Nation Apr 07 America’s infrastructure is crumbling. What should be prioritized? President Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan would prioritize transportation, drinking water and broadband projects, among others. It comes after the American Society of Civil Engineers released its 2021 report card, giving the U.S. infrastructure a C-minus. Emily Feenstra, ASCE's managing…
Nation Apr 05 New COVID variants, relaxed public restrictions cause spike in Michigan hospitalizations Even as more Americans receive vaccinations, parts of the U.S. are seeing a troubling surge in COVID cases. This is especially true for the upper Midwest and Northeast. Michigan is struggling with an especially strong spike. William Brangham speaks to…
Economy Apr 02 Strong jobs report offers signs of hope for an economic recovery The U.S. Labor Department reported Friday a net gain of 916,000 jobs last month, the most since August, while the unemployment rate fell to 6 percent. The upbeat jobs report seems to confirm some economists' forecasts that the economy is…
Nation Apr 01 Americans with disabilities, high-risk conditions struggle with vaccine eligibility Even as the U.S. sets records for daily COVID-19 vaccinations, disparities in availability persist. We cover the stories of some medically vulnerable people, most of whom are still waiting for their shot. And for more on the reasons behind the…
Nation Mar 31 Relative invisibility makes for uphill battle to get COVID vaccines for Americans with IDD People with intellectual and developmental disabilities like Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism often have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19. Plus, many receive care in group living facilities, putting them at further risk. But despite…
World Mar 30 Elizabeth Kolbert’s new book explores striking ways to fix our ecological problems As the Biden administration moves to expand offshore wind power along the east coast in order to tackle what many scientists call a climate crisis, some are suggesting even more revolutionary solutions. Elizabeth Kolbert's “Under a White Sky: The Nature…
Nation Mar 25 Tech heads testify on misinformation in the aftermath of Jan. 6 riots Three top executives from big tech are back in the hot seat on Capitol Hill as lawmakers look to find solutions for misinformation, disinformation and how it spreads. But this time, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, and…
Nation Mar 24 Last week saw mass shootings across the U.S. Could they be a springboard for gun control? Between the tragedies in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado there were several other mass shootings — in Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Stockton, California and Gresham, Oregon. Two people died and 26 were wounded. How can Americans prevent the next gun tragedy?…
Nation Mar 22 AstraZeneca vaccine 79 percent effective at preventing COVID symptoms, U.S. trial shows In the largest COVID vaccine trial yet, AstraZeneca's vaccine was 79 percent effective in preventing symptomatic infections, the company announced Monday. AstraZeneca's vaccine has also been shown to be extremely effective at preventing the most serious outcomes from COVID-19, the…
Health Mar 18 With states reopening widely, new COVID hotspots surface The number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have reduced substantially since the height of the last wave, but with states reopening widely those numbers are spiking again. New data shows the development of several hotspots, with new cases up…