>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 6: THE PUSH FOR A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

A RISE IN STATE LAWS AIMED AT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

AND NEW MEASURES IN COASTAL MARYLAND TO SAVE DISAPPEARING SHOREBIRD SPECIES.

NEXT ON "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."

>> PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

THE ANDERSON FAMILY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE LEONARD AND NORMA KLORFINE FOUNDATION.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

THE ESTATE OF WORTHINGTON MAYO- SMITH.

WE TRY TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT, TO NOT MISS WHAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

AT MUTUAL OF AMERICA, WE BELIEVE TAKING CARE OF TOMORROW CAN HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY.

MUTUAL OF AMERICA FINANCIAL GROUP, RETIREMENT SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS.

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>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS STILL NEGOTIATING WITH REPUBLICANS OVER ITS PROPOSED $1.7-TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE, AS ITS SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO SEE PROGRESS ON THE BILL APPROACHES TOMORROW.

ON FRIDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN REJECTED THE LATEST OFFER FROM LEAD REPUBLICAN NEGOTIATOR SENATOR SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, BUT THEY PLAN TO MEET AGAIN TOMORROW.

THIS WEDNESDAY, HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE PLANNING TO START FINALIZING A KEY ELEMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY THAT WOULD SPEND $547 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.

WEST VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT JOE MANCHIN SAID HE IS "VERY CONFIDENT" A BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE WILL BE REACHED.

>> I COMMEND THE PRESIDENT AND SENATOR CAPITO, MY COLLEAGUE FROM WEST VIRGINIA, FOR CONTINUING TO WORK HARD.

THEY'RE WORKING HARD TRYING TO FIND A COMPROMISE.

THEY'VE COME A LONG WAY, AND THEY'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Sreenivasan: SENATOR MANCHIN ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY HE WILL VOTE AGAINST THE SWEEPING ELECTION REFORM BILL KNOWN AS THE "FOR THE PEOPLE ACT" THAT SO FAR FAILED TO GARNER ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS TRAVELLING TO GUATEMALA AND MEXICO TODAY TO ADDRESS POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND IMMIGRATION IN THE REGION.

HER FIRST FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC TRIP AS VICE PRESIDENT STARTED WITH A DELAY WHEN HER PLANE DEVELOPED NOISES IN THE LANDING GEAR ON TAKE OFF, RETURNING SAFELY SO SHE COULD CHANGE PLANES.

THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL BE MAKING HER FIRST STOP IN GUATEMALA, WHERE SHE WILL BE MEETING WITH THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID SHE WILL BE ADDRESSING AID AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION, AS WELL AS CORRUPTION AND VIOLENT CRIME IN GUATEMALA.

GUATEMALA LIES BETWEEN MEXICO, EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION VIEWS DEEPENING DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH GUATEMALA AS A KEY FACTOR IN ADDRESSING IMMIGRATION AT THE U.S. SOUTHERN BORDER.

AFTER TOMORROW'S MEETINGS IN GUATEMALA, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WILL HEAD TO MEXICO WHERE A MAJOR MIDTERM ELECTION IS UNDERWAY TODAY.

THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN GEARING UP FOR THE LARGEST ELECTION IN ITS HISTORY.

MORE THAN 93 MILLION MEXICAN CITIZENS ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE THIS YEAR.

THE ELECTION IS SEEN BY MANY AS A REFERENDUM ON PRESIDENT ANDRÉÉS MANUEL LOÓÓPEZ OBRADOR, EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

NPR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT CARRIE KAHN IS IN MEXICO CITY AND JOINED ME FOR MORE ON TODAY'S ELECTIONS.

>> THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE JUST IN THE SHEER NUMBER OF THE RACES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN MEXICO AT THIS TIME.

THERE'S NEARLY HALF OF ALL THE GOVERNORSHIPS IN THE STATE-- IN THE COUNTRY-- THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,000 LOCAL ELECTIONS, AND THE ENTIRE LOWER HOUSE OF THE CONGRESS, ALL SEATS ARE UP.

