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First LookCan liability insurance help with gun safety? San Jose says yes.A city in California passed a law on Tuesday that will require San Jose gun owners to have liability insurance, the first of its kind to take effect in the United States. The ordinance is intended to reduce gun violence, but opponents are already mounting a court challenge.
First LookNative American tribes resume full stewardship of redwood forestA land conservancy group this week gave 500 acres of remote redwood forest to a confederation tribes in Northern California. The tribes have lived in the region for thousands of years, and the giant trees play an important role in their culture and traditions.
First LookStudents to swap pencils for laptops as SAT exam moves onlineOn Tuesday, administrators announced that the SAT exam is moving online, which will parallel a shift to digital testing already underway in schools. The format change will begin abroad next year and in the United States in 2024.
First LookEPA's new focus: cleaner air, water in three Gulf Coast statesOf those living near toxic sites in the United States, 56% are minorities, according to an EPA report. Now, it wants to target air pollution, unsafe drinking water, and other environmental problems in marginalized communities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
Sacred spaces: Church buildings repurposed as community hubsAs membership in the U.S. decreases, churches are closing their doors. But some of the buildings continue to be community hubs for new “congregations.”
A gerrymander foiled in Ohio? Reform advocates see a new model.The politicians in charge of Ohio’s redistricting must comply with an anti-gerrymandering constitutional amendment.
Keepers of the flame vs. climate change reduction: Gas bans worry cooksNatural gas bans passed in new construction in New York City and dozens of other towns, worrying those who love gas cooking.
The ExplainerThey shrink. They grow. The tricky politics of national monuments.Underneath the tug of war over the designation of national monuments lie questions about presidential power, checks and balances, and enduring change.
First LookSupreme Court to hear challenge to race-based college admissionsThe U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld race-conscious admissions since the 1970s. Now, it takes up a challenge to two lawsuits alleging Harvard University and the University of North Carolina intentionally discriminated against Asian American applicants.
First LookGeorgia towns say census undercounted, threatening budgetsThree small towns in Georgia are among the first to appeal their 2020 census counts, in which, they say, as many as two-thirds of their residents disappeared. Other cities, like Boston and Detroit, say they’re going to challenge the census numbers as well.
As pandemic hits another pivot point, so do many AmericansAmid the recent omicron surge, more people seem to be questioning the value of continued restrictions – and concluding they’re not worth the cost.
First LookWhy Arizona Democrats voted to censure Sen. Kyrsten SinemaSen. Kyrsten Sinema supports the Democrats’ voting rights legislation but she opposes passing it by changing the Senate’s filibuster rule.
First LookWestern wildfires: Will Biden's $50B plan minimize the risks?As Western wildfires become more destructive and intense, the Biden administration has earmarked $50 billion for reducing trees and other vegetation in “hot spots” near communities. The work will begin next year and is expected to take a decade.
After rocky start, can Biden recover in Year Two?The U.S. presidency often involves major on-the-job training. Despite historic challenges, experts say Mr. Biden can still turn things around.
First LookHow should race be taught? New Mexico might have a model.Home to sizable Hispanic and Native American populations, New Mexico wants to make sure its social studies curriculum is inclusive of a diverse student body. That includes rethinking how to teach sensitive history, such as the legacy of Spanish conquistadors.
First LookSenate filibuster lives on, halting Democrats' election billAfter a long and emotional debate on the U.S. Senate floor, Democratic senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema passed on an attempt by other members of their party to nix the filibuster. That vote doomed the voting reform bill many Democrats see as a top priority.
How expanded child tax credit aided these moms, changed economyThe expanded child tax credit last year slashed poverty and tested a model of cash aid widely shared to families, with no strings attached.
‘Record speed and focus’: Biden’s judicial picks diversify benchAmong President Joe Biden’s most impressive achievements in his first year in office: the number and diversity of federal judges who have been confirmed.
First LookWhy major airlines are canceling US flights over 5G rolloutMajor international airlines rushed to cancel or alter flights heading to the U.S. on Wednesday over concerns 5G mobile phone networks could interfere with aircraft technology. The Boeing 777 aircraft has been flagged for being particularly vulnerable.
First LookTrump Organization under fire again as New York AG alleges fraudLast year, the Manhattan district attorney charged the Trump Organization with tax fraud. Now Donald Trump’s records are under scrutiny again after the New York attorney general’s office found evidence that his company falsely valued assets for economic gain.
