Melissa Block

Melissa Block appears in the following:

Revisiting Sacred Cows: Which Figures From History Do We Honor, And How?

Friday, July 03, 2020

Statues have been taken down; names scrubbed from institutions. The national reckoning over race has reenergized debates over historical figures and the scrutiny goes beyond Confederate monuments.

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Push To Remove Confederate Monuments Opens Debate On Other Honored Historical Figures

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Statues have been taken down. Names are being scrubbed from institutions. The national reckoning over race has led to closer scrutiny of which figures from history we honor, and how.

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At The D.C. Protests, A 'Lean On Me' Singalong Offered A Moment Of Solace

Saturday, June 06, 2020

This week at the protests in Washington, D.C., thousands of voices joined spontaneously in singing the Bill Withers classic "Lean on Me," led by local musician Kenny Sway.

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Memorializing Those Who Died In The Time Of COVID-19

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Since it's impossible to hold mass public gatherings to mourn those who have died of COVID-19, people are creating new ways to memorialize the dead.

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Projects Across The U.S. Memorialize Coronavirus Victims

Monday, May 25, 2020

As the U.S. nears the grim milestone of 100,000 dead from COVID-19, various projects around the country are trying to make sure that those who have died are remembered for who they were.

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Los Angeles, D.C. And Chicago Still Seeing Plateau, Not Decline In New COVID-19 Cases

Thursday, May 21, 2020

The White House says coronavirus indicators are trending down across most of the U.S., but are a concern in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles. City health officials say progress is being made.

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Virologist Spends His Days 'Hunting The Thing That Wants To Hunt Us'

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

Christopher Mores is among those trying to unlock secrets of the novel coronavirus. He spends 14-hour days with his team throwing everything they have at this pathogen, looking for ways to defeat it.

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Meet The Team Behind The Coronavirus Tracker Watched By Millions

Monday, April 13, 2020

A small team at Johns Hopkins University early on created what's become one of the most authoritative interactive online dashboards, tracking COVID-19 data around the world.

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U.S. May Get More Ventilators But Run Out Of Medicine For COVID-19 Patients

Saturday, April 04, 2020

There have been dramatic spikes in demand for sedatives, pain medications, paralytics and other drugs that are crucial for patients who are on ventilators.

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'A Matter Of Common Decency': What Literature Can Teach Us About Epidemics

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Authors explore questions of morality, evil, solidarity and survival in Albert Camus' The Plague, Geraldine Brooks' Year of Wonders and Karen Thompson Walker's The Dreamers.

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All Nerddoms Welcome: The Intergalactic Krewe Of Chewbacchus Parades In New Orleans

Sunday, February 02, 2020

In New Orleans, arguably the most far-out pre-Mardi Gras parade is staged by the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus: home to "revelrous Star Wars freaks, Trekkies, Whovians... and all super-nerds."

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Nerd Out With Mardi Gras' Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus

Saturday, February 01, 2020

In New Orleans, the most fanciful pre-Mardi Gras parade is by the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus, home to "revelrous Star Wars Trekkies." We check in as they gear up for tonight's parade.

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Writer John McPhee Explains His 'Old-Man Project'

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Author John McPhee tells us why he is undertaking what he calls an "old-man project" — writing about the scraps of unwritten stories he's thought about over the years.

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Iranian Americans Anxiously Follow Events In Iran

Friday, January 10, 2020

The U.S. and Iran may have pulled back from the brink of war but tensions remain high. Iranian American activists and writers talk about their fears and hopes for what's next.

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Drug Overdoses Contribute To Rise In Midlife Mortality In Ohio River Valley

Monday, December 23, 2019

Life expectancy in the U.S. has taken a significant downward turn. This is especially true in Ohio and West Virginia, which have the highest rates of overdose deaths among people ages 25 to 64.

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How Rick Perry Became A Key Figure In The Trump Impeachment Probe

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Energy Secretary Rick Perry urged President Trump to make that now-infamous July phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. But what's Perry's connection to Ukraine?

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Gun Control Is Front And Center In Virginia Races

Friday, October 11, 2019

A mass shooting there this spring that left 12 dead has put the issue into sharp focus. Democrats — bolstered by large cash infusions from gun control groups — hope to turn the state legislature blue.

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10 Years After Haiti's Earthquake, 'This Music School Will Never Stop'

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Nearly 10 years ago, an earthquake devastated Haiti, destroying a legendary music school. A youth choir and orchestra have been touring the US and hope to rebuild their school in Port-au-Prince.

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'Blinking Guy' Channels Meme Fame Into Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser

Sunday, September 22, 2019

If you've been on social media in the past two years, you've probably seen Drew Scanlon's face as the "blinking white guy" gif. He's now raising money for multiple sclerosis research.

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Political Roundup: The Whistleblower, The Democrats And The White House

Sunday, September 22, 2019

President Trump's conversations with world leaders are echoing through Congress and the campaign trail.

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