Front-Line Federal Workers Sue For Hazard Pay From correctional officers to TSA employees, federal workers say their jobs are made more dangerous by the coronavirus.For the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic, correctional officer Kareen "Troy" Troitino says things were "pretty relaxed" at FCI Miami. There were no cases of COVID-19 at the low-security federal prison, which currently houses some 1,000 inmates. That all changed, he says, early last month. "And then on the week of the Fourth of July, we had one case, and then it just spread in one week. I mean, tremendously. It's like...…Front-Line Federal Workers Sue For Hazard Pay From correctional officers to TSA employees, federal workers say their jobs are made more dangerous by the coronavirus.For the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic, correctional officer Kareen "Troy" Troitino says things were "pretty relaxed" at FCI Miami. There were no cases of COVID-19 at the low-security federal prison, which currently houses some 1,000 inmates. That all changed, he says, early last month. "And then on the week of the Fourth of July, we had one case, and then it just spread in one week. I mean, tremendously. It's like...WW…

Pascal Simon's Online Cooking Camp Gets Kids To Make Meals For Their Families : Coronavirus Live Updates Online instruction is hard, right? Well there's a teacher—a chef, actually—who appears to have cracked the code. She says her cooking classes for kids work better now than when they were in person.Toggle more optionsHeard onBen JamesToggle more optionsA lanky, long-haired kid stands in front of a stack of shelves lined with more than a dozen varieties of canned beans. He's 10, and his name is Wiley. He's got a shopping list in his hand and a mask on his face. This is the first time he's...…Pascal Simon's Online Cooking Camp Gets Kids To Make Meals For Their Families : Coronavirus Live Updates Online instruction is hard, right? Well there's a teacher—a chef, actually—who appears to have cracked the code. She says her cooking classes for kids work better now than when they were in person.Toggle more optionsHeard onBen JamesToggle more optionsA lanky, long-haired kid stands in front of a stack of shelves lined with more than a dozen varieties of canned beans. He's 10, and his name is Wiley. He's got a shopping list in his hand and a mask on his face. This is the first time he's...WW…

Beirut Explosion Update: Lebanon Detains 16 People In Inquiry As Anger Mounts The investigation into the massive blast continues, a Lebanese judge says. The explosion has been traced to an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse.Toggle more optionsToggle more optionsUpdated at 12:45 a.m. ET Friday Some of Beirut's residents, angered by their city's seeming negligence that led to this week's deadly warehouse explosion, took to the streets late Thursday to demand reform. Near parliament, Lebanese security forces fired tear gas as they clashed with anti-government...…Beirut Explosion Update: Lebanon Detains 16 People In Inquiry As Anger Mounts The investigation into the massive blast continues, a Lebanese judge says. The explosion has been traced to an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse.Toggle more optionsToggle more optionsUpdated at 12:45 a.m. ET Friday Some of Beirut's residents, angered by their city's seeming negligence that led to this week's deadly warehouse explosion, took to the streets late Thursday to demand reform. Near parliament, Lebanese security forces fired tear gas as they clashed with anti-government...WW…

News Brief: Beirut Explosion, Trump On Twitter And Facebook, National Conventions Investigations continue in the Beirut explosion. Twitter and Facebook go after Trump for sharing coronavirus misinformation. And, the pandemic is changing the National Conventions.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsInvestigations continue in the Beirut explosion. Twitter and Facebook go after Trump for sharing coronavirus misinformation. And, the pandemic is changing the National Conventions.RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:Rescue workers in Beirut are still hoping to find survivors in all of the rubble after...…News Brief: Beirut Explosion, Trump On Twitter And Facebook, National Conventions Investigations continue in the Beirut explosion. Twitter and Facebook go after Trump for sharing coronavirus misinformation. And, the pandemic is changing the National Conventions.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsInvestigations continue in the Beirut explosion. Twitter and Facebook go after Trump for sharing coronavirus misinformation. And, the pandemic is changing the National Conventions.RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:Rescue workers in Beirut are still hoping to find survivors in all of the rubble after...WW…

At Site Of Razed Mosque, India's Modi Lays Foundation For Controversial Hindu Temple The 1992 destruction of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya by Hindu extremists sparked riots that killed thousands of Muslims, leaving a deep rift between the country's religious communities.Nearly 30 years ago, Hindu extremists armed with pickaxes tore down a 16th-century mosque in the northern Indian town of Ayodhya, sparking riots that killed thousands of Muslims. On Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled a campaign promise to his Hindu nationalist base by laying the cornerstones of a grand...…At Site Of Razed Mosque, India's Modi Lays Foundation For Controversial Hindu Temple The 1992 destruction of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya by Hindu extremists sparked riots that killed thousands of Muslims, leaving a deep rift between the country's religious communities.Nearly 30 years ago, Hindu extremists armed with pickaxes tore down a 16th-century mosque in the northern Indian town of Ayodhya, sparking riots that killed thousands of Muslims. On Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled a campaign promise to his Hindu nationalist base by laying the cornerstones of a grand...WW…

