NBC News
L.A. nurse treats the virus ‘that knows no boundaries’
“We’ve seen so many lives lost, so many families hurting,” says Monica Escobar, an ICU nurse at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center. “But not coming to work is not an option for me.”
Popular Science
The best thing for back pain is actually more movement
The traditional advice — to rest and not stress your back — actually runs counter to what we now understand to be the best course of action, says Eric Robertson of the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.
The Washington Post
Uncertainty fuels anxiety — and the pandemic can magnify the angst
Some people view uncertainty as a threat or a loss, while others seem more inclined to view it as a challenge, says USC Dornsife’s Beth Meyerowitz says. But the aspects of the pandemic that can be met as challenges may also provide opportunities for personal growth, she says. (The Washington Post)
Los Angeles Times
As wildfires foul L.A.-area air, is it safe to exercise outside?
If you can see and smell smoke outdoors, “it’s probably not a good idea to be exercising outside,” says Ed Avol of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. That’s because exerting yourself outside when the air quality is poor has potential short- and long-term risks.
USA Today
School at home: How to keep attending virtual classes from being a real pain in the neck
Ergonomic issues with home workstations can cause a variety of ailments — with low back pain and neck pain among the most common, says Jared Vagy of the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.
KCRW-FM
How L.A. heat waves disproportionately impact low-income and minority residents
Some 30% of Southern California residents don’t have air conditioning. USC Viterbi’s Kelly Sanders notes that many of them live in “urban heat islands” — areas with fewer parks and greenery to absorb the heat caused by the urban environment.
Capital Public Radio
As California wildfire seasons worsen, what’s the long-term impact on children’s health?
“Children growing up in more polluted areas have slower growing lungs and don’t attain the kind of lung health that other children grow to,” says Edward Avol of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “And we have no proof that those children catch up.”
Los Angeles Times
Does L.A. count its homeless, or make its best guess?
A little of both, it turns out — and that’s OK, says Patricia St. Clair of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics. “There is error in every number and it’s really a range,” she says. “For policy decisions I think you want the best numbers you can get, so that’s why we try to make them more precise.”
KTTV-TV
How to deal with evictions during a pandemic
A perfect storm means a deluge of evictions may be on the horizon. The situation in L.A. is particularly dire because so many people here are renters, and because rents take such a large amount of people’s income, says Gary Painter of the USC Price School of Public Policy.
USA Today
TikTok and privacy: What’s the problem?
USC Annenberg’s Karen North told her two teenage kids they could have any app on their phones, with one exception: the widely popular TikTok. Her reason: “Their data is being mined, and the company doesn’t have to adhere to our privacy laws.”
Inside Higher Ed
Why Black students might prefer online learning
Many Black students experience microaggressions and sterotyping in traditional classrooms, says Shaun Harper of the USC Race and Equity Center: “It very well could be that some Black Americans view virtual classrooms as spaces where they might encounter less anti-Blackness.”
KABC-TV
How to protect your children from cybercrime as online learning resumes
When using apps for school or testing for sports, many people dont’ realize that a main revenue source for those digital platforms is collecting data on users and selling it, USC Annenberg’s Karen North notes.
Fast Company
Working moms always battled shame — the pandemic just made it worse
Combining responsibilities at work with caregiving, working mothers are experiencing growing shame for not living up to anyone’s expectations — including their own, notes USC Bovard College’s Tiffany Danko and colleagues.
Inside Higher Ed
Convincing college students to practice social distancing
Institutions have to empathize with what students are being asked to give up, says Sarah Van Orman, chief health officer for USC Student Health: “These measures themselves are not without consequences: disrupted education, emotional and social isolation.”
The Washington Post
Amid COVID-19, the eyes have it: Here’s how to safely apply makeup these days
Make sure to honor expiration dates so your cosmetics are not harboring bacteria and wash your brushes on a regular basis, says Nada Elbuluk, a dermatologist with Keck Medicine of USC. And, of course, wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face.
The Washington Post
What persuades Southerners to take down Confederate symbols? Hearing it’s good for business
Many in the South have come to see Confederate symbols as economic liabilities, according to an analysis by USC Dornsife’s Christian Grose and a college. One example: This year Mississippi’s Economic Council chamber of commerce backed removal of the Confederate emblem from the state’s flag.
The New York Times
How skateboarding can help fight racism
Research at USC by Zoë Corwin and Neftalie Williams found that skateboarding is how many young skaters first come in contact with the police or security guards — and it may lead to their first questions about who gets to use public space and why.
Today
When are you most fertile? How to tell when you’re more likely to get pregnant
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or trying to make sure you don’t, Director Richard Paulson of USC Fertility says that understanding a few fertility basics is key.
CalMatters
How to bridge the digital divide: Take action to give everyone broadband access
It’s the only way to resolve the disparity in which 1 in 5 California students lack computers and Wi-Fi, argues Martha Escutia, USC vice president of government relations.
The Hill
Amid COVID-19, states need practical solutions to address health care costs
The pandemic will further exacerbate already strained state budgets, particularly as millions of Americans shift from commercial insurance to Medicaid, writes USC’s John O’Brien in an op-ed. That shift puts the onus on states to find savings without cutting benefits.
Los Angeles Times
How should L.A. be redesigned for coronavirus?
COVID-19 has changed everything about the way we live; it is bound to change architecture, too. And while many architects agree that needs L.A. to move forward on increasing density, Dean Milton Curry of the USC School of Architecture says, “We need to do it smartly.”
Los Angeles Times
Job hunting during the pandemic: Tips for recent graduates
Most people want to help you, says Lori Shreve Blake, USC’s senior director for alumni and student career services. If you ask for a job, you’re not going to get a response,” she says. “But if you ask for information, you’ll get that response.”
KNBC-TV
USC students leave behind a legacy with Trojan Shelter, a haven for homeless college students
Trojan Shelter in Koreatown would become a home that catered to those who had to prioritize tuition over housing. It is entirely run by students — some 60 volunteers — and it isn’t just for Trojans.
TheVerge.com
USC’s Garrett Reisman on creating a new manned ship for SpaceX: ‘We really were the underdogs’
The former astronaut says the upcoming launch will be “really intense” because he knows the people onboard.