BUT WHAT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT IS THE PRESIDENT.

BUT THIS HAS BECOME A REFERENDUM ON HIS VERY UNIQUE TAKE HERE IN MEXICO.

HE SELF-PROCLAIMED HIMSELF AS BRINGING A FOURTH TRANSFORMATION, A TRANSFORMATIVE GOVERNMENT TO MEXICO.

HE SWEPT INTO OFFICE IN 2018 WITH JUST A LANDSLIDE ON THIS ANTI-CORRUPTION, ANTI-WASTE, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT PLATFORM.

AND THAT HAS A LONG TAIL TO IT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS NOW.

HE'S HALFWAY THROUGH, ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH, HIS SIX YEAR, ONE TIME TERM.

AND SO, THIS HAS BECOME A BIT OF A REFERENDUM ON HIS RULE HERE IN MEXICO AND THAT PLATFORM.

>> Sreenivasan: SIMILAR TO EVERYWHERE ON THE PLANET, THE PANDEMIC IS AN ISSUE, OR AT LEAST HOW YOU DEALT WITH THE PANDEMIC.

AND ONE COULD ARGUE THAT LOOKING AT MEXICO'S NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, AND THE ACTIONS THEY TOOK IN THE BEGINNING, IT WASN'T WELL HANDLED.

ARE PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT TO GIVE HIM MORE POWER?

>> SURPRISINGLY, IT'S NOT HIGH ON THE LIST OF VOTER'S ISSUES THAT ARE TAKING HIM TO THE POLLS.

IT'S MORE ABOUT HIS PERFORMANCE HERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY AND TOP ON PEOPLE'S MINDS HERE IS THE SECURITY SITUATION IN MEXICO.

HOMICIDES ARE AT RECORD LEVELS.

ORGANIZED CRIME IS AT RECORD LEVELS.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.

BUT YOU'D THINK THE PANDEMIC, MEXICO IS NOW FOURTH IN THE WORLD WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF COVID DEATHS, MORE THAN 300,000 TESTED, 240-SOME THOUSAND.

SO, YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE TOP ON THE MIND, BUT IT REALLY ISN'T.

AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THE PRESIDENT, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, HIGH MARKS FOR HIS HANDLING, MOSTLY BECAUSE VACCINES HAVE BEEN COMING INTO THE COUNTRY.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STALLS AND SOME PROBLEMS NOT AT THE FAULT OF THE GOVERNMENT, BUT ABOUT A QUARTER OF ALL ADULTS IN THE COUNTRY NOW HAVE AT LEAST ONE VACCINE.

HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO VACCINATE EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18 BY THE END OF OCTOBER, AND OUR NUMBERS HAVE PLUMMETED HERE.

SO, RECENTLY, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH HIS HANDLING OF IT.

IN THE BEGINNING, NOT SO MUCH.

>> Sreenivasan: SO, WE'VE GOT THE VICE PRESIDENT SCHEDULED TO VISIT.

HOW IS MEXICO GOING TO RECEIVE THIS, PLANNING ON RECEIVE THIS?

>> WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE ELECTIONS TURNED OUT.

ONE ANALYST TOLD ME SHE MIGHT FIND HIM, THE PRESIDENT, IN A VERY GOOD MOOD IF HE DOES WELL IN THE ELECTIONS TODAY, OR SHE MIGHT FIND HIM IN A VERY BAD MOOD.

BUT WHAT WE'LL SEE IN PUBLIC WILL BE ABOUT COOPERATION, RESETTING THE MEXICAN-U.S. RELATIONS.

IT'S GOING TO, PUBLICLY, IT'LL ALL GO VERY WELL.

THE PRESIDENT, IN THE RUN UP TO HER VISIT, HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS U.S.

INTERVENTION IN MEXICO.

HE'S VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT A FEW ISSUES, ESPECIALLY U.S.A.I.D.

FUNDING OF INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS HERE IN MEXICO, FREE SPEECH JOURNAL, INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST SITES.