Trump Signs Executive Order That Will Effectively Ban Use Of TikTok In the U.S. The president also issued an executive order aimed at cutting ties between the U.S. and the owner of the popular Chinese communications and social media app WeChat.President Trump on Thursday invoked his emergency economic powers to impose broad sanctions against TikTok, a move that steps up pressure on the Chinese-owned app to sell its U.S. assets to an American company. In , which takes effect in 45 days, any transactions between TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens will be outlawed for...…Trump Signs Executive Order That Will Effectively Ban Use Of TikTok In the U.S. The president also issued an executive order aimed at cutting ties between the U.S. and the owner of the popular Chinese communications and social media app WeChat.President Trump on Thursday invoked his emergency economic powers to impose broad sanctions against TikTok, a move that steps up pressure on the Chinese-owned app to sell its U.S. assets to an American company. In , which takes effect in 45 days, any transactions between TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens will be outlawed for...WW…

IHME Model Projects Nearly 300,000 COVID-19 Deaths By December : Shots - Health News What's driving this death toll? Could anything improve the outlook? How reliable are these predictions anyway? We get into the weeds.By Dec. 1, the U.S. death toll from coronavirus could reach nearly 300,000. That's the grim new projection from researchers at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation — one of the more prominent teams modeling the pandemic. The new forecast, released Thursday, projects that between now and December, 137,000 people will die, on top of the...…IHME Model Projects Nearly 300,000 COVID-19 Deaths By December : Shots - Health News What's driving this death toll? Could anything improve the outlook? How reliable are these predictions anyway? We get into the weeds.By Dec. 1, the U.S. death toll from coronavirus could reach nearly 300,000. That's the grim new projection from researchers at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation — one of the more prominent teams modeling the pandemic. The new forecast, released Thursday, projects that between now and December, 137,000 people will die, on top of the...WW…

Vaccine Prices For COVID-19 Begin To Emerge : Shots - Health News Moderna, one of the leading horses in the coronavirus vaccine race, has already made deals at between $32 and $37 a dose for some foreign countries. The U.S. price is expected to be lower.How much will vaccines against the coronavirus cost? Even though none has finished clinical testing, some clues about pricing are starting to emerge. Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna, one of the leading horses in the vaccine race, has already made deals at between $32 and $37 per dose of its experimental coronavirus vaccine in agreements with...…Vaccine Prices For COVID-19 Begin To Emerge : Shots - Health News Moderna, one of the leading horses in the coronavirus vaccine race, has already made deals at between $32 and $37 a dose for some foreign countries. The U.S. price is expected to be lower.How much will vaccines against the coronavirus cost? Even though none has finished clinical testing, some clues about pricing are starting to emerge. Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna, one of the leading horses in the vaccine race, has already made deals at between $32 and $37 per dose of its experimental coronavirus vaccine in agreements with...WW…

Immigration Officials Unseal Indictments Related To Massive 2019 Raid The unsealing follows a workplace raid last year, which led to the arrests of hundreds of suspected undocumented immigrants.Federal officials on Thursday unsealed the indictments of four managers accused of using unauthorized laborers across several food processing plants in Mississippi, almost a year to the date after one of the raids in U.S. history. The U.S. Attorney's Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a joint accused the four managers of crimes including harboring undocumented immigrants, wire fraud...…Immigration Officials Unseal Indictments Related To Massive 2019 Raid The unsealing follows a workplace raid last year, which led to the arrests of hundreds of suspected undocumented immigrants.Federal officials on Thursday unsealed the indictments of four managers accused of using unauthorized laborers across several food processing plants in Mississippi, almost a year to the date after one of the raids in U.S. history. The U.S. Attorney's Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a joint accused the four managers of crimes including harboring undocumented immigrants, wire fraud...WW…

