All Society
First LookIgnored and overgrown, Virginia's historic black cemeteries get cleaned upVolunteers across the state are tending to the graves of African-Americans, which had fallen into states of neglect over the years. They want to preserve a part of Virginia's overlooked history and to honor the contributions of people from everyday citizens to state leaders.
Fall of Gibson: Where have all the guitar heroes gone?For more than 50 years, rock was synonymous with the electric guitar, and the electric guitar was synonymous with Gibson. When that iconic company filed for bankruptcy last week, it put a punctuation mark on just how much electronic dance music and hip-hop have transformed America's music scene.
Cover StoryMonths after Maria, Puerto Ricans take recovery into their own handsFor Puerto Ricans hit hard by hurricanes, feeling forgotten as they pick up the pieces is yet another blow. But as communities band together to recover, some also find encouragement, empowerment, and inspiration for deeper changes after the power returns.
Who's an employee? California ruling updates debate for the gig economy.The new standards could force ride-hailing platforms and other start-ups to reassess their business models, since employees qualify for higher pay, benefits, and legal protections than contractors. They could also apply to companies in delivery service, transportation, and construction.
First LookIchiro, Japan's baseball hero, begins his long 'Sayonara'Ichiro Suzuki, who will be the first Japanese player voted into the Hall of Fame, is assuming a new role off the field in the front office of the Seattle Mariners since joining the team in 2001.
US has cut inflow of refugees to a trickle, dousing hopes upstreamBefore President Trump took office, as part of a program with bipartisan support, the US had been the largest taker of refugees living in Jordan. In 2016, the US took in 23,657; last year, 3,686. This year's target is 3,000, but UN officials say privately the real number could be closer to zero.
Diversity on display at tech conference minus 'tech bros'An alternative cybersecurity conference held this week in San Francisco was notable for its representation of women and minorities who are often absent at such events. Only one in ten cybersecurity workers are women.
#MeToo's next challenge: domestic gun violenceThe #MeToo movement has empowered thousands of women to tell their stories of harassment and abuse throughout America's workplaces. But advocates say women abused at home often face a more dangerous path.
Cover StoryMaple syrup inc.: Vermont’s maple syrup tradition goes high tech, high financeIn the past decade, the Vermont maple syrup industry has boomed, bringing outside investors, private equity firms, and a host of new challenges and opportunities to the Green Mountain State.
FocusAn old beast re-awoken, anti-Semitism stalks Europe, US once moreBritain, France, the US, and Hungary have seen upticks in anti-Jewish invective and assaults in recent years. The resurgence of overt anti-Semitism stems from both an awakening of repressed prejudice and a byproduct of anti-Zionism.
First LookUtah's 'free-range' parenting law sparks interest across the countrySupporters say 'free-range' parenting, giving kids the independence to do more on their own, like walking to school or exploring a playground, makes kids happier, healthier, and more resilient.
First LookTransgender athletes compete at Boston, other marathonsWith a growing number of transgender athletes at the amateur level looking to compete openly, marathon organizers say transgender athletes are welcome to register and race as the gender they identify as.
Why embrace of 'Roseanne' doesn't always extend to politicsThe premiere drew more than 18 million viewers – and lots of cultural discussion. Nostalgia played no small part in the numbers, but culture experts say what's striking is its bid to represent both modern politics and blue-collar America in a way no sitcom has done in years.
For teens, 50 mile march to honor King became a deeper journeyThousands gathered in the city this week to honor the legendary civil rights leader, who was slain 50 years ago Wednesday. Among them were six young people from Pearl, Miss., who walked one mile for every year since his death.
Fifty years after King, Atlantans see a dream still deferredFive decades after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder, the hope of good jobs as salvation is today as promising – and as elusive – as in 1968. Interviews with African-Americans in his hometown show both resolve and worry that equality is a promise forever over the next hill.
FocusFlorida, the 'Gunshine State,' tries on new role: gun-control bellwetherFlorida has long been a testing ground for expansion of gun rights. With the gun industry facing its first serious headwinds in two decades, experts say shifts in perception and policy in Florida could, once again, lead the way.
After hurricane María, a surge in domestic violence – and demands for changeThe everyday stresses after a disaster like the Category 4 hurricane can exacerbate abuse. Puerto Rico wasn't ready to handle a flood of women and families looking for help, their advocates say, but there are lessons to learn from last fall's failure.
What the March for Our Lives looked like through the eyes of young reportersThe Monitor sent out two college students and three recent college grads to cover the marches in Washington and Boston. The paper turned over its social media accounts to them on Saturday to give readers a sense of what a youth-led movement looked like from the reporters' perspectives. Here are the moments that stood out.
Spring break in Puerto Rico? After María, that means 'rebuild,' not 'relax'Six months after the Category 4 hurricane hit, recovery remains slow. From Boy Scouts to Harvard Law, many students from the US mainland are spending vacation time volunteering here: helping to clear debris, navigate FEMA forms, and restore damaged forests.
Cover StoryHere comes the esports revolution – are video gamers the Tom Bradys of tomorrow?Investors, the news media, and academia are all beginning to recognize that interactive gaming lies at a confluence of evolving technology and shifting demographics that is transforming entertainment.
