All Society
Charges dropped in Rebecca Sedwick suicide case. Did the system work?Two Florida girls were accused of bullying Rebecca Sedwick before her suicide. The case exemplifies the complexities of responding to youth bullying in an effective, responsible way.
Chevy Colorado debuts at L.A. Auto Show: Has era of the mega-truck peaked?The Chevy Colorado will become the first mid-size US truck after Ford and Dodge killed their Ranger and Dakota lines in 2011. It’s a relatively risky move for GM, which believes Americans are ready for more modest personal haulers.
SeaWorld float at Macy's Thanksgiving parade stirs animal-rights outrageMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will include a float with Shamu, the famous SeaWorld killer whale. But data show keeping orcas in captivity is inhumane, animal-rights activists say.
Sandy Hook: Nearly a year on, groups seek positive legacy from tragedySandy Hook Promise, based in Newtown, Conn., has announced a new campaign called Parent Together – designed to empower parents and local communities to address causes of gun violence.
Cover StoryWhy US veterans are returning to VietnamNearly 40 years after the war, American vets who live in Vietnam are working to foster reconciliation between the two countries, while other former US soldiers are traveling there to find 'closure.'
From war protester to teaching the Vietnamese how to write speechesOne man's arc from antiwar demonstrator in college to holding a speechwriting seminar in Hanoi shows how far the US and Vietnam have evolved since the war.
FocusFixing haywire HealthCare.gov is just one hurdle for ObamacareGiven the extent of the problems with the Obamacare website, it's a tall order to get HealthCare.gov working by Nov. 30. But even if that happens, the goal of getting millions of uninsured people insured still lies ahead.
Why an Alabama couple chooses no insurance over Obamacare, so farJames and Miranda Seal lack health insurance, but the Alabama couple is in no rush to check out Obamacare's HealthCare.gov to start shopping. A big hurdle: They doubt they can afford it.
Young children using mobile media more, but other types of screens lessA new report from the advocacy group Common Sense Media comes amid growing debate over young children’s use of touch-screen technology and reveals a dramatic shift in family life.
Why do kids kill? School murders in Sparks, Danvers revive questionsTragic headlines out of Sparks, Nev., and Danvers, Mass., notwithstanding, the number of juvenile homicide offenders has lately hit a 30-year low. 'Nothing's different about kids' today, says one criminologist.
Cop kills California boy toting toy rifle; a gun-anxious nation pausesAndy Lopez, 13, was killed by a sheriff's deputy who apparently mistook him for a man about to open fire with an assault rifle, but he was carrying a pellet gun. As anxiety runs high about guns and shootings, many urge caution – for both police and parents.
After Rebecca Sedwick suicide, a bid to hold parents liable for kids' cyberbullyingIn Florida, the Rebecca Sedwick suicide has triggered plans for legislation to hold parents criminally liable if they don't do enough to stop their kids from cyberbullying. If enacted, it would be a first in North America.
- Do schools' anti-bullying programs really help?
The suicide of Rebecca Sedwick, the latest in a series of student suicides allegedly tied to bullying, has educators nationwide reviewing their schools' prevention programs. Reports are mixed as to effectiveness, with one study finding they can have unintended negative effects.
Prescription drug abuse now more deadly than heroin, cocaine combinedA new study shows that deaths from prescription drug overdoses have quadrupled during the past decade, suggesting that a stronger response is needed.
Georgia school district mulls over buying assault rifles: Could it be a good idea?The move by Gainesville City Schools in Georgia is a direct result of the Sandy Hook massacre last year. Under the proposal, the district would buy Colt 6920 M4 carbines and keep them in locked safes.
Farewell, Walter White: Why would anyone miss the 'Breaking Bad' antihero?The finale for ‘Breaking Bad’ drew in more than 10 million viewers. The Walter White character faces many of the same pressures that average people face – health, job, and income.
Civil War battle flags to joust in Richmond, but will fighting follow?A Confederate history group is planning to unfurl a car dealership-size Battle Flag over I-95 near Richmond, Virginia. In response, another group will fly a large US flag downtown.
New California law targets massive online ticket-scalping schemeA new California law makes it illegal to use software to trick online ticket-sellers into selling huge numbers of tickets to scalpers, who then resell them at a higher price.
Gay marriage 'tourism': How big an economic boom for states?The summer's Supreme Court decisions unleashed pent-up demand for gay marriages, and a handful of states reaped an economic benefit. The effect is not huge, but neither is it insignificant.
FocusCan this Chicago community be saved? Hope rises in Englewood.In Englewood, a troubled neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, community engagement programs hint at a budding transformation. But some residents say it might take years for tangible changes to come to this 'cultural desert.'
