COVID-19

A historic drop in mortgage rates has millions of homeowners refinancing to save money. It's helping home sales, but it's not helping the broader economy as much as it would in a normal recession.

Record Low Mortgage Rates Put More Cash In Pockets, But May Not Boost Economy Much

5:11pm July 21, 2020

by Chris Arnold

A historic drop in rates has millions of homeowners refinancing to save money. It's helping home sales, but it's not helping the broader economy as much as it would in a normal recession.

Queue Listen Now

Elon University Releases COVID-19 Testing Plan For The Fall

4:20pm July 21, 2020

by Bethany Chafin

Elon University students, faculty, and staff must have a COVID-19 test before

Transportation

Driver License Road Tests Waived For N.C. Adult Applicants

4:04pm July 21, 2020

by Associated Press

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrive for a joint news conference at the end of the European summit at EU headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.

EU Agrees To $858 Billion In Grants, Loans To Bail Out Pandemic-Battered Economies

9:52am July 21, 2020

by Scott Neuman

Exhausted leaders emerged from a marathon five days of talks with a rescue package to help member states weather their worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro waves to supporters from the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia on Monday, the same day that two more of his Cabinet ministers were diagnosed with COVID-19.

Brazil Tops 80,000 COVID-19 Deaths As 2 Government Ministers Test Positive For Virus

8:03am July 21, 2020

by Scott Neuman

The country's citizenship minister and education minister separately announced their diagnoses on social media the same day that the country announced a grim new milestone in the pandemic.

l-r) John David Washington and Robert Pattinson in Warner Bros. Pictures' action epic "TENET," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Arts

Christopher Nolan's Sci-Fi Thriller 'Tenet' Delayed Indefinitely

9:28pm July 20, 2020

by Bob Mondello

The new movie from the maker of Dunkirk and the Dark Knight Trilogy has been delayed yet again, with no new release date announced. This may end hopes of a Hollywood summer blockbuster season

Middle school teacher Brittany Myers (center) stands in protest last week at the Hillsborough County School District Office in Tampa, Fla. Teachers and administrators have rallied against the reopening of Florida schools due to concerns about the coronavi

Florida Teachers Sue To Block School Coronavirus Reopening Mandate

9:04pm July 20, 2020

by Greg Allen

Florida's biggest teachers union, along with parents, have sued the state over its plans to reopen schools with in-person instruction next month. They're worried about a surge of coronavirus cases.

A health care worker talks to a patient in the emergency room at OakBend Medical Center in Richmond, Texas, on July 15.

Health & Safety

Texas Doctor Says Wave Of COVID-19 Cases Hit 'Like A Tsunami'

5:25pm July 20, 2020

by Rachel Martin

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Dr. Jamil Madi of Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas, about how the coronavirus case increases have affected his ICU in the Rio Grande Valley.

Queue Listen Now

Candles burn in front of a memorial for Lena Nunez, 10, on June 29 in Chicago. The child was shot and killed by a stray bullet while watching TV with her brother in her grandmother's home, reports say.

National

Crime Has Declined Overall During The Pandemic, But Shootings And Killings Are Up

2:41pm July 20, 2020

by Cheryl Corley

The pandemic has forced people to change their lives dramatically, which has contributed to the crime rate dropping. The bad news: an uptick in shootings and killings.

Queue Listen Now

Lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday. On Saturday, the flag was lowered to half staff to honor the life of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who died late Friday.

Politics & Government

Lawmakers Are Far Apart On A New Coronavirus Relief Bill. Here Are 5 Sticking Points

1:21pm July 20, 2020

As Congress returns from its recess, the sticking points in another pandemic relief package include unemployment benefits. Plus, here are five more things to watch this week.