Category: International

Eight states and the District of Columbia went to the polls Tuesday. More mail-in ballots and fewer in-person polling places caused long delays in some places, highlighting the challenges for the November elections.

KUT’s Ashley Lopez reports, since naturalization ceremonies have been halted due to the pandemic, thousands who were due to become U.S. citizens over the last few weeks are now in limbo.

Public health workers are encountering resistance, online harassment and even violent threats as they conduct contact tracing and other containment strategies in their local communities. NPR’s Will Stone has more.

Plus, a visit to the Six Feet Away Museum in Jacksonville, Florida, and an update on a coronavirus vaccine.

Find and support your local public radio station

Sign up for ‘The New Normal’ newsletter.

The more we learn about the coronavirus, the clearer it becomes that it’s disproportionately affecting communities of color. And as protests continue across the country, some health experts worry that the hardest hit areas could be in for another wave of cases.

By almost every economic measure, black Americans have a harder time getting a leg up. As the pandemic has sent the country’s economy into the worst downturn in generations, it’s only gotten worse. More from NPR’s Scott Horsley and the team at NPR’s Planet Money.

Despite all of this, there is a bit of good news. Some communities across the country are reporting a decrease in COVID-19 cases. NPR’s Rob Stein breaks down the national outlook. [LINK TK]

Plus, advice on how to combat anxiety, avoid insomnia and get some rest.

Sign up for ‘The New Normal’ newsletter.

You can find more sleep tips on NPR’s Life Kit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and NPR One.

Find and support your local public radio station

The coronavirus pandemic has collided with protests all over the country over police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and many other black Americans.

Now public health officials are concerned for the health of protesters. Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms even encouraged protesters in her city to get tested.

NPR’s Pam Fessler reports the legal fight between Democrats and Republicans over mail-in voting has intensified ever since the pandemic hit.

Listen to Short Wave‘s episode about what we will ⁠— and won’t ⁠— remember about the pandemic on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and NPR One.

Find and support your local public radio station

Sign up for ‘The New Normal’ newsletter

Bestselling author Cheryl Strayed joins NPR’s Ari Shaprio as listeners share stories about acts of kindness they’ve experienced.

These excerpts come from NPR’s nightly radio show about the coronavirus crisis, The National Conversation. In this episode:

-NPR reporter Miles Parks answers questions about how upcoming elections can be run safely.

-Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of ‘Wild’ and host of the podcast Sugar Calling, joins NPR host Ari Shapiro to hear listeners’ stories about acts of kindness during the pandemic.

Find and support your local public radio station.

Democrats want another coronavirus relief bill. A sticking point for Republicans is $600 a week in federal unemployment benefits — which means some workers have been able to collect more money on unemployment than they did in their previous jobs.

Essential workers who have continued to work may have received temporary wage bumps. But NPR’s Alina Selyukh reports many companies are ending that hazard pay.

Challenges to statewide stay-at-home orders are mounting in rural communities that have few coronavirus cases. NPR’s Kirk Siegler reports on the dispute in Baker County, Oregon.

Plus, experts weigh in on the safety of different summer activities.

Find and support your local public radio station

Sign up for ‘The New Normal’ newsletter

A new study suggests the coronavirus is both more common and less deadly than it first appeared, NPR’s Jon Hamilton reports.

From NPR’s Joel Rose: a shortage of machines to process tests is the latest bottleneck in the pandemic supply chain.

Certain countries like New Zealand, Germany and several nations in Asia have been successful in controlling the coronvavirus. NPR’s Jason Beaubien reports on how leadership played a strong role.

Mara Gay is 33-years-old, lives in New York City and got sick with COVID-19 in April. She spoke with NPR’s Michel Martin about her long recovery process, despite being young and healthy.

Plus, two teenagers who were looking forward to competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which was cancelled this week.

Find and support your local public radio station

Sign up for ‘The New Normal’ newsletter

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 100,000 people have died in the United States from COVID-19, and experts at the World Health Organization warn a second peak of COVID-19 infections could occur during this first wave of the virus. Meanwhile, the global race for a vaccine is generating competition between nations, mainly the U.S. and China.

New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal more than 60,000 health care workers have been infected with COVID-19, and almost 300 have died. This is a dramatic increase since the CDC first released numbers six weeks ago.

Bangladesh has extended its coronavirus lockdown — except for the garment factories. But with big brands canceling orders, workers face pay cuts, hunger and little to no social distancing.

Plus, an obituary writer reflects on COVID-19 deaths.

Find and support your local public radio station

Sign up for ‘The New Normal’ newsletter

As the United States nears 100,000 coronavirus deaths and states begin to re-open, what’s next for the country? Dr. Ashish Jha of Harvard’s Global Health Institute cautions it’s still early in the crisis.

Researchers have found the coronavirus was introduced to the U.S. in part by affluent travelers — but those weren’t the people hit the hardest.

Cathy Cody owns a janitorial company in a Georgia community with a high rate of COVID-19. Her company offers a new service boxing up the belongings of residents who have died. Read or listen to the full story from NPR’s Morning Edition.

Plus, rollerblading is having a moment.

Find and support your local public radio station

Sign up for ‘The New Normal’ newsletter

From NPR’s Embedded: The workers who produce pork, chicken, and beef in plants around the country have been deemed “essential” by the government and their employers. Now, the factories where they work have become some of the largest clusters for the coronavirus in the country. The workers, many of whom are immigrants, say their bosses have not done enough to protect them.

Regular episodes return tomorrow.

NPR Science Correspondent Joe Palca answers listener questions about vaccine development, and medical experts tackle questions sent in by kids.

These excerpts come from NPR’s nightly radio show about the coronavirus crisis, The National Conversation. In this episode:

–NPR Science Correspondent Joe Palca explains how vaccines are made and the unique challenges associated with COVID-19.

-Kids’ questions are answered by pediatric nurse practitioner Suzannah Stivison from the Capitol Medical Group in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Wanjiku Njoroge, medical director for the Young Child Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Find and support your local public radio station.