All Society
- How Catholic synod on gays made history, even with 'disappointing' endCatholic gay-rights groups said, in the end, a synod of bishops convened to reconsider the church's attitude toward homosexuals failed to live up to expectations. But some observers say the meeting was still a 'huge achievement.'
- First HBO, then CBS offer streaming. Is this the end of the cable bundle?HBO’s and CBS’s announcements this week that the networks will begin their own Internet streaming services is being seen as a major sea-change in the history of television programming delivery.
- Apple offers to freeze employees' eggs: Empowering women or warning to moms?Facebook and Apple will pay for female employees to freeze their eggs. Some compared the development to the birth control pill in terms of liberating women from a biological clock. Others say it tells women that they need to delay having children if they want to be taken seriously as professionals.
- Conservative Catholic bishops push back on Pope Francis' tone on gaysA mid-meeting report of a gathering of bishops has caused a sensation for its tone about the nature of gay relationships and other matters. Pope Francis called the meeting to discuss the Catholic Church’s response to cultural shifts in family life.
- N.C. magistrate refuses to perform same-sex marriage: How often does this happen?Citing religious grounds, a North Carolina magistrate refused to marry same-sex couple. Is this civil disobedience or discrimination?
- With new bill, New York City aims to be model for transgender rightsA bill introduced to the New York City Council Wednesday would set a new, easier standard for transgender residents to change their birth certificates.
- Soda-tax showdown heads for ballot in San Francisco, BerkeleySan Francisco and another California city have put soda taxes on their ballots, despite similar efforts’ notable failure in other cities, such as New York.
- Cover StoryThe rise of 'redneck TV'Why TV's plunge into backwoods family, danger, and colloquial wisdom transfixes America (and the world). Do the shows depict caricatures or gritty authenticity?
- How Elizabeth Smart survived her abduction and rapeElizabeth Smart YMCA luncheon: Elizabeth Smart says her mother's love was one of the keys to her survival. As for her captors, Smart's mother said: "the best punishment you could ever give them is to be happy."
- Why Amazon is warning viewers of 'Tom and Jerry' cartoonsThe 1940s cartoon "Tom and Jerry" contains "ethnic and racial prejudices" warns Amazon. Some support the warning label as an honest, rather than censored, edition of the cartoon series.Â
- Yoga pants too distracting for boys? A N.D. school cracks down on girlsA North Dakota high school ban on yoga pants and skinny jeans is a source of local controversy and part of a broader national dialogue about gender bias in school dress codes.
- Living wage: New York mayor gives thousands of workers a raiseMayor Bill de Blasio’s executive order requires business tenants in certain city-subsidized building projects to raise their minimum wages to $13.13 for employees who don't receive benefits.
- Beverly Carter killed: How Realtors protect themselves in ways you might not noticeThe body of Arkansas real estate agent Beverly Carter was found Tuesday. Her death has shaken real estate agents nationwide. Here's what some women agents do to protect themselves when selling homes.
- NFL says flagging Husain Abdullah for prayer was mistake. Is that enough?After a referee penalized the Kansas City Chiefs safety, a devout Muslim, for prostrating himself in prayer, a controversy began brewing over a religious double standard in sports. The NFL Tuesday quickly issued a statement saying the penalty was a mistake.
- How Ferguson's 'hands up' protest spread to Hong Kong ... sort ofPro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have been using the same 'hands up' gesture as protesters in Ferguson, Mo. But the two might be unrelated.
- Gas prices head below $3. Will your state go that low?By the end of the year, up to 30 states could have an average gasoline price of less than $3 a gallon, according to a forecast this week.
- Marijuana advocates to bring legalization battle to 2016 California ballotOn Wednesday, the Marijuana Policy Project filed paperwork with the state of California to put a legalization initiative on the 2016 ballot. Greater numbers of young voters turn out for presidential elections – and tend to favor legalizing marijuana.
- Record share of Americans are unmarried – even though most want to say ‘I do’Among Americans ages 25 to 34, 49 percent have never been married, according to census data compiled by Pew. The result can be greater financial challenges, economists say.
- Judge Mark Fuller under fire as domestic violence spotlight widens beyond NFLUS District Judge Mark Fuller was arrested in early August on charges of misdemeanor battery against his wife. At least seven members of the US Congress are calling on him to resign in light of the domestic violence case.
- Ray Rice case: Can NFL leadership weather media firestorm?As criticism continues to mount over Commissioner Roger Goodell's handling of the domestic violence case, 'the NFL is facing its greatest crisis since it decided to play after the assassination of JFK,' one analyst says.