As emergencies rise across rural America, a hospital fights for its life As emergencies rise across rural America, a hospital fights for its life By Photos by he hospital had already transferred out most of its patients and lost half its staff when the CEO called a meeting to take inventory of what was left. Employees crammed into Tina Steele’s office at Fairfax Community Hospital, where the air conditioning was no longer working and the computer software had just been shut off for nonpayment. “I want to start with good news,” Steele said, and she told them a food bank would make deliveries...…As emergencies rise across rural America, a hospital fights for its life As emergencies rise across rural America, a hospital fights for its life By Photos by he hospital had already transferred out most of its patients and lost half its staff when the CEO called a meeting to take inventory of what was left. Employees crammed into Tina Steele’s office at Fairfax Community Hospital, where the air conditioning was no longer working and the computer software had just been shut off for nonpayment. “I want to start with good news,” Steele said, and she told them a food bank would make deliveries...WW…

National Lori Wagoner, retail clerk, on trying to enforce a state requirement to wear masks Lori Wagoner, 63, works at a general store in Oriental, N.C. She says enforcing the state's mask requirement has sometimes been terrifying. (Eamon Queeney for The Washington Post) By We tried our best to be polite about it. I’d frame it to customers like they were doing us this big favor: “Would you please consider wearing a mask?” “May we offer you a free mask?” “We sure do appreciate your cooperation.” About this series Voices from the Pandemic is an oral history of covid-19 and those affected....…National Lori Wagoner, retail clerk, on trying to enforce a state requirement to wear masks Lori Wagoner, 63, works at a general store in Oriental, N.C. She says enforcing the state's mask requirement has sometimes been terrifying. (Eamon Queeney for The Washington Post) By We tried our best to be polite about it. I’d frame it to customers like they were doing us this big favor: “Would you please consider wearing a mask?” “May we offer you a free mask?” “We sure do appreciate your cooperation.” About this series Voices from the Pandemic is an oral history of covid-19 and those affected....WW…

National At the ever-growing bottom of the American economy, a low-wage worker becomes a minimum-wage activist At the ever-growing bottom of the American economy, a low-wage worker becomes a minimum-wage activist Sara Fearrington offers coffee to a 6:30 a.m. customer at Waffle House in Durham, N.C. She struggles to support her family on tips. (Photos by Michael S. WIlliamson/The Washington Post) By DURHAM, N.C. — She had been riding the city bus almost every day for the past decade without paying much attention to the people around her. Sara Fearrington, 43, was usually isolated in the fog...…National At the ever-growing bottom of the American economy, a low-wage worker becomes a minimum-wage activist At the ever-growing bottom of the American economy, a low-wage worker becomes a minimum-wage activist Sara Fearrington offers coffee to a 6:30 a.m. customer at Waffle House in Durham, N.C. She struggles to support her family on tips. (Photos by Michael S. WIlliamson/The Washington Post) By DURHAM, N.C. — She had been riding the city bus almost every day for the past decade without paying much attention to the people around her. Sara Fearrington, 43, was usually isolated in the fog...WW…

Listen22 minGift ShareLINCOLN PARK, Mich. — Dave Ramsey Jr. walked into the funeral home with $60 in cash, hoping to settle one more of his father’s outstanding debts. He followed an employee into a private bereavement room, where she took his final payment and said she’d look in the storage room for his father’s remains.“It was just a basic cremation, right?” she asked.“Yeah,” he said. “The cheapest one.”“And did you order any kind of urn, or a memory book, or —?”“No. Sorry,” he said. “I know he deserved a lot better.”It had been almost a month since Dave, 39, found his father lying...…Listen22 minGift ShareLINCOLN PARK, Mich. — Dave Ramsey Jr. walked into the funeral home with $60 in cash, hoping to settle one more of his father’s outstanding debts. He followed an employee into a private bereavement room, where she took his final payment and said she’d look in the storage room for his father’s remains.“It was just a basic cremation, right?” she asked.“Yeah,” he said. “The cheapest one.”“And did you order any kind of urn, or a memory book, or —?”“No. Sorry,” he said. “I know he deserved a lot better.”It had been almost a month since Dave, 39, found his father lying...WW…

