Oct 18 Is Facebook really ready for the 2020 election? By Barbara Ortutay, David Klepper, Associated Press Ever since Russian agents and other opportunists abused its platform in an attempt to manipulate the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Facebook has insisted — repeatedly — that it’s learned its lesson and is no longer a conduit for misinformation, voter… Continue reading
Oct 17 AP FACT CHECK: Trump sees what others do not in the pandemic By Hope Yen, Calvin Woodward, Associated Press “I believe we’re rounding the corner.” “We’re a winner on the excess mortality.” “We have the vaccines coming and we have the therapies coming.” “We have done an amazing job.” President Donald Trump sees in the pandemic what he wants… Continue reading
Oct 17 Rural Midwest hospitals struggling to handle virus surge By Stephen Groves, Associated Press Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn’t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August. But over the last two weeks, its rate of new cases per person soared to one… Continue reading
Oct 16 Watch 4:19 Pandemic pauses the growing season for this Arctic gardening guru By Erin McKinstry, Alaska Public Media North of the Arctic Circle, in the tiny Alaskan village of Anaktuvuk, one woman is trying to expand agriculture in a climate largely hostile to it. Nasaġraq Rainey Hopson has successfully grown fresh produce for her community for several years,… Continue watching
Oct 15 Drought more likely than blizzards this winter, forecasters say By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press U.S. weather officials are predicting a mostly warmer than normal winter, but they are also worried about a worsening drought. Continue reading
Oct 15 E.U. leaders divided over new climate goals for 2030 By Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press European Union leaders have agreed they need to raise their climate ambition above the existing target but stopped short of endorsing a proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels. Continue reading
Oct 15 WATCH: Amy Coney Barrett deflects Sen. Harris's questions on climate change By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett refused to say whether she accepts the science of climate change, saying she lacks the expertise to know for sure and calling it a topic too controversial to get into. Continue reading
Oct 14 Why understanding superspreaders is key to controlling COVID-19 By Fedor Kossakovski COVID superspreading events happen almost exclusively indoors – meatpacking plants and prisons, bars and overnight camps – so environment is definitely important. But why most people do not transmit the coronavirus and some transmit a lot is still a mystery. Continue reading
Oct 13 UN report: Climate change means more weather disasters every year By Associated Press In the wake of heat waves, global warming, forest fires, storms, droughts and a rising number of hurricanes, the U.N. weather agency is warning that the number of people who need international humanitarian help could rise 50% by 2030. Continue reading
Oct 12 How risky is voting in person? Here's how to navigate your options during the pandemic By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas Voting is a fundamentally local process that varies from state to state and looks different depending on where you are. Here's how to determine which option is right for you. Continue reading