All Society
The Met averts shutdown: Does opera have to be grand to survive?After months of wrangling, the musicians’ union and Met’s management came to terms on how to cut costs just in time for the 2014-15 season to open in September. Meanwhile, on a smaller scale, bohemian opera prospers.
Poll: Ferguson police response 'has gone too far,' more Americans saySome 40 percent of respondents to a Pew Research Center survey said the police response 'has gone too far,' while just 28 percent favored the view that the response has been 'about right.'
In Ferguson, calm among protesters – but with an edge as police name shooterSome say that moves like a shake-up in police command aren’t enough to tamp down the deep sense of injustice and conspiracy ringing in Ferguson, Mo., after the death of Mike Brown.
Can 'political junkie' Chuck Todd revive 'Meet the Press'?NBC's 'Meet the Press' has been losing market share to rival Sunday TV talk shows on ABC and CBS. NBC hopes to reverse that by replacing host David Gregory with Chuck Todd.
Ferguson: People unite to meet children's needs, from food to counselingThe Ferguson-Florissant School District pushed back the start of classes from Thursday to Monday. When school starts, extra counselors will be on hand, and handmade signs will welcome students back.
Robin Williams suicide prompts heightened discussion of depressionComedian and actor Robin Williams wrestled with depression throughout his career. Experts say the condition is often under-treated due to fear of cultural stigma.
Abigail Hernandez endured 'unspeakable violence': Will she be given privacy?The abduction case involving New Hampshire teen Abigail Hernandez has sparked curiosity from the public. But she and her family have asked that she have time and space to heal.
Robin Williams: His unscripted riffs were not merely funny, but observantRobin Williams, whose style influenced a generation of comedians who were in the process of remaking comedy itself, battled drugs and alcohol abuse throughout most of his career.
Klan planning North Carolina rally to advertise new target: illegal immigrantsLGBT and Latino advocates are planning a counterprotest to the rally Saturday by the Klan, which experts on hate groups say seeks to piggyback on widespread anger at a wave of illegal immigration.
‘Woman in black,’ who appealed to US fascination with wanderers, reaches homeWhile some Americans said a nosy culture should just leave her alone, many others have had another reaction more commonly afforded those on a spiritual or mystical quest: reverence and respect.
Border crisis: Volunteers rally to help migrant mothers and childrenThe border crisis isn't just about unaccompanied children. Thousands of Central American women with children are also part of the situation, and some groups are trying to address their basic needs.
US media coverage of Gaza is deeply flawed, both sides in conflict sayWhile they disagree on which side is favored by the media's Gaza coverage, many on both sides say a better understanding of the issues that separate the two peoples is needed.
Women bishops? How American Episcopalians view Church of England vote.The Church of England voted to allow women bishops Monday, and American Episcopalians feel like trailblazers. In 1989, the diocese of Massachusetts was the first in the history of the worldwide Anglican communion to ordain a woman bishop.
Pro-swastika banner doesn't fly with New York beachgoersThe banner, sponsored by a fringe religious group as part of its 'Swastika Rehabilitation Week,' was flown up and down New York beaches over the weekend.
FocusFrom Sterling to Bundy, how to respond when speech offends?Inflammatory words about race or sexuality can fan public outrage and even result in professional sacking. Some say America must be sure to protect free speech rights. Others cite need for civil society.
Five public figures whose comments landed them in hot water In today's 24/7 news cycle, it isn’t hard for controversial comments about race and other sensitive topics to turn into a public spectacle. Here are five individuals who made controversial statements – and here are the consequences they faced.
Rowling's kinda, sorta return to 'Harry Potter' gets a kinda, sorta responseJ.K. Rowling has written a short article about Harry Potter on her website Pottermore. But the days when any Potter prose set the world spinning are apparently waning.
New Old West: The Colorado restaurant where everyone carries a gunBig businesses like Target and Starbucks are asking customers to please leave your guns at home. Not so at Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colo., where owners Lauren and Jayson Boebert, their servers, and many customers carry guns.
Funky Fourth of July traditions: Hot dog gorging, marshmallow fighting, and moreThe Fourth of July isn't just parades and fireworks. From a hot dog contest to marshmallow fighting, here's a sample of odd Fourth of July traditions from shore to shore – and beyond.
Target goes gun-free, becoming biggest US retailer asking customers to disarmMoms Demand Action has launched online petitions against corporations after members of open-carry groups brought loaded assault-style firearms into stores. In the case of Target, 400,000 signatures were collected.
