Good local news outlets are gaining new audiences amid the coronavirus crisis. But many face deep financial strain. This story puts a very human face on the struggle to keep the lights on – and communities informed. 

The handling of the pandemic poses a major test for America’s position as a global leader, especially from China. But it could also present an opportunity for the U.S. to reassert its role in the world and better challenge China.

Some public officials propose calling up the military to support the U.S. pandemic response. But there are many reasons, as this story explores, why the Pentagon is extremely cautious about the scope of its role.

Performers have been hit hard as halls and venues have been shuttered. But many are getting creative about how to keep their art alive – and so are those who are trying to support them in tough times. 

As climate change and income inequality spur conversations across the country, many cities are considering changes to make public transportation work better for their citizens. For one city in Massachusetts, that meant making some buses free. (Watch the video.)

Just in time for National Volunteer Month in April, Americans are discovering the meaning of sacrifice in service to others. They are self-isolating during a pandemic, both to protect themselves and their communities. This same awareness of service could be said of paying taxes, joining the military, or doing jury duty. Yet this latest type of mass goodwill, already seared into the collective memory, could have its own impact long after the final defeat of COVID-19.

Staying at home is not the only good turn in a bad time. Some are tapping the internet to tutor low-income students, reduce loneliness in seniors, or ensure people get accurate information. Others who know how to travel safely have responded to calls for volunteers to deliver meals, help hospitals, or just mow a neighbor’s lawn.

The exact measure of volunteering may never be known. But for those who are participating in this unique civic engagement, there is a new blueprint on how to continue the experience.

On March 25, a federal commission set up three years ago to bolster America’s culture of service issued its final report. Its key recommendation: create a national roster of Americans with critical skills ready to serve in a public emergency. The panel set a goal of expanding national service opportunities so that 1 million Americans participate annually by 2031.

Congress established the 11-member National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service mainly over a question on how to improve expand the selective service system. Indeed, the panel recommended that women be required to register for the military draft. But its mandate included all aspects of service that might improve security in any type of emergency. Or as one commissioner, Debra Wada, put it, “Including women in the registration process reaffirms the nation’s fundamental belief in a common defense, and signals that all Americans may be expected to serve.”

Since its founding, the United States has frequently sought to enhance a spirit of service through programs such as the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. That spirit picks up after a major crisis, such as the 9/11 attacks. Now the coronavirus crisis again puts a spotlight on volunteering for the greater good. When faced with a common threat, more people view service to others as a reflection of a higher good, one able to dispel the threat. When seen in that light, enduring a sacrifice like self-isolation is made easier.