided on determining how to absorb the financial blows that COVID-19 will deliver.
Because it appears unlikely that stadiums will be filled this season –some may even be empty – teams could lose enough revenue that the salary cap might fall from approximately $198 million per club this year to fewer than $130 million apiece in 2021.
Earlier this month, owners had proposed holding 35% of player salaries in escrow to help compensate for revenue losses. The players opposed such a proposal, arguing they actually were already subjecting themselves to great risk by simply taking the field amid the pandemic and thus shouldn’t be further penalized.
Players realize that a loss in revenue means a hit to the subsequent cap, however they propose spreading those shortfalls over the 10-year life of the CBA to make the financial impact less painful for all parties.
The owners have now abandoned the escrow idea, however they're considering cutbacks elsewhere, including various benefit reductions. The players oppose that solution, so discussions remain ongoing.
***
Contributing: Jarrett Bell
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usatoday--2020-07-20--We looked at protester demands from across the nation and compared them with recent police reforms.

In the 18 days after the death of George Floyd , 16 states introduced , amended , or passed various police-reform bills .
We looked at what protesters are asking for and what changes have actually been implemented .
While a handful of new policies met demands , most local officials and law enforcement agencies failed to fulfill expectations .
Here 's a look at what protesters have been calling for around the nation .
Here 's a look at recent police reform policies across the US .
Many protesters have called for the defunding of the police , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban on chokeholds and other neck restraints .
Lentory Johnson knows what `` defund the police '' means to her — and she has a perspective based on a deeply personal experience .
Her son , Johnny Johnson , was one of three men killed in a drive-by shooting outside the Boys & Girls Club in Rochester , New York , in 2015 .
She worked closely with police and prosecutors during the extensive investigation as they rounded up the men they believed responsible for the mass shooting .
For Johnson , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police , she said .
Instead , she said , it is a `` reallocation of funds that would mean , quite simply , other ways to invest that money to give back to communities that have very much been impacted by abusive policing or over-policing . ''
Defunding law enforcement is a dominant theme of protesters ’ policy demands .
from small towns to large cities like Washington , DC .
And New York , where protesters have been camping outside City Hall in Lower Manhattan for over a week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NYPD budget by $ 1 billion .
Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Council speaker , Corey Johnson , had agreed in principle to cut $ 1 billion from the Police Department ’ s $ 6 billion operating budget .
The city decided to cancel the planned hiring of roughly 1,160 officers , and to shift responsibility for illegal vending , the homeless , and school safety away from the police .
Many protesters are asking to divest money from the police and toward organizations that support Black communities .
Dozens of Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisville 's elected officials .
A 20-page `` A Path Forward for Louisville '' was signed by more than 60 predominantly Black representatives from local faith organizations , nonprofits , social groups , and public schools .
The actions laid out in the petition include divesting in the Louisville Metro Police Department and creating a $ 50 million `` Black Community Fund '' that could be spent on affordable housing , small business support , and mental health care .
The council committee has amended the mayor ’ s budget , reassigning $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding to programs that focus on homelessness and mental health .
LMPD ’ s annual budget is $ 190.5 million .
A majority of Seattle City Council members have said they agree with a high-level proposal by advocates to defund the Police Department by 50 % and reallocate the dollars to other community needs .
`` Poder in Action '' , a non-profit that hosted allies in Phoenix to demand a 25 % cut in local police funding and moving the money from the police into programs that create safe and healthy communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider that proposal .
However , the council included nearly $ 3 million in the city budget for a new police oversight office .
Nicole Smith , a 21-year-old La Quinta , California , resident , organized a gathering there , and another in Rancho Mirage .
She described family members and acquaintances being killed by police and being profiled because of her Chevrolet Malibu 's tinted windows , which she said some view as a feature fit only for a “ drug-dealer car.
” “ I ’ m tired of my people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a megaphone .
“ It ’ s time to break the silence and it ’ s time to end the violence.
” The requirement to de-escalate situations where possible is one of the policies proposed by the `` 8 Can ’ t Wait '' campaign .
Campaign Zero , which emerged from the police protests in Ferguson , Missouri , has come up with the eight reforms that could be implemented quickly and would cost no money .
