Nation Aug 05 Minneapolis officials grapple with question of police reform — or replacement The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May prompted calls to change the policing structure there. On Wednesday night, the city’s charter commission will decide whether to ask voters to begin the process of abolishing the police force --…
Agents for Change Jul 27 Why India’s coronavirus numbers probably underestimate the country’s outbreak India has reported more than 1 million confirmed coronavirus infections -- a number exceeded only by the U.S. and Brazil. But experts say that both cases and deaths in the country are likely underestimates due to gaps in testing and…
Economy Jun 24 Why these meatpacking workers fear for their health and safety amid COVID-19 Many U.S. meatpacking plants shut down this spring due to coronavirus outbreaks. Nationwide, more than 27,000 workers have become infected, and nearly 100 have died. But in late April, President Trump ordered the facilities to stay open, deeming them critical…
Nation Jun 15 How Minneapolis is trying to reimagine the future of policing Since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, calls have grown for that city to overhaul its police department. Now, the effort to “dismantle the police department as we know it” has gained the support…
Nation Jun 01 Minneapolis’ long history of policing black and white communities differently The problems with criminal justice in Minnesota’s Twin Cities extend beyond the George Floyd case. Of the 100 largest metro areas in the country, Minneapolis’ income gap between black and white families is the second largest, at nearly $50,000, and…
World May 15 Densely populated Bangladesh faces immense infection control challenge Bangladesh is about the size of Iowa, but it has 50 times as many people. That extremely high population density makes containing coronavirus a huge challenge -- as does the recent influx of a million refugees from neighboring Myanmar. Special…
Agents for Change Apr 15 Developing countries’ fragile hygiene and health care raise COVID-19 risks Much of the recent news about the coronavirus pandemic has focused on the globe's richer countries. But how is the developing world, where health care resources are strained in the best of times, preparing for COVID-19? To find out, special…
World Feb 11 India’s effort to clean up sacred but polluted Ganga River The Ganga River, known as the Ganges under British rule, is one of the most revered waterways in the world -- and also among the most polluted. Stretching from the Himalayan foothills to the Bay of Bengal, it provides water…
World Jan 14 Water-stressed cities in India turn to innovation for a safe, stable supply Half the population of India lives in areas where water resources are highly stressed. In the coastal city of Chennai, rapid economic development and a population boom have jeopardized supplies of freshwater, prompting officials to rely on desalination of the…
Agents for Change Nov 07 What’s behind extreme air pollution in India A toxic brew lingers in the skies over India, created by everything from agricultural burning to industrial pollution. Cars are also a major contributor, with roughly 1400 vehicles added to the roads daily. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro examined…