Congress Still Faces Pandemic Risks As It Meets Without Testing Plan Congress still doesn't have a widespread testing program for the coronavirus and was reminded of that risk when three members tested positive in one week.Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva is nervous. Last week, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee in the latest outbreak on Capitol Hill. And although Grijalva is asymptomatic, he's worried because he's 72 years old and an admitted on-and-off smoker. "You get scared; your family gets scared," he said from his Washington, D.C., home, where he is now...…Congress Still Faces Pandemic Risks As It Meets Without Testing Plan Congress still doesn't have a widespread testing program for the coronavirus and was reminded of that risk when three members tested positive in one week.Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva is nervous. Last week, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee in the latest outbreak on Capitol Hill. And although Grijalva is asymptomatic, he's worried because he's 72 years old and an admitted on-and-off smoker. "You get scared; your family gets scared," he said from his Washington, D.C., home, where he is now...WW…

News Brief: Beirut Explosion, Missouri Primary Upset, Overseas COVID-19 Relief Checks Thousands in Beirut are reeling from a massive explosion. A longtime incumbent loses in Missouri's Democratic Primary. And, some U.S COVID-19 relief checks were sent to non-American workers overseas.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsThousands in Beirut are reeling from a massive explosion. A longtime incumbent loses in Missouri's Democratic Primary. And, some U.S COVID-19 relief checks were sent to non-American workers overseas.NOEL KING, HOST:A massive explosion ripped through Beirut's...…News Brief: Beirut Explosion, Missouri Primary Upset, Overseas COVID-19 Relief Checks Thousands in Beirut are reeling from a massive explosion. A longtime incumbent loses in Missouri's Democratic Primary. And, some U.S COVID-19 relief checks were sent to non-American workers overseas.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsThousands in Beirut are reeling from a massive explosion. A longtime incumbent loses in Missouri's Democratic Primary. And, some U.S COVID-19 relief checks were sent to non-American workers overseas.NOEL KING, HOST:A massive explosion ripped through Beirut's...WW…

Americans Can Travel To Ireland, But Locals May Not Want Them Americans can now travel to Ireland, although they have to quarantine when they arrive – and while many Irish people say they miss the Americans, they'd prefer they stay at home.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsAmericans can now travel to Ireland, although they have to quarantine when they arrive – and while many Irish people say they miss the Americans, they'd prefer they stay at home.RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:There aren't a lot of places you can go on a U.S. passport at the moment. But for now, you can still go to...…Americans Can Travel To Ireland, But Locals May Not Want Them Americans can now travel to Ireland, although they have to quarantine when they arrive – and while many Irish people say they miss the Americans, they'd prefer they stay at home.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsAmericans can now travel to Ireland, although they have to quarantine when they arrive – and while many Irish people say they miss the Americans, they'd prefer they stay at home.RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:There aren't a lot of places you can go on a U.S. passport at the moment. But for now, you can still go to...WW…

U.S. Economy On High Alert Over Shaky Future Of Extra Jobless Benefits As Congress debates whether to renew supplemental unemployment benefits for people thrown out of work by the pandemic, new research shows those benefits offer a critical boost for the U.S. economy.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 9 a.m ET Ordinarily when people lose their job, they spend less money. But when tens of millions of people were suddenly thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic. At first, their spending did go down, just as you would expect. But it quickly rebounded, once people...…U.S. Economy On High Alert Over Shaky Future Of Extra Jobless Benefits As Congress debates whether to renew supplemental unemployment benefits for people thrown out of work by the pandemic, new research shows those benefits offer a critical boost for the U.S. economy.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 9 a.m ET Ordinarily when people lose their job, they spend less money. But when tens of millions of people were suddenly thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic. At first, their spending did go down, just as you would expect. But it quickly rebounded, once people...WW…

When COVID-19 Canceled Music Festivals, These Banjo Lovers Planned A Virtual One The pandemic has shut down most of the summer music festivals. But that did not stop two banjo players from organizing an online banjo contest.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsThe pandemic has shut down most of the summer music festivals. But that did not stop two banjo players from organizing an online banjo contest.NPR thanks our sponsors…When COVID-19 Canceled Music Festivals, These Banjo Lovers Planned A Virtual One The pandemic has shut down most of the summer music festivals. But that did not stop two banjo players from organizing an online banjo contest.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsThe pandemic has shut down most of the summer music festivals. But that did not stop two banjo players from organizing an online banjo contest.NPR thanks our sponsorsWW…

Thank The Simple Wasp For That Complex Glass Of Wine : The Salt Don't swat away that buzzing wasp. It may help spread the yeast that starts the fermentation process in grapes while they're still on the vine. The yeast carried by the wasp give wine its complexity, scientists say.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsThe next time you take a sip of your favorite wine, you might want to make your first toast to hornets. Or, more precisely, and . That's because those big scary flying insects whose stings can be especially painful may be the secret to the wonderful complex aroma and...…Thank The Simple Wasp For That Complex Glass Of Wine : The Salt Don't swat away that buzzing wasp. It may help spread the yeast that starts the fermentation process in grapes while they're still on the vine. The yeast carried by the wasp give wine its complexity, scientists say.Toggle more optionsHeard onToggle more optionsThe next time you take a sip of your favorite wine, you might want to make your first toast to hornets. Or, more precisely, and . That's because those big scary flying insects whose stings can be especially painful may be the secret to the wonderful complex aroma and...WW…

