35 Burst results for "Kirk Siegler"
WNYC 93.9 FM
"kirk siegler" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"It's morning edition from NPR news. I'm Steve inskeep. And I'm Leila faldon. The International Atomic Energy Agency is on a risky mission. A team of experts reportedly arrived in Ukraine and could begin to inspect Europe's largest nuclear plant later this week. Repeated shelling around the zebra Asia plant raises the threat of a nuclear disaster for southern Ukraine and beyond. So what can the inspectors do in the middle of a war zone? Joining us now by Skype is Ole hanan and he is a former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He's now a fellow at the stimson center in Washington good morning. Good morning. Thanks for having me. Thank you for being on the program. So I wanted to start with that big question. How do you safely inspect a nuclear facility in the middle of an active war zone? Well, it is certainly difficult and everything depends on the arrangements which have been done beforehand, because we have seen that mister kross has visited a couple of times Ukraine talked with the authorities met with the Russian officials in turkey. So they have done everything to make it possible to have a safe visit by the IA inspectors there. And most importantly also to ensure that they have access to the old buildings at the site, talk with the relevant people, perhaps also take photos and videos for later evaluation. Now, the inspection is scheduled to last only a few days. Based on your expertise, what can inspectors accomplish in just a few days. Well, first of all, you see that there is about 1000 inspectors, so there is enough Persian power to do. But I try to establish the status of the reactor. Is it in safe mode of operation? What other views of the facility operators, which are the deficits, the operators see which are the services they may be lacking off spare parts, additional support, what's the status of the facility from the safety point of view in general? They put all this together and evaluate at the site and then come back to V and 9 continue to work with that. But I want to one thing here. This should not be one time visit. The IA has to establish maybe even a continuous process at this facility to make sure that it operates safely and it has all the services available with a safe operation requires. Now, how unusual is this entire situation a nuclear power plant under threat and inspectors going to inspect it in the middle of active conflict? Yeah, this has happened a couple of times before we just have focused on about it in the time of Iran Iraq War. Here on Iraq War we invested in expected facilities both in Iran and in Iraq, then during bachelors, we have one of the reactors operating nuclear power plants was on the war zone. So special arrangements were done. And I think that we were also lucky that nothing special happened. So this is unusual. But this is more serious than the previous cases because this war is much more intensive. And this reactor is in the front line. On one side of the river is the Russian forces occupying eastern Ukraine and on the other side are Ukrainian forces, which are defending their country. And there has been shedding from this nuclear side towards the Ukrainian side. So it appears to me that the Russians used this as a seal. For their military activities, which they totally unacceptable. You mentioned that one visit is not enough and obviously you mentioned also that in order to do this safely, you have to be speaking to everybody involved. How often do inspectors need access in order to make sure that a nuclear disaster does not happen. Did I lose you? It appears we lost only hanging on a former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Now a fellow at the stimson center in Washington. Wildfires in the United States have burned about 6 million acres so far this year, mostly in the west and Alaska. In reporting about wildfires you will often hear critics say that mismanaging forests have made them a tinderbox, of course, climate change has made that worse, but there are also signs that some preventive work is paying off, NPR's Kirk siegler reports. Jason Fisher is watching a firefighting chopper scoop a bucket of water out of the
WABE 90.1 FM
"kirk siegler" Discussed on WABE 90.1 FM
"Over the Atlantic Ocean by tomorrow. The national weather services the entire country is facing an active thunderstorm pattern this weekend, and that's worsening chaos at the nation's airports. So far today, nearly 500 flights have been canceled into or out of the U.S., 1600 delayed, staffing shortages go on, even as passengers exceed pre-pandemic levels this holiday weekend. TSA says it screened some two and a half million people yesterday, some 300,000 more than this time in 2019. Yellowstone National Park is reopening almost entirely today after last month's historic flooding NPR's Kirk siegler has more on the recovery. The park is reopening its northern lube three weeks after the flooding and way earlier than expected in the immediate aftermath of the crisis park superintendent cam Shelley had warned these areas may be closed through the end of the season as flooding and mudslides wiped out roads and bridges. The park's expedited recovery follows millions of dollars in aid flowing into Wyoming and Montana, the popular wildlife area, the Lamar valley, and mammoth Hot Springs will once again be accessible, but only from the south. The park's two northern entrances remain closed, total damage costs could top a $1 billion that doesn't count the economic hit facing tourist dependent businesses along the park still closed northern gateways. Kirk siegler NPR news, Missoula. It's NPR news. Support for NPR comes from NPR stations. Other contributors include indeed,
WNYC 93.9 FM
"kirk siegler" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"What's not in the Bill. That's the bigger and more expensive climate resiliency projects in the laws stalled companion, the build back better plan. There's a lot that's left undone. And it's unfortunate, but that's where we are. Michael Warren studies climate resiliency at Stanford. I think we're going to continue to pay costs like the costs to Montana. We're applauds the federal government for finally pushing for an infrastructure overhaul in this country, but he says the reality is most of our infrastructure is old and built on assumptions about whether and climate that no longer apply. Many of the impacts of climate change in the western U.S. that were predicted for 2050 are becoming real problems today. Like the major wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico that began igniting weeks ahead of what's normal coming off another warm and dry winter, and in the north in places like Yellowstone, all the moisture when it does come now seems to fall all at once. Park superintendent cam chawley nodded to this in the hours after the worst of the flooding and the entire 3400 square mile park was evacuated. He predicts at least one highway at the northern entrance will have to be completely rerouted and built, otherwise it'll just flood again. I've heard this is a thousand year event, whatever that means these days, they seem to be happening more and more frequently. But still, unfolding crisis is occurring as Yellowstone is supposed to be marking its 150th anniversary. Instead, the focus on disaster recovery is just beginning. Kirk siegler NPR news Boise. Why did BTS take a break? NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports on the South Korean boy band. Rings 'cause I should out here baby pick with you next time can I get satisfied I'm sorry I'm going through. I'm normal that I'm trying to so they've gone from obscurity to the biggest KPop act in one of the most popular groups in the world, but last week the band released this video explaining why they need to hit pause for a while. After ten years of living as BTS and working on all our
WABE 90.1 FM
"kirk siegler" Discussed on WABE 90.1 FM
"I need to know is what is my government going to do about these active groups like how many of these hate groups have to kill people before they are knocking down their doors and throwing them in jail And as this community mourns there is a case against the alleged killer that's moving forward where does that stand Well the suspect is still in custody here in Buffalo on a single count of first degree murder to which he's pleaded not guilty He'll be in court again on Thursday with more charges expected investigators are poring over several racist screeds he apparently posted online his online and social media posts They're trying to piece together how he planned this attack in recent days and months Federal prosecutors are also investigating and they are likely to file a federal hate crimes charges too And piers Adrian Florida and Buffalo New York thank you Thank you Emily To Idaho now where Republican governor Brad little is facing a primary challenge today Janice McGill is the state's lieutenant governor She is one of several Republicans in Idaho primaries with ties to extremist militia groups She recently spoke at a white nationalist conference and she has the endorsement of former president Donald Trump NPR's Kirk siegler is based in Boise the capital he joins us now hey there Kirk Hi Mary Louise All right set the stage a little more Why is this primary getting so much attention Well Republicans hold a super majority here at this capital where I'm standing especially since the pandemic there has been a rise in extremism within the GOP You know I really wish this is Idaho There's a long history of extremism You can think back to the ruby ridge standoff 30 years ago the Aryan nations was headquartered in the Idaho Panhandle but lately we're seeing extremism really enter the mainstream of Republican politics just like we are across the country Even a faction here basically calling for armed rebellion You know in most other states governor Brad little would be a hard line hard right Republican He just signed a Texas style abortion ban But as you say Donald Trump endorsed Janice McGee in it's widely thought that little will still secure the nomination but these are unpredictable.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"kirk siegler" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"In Las Vegas Nevada a 16 year old student is facing charges of attempted murder and sexual assault for attacking his teacher in class last month That's one of many recent violent school incidents in the nation's 5th largest school district Students and parents call this a distraction from learning and say they deserve safe schools NPR's Kirk siegler joins us now to share what he's found after visiting local high schools Kirk what does the situation in Las Vegas What about it stands out Well a nationally there's been some reporting of an uptick in violence and harassment directed at teachers and it appears that things may be worse in Vegas The statistics aren't perfect but if you look at calls from Clark county schools to police dispatch there have been more than 8300 responding to violence so far this school year that's some 1300 more than in the entire 2018 19 school year And the thing is it's not just students attacking teachers or doing the fighting It's parents too another high profile attack happened at desert oasis high school a YouTube video captures a brawl in the high school quad and you can see a dad right there in the middle taking swings Now parents like cherish Morgan were outside on the sidewalk frantically texting their kids who were trapped inside Listen our principal and our teachers should not be jumping on top of a parent to stop him from beating a student That's in what there's no world where that is okay There's just not An a in the world of Vegas if you will violence has long been a problem think of the mafia's ties to this town But since the pandemic things have been especially tense violent threats harassment theft assaults and guns increasingly spilling into places a lot of folks thought once is safe How does mental health plan all this Well Nevada ranks last in the nation for mental health access There were 18 suicides during the one year and three months that schools went all virtual That's 15 months of virtual learning That's a lot of stress and social isolation And the pandemic also hit Vegas economy really hard So many people lost jobs when the casinos and an entertainment industry shut down There's just a lot of stress there as well So what's being done about it Well the district announced a slate of new safety measures after the 16 year old student you mentioned to attack his teacher was charged with attempted murder They include panic buttons and classrooms more security cameras tougher penalties for students involved in the violence as well as more mental health services though that's a funding issue Jesus jara is the CCSD superintendent Let's hear from him The violence in the axis what we're seeing across the country And it's not just in schools right I mean we're seeing it around adults so it's now how do we refocus our children to make sure they stay focused on the classroom But as the district in Vegas tries to address the rise in violence they also face a $6 billion deficit in maintenance and infrastructure As a result of all of this pressure there's a new ad hoc group of parents and students and they're calling on Nevada's governor to hold a special legislative session to address the crisis And a I would say that the district is using federal funds for recruitment and retention bonuses for its beleaguered staff you can imagine morale is pretty low There are thousand open teaching positions The district says the violence tends to be perpetrated by only a small group of students It's getting a lot of attention though And things have quieted down at least some as the end of the school year approaches So.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"kirk siegler" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Give up And maybe she's talking about herself too As both women stride forward they say they're reliance on each other as a chosen family is what they need to keep their hope alive For NPR news I'm Nirvana Williams Russia's war in Ukraine and rising tensions between Washington and Moscow have prompted many Americans living in Russia to leave Some had built a life there over many years Now they don't know if they'll ever go back Listen for more on that story tomorrow on morning edition Just ask your smart speaker to play NPR or your local station by name One of the biggest indie rock festivals in the northwest is back this weekend After a couple years of pandemic delays and schedule changes Tree fort music fests and Boise Boise Idaho has had its share of big name headliners But as NPR's Kirk siegler reports it's also a platform for small town artists who have had much less exposure during the pandemic It's an 8 hour drive to tree fort from Christian wallowing bulls home near the wind river reservation in Wyoming enough time for him to reflect on all he's been through to get here Like I was a young kid on a reservation and never dreamed that I'd be doing something like this being able to play a festival like this wallowing bull is a northern arapahoe tribal member He's 28 with a shaved head and a tattoo of a leaf extending off his left eye and growing up on a reservation he says he could have easily become a statistic He struggled with addiction got into trouble with the law but he battled back turned his life around These are themes that come up a lot in his music I was a young man And I was on my own in a land over in mainstream media There's not a lot of coverage on.
