The Olympics Are Really Happening. For Athletes, That Means A Huge Number Of Rules Tokyo 2020 organizers now face two tests: Preventing the spread of COVID-19 from foreign visitors to residents of Japan, and keeping athletes healthy and virus-free so they can compete. Laurel Wamsley
Hey Washingtonians! Get A Vaccine. Smoke A Joint. In Washington, adults can now walk away from their COVID-19 vaccine appointment with a free, pre-rolled joint. Other states are also offering incentives to try to convince people to get the shot. Josie Fischels
New Evidence Suggests COVID-19 Vaccines Remain Effective Against Variants An analysis of blood from people who had received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine found a lower level of neutralizing antibodies against viral variants but a strong response involving T cells. Joe Palca
There's A Stark Red-Blue Divide When It Comes To States' Vaccination Rates All of the states with the highest adult vaccination rates went to President Biden in the 2020 election. But the vaccine divide is not just about politics. Domenico Montanaro
The Highly Contagious Delta Variant Is On The Rise In the U.S. The variant accounts for more than 6% of all infections in the U.S. and in some Western states is responsible for more than 18% of cases. Jane Greenhalgh
U.S. Lowers The Travel Risk Rating For Japan, Where COVID Still Shadows The Olympics The revised guidelines are not an enthusiastic endorsement of travel, moving Japan from the highest risk ranking to a tier below. But the change comes as Japan struggles with a surge in infections. Vanessa Romo
Why Millions Of Doses (From Biden) And A Billion Bucks (From Mastercard) Aren't Enough The latest news about donated vaccines and cash aid for low-resource countries seems encouraging. But here's what vaccine experts are saying about supply and demand. Will Stone
People With Disabilities May Face Greater Challenges When Returning To In-Person Work The adoption of flexible work arrangements during the pandemic has helped some employees for whom working from home is ideal. Will this trend continue for the post-pandemic work force? Anna Sirianni
Washingtonians have trouble checking vaccination status as lottery begins As Washingtonians wait to see who will be the first winner of the state's "Shot of a Lifetime" Covid-19 vaccine lottery, some people are having a hard time finding out if they're even eligible to win. Eilís O'Neill
Squalor Behind The Golden Gate: Confronting California's Homelessness Crisis Homelessness has gotten out of control in the Golden State. Will California be able to solve it? Greg Rosalsky