BUT THAT IS UNLIKELY, THOSE ISSUES ARE UNLIKELY TO COME UP, INCLUDING WHAT A LOT OF HIS OPPONENTS SAY HERE IS HIS POWER GRAB, HIS ATTEMPTS TO BRING A LOT OF THOSE INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS UNDER HIS WING NOW.

WE PROBABLY WON'T HEAR ANY OF THAT, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE ABOUT MIGRATION AND RESETTING AND THE GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO DURING HER VISIT.

>> Sreenivasan: CARRIE KAHN, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT FOR NPR, JOINING US FROM MEXICO CITY.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Sreenivasan: IN PERU, VOTERS ARE CHOOSING A NEW PRESIDENT IN A RUNOFF ELECTION TODAY.

THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE KEIKO FUJIMORI, A RIGHTWING FORMER PERUVIAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND DAUGHTER OF JAILED EX-PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI AND LEFTIST CANDIDATE PEDRO CASTILLO, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND UNION LEADER WITH ALMOST NO POLITICAL EXPERIENCE.

THE ELECTION IS BEING HELD AS PERU RECORDS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF COVID-19 DEATHS PER CAPITA OF ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

MORE THAN 180,000 PEOPLE THERE HAVE DIED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

RECENT POLLS SHOW THE TWO CANDIDATES IN A STATISTICAL TIE.

FINAL RESULTS ARE EXPECTED TOMORROW.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS SLOWING IN MOST OF THE WORLD, BUT RESTRICTIONS REMAIN AS NEW CASES AND VARIANTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS CONTINUE TO INFECT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

IN THE U.K., A VARIANT THAT FIRST EMERGED IN INDIA-- NOW CALLED THE DELTA VARIANT-- MAY DELAY THE LIFTING OF ALL RESTRICTIONS PLANNED FOR JUNE 21.

THE COUNTRY'S HEALTH SECRETARY SAID TODAY THAT THE VARIANT IS 40% MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, BUT THAT VACCINES ARE WORKING.

>> THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE GOING INTO HOSPITAL WITH COVID NOW ARE UNVACCINATED.

AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY... THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THEM.

BUT IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF US, BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT THE VACCINE PROTECTS YOU FROM GOING INTO HOSPITAL.

>> Sreenivasan: IN TAIWAN TODAY, THREE U.S.

SENATORS ARRIVED FOR MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCED THAT THE U.S. WILL SEND 750,000 DOSES OF VACCINES TO TAIWAN.

THE COUNTRY HAS COMPLAINED THAT CHINA IS BLOCKING ACCESS TO VACCINES.

WORLDWIDE, THE "NEW YORK TIMES" DATABASE SHOWS A WIDE GAP IN VACCINATION RATES EVEN AS MORE THAN TWO BILLION VACCINE DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED.

SOME COUNTRIES ARE NOW AVERAGING VACCINATIONS OF MORE THAN 60 OUT OF EVERY 100 PEOPLE WHILE OTHERS HAVE YET TO REPORT GIVING A SINGLE DOSE.

FOR THE LATEST NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS VISIT pbs.org/newshour.

>> Sreenivasan: 2021 IS ALREADY A RECORD YEAR FOR STATES AIMING TO RESTRICT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

THE LATEST WAS LAST WEEK'S BAN IN FLORIDA ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES PLAYING ON FEMALE SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS.

NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S YVETTE FELICIANO SPOKE WITH CHASE STRANGIO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR TRANSGENDER JUSTICE FOR THE A.C.L.U.

L.G.B.T.

AND H.I.V.

PROJECT ABOUT THIS RECORD SETTING YEAR IN STATE LEGISLATION AIMED AT THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: CHASE, PLEASE DESCRIBE FLORIDA'S SO-CALLED "FAIRNESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS ACT," AND EXPLAIN WHY IT HAS SPARKED SO MUCH OUTRAGE AMONG CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

>> YES, SO, OF COURSE, ON THE FIRST DAY OF PRIDE, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNS THIS ANTI-TRANS BILL.

