Mandatory Masking
The most recent story on Election Central examines the growing trend of mandatory mask wearing across communities in the United States. Governors and other state and local leaders are making decisions about whether or not to require masks, and how these mask mandates will be enforced. Mask mandates vary widely depending on where you live […]
Britain’s Art Bailout
It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the global economy. The U.S. Congress used the CARES Act to provide financial assistance to businesses and cities, to help them get back on their feet during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic shutdown. But Great Britain is taking this idea […]
EU Allows Travelers . . . But Not From the U.S.
Planning a European vacation? Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that you will be able to take it anytime soon. That’s because the European Union (EU) has barred travelers from nations with high levels of COVID-19 . . . among them, the United States. Here, btw takes a closer look at the reason for the ban, its potential […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Aunt Jemima Logo to Change A few months ago, btw brought you the story of the Land O’Lakes butter company’s decision to change its logo. The butter logo featured a young Native American woman in a feathered headdress, which many people felt was an offensive racial stereotype. Now, following George Floyd’s death and the protests […]
Yosemite National Park Reopens
You’re probably excited about your favorite stores and restaurants opening back up again after many states have begun to relax their stay-at-home orders. National parks are starting to open up as well, albeit with additional safety precautions in place. One example of this is Yosemite National Park, located in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. The park, […]
Coronavirus Slows in Some Countries
This week’s story update on Election Central looks at how some foreign nations have successfully handled the outbreak of COVID-19. How did they accomplish it? As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fourth month here in the United States, very little seems to have improved. Many states are in the process of reopening, even though rates […]
No Free Money
The COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown has been a disaster for many small businesses in the United States. To help address this problem, the federal government created the PPP, or Paycheck Protection Program. The first round of PPP money–$349 billion–was gone in just thirteen days. However, the second round–an additional $310 billion–still has about a […]
States Begin to Reopen
This week’s story update on Election Central summarizes how some states are opening back up after the coronavirus pandemic quarantine period. One of the greatest challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic is that every state has been impacted differently, and as a result, every state has responded in its own unique way. Back in March, while […]
Living History
Have you ever heard the expression, “May you live in interesting times”? No one knows for sure the origin of the quote, but it certainly applies today. So far, 2020 has been marked by catastrophic wildfires and weather events, murder hornets, and of course, the coronavirus pandemic. Do you ever stop to think about how […]
Unemployment on the Rise
Have you or someone you know lost a job as a result of COVID-19? It should come as no surprise to anyone that the global pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the U.S. economy. But it’s starting to become clear exactly how big a deal this really is. New reports from the Department of […]