All USA
Puny snowmen? Biking in January? New England’s winter that wasn’t.From fat-tire bikes to tapping maple trees in December, small businesses from Maine to Connecticut are adapting as snowy New England winters become things of memory.
Cover StoryFor the love of nature: Outdoorspeople help lawmakers bridge dividesClimate action can be politically divisive. But a love for nature is bringing people together – even in Washington.
First LookNew Mexico tackles food insecurity with free school meals for allNew Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed a bill to provide free school meals to all students, setting aside more than $22 million to fund the program. The legislation aims to combat food insecurity rates, boost local agriculture, and reduce food waste.
First LookTurning point: More US electricity generated by renewables than coalIn 2022, electricity generated from renewable energy passed coal electricity production in the United States for the first time. Experts say renewables are now the most affordable source of new electricity for much of the country.
First Look‘We need to remember’: Nashville community unites after shootingOn Monday The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, was the target of an elaborately planned mass shooting. The community is planning vigils for the six victims.
Why some MAGA voters won’t protest for TrumpDespite a possible indictment, President Trump’s support among conservative voters looks rock solid – and building. But one place shows softening: Some followers feel abandoned by him after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and won’t protest to support him.
Interview: Belarus leader in exile on ‘defending our common values’Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus? The exiled leader of Belarus’ pro-democracy movement, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, points to a different view of her nation’s future.
Safety for refugees: President Carter’s legacy lives on in rural GeorgiaThanks to legislation signed by President Carter in 1980, a Christian group rooted in faith and compassion has hosted thousands of refugees in rural Georgia.
First LookChina’s global campaign strikes a chord in conservative UtahChina has made significant efforts to curry favor with Utah lawmakers, The Associated Press reports. As a result, state officials have delayed legislation and nixed resolutions that would have conveyed displeasure with the Chinese government.
Monitor BreakfastPlenty on Senate Intel Chair Mark Warner’s breakfast plateAt a Monitor Breakfast last week, Sen. Mark Warner served up nuggets on TikTok, China, Russia – and Adam Sandler.
First LookDaunting recovery underway in tornado-devastated MississippiHelp began pouring into one of the poorest regions of the U.S. after a deadly tornado tore a path of destruction in the Mississippi Delta. President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for the state.
First LookTrump invokes Jan. 6 at Waco rally ahead of possible chargesA defiant and incendiary Donald Trump, facing a potential indictment, held the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign Saturday in Waco, Texas, a city made famous by deadly resistance against law enforcement.
Can AI programs be trusted to report the news?Editors remain cautious about the use of artificial intelligence in reporting. But used responsibly, they say, it can free up local journalists while augmenting their coverage – for instance, with AI-produced summaries of city council meetings.
First LookBiden, Trudeau to announce agreement on border migrationPresident Joe Biden arrived in Canada on Thursday with a focus on big global issues. The two nations are also expected to announce an agreement on migration on Friday that will allow both countries to turn away migrants seeking asylum at their borders.
First LookTeens on TikTok? New Utah law says ask your parents first.Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox signed a pair of measures requiring parental consent before kids can sign up for sites like TikTok and Instagram. The new laws also limit time spent on social media and require age verification for anyone using social media.
First LookHouse hears Uyghur testimonies on human rights abuses in ChinaA special House committee hearing on Thursday included testimonies from two Uyghur women detained by the Chinese government in “reeducation” camps. The U.S. joins a global effort to raise awareness of the mistreatment of the Uyghur community in China.
32 states and counting: Why parents bills of rights are sweeping USIn 2023, at least 32 states are considering a Parents Bill of Rights, as parents look for greater say in the education of their children.
Congress grills TikTok CEO. Will a ban follow?The question over whether to ban TikTok sits at the nexus of two broader debates: how to regulate increasingly influential social media platforms, and how to foster U.S. interests as China’s economic and military power grows.
Israel’s democracy fight: Why Biden is getting off the sidelinesCan the United States afford to treat the Israeli battle over judicial reform as just an internal matter? Not, the latest White House thinking holds, if it undercuts a pillar of the two democracies’ ties.
First LookWhy is a California caste discrimination bill drawing mixed reviews?A bill proposed in California would add caste as a protected anti-discrimination category. People of South Asian descent have advocated for such legislation, though opponents say it might draw attention to groups already facing discrimination.
