Economy Aug 18 American cities, states can’t find enough workers despite an influx of federal funding The number of Americans filing for unemployment fell to 250,000 last week, dipping for the first time in three weeks. But as students across the country return to school, many districts are facing staff shortages. State and local governments are…
Nation Dec 17 Why the toys your child wants for Christmas may be out of stock Christmas is just a week away and for some parents, finding the specific toy their child wants has been a real challenge this season. That's due, in part, to the supply chain problems around the globe — and how it…
Nation Jul 15 How the pandemic drove rents higher and made housing inequality worse The pandemic uprooted thousands of people, leaving a glut of luxury apartments available in cities at the same time it undercut the earning potential of renters in the middle class. Due to the economic pressure of eviction moratoriums coupled with…
Making Sen$e Mar 17 The fate of bats is hanging in the balance. That could have very real consequences for us The World Health Organization is expected to release a report on its investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus in the coming days. Among the many theories is the unproven belief that it was passed on from bats —…
Making Sen$e Oct 24 How big data became a silent colleague for artists and designers Artificial intelligence and big data are transforming the global economy. Less well understood, however, are the changes they are driving in creative industries specifically. Special correspondent and Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell reports on the fundamental questions sophisticated data intelligence…
Making Sen$e Oct 17 How big data is transforming creative commerce Big data is disrupting nearly every aspect of modern life. Artificial intelligence, which involves machines learning, analyzing and acting upon enormous sets of data, is transforming industries and eliminating certain jobs. But that data can also be used to appeal…
Nation Nov 19 With new work requirement, thousands lose Medicaid coverage in Arkansas A major initiative of the Trump administration has been adding work requirements to benefit programs for the poor, now including Medicaid. This year, Arkansas became the first state to roll out the requirement. As a result, more than 12,000 people…
Nation Nov 15 Why the rise of the electric scooter has been a bumpy ride It began with just 10 electric scooters in Santa Monica, California, but soon sidewalks and streets were flooded with thousands of them. Essentially skateboards with handles that can be picked up and dropped off anywhere, they've been rolled out in…
Nation Oct 18 Proposed immigration policy penalizes legal residents for use of public benefits The Trump administration has proposed reinterpreting a piece of immigration law intended to screen whether legal immigrants are likely to be self-supporting or end up consuming public benefits. Known as the “public charge” rule, it’s sowing concern even among green…