New York Attorney General Moves To Dissolve The NRA After Fraud Investigation New York's attorney general announced civil action to dissolve the National Rifle Association after an investigation found millions of dollars in alleged fraud by CEO Wayne LaPierre and others.The Attorney General of New York took action today to dissolve the National Rifle Association, following an 18-month investigation that found evidence the powerful gun rights group is "fraught with fraud and abuse." Attorney General Letitia James claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that she found financial misconduct in the...…New York Attorney General Moves To Dissolve The NRA After Fraud Investigation New York's attorney general announced civil action to dissolve the National Rifle Association after an investigation found millions of dollars in alleged fraud by CEO Wayne LaPierre and others.The Attorney General of New York took action today to dissolve the National Rifle Association, following an 18-month investigation that found evidence the powerful gun rights group is "fraught with fraud and abuse." Attorney General Letitia James claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that she found financial misconduct in the...WW…

Fauci Reveals He Has Received Death Threats And His Daughters Have Been Harassed : Coronavirus Live Updates During an online forum sponsored by Harvard, Dr. Anthony Fauci discusses how his high-profile position has affected his family personally.Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that he has received death threats and his daughters have been harassed as a result of his high-profile statements about the coronavirus pandemic. "Getting death threats for me and my family and harassing my daughters to the point where I have to get security is just, I mean, it's amazing," Fauci said. Fauci, who...…Fauci Reveals He Has Received Death Threats And His Daughters Have Been Harassed : Coronavirus Live Updates During an online forum sponsored by Harvard, Dr. Anthony Fauci discusses how his high-profile position has affected his family personally.Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that he has received death threats and his daughters have been harassed as a result of his high-profile statements about the coronavirus pandemic. "Getting death threats for me and my family and harassing my daughters to the point where I have to get security is just, I mean, it's amazing," Fauci said. Fauci, who...WW…

Louisiana Supreme Court Won't Review Life Sentence For Man Who Stole Hedge Clippers In a dissent, Chief Justice Bernette Johnson compared Fair Wayne Bryant's sentence to "Pig Laws" in the years after Reconstruction, which enacted harsh penalties for theft and other petty crimes.A Louisiana man will continue to spend his life in prison for stealing a pair of hedge clippers, after the state's Supreme Court his request to review a lower court's sentence. Fair Wayne Bryant was convicted in 1997 of stealing the hedge clippers. Prosecutors pursued and won a life sentence in the case, a penalty...…Louisiana Supreme Court Won't Review Life Sentence For Man Who Stole Hedge Clippers In a dissent, Chief Justice Bernette Johnson compared Fair Wayne Bryant's sentence to "Pig Laws" in the years after Reconstruction, which enacted harsh penalties for theft and other petty crimes.A Louisiana man will continue to spend his life in prison for stealing a pair of hedge clippers, after the state's Supreme Court his request to review a lower court's sentence. Fair Wayne Bryant was convicted in 1997 of stealing the hedge clippers. Prosecutors pursued and won a life sentence in the case, a penalty...WW…

Trump Suggests Nomination Speech From White House; Biden Will Stay In Delaware : Coronavirus Live Updates Meanwhile, Joe Biden will not travel to host city Milwaukee for the Democratic convention because of the pandemic — and neither will any other speakers.Updated at 3:19 p.m. ET National convention planning for Republicans and Democrats continued to evolve on Wednesday, as the parties try to adapt their nominating events, which are typically filled with throngs of people, to the realities of the ongoing pandemic. President Trump said in an interview that he'll "probably" deliver his...…Trump Suggests Nomination Speech From White House; Biden Will Stay In Delaware : Coronavirus Live Updates Meanwhile, Joe Biden will not travel to host city Milwaukee for the Democratic convention because of the pandemic — and neither will any other speakers.Updated at 3:19 p.m. ET National convention planning for Republicans and Democrats continued to evolve on Wednesday, as the parties try to adapt their nominating events, which are typically filled with throngs of people, to the realities of the ongoing pandemic. President Trump said in an interview that he'll "probably" deliver his...WW…

