All Society
- Cover StoryFine print justice: How Daryl Atkinson is battling bureaucracyOn paper, court fees and ticket fines help balance local budgets. But a deep dive suggests the harm they cause far outweighs any revenue raised.
- A small town, public art, and the First AmendmentWould no public art be better than art someone found objectionable? In New Hampshire, a town has been roiled for months over that question.
- Las Vegas embraces the Super Bowl – and a new vision of itselfThe Super Bowl is the latest indication of Las Vegas’ transformation into a pro sports hub. Aside from an economic boon, what has it done for the community?
- It’s not just the sunshine: Why Portugal attracts US expatsPortugal is gaining popularity with U.S. citizens looking to move abroad. Reasons include the expected, like weather and the cost of living, as well as ones that hint at people’s deeper needs when trying to build a good life.
- First LookShould repeated police calls be a basis of eviction? DOJ says no.“Crime-free” laws allow landlords to evict renters when first responders are repeatedly called to the same addresses. They’ve long been criticized as discriminatory. For the first time, the Justice Department found that to be the case in Anoka, Minnesota.
- First LookCouncil to NYPD: Officers must record race of people questionedNew York City police officers will now have to record the race, age, and gender of people they question under a new police transparency law. The New York City Council overrode Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of the bill Jan. 30.
- First LookNevada native tribes push for monument where ancestors were killedHundreds of Native Americans were massacred in Nevada’s Bahsahwahbee Valley in the 1800s. Now, as three tribes push for the site to become a national monument, they see a chance to tell their own story.
- 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.