All Society
- Montgomery brawl speaks to state of civility in AmericaA brawl in Montgomery, Alabama, this month had clear racial elements. Yet it also said something important about rising incivility in the U.S.
- They like the nightlife: ‘Night mayors’ revive cities after duskSince the pandemic devastated downtowns, night mayors have relied on the power of persuasion to help cities regrow their nightlife in ways that respect all parties.
- Can unauthorized immigrants legally drive? More states say yes.More states are allowing unauthorized immigrants to earn driver’s licenses, while Florida adds restrictions.
- At Women’s World Cup, a growing focus on fairness in payThe Women’s World Cup is setting records for viewership and ticket sales. Yet as our charts show, women players lag far behind men in pay, a gap that some nations are trying to address.
- First LookHow floods brought attention to long overlooked mobile home parksDespite being disproportionately affected by natural disasters, mobile home parks have long been overlooked by United States policymakers. But after the recent bouts of flooding, urgency is rising to protect the parks as a source of affordable housing.
- First LookAmid brutal heat, Phoenix’s homeless population struggles to stay safeAs Phoenix swelters in a blistering heatwave, the city’s unhoused population struggles to stay safe. People living outside are among those most vulnerable to the dangers of sky-high temperatures.
- First Look‘Out of pain comes power’: Biden establishes Emmett Till monumentPresident Joe Biden established a national monument honoring Emmett Till, the Black teenager from Chicago whose abduction and killing in Mississippi in 1955 helped propel the Civil Rights Movement. The federal proclamation protects three sites in two states.
- First LookWorld Cup openers draw record crowds, even as NZ stunned by shootingDespite a shooting in Aukland, New Zealand, early Thursday, 2023 Women’s World Cup hosts Australia and New Zealand both drew record crowds to their stadiums for their opening matches. The tournament runs through Aug. 20.
- First LookA sea of pink: ‘Barbiemania’ takes commercial world by stormThe hype for the upcoming “Barbie” movie has come alongside a massive marketing blitz. Pink can be found everywhere – from burger sauce to luxury leggings – as experts are divided on how the excitement will play for Barbie’s parent company, Mattel.
- Cover StoryFighting wildfires: A family traditionExcitement is a big draw for wildland firefighters, but a commitment to each other – and, in some cases, to their families – keeps them battling fires.
- In Pictures: The smokejumpers of McCall, IdahoSmokejumpers fight fires in remote areas that are only accessible by air. The typical smokejumper is a combination of a special ops soldier, a tailor, and a ski bum.
- First LookAdrift for months, Australian and his dog lived off raw fish and hopeAn Australian sailor and his dog, who were stranded at sea for three months, were rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in the Pacific. Tim Sheddock was in good physical shape and expressed his gratitude to the captain and fishing company for saving his life.
- Can Threads, the ‘friendly’ Twitter, make social media nicer?Threads, the most rapidly downloaded internet app, calls itself a “friendly” social media space, but like Twitter, it faces questions about how to handle misinformation and censorship claims.
- Computer-generated prayer? How AI is changing faith.Are AI-generated sermons the future of faith? With religious attendance falling, faith groups are turning to new technologies to attract members.
- Busting homeless myths: Q&A with a California researcherCalifornia harbors 30% of the nation’s homeless population. Margot Kushel, the lead researcher of a landmark study on who is homeless in the state, and why, shares possible solutions.
- First LookAt Homeless World Cup, competitors score self-esteemA global tournament for soccer players who have experienced homelessness is making its U.S. debut in California. Competitors in the Homeless World Cup say the tournament has transformed their lives.
- First LookSemenya wins landmark case: What does it mean for women’s sports?The European Court of Human Rights ruled that runner Caster Semenya, barred from competitions because of her natural testosterone level beyond the limits, was discriminated against. The case won’t affect the hormonal regulations for female competitions.
- FocusAs Americans bet billions on sports, society wrestles with rapid growthWith the growth of sports betting, what responsibility do governments – and society – have in addressing regulation and addiction?
- First LookMethodist exodus: 6,000 members leave over LGBTQ issuesOne fifth of the United Methodist congregations in the United States have left the denomination over the Church’s growing openness toward LGBTQ members. Conservative congregations have launched a new denomination called the Global Methodist Church.
- First Look10 million users join Threads. Could it trigger the end for Twitter?Meta launched Threads, a text-based app mirroring Twitter, and drew 10 million users in its first seven hours. Although Threads is now live in over 100 countries, data privacy concerns will prevent a launch across the European Union.