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Of Reddit And Rescue: The Memes That Helped Save Oakland's Favorite Duck Couple

Last fall, two ducks at Lake Merritt became a bit of a sensation. Through the worst parts of the pandemic, they inspired a community of Oaklanders to keep their heads up. But it turns out the ducks were in trouble of their own, and they almost didn’t make it.

Lake Merritt: Duck Couples, Wildlife Dwellings, And Drum Circles

Today, we meet the beloved duck couple at Lake Merritt that gave some Oaklanders hope and community during the pandemic. Then, we hear about the history of the lake as the nation’s first wildlife refuge. And, we get to know the people behind the lake's weekend drum circle. We’re spending the day at Oakland’s crown jewel.

Minneapolis 911 Dispatcher Testifies: 'Something Was Wrong'

Prosecutors began calling witnesses to the stand on Monday afternoon in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. The prosecution started with Minneapolis 911 dispatcher Jena Scurry, who dispatched police to Cup Foods after getting a call about a man with a counterfeit bill. Scurry testified that despite several years of experience handling emergency calls, she became concerned when her monitors showed the responding officers, including Chauvin, kneeling on top of Floyd, pinning him to the ground. She initially believed the screen had frozen, then realized that was not the case, she told the court. "My instincts were telling me that something was wrong. Something wasn't right," Scurry, who had a view of the interior of the squad car from which Floyd was dragged, said. "It was an extended period of time. ... They hadn't told me if they needed more resources." She added: "I don't know if they had to use force or not. They got

Remembering Mama Sarah: Philanthropist And Obama Family Matriarch Dies In Kenya At 99

Tributes are flooding in for Sarah Obama, philanthropist and step-grandmother of former U.S. President Barack Obama. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement that Sarah Obama passed away on Monday while receiving treatment at a hospital in the port city of Kisumu. He said she was 99, though the Associated Press reports she was "at least" that age. Kisumu Gov. Anyang Nyong'o said she died after a brief illness. The Obama family matriarch, who was known widely as "Mama Sarah," was a beloved figure who spent much of her life promoting education for orphans and girls. Kenyatta said she will be remembered for her philanthropic work and the community development projects she led in her home village of Kogelo. "The passing away of Mama Sarah is a big blow to our nation," Kenyatta said. "We've lost a strong, virtuous woman. A matriarch who held together the Obama family and was an icon of family values." Nyong'o described her as a "role model" and "motherly figure" who helped raise

The Only 'Just Verdict' Is To Find Chauvin Not Guilty, Defense Says

Derek Chauvin's trial on murder charges will see several significant battles over how essential facts in the case are interpreted, the former Minneapolis police officer's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, said during Monday's opening arguments. Chief among those battles, Nelson told the jury, is the debate over George Floyd's cause of death. Prosecutors say Chauvin is responsible for killing Floyd, but the defense says that Floyd's health issues and drug use aggravated a heart condition and that Chauvin should be absolved. "The evidence will show that Mr. Floyd died of a cardiac arrhythmia that occurred as a result of hypertension, his coronary disease, the ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the adrenaline flowing through his body — all of which acted to further compromise an already compromised heart," Nelson said. YouTube Describing Floyd's actions on the day he died, Nelson said, "The evidence will show that when confronted by police, Mr. Floyd put drugs in his mouth in an

George R.R. Martin Signs New Five Year Deal With HBO And HBO Max

WHO Report: Wildlife Farms, Not Market, Likely Source Of Coronavirus Pandemic

Editor's note: This story was updated at 7:59 p.m. to include excerpts from an early copy of the World Health Organization report obtained by NPR. The highly anticipated World Health Organization report on the origins of the coronavirus that sparked a global pandemic is due out Tuesday. NPR has obtained an early copy. According to the report, data suggests that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was not the original source of the outbreak. In addition, the report noted that "introduction through a laboratory incident" — a leak from the lab in Wuhan — "was considered to be an extremely unlikely pathway." The report further suggests that animals in livestock farms in southeast Asia could be "linked to early human cases" and that further study on these farms is needed. In an exclusive interview with NPR last week, Peter Daszak , a disease ecologist who was part of the investigative team that did two weeks of research in China, noted that wildlife farms supply vendors at the

With Focus On Domestic Extremists, Lawmakers Aim To Reorient National Security Agenda

Michigan congresswoman Elissa Slotkin says the end date for America's singular focus on threats from foreign terrorists has come and gone. "January 6, for me, kind of capped the end of the post-9/11 era," says the former CIA analyst who served in Iraq and personally briefed both George W. Bush on Barack Obama on foreign terror threats. As chair of a House Homeland Security subcommittee, Slotkin says the Capitol attack proves combating domestic violent extremism has to be America's number one national security priority. The second-term Democrat is now coordinating with the White House on possible executive orders to address the threat — such as new rules and regulations to make the national terrorist watch list a stronger tool in the fight against homegrown extremists. Slotkin, who recently hosted a hearing with state attorneys general on the issue, says she is also weighing whether the U.S. needs a new domestic terrorism czar who would serve in a role under the Director of National

