All Society
What 'Accidental Racist' says about evolution of Southern identityThe Brad Paisley song 'Accidental Racist' is an attempt to reconcile Southern pride with past racism and slavery. Southern music has returned to the theme repeatedly over the years.
Cover StoryImmigration reform: What the last 'path to citizenship' did for immigrantsCongress is considering comprehensive immigration reform, including amnesty, work visas, and guest worker programs. What this path to citizenship could mean for 11 million illegal immigrants can be seen in the 1986 amnesty of 3 million legalized in the last major immigration overhaul.
End of 'illegal' immigrants? AP change mirrors public shift, some say.AP will no longer use the phrase 'illegal immigrant.' The AP stylebook has significant influence in the media world, meaning the change is about more than just semantics.
Jimmy Fallon faces impossible 'Tonight Show' taskAs 'Tonight Show' host, Jimmy Fallon will try to hold on to Jay Leno's traditional audience while also tempting the social media generation. Analysts say he might not be able to do both.
Shain Gandee and the appeal of the 'reckless redneck'The death 'Buckwild' star Shain Gandee will confirm backwoods stereotypes for some, but it also points to such shows' deeper appeal – a glimpse into a life lived with less anxiety.
Man tattoos pit bull: Is that animal cruelty?Man tattoos pit bull on the dog's belly. The North Carolina man received a firestorm of criticism from those who consider tattoos on a pit bull, or any other dog, cruelty.
Why the biblical epic is back in Hollywood – especially on cableAfter decades of slim pickings for faith-based programming, Hollywood and cable channels are turning back to biblical and religious themes, and, notably, big audiences.
Gay marriage: Prop. 8 seems a relic of different era in CaliforniaCalifornia voters approved Prop. 8, which bans gay marriage, in 2008. Between then and today, when the US Supreme Court takes up Prop. 8's constitutionality, the social landscape has changed.
Google Glass already has some lawmakers on high alertLawmakers and privacy experts are wary of how Google Glass could be used, whether to snap photos covertly or to let drivers watch videos.
'Tonight Show' switch? Why Jimmy Fallon is creating so much buzz.A news report suggests NBC will move to Jimmy Fallon as host of 'The Tonight Show.' His style could suit the new media landscape perfectly, some say.
Steubenville's troubling question: Is rape just a part of 'hook-up culture'?Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has said the Steubenville case shows 'an unbelievable casualness about rape and about sex.' Others agree, and say something needs to be done.
Why History Channel's 'The Bible' draws boffo ratings despite reviewsReviews of History Channel's 'The Bible' are lukewarm at best, but the Easter-season series is scoring high ratings, pointing to what some call an overlooked appetite for religious storytelling.
Poll: support for gay marriage soars to record high 58 percentWashington Post/ABC News poll shows 'remarkable transformation in public attitudes' toward gay marriage, pollster says. Americans also want issue decided on basis of Constitution, not in state law.
- Consumers abandon newspapers, local TV as quality of coverage sinks
Nearly one-third of American adults have stopped using a news source because its quality of coverage has declined amid cutbacks, a survey by Pew Research Center finds.
- America's quirky capital of books
How tiny Montpelier, Vt., supports three independent bookstores – one with the requisite mascot, Veruca the tortoise.
Cover StoryThe novel resurgence of independent bookstoresDefying the onslaught of the e-book revolution, many small bookshops see a rise in sales, aided by savvy business practices and the 'buy local' movement.
Beyond Steubenville, rape case inspires action, angst among victimsThe Steubenville rape case, like other high-profile sex-assault cases, has been a moment for victims nationwide to come forward. Some are emboldened, others feel re-traumatized.
'Veronica Mars' online campaign passes $2 million: What's Hollywood thinking?'Veronica Mars' fans have contributed more than $2 million online in two days in hopes of turning the defunct TV show into a film. The campaign upends Hollywood's business-as-usual model.
Pope Francis signals core mission – returning Catholics to the churchIn his first blessing from the Vatican balcony, Pope Francis spoke of the 'evangelization' of Rome, a clear sign he would carry on the 'New Evangelization' legacy of John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Parenting shift: Dads boost housework, as more moms seek full-time jobsA new study signals a major shift in the time spent by men and women on child care, chores, and paid work. Men now spend, on average, seven hours a week on child care, up from 2.5 in 1965.