This policing reform agenda is aimed at the reduction of police violence and killings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , has created an online petition to get the Tallahassee Police Department to create and enforce de-escalation policies .
In just two days , the petition initiated by Faith Life Church has gained more than 1,500 signatures .
In response , city commissioners approved the creation of a citizen-led police review board — despite critics saying it 's an ineffective way to provide accountability and oversight .
Duty to intervene is also a priority of the ' 8 Ca n't Wait ' campaign .
Many cities around the country have begun to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop excessive force being used by other officers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor .
Now , police officers in Dallas , San Jose , and Atlanta , among many other smaller cities , are legally required to intervene .
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has urged police departments in her state to enact duty to intervene policies .
In North Carolina , at least four cities either have added , or have promised to create similar policies .
Chattanooga , Tennessee , has added duty to intervene to their policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force will result in disciplinary action .
In Cambridge , Massachusetts , police officers can face criminal prosecution for not intervening .
George Floyd died after now-fired Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pressed a knee into Floyd ’ s neck for nearly nine minutes .
Three other officers didn ’ t intervene .
Minneapolis police added a “ duty to intervene ” policy in 2016 .
Changes to training or curriculum In Chattanooga , Tennessee , protesters called for sensitivity training and psychological vetting for officers , among other demands .
Newnan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Citizens for Positive Reform that has made several proposals .
The group has been calling for a cultural sensitivity training course taught by a person of color , and other reforms .
There have been no updates to the education or training policies for police officers in those cities since the start of the protests .
A policing reform bill passed in Washington , D.C. , will require officers to undergo further training to combat racism and white supremacy .
The New York City Council ’ s Public Safety Committee has passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to track and identify cops who might need more training , monitoring or reassignment .
The Albany Police Department will require teaching the history of racism in the United States to its members .
In Syracuse , officers will be trained on the history of racism in their city , and the United States .
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to encourage changes in policing .
Trump said the Justice Department would prioritize federal grants to police departments that follow “ the highest training standards regarding the use of force.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been filed by those injured , or by the families of those killed in Seattle protests .
They allege excessive force by police and their failure to secure the safety of peaceful protesters .
A temporary ban on using tear gas , pepper spray , and flash-bang devices to break up largely peaceful protests has expired after being enacted be a judge last month .
In Chicago , more than 900 complaints were filed against police officers between May 26 — the date of the first protest after the murder of Floyd by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 29 , reaching record levels .
According to a report published by Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability , 413 complaints were directly related to the protests between May 29 and June 5 .
Of those , the top complaints were for excessive force ( 55 % ) , improper searches ( 22 % ) , and verbal abuse by officers ( 11 % . )
Last year , a federal judge approved the consent decree to reform the Chicago Police Department addressing accountability and use of force , among other issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has missed more than 70 % of the deadlines set .
One petitions circulating in Fort Worth , Texas , seeks to demilitarize police forces by removing access to rifles , shotguns , riot gear , and tanks .
One protest crowd in St. Petersburg , Florida .
called for the ban of less lethal weapons used by law enforcement such as tear gas and rubber bullets .
The San Jose Police Department has been criticized for using tear gas , rubber bullets , and pepper spray on Black Lives Matter protesters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with policy changes .
When addressing agitators within a crowd , projectile impact weapons will now only be used in situations where a person is actively attacking an officer or another person , or when an armed agitator poses a threat to officers or other peaceful protesters .
The call for comprehensive reporting was put forward by `` 8 Can ’ t Wait '' as well .
It includes requiring officers to report each time they use any type of force , threaten to use force against civilians , and whenever they point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a study published in 2017 , agencies that require officers to report every time they draw their weapons have significantly lower rates of fatal shootings by police .
The Denver Police Department has recently changed its policies to require officers to alert supervisors any time they point a gun at someone , not just when they fire a weapon .
In East Lansing , Michigan , officers will now be required to report when another officer is using excessive force .
In sA coalition of 14 groups who have been protesting police brutality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made nine demands for police reform in Syracuse , New York .
Prohibiting officers from reviewing body camera footage when writing their reports was one of the requirements .
So far , Mayor Ben Walsh has signed into law a package of police reforms aimed at updating police training and policies and improving transparency without addressing reporting .
The legislation recently implemented in Washington , D.C , .
will forbid officers from watching that footage before writing their report .
