All Society
First LookNothing but net: Tara VanDerveer is NCAA basketball’s winningest coachTara VanDerveer scored her 1,023rd victory as head coach of Stanford women’s basketball, surpassing Duke’s legendary men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. The victory launched her to status as the coach with the most wins in NCAA history.
How Denver met a goal to shelter 1,000 peopleDenver recently met a goal of moving unsheltered people indoors by using hotels and a micro-community. The city plans to create more permanent housing in 2024.
First LookAmid partisan climate, MLK Jr. holiday celebrations take a political turnBernice King, the daughter of the late civil rights leader, warned that “our humanity is literally under attack.” But she noted that her father’s legacy of nonviolence taught the world that “we can defeat injustice ... without seeking to destroy, diminish, demean or cancel.”
Letter from Berkeley: Requiem for People’s ParkPeople’s Park – Berkeley’s iconic gathering spot, founded in the 1960s – sits on valuable real estate in the heart of the university town. Plans to develop on the site raise questions about public space and what’s best for a community.
Community restores Compton bakery after street ‘takeover’Rioting, looting, and protests that turn violent often create challenges for a community. This city responded to one such test in a swift and positive way.
First LookRiding against the odds: Najiah Knight's quest to make bull riding historyNajiah Knight aspires to be the first woman in the Professional Bull Riders tour's top level. Najiah's fearless pursuit of her dream is supported by her family, who believe in her potential to make history in the male-dominated sport.
Cover StoryWhat is home? Glimpses of refuge from 19 Monitor writers.This collection of vignettes about home is a tribute to love, comfort, and belonging. We hope these stories kindle the warmth of home in your heart.
First LookHistoric Black towns are facing extinction. But they’re fighting back.A century ago, 1,200 historic Black communities, founded by formerly enslaved people, existed in the U.S. How are the 30 that remain preserving their legacy amid gentrification?
Monumental shift or mixed bag? Pope allows same-sex blessings.During his 10 years as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has placed an emphasis on charity over doctrine. This week’s ruling on blessings, experts say, shows efforts to extend a larger welcome.
First LookHow Saudis changed the game of international sports in 2023One year ago, the idea of Saudi-owned sports in the international market raised questions of “sportwashing” and ethical dilemmas. Since then, the conversation has evolved into just how much Saudis will invest in athletes, especially in the world of golf.
First LookIs self-checkout efficient or unnecessary? It depends who you ask.During the busiest shopping season of the year, self-checkout might be having a reckoning. While the promise of self-checkout means customers can avoid long lines, retailers are grappling with theft and some customers’ frustration with technology.
First LookNashville store gives dignity of choice, free gifts for those in needFor two days starting Dec. 8, The Store, a free referral-based grocer in Nashville, is turning into a winter wonderland with free holiday children’s gifts for parents in need. Dignity of choice is The Store’s premise this winter, and throughout the year.
A rough patch on the road to an electric car futureElectric vehicles have hit a much-publicized rough patch, as sales fail to match industry hopes. The challenge: enticing a new, more skeptical kind of buyer for green cars.
First LookMerriam-Webster’s word of the year reflects a search for truthMerriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023 is “authentic.” Lookups for the word rose to new heights on Webster’s website throughout the year. Editor at large Peter Sokolowski called 2023, with the rise of AI, a “crisis year of authenticity.”
First LookIn the NFL, more women than ever are rising in rank. Why now?The NFL has never been so balanced – off the field. In recent years, women have moved into prominent positions throughout the league. This season, 222 women are working in full-time coaching or football operations roles in front offices.
Letter from Tampa: Aging gets a makeover at this gerontology summitResearchers aim to bust stereotypes and shift perceptions about growing older – in the interest of happier, healthier lives free from discrimination.
The ExplainerIn charts: The shifting tides of US immigrationA migrant influx tests U.S. cities’ capacity to respond. Yet a broader look at immigration trends tells a story more nuanced than “crisis” headlines.
‘We have to hold hope.’ How Jewish-Palestinian families cope.Some American families with ties to Israel and the Palestinian territories are supporting each other as they process fear and grief raised by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Why one grandmother’s house has become a national causeIn Hilton Head, grandmother Josephine Wright has refused to sell her home. Her cause has struck a chord with those fighting Black land loss.
Cover StorySouthern, out, and electable: Sexual identity is not the deciding factorFor LGBTQ+ politicians winning elections in the South, leading is more complicated than the culture wars suggest.
