Shifts in the labor force are painful during normal times. Right now, the workforce is changing rapidly without the kind of heads up that we normally get. This pandemic happened very quickly, and half the economy essentially shut off to try to contain it. For workers in some industries, it seems like there's not a lot of hope on the horizon. So, how exactly has COVID-19 accelerated changes in the workforce? Where are we heading? And for people watching their jobs disappear, is there a solution out there? Dr. Doug Webber, Associate Professor in the Economics Department at Temple University joins KYW In Depth to talk about the rapid changes in the labor market and what's happened in the past during similar circumstances. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

When you're tracking the health of an economy, there are a lot of indicators to look at. One of the key ones is consumer sentiment. But what exactly does that mean? How is it tracked? Why is it important, and what is it telling us about the economy? Dr. Benjamin Liebman, professor of economics at Saint Joseph's University joins KYW In Depth to talk about what you should know about consumer sentiment and consumer confidence, and how they impact the world around you. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, 28 million Americans didn't have health insurance -- but it's a lot more than that now. A former acting CDC director is warning that this is just one of the problems the coronavirus pandemic has revealed about American healthcare, and the longer COVID-19 spreads, the worse those problems will get.  Dr. Richard Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the CDC joins KYW IN Depth to talk about the country's response to COVID-19, where we're heading, and the state of health insurance in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic.  >>> See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for all students, but especially for students with special educational needs. We wanted to find out the extent of what families are going through right now, and what parents need to know to help make the upcoming school year just a little bit easier. Margie Wakelin, Staff Attorney in the Education Law Center's Philadelphia office joins KYW In Depth to break down the hurdles that have emerged in the spring, what we've learned from them for the upcoming school year, and what families can do to help their children stay on track. The Education Law Center: https://www.elc-pa.org/ See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

We're almost six months in to this pandemic and there are still tens of millions of people unemployed. Many people have been able to scrape by with unemployment assistance, but a big chunk of that, the extra $600 from the federal government, is gone now. And still others weren't able to get any assistance at all. As moratoriums on evictions around the country are expiring, KYW In Depth's Paul Kurtz talked with a few people who are having trouble making their rent or their mortgage to find out how bad the situation is, and if they have hope for the future. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Last spring the coronavirus pandemic shut down in-person learning at colleges and universities across the United States. Now classes are resuming for the fall, both online and in person. We wanted to know how students and faculty feel about being back on campus, and if college still feels the same this year as it did last year. KYW In Depth's Andrew Kramer went to Temple University to talk with students about what's different in 2020, and he also caught up with a faculty member who argues that now is the wrong time for in-person classes to resume. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The US was already facing a shortage of doctors before the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the medical community is being stressed to its breaking point. There's a bipartisan bill aimed at getting them some reinforcements -- it's called the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, and it would make 40,000 unused immigrant visas available for doctors and nurses who want to come here to work. To put that number in perspective, nearly 30% of doctors and nurses in the US are from other countries. That's more than 37,000 doctors and 600,000 nurses. Today on KYW IN Depth, we're joined by two special guests to talk about the shortage of doctors and nurses and what's being done about it. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware is one of the original sponsors of the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, and Dr. William Pinsky is President and CEO of the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), the commission that vets doctors who are trying to get visas to come to the US for clinical training. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Millions of people are relying on unemployment benefits in the United States, at the same time Apple became America's first $2 Trillion company. The stock market is doing very well, even as unemployment numbers reversed a trend and went back up last week. What's going on? David Fiorenza, Associate Professor of Practice at the Villanova School of Business joins KYW in Depth to talk about the divide in the American economy during the coronavirus pandemic, how the labor force is shifting amid continued record unemployment, and how economists are viewing the debacle over the post office. >>> See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

A handful of months into the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, and a whole lot of people have traded in business casual for leggings, sweatpants, and t-shirts. So how's the fashion industry doing now that we all wear sweatpants to work at home? Jefferson University Fashion Design Program Director Farai Simoyi joins KYW In Depth to talk about how coronavirus has changed the fashion industry, the changing face of fashions weeks around the world, and how the future looks for the young stars of fashion design. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

One of the ways some people are staving off pandemic boredom is by raising chickens in the back yard. Seriously, it's a thing that's happening in 2020 more than in previous years. Something else that's happening more now: the CDC says rates of infection are 22% higher than this time last year. So, how do you take care of a backyard flock the right way? Dr. Sherrill Davison, lead avian health expert at Penn Vet joins KYW In Depth to break down what you need to know about your chickens, how to tell if they're sick, and the best things you can do to avoid salmonella and other diseases. Penn Vet website: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/ The CDC on salmonella: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Reserve continues to play a critical role in the American economy, and even more so during the coronavirus economic crisis. But there's been some criticism of the work the Fed has been doing. So what has worked, and what hasn't? Dr. Jonathan Scott, Professor of Finance and Department Chair at Temple University's Fox School of Business joins KYW In Depth to talk about what the Fed has been doing to help mitigate some of the economic damage, how history will look back on the response to this crisis, and why some Federal Reserve programs have been wildly successful, and others just haven't even seemed to get off the ground. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

COVID-19 has forced 2020's political conventions to go online. So will this concept stick around? Are the days of thousands of supporters crowding into crowded arenas over, even after this pandemic? Dr. Benjamin Berger, Associate Professor of Political Science and the executive director of Swarthmore College's Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility joins KYW In Depth to break down how political conventions have changed over the years, the purpose they surve in modern day America, and why they have more in common with college or reality TV than sports. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