WHAT IT IS, IS A BAN ON TRANS WOMEN AND GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN WOMEN'S AND GIRLS SPORTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS SIMILAR TO SEVEN OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW JUST IN 2021 AND ANALOGOUS TO IDAHO'S BAN ON TRANS WOMEN AND GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS.

THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW IN 2020.

SO, WE'RE NOW SEEING THIS WIDESPREAD MOVEMENT TO BAN WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO ARE TRANS FROM WOMEN'S SPORTS.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN FLORIDA, WHICH IS NOT TOTALLY ANOMALOUS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING ON ELSEWHERE, IS THAT YOU HAVE THIS BILL WHICH IS FALSELY PITCHED AS, YOU KNOW, DEFENDING OR PROTECTING WOMEN.

WHAT IT DOES IS BAN A SUBSET OF WOMEN, UM, AND GIRLS, FROM SPORTS, TRANS WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND IN THE PROCESS, IT ALLOWS THE STATE TO POLICE THE BODIES OF ALL WOMEN AND GIRL ATHLETES.

IT SORT OF TURNS OVER THIS POLICING AUTHORITY, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT'S SAYING IS THAT SOME WOMEN AND GIRLS AREN'T LEGITIMATELY WOMEN AND GIRLS AND THE STATE AND OTHERS ARE EMPOWERED TO CHALLENGE PEOPLE'S SEX.

>> Reporter: CHASE, AS, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN 250 BILLS AIMED AT THE L.G.B.T.Q.

COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN STATE LEGISLATURES THIS YEAR ACCORDING TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN.

WHY 2021, AND HOW DOES FLORIDA'S NEW LAW FIT INTO THAT PICTURE?

>> AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS ESCALATION OF ATTACKS ON L.G.B.T.Q.

COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY ON THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

IT'S PART OF A CONTINUED BACKLASH FROM MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

SO, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN BANS ON MARRIAGE FOR SAME SEX COUPLES IN 2015, YOU IMMEDIATELY SAW A BACKLASH IN THE FORM OF LEGISLATIVE ATTACKS ON TRANS PEOPLE AND TRANS YOUTHS IN PARTICULAR.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL IN STATE LEGISLATURES DURING THE FOUR YEARS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHERE I THINK YOU SAW LESS URGENCY FROM, YOU KNOW, FAR RIGHT STATE GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THEIR SIDE TO BE THE MAIN DISCRIMINATOR AGAINST L.G.B.T.Q.

PEOPLE.

THEN WHAT WE SEE IN 2020 IS SORT OF THIS PERFECT STORM WHERE YOU HAVE THE ELECTION OF JOE BIDEN AND THE BACKLASH TO THAT.

YOU ALSO HAVE IN JUNE OF 2020, THE SUPREME COURT ISSUING A LANDMARK OPINION, YOU KNOW, MAKING CLEAR THAT L.G.B.T.Q.

PEOPLE ARE COVERED UNDER EXISTING CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES.

SO, THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WHERE YOU HAVE THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT DECISION, MUCH LIKE THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY DECISION, THAT IT ALSO LEADS TO BACKLASH.

>> Reporter: WE'VE HEARD MORE ABOUT LEGISLATION AIMED AT BLOCKING TRANSGENDER YOUTH FROM PLAYING ON SPORTS TEAMS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, OR AIMED AT BLOCKING THEM FROM RECEIVING GENDER AFFIRMING MEDICAL CARE, BUT WHAT OTHER BILLS AND LAWS ARE ON YOUR RADAR?

>> THERE WERE, UM, IN MONTANA, A BILL THAT BANNED UPDATES TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES, UM, TO ALIGN WITH PEOPLE'S GENDER.

THAT WAS PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR GIANFORTE.

TENNESSEE PASSED A SERIES OF ANTI-TRANS BILLS, ONE OF WHICH WOULD REQUIRE BUSINESSES THAT ALLOW TRANS PEOPLE TO USE THE RESTROOM TO POST SIGNAGE TO SIGNAL TO CUSTOMERS THAT TRANS PEOPLE MIGHT BE USING A RESTROOM, AS WELL AS OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON TRANS PEOPLE ACCESSING RESTROOMS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY IN SCHOOLS.