NPR News Now
"kirk siegler" Discussed on NPR News Now
"Officials in boise idaho by also survey damage from massive wildfires in northern california as npr's kirk siegler reports. The president received fresh warnings. Met firefighting resources are being stretched. Thin biden is making his first visit west of the mississippi as president with a flyover of the devastation from the massive kaldor fire. Near lake tahoe. He's also meeting with the nation's top fire managers who are warning that resources are already all but depleted well ahead of california's traditional peak. Fire season biden toured the national interagency fire center in boise which has been operating at its highest priority level of deployment basically code red for an extraordinary two months now biden told officials gathered here that fighting wildfires as part of national defense also using the visit to touto as pending infrastructure. Bill could help address this and other consequences of global warming kirk siegler. Npr news boise. President biden campaign with california governor gavin. Newsom last night newsome is facing recall. Election that republicans claim is already rigged secretary of state. Anthony blinken is defending the manner in which the biden administration ended. The war in afghanistan. Lincoln suggested that any finger pointing over the chaotic withdrawal of us troops should be aimed at the trump administration. He says the biden administration inherited a pullout deadline but no plan to carry it out when we took office. We inherited a program with a fourteen step process based on a statutory framework enacted by congress and involving multiple government agencies and a backlog of more than seventeen thousand sl the applicants. There had not been a single interview in the sl program in kabul for nine months. Going back to march of two thousand twenty. The program was basically in a stall blinken says the emergency evacuation from afghanistan was smart by the collapse of the afghan government and security forces. He says there was no indication that the afghan government would fall in only eleven days. A new report finds that more than two hundred environmental advocates around. The world were killed last year. Npr's nathan rot reports. It was the deadliest year on record for those fighting. The climate crisis and environmental degradation. Most of the killings occurred in colombia mexico. In the philippines three countries facing a number of environmental issues and indigenous environmental advocates. Were more likely to be attacked than others. It's all according to a new report. From global witness a human rights organization the uptick and killings mir's a trend seen in recent years global witness says of increased violence around environmental issues. Report goes on to warn that as the climate crisis intensifies violence against environmental advocates is expected to follow nathan rot. Npr news us futures are higher in after hours trading. This is npr. News regain nicholas has made landfall along the texas gulf coast threatening to dump up to eighteen inches of rain from port. Arthur to rutherford beach. Louisiana nicholas could call flash flooding and life threatening storm surge. A possible outbreak has prompted a pause on flights carrying afghan evacuees to the united states. Details from npr's quil lawrence. The pentagon says flights of afghan refugees from us basis and cutter and germany will remain on hold for at least another week. While officials contend with possible measles outbreak. A small number of recently arrived. Afghans have been diagnosed with a highly contagious disease. Afghanistan has among the highest incidence of measles worldwide and the cdc says the pandemic has slowed down vaccination campaigns in many countries the us is also seeing its highest number of measles cases in decades among unvaccinated. Populations this pause is the latest complication to the airlift of more than one hundred twenty thousand afghans fleeing the taliban thousands of crowded on american bases awaiting resettlement in the us and elsewhere. Quil lawrence npr. News a louisiana man who is the oldest living world war. Two veteran in the united states has marked as one hundred twelfth birthday lawrence brook celebrated on sunday with the drive by party hosted by the national war world war. Two museum brooks was drafted into the army and the nineteen forties and became a private in the mostly black ninety. First engineer battalion. The unit was stationed in new guinea and the philippines and built infrastructure such as bridges. Roads and airstrips. I'm shay stevens. This is npr news..
NPR News Now
Biden Looks to Climate to Sell Economic Agenda
"During a trip to idaho and california president biden once again stressed the need for federal response to climate change signing the devastating wildfires and hazardous smoke in the region from boise. Npr's kirk siegler reports. That biden also called for boosting firefighter. Pay biden joined a briefing of federal fire managers and state leaders at the national interagency fire center where the nation's massive firefighting apparatus is coordinated. He also met briefly with first responders and an elite hotshot crew. His administration recently implemented bonuses for wildland firefighters but biden said many still make only fifteen dollars an hour. You know you save many communities. Firefighters who saved South lake tahoe. And you and would people are beginning to realize. Is you risk your lives to do it. Biden warned that wildfires or igniting earlier and earlier in the season as lasting longer already western fires of blackened. An area the size of new jersey
NPR News Now
Biden to Campaign With California Governor Gavin Newsom in Recall
"President biden is visiting to embattled western states today. His first stop will be in boise idaho where meet with federal fire. Officials biden will then travel to northern california to survey the damage from wildfires that have devastated that region. Npr's kirk siegler reports. The president will wrap up his day with a campaign. Rally in support of california governor gavin. Newsom who's facing a recall election on tuesday president biden will visit the national interagency fire center where the federal firefighting response is planned and coordinated. It's all hands on deck here at the moment with the us government's wildland fleet operating at preparedness level. Five for an extraordinary two months. Now that means that all available resources are deployed and that if a new fire ignites and starts spreading toward infrastructure in towns resources or pulled off other big fires president biden will zero in on the effects of climate change making these mega-fires worse with the plug for the millions of dollars for wildfire prevention and forest management in his infrastructure. Bill
NPR News Now
"kirk siegler" Discussed on NPR News Now
"Warning of the possibility of tornadoes. Item made landfall in southeastern louisiana on sunday. As a category four hurricane it is now a tropical depression blamed for at least four deaths and the loss of power to more than one million utility customers in california crews are trying to stop the nearly two hundred thousand acre kaldor fire from burning the town of south lake tahoe. Npr's kirk siegler at the two week old blaze has burned more than six hundred structures and forced thousands of people to evacuate the cow door. Fire is burning through dense stands of old growth trees in the steep mountains around the lake. Tahoe basin this area has been in. Severe drought made worse by climate change and these forests are dangerously overgrown paradoxically in part due to a history of suppressing wildfires. The evacuated town of south lake tahoe has historically been partly buffered by the namesake granite walls of the sierra nevada but fire managers are reporting spot. Fires are being ignited by embers carrying in the wind sometimes miles in front of the main wall of flames the high winds and heat or forecast to last through wednesday night kirk siegler. Npr news south lake tahoe in texas. Abortion providers are asking the us supreme court to block enforcement of new abortion statute. The law allows private citizens to sue. Anyone who helps a woman get an abortion. After six weeks of pregnancy the plaintiff would be entitled to at least ten thousand dollars if they win the lawsuit. This is npr news. Virginia governor ralph. North has issued posthumous pardons to seven black men executed in nineteen fifty one. Where the alleged rape of a white woman the defendants known as the martinsville seven were convicted by all white juries and subsequently put to death by electric chair. Two of them said they had consensual sex with the accuser. The martinsville seven case drew widespread calls for justice and is the subject of a nineteen ninety-five book on race and capital punishment. A petition for the pardons does not address whether the defendants were guilty. After weeks of confusion at the popular game show jeopardy executive producer. Mike richard says left the program. Npr's dossier seo cus reports. That richards had already been ousted. As one of the shows many new hosts mike richards had been the executive producer of both wheel of fortune and jeopardy when he was named one of the quiz shows to new hosts along with my in bialik but earlier this month after the ringer detailed sexist and other inappropriate comments richards had made on a podcast. He lost his hosting gig in a memo to staffers. Concerning the situation. A sony pictures television executive wrote quote. We had hoped that. When mike step down from the host position jeopardy it would have minimized disruption and internal difficulties. We have all experienced these last few weeks. That clearly has not happened. Honest as it so. Npr news new york. Us futures are higher in an after hours trading asia pacific markets are also in positive territory. I'm shay stevens. This is npr news..