Domari Greene , 30 , organized the protest in Elmira , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stood outside the Elmira Police Department chanting — at times in the rain — `` No justice , no peace , '' and `` Black lives matter , '' to peacefully demonstrate after the death of George Floyd .
Greene also helped to organize a march in nearby Corning , New York .
`` The message we ’ re sending out is that not only is the African-American community tired of the unjust killings and racism , but people across the nation are also tired of this , '' Greene said Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no more will officers get away for their crimes , no more just a suspension . ''
Creating a board overseeing the police and implementing other measures to increase transparency and accountability were some of the most voiced demands around the country .
For example , the People 's Justice Project , a non-profit grassroots organization in Columbus , Ohio , released a set of 10 demands May 30 .
Among them is the creation of a city-funded independent entity empowered to fully participate in the investigations involving city police officers .
Accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from social justice group De-Escalate Ohio Now .
The city council in Columbus has held public hearings on police reforms , going through more than 800 emails and texts submitted by the public as well as listening in on some 70 oral comments during a six-hour committee meetings .
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has created a working group to establish a citizens review board over police that would have subpoena power .
He wants to have the board in place by the end of the year .
In Louisville , protesters ' top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Breonna Taylor ’ s death to be fired and prosecuted .
“ If they lock those officers up , it ’ ll be a start , ” said Montez Jones , a Louisville protester .
Only one of the officers , Brent Hankison , has been fired so far .
Mayor Fischer has announced other changes to ensure “ more scrutiny , transparency and accountability , ” including the naming of a new police chief ; a new requirement that body cameras always be worn during the execution of search warrants ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board for police disciplinary matters .
On June 12 , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo signed the repeal of a provision , passed in 1976 , that has allowed law enforcement to shield police misconduct records from the public .
Many grassroots advocacy campaigns , including Communities United for Police Reform , have pushed for the change for years .
Women Occupy San Diego , an advocacy organization formed after months-long protests in 2011 , partnered with the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association , an African American legal association .
They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Police Practices .
In the wake of the protests , the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to put a measure before voters in November .
There were demands for the use of body cameras in some cities , as in some places many officers and police cars are n't equipped with cameras .
For example , the police cars in Syracuse , New York , do not have dashboard cameras .
One of the reforms Walsh signed into law includes securing more body-worn cameras for patrol officers and equipping every squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shreveport , Louisiana , protesters called for requiring body and dash cameras for each officer and their vehicle .
Palm Springs , California , has adopted the funding of $ 850,000 in police body cameras after protesters ' demands .
One of the demands of the petition that already received more than a million signatures is a bill that requires all police departments in this country be investigated by democratically elected , independent civilian review boards .
They should have the power to investigate police , and also bring charges against police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter Utah , has started the petition .
Stopping the use of chokeholds and all other neck restraints by police officers is another item on the `` 8 Ca n't Wait '' list .
Several cities and municipalities in the United States have starting to ban or have banned the use of chokeholds and other neck restraints in policing .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom has directed police in the state to stop training officers to use `` carotid holds , '' and Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee has said he wants police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of chokeholds .
The police departments in Denver and San Diego have stopped using chokeholds .
City councils banned the use of chokeholds in Minneapolis , Iowa City and Seattle .
Many other cities have also stopped the use of neck restraints by the officers .
However , an NPR review of bans on neck restraints in some of the nation 's largest police departments found them largely ineffective and subject to lax enforcement .
Many protesters around the nation asked for addressing systemic racism .
Some have been asking for a residency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Such a change has been implemented in Philadelphia .
There were many calls for preventing the police from handling non-violent situations .
In Albuquerque New Mexico , Mayor Tim Keller announced the creation of the Albuquerque Community Safety Department that will serve as a civilian public safety branch to dispatch trained professionals to non-violent 911 calls .
Many communities around the country have been demanding the resignation of local officials .
Protesters want local mayors to resign in St. Louis ; Lansing , Michigan ; and Buffalo , New York , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expectations ?
Here is a look at the reaction of local communities on the implemented changes :

Karina Zaiets, Janie Haseman and Veronica Bravo, USA TODAY

In the 18 days after the death of George Floyd, 16 states introduced, amended, or passed various police-reform bills.
