All USA
First LookSupreme Court sides with Black voters in Alabama redistricting caseIn a 5-4 ruling the Supreme Court justices affirmed a lower-court decision that Alabama’s redistricting to concentrate Black voters in a single district violated the Voting Rights Act. In a surprise move, two conservatives sided with the court’s liberals.
First LookPat Robertson moved seamlessly between religion and politicsPat Robertson, who died Thursday, launched the far-reaching Christian Broadcasting Network, ran for president as a Republican in 1988, and founded the Christian Coalition, which cemented the Republican Party’s enduring alliance with evangelical voters.
First LookHalted House: McCarthy welcomes fallout challenge from Biden dealSince Tuesday, conservative Republicans have arrested the House’s operations, refusing to support routine procedural votes. The move signals discontent from the far right over the debt-ceiling deal negotiated by Speaker Kevin McCarthy with President Joe Biden.
First LookStudent loans? US approves $42B to forgive debt for public workers.The United States rolls out a loan forgiveness program to encourage public service. Open to teachers, librarians, nurses, and others, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program cancels a borrower’s remaining student debt after 10 years of public interest.
In Pictures: At Odd Pet Vet, quirky critters find love and careLove comes in many shapes and sizes. At Odd Pet Vet, veterinarians embrace quirky critters – and the people who adore them.
More GOP candidates enter the fray. Will it help Trump?Will 2024 play out like 2016 all over again? A crowded Republican field may work to the benefit of former President Donald Trump – but his rivals may also have learned some lessons.
First LookPacific Northwest states search for gun control solutionsGun control advocates in Washington state are hailing victory after a federal judge rejected a request to block a new state law. The new law bans the sale and manufacture of more than 50 types of guns, including AR- and AK-style rifles.
No more ‘faceless bureaucracy’? How cities are deepening trust.Most Americans think favorably of local government. Still, citizens academies try to deepen trust by getting past “faceless bureaucracy.”
In rural Alabama, a mass shooting America ignoredThe Dadeville mass shooting saw four teens killed and 25 injured at a Sweet 16 party. It points to how and why America views gun deaths differently.
Cover StoryStopping culture wars in their tracks: How one city did itIn Middletown, Ohio, the day-to-day work of building trust in the community set the stage for defusing the culture wars confronting the city’s public schools.
Guaranteed transfers for community college? California may chart a path.What’s the best way to help community college students who want a four-year degree? In California, a proposal hopes to offer transfer students access to universities that have typically been out of reach.
First LookMoms behind bars: Are separated families punished, too?The number of mothers incarcerated dropped during the pandemic, but as prison regulations return, families are once again being separated. Some programs such as the Reunification Ride hope to strengthen family connections by supporting monthly visits.
First LookRacist abuse in international soccer: Time for real change?Racist insults toward Real Madrid soccer player Vinícius Júnior expose a persistent worldwide problem in the sport, but federations are slow to sanction teams for racism. Education and stricter penalties are needed to tackle this issue, experts say.
Monitor BreakfastBreakfast with Taiwan’s 'cat warrior'Taiwan’s envoy to the US has dubbed herself “cat warrior,” a counter to China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy. We got her to explain at our breakfast.
Debt deal reinforces Biden as consensus builderFor President Joe Biden, aiming for the political center defined his career. Achieving a bipartisan debt deal in an era of hyperpolarization shows the old ways can still work.
First LookDown to the wire: Senate approves debt ceiling deal, Biden to signJust days before a national debt default, the Senate approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package Thursday night. The deal, negotiated by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, requires the president’s signature before becoming law.
First LookLeague of her own: Knuckleball pitcher with big baseball dreamsEri Yoshida is a Japanese baseball player who dreams her knuckleball pitch will take her to the big leagues. No stranger to overcoming the odds, she’s pitched in games – and won – in Japan, the United States, and Canada – against men and women.
Cover StoryUntangling the roots of violence: What can we learn from the South?Beneath the South’s reputation for comfort food and a friendly welcome lie deep roots of violence. Can untangling them help uproot them?
With debt deal, McCarthy threads the needleWhile some far-right members are unhappy with the debt deal, others say Speaker Kevin McCarthy is holding an unwieldy GOP caucus together better than most. He’s also shown a willingness and ability to work with Democrats.
The ExplainerBreakthrough Colorado River plan: The benefits and limitsWith the Colorado River in near crisis, and talks on water use gridlocked, Arizona, California, and Nevada recently agreed to cut use. Their proposal shows progress, but has limits.
