Familiar places where Americans used to gather have been shrinking for years, with bowling alleys, movie theaters and independent restaurants all hit by closures. Industry data shows a mix of higher costs, debt, streaming and changing consumer habits behind the decline.

The University of Michigan is expanding a policy that keeps first-semester grades off transcripts for many new undergraduates. The change is meant to ease the jump into college, while some parents and educators are asking how much protection from failure is too much.

A widely shared online discussion is highlighting how people without college degrees make a living, with many detailing skilled trades, sales, and service jobs. The posts are also renewing debate over whether a four-year degree is the only practical path to stable pay.

U.S. officials and energy analysts are signaling that $4 gasoline may return as a consequence of war-driven oil market disruptions. The impact will vary by region, but drivers are already being warned to expect higher fuel costs.

A socialist lawmaker said people who steal basic necessities to survive should not face criminal charges. The remark has renewed debate over poverty, prosecution, and how cities handle low-level theft.

New federal and private estimates show immigration to the U.S. has dropped sharply since 2024, shrinking the foreign-born labor force. Economists say many open jobs in construction, care work, trucking, and remote industries still are not being filled by U.S.-born workers at current wages.