All Society
First LookHank Aaron remembered for shattering records and racial barriersBaseball great Hank Aaron, who died Friday, is remembered for breaking Babe Ruth's home run record – and the racist hate mail he faced in doing so.
First LookOnce a model, California now struggles to tame pandemicFor months, California did many of the right things to avoid a catastrophic surge – but now the most populous state has entered a new phase of the crisis.
First LookWomen in sports: The leadership and pay gains made in 2020On and off the field, women in professional and college sports saw gains in leadership positions and pay over the past year.
The ExplainerGood riddance to 2020? Not so fast.Does New Year’s Eve have to be about revelry? With many celebrations canceled, we asked three thinkers to reflect on this particular turning point.
First LookFrom streets to museums: Artists archive 2020 summer of protestAs Black Lives Matter protests wane and protest murals fade, citizens, academics, and arts groups seeking to preserve the past for future generations are archiving art from this summer’s historic George Floyd protests in a myriad of physical and digital ways.
For far-flung families, staying put for the holidays is a treatThe peace and calm of the Christmas season has always stood in stark contrast to the chaos of holiday travel. Many people are planning to stay put this year and focus on saving money, resting, and giving thanks.
As vaccines roll out, states face difficult questions over accessStates will put health care workers first in line for a vaccine. But where should teachers rank compared with older or disadvantaged Americans?
This teen tutor turns computer science into kids’ stuffA New Jersey teen tech whiz aims to bring free one-on-one computer tutoring to his younger peers through his nonprofit CS Remastered.
Year of racial awakening may topple Richmond’s last Confederate statueBlack Lives Matter has transformed the social and physical landscape of America, bringing down prominent Confederate statues across the country.
First LookDesert mystery deepens: Did the Utah monolith go to Romania?Ten days after wildlife biologists spotted a mysterious monolith in the Utah desert, it has disappeared. No one knows where it came from or where it has gone. Meanwhile, a similar structure has appeared in the hills of Romania.
FocusIn California, rethinking who ‘owns’ wildfireRecord-breaking blazes across the West have shown the limits of fire suppression. Answers may lie in longer-term management of the land.
First LookWith a kick, Sarah Fuller makes Vanderbilt football historyWith players out due to COVID-19, Vanderbilt women's soccer player Sarah Fuller took the field for the college's football team as a kicker. She made history as the first woman to play in a Power Five conference football game.
Cover StoryA Thanksgiving like no other: Finding uplift in a dark yearWhy Americans feel it is particularly vital to express gratitude this Thanksgiving.
Lending an ear: ‘Free listening’ is this guy’s businessIn this era of social distancing, Kip Clark offers human connection: From a perch on a street in Cambridge, he listens to anyone who wants to talk.
First LookWhy self-care priorities are shifting during the pandemicSelf-care doesn't have to be skin deep. The concept has taken on new meaning and new expressions during the pandemic as people spend more time alone.
For historic Mississippi church, a day of ThanksgivingLittle Zion Missionary Baptist church in Greenwood, Mississippi, has been closed since March. It opened for one day to mark its 150th anniversary.
Cover StoryAthletes have taken social stands before. Why this time is different.While athletes have long pushed political causes, the current wave of activism may prove more effective than most.
Every stitch tells a story: A Black quilter confronts injusticeFor generations of Black women, quilting has been a way to tell stories and protest injustice. In this video, we profile a world-renowned quilter whose work has taken a new turn as the country wrestles with racism.
Cover StorySpawned by the pandemic, digital nomads are redefining ‘home’No longer tethered to the office, people are living where they want to, redefining the idea of work and home.
Black, trans, and hopeful. Meet Jevon Martin.Many in the Black transgender community have long sought safety in the shadows. But for New York’s Jevon Martin, being seen offers a new kind of hope.