Biden Administration Pushes Major Expansion For Offshore Wind Energy

As the White House slows down fossil fuel development on public lands and offshore, it's ramping up renewable energy with a push to jump-start the offshore wind energy business. Monday's announcement is part of President Biden's effort to fulfill the ambitious climate plan he campaigned on, including making the nation's electricity sector carbon neutral by 2035. As with much of Biden's climate message, a key focus is on creating jobs. "President Biden believes we have an enormous opportunity in front of us to not only address the threats of climate change, but use it as a chance to create millions of good-paying, union jobs that will fuel America's economic recovery," White House National Climate Adviser Gina McCarthy said in a statement before the announcement. The Interior Department plans to start selling leases later this year for a new "wind energy area" in the New York Bight, the relatively shallow waters between Long Island and the New Jersey coast. A study last summer by the

Elizabeth King's Gospel Sound Transports Believers And Non-Believers Alike

Copyright 2021 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air . DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Elizabeth King is a gospel singer who made some recordings in the 1970s, mostly with a male gospel group, the Gospel Souls, but she left the music business to raise 15 children. Now in her late 70s, she's released her first full-length solo album, her first new music in four decades. It's called "Living In The Last Days," and rock critic Ken Tucker says it's gospel music that will transport both believers and nonbelievers. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "A LONG JOURNEY") ELIZABETH KING: (Singing) Going on a long, long journey after a while (ph). Going on a long, long journey after a while - oh, yeah. Gonna lay my - my burden down. Gotta go home, get my crown. Going on a long, long, long journey after a while. On this... KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: Elizabeth King has indeed been on a long journey. She was singing gospel as a young woman before suffering a near-fatal auto accident in 1969. After recovering, she

Naturalist Traces The 'Astounding' Flyways Of Migratory Birds

DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies, in for Terry Gross, who's off this week. Did you know that when some migratory birds prepare for flights that can take them thousands of miles, their intestines and digestive organs actually shrink while their heart, lung and leg muscles can double in size? That's just one of the amazing facts you can learn from our guest, Scott Weidensaul. He spent decades studying migratory birds, reporting on and writing about them and doing fieldwork and tracking and conservation efforts. The scale of bird migration is staggering, involving billions of birds, and the diversity of the species' mating, nesting and flying habits is awe inspiring. In a new book, Weidensaul writes about what he calls this majestic global pageant and about the threats the animals face. One study found that since 1970, roughly 30% of North American birds have disappeared, more than 3 billion of them. Scott Weidensaul has written 30 previous books, and his articles

'Derek Chauvin Betrayed This Badge,' Prosecutor Says In Opening Argument

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin broke departmental rules and showed a disregard for the life of George Floyd when he pinned Floyd down in the street last year, the prosecution said in opening arguments of Chauvin's murder trial Monday. "You will learn that on May 25 of 2020, Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of Mr. George Floyd," Special Assistant Attorney General Jerry Blackwell told the jury. As he spoke, Blackwell showed jurors an eyewitness photo from the scene, with Chauvin holding his knee on Floyd's neck. Moments before showing that image, Blackwell presented the oath that Minneapolis police officers swear to follow. "I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately ... never employing unnecessary force or violence," a highlighted portion of the oath reads. In another highlighted portion, officers promise, "I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a

CDC Director Fears 'Impending Doom' If U.S. Opens Too Quickly

Amid growing optimism about the rising pace of vaccinations in the U.S., the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has one request for the American people: Don't act as if the pandemic is over – it's not. In an emotional plea during the White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing on Monday, the CDC chief, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, described a feeling of "impending doom." "We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope," Walensky said. "But right now, I'm scared." The cause of her concern? A rising number of coronavirus cases in the United States. The most recent seven-day average is just below 60,000 cases per day – a 10% increase compared with the previous week. Hospitalizations are up, too: about 4,800 admissions per day over the last week, up from an average 4,600 per day in the previous seven-day period. And deaths, which tend to lag cases and hospitalizations, have also begun to rise: increasing

Federal Eviction Moratorium Extended Just 2 Days Before Expiration

With many Americans behind on their rent during the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is extending an order aimed at preventing evictions through June. "The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a historic threat to the nation's public health," says CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. "Keeping people in their homes and out of crowded or congregate settings — like homeless shelters — by preventing evictions is a key step in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19." Studies have found that evictions spread COVID-19 and result in more deaths from the disease since people are forced into more crowded living situations. The moratorium was set to expire in just two days at the end of March. More than 8 million American households are behind on their rent, according to the Census Bureau . And housing groups have warned that allowing the CDC's protection for renters to lapse would set off a tsunami of evictions. "The extended moratorium and its enforcement are essential to help