AND THEN WE ALSO SAW A LOT OF BILLS THAT WOULD EXPAND THE ABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES TO, YOU KNOW, TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY FROM SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICAL SERVICES, IF THEY HAD ANY MORAL OR RELIGIOUS OBJECTION.

ARKANSAS, FOR EXAMPLE, PASSING INCREDIBLY BROAD MEDICAL CONSCIENCE BILL, IT'S VERY MUCH DESIGNED TO TARGET TRANS PEOPLE THAT WILL ALLOW MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO TURN AWAY A TRANS PATIENT JUST BASED ON ANY, YOU KNOW, SIMPLE REJECTION OF TRANSNESS.

AND SO, AND THAT'S NOT JUST RELATED TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE THAT WOULD BE TURNING PEOPLE AWAY FOR ANY REASON.

>> Reporter: AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF PRIDE MONTH, AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS CELEBRATING PRIDE AND INCLUDING PRIDE FLAGS IN THEIR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS.

AND SOME CORPORATIONS HAVE EVEN ISSUED STATEMENTS OPPOSING ANTI L.G.B.T.Q.

STATE LEGISLATION.

IS THAT ENOUGH, IN YOUR OPINION?

>> NO, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO STOMACH THE PRIDE, YOU KNOW, MERCHANDISING THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT CORPORATIONS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF POWER WHEN IT COMES TO PUSHING BACK AGAINST STATE LEGISLATION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, BY AND LARGE, WE HAD CORPORATIONS BEING INCREDIBLY RECALCITRANT.

AND THOUGH IN THE PAST WE'VE SEEN SOME CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT AROUND DEFENDING L.G.B.T.Q.

PEOPLE FROM THESE TYPES OF STATE LEGISLATIVE ATTACKS, WHEN IT CAME TO THE TYPES OF TRULY TERRIFYING ATTACKS ON TRANS YOUTH THAT WE SAW THIS YEAR, THERE WAS ALMOST NO ACTION FROM THE CORPORATE SECTOR.

AND WHAT WE DID SEE WAS INCREDIBLY MINIMAL ENGAGEMENT, SORT OF SIGN ONS TO JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, A GENERAL LETTER, INSTEAD OF HAVING COMPANIES ENGAGED, PARTICULARLY WHERE YOU HAVE COMPANIES EITHER HEADQUARTERED IN, IN CERTAIN STATES, OR DOING A LOT OF BUSINESS IN CERTAIN STATES, WE DID NOT SEE THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT NEEDED.

AND SO, WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR PRIDE MONTH, I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO BE PARTICULARLY DISCERNING, BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT COMPANIES ARE WILLING TO LEVERAGE OUR LIKENESS, LEVERAGE OUR MAGIC, BUT THEN NOT SHOW UP WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKING SURE THAT STATES DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR MATERIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SURVIVAL.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE CONTENDING WITH RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: CHASE STRANGIO, DIRECTOR OF TRANSGENDER JUSTICE AT THE A.C.L.U.

L.G.B.T.

AND H.I.V.

PROJECT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Sreenivasan: THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER IS HERE, WHICH FOR MANY MEANS TRIPS TO THE BEACH, PARTICULARLY AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO EBB IN MANY PLACES.

BUT PEOPLE AREN'T THE ONLY ONES FLOCKING TO SANDY ENVIRONS THIS TIME OF YEAR.

LATE SPRING IS WHEN MANY SPECIES OF COASTAL BIRDS NEST, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BARREN BEACHES TO LAY THEIR EGGS.

IN COASTAL MARYLAND, PROTECTED HABITAT FOR MANY SHOREBIRDS HAS BEEN DISAPPEARING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED EROSION AND RISING SEA LEVELS.

THIS HAS LED TO A DRASTIC DROP IN THE POPULATIONS OF SEVERAL ICONIC BIRD SPECIES IN THE STATE, AND HAS PUSHED A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO TAKE STEPS TO PROVIDE REFUGE FOR NESTING SHOREBIRDS.

THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES, "PERIL & PROMISE: THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE."

AS WE HEAD OUT ONTO THE COASTAL BAYS NEAR OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND, KEVIN SMITH, WHO RUNS A LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, AND DAVE BRINKER, AN ECOLOGIST WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BIRDS.

>> IT'S MOSTLY PELICANS FROM WHAT I CAN SEE FROM HERE.

>> Sreenivasan: THEY ARE FOCUSED ON SPECIES THAT CONGREGATE ON SMALL MAN-MADE ISLANDS BUILT FROM DREDGED UP SEDIMENT.

IT'S HABITAT THAT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY RARE IN THE LAST 25 YEARS.

>> WE WENT FROM 29, 30 ISLANDS THAT WATERBIRDS COULD USE, DOWN TO THREE.

AND MOST OF THEM HAVE JUST ERODED AWAY OVER TIME.

>> Sreenivasan: THAT LOSS OF HABITAT HAS LED TO A DROP IN THE POPULATION OF SOME SEABIRDS THAT USED TO BE A LOT MORE COMMON IN MARYLAND.

>> THERE'S A FEW CORMORANT NESTS OUT THERE.

>> OH, I SEE THEM, YEAH.

>> IN THE MIDDLE.

BUT NO TERNS.

>> NO TERNS.

>> Sreenivasan: COMMON AND ROYAL TERNS ARE ICONIC SPECIES OF COLONIAL WATERBIRDS, DIVING FOR FISH AND NESTING ON OPEN BEACH AREAS.

THE BREEDING POPULATION OF COMMON TERNS IN MARYLAND'S COASTAL BAYS HAS FALLEN 90% SINCE 2003, WHILE THE BREEDING POPULATION OF ROYAL TERNS IS NOW COMPLETELY GONE.

BLACK SKIMMERS, NAMED FOR THE WAY THEY SKIM THE WATER LOOKING FOR FISH, HAVE ALSO NEARLY DISAPPEARED FROM THE MARYLAND COAST.

SO, IT WAS NOT MUCH OF A SURPRISE WHEN THE ONLY BLACK SKIMMERS AND TERNS WE SAW WERE LIFE-SIZE DECOYS.

THEY ARE PART OF AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT TO PROVIDE ARTIFICIAL NESTING HABITAT FOR THESE BIRDS.

>> BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN TO SUCH LOW NUMBERS, WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE DRAMATIC STEPS TO PROVIDE SOME HABITAT TO TRY AND MAINTAIN COMMON TERNS IN MARYLAND.

AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE IN FOOTBALL TERMS, THE "HAIL MARY" PASS.

THIS IS THE LAST DITCH EFFORT THAT WE CAN DO UNTIL WE CAN PROVIDE SAND AND CREATE MORE NATURAL ISLANDS.

>> Sreenivasan: IN EARLY MAY, THE PLATFORM WAS LOADED WITH BROKEN CLAM SHELLS AND TOWED OUT INTO THE CHINCOTEAGUE BAY IN FOUR PARTS.

IT WAS THEN ASSEMBLED INTO A SINGLE, 1,000 SQUARE FOOT PLATFORM.

THE ROUGHLY $100,000 PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, SMITH'S NONPROFIT, MARYLAND COASTAL BAYS PROGRAM, AND THE MARYLAND-D.C. AUDUBON SOCIETY.

>> THERE'S THE PHOTO SENSOR AND SO I PUT MY FINGER OVER IT, IT SHOULD, YOU KNOW, BE DARK AND QUIT, RIGHT?

>> Sreenivasan: WHEN WE VISITED, BRINKER WAS STILL WORKING OUT SOME OF THE TECHNICAL KINKS WITH A SOLAR AND BATTERY-POWERED DEVICE THAT PLAYS BIRD CALLS DURING THE DAY, AND LIGHTS UP SMALL WARNING SIGNS AROUND THE PLATFORM AT NIGHT.

