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'Thoughts and prayers': For devout, what does it mean to pray after tragedy?After the Sutherland Springs shooting, the online debate shifted to whether praying is 'doing anything.'聽Here's what religious Americans and scholars say they mean when they talk about prayer.
First LookDa Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi' sells for $450 millionChristie's auction house sold the聽famous painting of Christ for a record-breaking amount. The only privately owned da Vinci, the painting has been roughly handled in the past, including an extensive restoration process, which some critics feel hurts its authenticity.
Behind religious defense of Roy Moore, an aggressive view of masculinityThe accusations against the former judge, and the biblical justifications coming from some quarters, have led to condemnations from many Evangelicals. Yet adult-teen relationships may not be as unusual among a certain subsection of fundamentalists as people think.
First LookBarbie now wears a hijab, inspired by US Olympic fencerMattel announced its first hijab-wearing doll after US Olympian聽Ibtihaj Muhammad won gold in the 2016聽Rio Games. Many see Barbie's new accessory as another sign of increasing acceptance of聽the traditional Islamic garment in Western culture.聽
On gun violence, blaming mental illness may only deepen stigmaThe documented mental issues of Devin Kelley, who perpetrated Sunday's church shooting in Texas, are the exception rather than the rule. Only 14.8 percent of mass shooters in the US have been diagnosed as psychotic, according to one study.
From Puerto Rico's ruins, an opportunity to build back betterA bold, innovative vision is emerging for how to rebuild after hurricanes Irma and Maria battered the island's shattered infrastructure. But some worry the staggering challenges could overshadow it.
Race and the beauty counter: What a greater selection of hues says about cultureBlack women are increasingly able to influence the cosmetics market through their purchases. And it鈥檚 sending a deeper cultural message than just creating a fresh face.
In Texas, a small town reels 鈥� and rallies 鈥� after church shootingAfter the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in US history, residents of Sutherland Springs vowed to move forward and reclaim their beloved way of life.
Oasis on wheels: mobile markets bring fresh produce into food desertsCities are using mobile farmers markets to deliver fresh produce to urban residents who may not have the time or resources to access fruits and vegetables.
Where terror struck, New Yorkers model resilience amid diversitySix of the eight people killed in a terrorist鈥檚 rampage Tuesday were foreign visitors to New York City. That鈥檚 a symbol of the city鈥檚 strengths as a magnet for varied cultures.聽
Cover StoryLuther鈥檚 legacy: How people use the Bible today, 500 years after a monk sparked the Protestant ReformationPerhaps nowhere are Luther鈥檚 legacy and the various ways the book is affecting everyday life more evident than in Chattanooga, Tenn., the Appalachian city where public monuments quote Scripture and honor devout churchmen who helped make it the unofficial Bible capital of the world.
For Sandy survivors, a desire to help Texans avoid their mistakesAhead of the five-year anniversary of superstorm Sandy Sunday, New Jersey volunteers were in Texas helping with disaster recovery. One nonprofit leader says, 'New Jersey wants Texas鈥檚 recovery to be better than ours.'
FocusWomen take the tractor wheelFor some women farmers, it's a second career. Others are young visionaries with a passion for reimagining the food system. Still others grew up on a farm but fled 鈥� vowing to never lift another shovel of manure 鈥� only to have a change of heart.
Rent-then-own tiny house village seeks to reinvent Detroit's low-income housingResidents, who include formerly homeless people and those who were in foster care, pay low rent on houses that range from 250 to 400 square feet. After paying rent for seven years, they will be given the deeds to their homes.
From #MeToo to #MenToo? Why men play a role in battling harassment.Men are voicing support for women who speak out against sexual harassment or assault. The next step, experts say, is聽follow-through by taking a stand against it when it surfaces in the workplace.
After Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas grapples with how to heal togetherMental health counselors leaped to action in the wake of the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas, offering help to individuals struggling with trauma. But public health advocates suggest that mass trauma requires a broader community-wide approach.
Puerto Rican puppies find forever homes in New EnglandAnimal lovers helped hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico by bringing puppies, one senior dog, and cats from the island to Massachusetts for adoption.
Focus'Casting couch' or 'crime scene'? Hollywood's culture of sexual harassmentThe words society chooses to use to describe sexual harassment and assault can tint the lens the public uses to assign judgment, belief, or blame, experts say. They can help foster a culture of silence and compliance 鈥撀爋r they can empower the vulnerable.
Letter from Las Vegas: a first-timer's view of the gun rangeFor reasons personal and professional, I wanted to shoot a gun for the first time 鈥� and join the 72 percent of US adults who already have.
First LookHow Amazon's boom brought growing pains to SeattleAs Amazon looks for a new city to host its second headquarters, Seattle provides a cautionary tale. Issues such as housing prices and traffic have forced many lower- and middle-income families outside the city limits.
