Issues
Q&A: How a conservative Mississippi mom became an advocate for legalizing drugs
Christina Dent talks about founding End It For Good, her journey to rethinking drugs and addiction and how Mississippi can change its approach, too
With Indus Waters Treaty in the balance, Pakistan braces for more water woes
In an unprecedented move, India held the water treaty in abeyance after blaming Pakistan for a deadly attack in April. Pakistan denies involvement in the attack and accuses India of "weaponizing water."
IRS says churches can now endorse political candidates
Since 1954, an IRS rule had barred houses of worship from explicitly endorsing political candidates.
A Planet Money guide to 5 fascinating new econ papers
The Planet Money newsletter rounds up some new economics studies.
The U.S. has millions of old gas and oil wells. Here’s what it takes to plug them up
There was a circle in Maria Burns' yard where grass wouldn't grow and trees died. She knew what it was: An old natural gas well, plugged when she was a little girl, starting to leak again.
In Peru, criminal gangs are targeting schools in poor neighborhoods for extortion
The president of one of Lima's largest parent-teacher associations says at least 1,000 schools in the Peruvian capital are being extorted and that most are caving into the demands of the gangs.
Why some see the dollar’s drop as a sign America is losing its financial might
The dollar has just posted its worst first-half of a year since 1973. And now investors wonder — is it a sign that America is losing its financial standing?
Defunct oil wells are a national problem. Finding them is the first step
There could be about a million 'orphan' oil and gas wells across the U.S. As they age, they can leak greenhouse gases or unhealthy chemicals.
Why is the dollar off to a weak start this year?
The U.S. dollar had its worst start this year in more than half a century. Harvard University economics professor Kenneth Rogoff says President Trump is accelerating the decline.
Netherlands police embrace a public health approach to drugs. Will it work in the South?
Despite the opioid crisis’ deadly toll, U.S police treat drug use as a criminal issue. But in the Netherlands, a public health approach has seen better results.
Pope Leo’s scandal-plagued hometown sees a bright future in buying his childhood home
Pope Leo grew up in a small brick house in the Chicago suburb of Dolton which is now up for auction. The village's board of trustees voted to buy it, in the hopes of creating a historic attraction.
The U.S. labor market remains solid, with employers adding 147,000 jobs last month
U.S. employers added 147,000 jobs in June as the unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%. Job gains were concentrated in health care and state and local government.
Wisconsin’s 1849 law does not ban abortion, the state Supreme Court rules
After years of litigation following the Dobbs decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, with their liberal majority, ruled that the state's 176-year-old law does not ban abortion in the state.
The Dalai Lama announces plans for a successor, signaling China won’t have a say
The Dalai Lama said he will be reincarnated after he dies, and no one can interfere with the matter of succession. The Chinese government, however, claims authority over the his succession.
UPenn updates swimming records to settle with feds on transgender athletes case
The U.S. Education Department and Penn announced the voluntary agreement of the high-profile case that focused on Lia Thomas, who last competed for the Ivy League school in 2022.
Family seeks body camera footage from fatal police shooting of a Black teen in Homewood
Jabari Peoples, 18, was shot June 23 by a police officer in the parking lot of a soccer field in Homewood.
Waffle House drops egg surcharge as prices fall back to Earth
Waffle House has dropped its 50 cent surcharge on eggs as supplies rebound. The chain added the temporary charge in February, when avian flu sent egg prices to record highs.
Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dies at age 90
Jimmy Swaggart, one of the most well-known televangelists of the 1980s, has died, according to a social media post from his ministry.
The Trump admin is withholding over $6 billion in education grants for schools
The federal grant funding traditionally goes out by July 1. It includes support for migrant education, after-school programs and English language learners.
Amtrak’s new Gulf Coast line will start service in August; see details
Supporters say the line will boost tourism in the three states it connects, especially for the Mississippi cities along the coast.
Federal investigation finds Harvard violated civil rights law
The Trump administration has issued a notice of violation accusing Harvard University of "deliberate indifference" toward Jewish and Israeli students.
The WNBA is expanding again, adding 3 new cities for a record 18 teams
The WNBA is adding three new teams: Cleveland will join in 2028, Detroit begins play in 2029 and Philadelphia will be added to the roster in 2030. This will bring the league to a record 18 teams.
Canadian prime minister says U.S. trade talks resume after Canada rescinded tech tax
President Trump said Friday that he was suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called "a direct and blatant attack on our country."
Say ‘maybe’ to the dress? Tariffs are crashing the wedding planning party
How much extra would you pay to see your dream come true? It's always a big question for wedding-planning couples. Now, there's a new twist courtesy of U.S. trade policy.
Defense Department will stop providing crucial satellite weather data
Hurricane forecasters rely on weather data collected and processed by Department of Defense satellites. That data will no longer be available as of Monday, June 30.
Looking forward to July 4 fireworks? Tariffs may take the spark out of your fun
Fans of fireworks may face higher prices this Fourth of July. That's because most fireworks are made in China and importers now have to pay tariffs of at least 30%.
Supreme Court upholds key Obamacare measure on preventive care
Siding with the government on Friday, the court upheld the Affordable Care Act, allowing the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to continue determining which services will be available free of cost to Americans covered by the Affordable Care Act.
Caroleene Dobson to run for Alabama secretary of state
The secretary of state serves as Alabama’s chief elections official. The office also maintains business records and government records for the state.
Federal judge weighs whether Alabama’s anti-DEI law threatens First Amendment
The new state law, SB129, followed a slew of proposals from Republican lawmakers across the country taking aim at DEI programs on college campuses. Universities across the country have shuttered or rebranded student affinity groups and DEI offices.
Solar manufacturing is booming. Advocates say it could go bust without incentives
Abruptly ending tax incentives that encourage solar developers to buy American could upend a booming manufacturing sector.
Trump says the U.S. has signed a deal with China on trade, without giving details
The U.S. and China have signed an agreement on trade, President Donald Trump said, adding he expects to soon have a deal with India.
What’s that in the sky? We’re not sure, but the fireball was very bright
The object was likely either a meteor or space junk, with most sightings of the streak of light and fireball coming from Georgia and South Carolina, the National Weather Service said.