We looked at what protesters are asking for and what changes have actually been implemented. While a handful of new policies addressed calls for change, most local officials and law enforcement agencies failed to satisfy protesters' demands.
Voices of the protest
Here's a look at what protesters have been calling for around the nation.
Cities with implemented changes
Here's a look at recent police reform policies across the US. Many protesters have called for the defunding of the police, but the most widespread change has been a ban on chokeholds and other neck restraints.
Defunding law enforcement
Lentory Johnson knows what "defund the police" means to her — and she has a perspective based on a deeply personal experience.
Her son, Johnny Johnson, was one of three men killed in a drive-by shooting outside the Boys & Girls Club in Rochester, New York, in 2015. She worked closely with police and prosecutors during the extensive investigation as they rounded up the men they believed responsible for the mass shooting.
Lentory Johnson, whose son Johnny Ray Johnson was one of the victims in the triple homicide at the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester in 2015, gets a hug after her speech before the start of the Rochester March for Our Lives Rally starting at Washington Square Park in Rochester, New York. (Via OlyDrop) CARLOS ORTIZ, CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAF
For Johnson, "defunding" does not mean abolition of the police, she said. Instead, she said, it is a "reallocation of funds that would mean, quite simply, other ways to invest that money to give back to communities that have very much been impacted by abusive policing or over-policing."
Defunding law enforcement is a dominant theme of protesters’ policy demands. from small towns to large cities like Washington, DC. And New York, where protesters have been camping outside City Hall in Lower Manhattan for over a week, demanding that the City Council reduce the NYPD budget by $1 billion.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Council speaker, Corey Johnson, had agreed in principle to cut $1 billion from the Police Department’s $6 billion operating budget. The city decided to cancel the planned hiring of roughly 1,160 officers, and to shift responsibility for illegal vending, the homeless, and school safety away from the police.
Many protesters are asking to divest money from the police and toward organizations that support Black communities.
Dozens of Black community leaders have signed a petition to Louisville's elected officials. A 20-page "A Path Forward for Louisville" was signed by more than 60 predominantly Black representatives from local faith organizations, nonprofits, social groups, and public schools. The actions laid out in the petition include divesting in the Louisville Metro Police Department and creating a $50 million "Black Community Fund" that could be spent on affordable housing, small business support, and mental health care.
The council committee has amended the mayor’s budget, reassigning $1.2 million of Louisville Metro Police Department funding to programs that focus on homelessness and mental health. LMPD’s annual budget is $190.5 million.
A majority of Seattle City Council members have said they agree with a high-level proposal by advocates to defund the Police Department by 50% and reallocate the dollars to other community needs.
"Poder in Action", a non-profit that hosted allies in Phoenix to demand a 25% cut in local police funding and moving the money from the police into programs that create safe and healthy communities. The council has not agreed to consider that proposal. However, the council included nearly $3 million in the city budget for a new police oversight office.
De-escalation policies
Nicole Smith, a 21-year-old La Quinta, California, resident, organized a gathering there, and another in Rancho Mirage. She described family members and acquaintances being killed by police and being profiled because of her Chevrolet Malibu's tinted windows, which she said some view as a feature fit only for a “drug-dealer car.”
Nicole Smith of La Quinta marches in Palm Desert, California, on June 1 as part of the nationwide civil unrest following the death of George Floyd. Taya Gray/The Desert Sun Taya Gray
“I’m tired of my people dying for nothing,” Smith said into a megaphone. “It’s time to break the silence and it’s time to end the violence.”
The requirement to de-escalate situations where possible is one of the policies proposed by the "8 Can’t Wait" campaign. Campaign Zero, which emerged from the police protests in Ferguson, Missouri, has come up with the eight reforms that could be implemented quickly and would cost no money. This policing reform agenda is aimed at the reduction of police violence and killings.
Faith Life Church in Tallahassee, Florida, has created an online petition to get the Tallahassee Police Department to create and enforce de-escalation policies. In just two days, the petition initiated by Faith Life Church has gained more than 1,500 signatures. In response, city commissioners approved the creation of a citizen-led police review board — despite critics saying it's an ineffective way to provide accountability and oversight.
