COVID Between the Coasts

Series produced by WNIN

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Stories of COVID in the Midwest that you won't hear anywhere else.

In 2020, some of the biggest stories of the year came out of our usually quiet region. While those stories are important, we could tell that national news outlets weren't interested in telling authentic stories of the pandemic's impact in the Midwest during this historic time.

WNIN and the University of Evansville collaborated on a seven month research and reporting project to find those authentic stories. What we learned is that while the pandemic is a natural disaster, the depth of the crisis it caused in the Midwest is pretty much our own fault.


8 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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What's it like when a pandemic crushes your dream of playing a Division One sport?

  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 13:18
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There are many kinds of borders. Some of them caused a lot of controversy during the pandemic.

  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 14:35
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While systemic failures contributed to the spread of coronavirus in the cities, in the countryside, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 15:03
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If you're trying to cover the pandemic in seven Midwestern states, where do you start? WNIN partnered with data scientists from the University of E...

  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 14:47
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Mistakes were made in keeping PPE and other essential medical supplies available for health care and emergency workers during the pandemic. Are we ...

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 21:59
  • Purchases: 1
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Who are the three people memorialized on a mural to essential workers in the Latino neighborhood of Pilsen?

  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 23:52
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After decades of economic inequality ravaged the population of mostly African-American residents, the outcome of the coronavirus outbreak was predi...

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis and KBUT Crested Butte, Colo.


  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 20:56
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Mahliya Sophia Balkowitsch- Coronavirus Tea Time, Credit: WET PLATE COLLODION PHOTOGRAPHS BY SHANE BALKOWITSCH OF NOSTALGIC GLASS WET PLATE STUDIO, BISMARCK, ND (Used by permission)
We're all survivors of COVID. Here are a few select stories.

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis


  • Added: Nov 21, 2020
  • Length: 16:38
  • Purchases: 1