Issues
How rural hospitals are banding together to survive
Independent and rural hospitals are collaborating with their neighbors to shore up their finances instead of joining larger health systems to stay afloat.
Starter homes are scarce, so Utah set a target to build more. Here’s how it’s going
In one of the country's priciest housing markets, Utah's leaders worry young people are shut out from building wealth. But despite new incentives, few developers are signing on to build smaller homes.
More students head back to class without one crucial thing: their phones
This back to school season, more districts than ever have cell phone bans in place. Teachers and legislators alike say the restrictions help kids focus in class.
How 3 Hawaiian teen princes brought surfing to the mainland
In 1885, royal Hawaiian brothers were studying at a military school in California. There, they introduced a sport known as "surfboard swimming." The Princes of Surf exhibit tells what happened next.
139 days: 3 Scottish brothers set a record for fastest row across the Pacific
Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean completed the fastest unsupported row across the Pacific, arriving in Cairns, Australia, on Saturday. They rowed over 9,000 miles non-stop from Peru.
Children of the storm
As 11-year-olds weathering poverty, we survived the winds and water of Hurricane Katrina along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Twenty years later, we’re still wading through its wake.
AI and Nvidia have been bright spots in an uncertain economy, but there are doubts now
This past week, AI darling Nvidia reported blockbuster financial results that beat analysts' expectations. But investors weren't impressed and the stock price dropped.
Most of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal, U.S. court rules
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., delayed enforcing its decision, which is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Alabama town’s first Black mayor, who had been locked out of office, wins election
Incumbent Mayor Patrick Braxton was elected as the mayor of Newbern, winning 66 votes to his opponent’s 26, according to results posted by the town. His victory puts a punctuation mark in the dispute over control of the town government that drew national attention.
Bay St. Louis became the place to be after Hurricane Katrina — for those who can afford it
After Katrina wiped the town out, Bay St. Louis rebuilt itself into a coastal paradise. But insurance challenges limit who can live there.
20 years after Hurricane Katrina, East Biloxi’s casinos boom while Main Street dries up
Despite progress in East Biloxi, a historically Black neighborhood remains worse off post-Katrina, according to residents.
The Trump administration wants to build more roads through national forests
The Trump administration argues that rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule will help wildland firefighters. Fire researchers warn that more roads could exacerbate the problem.
College football season is here. Here’s what to know ahead of Saturday’s kickoff
This weekend features three top-10 matchups, the most ever for an opening weekend in college football history. And Arch Manning, the most hyped player of a generation, will start for the first time.
Public media stations in rural America say emergency-alert funding is in jeopardy
Without Congressionally-approved funding, public media stations say communities will be left with aging infrastructure amid growing risks from extreme weather.
Fed governor Lisa Cook sues Trump over firing
Lisa Cook is challenging the president's attempt to remove her from office based on what she says is "an unsubstantiated allegation" of mortgage fraud prior to her Senate confirmation as governor.
In a big step for Alabama, youth cricket comes to Pelham
This summer Pelham Parks and Recreation hosted their first cricket camp for boys age six to 18 to learn foundational skills and techniques of the game.
Pascagoula still shows Hurricane Katrina’s heavy toll in Mississippi 20 years later
While much of the city was rebuilt over the past 20 years, it has never fully recovered. The cost of rebuilding has been prohibitive for many former residents.
What will the end of the ‘de minimis’ rule mean for U.S. consumers?
On Friday, the U.S. is ending its de minimis rule that made it easy for cheap goods to reach consumers. The change will affect roughly 4 million such packages processed each day.
New Orleans musicians found a home here after Katrina. Now, it’s raising the next generation
In the 9th Ward, New Orleans’ Musicians’ Village has been training the next generation of musical talent while providing affordable housing to many artists.
These investigators patrol Las Vegas looking for one thing: water waste
The Southern Nevada Water Authority has investigators who patrol Las Vegas neighborhoods in search of wasted water.
Colleges see significant drop in international students as fall semester begins
Delays and increased screenings for visas mean that many students didn't make it to campus on time – and that has some big implications for the economy.
‘Down but not out’: The punk zine that helped keep New Orleans’ culture afloat after Katrina
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Antigravity Magazine played a vital role in helping local media dispel rumors and keep their audience informed.
A ‘college for all’ push thrived in New Orleans after Katrina. It wasn’t for everyone
After Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleans charter schools united in a mission to send more students to college. Today, some of those students, now adults, wish they'd been given more options.
Hurricane Katrina forced changes at FEMA. Trump is rolling them back
The government's colossal failure to respond after Hurricane Katrina led to major reforms at the nation's top disaster agency. Now, the Trump administration has reversed some of those changes.
U.S. tariffs take effect on India, threatening $48.2B in exports
Earlier this month President Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on India due its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the combined tariffs to 50%.
Woodfin wins third term as Birmingham mayor
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin cruised to victory Tuesday, dominating a field of 9 candidates to claim a third term.
Here are the results of Tuesday’s elections in Birmingham
Birmingham voters made their picks in races for mayor, city council and school board.
You’ve heard of a senior prom. How about a prom for senior citizens?
Fitness instructor Tracy Williams has a passion for this age group. She's planning a "senior" prom for those who never had a chance to go to their proms or would like a do-over.
How plants and fungi trade resources without a brain
Fungi and plants have something to teach humans about global trade and cooperation
Voters weigh in on Birmingham’s future ahead of city election
Birmingham voters will choose from among nine candidates for mayor in elections Tuesday. When residents around the city were asked to share what is on their minds as they head to the ballot box, two issues rose to the top.
South Korean President Lee to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday
At a summit meeting in Washington, D.C. on Monday, the U.S. and South Korean presidents will discuss modernizing their 71-year-old alliance and fleshing out a trade deal reached last month.
20 years after Katrina, New Orleans schools are still ‘a work in progress’
The city's school system looks almost nothing like it did 20 years ago. People in New Orleans have strong opinions about whether that's good or bad, but the data is hard to argue with.
