In Florida, correspondent Martha Teichner goes searching for sand dollars – cousins of sea urchins and sea stars – with naturalist Kristen Williams (a.k.a. The Seashell Mermaid). She also goes to the California Academy of Sciences’ Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco to learn what makes these sea creatures so special. Source link
Every year, on Mardi Gras morning, something extraordinary emerges from the backstreets of New Orleans – groups of Black revelers most tourists will never see. They call themselves Mardi Gras Indians, or Black Masking Indians, and they roam the city’s neighborhoods in dazzling, hand-sewn suits. The tradition dates to the 1800s as a way to … Read more
Some governments are taking innovative steps to discourage the practice. One country fines participants including the wedding DJ. Source link
In early 2025, as measles began to tear through West Texas, Katherine Wells knew she needed money. Though the outbreak was concentrated in Gaines County, a community an hour away, Wells, who heads Lubbock’s public health department, needed more staff to respond to numerous exposures at local pediatricians’ offices, urgent care centers, restaurants and day … Read more
As mortgage rates recede to their lowest levels in years, experts say that shopping around for the right loan could save first-time home buyers tens of thousands of dollars. The average rate for a conventional 30-year mortgage across the U.S. fell this week below 6%, down almost an entire percentage point from January of 2025 and … Read more