NPR News Now
"kirk siegler" Discussed on NPR News Now
"I'm janine herbst a day after the. Us completely pulled out of afghanistan. President biden call the withdrawal a success as he defended the us evacuation effort. That got some one hundred twenty four thousand people out of the country in a speech to the nation today from the white house. He said he didn't want to extend a forever war or up forever. Exit and said that was a unanimous decision by military in us advisors npr's. Michele keleman has more. He talked about ending an era of military operations to remake other countries He said we should be focused on the threat of The current threats and by that he's talking about china countries like china and russia. He said would have would have gladly seen the us continued to be bogged down in afghanistan And that wasn't something he was willing to do. Npr's michelle kellerman about one hundred. Americans remain in afghanistan in california cruiser. Trying to stop the out of control kaldor fire from burning into the town of south lake tahoe. Npr's kirk siegler reports the massive wildfire just sixteen percent contained has burned more than six hundred structures and followed a forced thousands to evacuate since it ignited more than two weeks ago. The kaldor fires burning through dense stands of old growth trees in the steep mountains around the lake tahoe basin. The series has been in severe drought made worse by climate change and these forests are dangerously overgrown paradoxically in part due to a history of suppressing wildfires. The evacuated town of south lake. Tahoe has historically been partly buffered by the namesake. Granite walls of the sierra nevada but fire managers are reporting spot. Fires are being ignited.
Environment: NPR
States in the West Face Water Cuts
"Residents in arizona. Nevada and across the border in mexico will have to cut their water consumption starting next year this the day after the extraordinary announcement by the us government of a first ever water shortage on the colorado river. Here's npr's kirk siegler. Some forty million people and countless farms rely on the colorado river and its tributaries. The shortage comes amidst a mega drought on the river basin. That's so far. Lasted twenty two years and as desert cities like las vegas and phoenix. Continue to grow at among the fastest rates in the us the entire reservoir system including lake mead with it's alarming white bathtub brings behind the hoover dam is now it just forty percent of capacity. Here's the department of interior secretary for water. Tanya trujillo we are seeing the effects of climate change in the colorado river basin through extended drought extreme temperatures extensive wildfires and in some places flooding landslides and now is the time to take action to respond to them. Arizona will be the hardest hit initially with these cuts. Losing almost a fifth of its entire river allotment for now california will not see any cuts because it's water rights are senior under century-old river laws. This shortage is monumental but it was also widely expected western. Water officials have been planning for this eventuality by ramping up conservation and water recycling. Tom bukowski directs arizona's department of water resources. This is a serious turn of events but not a crisis for now. Most cities won't see water. Supplies cut but farmers will in arizona. Thousands of acres of fields are expected to go fallow. Ironically the arid southwest is a huge producer of water intensive crops like cotton and alfalfa water law experts like marks quill lachey at the university of colorado say climate change will force this region to rethink how it uses its limited water. So many people rely on. We can't handle anymore stresses we're looking at a pretty dire situation right now on the river. School laci says climate. Change is drying out the soils and leading to rapid. Evaporation even a near average winters. Like this last one in the rocky mountains where snow melt feeds the river. That dry soils are acting like a sponge and they're soaking up a lot of water before that water can make it into the reservoirs. And that's likely to continue and federal water. Managers warned the shortages to will continue and probably get more severe. They'll reassess whether more cuts are needed in the next year.
Environment: NPR
Extreme Heat in the West to Send Temps to Triple Digits
"The west is broiling. Excessive heat warnings are in effect again today from phoenix where today's forecast was one hundred. Twenty degrees to eastern montana where some farming towns braced for highs close to one hundred ten. Npr's kirk siegler reports. There is little relief in sight. For the drought stricken region. How hot is it. It's like opening an oven when you're baking pie. Captain scott. douglas is a paramedic with the phoenix. Fire department the city is open sixty six cooling refuges and hydration stations at parks libraries and pools. It's hot and people say it's a dry heat. And i'm like well you know what when it gets two hundred seventeen hundred and eighteen degrees. It doesn't matter if it's dry. Moist phoenix broke records last year. For hitting a hundred degrees or higher for more than one hundred and forty four days last year was also a record wildfire year and much of the west and every day. There's a headline screaming. This summer could be worse arizona. Lawmakers are holding a special session this week to consider a hundred million dollar emergency bill for firefighting and prevention in nevada were invasive grasses and drought have fueled record range fires lately. Firefighters have been dealing with one hundred degree temperatures for the past two weeks. Paul peterson is the fire management officer for the federal bureau of land management. They're typically we wouldn't have a heat and winds until mid july. So i'm hoping that's not an indication of what we're going to see in the future. He's hoping that the monsoon rains arrive this summer. They were no-show last year. Meteorologists are blaming this blistering event on a heat. Dome stubborn high pressure ridge. That's blocking cooler systems. Nikolai rymer is with the national weather. Service in billings. Montana where the forecast. Hi today june fifteenth is one hundred six. We are very close to the hottest temperatures that we've ever recorded here rhymer says scientists can't pinpoint any one heat wave like this on climate change but he says the record drought and extremely low humidity. Right now is making the heat. Even worse
Environment: NPR
Senate Pressed BLM Nominee on Biden's Oil and Gas Lease Freeze
"The woman president biden has chosen to lead much of his ambitious climate agenda on. Us public lands appear before the senate today for her confirmation hearing montana environmentalist tracy stone manning has been tapped to be the next director of the bureau of land management it controls energy development and other activities on a tenth of all the land in the us. Here's npr's kirk siegler as montana's former top environmental regulator and chief of staff for that state's former democratic governor tracy stone. Manning did develop a reputation for bipartisan. Dealmaking which she repeatedly referenced in her first appearance before the us senate. I think that my career has shown that the only way to get things done in the country and specifically in the west is to work together stonings nomination marks a dramatic reversal from the agency's previous director. William perry penalty who hailed from rural wyoming in once suggested the. Us government shouldn't even own public land. She's from a liberal pocket of montana and more reflective of who's been gaining power and influence and much of the west lately people from cities. New mexico's martin. Heinrich is a senior democrat on the committee. The trump administration pulled penalties nomination before it could question him. Last year has been without a confirmed director for good reason in some cases for almost four and a half years that should not continue one day longer. Republicans though seize the opportunity to grill stone manning about president biden's freeze on new oil and gas leasing on public lands. They also argued her campaigning. Last year and a half of democrats was evidence. She's a polarizing pick. She shot back urging the committee to examine her entire career of brokering compromises. She said unheeded. Public land's battles elections can be tough. I was supporting my former boss. Governor bullock but the election is over and i will honor the outcome of that election but the ranking republican on the committee wyoming senator john barrosso said stone manning's recent tweets reveal a bias against energy companies. Ranchers loggers based on her record. I'm concerned the miss stone. Manning does not fill the bill. Her career has been defined by her support for policies that restrict multiple use activities on public lands and upper down vote on stone manning's nomination is expected in the coming days within need go before the full senate
NPR's Business Story of the Day
Communities Worry About What Will Happen When Eviction Ban Is Lifted
"In just a few weeks across the us federal moratorium on evictions is set to expire. This is an especially big worrying communities that were already struggling with rising homelessness before the pandemic. npr's kirk siegler reports from spokane washington polling a huge black pack full of bottled water and clothes julie walks past a railroad overpass looking for a homeless man. Who has a job interview tomorrow and some clean pants. Garcia runs a local homeless aid group. She spots him about a quarter mile litter in a park. I'm leaving the barrel here. Why aren't you at asia's. There was already an affordable housing crisis in spokane before the pandemic now even more people are leaving large west coast cities moving to smaller places like this the rental vacancy rate. Here is about one percent and the shelters are mostly full. We're expecting a disaster. All of the folks that are currently housed are going to be une housed in june. It's going to be a swap of people and new people who have never experienced homelessness before the man garcia is helping was kicked out of a shelter the other night for drinking sisson. Thank you so much. She's worried there will be even more people sleeping outdoors. Come june thirtieth when the national moratorium on evictions is likely to end in the spokane area. Ten thousand households are behind in their rent right now.