Duty to intervene
Duty to intervene is also a priority of the '8 Can't Wait' campaign. Many cities around the country have begun to implement the requirement that officers intervene to stop excessive force being used by other officers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor. Now, police officers in Dallas, San Jose, and Atlanta, among many other smaller cities, are legally required to intervene. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has urged police departments in her state to enact duty to intervene policies. In North Carolina, at least four cities either have added, or have promised to create similar policies.
Chattanooga, Tennessee, has added duty to intervene to their policies as well. Failure to stop excessive force will result in disciplinary action. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, police officers can face criminal prosecution for not intervening.
George Floyd died after now-fired Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pressed a knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Three other officers didn’t intervene. Minneapolis police added a “duty to intervene” policy in 2016.
Changes to training or curriculum
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, protesters called for sensitivity training and psychological vetting for officers, among other demands. Newnan, Georgia, has formed s task force called Citizens for Positive Reform that has made several proposals. The group has been calling for a cultural sensitivity training course taught by a person of color, and other reforms. There have been no updates to the education or training policies for police officers in those cities since the start of the protests.
A policing reform bill passed in Washington, D.C., will require officers to undergo further training to combat racism and white supremacy. The New York City Council’s Public Safety Committee has passed a bill calling for a review system to track and identify cops who might need more training, monitoring or reassignment. The Albany Police Department will require teaching the history of racism in the United States to its members. In Syracuse, officers will be trained on the history of racism in their city, and the United States.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to encourage changes in policing. Trump said the Justice Department would prioritize federal grants to police departments that follow “the highest training standards regarding the use of force.”
Restrictions related to protests
At least twelve financial claims have been filed by those injured, or by the families of those killed in Seattle protests. They allege excessive force by police and their failure to secure the safety of peaceful protesters. A temporary ban on using tear gas, pepper spray, and flash-bang devices to break up largely peaceful protests has expired after being enacted be a judge last month.
In Chicago, more than 900 complaints were filed against police officers between May 26 — the date of the first protest after the murder of Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota — and June 29, reaching record levels. According to a report published by Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability, 413 complaints were directly related to the protests between May 29 and June 5. Of those, the top complaints were for excessive force (55%), improper searches (22%), and verbal abuse by officers (11%.)
Last year, a federal judge approved the consent decree to reform the Chicago Police Department addressing accountability and use of force, among other issues. One year later, he city has missed more than 70% of the deadlines set.
One petitions circulating in Fort Worth, Texas, seeks to demilitarize police forces by removing access to rifles, shotguns, riot gear, and tanks. One protest crowd in St. Petersburg, Florida. called for the ban of less lethal weapons used by law enforcement such as tear gas and rubber bullets.
The San Jose Police Department has been criticized for using tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray on Black Lives Matter protesters. The SJPD has since announced a package with policy changes. When addressing agitators within a crowd, projectile impact weapons will now only be used in situations where a person is actively attacking an officer or another person, or when an armed agitator poses a threat to officers or other peaceful protesters.
Reporting requirements
The call for comprehensive reporting was put forward by "8 Can’t Wait" as well. It includes requiring officers to report each time they use any type of force, threaten to use force against civilians, and whenever they point a firearm at someone.
According to a study published in 2017, agencies that require officers to report every time they draw their weapons have significantly lower rates of fatal shootings by police. The Denver Police Department has recently changed its policies to require officers to alert supervisors any time they point a gun at someone, not just when they fire a weapon. In East Lansing, Michigan, officers will now be required to report when another officer is using excessive force.
In sA coalition of 14 groups who have been protesting police brutality since the death of George Floyd has made nine demands for police reform in Syracuse, New York. Prohibiting officers from reviewing body camera footage when writing their reports was one of the requirements. So far, Mayor Ben Walsh has signed into law a package of police reforms aimed at updating police training and policies and improving transparency without addressing reporting. The legislation recently implemented in Washington, D.C,. will forbid officers from watching that footage before writing their report.
Transparency measures
Domari Greene, 30, organized the protest in Elmira, New York, where a crowd of about 50 stood outside the Elmira Police Department chanting — at times in the rain — "No justice, no peace," and "Black lives matter," to peacefully demonstrate after the death of George Floyd. Greene also helped to organize a march in nearby Corning, New York.
"The message we’re sending out is that not only is the African-American community tired of the unjust killings and racism, but people across the nation are also tired of this," Greene said Friday. "We’ve had enough and no more will officers get away for their crimes, no more just a suspension."
