All Society
Voices from the Clippers crowd: 'Love basketball, not racism'The crowd that filed into Staples Arena for the first Clippers game since the team's owner, Donald Sterling, was banned by the NBA, was mostly cool, calm, and united against racism.
For President Obama, racist comments pose extra leadership burdenWhen President Obama responded to racist comments – this time allegedly by L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling – he was in a familiar mode: reacting to a racially charged news event.
Donald Sterling comments: Is racism hiding in plain sight?Alleged comments by Donald Sterling and musings by rancher Cliven Bundy suggest that deep-seated racial prejudice remains more prevalent than many believe, some sociologists say.
Can leafless e-cigarettes be regulated as a tobacco product? FDA says yes.The Food and Drug Administration, which proposes to regulate the booming e-cigarette industry, explained Thursday why it is poised to crack down on the tobacco-less products.
E-cigarettes: what the FDA wants to regulate and what it doesn'tThe Food and Drug Administration on Thursday proposed new regulations of e-cigarettes, including restricting sales to minors and requiring health warnings on packaging. A ban on flavored electronic cigarettes is not on the list.
NYPD community-building in the Twitterverse? Why it was a #epicfail.A community relations initiative in which New Yorkers were asked to tweet some feel-good photos to @NYPDnews turned into a PR nightmare, with a torrent of public anger directed at the police.
Confederate flag flap at N.Y. school: why debate is hardly settledA Long Island principal called the Confederate flag a 'symbol of hate' as he expelled two students who brought the flag to school. But views about the rebel flag are not so categorical in the South.
Amid praise for Stephen Colbert, some ask: What about diversity in late night?Before the announcement that comedian Stephen Colbert would take over the ‘Late Show’ post, television critics had come up with a number of candidates who are female or black or both.
Stephen Colbert to take over 'Late Show.' But who is Stephen Colbert, really?CBS announced that Stephen Colbert will take over the 'Late Show' when David Letterman leaves next year. But he'll abandon the faux-conservative 'Colbert Report' persona that has defined him.
The ExplainerSocial Progress Index: Why does US rank No. 16?The Social Progress Index – covering everything from social inclusion to environmental stability and literacy rates – offers a window into the well-being of people in 132 nations.
Rebecca Sedwick suicide: what the police files show – and it's not bullyingThe suicide of Rebecca Sedwick drew international media attention last fall and reignited a conversation about the dangers of bullying. But now, reviews of the police files paint a far more complex picture of what the 12-year-old was dealing with.
Late night's Letterman to retire: Did Gen X's oracle ever succeed at CBS?David Letterman is a baby boomer (hence the retirement thing), but he helped define the voice of the younger Generation X – ironic, self-mocking – during his earlier 'Late Night' show on NBC.
New index reveals sobering picture of how much African-American children lagThe composite index used data on education, family resources, and neighborhood by race and by state – key indicators that predict how likely a child is to succeed in life.
'Noah': not all believers hate big-budget, biblical blockbusterIn the spirit of 'Ben Hur' and 'The Ten Commandments,' Hollywood is back mining the Bible for box office gold with 'Noah.' Other epics are in the wings, including ex-Batman Christian Bale as Moses.
Poll finds broad, rapid shift among Americans toward gay marriagePersonal contact with gay family members, friends, and neighbors is driving a speedy shift in attitudes about gay marriage, pollster says. A new survey puts support at 55 percent, with 40 percent opposed.
- 'God's Not Dead': What low-budget hit says about Christians and Hollywood
'God's Not Dead' plays to Christians who feel their faith is caricatured or mocked by Hollywood. It finished fifth at the box office this weekend amid sharply mixed reviews.
National Puppy Day! Pamper your poochDog lovers are celebrating "National Puppy Day" this weekend. Puppies have happy and sometimes sad stories to tell, but there's no denying the universal joy, enthusiasm, and loyalty they inspire.
Cover StoryWhy heroin is spreading in America's suburbsThe drug has followed prescription painkillers into new neighborhoods, forcing police and parents to confront an unexpected problem.
'Game of Thrones' previews in New York: scalped tickets and a bus-sized dragonThousands of New York fans of HBO's smash hit 'Game of Thrones' gave the series' author and creator rock-star treatment at the sneak preview for Season Four.
Fred Phelps: no funeral for the preacher who picketed so manyFred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church tormented countless funerals to spread their message against homosexuality and abortion. He died Thursday.
