You are viewing the "Laurel Wamsley | NPR" Archives
![The CDC announced Thursday that fully vaccinated people can safely stop wearing masks indoors. Kyle Faircloth teaches a class at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla., in February.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ap21062560847471-e50a055d7f8443626b0fb7a789cb2a82a75e58e3-scaled-e1620938776769-900x422.jpg)
Fully Vaccinated People Can Stop Wearing Masks Indoors And Outdoors, CDC Says
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The loosened guidance should make it easier to reopen schools and workplaces. Mask requirements are still in place for public transport and health care settings.
![Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin listens to his defense attorney make closing arguments on Monday during his trial in the death of George Floyd.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ap_21109604855161-722286e201da0400f8c7c82d899c1b9549f2905c-e1618953691893-900x422.jpg)
Derek Chauvin Found Guilty Of George Floyd’s Murder
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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George Floyd’s death sparked sustained protests in Minneapolis, across the United States and around the world. It also set off a national reckoning on police violence and systemic racism.
![Patrice Howard writes on white flags before planting them to remember her recently deceased father and close friends in November at "IN AMERICA How Could This Happen...," a public art installation in Washington, D.C. Led by artist Suzanne Firstenberg, volunteers planted white flags in a field to symbolize each life lost to COVID-19 in the U.S.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/gettyimages-1229959341-9514c2a5eae2491ba08b2bd5fddd5ff319d74806-scaled-e1613665469644-900x422.jpg)
American Life Expectancy Dropped By A Full Year In The First Half Of 2020
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The group that suffered the largest drop in life expectancy was Black males — a decline of 3 years. Hispanic males also saw a large decrease, with a decline of 2.4 years.
![Dr. Anthony Fauci, shown here earlier this month, participated on Wednesday in the Biden administration's coronavirus team's briefing.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ap21027123283659-631f6964bcfc378ffe9de7a2c6b7ae25674583c8-scaled-e1611780334931-900x422.jpg)
At Biden Administration’s 1st COVID-19 Briefing, A Pledge To Let Scientists Lead
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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“This is a national emergency. Four hundred thousand people have died. Everything is on the table across the whole supply chain,” said Jeffrey Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator.
![It's been 101 days since the last case of community transmission of COVID-19 in New Zealand, and life has largely returned to normal. Above: Residents exercise at Hagley Park in Christchurch on Sunday.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ap_20222056779409-4f155c516bd85e9af214def063e8916888736fac-scaled-e1597083909900-900x422.jpg)
In New Zealand, Life Is Ordinary Again After 101 Days With No Community Spread
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The head of the World Health Organization has called the island nation “a global exemplar” for its success in controlling the virus.
![Going to the beach](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/miotke_npr_beach_final-e33269330aa9d06c378837a34a646552baf6eedf-900x422.jpg)
From Camping To Dining Out: Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities
By: Allison Aubrey | NPR, Carmel Wroth | NPR, Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The weather’s warming up and public spaces are starting to reopen. How do you decide what’s safe to do? We have guidance to help you compare and evaluate the risks.
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Burrow-Heisman-Trophy-1-1-900x422.png)
Heisman Winner Spotlights Hunger In His Hometown, And Food Pantry Donations Pour In
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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When LSU quarterback Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, he used his acceptance speech not only to thank his teammates, his family and his coach — but also… Read More
![Federal prosecutors announced charges of sex trafficking against wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein on Monday. Epstein is seen here in 2005.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gettyimages-591529968-3b7593c537d029c1a5f7457c2de601ee817a9082-e1562599992793-900x422.jpg)
Wealthy Financier Jeffrey Epstein Charged With Sex Trafficking Of Minors
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York announced two counts against Epstein. He is charged with one count of sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex trafficking.
![The IRS Free File program is under scrutiny after reports that tax-prep companies made it difficult for people to actually their file taxes for free.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ap_19059688639495-3214d547f6185d3e6b4dbc5e59e677f1b6584ebb-e1557238192576-900x422.jpg)
H&R Block, TurboTax Accused Of Obstructing Access To Free Tax Filing
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The IRS says it is reviewing concerns about its Free File program after ProPublica reporting found that tax-prep companies made it difficult to find the program.
![The Justice Department sent a letter in support of repealing the entirety of the Affordable Care Act. Here, a sign in support of the ACA in April 2017 in New York City.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/gettyimages-663274046-55c04fcf0edb3cb95e7e7da201eec0fb5e27a741-e1553620148196-900x422.jpg)
Trump Administration Now Says Entire Affordable Care Act Should Be Repealed
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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A letter from the Department of Justice announced the shift, in support of a district court judge’s ruling that the law is unconstitutional. The case will likely end up in the Supreme Court.
![Measles cases have spiked globally after years of decline. Here, a family physician prepares a measles vaccine in Bucharest, Romania. Doctors there say that parental hesitancy about vaccines and lack of faith in state institutions have hurt immunization efforts.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/gettyimages-948353934-3ed5d776c8f15f551260046331f73da3e7c16b6d-e1552410531564-900x422.jpg)
Measles Is Spiking Around The Globe. How Worried Should We Be?
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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There are outbreaks in rich countries and poor countries, from the United States to Madagascar. And the World Health Organization says vaccine hesitancy is a top 10 threat to global health.
![Commissioners in Sandusky, Ohio, have voted to make Election Day a city holiday, in place of Columbus Day. Sandusky resident Moses Croom is seen here voting at a polling station at a local library in November 2008.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/sandusky-voting-day-2008-457c449af7d34cb0af6eda9e98fc2fed08373fa8-e1549725899651-900x422.jpg)
Sandusky, Ohio, Makes Election Day A Paid Holiday — By Swapping Out Columbus Day
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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Officials have been “thinking a lot about voter access and democracy,” says City Manager Eric Wobser, “and so we thought it was a really natural switch.”
