Part one: NY Times NE Bureau Chief Ellen Barry
In a Crowded City, Leaders Struggle to Separate the Sick From the Well. Chelsea, Mass., has an infection rate higher than any other community in the state. With families in cramped housing, it is difficult to contain the spread.
We talk to the author, Ellen Barry, who describes Chelsea, a part of Boston, Ma. Chelsea has a population of 40,000, in a very small and crowded area. Many of the people there are immigrants, and low income. There are many nursing homes. The Covid cases in Chelsea are 7 times the state average. Privacy laws do not allow state officials to identify individuals, only the general address where infected individuals live. The density of population is therefore a barrier to finding the individuals. Infected people have been reluctant to leave their families in order to be quarantined, even at the expense of the state. Additionally, they did not want to stop working, since they would lose pay. Employers do no provide sick leave or PPE’s. In some cases, being identified as Covid positive ended with eviction. In addition, many people were worried about being identified as undocumented, and were afraid of ICE intervention. That leaves a large number of people who are in the community, probably spreading the virus.
Part Two: A Conversation with Doug Burns, who is in the third generation of leadership of the Carroll Times Herald and a gifted writer and columnist for the western Iowa newspaper, and has written about rural journalism, and the challenges that rural newspapers face. Rural papers are financially challenged, but they are trusted by the members of their communities.This is due to their interactions with their readerships, and they are best placed to report on local events. There have been proposals to help save these newspapers by several methods: direct aid from the government, bifurcating the newspapers’ business models, and allow them to be profitable in some operations, while maintaining the non profit status of the news operations as a 501C3, and having government agencies buy ad space. There are some ethical issues associated with the last option, since some of those ads might be political advertising.
Some newspapers have joined together, and have lobbied for provisions like this in the next bailout bill. 74 Senators have indicated support.
Is rural Iowa positioned for a post-pandemic renaissance with fed-up coastal residents?
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/iowa-view/2020/04/20/covid-19-iowa-rural-areas-could-see-post-pandemic-renaissance/5150043002/
Local Media Outlets To D.C. Lawmakers: Consumers Are Leaning On Us During Coronavirus Crisis, But We Need A Lifeline
74 Senators Call for Fed Ad Dollars to Help Local Media
https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/74-senators-call-for-fed-ad-dollars-to-help-local-media
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Defying Trump’s Order, Nebraska Meatpackers Strike – PA National Guard Replaces Striking Nurses – Richmond Threatens to Fire Striking Bus Drivers
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