Morning Edition
Federal Government Is Accused of Leaving Migrants in Border Towns
"Of people that US authorities air taking into custody at the southern border is on pace to set records. Most people are being sent back to Mexico. But there are exceptions. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports from rural Arizona, where there is a big controversy over whether the federal government is just dropping migrants off. From Tucson, Dr West 100 miles across the remote, mountainous and hot Sonoran Desert, just north of Mexico, and Highway 86 starts getting rougher and narrower as you get close to the old mining town of Ah ho, Arizona. Behind the Ah Hope Plaza and its ornate Spanish colonial buildings to white U. S. Border Patrol vans pull into a dusty allergy. Agents Hop out slide. Open the doors and families with Children pile out. One woman, limp says she picks up her suitcase and a plastic bag with bed sheets. This one woman I'm watching right now looks very tired, very stress. Volunteers, then usher them inside a small gym. They've converted to an improvised shelter for their handed water and told where they are Most of no idea. I've just been released from detention. Have another baby. That's what she said. He moved us. Welcome Our explains the first need a covert tests, which the U. S government isn't doing less migrant show symptoms. The families, most of whom looked middle class, sit down and wait. Exhausted.
WBUR Programming
Biden Pressured to Restore Boundaries of National Monuments in Utah
"Confirmed interior secretary Deb Holland is traveling to Utah shall meet with tribes and elected leaders, and the focus is on the future of the Bears, Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monuments. Former President Donald Trump dramatically slashed protections for these monuments. President Biden issued an executive order to review that move and his administration is under pressure to restore their boundaries. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports. Former congresswoman from New Mexico. Deb Holland is the nation's first indigenous interior secretary. And in the four Corners region, there's a lot of anticipation among tribes about her official visit to the Bears Ears National Monument. When President Obama designated it giving it enhanced federal land protections. He cited its cultural significance. Land is rich with cliff dwellings, pictographs as well, A sacred camping and burial grounds. This is our chapel. This is our place of worship. Had Gonzalez Rogers runs the Bears ears inter tribal coalition representing five sovereign tribes. Ah, Holland alone doesn't have the authority to restore the monument's original boundaries. But he sees her visit as symbolic in FAC in the first kind of the world. I think it's less than 30 days of Secretary Holland on being in office, she has had more engagement more action than the previous 1300 days. When former president Trump downsized bears ears by 85% and cut the nearby Grand Staircase Escalante and nearly half tribe sued that court battle is on hold after President Biden's latest executive order calling for another review. Utah Republicans, including Governor Spencer Cox, are pressuring the administration to put a bill through Congress. Can we give on some issues? Can they give on some issues? Can we Can we come to a peaceful resolution of this? So we're not fighting this battle every year for 20 years, 25 years IN 1996, President Clinton designated the Grand Staircase Monument without consulting Utah leaders summer still fuming about what they saw as a loss and ranching and mining opportunities.
Weekend Edition Saturday
The Celebration Over, Deb Haaland Now Faces a Long To-Do List at Interior
"When she was confirmed as the first indigenous interior secretary on Monday. Now that the celebration's over He's promised to begin repairing a legacy of broken treaties and abuses committed by the federal government in Indian country. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports on the huge challenges ahead for Secretary Helland. With so much land under federal control. There's an old saying here in the West that the interior secretary has a more direct effect on people's day to day lives than the president. This is multiplied on reservations. In her confirmation hearing, Deb Holland nodded to the fact that the department she now leads was historically a tool of oppression toward tribes. If an indigenous woman from humble beginnings can be confirmed as secretary of the interior Our country holds promise for everyone mending a legacy of broken promises is a priority for many of the 574 federally recognized tribes on the Nez Perce reservation elders like Mary Jane Miles, See Holland as a turning point. It feels like we're moving and we are claiming What we could have done a long time ago. The Nez Perce consider much of the northwest their ancestral land, but through a serious of treaties there, now confined to a small slice of remote Idaho River country. U. S government is supposed to protect that land and it's salmon. But the fish the lifeline for people here along the Clearwater River are nearing extinction due to dams and climate change. Miles. Also points to a legacy of toxic mess is from mining that the tribe had little say over. I think we've noticed that maybe we've been taken, but nationwide, tribal leaders think this might start changing under Holland. The Biden administration is reinstating an Obama era rule requiring consultation. That means any future lands, development or right of way. Projects like a pipeline must be approved first by tribes and Secretary Holland is going to oversee all of that protection of this government relationship is all important to the tribes in Colorado. John Echo Hoggett, The Native American Rights Fund says that relationship is fraught because interior agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs have been chronically underfunded. He says. The previous administration also spurned tribal input on major lands, decisions, something he's looking forward to restarting. Well, it would prevent things from happening. You know, happened to us here during the last administration elimination of 85% of the Bears ears National Monument, the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama formally protected the Bears Ears Monument on Utah land considered sacred to native people. Then the Trump Administration dramatically reduced its boundaries, and there's pressure on the new administration to reinstate or even expand them. Secretary Holland will travel there next month for a listening tour. Her to do list is a big one. Doctor. Look good afternoon in the money Quest, we add two not to. Ah, hiked back on the Nez Perce tribal leaders like Casey Mitchell want Holland's ear on saving the salmon, and he's optimistic. Unlike with previous administrations, there's no learning curve with Secretary Holland. There's always such high turnover within government entities that you know, sometimes that plays as an excuse. And as a government entity, there should not be any excuse for the trust responsibility that you hold to the tribes for the nest purse That trust responsibility is at the heart of a new deal brokered by a Republican congressman to remove four dams on the Snake River just downstream from here. Plan they hope Deb Holland will put in front of the president soon. Kirk Siegler,
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The Celebration Over, Deb Haaland Now Faces a Long To-Do List at Interior
"Deb holland made history when she was confirmed as the first indigenous interior secretary on monday now that the celebrations over. She's promised to begin repairing a legacy of broken treaties and abuses committed by the federal government in indian country. Npr's kirk siegler reports on the huge challenges ahead for secretary held with so much land under federal control. There's an old saying here in the west that the interior secretary has a more direct effect on people's day to day lives than the president. This is multiplied on reservations in her confirmation hearing dabhol and nodded to the fact that the department she now leads was historically a tool of oppression toward tribes if an indigenous woman from humble beginnings can be confirmed as secretary of the interior. Our country holds promise for everyone. Mending a legacy of broken. Promises is a priority. For many of the five hundred seventy four federally recognized tribes on the nez perce reservation elders like mary. Jane miles see holland as a turning point at feels like we are moving and we are claiming what we could have done a long time ago. The nez perce consider much of the north west their ancestral land but through a series of treaties. There now confined to a small slice of remote idaho river country. The us government is supposed to protect that land and it salmon. But the fish the lifeline for people here along the clearwater river are nearing extinction due to dams and climate change miles. Also points to a legacy of topic. Messes reminding that the tribe had little say over. I think we've noticed that maybe we've been taken but nationwide tribal leaders think this might start changing under holland. The biden administration is reinstating. An obama era rule requiring consultation. That means any future lands development or right away. Projects like pipeline must be approved first by tribes and secretary holland is going oversee. All of that protection of this government relationship is all important to the tribes in colorado john. Echo hawk at the native american rights fund says that relationship is fraught because interior agencies. Like the bureau of indian. Affairs have been chronically underfunded. He says the previous administration. Also spurn tribal input on major lands decisions. Something he's looking forward to restarting will it would prevent things from happening in. Oh happen to your. During the last administration who emanation of eighty five percent of the bears national monument the keystone excel pipeline. President obama formally protected the bears. Ears monument on utah land considered sacred to native people than the trump administration dramatically reduced its boundaries and there's pressure on the new administration to reinstate or even expand them secretary hall and will travel there next month for a listening tour. Her to do list is a big one dot to look good afternoon. In when nick west we add to not to a hiked back on them says birsh tribal leaders. Like casey mitchell watt holland's ear on saving the salmon and he's optimistic unlike with previous administrations. There's no learning curve with secretary holland. There's always such high turnover within government. Entities that you know sometimes that plays as an excuse and as a government entity there should not be any excuse for the trust responsibility that you hold to the tribes for the nez perce that trust responsibility is at the heart of a new deal. Brokered by republican congressman to remove four dams on the snake river just downstream from here. A plan is deb. Holland will put in front of the president's soon
Morning Edition
Boise, Idaho, Abandons Fight To Clear Homeless Encampments
