All Society
How Carter Woodson became the ‘father of Black history’Our columnist talks with one of Black History Month’s modern-day keepers about the work it takes to remember the past – and to carve out space for the future.
New Orleans one month after terror attack: Bring on the Super BowlNew Orleans started the new year with a terror attack that shook the U.S. One month later, 125,000 people are flying in for Super Bowl LIX. The city says it’s ready.
Party like a grandpa? Sober as a student? Generations flip script on alcohol.People ages 18 to 34 who say they drink fell from 73% in the early 2000s to 59% in 2024, according to Gallup. That’s the lowest this century.
‘Whenever I call, Ben picks up’: A friendship born from lonelinessIn San Francisco, an approach that gifts cellphones to homeless people – with someone on the other end – helps to forge human connection.
Why ‘equal opportunity for all’ and DEI are not the same thingPresident Donald Trump revoked the landmark Equal Employment Opportunity rule signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The action shows an alarming tendency to conflate DEI with equal opportunity for all, our columnist writes.
‘People will be afraid to go to church.’ Congregations sue for sanctuary.On Monday, a group of Societies of Friends sued the Trump administration over an immigration directive that no longer considers churches “protected areas.” The churches argue it infringes on their religious liberty.
FocusAn uncivil union: Can America break its addiction to violent rhetoric?Is it possible to move the balance of discourse – in the halls of power, on social media, and at dinner tables – back toward some semblance of civility and respect?
Police say Jan. 6 pardons carry future risk for law enforcementIn the wake of President Trump’s pardons for the Jan. 6 rioters, police question the long-term effect on police and public safety.
LA fires claimed places of worship, but congregations still are helping othersThe LA fires burned synagogues, churches, and mosques. But their congregations are still there, and are working to help others.
How the Librarian of the Year is helping his beloved Los AngelesLibrarian of Year John Szabo, of the Los Angeles Public Library, talks about the fires and why libraries are so important in these political times.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a reflection on sons, fathers, and daughtersA moment with his boys reminds our columnist of how Dr. King was passed down to him. “I can remember a particularly cold Atlanta morning as a preteen, when some of my friends from church and I hopped on a bus from Augusta and took the two-hour drive,” Ken Makin writes.
First LookChicago prepares for deportation arrests of hundreds after Trump takes officeImmigration officers may target more than 300 people with criminal histories after President-elect Donald Trump takes office Monday, an official said.
Driving through Altadena, I found a community gutted but determined to rebuildOur reporter surveys fire damage in her neighborhood around Altadena and Pasadena and ponders the future of this microcosm of Greater Los Angeles.
America’s loneliest generation? It may not be the one you expect.One in 6 Americans now feels lonely all or most of the time, a new Pew survey finds. And young people report feeling the most isolated and pessimistic.
America’s changing pews: Who shows up at church on Sunday?Young men are more likely to show up at church on Sundays than young women – to the point where they have erased a long-standing gender gap.
These Memphis icons bolster Black radio – and their communitiesIn an era when TikTok and podcasts reign, what role do radio icons from the Black community play? Leaders in Memphis, Tennessee, offer an example of how true legacy media survives and thrives.
FocusMassachusetts towns ban nicotine for a generation. Public health win or overreach?Who is responsible for the health of young people? Tobacco bans in Massachusetts towns have residents weighing public health concerns against individual freedoms and considering what it means to have a “nicotine-free generation.”
How a California neighborhood’s holiday lights bring a community togetherHomeowner light displays draw California crowds – and create Christmas traditions that brighten dark December nights.
Elon Musk now calls himself a ‘cultural Christian.’ What does that mean?Some famous atheists have now adopted the term “cultural Christian” to describe themselves. What does it mean, and how is that playing out in an increasingly secular America?
First LookUnitedHealthcare tragedy sparks conversations about insurance reformThe fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has sparked a wave of frustration over the insurance industry. Patients are sharing personal stories, with many hoping the amplified voices lead to change in an industry often criticized for prioritizing profits over people.
