Nation Apr 19 What we get wrong about mass shootings and how to curb them Shootings in Pittsburgh and South Carolina this past weekend brought the year’s number of mass shootings (in which four or more people were killed) to 146. William Brangham talks to Mark Follman, a journalist who has long covered gun violence,…
Nation Apr 18 A judge struck down the travel mask mandate. Here’s what that means for you A federal judge in Florida on Monday struck down a COVID mask mandate for planes, buses and trains, and imposed a nationwide injunction. The judge ruled that the mandate exceeds the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nation Apr 14 Protests erupt in Michigan after a Black man is killed by police during a traffic stop A Grand Rapids, Michigan police officer has been put on paid leave after killing a Black man who tried to flee a traffic stop April 4. Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year old Congolese immigrant, was shot in the head during a…
Politics Apr 13 Maine passes law protecting poll workers facing increased threats since the 2020 election In a survey conducted by the Brennan Center last month, three-quarters of local election officials said they think threats against them have increased. One in six say they have personally been threatened because of their work. In Maine, a new…
Nation Apr 12 Police search for suspect in New York City subway shooting Police in New York City are looking for the gunman who opened fire on a subway train Tuesday morning when at least 10 people were shot and 19 others hurt. The rampage left smoke in the station and people wounded…
Science Apr 04 UN climate report warns governments are falling short on lowering planet’s temperature The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change laid out its latest report Monday stressing the critical need to implement dramatic cuts in greenhouse gasses to head off the worst impacts of climate change. Dave Roberts writes a newsletter and…
Health Apr 01 China orders millions in Shanghai to shelter in place as COVID cases surge Shanghai is under lockdown Friday, as COVID cases continue to surge in China’s financial capital. It is the most severe measure by the Chinese government to isolate and tract infections since it shut down the city of Wuhan after the…
Nation Mar 31 Transgender community marks day of visibility as state laws target LGBTQ youth President Biden commemorated Transgender Day of Visibility by announcing a number of changes to make the government more inclusive, including giving trans people the right to mark "X" for gender identity on their passports. The president's message came as more…
Health Mar 29 FDA and CDC authorize additional COVID booster shots for some Americans The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed a second booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for those over 50. It also applies to younger people with badly weakened immune systems.
Health Mar 23 What’s driving the dramatic rise in alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic? During the first year of the pandemic, alcohol-related deaths increased dramatically by 25 percent, according to a new study. In 2020, deaths jumped from about 79,000 a year to 99,000, with the spike seen across all drinking-age groups. Katherine Keyes,…