Hunger is one of the most urgent — yet hidden — crises facing the nation. In this special episode of All Things Considered, a look at how food insecurity has been exacerbated by the coronavirus.

Plus, of all U.S. homes that include someone with a disability, 63% report serious financial hardship during the pandemic, and 37% have used up all or most of their savings.

The union asked state authorities to intervene in New York City schools, just days before schools are set to open for in-person instruction.

The town of Lexington has long struggled with food insecurity. But when the coronavirus hit, it presented new challenges in feeding this community of 11,000 residents.

The number of families struggling to afford food has skyrocketed since the start of the crisis. One family in Champaign, Ill., used to volunteer at a food pantry — now they depend on it.

Before the pandemic, the number of families lacking consistent access to enough food had been steadily falling. Today, new estimates point to some of the worst rates of food insecurity in years.

The U.S. reported more than 55,000 infections Friday, pushing the total number of cases to more than 7 million. Some two dozen states saw new cases continue to rise this past week.

Health policy researchers say Trump may not be able to pay for the cards, which fall short of lasting policy changes to curb high drug prices.

Vaccine maker Novavax is starting a large coronavirus vaccine trial in the U.K. Gregory Glenn, the company's president of research and development, talks with NPR about how vaccines are tested.

Restaurants and bars in the state can now operate at full capacity. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis says local governments can keep limits in place if they're justified for health or economic reasons.

Before COVID-19 came along, the world wasn't so great at counting deaths and understanding why people die. But the virus has propelled countries to ramp up their efforts.

Two leaders at the facility in Holyoke were allegedly responsible for deciding "to combine 42 veterans – some COVID-positive, and others not even showing any symptoms of COVID – into a single unit."

The postponement will cause financial hardship for people who depend on the celebration — but "financial loss doesn't justify human loss," says one musician. Brazil has been hit hard by the virus.

Draft documents obtained by NPR show that the federal government is preparing to enforce new data reporting requirements, threatening to withhold vital Medicare funding from noncompliant hospitals.

The effort, still in its early stages, hopes to track infections and determine the effectiveness of safety measures.