All USA
First LookWhy is the Army cutting 24,000 jobs? It’s a new era, Pentagon says.The U.S. Army is slashing the size of its force by about 24,000, which is nearly 5%. The cuts will mainly be in already-empty posts – not actual soldiers. The cuts include jobs related to counter-insurgency that swelled during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
An indie publisher finds its future – with a public libraryAngel City Press in Los Angeles has long published local authors. In a bold move, its founders are now giving the press to the city’s public library.
FocusWhy a Native American vet drives 1,200 miles to care for her peersMany Native Americans who serve in the U.S. military face post-service challenges. Efforts are underway to better help veterans on the Navajo Nation.
Biden should drop out! No, he shouldn’t! Debate rages.Erstwhile allies are calling on President Biden to leave the race, amid concerns he could lose. Others call the criticism unhelpful – and unwarranted.
Lights on, but trust off. Texas tries to rebuild confidence in grid.The Texas power grid is more reliable today than it was three years ago, but Lone Star state residents remain cautious as costs rise.
FocusToo many California kids can’t read. Phonics alone may not be the fix.States are leaning into the “science of reading” to address a growing crisis in learning. But can the approach be effective if underlying issues like student hunger and absenteeism aren’t also addressed?
First LookPhone use is ‘out of control,’ teachers say. What’s the solution?Educators around the country say cellphone use during class is interfering with learning. A growing number of leaders at the state and federal levels have enacted cellphone bans in classrooms as school policies vary and are hard to enforce.
First LookArab Americans use Michigan primary to send a message to BidenAs the Gaza war rages on, Arab Americans in Michigan voting in the state’s primary Feb. 27 vow to withhold their support for President Biden. A loss of support in Michigan, a crucial battleground state, could affect the 2024 general election.
First LookRepublicans scramble to contain backlash from IVF court rulingAlabama’s Feb. 21 ruling that frozen embryos are considered children has Republicans scrambling to contain the backlash as IVF clinics shutter statewide. In a Republican internal poll, 85% of respondents said they supported IVF, a family planning measure.
First LookShould government restrict teen social media access? Florida says yes.A new Florida bill would ban social media apps for anyone under age 16. The measure now goes to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis after being passed by the state House of Representatives in a 108-7 vote. Critics say the bill violates the right to free speech.
Why Haley focuses on long game, despite Trump’s South Carolina leadPolls suggest that Nikki Haley has little hope of pulling off a primary win in her home state. At present, Donald Trump’s sway over the party is too large. But she is taking a longer view.
First LookWhen cellphone outages strike, landlines can help – if you have oneLandlines are handy to have when mobile networks go down – but they’ve disappeared from nearly 3 in 4 American households. The shift is part of a broader evolution in our expectations around communication.
First LookDo you carry credit card debt? Why Capital One is betting on it.Swelling American credit card debt has Capital One Financial counting on a $30 billion merger with credit-lending heavy hitter Discover Financial. Since the pandemic, American consumers have relied more on credit card usage to support increased spending.
As GOP groups go MAGA, some see trouble for party apparatusEfforts to put Trump supporters in charge of Republican infrastructure at all levels are bearing fruit. Some laud it as grassroots activism. Others call it a hostile takeover.
First LookAlabama IVF providers pause programs in wake of court rulingA second in vitro fertilization provider in Alabama is pausing services after the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are legally considered children. They are evaluating whether patients or doctors could face criminal charges or punitive damages.
First LookNew kind of whale watch: Puget Sound pilot program tracks whale safetyThe U.S. Coast Guard is launching a pilot program to alert ships of whale sightings in an effort to keep the animals safe from boat strikes and noise in Washington state’s Salish Sea. The alert system uses thermal cameras and citizen whale sighting reports.
First LookFor libraries, e-book lending is a new chapter – and a new challengeThe “Netflix model” of leasing e-books to public libraries is expensive, full of limitations, and potentially a boon for censorship, librarians say. It’s a growing business model that shifts power to publishers and makes access harder for patrons.
First LookWhy most Black millennials who leave church don’t give up on faithWhen Black Americans leave organized religion, the majority of them still retain some degree of faith in a higher power, a new Pew study shows. The central role religious institutions played in securing civil rights is one reason why, say experts.
Monitor BreakfastAfter Navalny’s death, a ‘Reagan Republican’ comes to breakfastMichael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed confidence that Congress would step up for Ukraine at a Monitor Breakfast with reporters.
Cover StoryWhy Oklahoma’s tough-on-crime lawmakers no longer trust death penaltyOnly five states executed people last year. Oklahoma was one of them – and some GOP state lawmakers worry they cannot trust their system to get it right.
