Nobel Peace Prize announced; a potential new COVID surge; America's productivity slump

Plus, how a Florida community survived Hurricane Ian almost unscathed [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. The [Nobel Peace Prize]( has been awarded to human rights activists in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Here's what we're following today: First up [The new bivalent COVID-19 booster is offered by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Health experts say getting more people boosted could help stave off a winter COVID surge.]( Sarah Reingewirtz/ MediaNews Group/ Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images We're headed to the third winter of the pandemic. While the number of people getting infected, being hospitalized and dying of COVID has been gently declining, [clues from Europe]( hint at another possible surge. Election deniers have a common demand: Get rid of machines and count the votes by hand. This "solution" may sound like it makes sense, but research shows the method is [significantly less accurate, more expensive and more time-consuming]( than using tabulation equipment. A Delaware judge says Elon Musk has until the end of the month to go through with his deal to buy Twitter if he wants to [avoid a high-stakes lawsuit](. If he doesn't have a change of heart, a Twitter under Musk could look very different. The Tesla CEO has [mentioned plans to]( ➡️ Loosen rules against spreading misinformation. ➡️ Allow Donald Trump back on Twitter. ➡️ Shake up the company's business model and find new revenue sources. In a direct response to the fall of Roe v. Wade, Barnard — a private women's college in New York City — has announced it will give students access to abortion pills as early as next fall. Officials say the college [wants to be prepared]( even though abortion is not restricted in New York State. NPR Daily will be taking a break Monday for Indigenous Peoples Day. We'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Food for thought [Babcock Ranch, in Florida, runs on solar power and was built to weather the worst storms. After Hurricane Ian, the community didn't lose power or water, and it experienced minimal damage.]( Carlos Osorio for NPR Hundreds of thousands of people in Southwest Florida still don't have electricity or water. But Hurricane Ian barely left a mark on Babcock Ranch. The community north of Fort Myers was designed and built to [withstand the most powerful storms](. ➡️ The community's innovative use of solar technology powers all the homes and then some — the excess goes back into the grid and helps power surrounding communities. ➡️ Since residents were spared the full wrath of hurricane Ian, they've been able to help others in need. The community center, which doubles as a reinforced storm shelter, has been welcoming in others from harder-hit towns. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s listen Mohamed Hassan/Pixabay Quiet quitting might actually have a tangible impact on the U.S economy. Data shows the U.S. workforce isn't as productive as it was a year ago. 🎧 [Listen to the profound effects this could have on the country]( or [read the story](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Weekend picks [Bros is the first gay romantic comedy with a mostly LGBTQ cast to be given a wide release by a major studio. It played well in big cities, but had disappointing overall numbers in its first weekend. Above, Luke Macfarlane (left) and Billy Eichner.]( Universal Pictures Check out what [our critics]( are watching, reading and listening to this weekend: Movies: Gay rom-com [Bros]( has gotten glowing reviews and great Rotten Tomato scores. But it didn't do well in the box office, and star Billy Eichner says it's because straight people didn't show up. TV: Here's another spooky option: HBO's second season of [Los Espookys]( is airing, featuring a group of horror-loving friends who start up a business that provides scary experiences for their clients. Books: The finalists for the [National Book Awards]( have been announced. Read them all and make your pick before the winners are announced. Music: Our [Heat Check playlist]( is your source for new music from around the worlds of hip-hop and R&B. This week, it features iconoclasts who have already zeroed in on their individual aesthetics. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go [Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) attends the Netflix premiere of Gentefied in D.C. earlier this year. With actors J.J. Soria, Julissa Calderon, Karrie Martin, Carlos Santos, Annie Gonzalez, and Joaquín Cosío.]( Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Netflix - Despite their influence over everything from [music]( to [superhero movies]( to [streaming]( shows, data shows [Latinos are still underrepresented]( or misrepresented in Hollywood, news and book publishing. - In her new memoir, actress Geena Davis looks back on lessons she learned from her iconic roles, including this advice from Dustin Hoffman: Never listen to your inner critic — or [sleep with your co-star](. - What do you do after you win a Nobel Prize? [Party, obviously!]( See the joyful celebrations from this week. - The new David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center, home of the New York Philharmonic, opens this week. And while the outside is the same, [everything inside has changed](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. 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