Ship Happens: Coffee, Livestock, Ikea Furniture Among The Objects Stuck At The Suez

Livestock and lumber. Oil and automobiles. Exercise equipment and instant coffee. Those were just some of the products that were blocked by the ship just dislodged from the Suez Canal, in a bizarre maritime drama that captivated people around the world and illustrated just how fragile global supply chains can be. After nearly a week blockading more than 10% of global shipping traffic, the Ever Given has finally been freed. But the consequences could linger for weeks: Hundreds of ships have been stuck on either side of the Suez Canal, and it will take some time to clear the backlog. The array of goods affected is mind-boggling. There were oil tankers , of course, and ships carrying liquified natural gas and biodiesel. There were ships carrying live animals , ships carrying crops and cement , and ships carrying U.K.-bound automobiles. A spokesperson for Hapag-Lloyd told The Washington Post that treadmills and home improvement supplies bound for Europe and the U.S. were caught up in the

Education Dept. Restores Debt Cancellation For Some Borrowers With Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education says it will erase the federal student loan debts of tens of thousands of borrowers who can no longer work because they have significant disabilities. It's a small but important step toward improving a shambolic, bureaucratic process for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable borrowers who are legally entitled to debt relief, but haven't received it. The announcement comes more than a year after an NPR investigation found just 28% of eligible borrowers had their loans erased, or were on track to, through the "Total and Permanent Disability Discharge" program. The U.S. Government Accountability Office and a bipartisan group of lawmakers had previously decried the program's ineffectiveness. According to the department, more than 41,000 borrowers who have permanent disabilities will have roughly $1.3 billion in student debts conditionally discharged. These borrowers have already had their loans erased once before, only to have the debts restored during the

Insurgents Kill Dozens In Attack On Natural Gas Complex In Mozambique

Days of fighting in a key city in Mozambique's north have left dozens of civilians dead as security forces battled to turn back an assault by suspected Islamic State-linked insurgents. Hundreds of militants last week attacked Palma, a northern coastal city in Cabo Delgado province that acts as a hub for a vast liquefied natural gas project worth tens of billions of dollars. The project, scheduled for completion in 2024, is led by the French energy group Total, and includes industry partners from India, Japan, Mozambique and Thailand. At one point in last week's fighting, as many as 200 foreign workers were reportedly trapped between security forces and the insurgent group. Hundreds of people were being evacuated by boat to the port city of Pemba, about 150 miles south, a diplomat and an aid worker told Reuters. There has been no claim of responsibility for the assault, and the government has not identified the assailants by name or group. However, the attackers are widely believed to

Immunocompromised And Concerned About The Vaccine? Here's What You Need To Know

Lots of people have questions about getting vaccinated against COVID-19. That includes the millions of Americans with weakened immune systems that put them at higher risk of severe disease if they do get infected with the coronavirus. "Patients want to know whether it's safe to get it and, if they do get it, which one should they get? And of course, they also have concerns about how it can affect their own condition as well," says Dr. Sharon Dowell , a rheumatologist at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., who says she has been getting a barrage of questions from patients lately. People can be immunocompromised for a wide range of reasons. Some are being treated with immunosuppressive medications for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease or psoriasis. Others are organ transplant recipients on powerful anti-rejection medications or cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Dowell and other doctors say vaccinating immunocompromised patients is

Televised Chauvin Trial Due To Pandemic Yields Wide Access — And Concern

Opening statements are set for Monday in a trial with international attention, and for the first time, the world will be able to see every twist and turn of the case from a Minnesota courtroom, thanks to an unprecedented decision by Judge Peter Cahill. Many media outlets — including MPR News — will livestream the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin after pressing for access. But you don't need social media, Internet access or even cable to watch the proceedings. In the Twin Cities, all it takes is a television set with antenna. Court TV's live coverage is on channel 11.2. Chauvin is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd in May. A video of Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's handcuffed body as he pleaded for air sparked widespread protests last summer. This is the first time a Minnesota trial has been broadcast. Unlike Iowa , Wisconsin and other states, courts here have long

State of the Bay: 'Radically Listening to Multiracial Kids,' Mayor Libby Schaaf and Johnny Funcheap

State of the Bay checks in with Mayor Libby Schaaf about Oakland's school re-opening plans and other news. Then we’ll hear from Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith and Dr. Ralina Joseph about their new book, " Generation Mixed Goes to School, Radically Listening to Multiracial Kids ." We’ll also get some arts and events recommendations from Johnny Hayes, better known as Johnny Funcheap , of sf.funcheap.com . What would you like to ask our guests? Post a comment here, tweet us @StateofBay or send an email or voicemail to StateofBay@gmail.com. Hosts: Ethan Elkind, Joseph Pace Producers: Kendra Klang, Anne Harper