![New York's LaGuardia Airport and a few others experienced delays on Friday morning, as the FAA said it was experiencing an uptick in workers calling in sick. LaGuardia is seen here in November.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/laguardia-aa96419983f30a8f5f8a4decde69163d305c629a-e1548436576395-900x422.jpg)
Flights Delayed At LaGuardia, Other Airports As Workers Call In Sick Amid Shutdown
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The FAA said it was mitigating staff shortages by rerouting traffic and adding workers. The White House said it was monitoring the delays, which also affected airports in Philadelphia and Newark, N.J.
![Thousands of public school teachers and their supporters protested against a pension reform bill at the Kentucky state Capitol in April. The state's Supreme Court has now struck down the law.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/gettyimages-941053734-ad5f5ec5594cad1d9ad9aa36dba4d13c180b964c-e1544725225622-900x422.jpg)
Kentucky Supreme Court Strikes Down Pension Law That Sparked Teacher Protests
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The decision is a major victory for state employees, as well as for state Attorney General Andy Beshear as he runs to unseat Gov. Matt Bevin, who championed the controversial law.
![A highly potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl is often mixed into other drugs sold on the street, including pills, heroin and even cocaine.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/pills-ce07488a3e652b378ebe8bdfe445d8d88aa43393-e1544723676759-900x422.jpg)
Fentanyl Surpasses Heroin As Drug Most Often Involved In Deadly Overdoses
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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When fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, infiltrated the drug supply in the U.S. it had an immediate, dramatic effect on the overdose rate.
![Saga Vanecek found the sword while wading in Sweden's Lake Vidöstern.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/43255827_1553799374719573_2202202184186068992_n-bb277d59fac676d94a8e2d26a9b2af152d563137-e1538754761509-900x422.jpg)
8-Year-Old Girl Discovers Iron Age Sword In Swedish Lake
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The sword is about 33 inches long and “exceptionally well-preserved.” The 1,500-year-old artifact even has a sheath made of wood and leather.
![A new report finds that 2017 was one of the hottest years ever recorded. Here, a man dives into the sea in Istanbul in July 2017 during a heat wave that caused record temperatures in much of Turkey.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/gettyimages-805721036-bc25838163daf3c068fec1f96f39f821b408dc5a-e1533158937603-900x422.jpg)
2017 Was One Of The Hottest Years On Record
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a record high. Global sea level was the highest on record, too. NOAA’s State of the Climate report points to the urgency of addressing climate change.
![Yury Zhirkov of Russia wins a header Mohammed Alburayk of Saudi Arabia during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Group A match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday in Moscow, Russia.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/gettyimages-974306166-252ea77c8e867f0226fcd16c9fd810ccc3cdcfa8-e1528992340656-900x422.jpg)
World Cup 2018 Preview: What You Need To Know
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The soccer tournament kicks off in Moscow on Thursday. From new stars to controversial stadiums, here’s our guide on what to follow.
![The Federal Communications Commission rollback of net neutrality went into effect today. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai championed the move, while commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel opposed it.](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/gettyimages-818845454-b0fdcefd908e83ef6022dc719b4030c3b6ff0d10-e1528750118664-900x422.jpg)
Net Neutrality Has Been Rolled Back — But It’s Not Dead Yet
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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FCC Chairman Ajit Pai succeeded in repealing the 2015 rules for internet service providers. But some states have already acted to keep net neutrality alive on their turf.
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/gettyimages-928148482-04f090356bc24b8ad64c8a29235eb5c5178a112c-e1526337879344-900x422.jpg)
Fatal Pedestrian Crashes Increasingly Involve SUVs, Study Finds
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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Pedestrian deaths have spiked in the U.S. since 2010. SUVs have surged in popularity, but their design can be especially deadly for those on foot.
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/illustration-b4fd233cf79245223c34768527cfb9f1f5f0a62b-e1525194103917-900x422.jpg)
As Facebook Shows Its Flaws, What Might A Better Social Network Look Like?
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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Facebook has become ubiquitous in the last 14 years, but it may not dominate forever. Some technologists are already designing the next social networks — and they look a lot different.
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/rtx5eztb-421587853a45e2c9ca9c131a60db2ee729740468-e1522431988916-900x422.jpg)
Why 300,000 Volkswagens Are Being Stored In These Massive Auto Boneyards
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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Dramatic photos show thousands of the cars awaiting their fate. Volkswagen says it has paid more than $7.4 billion to buy back diesel cars in the U.S.
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ap_18060411307863-b4984b0f5980d91dc04077f3d86a5593d359020c-e1519921481271-900x422.jpg)
Putin Says Russia Has New Nuclear Weapons That Can’t Be Intercepted
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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The weapons include cruise missiles, nuclear-powered underwater drones and a new hypersonic missile. Putin warned that any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies would trigger a response.
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/screen-shot-2018-02-02-at-1.56.22-pm-a4e8dece56ed65ca1858681f5a7083ab1d99b7b1-e1517681857192-900x422.png)
‘Jeopardy!’ Contestants Fumble Entire Football Category, To Coach Trebek’s Dismay
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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After clearing the rest of the board, the last category was “Talkin’ Football.” It soon became evident why the contestants had avoided it.
![](https://woub.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/daniel-smith-f44d2d84ca856c25bc69431f17d758a4edb04720-900x422.jpg)
Official Who Allowed Tree Cutting By NFL Owner Is Named National Parks Director
By: Laurel Wamsley | NPR
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Interior Department Sec. Ryan Zinke announced the promotion of Paul Daniel Smith, who was reprimanded in 2006 for inappropriately using his position on behalf of Dan Snyder, who wanted a better view.