What make a house more desirable right now during the coronavirus pandemic? Are people still moving, despite the virus? How has the process of buying and selling a house changed? Maria Quattrone, CEO and founder of Maria Quattrone & Associates at RE/MAX @ Home in Center City, Philadelphia joins KYW In Depth to talk about the challenges in real estate and the most important features new homebuyers are looking for during COVID-19. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

A new school year is approaching and districts are putting forth plans on how to safely educate students during the coronavirus pandemic. And for those schools that are going to welcome students back in person in some way, there's the added question of transportation. How do you get kids to school and keep them safe? Can you even do that on a school bus? Tim Ammon and Jim Regan, co-managers of the Student Transportation Aligned for Return To School (STARTS) Task Force join KYW in Depth to talk about keeping students and drivers safe on the school bus during COVID-19 and the challenges facing school transportation right now. Check out the STARTS guidelines here:  https://www.napt.org/files/STARTS%20Report%20-%20FINAL%207_30_2020.pdf See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

As long as we're in this pandemic, there's going to be a great need for PPE -- personal protective equipment. These are things like masks and face shields that have been in short supply since COVID-19 first spread in America. Getting it remains a challenge for the doctors, nurses, and first responders who are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus. This is where the nonprofit PPE for PA comes in, a coalition of volunteer makers, craftspeople, and coordinators who crank out face shields and face masks by the thousands with 3D printers and sewing machines. Shai Perednik is one of the leaders behind PPE for PA and the PA COVID-19 Makers Group. He joins KYW In Depth to talk about their mission, the demand for PPE, and what it takes to get PPE made and delivered. Learn more about PPE for PA here: https://www.ppeforpa.com/ The Perednik Foundation's Givebutter page: https://givebutter.com/ppeforpa/shaiperednik1 See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

New unemployment claims for last week dropped under a million for the first time since March. Congress left DC without passing another relief bill. Small businesses have gotten hammered by the pandemic, more than their bigger counterparts. Have the Federal Reserve's lending practices been fair or effective? David Fiorenza, Associate Professor of Practice at the Villanova School of Business joins KYW in Depth to break down the good news and the news that isn't so good about the American economy right now. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The massively popular app TikTok has been in the news a lot lately for what might seem like an unlikely reason -- it's found itself firmly in the crosshairs of the US government. Why is that, what does it mean, and what could happen as a result? Salil Mehra, Charles Klein Professor of Law and Government at Temple University's Beasley School of Law joins KYW In Depth to talk about why TikTok became a national security concern and what happens next. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

California Senator Kamala Harris will be Joe Biden's running mate on the Democratic ticket in November. So what does Harris bring to the table, and what does her selection mean for the presidential race? Dr. John Kennedy, Political Science Professor at West Chester University joins KYW In Depth to break down Kamala Harris's impact on the ticket, how the Republican party is likely to target her selection, and what her addition means for the election in November.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Masks have become a key weapon in the fight against the coronavirus, but they've also been a source of controversy in the US, even becoming a political issue. The Association of American Medical Colleges has come out with consensus guidance on facemasks, the "Do’s and Don’ts for Face Coverings," so we asked Dr. Atul Grover, Executive Director of AAMC Research and Action Institute to join KYW In Depth to break down how and when they should be worn, what you should look for in an effective mask, and most importantly, just how important your mask is in the fight against COVID-19. You can check out the consensus guidance and download a PDF here: https://www.aamc.org/covidroadmap/masks See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The Big Ten has decided to postpone fall sports as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That means no college football in the fall in State College, Pennsylvania. Football isn't just fun in Nittany Lion territory, it really helps power the economic engine there -- hotels, restaurants, and shops lean heavily on the home fall weekends for revenue. Fritz Smith, President and CEO of The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau joins KYW In Depth to talk about what an autumn without football means for State College and the people who live and work around Penn State. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

What is we're looking at COVID-19 testing the wrong way? That's what Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Michael Mina suggests. Instead of treating testing as a diagnostic tool alone, what if there was a way to use it for public health purposes -- and what if making that change could reduce transmission of the disease by 95% in just a few weeks, prevent a huge number of deaths, and save billions to maybe even trillions of dollars? See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

A lot of parents are totally overwhelmed just trying to keep their kids on track academically. With distance learning and the cancelation of sports, it can be easy to deprioritize physical education for kids. But that's a mistake. Matthew Flesock, Executive Director of the UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind program joins KYW In Depth to talk about what kids are missing when they miss phys ed, and what parents can do to make sure kids get the activity they need even without gym class or sports. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Coronavirus has both wrecked tourism and supercharged innovation for the industry. From head-turning marketing campaigns to rapid digital innovation, the parts of the tourism industry and its marketing machine that emerge from the coronavirus pandemic probably won't resemble what they looked like a year ago. Dr. Laurie Wu, Assistant Professor at Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management joins KYW In Depth to talk about creative marketing strategies the tourism industry is hoping will convince you to travel and the innovation that's emerging from the pandemic induced travel emergency. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Your COVID-19 bubble is the people you are hanging around with during the coronavirus pandemic. And several months into the pandemic, a lot of people are getting pretty starved for human interaction closer to how it was before the virus took hold. So, can you safely expand your bubble? And what can we learn from professional sports about how to do it with as little risk as possible? Dr. Thersa Sweet, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Drexel University joins KYW In Depth to talk about COVID-19 bubbles and the best practices for getting more social time without risking your health. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the US, Philadelphia and a lot of other places around the country were already neck deep in another a public health crisis -- the opioid epidemic. Fast forward a few months, and it seems like COVID-19 kind of pushed the public spotlight away from the addiction emergency. So right here in Philly, how did the city keep up with one health crisis... while another took hold? Dr. Kendra Vine, Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Harm Reduction for the city of Philadelphia joins KYW In Depth to talk about how addiction has changed since coronavirus took over our lives. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.