The Guardian
Study reveals alarming trend in U.S. death rates since 2000
USC’s Jessica Ho blames a combination of behavioral and structural factors, like poor health behaviors and patchwork access to health care.
USA Today
Have social platforms reached their peak? Survey shows little user growth since last year
Two exceptions: YouTube and Reddit, which USC Annenberg’s Karen North notes “has evolved into a really powerful set of communities where important conversations are happening.”
CBS Sacramento
The debate over COVID-19 vaccination passports
Jeffrey Klausner of the Keck School of Medicine of USC looks at the push for and against them: “The idea of vaccine passports is not new. You need vaccinations to go to school, to go to college, to travel certain places.”
NBC News
What to do to ensure that stroke victims get care quickly
The technology to effectively treat strokes exists, provided it’s delivered properly and quickly. But William Mack of the Keck School of Medicine of USC notes that nearly 20% of stroke patients die from their condition and many more are left permanently disabled.
The Sacramento Bee
‘Disappointing’ 2020 Latino turnout found in new analysis; youth voting also lagged
“We thought we’d have a story of a more representative electorate,” says Mindy Romero of the USC Price School’s Center for Inclusive Democracy.
The Hollywood Reporter
Golden Globes’ sponsor unveils plans for reforming organization
Grappling with diversity issues, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has turned to USC’s Shaun Harper for help. The executive director of the USC Race and Equity Center will serve as the association’s strategic diversity adviser for five years.
The Guardian
Why has there been a rise in anti-Asian hate crime in the U.S.?
The increase during the pandemic is forcing the U.S. to reckon with a racism that goes back centuries, USC Dornsife’s Adrian De Leon explains.
The Washington Post
What really works to help an aging brain
If you’re a smoker, quitting is the No. 1 thing you can do, says Elizabeth Zelinski of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology: “Smoking is probably the No. 1 risk factor. It affects your nervous system and vascular system.”
The New Yorker
The musicological zest of Switched on Pop
The popular podcast’s cohosts — Nate Sloan of the USC Thornton School of Music and his friend, songwriter Charlie Harding —were inspired by their own deep analysis of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.” They decided to record their conversations — and the rest is podcast history.
KCRW-FM
Some states are dropping mask requirements, but is now the right time?
California has made a dent in new COVID-19 cases after the winter surge, but people need to remain cautious. “This does not mean that we can throw our masks away and start attending large parties,” says Rita Burke of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “We still have to be vigilant and practice what our public health experts have told us.”
The Conversation
Why repressive Saudi Arabia remains a U.S. ally
Holding considerable economic and strategic clout, Saudi Arabia is still considered an ally of the United States despite a track record of human rights violations, USC Dornsife’s Jeffrey Fields explains.
Last
How planting tropical fruit trees could help fight California wildfires
When USC Viterbi’s Barath Raghavan sees housing developments up against the wilderness, he envisions banana orchards between the two — orchards that could be an effective fire deterrent.
Los Angeles Times
How L.A. County can improve its vaccine distribution process
With additional supplies on the way, Felipe Osorno of Keck Medicine of USC says the state and county need to commit to equitable distribution. In an op-ed, he notes that residents of Latino, Black and poor communities are disproportionately dying from the disease compared to those who live in white, affluent communities.
The Washington Post
Reliving the Capitol trauma during impeachment, and beyond
The pain and discomfort that those trapped in the Capitol felt on Jan. 6 may linger. The experience could permanently affect their ability to do the work they were sent to Washington to do, says Professor Steve Hydon of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
Deadline.com
USC dominates DGA Student Film Awards honoring diverse filmmakers
The Director Guild gives out 16 awards — eight in the West region and eight in the East — and USC students won all but two of the western regional honors.
NBC News
Black Lives Matter movement nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Recognizing the movement — co-founded by Patrisse Cullors, a 2019 graduate of the USC Roski School MFA Art program — “will send a powerful message that peace is founded on equality, solidarity, and human rights,” wrote a Norwegian lawmaker.
Los Angeles Times
Why the mob thought attacking the Capitol was their ‘1776 moment’
The storming of the Capitol illustrates how the language of patriotism and revolution has been co-opted to excuse behavior that could be described as inciting an insurrection, USC Gould’s Franita Tolson writes in an op-ed.
MarketWatch.com
The U.S. is overlooking a powerful tool to loosen the COVID-19 vaccine logjam
Local pharmacies are ideally suited for the job, notes Dean Vassilios Papadopoulos of the USC School of Pharmacy. For starters, they’re convenient — and neighborhood pharmacists often already have a relationship with their customers.
Business Insider
Months after George Floyd’s death, companies are still ‘diversity washing’ instead of making actual changes
While some companies are making real progress, an op-ed from USC Marshall’s Susan Harmeling and a colleague issues a warning: Some overtures may be nothing more than slogans for an Instagram feed or cynical marketing opportunities.
U.S. News & World Report
Stressed out in lockdown, America’s young adults are overeating
Nearly half of those surveyed said they were using food to cope with the pandemic, said Tyler Mason of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. And women were more likely to be doing so.
KNBC-TV
USC will be able to conduct 100,000 COVID-19 tests per week this spring
It’s a huge jump from fall’s 5,000 tests per week. Most results will be ready on the same day as the test.
Los Angeles Daily News
L.A. County cities face a tough task if serious about own public health departments
Only a handful of L.A. County cities have their own health departments. Those that might want to set one up face an uphill battle for staff, funding, accreditation and more, says USC Price’s Howard Greenwald.
The New York Times
What’s between 30 million Americans and an eviction tsunami?
USC Price’s Gary Painter proposes that the government finance 10-year, low-interest loans so tenants can pay their accrued back rent — a program ideally subsidized and negotiated with landlords.
CNN
As COVID-19 cases surge, health care workers say PPE is still a struggle
California hospitals fared better in the beginning of the pandemic and were able to stockpile PPE early on as they watched what was unfolding in the Northeast, notes Sunny Jha of the Keck School of Medicine of USC.