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Virginia’s wake-up call: Democrats ignore rural voters at their perilAccepted wisdom among Democrats has been that demographics – more voters of color and more young voters – would lead to victory. Last week’s defeat in Virginia shows the danger of complacency.
Reading remedies: Schools assess pandemic’s effect on literacyNewsrooms across the country got together to report on the state of reading education – to share what classrooms look like today and what solutions are being tried to support struggling readers.
First LookAs prices surge, food banks face new hurdles to feed the hungryFood banks faced increased demand throughout the pandemic, and now they’re navigating surging food prices and supply chain bottlenecks. Bracing for the upcoming holidays, U.S. food banks worry they won’t have enough staples, like stuffing and cranberry sauce.
First LookIn Hopi elections, language preservation is a core issueIn the upcoming Hopi chairman elections, the role of language in tribal politics is front and center. The debate about whether the ability to speak and understand Hopi should be a prerequisite to running prompts bigger questions about culture, identity, and inclusion.
Men are missing from college campuses: What’s being done to bring them back?A gender gap on college campuses has grown wider during the pandemic. Schools are responding with programs to support young men.
First LookEyes on the driver: Biden wants a tech fix to curb drunk drivingPresident Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill includes policies tackling auto safety. By 2026, all new vehicles will include systems to “passively monitor the performance of a driver ... to accurately identify whether that driver may be impaired.”
‘I had to stand up and say no’: Pro-choice Christians battle Texas lawFaith featured prominently when Texas passed its controversial abortion law this year. But for some people of faith, it has inspired a newfound interest in, and activism around, reproductive rights.
First Look‘I cannot wait’: Families reconnect as US travel ban liftsOn Monday, vaccinated travelers from Mexico, Canada, and most of Europe will be allowed to enter the United States for the first time since March 2020. Families have long awaited the chance to reconnect with spouses and introduce babies born during the pandemic.
First LookSafer venues? Investigation of Travis Scott concert beginsEight people died in a crush of fans at a Houston music festival Friday hosted by Travis Scott. The investigation has begun into how to keep concert goers safe.
First LookWhy Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure bill finally passedThe $1 trillion bill, which promises to create jobs and improve broadband, water supplies and other public works, was passed with votes from 13 Republicans Friday.
Mandates, bully pulpits, and other presidential mythsPresidents like to talk about mandates, but those can be something of a myth. Most of the time, it’s impossible to pin down why people vote the way they do.
No refs, no games: Can people play nice?Referee shortages pose a challenge in youth sports, where declining civility is blamed for an exodus of officials. But some solutions are underway.
First LookVoting rights: Justice Department sues Texas over election lawThis summer, Democratic lawmakers fled Texas in an attempt to prevent the passage of Senate Bill 1, but to no avail. Now, the Biden administration is suing the state over the same bill in an effort to overturn new voting restrictions.
Democrats and Republicans vie to be ‘the party of parents’Parents are rethinking the role government plays in their children’s education and opportunities. Both parties are striving to tap into that.
First Look'Not going to stop': How US Justice Department fights cybercrimeRansomware attacks, in which hackers lock and encrypt data then demand exorbitant sums of money for its release, have risen significantly in the past year. The U.S. Justice Department is committed to fighting back, using extraditions and monetary seizures.
Democrats’ big problem: How to win without Trump to run againstFor the first time since 2016, Donald Trump was no longer at the center of things. And his relative absence seems to have helped Republicans – and hurt Democrats.
First LookMinneapolis voters choose to keep police but ‘reform must continue’In Minneapolis, a proposal to replace the city’s police department with a new agency was rejected by voters on Tuesday. The initiative came out of citywide discussions on police reform after the murder of George Floyd.
First LookWu and Pureval mayoral wins boost Asian American political presenceBoston and Cincinnati will for the first time in their histories have Asian American mayors at the helm. The wins, say analysts, show the growing power of the Asian American Pacific Islander voters and pave the way for a stronger pipeline into political office.
First Look‘We deserve to be represented’: Moms of color remake social mediaParenting resources and the marketing surrounding them have mostly targeted white audiences. Now, women of color are breaking into the industry, taking to blogs and social media to create parenting communities that fill the gap – and brands are taking notice.
In Texas abortion cases, hints of new Supreme Court transparencyAs it wades deeper into what’s poised to be a scrutinized term, the Supreme Court appears to be more responsive to a call for greater transparency.
