How Mass Shootings Impact the Mental Health of Survivors
After the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, here's what research can tell us about the tragedy's effects on mental health.
Emily Moon
Emily Moon is an editorial fellow at Pacific Standard. Previously she worked at the Chicago Sun-Times and the Herald-Times in Bloomington, Indiana. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.
There's a Name for That: Social Identity Theory
Identities that govern seemingly innate experiences, such as the taste of food—or even racial bias—can be harnessed to create positive social change.
How Did Citizen-Led Redistricting Initiatives Fare in the Mid-Terms?
The answer: pretty well.
The Counterintuitive School Choice Fight Behind Arizona's Proposition 305
Voters in Arizona will decide whether to move forward with a program that would allow all students to receive public money for private school.
California's Proposition 12 Could Be the Latest Measure to Restrict Factory Farming
While legislation that restricts agriculture can be a tough sell, appeals to animals' poor living conditions have had success with voters.
Why the FDA's Plan to Regulate Gene Editing in Animals Has Some Scientists Worried
The agency's new plan retains several key limitations on animal biotechnology, despite language promoting innovation.
What Would Ending Birthright Citizenship Mean for the United States?
Social science (and history) shows that repealing birthright citizenship is rarely an effective solution for an overburdened nation.
Hurricane Michael Was the Most Devastating Disaster Florida's Farmers Have Seen in Decades
The storm wiped out nearly a million acres of crops and caused $158 million in agricultural losses.
How Naming the Alleged Abusers in the Catholic Church Scandal in California Helps Survivors Overcome Their Trauma
A new report identifies 212 priests accused of sexual abuse in the Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose dioceses.
Why Is Milk Being Called a White Supremacist Symbol?
Although research debunks white supremacists' claims about lactose intolerance, race has long played a role in American milk-drinking.
Trump Signs the Water Infrastructure Act
The law authorizes billions of dollars for state-level projects aimed at improving the nation's rivers, harbors, and drinking water.
California Will Offer Parole for 4,000 'Three-Strike' Prisoners Facing Life Sentences
The latest ruling comes as a success for advocates of criminal justice reform.
Trump May Be Pushing to Clear-Cut California's Forests to Manage Fires. Here's Why That's Dangerous.
Studies show that removing trees actually make fires more intense, wreaking further havoc on both human and wildlife habitat.
Behind the Partisan Fight to Eliminate the Country's Largest Conservation Program
With Congress at an impasse, sustainability advocates worry the farm bill could cut funds for conservation and give more to agriculture's biggest polluters.
A New National Park Service Proposal Could Restrict Protest in Washington, D.C.
The proposed changes could put a fee on protesting in the nation's capitol.
With Hurricane Michael, Southern Farmers Face a 'New Normal'
Extreme climate events wreak havoc on agriculture, and farmers are trying to adjust—but entrenched industry and government practices may be holding them back.
The Trump Administration's Proposed Public Charge Rule Is the Next Step in an Ongoing Immigration Crackdown
The rule will impede family-based immigration, but its perceived effects are already widespread—and perhaps even more dangerous.
False Reports of Sexual Assault Are Rare. But Why Is There So Little Reliable Data About Them?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that false rape reports drastically exceed those of other crimes.
The EPA Removes Language About Climate Change From Its Latest Proposal on Greenhouse Gases
In a draft proposal rolling back Obama-era regulations on hydrofluorocarbons, the Trump administration scrapped all references to climate change and those most affected by it.
'Families Are Living in Fear': How a Trump Administration Proposal Is Harming Immigrants
Fear of repercussions is keeping immigrant families from using public benefit programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
The Cost of Cleaning Up Nitrate Contamination Falls on America's Poorest Counties
A new report estimates that remediating contaminated small water systems could cost up to $666 a year per person.
What Will Happen Now That the Farm Bill Has Expired?
The current farm bill expired on Sunday, putting the debate over key USDA programs that protect public health and the environment on hold.
Kavanaugh Frequently Interrupted Female Senators on Thursday. That Doesn't Bode Well for His Supreme Court Conduct.
And other takeaways from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's Thursday hearing.