"City of Boise, Idaho, has decided to abandon its more than decade long legal fight to clear homeless encampments. The settlement reached yesterday has implications across the West Coast, which has long been the epicenter of the nation's homelessness crisis. Here's NPR's Kirk Siegler. More than 12. Years ago, several homeless people sued the city of Boise for giving them dozens of tickets for sleeping outside even when there weren't adequate beds available in local shelters here. Boys. He fought the case all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court, where it was joined by many West Coast cities in arguing they need broad authority to prevent the spread of homeless encampments. But late in 2019, the Supreme Court declined to hear Boise's latest appeal. Now, apparently acknowledging it likely wouldn't prevail in lower courts. They're already ruled the ticketing unconstitutional. Boise has decided to end the fight. The city is settling the lawsuit and pledging to put more than a million dollars toward housing and support services this year alone, so the city is going to decrease the number of encampments and Boise permanently. Housing people rather than by arresting them for simply trying to survive, which only prolongs their homelessness. Eric Tars is legal director of the National Homelessness Law Center, which helped the plaintiffs in the case. He says The settlement shows that cities should follow Boise's lead and build more housing. Instead of putting police on the front lines of the crisis. The courts have said no, you can't balance your failure. To create adequate housing policy on the backs of the victims of that very failure. Legal experts say there's been scattershot compliance with the ruling outside Boise, a relatively a fluent midsize city. Some city leaders in California, where there's been an explosion in homelessness, since the recession say they need to be able to control encampments because they threatened public health and safety. Professor Michael Casino at the University of Southern California says What mostly happens is the police will clear a tent city Then people just move somewhere else A few days later, this is a game changer in the sense that it's going to save the cities and counties. Right now, you're gonna have to be serious about not just taking down this encampments and moving people around, but actually getting him into the housing with the pandemic. There's now more money available for them to start doing that. Biden administration says it will fully reimbursed cities for the costs of putting their unhappy used residents and local hotels. Kirk Siegler NPR NEWS, Boise
90.3 KAZU
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"It's all things considered from NPR news. I'm Mary Louise Kelly. And I'm Audie Cornish, coming up a new podcast about the singer Selena and how her influence indoors 25 years after she was killed, she was the first person I witnessed who embodied these two parts of myself, and she did it with such grace. Now news Live from NPR news. I'm toe Wayne Brown. President Biden says he'll sign an executive order to increase the number of refugees admitted into the United States. Speaking at the State Department, Biden pledged to increase the admissions Capa's We hear from NPR's Franco or Dona as president. Biden says. The world faces a crisis of 80 million displaced people. For decades, he says. Moral leadership on refugee issues was a point of bipartisan consensus. We shine the light of lamp, um of liberty on a fresh people. We offered safe havens for those fleeing violence or persecution. In our example pushed other nations. Open wide their doors as well. But the Trump administration drastically cut the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States. Biden says it will take time to reverse those changes. He said the United States will begin the process with an eventual goal of reaching 125,000 as he promised in the campaign, Franco or Dona as NPR news. On Capitol Hill. Senate Republicans remain at odds with the White House over the president's nearly $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill. GOP senators are debating a syriza of changes to the measure. But the Biden administration is increasingly focused on selling the plan directly to voters. White House press secretary Jen Psaki, What we're hoping to do through the package is provide assistance. Tomo Eric UN's who are struggling to make ends meet at this moment time and you're right. There are there's a large swath of Americans who are Struggling through this moment in time because they fear about their health, the health of their grand parents of their cousins of their parents on also people who worry about their kids going back to school, and you know their desire to get their kids back in school and continue learning. Senate Republicans remain far apart on the cost and scope of the package. Democrats are threatening to go it alone if they can't get up bipartisan deal. Stocks finished solidly higher on Wall Street. This is NPR news. Jersey based Johnson and Johnson is on track to become the third company to provide a covert 19 vaccine to curb the pandemic. Here In the U. S. Today, the drug company applied to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of its Covert vaccine. The FDA will review the application and hold a public meeting within a few weeks, and the final decision could come very soon after that. In Washington state federal aid is finally coming to a struggling farming town that was nearly decimated by a wildfire. Last year. NPR's Kirk Siegler tells us the Biden administration approved a disaster declaration. Put on hold by the former president for political reasons. It's been almost five months since the state of Washington requested the aid, which is typically a routine approval after major disasters, but the Trump administration and held this one up, reportedly over a political spat with Washington's Democratic governor, Jay Endsley. Approval is a relief in particular in and around the eastern Washington town of Maldon, where wind driven range fire destroyed nearly 80% of homes and other buildings. Most of the fire survivors are low income and elderly and have no insurance. Town officials had been turning to private donations for help, saying the delay in federal aid threatened the town's ability to even recover. Kirk Siegler. NPR news stocks finished higher on Wall Street after another batch of upbeat company earnings investors will be watching closely. The January jobs report due out tomorrow. This.
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"What do you think? How do you feel about President Biden's agenda so far? What would you like to see happen? We'll take your calls with the help of Amy Walter Post of politics with Amy Walter from the take away. Our lines are open now. 6464357280 and later playwright Kristen I. Spencer joins us to discuss her play Dutch kings. But four young black boys jumping in the annual block shopped double Dutch competition. Dutch kings will be presented as part of the Brave New World Repertory Theater's annual Brave new works. Reading Syria's Now on Zoom. Claire Beckman, the theater is producing artistic director and co founder joins us as well. We'll get to all of it. I'm Alison Stewart. And I want you on the other side of the news. Lie from NPR news. I'm Laxmi saying resident Joe Biden says the federal government is working to purchase 200 million additional vaccine doses. NPR's Scott Tetreault reports the new purchase would give the country enough of the supplied of vaccinate 300 million people. Biden ran on a platform of a much more aggressive federal role in vaccine distribution and pandemic management. He's repeatedly compared his administration's coordination efforts to a wartime mobilization. We're gonna be working across the government. With private industry to ramp up production of vaccine, protective equipment, The syringes, the needles, the gloves, the swabs the mask. The federal government is in talks to buy 100 Million More doses from Madonna and 100 Million from Fizer Bio in Tech. All goes well, and Biden conceded. That's a major if the additional vaccines would be distributed over the course of the summer, according to the CDC, about 23 million shots have been administered so far. Scott JETRO. NPR NEWS Washington Today, the bite administration is expected to put a temporary pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal land. NPR's Kirk Siegler has a reaction from Wyoming, where the bulk of all oil and gas drilling comes on public land. Natural gas production here had already been way down to two factors like declining demand during the pandemic and a glut and supply on the market around the historically booming Jonah field in the western part of the state companies have been laying off workers. Roxanne Kroger manages a local truck stop and cafe. It's very uncertain. Nobody knows what's gonna happen now that President Biden's in there, Nobody knows. Kroger says the local economy was already bracing for a 60 day moratorium on new leasing but longer would really hurt, she says. Kirk Siegler, NPR News pine Dale, Wyoming The former Indiana mayor president Biden has selected to oversee an overhaul of the nation's infrastructure is a step closer to Senate confirmation. Today, a Senate panel voted 21 23 to advance the nomination. Of Pete Buddha judges Transportation secretary. Ah Full Senate vote could come this week. Birmingham, Alabama is began the long work of rebuilding from this week's tornado. Today, Governor Kay Ivey tour the wreckage and expressed condolences to the residents of Fulton, Dale and CenterPoint, especially to one family that lost a 14 year old to the tornado. Several relatives were critically injured when their home collapsed. The country's factory saw an uptick last month in orders for items expected to last at least three years. The Commerce Department's reporting a 2/10 of a percent increase in December, off far different picture within the volatile commercial aircraft sector orders there fell nearly 52% in December because of a significant decline in air travel. Due to the Corona virus pandemic. The Dow Jones industrial Average is down 466 points or 1.5%. This is NPR news. This is W when my C in New York I'm David first, A group of protesters caught in the NYPD is violent crackdown in the Mott Haven neighborhood in the Bronx last summer, are demanding the city established what they're calling a community reparations fund. In a letter to Mayor De Blasio, members of the newly formed A. Mott haven collective say the funds would acknowledge police wrongdoing and begin the process of healing in the neighborhood. Selena Martin was one of hundreds of protesters pinned in and arrested by police during the demonstration on June 4th. She says she signed the letter in hopes of preventing future police violence because occurred and continues to occur every single day is unacceptable. Police arrested more than 250 protesters during the crackdown. The city's Department of investigation says the NYPD engaged in excessive enforcement during last summer's demonstrations. And specifically cited the Mott Haven arrests. The NYPD did not return a request for comment. Biden administration is increasing the amount of Copan 19 vaccines that states can receive by 16%. Move comes after states like New York complained of a dwindling supply. Speaking on MSNBC governor Cuomo said, Knowing how much is coming is crucial for planning distribution. We can count on that allocation for the next three weeks. We've been going week to week and you really can't plan and schedule when you don't know what you're going to get next week. The state has already given out nearly 93% of.
