All USA
First LookDetroit limits cash bail, aiming to relieve racial inequalityDetroit is limiting courts’ use of cash bail, a move meant to lessen racial inequality in the U.S. city with the highest proportion of African Americans. The reforms will not ban bail, but will limit when courts can ask for it, protecting due process for those who cannot afford it.
FocusSupreme Court turns to history: How does past speak to the present?As the U.S. moves forward, its highest court is looking to the past. But putting a premium on history and tradition leaves open several questions: “What do we mean by history and tradition? Whose history? Whose tradition?”
First LookAre social media checks an answer to gun violence? NY says yes.Following a Supreme Court decision that overruled a key New York gun control law, N.Y. lawmakers have implemented a new strategy of social media transparency in hopes of avoiding gun violence. But the practice raises questions about free speech and privacy.
First LookHonoring the mahu: Hawaii celebrates its Indigenous healersHawaii’s mahu healers were known to express both male and female traits but were suppressed by Christian missionaries in the 1800s. A Hawaiian museum is honoring their legacy with an exhibit that highlights the long history of gender fluidity in Indigenous cultures.
First LookFeds sue Arizona for ‘textbook violation’ of voting actArizona has passed a new law meant to prevent noncitizens from voting. But the Department of Justice is suing, saying the legislation clearly violates national election and civil rights laws by making voting harder for anyone registered via a federal form.
Global response to soaring food prices: Generosity is just a startTo address global food insecurity made worse by the Ukraine war, world leaders are looking beyond mere aid, focusing on increased food production and improved supply chains.
First LookAmericans search for national pride amid troubling eventsThe Fourth of July offered no day off from the economic, social, and political problems worrying Americans, as a shooting in Chicago marred the 246th anniversary of America’s independence. Nonetheless, people across the country seemed determined to overcome the country’s challenges.
First LookTexas clinics halt abortions after state Supreme Court rulingClinics are shutting down abortion services in Texas after the state’s high court blocked an order that briefly allowed the procedure to resume in some cases.
FocusEducation owes a lot to parents. But where do their rights begin and end?What lessons does history offer about how much parents can and should shape education in a democracy? Part 4 in a series.
- How the end of Roe could be pivotal in the midterms
The fight over abortion rights is, for now, truly state by state, with abortion access in many battleground states on the line.
First LookJuly 4 bust: Fireworks fizzle out again in drought-stricken WestConcerns over wildfires, supply chains, and staffing problems are creating a perfect storm to dampen skies over Western U.S. cities for the third consecutive Independence Day. Some cities are switching to laser shows or canceling celebrations altogether.
First LookNorth Carolina appeal could reshape state power over electionsThe Supreme Court will hear a case that could hand more power to state legislatures and block state courts from reviewing challenges to election procedures and results. The case, brought forward by North Carolina Republicans, could shift the way elections are conducted.
After Supreme Court ruling, can EPA still tackle climate change?A Supreme Court ruling limits Environmental Protection Agency leeway to regulate greenhouse gases, at a time when Congress hasn’t been acting on the issue.
First LookSupreme Court votes to remove Trump immigration policySupreme Court overturns former President Donald Trump’s “remain in Mexico” immigration policy. Joining the majority opinion was Brett Kavanaugh, appointed by Mr. Trump, as well as liberal justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan.
First LookSupreme Court ruling: A blow to EPA fight against climate changeBy a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Clean Air Act does not give the EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The ruling limits the EPA to plant-by-plant regulation and could compromise the fight against climate change.
After Hutchinson testimony, will Trump officials remain silent?Watergate, Iran-contra, and the Clinton impeachment all hinged on the testimony of little-known staffers with extraordinary access. Cassidy Hutchinson may join the list.
Drinking water in short supply? There’s a solution in the air.Drought: As the world gets drier and hotter, reliable access to water is becoming a greater challenge – lending urgency to innovations that could pull water right out of the air.
First LookSupreme Court expands Oklahoma’s jurisdiction on tribal landsOn Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Oklahoma can prosecute non-Native Americans for crimes committed on tribal land when the victim is Native American. The 5-4 decision cut back on the high court’s ruling from 2020 that said a large portion of eastern Oklahoma remains an American Indian reservation.
First LookUS families brace for the end of pandemic-era free school mealsInitiated in 2020, the federal aid that made school meals available for free to all public school students in the United States – regardless of income levels – is ending, raising concerns for those already struggling with rising food prices.
Mental health: Is that a job for schools?Concerns about ethics, privacy, and piling on educators have some wondering: Should schools be shouldering the mental health crisis? Part of a package on solutions for helping students.
