February 25, 2021 - PBS NewsHour full episode

More than 17 million Americans could see their income rise if the $15 minimum wage now in the COVID relief bill passes Congress. We hear from some of those who would be impacted by a minimum wage increase, and Stephanie Sy speaks with two economists with different perspectives on the topic.

COVID-19 vaccines were developed with record-breaking speed, and by late last year they were rolled out to frontline health care workers across the country. But despite being first in line many of those workers have decided to delay getting the shot. Amna Nawaz reports on the critical effort to vaccinate America’s health care professionals.

Daily reports of disturbing racial incidents and what appear to be deepening racial divisions within the country leave many looking for answers. Special correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault recently spoke with Dr. Ronald Crutcher, a classical musician and president of the University of Richmond, about confronting the complexities of racism.

Rare documents with 12 signatures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sold on Wednesday for more than $130,000. They were penned in an Alabama jail logbook after King was arrested in April 1963 for leading a march against racial segregation. Rikki Klaus reports on the unprecedented item. It's part of our arts and culture series, "CANVAS."

In 1967, George Henderson and his family relocated to Norman, Oklahoma, where he became a professor at the University of Oklahoma. Up until that year, Norman was a sundown town that prohibited non-whites to be outside after dark and the Hendersons became the first African-American property owners there. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on living what he teaches.

The sexual abuse scandal that has engulfed U.S. women's gymnastics took a new shocking turn on Thursday. Former U.S. Olympic gymnastics coach John Geddert died by suicide just hours after being charged with human trafficking and sexual assault. Christine Brennan, a sports reporter for USA Today who has covered Olympic sports for years, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

During the pandemic, the federal government has tried to boost access to broadband internet. The Cares Act provided $150 billion to state and local governments, which many used to help extend connectivity, and the most recent stimulus package gave $7 billion in broadband funding. Yet many children in the U.S. still can’t connect for class. John Yang reports as part of our "Race Matters" series.