KQED Radio
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"Noel King. And I'm Steve Inskeep. What does it take to get much of this country vaccinated in 100 days, President Biden promised 100 million shots in that time, which is an enormous logistical task, and it also involves supply. You need enough vaccines to distribute. Visor and Madonna each promised to deliver 100 million doses by the end of March. But we've learned the company's might fall short. NPR pharmaceuticals correspondent Sidney Lumpkin is on the line. Good morning. Good morning, So how far behind are they? So they each have agreed. Both visor. Madonna have agreed to deliver 100 million doses to the federal government in the first quarter of the year, so by the end of March Both companies are delivering about 4.3 million doses a week. We know that because we can see how many doses the government is allocating to the states, But these companies need to start delivering about 7.5 million doses a week. If they're going to reach that 100 million dose mark by the end of March, so the math does not favor them. They'd have to almost double their rate of production. Mm hmm. And I asked several people, you know, Can they do that, including John Avalon? It who's been consulting for drug companies since the 19 nineties. I think it's going to be a real challenge for them. To hit that contracted target. There's just no question about that. Basically, everything has to go right for these companies to pull it off, and a lot can go wrong. Equipment is expected to break and need repairs. The vaccines have to pass inspections before they can be shipped. And, of course, vaccine production also depends on an ample supply of chemical ingredients, vials and skilled workers. Basically Avalon, it says. It's a miracle. These companies have been able to deliver the doses they have so far does the type of vaccines make this even more complicated. It does. So these are M RNA vaccines. They've been studied for a decade. But this is the first time they're being made on a large scale. I spoke with David Gardner, who until this week was the senior adviser to the now former FDA commissioner Stephen Han. Butler says that Visor and Madonna are working at top capacity already, I'd rather hear the companies have fallen short of their production goal, but managed to maintain their quality control. Basically, we don't want to rush that process because then the vaccines might not work. Well, what are the government and the company's saying when you reached out to them with this information about the Matthew did an operation warp speed spokesman under the Trump administration told me last week that they're still expecting to hit 100 million doses for each company by the end of March. Visor didn't get back to me. Though its last deliveries to some European countries this week, Madonna says it's still on track to meet the goal, but they don't really disclose more production details than that. You said the Trump Administration got back to you, but now there's a new administration in the last couple of days. What do we expect from them? Well, you know, this came up at a White House press conference yesterday, Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked if the Biden administration is trying to increase vaccine production. Yeah, as well as to utilize what we hope will be another player in the field that J and J. Johnson as well as other of the companies. He's referring to other vaccines that are next in line for the FDA is green light. The new administration has also committed to being more forthcoming with information, and that's something that would please Dr Luciano Borio, a former acting chief scientist at the FDA. It would be nice to be able to have a lot more transparency around the projections would the understanding that so many things can go wrong at any given time? And by may pull, build on the Trump administration's use of the defense Production Act. NPR Pharmaceuticals correspondent Sidney Lumpkin. Thanks so much, you bet. Millions of Americans celebrated President Biden's inauguration. But there are also many Americans who don't accept him as the country's leader Donald Trump's bogus election fraud claims are persisting in more rural, more conservative parts of the country. NPR's Kirk Siegler has the story..
WNYC 93.9 FM
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"I think every American would want To have an audit. Better election. I know that. The Democratic Point controlled Congress isn't interested in that at all. More than 60 courts have thrown out trump campaign challenges due to a lack of evidence of voter fraud. There were also two recounts in Georgia and a partial one in Wisconsin. Maybe there wasn't any fraud, but I heard what you have a lot of people in this country that don't think so. Don't think that it was a fair election. I'm one of them. Surveys show that large majorities of Republican voters across this country still don't believe Joe Biden legitimately won the election to states to the South in Arizona state GOP this weekend may vote to censure moderate Republican leaders who didn't support overturning that state's election results. But some longtime party activists. They're like Kathleen Wynne said. The very public infighting isn't productive. I do believe that Republicans will come together, but I think it's gonna be for a greater cause. It can't be about being Republican. It's gotta be about the things that we stand for. When lives in rock ribbed conservative Mesa of Phoenix suburb. She saw problems with the election, too, and his upset. Trump isn't getting a second term. But it's time to move on. I think we are still one of the few countries that it was founded on fair elections and freedom. And I hope that that continues through this presidency and That Joe Biden and Camilla Harris have AH, successful presidency because ultimately that will be success for our country in conservative America. Many Republicans think their success rests on the party holding onto the coalition Trump built, which includes many first time voters. Spend some time in places like Idaho and it's clear that's not a guarantee in star. A defiant Jason Smith told me he has no plans to vote Republican anymore. After this past election. We just want to be left alone in this country. Trump was our president, and for most of us who still is our president, we still follow him. Kirk Siegler, NPR news star, Idaho.
WNYC 93.9 FM
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"This'd w n. Y c. 93.9 FM and AM a 20 NPR News and the New York conversation. Live from NPR news. I'm Dwayne Brown. President Joe Biden is expected to move quickly to reverse a number of Trump administration policies and directives. NPR's winter Johnson reports, Biden is planning to sign 17 executive actions later today from the Oval Office. Just hours after being sworn in President Biden is expected to sign executive actions on a range of topics. The first will be a mandate requiring face masks on federal property. Another will roll back. The former administration's travel ban that targets largely Muslim countries invited will also reverse his predecessor's decision to withdraw from certain international agreements. Under the Biden administration, the U. S will rejoin the Paris climate accord and remain in the World Health Organization. NPR's Windsor Johnston, the Canadian company behind the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, says it has suspended work on that project in anticipation of President Biden revoking its permit. And more conservative parts of the country. Reaction to the historic inauguration today appears to be far more muted. NPR's Kirk Siegler has been talking to hardline supporters of former President Donald Trump. Jason Smith stood in line at the D. M V in rural southwest Idaho. As president Biden was sworn in. Not that he would have probably watched the new president's address. Anyway. We just want to be left alone in this country. Trump.
WNYC 93.9 FM
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"Guard has been supporting every inauguration since 18 61. In the last couple of inaugurations. We've gone to what we call guard Nation to bring in guardsman from other states and territories. So for this one way, have off 54 national guards here and support As of this morning, we have 21,000 Guardsmen on the ground. Walker says the city will witness three times the number of National Guard troops typically seen on Inauguration Day. The FBI has arrested a rural New Mexico County commissioner for his alleged role in the U. S. Capitol Riot. NPR's Kirk Siegler says quite Griffin founded the far right group Cowboys for Trump. Griffin was arrested Sunday in Washington, D C on the charge of breaching the U. S Capitol. He had posted videos to Facebook with alarming language, including one where he suggested that blood could be running out of the building. Last week, During a county commission meeting in New Mexico, Griffin repeated a baseless right wing conspiracy that China stole the election from President Trump. And then listed the guns he planned to bring to D. C. I've got a 3 57 Henry Lever action and I've got in the trunk of my car and I've got a 3 57 single action that I'll have underneath. The front seat on my right side. Court documents noted the fact that Griffin plan to bring firearms to the inauguration Kirk Siegler NPR news, calling this a time of peril, but also a time of tremendous possibilities. Head of the end of the Legal Defense and Educational Fund, says the organization wants a new generation of civil rights lawyers in the south and now it has a $40 million gift from an anonymous donor to put them through law school. As NPR's Carrie Johnson. LDF president, Caroline Eiffel says the scholarships will focus on the place where most of the LDS cases originate. The South is a critical region in this country for civil rights activism. It is still the region where a majority of black people live. The program is named after two LDF alumni late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman to be a federal judge. Scholarships will cover tuition, room and board and other training. In return, applicants agree to spend at least eight years working on civil rights cases in the South, Eiffel says they're likely to handle voting rights disparities and housing and education and other cases. Carrie Johnson NPR NEWS Washington This is NPR news. This is W. N. Y. C in New York on Shawn Carlson, a Staten Island man is the latest person to be arrested on charges related to the violent mob action at the U. S Capitol earlier this month. Law enforcement sources say. The 20 year old is or was a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Live streamed the riot. The other New York men were also arrested over the weekend. 26 year old Brandon Fellows was arrested Saturday he had posted a video of himself with his feet on the senator's desk. 25 year old Edward Jacob Lang of Newburgh also posted videos of his own participation, according to New York Times, including one he had captioned arrest me. Well, the FBI did just that on Saturday. New York City's former transportation commissioner is going to Washington. W M I. C Stephen Nessen reports Polly Trucking, Berg will be the new deputy secretary of transportation. Trajtenberg left the BOT back in November to serve on President elect Biden's transition team now shall work alongside Transportation Secretary Pete Buddha Judge In a tweet. She says she wants to focus on safe, equitable and environmentally sustainable transportation, which she hopes will both create jobs and lift the economy. New Yorkers are hoping she'll steer federal assistance to projects that have been stained need by the Trump administration, like congestion, pricing and the Gateway program. Others are hoping she'll forge ahead and find a way to replace the most crumbling sections of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Ah project she began at New York City's D O T. York hospitals have been slow to comply with the new try Sprint transparency rule that went into effect this month. The federal role requires hospitals to publicly disclose what they charge for each service treatments can very depending on which hospital someone visits and what insurance plan they have. But Gotham's supporter Caroline Lewis says So far only the city's public hospital system has made the disclosures while others claim to still be working on it. There is a penalty for not complying of up to $300 a day, but many people are saying that that's not enough, and some are saying that they will need to suffer. Reputational consequences if they don't comply. And maybe that would help. The American Hospital Association says they're still gaps on how to meet the new requirements and that many.