The Trump Administration Argues Against Abortion Rights for Minors in Immigrant Detention
The Department of Justice urged a federal appeals court to overturn a judge's order blocking officials from restricting abortion access for minors in immigrant detention.
A New Trump Administration Rule on Public Benefits Could Discriminate Against Immigrant Families
An immigration law expert explains why a proposed "public charge" rule is fostering an environment of fear.
Research Shows Immigrants Are Not a Drain on U.S. Resources
The Trump administration wants to keep out immigrants who burden the American taxpayer. How big is that burden really?
D.C. Considers a Bill Committing to 100 Percent Renewable Energy
The proposed act would require Washington, D.C., to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2032.
The Damage From Hurricane Florence Is Still Growing
An accounting of the ongoing damages, from failing dams to coal-ash ponds.
Science Says: Believe Women
Here's what the politicians and pundits are saying about Christine Blasey Ford's allegations—and what the research can tell us about the truth of their claims.
House Representatives From Michigan Introduce a Bill to Address PFAS Contamination
Congress will consider a bill requiring states to work with federal agencies to remove and remediate water contaminated with a dangerous chemical compound.
The ACLU Accuses Facebook of Gender Discrimination in Job Ads
The complaint alleges Facebook discriminated against women and non-binary people by allowing employers to target men in job advertisements.
Hurricane Florence Has Already Flooded Pits of Toxic Waste in North Carolina
State agencies and environmental groups have recorded several breached or overflowing hog-waste pits and coal ash ponds—and the floodwaters are still rising.
German Police Evict Anti-Coal Activists From a 12,000-Year-Old Forest (in Photos)
The protesters have occupied a community of tree houses for six years to oppose a nearby coal mine.
North Carolina's Hog Waste Problem Has a Long History. Why Wasn't It Solved in Time for Hurricane Florence?
The hog industry is changing, but, as Hurricane Florence hits, history may be doomed to repeat itself.
Trump Says the East Coast Is 'Absolutely Prepared' for Hurricane Florence. Is That True?
If recent federal disaster response is any indication, the president's boast is wildly misleading.
Hurricane Florence's Hidden Dangers
Some of the storm's risks are not so obvious, from rivers of toxic waste to unevacuated prisons.
Hurricane Florence Is Heading for the East Coast. Who Will Be Affected?
Disasters like this one have been found to disproportionately affect low-income people and people of color.
The Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Spreads to Another City
As of this week, the World Health Organization has recorded 127 confirmed cases and 87 confirmed or probable deaths in the DRC due to the virus.
Key Takeaways From Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh's Controversial Emails
Here's what you need to know about the confidential documents that Democratic senators have released to the public.
Detroit Schools Shut Off Water Fountains After Tests Found Lead Contamination
Detroit public schools shut off the district-wide water supply last week after tests found elevated levels of lead or copper in 34 schools.
Working in America in 2018
For Labor Day, a selection of some of our favorite stories on the American worker in 2018.
Detroit Mourns Aretha Franklin (in Photos)
Thousands celebrated the singer's life and legacy during a final send-off in her hometown this week.
A Canadian Court Strikes a Blow to the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project
The Canadian Federal Court of Appeals ruled against the Trans Mountain pipeline in what some are calling a major setback for oil and a win for environmental and indigenous groups.
How Does Water Scarcity Affect Mental Health?
Studies have found that people who lack access to water often suffer from emotional distress.
Dispatches: Breaking Down the Implications of the Cohen and Manafort Criminal Cases
News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.
The Catholic Church Considers an Appeal to Welcome LGBT People
A Catholic conference heard an appeal from a U.S. priest on Thursday calling for the church to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
What Have We Learned in the Year Since Hurricane Harvey?
One year after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, researchers are just beginning to understand what went wrong.
Research Tells Us That Immigration Does Not Lead to Higher Crime Rates
Conservatives see Mollie Tibbetts' murder as proof of a need for more stringent immigration policies. Here's why they're wrong.
'Modern Slavery': The Labor History Behind the New Nationwide Prison Strike
A look at the origins of the 2018 prison strike through a legacy of involuntary servitude.
The Trump Administration Calls for More Water and Less Regulation in California's Central Valley
The announcement prompted the California State Water Resources Control Board to postpone its vote on a proposal restricting agricultural water use in the Delta.