How a school district censored a local newspaper — and left a community in the dark
A New Jersey journalist published school surveillance video of a student bringing a weapon to campus. The district sued to censor him — and won.
What happens when the water dries up? Much of the American West is close to finding out
With its reservoirs nearing dead pool, the Colorado River's original management plan is obsolete, signaling a new water reality in the West.
Fireworks shows go off with a bang, powered by precise code and choreography
Long before fireworks light up the sky each Fourth of July, the work behind the spectacle begins months — even years — in advance.
World Cup fails to boost US jobs market
The U.S. labor market added 57,000 jobs in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, a figure well below analysts’ expectations.
Public schools were America’s great equalizer. What happened?
Public schools are teaching students about 250 years of American history, but the institutions have rarely seen as much controversy.
California’s laws are your laws. You just don’t realize it
Laws passed by states can become laws in other states or frame national regulations and that process has been going on for centuries.
America mastered medicine. Why can’t it fix healthcare?
The late 1900s ushered in a medicine renaissance. But as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, the foundation of healthcare is cracking.
What will it take to solve the great American energy puzzle?
From transmission lines and pipelines to nuclear power plants and offshore wind turbines, the U.S. struggles to build energy infrastructure.
In rebuke of Trump, Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship
Babies born on U.S. soil will continue to receive American citizenship, despite their parents’ citizenship status, the Supreme Court rules.
Supreme Court allows state bans on trans athletes
States can legally bar transgender girls and women from participating on female sports teams in public schools and universities.
Americans are earning more than ever. So why does the middle class feel stuck?
Americans earn more than ever. But a middle-class lifestyle requires more money, and more work, than ever.
Court expands Trump’s power over independent agencies. The Fed, for now, is exempt
SCOTUS overturned nine decades of precedent curbing executive power when it ruled Trump can fire Rebecca Slaughter from the FTC.
In the modern surveillance state, someone’s always watching
The U.S., founded to thwart an oppressive monarchy, operates the most far-reaching and powerful surveillance machine in world history.
The age of outrage: Why everyone is so mad at everyone else all the time
Civility in American politics seems to be at an all-time low, and experts say numerous factors are to blame.
How cable news broke journalism — and America
Cable television made more news available to more people than ever. But research suggests it ruined journalism – and America’s soul.
Ketamine is booming in America. The reasons go beyond drugs
Ketamine, a fashionable drug in therapy, is becoming a nightclub drug of choice for those seeking a new form of disconnection from reality.
Have we reached the end of the affordable American car commute?
Surging car costs are forcing a rethink of transit in Las Vegas. With budgets strained, can public options survive the pressure?
Federal judge pauses executive order on mail-in ballot lists, USPS’ role in elections
The USPS postmaster general wanted his agency to keep mail-in ballot lists. A federal judge stopped the plan, calling it unconstitutional.
These ranchers heal the land. The power company drew a line through it
Transmission line routes across private property are driving a wedge between two quintessentially Texan industries: oil and cattle.
Why contractors now want to help fund your kitchen upgrade
High rates are changing how we pay for upgrades. Here is what to know before accepting a contractor's loan offer.
Get the news that matters most, without manipulation, bias or agenda. From politics and government oversight to cost of living and privacy, we fear no fact.
Subscribe to Straight Arrow News feed