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"Elsa Chang. And I'm Mary Louise Kelly. This hour what the U. S. Could learn from the way the UK traced a new corona virus variant. It's very important to do as the UK did, because if you start to identify where the most concerning variants exist, you can move your public health effort to stop that one. Also, young voters in Uganda are turning out in force ahead of Thursday's election. I think that benchmark off democracy they cannot take an excuse of democracy, and that's why they're on the streets fighting and a promising new medical treatment for meth addiction. First, these news headlines Live from NPR news. I'm Jack Spear. The house has voted 232 to 1 97 to impeach President Donald Trump for second time. NPR's costly snow. Reports 10 Republicans voted with Democrats to impeach the president on a charge of incitement of insurrection. In a capital surrounded by fence, razor wire and armed guards. Members of the House voted for a second time to impeach President Trump. The historic moment comes one week after a violent mob attacked the U. S Capitol as Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says blamed for the attacks lies with President Trump. He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love. The house is expected to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate shortly. Senate Republicans do not plan to return to Washington to begin impeachment proceedings, meaning and eventual trial will almost certainly begin on Lee after Trump leaves office on January 20th. Kelsey Snell. NPR NEWS Washington Federal authorities now say they've arrested dozens of people in connection with last week's U. S. Capitol insurrection as their nationwide search for suspects continues. NPR's Kirk Siegler. Reports in Idaho Man seen jumping onto the floor of the U. S. Senate is now in custody. 34 year old Josiah Kal El to Boise has turned himself into custody here on his own videos posted to Facebook, he admits being part of the mob, according to authorities falsely boasting. He was the first to sit in Nancy Pelosi's chair. He refers to her as a derogatory expletive, and she's a traitor, she treasonous, according to a court filing. Federal authorities say cold actually jumped down into the Senate chamber and appears to have sat in the vice president's chair. This day been given to the local CBS News affiliate called appears to now regret his involvement in the insurrection, reportedly saying in the moment he thought he was doing the right thing. Kirk Siegler NPR news boys he never Covad 19 vaccine could be available for American soon as NPR's Joel Palka explains. It's a vaccine that appears to be effective after a.
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"More people have been charged in connection with Wednesday's insurrection of the U. S. Capitol in prayers, Jason's lock and reports. Among them are two men identified from widely circulated images from the attacks. Jacob Anthony Chance. Lee, Adam Johnson and Derrick Evans were charged in a federal court Saturday for their alleged actions during the breach both Johnson and chance Lee, who's also known as Jake Anjali, were identified in some of the day's more ingrained images. Chance. Lee is said to be the Cuban on supporter in a headdress and face paint. Johnson, the man who took the speaker's lectern, Evans, who was a newly elected member of West Virginia's House of delegates. Stream just participation on Facebook. He resigned Saturday. All three face charges related to storming the Capitol building. Johnson also faces a theft charge. At least 13. Others have been charged with federal crimes. Jason Slotkin NPR news And Johnson and Chance Lee are in custody. Evans has been released on his own recognizance. Distribution of covert 19 vaccines has been sporadic, if at times chaotic these past few weeks, But as NPR's Kirk Siegler reports, some rural areas are doing well. Some rural counties air reporting they vaccinated almost all their frontline workers and vulnerable populations. In this first phase, several rural states have also been leading in per capita vaccination rates. But health officials caution against reading too much into these numbers. They may just be reporting faster. The national Rural Health Association's Alan Morgan says providers need the federal government to be more transparent and forthcoming with data. But I'm really concerned about his in going forward into April. Bag with the general populations can obtain this. Where will rule be at that point? Still, Morgan says states that prioritize getting the vaccine to rural areas are so far having more successful distribution rollouts. Kirk Siegler. NPR NEWS Boise and as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases sores around the country with deaths from covert 19 topping 370,000. California officials say the crisis there is getting worse with a record number of deaths and hospitalizations soaring. Dr. Sam Tor body is medical director of the E. R at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. He says the staff is exhausted physically and mentally, their illness so severe it is so profound. Takes so much effort and energy to take care of them. Caroline Brandon Burger is a covert unit nurse in Orange County, California. Fight every day and the struggle to breathe every day, even with tons of oxygen, and then You just see them die. They just die and they fight dying and it's so sad. Have been nearly 22 million confirmed cases of the Corona virus in the U. S since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University. This is NPR and support for NPR comes from the Pew Charitable Trusts, working with states to expand the use of data and evidence in policy decision making. More information is available. A pew trusts dot or g'kar bird here with you will kick off this final hour with something from skin shape. This.
All Things Considered
Misinformation Spread By Anti-Science Groups Endangers COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
"In some parts of the country. The biggest challenge surrounding the Corona virus vaccine won't be distributing it. It'll be convincing people to take it. Anti science groups and politicians are spreading misinformation about the safety of the new vaccines. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports from Idaho estate with one of the nation's highest immunization opt out rates since the start of the pandemic far right extremist groups of pro tested rules enclosures imposed for public health safety reasons. Sometimes armed, they have openly flouted mask ordinances in the few cities here that have them protesters and Boise, chanting. Let us in outside of Public Health board meeting this month is Idaho dealt with one Of the worst covert outbreaks in the country. In newspaper editorials and on local TV news doctors here are warning this backlash toward medical professionals is worsening in conspiracy theories or spreading. This is the backdrop as the first vaccines arrive in Idaho. Sarah leads is in charge of vaccine distribution in the state. The challenge with dealing with misinformation is that it's very reactive. It's hard to predict what's going to come out next. So the State Health Department is holding weekly meetings on Facebook about the efficacy of vaccines, among other things. And so far, no disruptions Lead says the government carefully crafts messaging, stressing their safety and effectiveness, but it's almost impossible to keep up with social media where anything goes, It's so easy. For anti vaccine groups and individuals to post misinformation and throw a few scientific sounding terms into An article that folks can believe. But this was a common thread in Idaho long before the pandemics, so public health officials here have a lot of practice methods of combating misinformation. Lead says Even the most responsive and innovative education isn't going to change some people's minds. It's those hesitant people who maybe are listening to a family member and Not sure what the data actually is, but are listening to a family member who sounds like a good authority. I think those are the people that we can really impact. But public health officials in conservative states like this say their work is being made even harder by the conflicting signals being sent by President Trump and his allies. Last week, Fox News host Tucker Carlson Sow doubt about the vaccines on his show the night before Vice President Mike Pence was to get his on live TV. Here in the rural Northwest, prominent far right figures on talk radio and Web sites that had already pushed mask protests are pivoting to vaccines. Now the media and politicians would like you to believe that Things will go back to normal if you just simply comply. This is commentator Spirits chorus and a post on readout news. The readout is a loose movement that encourages people to relocate the Idaho in part due to its libertarian vaccination laws. I'd like to clarify right now that I'm not a doctor. I'm not a scientist. Most scientists and doctors are hoping these contrarian voices are a small minority, though they may have an outsized megaphone. And I think it probably is. I'd like to believe that Chris Tramp is a family practice doctor in rural Sabbeth, a Kansas his strategy is to meet people where they are, If they're worried, are skeptical about the vaccine. He says. He tries to get to the bottom of why that is and then give them the best information he can, including that he was one of the first and his small town to get vaccinated against Cove. It 19 1 thing that I'm really going to be preaching to people is kind of a message of you're crazy if you don't take it and what I mean by that is that the vaccine so far is looking so very efficacious. But for now, Dr Tramps says battling misinformation is just one more headache, medical professionals or confronting in this very long, exhausting year.
Weekend Edition Saturday
Nursing homes and healthcare workers are top priority for Covid vaccines
"Workers and nursing home residents expected to be first in line to get the Fizer bank seen enough for the general public not expected until spring, so public health officials are urging Americans to continue wearing masks. And keep their social distance from others. The federal Indian Health Service says it's allocation of the first expected Corona virus vaccines will be enough to cover 100% of its healthcare workforce. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports. Native Americans have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The I just says it expects to distribute 22,000 doses of the first Fizer vaccine and 46,000 of Madonnas. Rear Admiral Francis Fraser says As the vaccine supply increases, tribes will then be able to prioritize distributions for elders and others with health conditions. They put them at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covina. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that safe and effective vaccines can reach Indian country. As quickly and equitably as possible. Native Americans have long suffered from healthcare inequities, and during the pandemic, they've been four times as likely to wind up hospitalized. Kirk Siegler. NPR NEWS President Trump attacked the Supreme Court in a Syriza of Friday night tweets complaining about the court's rejection of a Texas lawsuit aimed at overturning Joe Biden's election victory. NPR's Jen Newman has more Trump called the decision a legal disgrace and embarrassment and continued his baseless claims that the election was rigged. He said the Supreme Court quote really let us down. No wisdom, no courage. Trump had called the lawsuit filed by Texas against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the big one that would end with the Supreme Court undoing Biden substantial Electoral college majority. But the court said Texas does not have the legal standing under the constitution to soup. For the past five weeks, federal and state courts rejected nearly all of Trump's attempts at overturning the election court. Electoral College meets Monday to formally elect Biden.
