Akron

Trump, his critics, and the basic divide over the FBI

President Trump has been attacking his own Federal Bureau of Investigation for months. The fundamental assumption behind many of his charges is this: In its actions regarding the Russia probe, the bureau is propelled by political bias against him. Mr. Trump’s anger over an alleged FBI “informant” in his campaign is the latest example of this dynamic.

Setback for workers: What fallout as Supreme Court OKs forced arbitration?

In the wake of a #MeToo movement that is pushing corporations to clean up their act, the US Supreme Court threw companies a lifeline. It allowed them to continue including forced-arbitration clauses in their employment contracts. Monday’s ruling means that companies can keep workers from launching class-action lawsuits – or even going to arbitration as a group – over issues from wages and overtime pay to discrimination and sexual harassment.

Incentives for inmates to chose a crime-free life

America’s faith in the ability of those in prison to redeem themselves often ebbs and flows based on which political party is in charge of law enforcement. Support of the bill by both Democrats and Republicans may be a result of recent reforms in many states, such as Texas and Georgia, that have helped ex-convicts develop life skills for reintegrating into a community – the kind of reforms that many experts attribute in part to the nation’s lower crime rate in recent decades. Inmates could be assigned to prisons closer to their families.

Warming waters hurt Zanzibar's seaweed. But women farmers have a plan.

“Seaweed farming in our area is only done by women,” says Mwanaisha Makame, a 20-year veteran of the business, as warm little waves lap at her long, flower-print skirt. Ms. Makame’s family didn’t have money for higher education when she was young, so she went to the ocean to farm. Seaweed farming has enabled thousands of Zanzibari women to earn cash and climb social ladders.