All Society
Post-Harvey, Houston considers the line between safety and sacrificeWhen is it acceptable to sacrifice the few for the survival of the many? A year after hurricane Harvey, residents are challenging the government's decision to flood their communities to save downtown Houston.
On Harvey anniversary, why some Texans say they may never return homeIn the wake of disaster, the rush to rebuild can sometimes leave whole communities behind. One year after hurricane Harvey, coastal Texas struggles to rebuild equitably.
In Washington, fighting fire with fire preventionCalifornia communities seeking to limit wildfire destruction could look north to Washington, where one county is applying lessons from blazes in 2015 to reshape its land use policies.
First LookHow Washington, D.C. residents are tackling rising rentsAffordable housing is proving difficult to come by in the nation's fast-developing capital. But some residents are finding a solution through housing cooperatives where tenants can collectively purchase their building, enabling low-income earners to remain within city limits.
Stark revelations: For Catholics, an excruciating new test of faithFor Catholics, the past two decades have forced the faithful to grapple with wide-spread sexual abuse among clergy. Now, as other traditions discover similar predators among their ranks, a new report still has the power to shock the nation, as well as those still seeking solace in the church.
Cover StoryDespite spike in shootings, a Chicago community gets a handle on violence2016 was Chicago’s most violent year in nearly two decades, with more murders than New York and Los Angeles combined. But the city has made impressive strides toward becoming a safer place – and Englewood is leading the way.
Women flip the pay gap in this Georgia town. Here's why it's not a model.Chamblee, Ga., tops the handful of US cities where women outearn men. But the findings are more a window on persistent challenges than a recipe for closing the gender pay gap.
Will rising summer temperatures raise world’s climate change concern?It’s been an extraordinarily hot summer – with deadly effect – all across the Northern Hemisphere. Has the heat been changing how people think about climate change?
Wildfires force California to reckon with a not-so-new normalAs blazes burn across the state, wildfire experts say the time has come for a different approach to housing in fire-prone areas.
First LookNYC ‘violence interrupters’ aim to stop street violenceFormer gang members and men who have served jail time are helping to avert street violence in some of the city's most hardened neighborhoods by advocating against gun violence and stepping in to de-escalate tensions among groups.
First LookTwitter users shine a light on the dark side of baseball cultureTwo baseball fans retweeted old Tweets by Major League Baseball players Josh Hader and Sean Newcomb as a way to expose and begin a dialogue around baseball's toxic culture.
For Texas town, reopening a detention center means jobs – and mixed emotions
Cover StoryFrom tear gas to tweets: 50 years in the evolution of US activismHow protesting has changed in the half-century since one of the most tumultuous summers in US history.
First LookGirl Scouts promote 'girl power' to reverse membership declineThe Girl Scouts of America is trying to combat long-held stereotypes about the organization, making the case for all-girl scouting after the Boy Scouts opened its membership to girls.
First LookArchitects, urban planners address gentrification of US cities through designIn response to the increasing decline in black populations in major cities, architects and urban planners are reimagining city architecture and drawing inspiration from African-American culture and traditions in efforts to preserve community history despite changing demographics.
First LookAll US states now allow breastfeeding in publicIdaho and Utah recently created laws to protect mothers who are nursing in public against fines for public indecency, contributing to the movement to make breastfeeding more widely accepted as cultural norms shift away from infant formula toward breast milk in the US.
Cover StoryCleveland uses literature to empower youth, overcome social dividesMany cities have nurtured book clubs and literacy initiatives to build and bind communities. Cleveland stands out for its ambition and scope in using literature to empower marginalized groups, foster economic dynamism, and bridge social divides.
As war vets enter the fray, stigma lessens around cannabisRepublicans have long embraced the war on drugs. But recently many Republicans, including former House Speaker John Boehner, have shifted their stance on legalizing marijuana, thanks in part to veterans who say cannabis softens the symptoms of combat trauma.
Cover StoryAs Americans celebrate Independence Day, what does it mean to be a patriot?As much as 'patriotism' blooms in the national debate, there is little agreement on what it is. Or who owns it. Or who is a patriot.
In border town, World Cup watchers balance team pride, anxiety about USLiving on the border means living with things most Americans don’t, and to live with them without batting an eye. Recently, though, those tensions of border life feel as if they’ve been dialed to 11 – and even a beloved sports event isn't providing a respite.
