Northeast

The overall catch from lobstering in Maine was down 16.4 percent in 2017 from the year before. Those who catch lobsters for a living in the state are hoping that downfall does not continue in 2018.

The feast-or-famine life of lobstering in Maine

Jobs

The lobster industry has always been an up-and-down business, but a new book looks into how global warming is adding to that already uncertain rollercoaster.

The feast-or-famine life of lobstering in Maine
A man stands in the middle of Grand Central Terminal as he speaks on a cell phone.

If you get a robocall in Mandarin, just hang up

If you get a robocall in Mandarin, just hang up
Students

Colleges create 'safe zones' on campus for undocumented students

Education
Colleges create 'safe zones' on campus for undocumented students
Afghan journalist Habib Zahori made a cold trek across the US-Canada border on foot and on bicycle. "I remember thinking, wishing, 'Oh God, please, please send someone to arrest me!’ "

Habib Zahori was scared to seek asylum in the US. So he pushed a rickety bicycle through snow to get to Canada.

Conflict
Habib Zahori was scared to seek asylum in the US. So he pushed a rickety bicycle through snow to get to Canada.
Guengueng

How this torture survivor from Chad made good on 'a pact with God'

Justice
How this torture survivor from Chad made good on 'a pact with God'
For the Jewish ritual of Kaparot, a person's sins are symbolically transferred to a chicken, and then the chicken is slaughtered.

My sins are cleared for the year, but the chicken wasn't so lucky

Religion

This is a personal tale of atonement and chickens: Sarah Birnbaum and her mom went to Brooklyn to take part in a Jewish ritual called Kaparot.

My sins are cleared for the year, but the chicken wasn't so lucky
Health centers in New York are providing information about the Zika virus to New Yorkers traveling home to the Dominican Republic. People who've traveled to the DR represent more than half of the Zika cases in New York.

Dominicans in New York are planning summer visits home. That means Zika planning.

Health

New York health clinics are urging Dominicans in New Yorker who are going home for the summer to take precautions against the Zika virus.

Dominicans in New York are planning summer visits home. That means Zika planning.
Marwah Maasarani and her husband Omar Awad watching Donald Trump's RNC speech in their New Jersey livingroom on Thursday.

Here's what a Muslim couple in New Jersey made of Donald Trump's RNC speech

Election 2016

A Muslim couple in Lodi, New Jersey, have been watching the Republican National Convention all week. Last night, they invited a reporter in to watch Trump give his acceptance speech.

Here's what a Muslim couple in New Jersey made of Donald Trump's RNC speech
Jarvis Tyner has been a member of the Communist Party USA for over a half century. Now he's retiring from the Party staff.

Here's how American Bandstand led a guy from Philly to the Communist Party

Global Politics

It's not a big deal to be called a socialist this election. But what about a communist? One longtime member of the Communist Party USA looks back.

Here's how American Bandstand led a guy from Philly to the Communist Party
Apr 18, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Security signs near the finish line of the 120th Boston Marathon.

Three years later, experts say the Boston Marathon is safer. But it will never be completely safe.

Technology

Juliette Kayyem, author of "Security Mom," says we've minimized risks as much as possible, but will never be 100 percent safe.

Three years later, experts say the Boston Marathon is safer. But it will never be completely safe.
Refugee workers at the Koffee Kup Bakery in Burlington, Vermont package up doughnuts. The human resources manager there says refugees have been instrumental to the company's growth.

More US-bound refugees? Labor-starved Vermont businesses welcome Obama’s call.

Economics

The case for taking in more refugees isn't just a humanitarian gesture. To aging, labor-starved areas of the US, it could be a godsend.

More US-bound refugees? Labor-starved Vermont businesses welcome Obama’s call.
Krussia got his start in New York beatboxing because you don't need translation. "This is where you gain trust with people through sound ... without using any words,” he says.

How this Russian rapper found his groove — in New York

Music

Krussia may be the best Russian rapper in New York, but he's not well-known back home.

How this Russian rapper found his groove — in New York
Justin Bettman and Gözde Eker animate their sets with actors hired through a local casting website. After they’ve staged their photo, they leave the set up for passersby to explore, photograph, rearrange or selfie. This living room was the first set they

Here's how you can find a bathroom, or a living room, on the streets of New York

Arts

A photographer and a Turkish set designer started building domestic scenes on the street of New York. What started out as an art project has become a commentary on our disposable culture and how public space is valued.

Here's how you can find a bathroom, or a living room, on the streets of New York
The founder of Torah Animal World in Borough Park, Brooklyn, says the museum gets 3,000 visitors a week.

This museum is devoted only to animals mentioned in the Bible

Belief

Torah Animal World is dedicated to bringing the Bible to life — sort of. It's populated with hundreds of taxidermied creatures.

This museum is devoted only to animals mentioned in the Bible
At Meow Parlour in New York, you can hang out with cats while you drink your coffee. But you have to make a reservation.

At New York's cat café, you can drink coffee and commune with cats — as long as you have a reservation

Culture

In Japan, the cat café capital, the cats are considered "laborers." At Meow Parlour in New York, the cats are "in business for themselves."

At New York's cat café, you can drink coffee and commune with cats — as long as you have a reservation