Fannie.Simon_Becker

September 10, 2026

Simon and Fannie’s Story: A Tablecloth, a Family Mystery, and Me

I knew that my great-grandfather and his younger brother immigrated from Poland to the U.S. in 1922 when they were only 19 and 17. I did not know the tragic story of the family who were supposed to come with them until I found a photo behind a picture frame.

Michael Carrino audition clip

August 28, 2026

Michael Carrino Is Enjoying His Second Act

The Akron-based actor spent the past decade building his career in theater, film, and television. Now, he’s taking on his biggest role yet as Dr. Francis Sweeney in “Kingsbury Run.”

AI-generated image (ChatGPT)

August 1, 2026

In Italy, Male Victims of Domestic Violence Are Often Overlooked

Although men account for up to 40% of domestic violence victims, Italy does not track this violence and offers few resources to support male victims.

witchcraft

May 27, 2026

‘We Need Magic’: An Afternoon with the Witch from Piedemont

Solea (who goes by one name) defines herself as a “green witch,” a magician in contact with nature. She reads tarot cards and coins, senses energies and souls, and performs magical rituals and charms all over Piedemont.

May 27, 2026

The Vanishing Teen Reader

Over the course of two decades, the teen magazine has quietly disappeared, replaced with digital imitators. One by one, the anchor publications of girlhood disappeared from newsstands. CosmoGirl! folded in 2008. Teen People ended its print run two years earlier. Elle Girl shut down its U.S. edition. Seventeen reduced its print presence to a handful of special issues before going mostly digital. Rookie, the teen magazine built by a teen, shut down in 2018. By the late 2010s, Teen Vogue had also gone digital-only, later folded deeper into the larger Vogue brand in 2025. 

 
 

September 8, 2026

Who’s Really Running the Water in New Jersey’s Capital City?

Interviews with residents and city leaders, a review of government meetings, and governmental standstills show how few officials have been willing to take accountability for the urgent rehabilitation of the Trenton Water Works.

May 27, 2026

Tear Gas Has No Federal Oversight: What This Means for Public Safety

A yellow plume erupts as clicks and explosions echo amongst the Seattle streets. People in face masks, with beanies and hoods, walk away from the tear gas wiping their eyes and coughing. In cities across the country, law enforcement agents are using the chemical agent tear gas in efforts to rein in protestors.

May 7, 2026

Barre Law Founder’s Immigration Journey Comes Full Circle

Immigration attorney Abadir Barre’s life has come full circle as he now helps clients navigate the same complex U.S. immigration system he once faced himself as a child seeking asylum after his family fled civil war in Somalia.

Signs for DART election outside polling center in University Park, Texas

May 7, 2026

Is DART worth it? University Park Holds Special Election to Decide

University Park, a city within Dallas, Texas, held a special election asking residents whether to keep paying into DART and receiving its transit services

April 5, 2026

Central Floridians voice concerns over Iran War

Central Floridians have voiced their concerns over the Iran War to Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, who represents FL District 42, which includes most of Orlando.

 

September 16, 2026

Find Your Zen and Save the Planet in New Jersey

Duke Farms, a 2,700-acre nature preserve in Hillsborough, New Jersey features hiking trails, a greenhouse, native wildlife and more. They also see themselves as environmental stewards, focusing on conservation, sustainability, and responsible farming.

May 7, 2026

How Long Island Shaped Aerospace History

Two docents at the Cradle of Aviation tell us how Long Island has changed the history of aerospace.

May 7, 2026

She Lived with Vulvodynia — Now She’s Putting It On Screen

Up to 16% of women in the U.S. experience Vulvodynia, a condition often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Filmmaker Bonnie Gross turns her own experience into Lady Parts, a dramedy aimed at breaking the silence around women’s health and chronic vaginal pain.

May 7, 2026

Inside the Space Holding Women Through Pain, Surgery, and Fertility Care

Inside a New York City clinic, Dr. Alyssa Hariprashad is changing how women experience care for some of their most intimate health concerns, from chronic pain to surgical recovery and fertility decisions like egg freezing. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, she works with patients navigating conditions that are often underdiagnosed, misunderstood, or difficult to talk about. Her approach blends clinical treatment with a more human, supportive environment that encourages patients to understand and take ownership of their bodies.

February 20, 2026

Too Many Warehouses: Industrial Expansion Meets Community Resistance in a California Town

Perris residents are pushing back against the proliferation of warehouses as city leaders impose a 10‑month hiatus on new industrial development. "How is it possible that a park is boxed by shipping containers?" asked one resident.