All USA
Cover StoryMaine’s open door for refugees meets a housing shortagePortland, Maine, has traditionally been welcoming to new migrants. But it’s struggling to handle more asylum-seekers amid housing shortages.
First LookMore Americans turn to food banks for first time as inflation soarsLong lines have returned to food banks across the United States as inflation hits a 40 year high. Food banks are struggling to meet demand as federal programs are distributing less food and grocery store donations are waning.
FocusChris Murphy broke through the gridlock on guns. He’s not done.Colleagues credit the Connecticut senator with guiding a gun safety bill to passage – by listening, and not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. Part 1 of 2.
In his own words: Senator Murphy on guns, democracy, and 2024Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut was instrumental in securing cooperation across the aisle on federal gun safety legislation. He shares why it worked and where he hopes to find agreement next. Part 2 of 2.
How Woody Williams embodied bravery, on and off the battlefieldCourage is a quality that gets praised, but all too often overlooked, say veterans and military historians. Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Wiliams will be remembered as “a person who used every ounce of his being to serve others,” his grandson said.
First LookMichael Cox: Boston's new top cop is a police brutality survivorBoston Mayor Michelle Wu has appointed veteran police officer Michael Cox as Boston’s new police commissioner. Mr. Cox, a survivor of police brutality, offers hope in a turbulent time of nationwide tension about police violence.
First LookA step toward healing: A Jan. 6 rioter offers an apology to policeAfter testifying before the Jan. 6 committee, Stephen Ayres, a pro-Trump rioter, apologized to D.C. police officers. Some officers reject his apology, others accept it with hope for personal and communal growth through forgiveness.
In Jan. 6 spotlight, Mike Pence navigates a tricky post-Trump pathCredited with averting a constitutional crisis on Jan. 6, the former vice president faces the ire of Trump allies.
The ExplainerAfter Roe, many questions: Where the legal fight moves nextIn some ways, overturning Roe was just the beginning of the legal battles over abortion access. Legal uncertainties include questions about interstate travel, pills through the mail, and how states will enforce bans.
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.
