Issues
The U.S. added only 22,000 jobs last month, showing cracks in the labor market
The U.S. job market showed more signs of weakness Friday, as the Labor Department reported just 22,000 jobs added last month. Revised figures show the economy lost jobs in June, and the unemployment rate inched up to 4.3%.
Ivey, Ledbetter go to court to try and allow voucher students to participate in athletics
Gov. Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter filed the complaint in Montgomery Circuit Court against the Alabama High School Athletic Association. They are asking a judge to block the association's ruling on eligibility and pave the way for the students to participate in athletics this year.
The world’s oldest and largest iceberg will soon be no more
The iceberg, known as A23a, has been on a journey following the current into warmer waters for months. Now, it has begun the predicted and natural process of breaking apart, and eventually melting.
Etsy sellers are being hit hard by tariffs and the end of the de minimis rule
For years, the U.S. was essentially "an extension of our domestic market," says an Etsy seller in Canada. But now the rules and costs are far more imposing.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
A clash of the comebacks: Osaka and Anisimova face off in the U.S. Open semifinals
Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova will face off in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday. Both players have been climbing up the rankings after taking mental health breaks from the sport.
The NFL is back. Here are 3 big questions as the season kicks off
Which second-year quarterbacks will take a leap forward? Does the Micah Parsons trade make Green Bay a contender? And will Buffalo or Baltimore finally keep the Kansas City Chiefs from the Super Bowl?
Alabama looks to solve two problems at once by helping formerly incarcerated people enter the workforce
The state incarcerates more of its people than most others, and when they’re released, those with criminal records struggle to find jobs – increasing the likelihood they’ll reoffend. Meanwhile, many businesses can’t find enough skilled workers.
How the Education Department is using civil rights laws to bring schools to heel
The Trump administration is using decades-old laws, meant to prevent discrimination, to threaten school districts and states with cuts to vital federal funding.
Sell it, donate it — recycle it? A beloved old minivan faces a fork in the road
After 20 years of service, an NPR reporter's beloved minivan is on the fritz. But what is its best and highest calling now: Pass it on to another family, or recycle it into parts?
Trump administration illegally froze billions in Harvard funds, judge rules
The ruling is a legal victory for Harvard but the White House says it will appeal the decision.
Hitler’s bunker is now just a parking lot. But it’s a ‘dark tourism’ attraction anyway
Why evil histories sell. A visit to Hitler's bunker, and a deep dive into the economics and ethical quandaries of "dark tourism."
Trump announces Space Command is moving from Colorado to Alabama
The long-expected decision from Trump caps a four-year tug of war between two states and opposing administrations about where to locate U.S. Space Command.
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.