National Anthony Almojera, on being a New York City paramedic and the injustices of covid-19 BROOKLYN, NY. - June 17, 2020: FDNY paramedic Anthony Almojera, poses for a portrait outside of the 7th Avenue FDNY Station, in Brooklyn New York. (Photo by Demetrius Freeman / for The Washington Post) By Nobody wants to know about what I do. People might pay us lip service and say we’re heroes, but our stories aren’t the kind anyone actually wants to hear about. Kids in this country grow up with toy firetrucks, or maybe playing cops and robbers, but who dreams of becoming a paramedic? That’s...…National Anthony Almojera, on being a New York City paramedic and the injustices of covid-19 BROOKLYN, NY. - June 17, 2020: FDNY paramedic Anthony Almojera, poses for a portrait outside of the 7th Avenue FDNY Station, in Brooklyn New York. (Photo by Demetrius Freeman / for The Washington Post) By Nobody wants to know about what I do. People might pay us lip service and say we’re heroes, but our stories aren’t the kind anyone actually wants to hear about. Kids in this country grow up with toy firetrucks, or maybe playing cops and robbers, but who dreams of becoming a paramedic? That’s...WW…

National Mary Jo Copeland, on choosing decency over anxiety and fear MINNEAPOLIS — OCTOBER 19, 2020 — A portrait of Mary Jo Copeland in the food pantry at Sharing & Caring Hands in Minneapolis, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. Copeland is the founder and director of Sharing and Caring Hands, a food kitchen and charity in Minneapolis. (Photo by Jenn Ackerman /for The Washington Post) By There’s always a line. The line gets longer. I wake up at 4 in the morning to start helping these families, but this pandemic never rests. I’ve been doing this work for 40 years, and I’ve never seen pain like...…National Mary Jo Copeland, on choosing decency over anxiety and fear MINNEAPOLIS — OCTOBER 19, 2020 — A portrait of Mary Jo Copeland in the food pantry at Sharing & Caring Hands in Minneapolis, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. Copeland is the founder and director of Sharing and Caring Hands, a food kitchen and charity in Minneapolis. (Photo by Jenn Ackerman /for The Washington Post) By There’s always a line. The line gets longer. I wake up at 4 in the morning to start helping these families, but this pandemic never rests. I’ve been doing this work for 40 years, and I’ve never seen pain like...WW…

National Tony Green, on dismissing, denying, contracting and spreading the coronavirus Denying the seriousness of the coronavirus, Tony Green decided to host a get-together for his family members. By When President Trump got sick, I had this moment of deja vu back to when I first woke up in the hospital. I know what it’s like to be humiliated by this virus. I used to call it the “scamdemic.” I thought it was an overblown media hoax. I made fun of people for wearing masks. I went all the way down the rabbit hole and fell hard on my own sword, so if you want to hate me or blame me, that’s...…National Tony Green, on dismissing, denying, contracting and spreading the coronavirus Denying the seriousness of the coronavirus, Tony Green decided to host a get-together for his family members. By When President Trump got sick, I had this moment of deja vu back to when I first woke up in the hospital. I know what it’s like to be humiliated by this virus. I used to call it the “scamdemic.” I thought it was an overblown media hoax. I made fun of people for wearing masks. I went all the way down the rabbit hole and fell hard on my own sword, so if you want to hate me or blame me, that’s...WW…

National Amber Elliott, county health director, on the high cost of doing her job PARK HILLS, MO — November 16: St. Francois County Health Center Director Amber Elliott stands for a portrait in Park Hills, Missouri, on November 16, 2020. Elliott is leaving her position at the health department after a number of threats against her and her family over discussion of restrictions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Whitney Curtis for The Washington Post) By I don’t really know if I should be talking about all of this. It makes me worried for my safety. I’ve had strange cars...…National Amber Elliott, county health director, on the high cost of doing her job PARK HILLS, MO — November 16: St. Francois County Health Center Director Amber Elliott stands for a portrait in Park Hills, Missouri, on November 16, 2020. Elliott is leaving her position at the health department after a number of threats against her and her family over discussion of restrictions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Whitney Curtis for The Washington Post) By I don’t really know if I should be talking about all of this. It makes me worried for my safety. I’ve had strange cars...WW…