All Things Considered
Wildfire-Ravaged Washington State Farming Town In Limbo As It Awaits Aid To Rebuild
"Almost three months ago, A wildfire destroyed most of a farming town in Washington state mold in Washington is still waiting for the Trump Administration to respond to the States Disaster declaration request. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports that many of the town's mostly lower income residents have had to rely on donations while they wait when historic wildfires overwhelmed the West Coast. In September, the governors of California, Oregon and Washington followed Standard protocol and asked President Trump to declare a major disaster. That frees up millions in federal aid for everything from temporary housing the cleanup to rebuilding infrastructure after some politicking and tweeting these air blue states after all, California and Oregon's major disaster declarations were mostly quickly approved organ heard nine days after their fire, and their fire was on the same day as ours. September 7 2020 Scott Hawkinson says it's been 71 days since Washington asked the president for its disaster declaration. On Labor Day, A wind driven range fire destroyed approximately 80% of homes in mold in Washington, including Hope Henson's, He's on the Town council and is trying to lead its recovery task force. The fires were worse overall in California and Oregon. Thankfully, nobody died in Maldon. But most of it's some 300 residents were uninsured and already living on the economic margins. But to see this on the news reports that you know the FEMA trailers are rolling in to help some people. We're in exactly the same condition. It just makes you wonder. Even in the best of times where we at did we get for gotten so fire survivors are left only to speculate. Is this politics bureaucracy just incompetence. In a brief email of FEMA spokesperson told NPR only that the administration is still reviewing Washington's request. Waiting this long and not even getting denied. Aid is extremely unusual. Yeah, I've never heard of this happening before Carolyn Kousky runs the Warden Risk center at the University of Pennsylvania. Delays create a lot of extra costs for families for the community. And the longer it takes, the more those cost can ripple and create problems, problems like delays and getting people into basic temporary housing or just cleaning up the town. And the longer Molden is in limbo, Kousky says. The harder it gets to try to rebuild smarter and more resilient against the next seemingly inevitable wildfire. This is what Scott Hokanson, the town councilman, has been trying to push even with so many people, including himself in crisis right now were hampered and how much we can move forward in which direction we could go until we hear from Dina Hawkinson says. The mayor recently resigned. So did the city clerk and there are real worries. Maldon won't rebuild and may empty out. He's trying to stay upbeat night chuckle because it's gotten to the point where it's not funny that way. It's just you have to laugh or else you'll cry. Kirk Siegler NPR
All Things Considered
Idaho governor orders rollback to Stage 2 as COVID-19 cases swell
"With hospitals in his state nearing capacity, Idaho's Republican governors reimposing some of that state's original coronavirus restrictions. But as NPR's Kirk Sigler reports the governor's refusing to implement a statewide mask law Idaho Governor Brad Little has mostly resisted rolling the state back into tougher restrictions that were in effect until the end of May. Despite a record number of cases and hospitalizations, especially in urban counties, bars, nightclubs here will mostly be able to remain open public gatherings will be limited to 10 people, but those rules won't apply to churches or political rallies. The conservative governor has faced criticism from health care workers for not enforcing tougher measures while also getting criticism from the right wing of his own party for implementing any restrictions. The announcement came on the same day that to neighboring states, Washington and Oregon announced new travel advisories for out of state visitors. Kirk Siegler.
All Things Considered
Idaho governor orders rollback to Stage 2 as COVID-19 cases swell
"Resisted rolling the state back into tougher restrictions that were in effect until the end of May. Despite a record number of cases and hospitalizations, especially in urban counties, bars, nightclubs here will mostly be able to remain open public gatherings will be limited to 10 people, but those rules won't apply to churches or political rallies. The conservative governor has faced criticism from health care workers for not enforcing tougher measures while also getting criticism from the right wing of his own party for implementing any restrictions. The announcement came on the same day that to neighboring states, Washington and Oregon announced new travel advisories for out of state visitors. Kirk Siegler. NPR
All Things Considered
Coronavirus surge has caused hospitals in rural America to reach full capacity
"Officials in rural America are struggling under the weight of the Corona virus pandemic in the upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain states. They warned that hospitals are at or nearing capacity. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports. Here's how things look in Rural America to Dr Andrew Pervy ahead of infectious diseases at the University of Utah Hospital, So the situation really has to be described his dire, especially in the northern Rockies and upper Midwest states that weren't hit that hard when the Corona virus raged in American cities last spring. Via traces the current crisis to colleges and schools here opening back up, as did sports and most extracurricular activities and states. Seeing the most new cases like Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota have generally not good, many restrictions in place. Nor is there much enforcement on large gatherings because of the local politics. They're probably not As drastic as firm measures is, we really needed to turn the tide? So I think that situation in 2 to 4 weeks is going to be groom. Hospitalizations usually go up two weeks after a spike in cases deaths a month later. Hospitals in cities like Salt Lake, taken overflow patients from surrounding states, which had shortages of specialists and intensive care beds before the pandemic in North Dakota Cove in 19 hospitalizations were up 60% over this time last month, and it's not just capacity that stretched This week, The state said it would begin allowing medical staff who test positive for the virus, but asymptomatic to keep treating Covad patients here's Republican governor, Doug Burgum. This is particularly important for us to help get healthcare workers on keep them in the game at a time when health care workers is the key constraint in our ability to provide Care for everyone, Burgum says. Some people still don't believe the virus Israel he pleaded for them to be compassionate anyway, because hospitals are filling up. Kirk Siegler. NPR NEWS Boise
Morning Edition
Easing fires not as simple as climate change vs. forest work
"The West Coast are again putting a spotlight on climate change. But it is not the only reason why we are seeing such destruction, even in the iconic and typically wet woods of the Pacific Northwest. For more. We've got NPR's Kirk Siegler, who's covered wildfires for this network for more than a decade. Kirk Hi, Good morning, Rachel. So we know that the forests and the brush the grasses in the West. Are extraordinarily dried out because of climate change. Kind of remind us how we got here. Well, right. There are a couple other big things going on here that we have to consider. And one is that we've also spent the last century stamping out Wildfires, and we actually continue to do this today. It's just the few that get away there in the news and healthy forests need fire, and what we've gotten ourselves into is what the experts call the wildfire paradox. So by doing this, we're actually making the problem worse, because now the forests and the brush lands are overgrown and in this really unnatural state, So you add climate change to that mix, and it's the worst case scenario that we're seeing. Right now. We hear the U. S. Forest Service often referred to as the Fire service because so much of their budget goes to fighting fires, not actual forest management work. But hasn't the federal government and individual states haven't they made some progress in doing some prevention work? Not very much. You know, the people who say the government isn't doing enough to manage is for us, to some extent, have a point. But a lot of that actually comes down to funding. If you're spending all of your resource is on trying to stop wildfires from burning in tow whole towns, then there's not going to be a lot of money left over to do the things like The thinning projects that prescribed burns. The plan burning Forster Andrew Sanchez Madore has been keeping close tabs on this where all the states are with their prevention work. He heads the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University in California. Oregon. Treatments that they've been implementing for years haven't really been at this scale that they need to be to cost a wind driven and climate change is exacerbated event. Some of this has to do with money, he says. And the lack of a really big, clear national strategy, But it's more complicated than just blaming the forest Service or the firefighting apparatus in the country. Or, frankly, is the Trump Administration likes to do try to just make this about logging and logging on Lee. We are now seeing those these fires. They've destroyed whole communities. It doesn't seem quite adequate to call them forced fires anymore. I mean, these are burning up residential areas, urban settings. That's right. And here's where things get really messy on the West Coast. In particular, there's been this huge amount of development into the forest that you say there now very vulnerable. The burning, especially with climate change. Now, in some cases, people have to live in these places because it's the only place they can afford. But regardless all these subdivisions, these new towns are actually becoming the fuel that's helping make these fires even bigger and local building codes are still pretty loose. Kumiko Barrett I talked to about this. She's at the research firm Headwaters. Comics, and she told me the county's still don't really have any disincentive to stop this development because of one big reason When you look at when a wildfire does occur, it's the federal government that comes in and pays for that suppression cost. So there's this inverse fiscal incentive on what is happening about local scale versus who's actually paying for the wildfire cost. So basically local communities they don't have to pay for the cleanup. The federal government does it, so they make money when these developments keep getting built. Exactly And there is no disincentive like she says, because they know the federal government is going to come in and pay for the suppression and the cleanup. But at some point you look at all of the disasters happening at once. We're in the middle of hurricane season and We're not even really at the peak of wildfire season in California, there is going to become a point where this just isn't going to be sustainable anymore. NPR's Kirk Sigler reporting from Boise, Idaho. Thanks so much, Kirk, You're welcome, Rachel. It's a Kurt. They're