Rural Communities Fall Farther Behind In COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Cities are leaving rural areas behind in the race to vaccinate against COVID-19, but some states' suburbs are struggling, too. To close the gap experts say, outreach needs to be hyperlocal. Austin Fast
Senator Presses Landlord Over Report It Evicts Black Renters At Higher Rates A Senator is asking why a corporate landlord has filed to evict renters in predominantly Black counties at four times the rate as renters in predominantly white counties. Chris Arnold
Federal COVID Workplace Safety Rules Are Here. But Only For Health Care Workers The Biden administration has issued an emergency rule that requires health care employers to take steps to protect their workers from COVID-19. Andrea Hsu
The Clock's Ticking For 178 Hospital Workers Suspended For Not Getting Vaccinated Employees at Houston Methodist who are unwilling to get the shot say the vaccines are unsafe and even "experimental." The hospital system's CEO says they're spouting "anti-vaccination rhetoric." Bill Chappell
Japan Aims To Convince A Wary Public The Olympics Will Be Safe Anger at the government's insistence on pushing ahead with the games remains intense, but Japan's ramped-up vaccination campaign may be helping to ease some safety fears. Anthony Kuhn
India's COVID Orphans Face Trauma And Trafficking Risks India is trying to track — and help — the hundreds of children orphaned by the pandemic. Are the government efforts enough to protect them? Kamala Thiagarajan
Ready, Set ... Think! Hackathon Aims To Kill Off Fake Health Rumors How do you fight misinformation around neglected tropical diseases? In this competition, teams of college students across the globe had 24 hours to cook up a cool plan. Nadia Whitehead
Inflation Is Surging. The Price Of A Toyota Pickup Truck Helps Explain Why The Labor Department says consumer prices jumped 5% for the 12 months ending in May. That's the sharpest increase in nearly 13 years, as the economy rebounds from the pandemic recession. Scott Horsley
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
