April 29, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Roughly 14 percent of students enrolled in U.S. public schools receive special education services. As families across the nation grapple with home learning, what are the particular challenges the parents of these children face? Judy Woodruff reports and talks to Selene Almazan of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a nonprofit aiming to protect the rights of children with disabilities.

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has now surpassed 60,000, but there are some signs of hope. An international study run by the National Institutes of Health found encouraging results in a trial of the experimental drug remdesivir among hospitalized patients. Meanwhile, U.S. GDP shrank during the first quarter of the year, but experts warn the second will be “much worse.” Stephanie Sy reports.

In our news wrap Wednesday, the U.S. Navy is widening its investigation of the COVID-19 outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. The announcement delays the potential reinstatement of Brett Crozier as the ship’s captain. Also, former Vice President Joe Biden has won Ohio’s Democratic primary, which was delayed from March due to the pandemic. Most of the voting was done by mail.

President Trump has signed an executive order to keep meat processing plants open, but a number of the facilities are currently closed due to outbreaks of COVID-19. What does the pandemic's disruption mean for U.S. agriculture -- and the health of its workers? Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, and William Brangham talks to Amy Mayer of Iowa Public Radio for analysis.

Testing, both for active cases of COVID-19 and for antibodies indicating prior exposure to the disease, will be critical to resuming economic activity. In addition, scientists are racing to develop therapies for people who do get infected -- especially those who become seriously ill. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest on COVID-19 testing and treatment.

College sports, while currently on hold, represent big business, with billions of dollars at stake. It has long been debated whether student athletes should be compensated, or at least better able to access the money they help earn. On Wednesday, the NCAA opened the door to a significant change regarding the question. Former college and NBA basketball player Len Elmore joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.

The social distancing many Americans are practicing to slow the spread of COVID-19 is driving widespread feelings of loneliness and isolation. Into this unfamiliar experience comes a new book about relationships and community: “Together,” by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Murthy joins John Yang to discuss why he believes we can emerge from the pandemic more connected than ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us the value of recalibrating our expectations and retraining our minds. Author Kelly Corrigan relies on a familiar mental exercise when the reality of the crisis feels like too much to handle. She shares her humble opinion on imagining a world after the pandemic -- and how the experience might change us.