Issues
New Zealanders help save about 30 whales after a pod strands on a beach
New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot. It's often not clear why they happen but the island nation's geography is believed to be a factor.
With talks teetering, climate negotiators struck a controversial $300 billion deal
Representatives of developing countries and climate activists were furious over the outcome, saying $300 billion annually from industrialized countries is far short of what vulnerable nations need to better protect themselves from climate change.
Climate change plays a role in global rise of dengue fever
Over 12 million cases of dengue fever were reported in 2024, the most ever. A study suggests climate change has likely played a significant role in the disease's expansion.
Atmospheric rivers aren’t new. Why does it feel like we’re hearing about them more?
In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.
In the Marble Bowl, the heated rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is getting ‘wilder’
The Marble Bowl is a competition that pits fans of the University of Alabama against Auburn University. No tight ends or cornerbacks, quarterbacks or linebackers are needed, although they can play, too.
University of Texas, MIT and others announce free tuition for some undergraduates
Nearly half a dozen institutions of higher education announced plans this week to make tuition free for undergraduates whose families make below a certain income threshold, starting in fall 2025.
‘Iced Cherries’: Joe D. Nelson’s take on modern folk and age old tropes
It may be unusual for a musician to refer to his own music as a trope. But that’s what Birmingham singer-songwriter Joe D. Nelson does with his latest album Iced Cherries.
Alabama carries out nation’s third nitrogen gas execution on a man for a hitchhiker’s killing
Carey Dale Grayson was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in southern Alabama. He was one of four teenagers convicted of killing Vickie DeBlieux as she hitchhiked through the state on the way to her mother’s home in Louisiana.
Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes
Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.
In Birmingham, Black men’s groups work to save young men from the cycle of gun violence
As the city inches closer to its homicide record, community members are trying to address a sense of fatalism and lack of opportunity felt by some young men.
This year’s FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it’s ‘a piece of cake’
The FAFSA form is now open to students hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 academic year. Students can expect a much smoother process compared to the last cycle.
Richer countries are starting to pay poorer ones for climate change damages
With climate-related disasters getting more extreme, richer countries are piloting ways to compensate developing nations, since they bear the least responsibility for causing climate change.
UConn’s Geno Auriemma becomes the all-time winningest college basketball coach
Geno Auriemma has led the women Huskies to 11 championships and nearly two dozen Final Four appearances in his four decades as head coach.
War on eagles? In Auburn, federal officials investigate the taking of a bald eagles’ nest they permitted
Hughston Homes, a land developer, displaced the eagles, Jim and Pam, cutting down the tree where their nest had been built. Auburn residents have united in their outrage, demanding answers and accountability.
NFL kickers are better than ever from long distance, and that’s changing football
Field goals of 50 yards or longer used to be a rare thing in the NFL. But this season, kickers are hitting them at a record 72% clip — and head coaches are trying them far more often than ever before.
How a Sabrina Carpenter song led to a priest’s demotion for mishandling church funds
Officials say Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello was disciplined for mishandling $1.9 million in parish funds. He faced scrutiny last year for letting Carpenter film a music video at his Brooklyn church.
Trump picks business executive Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department
McMahon is a professional wrestling business magnate and co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team. She has limited experience working with K-12 public schools.
Federal appeals court won’t block upcoming nitrogen gas execution in Alabama
The 11th U.S. Court of Appeals swiftly affirmed a lower court's decision to let Carey Dale Grayson's execution proceed. Grayson had sought a preliminary injunction to block the execution. The three-judge panel wrote that evidence “did not show that nitrogen hypoxia creates a substantial risk of conscious suffocation."
As Nadal plays his last tourney, Federer sends an emotional note from ‘your fan, Roger’
"You challenged me in ways no one else could," Roger Federer tells Rafael Nadal, who will retire after this week's Davis Cup tennis tournament.
America’s first major immigration crackdown and the making and breaking of the West
Chinese immigrants sacrificed to create America's first transcontinental railroad. Its completion may have contributed to a backlash that led to the first major immigration clampdown in U.S. history.
How to bridge our political divide? A pastor’s answer: Do unto others
A Pennsylvania church just blocks from where then-candidate Donald Trump's would-be assassin lived created a sermon series on the Golden Rule to try to bridge political divisions in its congregation.
Beyoncé will perform a halftime show during one of the NFL’s Christmas Day games
Artists featured on her most recent album could make an appearance, some of whom include Miley Cyrus, Post Malone and Shaboozey.
Who pays for Alabama’s $5 billion ‘zombie’ highway project? Not Alabama
Alabama is poised to use 100% federal funding to build an interstate that won’t alleviate any of the state’s largest traffic gridlocks and is promoted as an economic development plan rather than a transportation necessity.
Pope calls for investigation into whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide
Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if Israel's military attacks on Gaza constitute genocide. It's the first time he's publicly suggested that Israel may be engaged in genocide.
Alabama’s presidential results shift right — but not because of new GOP voters
Unofficial returns show a nearly 10% drop in Democratic votes between 2020 and 2024 as Trump support remained steady.
Countries agreed to try to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Is that still possible?
In the 2015 Paris Agreement, most countries agreed to try hard to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Delay and inaction mean that goal is becoming harder to achieve by the day.
Bela Karolyi, legendary and controversial gymnastics coach, dies at 82
Bela Karolyi coached several renowned gymnasts, including Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Strug and Julianne McNamara. But he was known for harsh methods of training.
Biden marks his climate legacy during Amazon visit, asserting ‘nobody’ can reverse it
"Some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that's underway in America, but nobody — nobody — can reverse it," Biden said. But Trump has vowed to roll back those plans.
Jake Paul beats 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a much-hyped Netflix boxing match
Jake Paul won a unanimous decision over Mike Tyson as the hits didn't match the hype in a fight between a young YouTuber-turned-boxer and the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion.
This county is the most religiously diverse in the U.S.
This stretch of New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland is so packed with houses of worship, it's been called the Embassy Row of Religions. But locals know it as the Highway to Heaven.
The NWSL rides a ‘rocket ship’ of interest in women’s sports to a record-setting year
Across the board, 2024 was a record year for women's sports. The WNBA saw record audiences. In college basketball, the women's March Madness tournament outdrew the men's. The NWSL was no exception.
Mike Tyson was a heavyweight champ before Jake Paul was born. Tonight, they face off
One is a YouTuber-turned-boxer. The other hasn't been back in the ring in nearly two decades. Tonight they'll fight in Texas.