>> THE SOCIAL ATTRACTION CONCEPT HERE WITH DECOYS AND SOUND WAS DEVELOPED TO RESTORE PUFFINS IN MAINE 25, 30 YEARS AGO.

AND ONCE YOU PROVED IT WORKED WITH ATTRACTING PUFFINS, PEOPLE STARTED USING IT FOR OTHER THINGS LIKE COMMON TERNS, ROYAL TERNS.

>> Sreenivasan: THE PLATFORM IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED FAR ENOUGH OUT SO SHORE PREDATORS LIKE RACCOONS AND FOXES CAN'T GET TO IT, WHILE ALSO BEING PROTECTED FROM WAVES AND IN A LOCATION WHERE THE PLATFORM'S ANCHORS WOULDN'T DISTURB AQUATIC VEGETATION.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME A FLOATING PLATFORM LIKE THIS HAS BEEN TRIED OUT ON THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S., AND WHILE SMITH IS HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY ATTRACT TERNS, HE SEES IT AS A STOP-GAP SOLUTION.

>> I KNOW WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN GOING OUT AND BUILDING THESE FLOATING NESTING PLATFORMS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WHAT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS MORE OF A NATURAL HABITAT LIKE THESE ISLANDS, AND BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THOSE ISLANDS FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.

>> Sreenivasan: TO RE-NOURISH AND BUILD UP MORE NATURAL ISLANDS IN THE BAY WOULD REQUIRE FEDERAL AGENCIES LIKE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DREDGE THE BAY AND DIRECT THE SEDIMENT TO PROTECTED ISLANDS FOR BIRDS.

>> WE SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS NOURISHING THE BEACH IN OCEAN CITY SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE, PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE TO COME AND RECREATE, WHILE IT WOULD ONLY TAKE A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PERIODICALLY MAINTAIN ISLANDS OUT HERE, THAT WOULD KEEP ROYAL TERNS HERE, COMMON TERNS, BLACK SKIMMERS, AND KEEP THE COASTAL BAY SYSTEM DIVERSE, HEALTHY, AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE THAT WILDLIFE CAN BE FOR US.

>> Sreenivasan: AFTER SOME TWEAKING, THE SENSOR FOR THE BIRD CALLS AND LIGHTS ARE NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL.

>> IT'S DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> Sreenivasan: THE BOAT IS PACKED UP AND UNTIED FROM THE PLATFORM, LEAVING THIS FLOATING PATCH OF SHELL, HOPEFULLY, FOR A PASSING TERN OR BLACK SKIMMER LOOKING TO NEST.

>> Sreenivasan: FINALLY TONIGHT, IT IS THE 77th ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY, THE LANDING OF MORE THAN 150,000 ALLIED TROOPS ON THE BEACHES OF FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944, MARKING A TURNING POINT THAT LED TO THE EVENTUAL END OF WORLD WAR II.

COVID RESTRICTIONS LIMITED ATTENDANCE TO THE ANNUAL CEREMONY AT THE AMERICAN CEMETERY IN FRANCE, WHERE THOUSANDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS ARE BURIED.

THIS YEAR, THE ONLY SURVIVING D-DAY VETERAN ABLE TO ATTEND WAS CHARLES SHAY, A NATIVE AMERICAN WHO WAS A U.S. ARMY MEDIC DURING THE LANDING AND WHO NOW LIVES IN FRANCE.

MORE THAN 4,400 ALLIED TROOPS LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE LANDINGS.

THOUSANDS MORE WERE INJURED.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."

FOR THE LATEST NEWS UPDATES VISIT pbs.org/newshour.

I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

THE ANDERSON FAMILY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

THE LEONARD AND NORMA KLORFINE FOUNDATION.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

THE ESTATE OF WORTHINGTON MAYO- SMITH.

WE TRY TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT, TO NOT MISS WHAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

AT MUTUAL OF AMERICA, WE BELIEVE TAKING CARE OF TOMORROW CAN HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY.

MUTUAL OF AMERICA FINANCIAL GROUP, RETIREMENT SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: CONSUMER CELLULAR.

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