Nation

5 overlooked stories that deserve your attention

By Joshua Barajas, Erica R. Hendry, Iman Smith, Laura Santhanam

Here are five stories outside of politics that you may have missed.

If SNAP benefits are cut, who hurts the most?

By Laura Santhanam

For five decades, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps, has provided access to food for millions of Americans and is the nation’s largest program that targets hunger. But policies at the state and federal level could tear…

Carson pledges to fight homelessness, despite deep proposed budget cuts

By Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press

Carson, a conservative Republican who challenged President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination last year, spoke as Congress considers Trump's budget for fiscal year 2018 — a plan that calls for cutting about $7 billion from the $48 billion HUD…

Trump to nominate former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman as U.S. ambassador to Russia

By Associated Press

If confirmed, the former 2012 GOP presidential candidate would take over the post amid ongoing investigations into contacts between Russian officials and the Trump campaign.

The FBI's role in national security keeps expanding. Here's why

By Zachary Laub, Council on Foreign Relations

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been reoriented toward counterterrorism in recent years, but continues to face charges of overreach.

How noise pollution from humans is wreaking havoc on U.S. wildlife

By Rachel Buxton, The Conversation

Human-caused noise has consequences for wildlife, entire ecosystems and people. It reduces the ability to hear natural sounds, which can mean the difference between life and death for many animals.

California lawmakers celebrate bipartisan cap-and-trade victory

By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press

California's signature initiative to fight global warming will get another decade of life after lawmakers from both parties joined Gov. Jerry Brown in extending the law credited with reducing the state's carbon footprint.

The government is paying billions to shipbuilders with histories of safety lapses

By PBS News Hour

The U.S. shipbuilding industry continues to win billions of dollars in contracts to build Navy and Coast Guard vessels, despite serious safety lapses that have endangered and killed workers. From Reveal at the Center for Investigative Reporting, special correspondent Aubrey…

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Justice Department to make it easier for police to seize property from crime suspects

By Sadie Gurman, Kyle Potter, Associated Press

The practice has been criticized because it allows law enforcement to take possessions — such as cars and money — without indictments or evidence a crime has been committed.

State Department expands definition of 'close family' for visa applicants, refugees

By Matthew Lee, Associated Press

The State Department on Monday expanded its definition of "close family" to include grandparents and other relatives that constitute a bona fide U.S. relationship for visa applicants and refugees from six mainly Muslim nations.