nprnews_____ = ||| lubuntu at wor2 1TXN|||'A Loss To The Whole Society': U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 500, 000||| kickerpage = |||no kicker pagenpr for NPRNEWS||| summarynpr = |||As the country faces another wrenching milestone, there are signs of hope that we may be beating back the virus. But a brighter future won't bring back precious lives lost.

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'A Loss To The Whole Society': U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 500,000






Embalmer and funeral director Kristy Oliver (left) and funeral attendant Sam Deras load the casket of a person who died after contracting COVID-19 into a hearse in El Cajon, Calif. People who work in hospitals and in funeral homes are witnesses to the loss than many Americans can avoid.



Mario Tama/Getty Images


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'A Loss To The Whole Society': U.S. COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 500,000



As the country faces another wrenching milestone, there are signs of hope that we may be beating back the virus. But a brighter future won't bring back precious lives lost.










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As Cities Grapple With Climate Change, Gas Utilities Fight To Stay In Business






Tyler Hollon, who works for a construction company in Utah, says eliminating natural gas from apartment buildings can reduce costs. Hollon's company now shares its designs and budgets with other builders. "The reason we're giving it away is to clean up the air," Hollon says. "We want everybody to do it. It's everybody's air that we're all breathing. Makes my mountain bike ride that much easier."



Kim Raff for NPR


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Kim Raff for NPR