Domari Greene, of Elmira, New York, helped to organize a march in nearby Corning, New York, after the death of George Floyd. He said about 300 people made the trip from Elmira to Corning. Ashley Biviano
Creating a board overseeing the police and implementing other measures to increase transparency and accountability were some of the most voiced demands around the country. For example, the People's Justice Project, a non-profit grassroots organization in Columbus, Ohio, released a set of 10 demands May 30. Among them is the creation of a city-funded independent entity empowered to fully participate in the investigations involving city police officers. Accountability and transparency were two of the demands from social justice group De-Escalate Ohio Now.
The city council in Columbus has held public hearings on police reforms, going through more than 800 emails and texts submitted by the public as well as listening in on some 70 oral comments during a six-hour committee meetings.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has created a working group to establish a citizens review board over police that would have subpoena power. He wants to have the board in place by the end of the year.
In Louisville, protesters' top demands are for the three officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s death to be fired and prosecuted.
“If they lock those officers up, it’ll be a start,” said Montez Jones, a Louisville protester.
Only one of the officers, Brent Hankison, has been fired so far. Mayor Fischer has announced other changes to ensure “more scrutiny, transparency and accountability,” including the naming of a new police chief; a new requirement that body cameras always be worn during the execution of search warrants; and the establishment of a civilian review board for police disciplinary matters.
On June 12, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the repeal of a provision, passed in 1976, that has allowed law enforcement to shield police misconduct records from the public. Many grassroots advocacy campaigns, including Communities United for Police Reform, have pushed for the change for years.
Women Occupy San Diego, an advocacy organization formed after months-long protests in 2011, partnered with the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, an African American legal association. They have for years pushed for an independent Commission on Police Practices. In the wake of the protests, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to put a measure before voters in November.
There were demands for the use of body cameras in some cities, as in some places many officers and police cars aren't equipped with cameras. For example, the police cars in Syracuse, New York, do not have dashboard cameras. One of the reforms Walsh signed into law includes securing more body-worn cameras for patrol officers and equipping every squad car with a dashboard camera.
In Shreveport, Louisiana, protesters called for requiring body and dash cameras for each officer and their vehicle. Palm Springs, California, has adopted the funding of $850,000 in police body cameras after protesters' demands.
One of the demands of the petition that already received more than a million signatures is a bill that requires all police departments in this country be investigated by democratically elected, independent civilian review boards. They should have the power to investigate police, and also bring charges against police. Lex Scott, founder of Black Lives Matter Utah, has started the petition.
Ban on chokeholds
Stopping the use of chokeholds and all other neck restraints by police officers is another item on the "8 Can't Wait" list. Several cities and municipalities in the United States have starting to ban or have banned the use of chokeholds and other neck restraints in policing.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has directed police in the state to stop training officers to use "carotid holds," and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has said he wants police across the state to restrict the use of chokeholds. The police departments in Denver and San Diego have stopped using chokeholds. City councils banned the use of chokeholds in Minneapolis, Iowa City and Seattle. Many other cities have also stopped the use of neck restraints by the officers. However, an NPR review of bans on neck restraints in some of the nation's largest police departments found them largely ineffective and subject to lax enforcement.
Other policy changes
Many protesters around the nation asked for addressing systemic racism. Some have been asking for a residency requirement for police officers to increase diversity. Such a change has been implemented in Philadelphia. There were many calls for preventing the police from handling non-violent situations. In Albuquerque New Mexico, Mayor Tim Keller announced the creation of the Albuquerque Community Safety Department that will serve as a civilian public safety branch to dispatch trained professionals to non-violent 911 calls.
Many communities around the country have been demanding the resignation of local officials. Protesters want local mayors to resign in St. Louis; Lansing, Michigan; and Buffalo, New York, among other cities.
Have the reforms met the expectations?
Here is a look at the reaction of local communities on the implemented changes:
Contributors: Jennifer Borresen, Mitchell Thorson, Matt Leclercq, Ashley Biviano, Kara Berg/Lansing State Journal, Rebecca Plevin/Palm Springs Desert Sun, Hayes Gardner/The Courier-Journal, Tim Willert/The Oklahoman, Ceili Doyle/The Columbus Dispatch