Episode 27

Italians Indoors | Governor's Role | Sign Language Interpreters

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Keep an eye out for these vocabulary terms in the episode:

sign language (noun) a system of communication that involves hand gestures and facial expressions.

turnout (noun) the number of people who show up to vote.

typography (noun) the art or style of printed words and numbers.

veto (noun) an elected official's power to stop laws they don't approve of from going through.

TOP NEWS: Italians Stay Indoors to Protect the Elderly

Hello everybody, welcome back to NewsDepth!

We begin today's Backpack with an update on the coronavirus pandemic. Over the last couple of episodes, we have seen how the virus is impacting multiple countries - Germany, Sweden, Turkey, South Korea, and of course, the United States. This week we look at Italy.

The European country was one of the first to have a big outbreak, but recently their numbers have been dwindling. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Italy reached about 205,400 cases at the end of April. Almost 76,000 of those were people who recovered from the illness.

Data from Johns Hopkins shows Italy began a downward trend in new cases of COVID-19 beginning around the end of March. Folks in Italy attribute it to obeying the country's strict lockdown. As reporter Ben Wedeman found out many Italians are willing to follow the rules because of their love and respect for their elders:

Where is Italy? Here it is! _{[Photo credit: Google Earth Pro]}

Italy's number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 has been decreasing since late March. _{[Graph data: Johns Hopkins University]}

Thanks, Ben.

Italy's strict lockdown lifted at the beginning of the week. Now the world is watching to see how easing the social distancing rules will impact the coronavirus' spread in the country.

Still, schools in Italy won't open back up until September, which is similar to us here in Ohio. Our school buildings are closed for the rest of the school year, even after part of Governor Mike DeWine's lockdown lifted at the beginning of the month.

Hospitals here are now allowed to perform previously delayed surgeries. Veterinarians and dentists are allowed to start back up too.

However, restaurants must still operate as take-out or delivery only. Barbershops, salons, gyms, and the like are still on hold since DeWine extended his overall stay-at-home order until the end of May.

POLL RESULTS & INBOX

We asked you last week how you reacted to learning school would be at-home for the rest of the school year. Rick's got the results and your sweet letters about your teachers:

We've got more of your great answers on the NewsDepth Inbox page.

BUCKEYE BEAT: April 2020

Let's stick with Ohio news. Here are some of the biggest stories from our state in April!

Ohio Primary Election Update

In March, we learned that Ohio had to postpone its primary election due to COVID-19 safety concerns. The election was instead held by mail with a deadline for sending in ballots on Tuesday, April 28.

To avoid spreading of COVID-19, voters were required to mail absentee ballots. Some folks were still able to vote in person; this includes those with disabilities, without addresses, or who did not receive their ballots in the mail on time.

Boards of elections are still tallying up all of the votes, but here's what we know so far:

Turnout wasn't so great. Turnout is the number of people who show up to vote. Only about 23% of people registered to vote actually cast a ballot. That's low compared to the last two presidential primaries in 2016 and 2012, which had 46% and 26% turnouts.

Former Vice President Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination for president, and President Donald Trump, who ran unopposed, won on the Republican side.

On a more local level, Ohioans had a lot to consider when it came to issues that affect the towns and regions where they live. Plenty of school and park levies were on the ballot.

We told you back in April about an issue that Ashtabula County voters were considering - more funding to combat significant erosion on the Lake Erie shoreline. That levy passed, but only by a slim margin.

Ohioans also voted on representatives to the House of Representatives, but there were no senatorial or governor races this year.

Plastic Bags Update

Remember we told you a few months ago about some places in our state considering banning plastic bags? Well, one area is making some changes to its ban due to the coronavirus.

Cuyahoga County Council voted to ban plastic bags last May, and the order was supposed to take effect starting July 1. Now, that's postponed. The council plans to move the enforcement date to January 1, 2021.

To keep the virus from spreading, grocery stores have been discouraging customers from bringing their reusable bags.

One councilwoman said the delay of the ban is not to downplay the negative environmental effects of plastic bags but to relieve anxieties of both businesses and customers about the upcoming enforcement of the ban.

Bald Eagles Update

The number of bald eagles in Ohio is soaring! A few months ago, we told you that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources asked citizens to help them identify bald eagle nests across Ohio. The tally is in, and Ohio has 707 nests confirmed throughout the state!

ODNR's Division of Wildlife reports that this is a considerable increase since the last bald eagle census in 2012. Back then, there were only 281 nests reported.

The counties with the most nests are all located near Lake Erie, where bald eagles thrive due to an abundance of food and nesting habitats. At the top of the list is Ottawa County, where ODNR confirmed a whopping 90 nests.

ODNR said it received thousands of reports from the public for the bald eagle census. We wonder if any were from you!

Many Ohio voters used mail-in ballots to cast their choice for the Democratic nominee for president.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, left, won the Democratic nomination for president, and President Donald Trump, right, who ran unopposed, won on the Republican side. _{[Photo credits: lev radin & Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock]}

The Lake Erie shoreline is eroding in Geneva. _{[Photo credit: Tim Dubravetz / ideastream]}

Plastic bag bans that would have meant shoppers need to bring reusable bags to the grocery store are put on hold during the pandemic. _{[Photo credit: FamVeld / Shutterstock]}

The bald eagle count in Ohio is soaring according to a recent survey by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. _{[Photo credit: Chaithanya Krishnan / Shutterstock]}

POLITICS ON POINT: What Does a Governor Do?

