All Society
All aboard: Why rail travel is making a comebackWith airports tangled and gas prices sky-high, train travel is proving a comfortable, affordable, and even joyous bright spot for summer vacationers.
First LookPressure mounts on NCAA to pay women referees equallyLast year, the NCAA agreed to pay referees at its men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball tournaments equally. Now regular season games are under scrutiny. Data obtained by the AP shows聽veteran referees were 22% more per game to ref men鈥檚 basketball games in 2021-22.
First LookVin Scully, Dodgers broadcaster, remembered as MLB鈥檚 best loved voiceVin Scully narrated some of baseball鈥檚 greatest moments with grace and beauty.聽The Dodgers broadcaster, who died Tuesday, called 25 World Series and narrated the careers of players from Jackie Robinson to Clayton Kershaw, creating treasured memories for countless Americans.聽聽
FocusWith Roe gone, Planned Parenthood charts a new pathPlanned Parenthood is synonymous with reproductive rights. Post-Roe, the organization is looking to a long-term strategy that combines persistence with abortion access, courts, and ballot boxes.
First LookSamuel Sandoval, Navajo Code Talker, remembered for love of homelandSamuel Sandoval, who died this week, was one of the last Navajo Code Talkers. The code, based on the Navajo language, stumped Japanese military cryptologists and helped the United States ultimately win the war. He also helped expand the Navajo alphabet.
First LookBill Russell: An NBA champion and pioneer committed to principleBill Russell was the first Black NBA coach, redefined the role of defense, holds the record for the most NBA championships, and marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr.
First LookWhy major flooding won't drive eastern Kentucky families awayHeavy rains have produced severe flooding in eastern Kentucky, leaving some 26 people dead. But many say they'll stay because they have deep connections with people that have sustained them through good times and bad.
Before the broncos buck, heads bow at cowboy churchAt Cheyenne Frontier Days, cowboy church聽offers an hour of grace before the games begin. Held in a rodeo arena, the service reflects an open attitude: Come as you are and find respect.
Men and abortion: Three couples share their storiesAlthough abortion is commonly framed as a women鈥檚 issue, the impact on men is significant, as these three couples鈥� shared perspectives and unified decision-making demonstrate.
First Look鈥楴o Mail, Low Morale:鈥� 102-year-old from Black army unit honoredRomay Davis, a WWII veteran, is being honored this month for her role in the all-female, all-Black 6888th Central Postal Battalion. More than 800 African American women served in this unit whose goal was to make sure letters arrived as quickly as possible.
First LookFor Philly鈥檚 Chinatown, 76ers new arena could alter its identityThe Philadelphia 76ers are proposing to build a new basketball arena one block from the city鈥檚 Chinatown gates. Many residents and business owners are stepping up to protect their community and neighborhood鈥檚 unique culture.
It was one of South鈥檚 earliest free Black towns. Now it fights a highway.Faced with a turnpike expansion that could upend their lives, the rural, Black community of Royal, Florida, is speaking up, determined to keep the town and its history intact.聽
Golf goals: Making room for athletes with disabilitiesOpportunities for golfers with disabilities are expanding 鈥� including the debut of the U.S. Adaptive Open on July 18 鈥� thanks to perseverance by the athletes and their allies.
First LookAs rents rise, some schools provide teachers with affordable housingPublic schools are getting into real estate. A few schools are building affordable housing specifically for their staff in an effort to retain teachers amid rising rents. Now, districts around the country are pondering similar steps.
Cover StoryMaine鈥檚 open door for refugees meets a housing shortagePortland, Maine, has traditionally been welcoming to new migrants. But it鈥檚 struggling to handle more asylum-seekers amid housing shortages.
First LookHonoring the mahu: Hawaii celebrates its Indigenous healersHawaii鈥檚 mahu healers were known to express both male and female traits but were suppressed by 海角大神 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.
Drinking water in short supply? There鈥檚 a solution in the air.Drought: As the world gets drier and hotter, reliable access to water is becoming a greater challenge 鈥� lending urgency to innovations that could pull water right out of the air.聽
First LookCaptions gain momentum beyond TV screens to live theater and moreOn social media platforms, but also in Zoom meetings and movie theaters, captions and subtitles are spreading. People with hearing loss welcome the move and hope that the initiative, started during the pandemic, continues.
First LookSunday after Roe v. Wade: The response from American pulpitsThe U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 seismic decision rescinding the federal right to an abortion brought praise and defiance in U.S. houses of worship Sunday.聽
First LookIn Seattle, Amazon now funds affordable housingTech giants are trying to restore their image by investing in communities. The latest initiative comes from Amazon, as the firm just announced major funding for affordable housing in Seattle.