“In the 70 years that plastic has been around, humans have created 9 billion tons of it — most of which still exists. Are the existing strategies for tackling plastic pollution — namely reusing and recycling — really making any difference? Amna Nawaz and producer Lorna Baldwin make stops in three states to take a…
“The number of prisons in the U.S. has exploded from nearly 500 in the 1970s to almost 2,000 today, becoming a source of business for the architects who design them. But some in the profession are urging fellow architects to stop designing solitary confinement units in prison, saying that doing so perpetuates human rights abuses….
“Puerto Rico’s school system was struggling long before Hurricane Maria struck a year ago. But the disaster exacerbated deep problems, as schools were destroyed, thousands of children moved to the U.S. mainland and students struggle with trauma. Now, special correspondent Kavitha Cardoza of Education Week reports, the system is at a crossroads as the schools’…
“In our news wrap Friday, power was out across Puerto Rico as a tropical storm passed south of the island where Hurricane Maria hit just a year ago this month. Also, a powerful typhoon has slammed into the northeastern Philippines, with winds of 127 miles an hour.” Find more from PBS NewsHour at https://www.pbs.org/newshour
“For years the for-profit college sector boomed, but consumer complaints about fraud led the Obama administration to crack down: Two major for-profit chains were closed, and new regulations provided more forgiveness for student debt. Recently, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has been taking a very different approach. Amna Nawaz talks with Anya Kamenetz of NPR…
“Tennis player Naomi Osaka beat her idol Serena Williams at the U.S. Open on Saturday, becoming the first person representing Japan to win a Grand Slam single. But the milestone was marked by claims that Williams’ penalties for her anger toward the umpire were unfair. For an analysis, sports reporter Lindsay Gibbs of ThinkProgress and…
“Nike just launched a new advertising campaign featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who came to national prominence by protesting police brutality and racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem before games. Nike’s move has reignited a national debate, stirred most famously by President Trump. William Brangham with John Feinstein, author of “Quarterback.” Find…
“The Trump administration has been ramping up pressure on organized labor and federal workers lately. The president issued executive orders limiting the activities of the unions that represent them — which was later blocked by a federal judge — then eliminated a potential pay hike for federal employees. Yamiche Alcindor takes a look at those…
“Against the backdrop of simmering tensions over race and police violence against African Americans, police departments like the NYPD have introduced a relatively new training program aimed at teaching officers about implicit bias. Special correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault reports on the research behind “Fair and Impartial Policing” and whether it’s really effective.” Find more from PBS…
“Population growth and climate change could in the coming years bring water shortages along the Rio Grande river, a source of drinking water and agriculture for U.S. and Mexico. “Shallow Waters,” a nine-part series by Quartz and the Texas Observer, looked at the potential impacts of water scarcity in the region. Quartz’s Zoë Schlanger joins…