All Society
Cover StoryHere come the jobs, finallyEven the long-term unemployed are starting to find work. But how strong is the jobs recovery, really?
California plastic bag ban on hold pending 2016 voteCalifornia election officials confirmed Tuesday that opponents of the statewide ban on plastic bags had collected the necessary half million signatures to place the issue before voters.
Net neutrality's stunning reversal of fortune: Is it John Oliver's doing?A year ago, few outside the telecom community had ever heard of net neutrality, despite extensive news coverage. Here's how a comedy program made the general public care about a topic considered 'even boring by C-SPAN standards.'
Many LGBT homeless youth sell sex to survive on the streets, report saysMany homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender youth are likely to engage in 'survival sex' in order to pay for food or shelter, according to a new federally funded study by the Urban Institute.
How 'Fifty Shades of Grey' is contributing to shift in norms on sexualityThe shift has implications not just for adults, but for children as well. While many agree that 'Fifty Shades of Grey' isn't for kids, its marketing has still reached that age group.
Samaritan moments as Southern states get a taste of snowSnow is an unexpected sight for many in the South, who are getting by with limited equipment and a dose of neighborliness.
Muslim world asks: Were Chapel Hill shootings an act of terrorism?As US authorities investigate the cause of the murder of three young Muslims in North Carolina this week, Muslims around the world push for the tragedy to be treated as a hate crime – perhaps even an act of terrorism.
Concealed carry without a permit: Will crime go up or down?New Hampshire, Kansas, Mississippi, and Montana are considering legislation that would no longer require special permits to carry concealed weapons in public. Five states already have such laws.
Chelsea Manning decision points to shift in views on transgender health careChelsea Manning, the transgender soldier connected with WikiLeaks, has been approved for hormonal and psychological treatments while in Army prison. It points to a shift toward some states and the federal government considering transition therapy medically necessary.
How shock over murder of Muslim-Americans could counter creeping IslamophobiaSigns of anti-Muslim fears have been percolating in American society recently, but the murder of three Muslim-Americans in North Carolina could play at least a small part in challenging those views.
- Alecia Pennington can't prove she's an American – or even exists. What would you do?
To the government, Alecia Pennington doesn't exist. She has been unable to get a driver’s license, get a job, go to college, get on a plane, get a bank account, or vote. What can she do?
Beyond Jon Stewart: Can 'Daily Show' survive host's departure?Comedy Central may not have to look very far in the search to replace Jon Stewart. 'The Daily Show' host has spent years 'championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry.'
Grammys' nod to domestic violence: Helpful or hypocritical?The Grammys, punctuated by a video statement from President Obama and a powerful spoken-word performance by Brooke Axtell, signals how dramatically perceptions around domestic and sexual abuse have shifted in the past year.
A police chief who does it by a different bookIn an era of social unrest about police practices, Salt Lake City Chief Chris Burbank tries to engage with the community to minimize conflicts.
Cover StoryHow police can get it rightAtlanta Police Chief George Turner is building a diversified department that's less reactive and more humane that could offer lessons after Ferguson.
Brian Williams off the air. Will he ever be back?NBC News anchor Brian Williams is under fire for embellishing his reporting. He's off the air 'for the next several days,' but speculation has begun about who might permanently replace the major voice and face of network news broadcasting.
NBC probes Brian Williams' dubious anecdotes: Will the 'gist' save him?Credibility and trustworthiness are the cornerstones of the anchor business. NBC News has launched an investigation into TV anchorman Brian Williams' questionable assertions about his reporting from Iraq and Hurricane Katrina.
Vaccination expert: Culture of fear in American parenting 'oppressive'Eula Biss's new book, 'On Immunity,' addresses both sides of the vaccination debate, which has reached new heights during the latest measles outbreak, compassionately. There's room for more understanding and less fear, she says.
California foie gras battle taps into larger food ethics debateThe attorney general in California announced Wednesday plans to appeal a federal court decision overturning a two-year-old ban on the sale of foie gras. The debate comes amid a broader movement around the ethics of food production.
Can Twitter curb #incivility? CEO vows to kick trolls off 'right and left.'Twitter CEO Dick Costolo wrote in an internal e-mail that the company is losing users by not addressing harassment by trolls. But civil libertarians and free speech advocates argue Twitter’s vitality could be imperiled by such a move to censor its users.