Officials Look For Younger Poll Workers, Because Of COVID-19 Election officials fear a massive shortage of poll workers for the general election as older people opt out of their normal election-year service due to concerns over the coronavirus.Toggle more optionsToggle more optionsSusan Weiss has been a poll worker in Bethesda, Md., for 16 years. "It's really quite an experience doing it," she says. "Setting up all the equipment, putting signs up, putting arrows on the floor, etc. The camaraderie of the group that volunteers is marvelous." But this year, with the coronavirus pandemic...…Officials Look For Younger Poll Workers, Because Of COVID-19 Election officials fear a massive shortage of poll workers for the general election as older people opt out of their normal election-year service due to concerns over the coronavirus.Toggle more optionsToggle more optionsSusan Weiss has been a poll worker in Bethesda, Md., for 16 years. "It's really quite an experience doing it," she says. "Setting up all the equipment, putting signs up, putting arrows on the floor, etc. The camaraderie of the group that volunteers is marvelous." But this year, with the coronavirus pandemic...WW…

Beirut Explosion Photos Show The Blast's Deadly Force : The Picture Show Tuesday's blast has killed dozens and injured thousands in Lebanon's capital. Search-and-rescue missions continue on Wednesday as residents assess the damage and begin cleaning up debris.Updated at 9:50 a.m. ET An enormous explosion shook Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. At least 100 people are dead and thousands of more people were hurt, according to officials. The death toll is expected to rise as searches are underway for people who have been reported missing.Buildings collapsed and glass shattered as helicopters and...…Beirut Explosion Photos Show The Blast's Deadly Force : The Picture Show Tuesday's blast has killed dozens and injured thousands in Lebanon's capital. Search-and-rescue missions continue on Wednesday as residents assess the damage and begin cleaning up debris.Updated at 9:50 a.m. ET An enormous explosion shook Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. At least 100 people are dead and thousands of more people were hurt, according to officials. The death toll is expected to rise as searches are underway for people who have been reported missing.Buildings collapsed and glass shattered as helicopters and...WW…

Beirut Satellite Images Show Aftermath Of Blast In Lebanon The massive explosion leveled the city's port and scattered debris across a road thousands of feet away. The blast killed at least 100 people and injured thousands more.New satellite photos show the aftermath of Tuesday's at the port of Beirut. An image taken by the satellite company shows extensive damage at the port following the blast. Several warehouses appear to be flattened and a cruise ship called the Orient Queen can be seen listing to one side, according to Allison Puccioni, an analyst and founder of Armillary Services, an...…Beirut Satellite Images Show Aftermath Of Blast In Lebanon The massive explosion leveled the city's port and scattered debris across a road thousands of feet away. The blast killed at least 100 people and injured thousands more.New satellite photos show the aftermath of Tuesday's at the port of Beirut. An image taken by the satellite company shows extensive damage at the port following the blast. Several warehouses appear to be flattened and a cruise ship called the Orient Queen can be seen listing to one side, according to Allison Puccioni, an analyst and founder of Armillary Services, an...WW…

NYC's Health Commissioner Resigns After Clashes With Mayor The replacement of New York City's health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, comes as the city braces for a possible resurgence of the coronavirus.Toggle more optionsHeard onFred MogulFromToggle more optionsThe replacement of New York City's health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, comes as the city braces for a possible resurgence of the coronavirus.NPR thanks our sponsors…NYC's Health Commissioner Resigns After Clashes With Mayor The replacement of New York City's health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, comes as the city braces for a possible resurgence of the coronavirus.Toggle more optionsHeard onFred MogulFromToggle more optionsThe replacement of New York City's health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, comes as the city braces for a possible resurgence of the coronavirus.NPR thanks our sponsorsWW…

Open? Closed? Safe? Scary? Mixed Messages On Coronavirus Confuse : Shots - Health News Public officials continue to send mixed messages about the pandemic: We're open for business, but also, stay home if you can. Without clear guidance, people feel confused or stop trying to be safe.Nina FeldmanFromWhen Marquita Burnett heard Philadelphia was moving to the "green" phase of reopening, she was confused. First of all, she was pretty sure the city had already earned the green label from Pennsylvania's governor (it had). The next thing she knew, the city was scaling back on plans it had made to...…Open? Closed? Safe? Scary? Mixed Messages On Coronavirus Confuse : Shots - Health News Public officials continue to send mixed messages about the pandemic: We're open for business, but also, stay home if you can. Without clear guidance, people feel confused or stop trying to be safe.Nina FeldmanFromWhen Marquita Burnett heard Philadelphia was moving to the "green" phase of reopening, she was confused. First of all, she was pretty sure the city had already earned the green label from Pennsylvania's governor (it had). The next thing she knew, the city was scaling back on plans it had made to...WW…