Just about every week for the past month, we have been bringing you reports from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine about the coronavirus.

By now, you know that he has been making decisions about closing and reopening schools, restaurants, factories, just about every place people can go. He's been giving instructions on how to stay safe - showing how to wear masks and talking about the importance of washing hands.

But what was DeWine up to before the pandemic? He still has plenty on his plate. In this week's Politics on Point, Nick explains the role of the state leader:

Thanks, Nick.

TOP NEWS: Sign Language Interpreters Convey Crucial COVID-19 Info

Now that we've got a good understanding of the governor's role, let's take a look at who has been next to him during the recent coronavirus briefings - his sign language interpreter Marla Berkowitz.

Sign language is a system of communication that involves hand gestures and facial expressions. (American sign language, in particular, is the version used in the U.S and English speaking areas of Canada.)

Marla Berkowitz, center, stands with state officials, including Governor DeWine, second from left. _{[Photo credit: @JonHusted / Twitter]}

Marla Berkowitz, center, stands with state officials, including Governor DeWine, second from left. _{[Photo credit: @JonHusted / Twitter]}

Berkowitz is a certified deaf interpreter, which means she is a professional signer and also deaf. At the briefings, a hearing interpreter signs word for word what DeWine says to Berkowitz. Then she signs the information to the camera in a way that adds more meaning and expression.

"When I interpret, I have the deaf, deaf-blind, deaf-disabled and hard of hearing (D/DB/DD/HH) community in the back of my mind," Marla told The Ohio State University, "which is a responsibility I embody to ensure they are understanding the critical situation we're faced with coronavirus."

Just about every governor has turned to interpreters to help convey crucial information during the pandemic. Reporter Jim Mendoza met with the interpreters assisting the governor of Hawaii:

Thanks, Jim.

Here's a quick lesson for you on how to sign coronavirus.

Our sign language interpreter, Michael, with a PSA on how to sign Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/oyCJKkibM0
— Anne Caprara (@anacaprana) March 14, 2020

According to Berkowitz, interpreters will also spell out COVID-19 or novel coronavirus when they want to be extra specific.

A+: Springboro High School Student Uses Fashion Talents to Help Health Care Workers

When large numbers of coronavirus cases were first confirmed across Ohio, doctors and nurses often didn't have enough masks to wear while taking care of patients. Governor Mike DeWine asked citizens who were able to sew masks at home to step up and help.

Our NewsDepth A+ goes to a Springboro High School senior who heard the governor's call and got to work. Allie Lunt has sewn nearly 500 facemasks for health care workers!

As a member of her high school's National Honor Society, Allie is no stranger to community service. She's also an experienced sewer and fashion designer. She even competed on Project Runway: Junior and was planning to design her prom dress this year, before school events were canceled due to COVID-19.

Allie said when she heard the governor's request, she had all the materials ready to go. So far, she's made nearly 500 face masks. She donated them to local hospitals and other organizations to be used by those who are working with COVID-19 patients.

"I never would have thought my talent could not only be of use, but help people who are saving lives," Allie said. "The most rewarding part of the experience has been hearing from doctors and nurses who received my masks. It's really fulfilling to know that I'm making a difference!"

Allie plans to continue using her talents in college and her professional career. She said she plans to major in fashion and business, and she wants to have a business selling and designing clothes someday.

"I love people and fashion, and especially bringing them together," she said. "I'm glad I can put those interests to good use by making the masks."

Great job, Allie! We're proud to award you this week's NewsDepth A+ for using your sewing skills to help keep our health care workers safe.

For this week's poll, we want to know: Do you plan on wearing a mask when you go out in public? Vote below or click here if the poll does not load!

Submit your ideas for our NewsDepth A+ segment to newsdepth@ideastream.org for consideration.

TOP NEWS: Font Collector Finds Unique Typefaces

A few weeks back, you all shared some great reading recommendations, so we bet you're getting antsy for libraries to open back up. Robert Donona certainly is. He is a lover of words, well typography actually. Typography is the art or style of printed words and numbers.

As reporter Justin Glanville and producer Mary Fecteau found out, for Donona the appeal of the letters is about more than what they spell out:

Thanks, Justin and Mary.

Donona was able to capture a snapshot of history by collecting fonts and preserving them for generations to come. He inspired us!

For this week's write-in question, we want you to imagine you are a writer working on a history textbook. You are trying to preserve what it is like to live through the coronavirus pandemic as a kid. How would you describe this historic 2019-2020 school year to future students?

You can use the inbox form below to submit your great letters. If the form doesn't load, you can also write to us by clicking here.

Rick will share some of the best answers next week!

Petting Zoo: Veterinarians Provide Curbside Service

NewsCat knows how she'd document part of the pandemic from a pet's eye view. Visits to the vet have become curbside for some critters.

Reporter Sara Tewksbury went to a veterinarian's office in Alaska for NewsCat's pick of the week:

Thanks, Sara and NewsCat!

Stay in Touch

That’s all the news we have for you in this week’s Backpack edition of NewsDepth. But there are plenty of ways to stay in touch!

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NewsDepth is made possible in part by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. Backpack episodes are made possible in part by The Stocker Foundation.