All Society
Ski for free? Community-run hills help to offset costs and barriers to the sport.The nonprofit venues offer low- or no-cost opportunities for families to learn and ski together. Some noted Olympians, such as Mikaela Shiffrin, got their start on small slopes.
Cover StoryAmerica at 250: What would Ben Franklin say? Reenactors aim to spark reflection.Reenactors portraying George Washington and Ben Franklin say America鈥檚 250th is a chance to tell the true, complex story of America鈥檚 founding.
These dog lovers get a Golden break from a ruff news cycleThousands of dogs and people convened in Golden, Colorado, recently, to bask in the joy of what鈥檚 billed as the 鈥渨orld鈥檚 largest unofficial gathering鈥� of golden retrievers.
Phillis Wheatley wrote poetry while enslaved. Now, she graces a postage stamp.The 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley praised revolutionary ideals and inspired generations of Black educators and students with her tenacity.聽聽
How Minneapolis protests fit into the larger struggle for civil rightsIn the U.S., protests against oppressive government actions, and even civil disobedience, have contributed to shifts in thinking 鈥� and changes in policy.
These awards honor the best US civil servants. What 鈥榖est鈥� means may be changing.Organizations that bestow awards for good governance are adjusting to the Trump administration鈥檚 staff cuts and criticism of traditional civil servant values.
What do Trump demands mean for Smithsonian鈥檚 independence?The Smithsonian Institution, the world鈥檚 largest museum complex, faces a deadline to comply with a White House demand looking for 鈥渋mproper ideology.鈥�
As stand-your-ground laws expand, so do firearm fatalitiesAfter 20 years of stand-your-ground laws, spreading to most U.S. states, experts see an accompanying rise in shooting deaths. South Carolina offers a lens on the issue.
The ExplainerHousing crisis puts rent control in spotlight, in New York and beyondNew York City and other urban centers are hoping rent control rules will ease the housing crunch. But deeper solutions 鈥� including building millions more homes 鈥� will not be easy.聽
Mamdani鈥檚 rise reflected in Muslim neighborhood that was targeted after 9/11New York Muslims were subjected to surveillance and fear after 9/11. Now, many welcome the mayorship of Zohran Mamdani, the city鈥檚 first Muslim mayor.
How the Lumbee Tribe earned federal recognition after a decadeslong effortThe Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, with more than 55,000 members, earned federal recognition from Congress after decades of attempts. The status will open more government benefits for tribal members and fulfills a campaign promise by President Donald Trump.
Why US mass killings have dropped to a 20-year low, though violence persistsThe U.S. is on track to record the lowest level of mass killings, including deadly shootings, in two decades. Causes of violence are complex, but prevention programs and community health may play a role in the shift.
Writing a new chapter, Boston stacks homes above librariesFor many people, it sounds like a dream: Living above a library. A number of major U.S. cities are experimenting with such mixed-use buildings as a way to add affordable housing 鈥� and cultivate community.
Cover StoryCan homeless people care for their pets? A Santa Fe controversy points to solutions.In Santa Fe, New Mexico, the missing dog of a homeless person sparked a debate about how to help pets 鈥� and their people 鈥� living on the streets.
What are you grateful for? In difficult times, these Americans say naming it can help.Polling shows that Americans say expressing gratitude can relieve the stress that sometimes comes with the holiday season 鈥� and beyond.聽
FocusNow serving community: Vermonters rally to preserve the general storeThey evoke Hallmark movies and simpler times. But in rural locations, general stores are a lifeline to the community, providing access to groceries and serving as a social hub. In Vermont, towns are fighting to keep theirs alive.
FocusRegaining a sense of place: People and culture come first after Lahaina wildfireAfter the deadliest fire in 100 years of U.S. history, houses are rising from the ground once again in Hawaii. But the people of Lahaina are trying to do more than rebuild buildings 鈥� they are also trying to rebuild their culture.
鈥榃e don鈥檛 even know all of what we have.鈥� Howard fights to preserve Black newspapers.Across the United States, scholars are working to preserve聽the history of the Black press before the brittle pages are lost forever. In a basement at Howard University, uncovered treasures have included Frederick Douglass鈥� newspaper, The North Star.
In battleground Michigan, tariffs cast a long shadow over the economyBusiness owners and local leaders in three Michigan towns say their hopes for economic recovery are challenged by tariffs and the government shutdown.
On a South Carolina island, could local control help preserve Gullah heritage?South Carolina鈥檚 Daufuskie Island retains a Lowcountry heritage as a home to descendants of enslaved people. Amid development pressures, residents are trying to chart their future.
