At creative reuse centers, old art supplies get a new life at a fraction of the cost

August 4, 2026

NEW YORK — Charlene Catalano was looking for a ball of green-and-white yarn to crochet this year's winter scarf. Instead of going to a big-box retail store, she found what she needed at Brooklyn Creative Reuse, along with gently used crochet kits, hooks, labels and other bits. It all cost just $6. "Nowadays, art is popping off, so things are more expensive," Catalano said. "It has the perfect amount of what I need." The Brooklyn store is one of hundreds of creative reuse centers across the U.S. and beyond which aim to keep art supplies out of landfills. They typically sell ...

At colleges, the AI boom means everyone wants to dabble in computer science

August 4, 2026

With no background in coding, Faith Maeba, a psychology major, was reluctant when her mother first suggested she enroll in classes on artificial intelligence. But the senior at Virginia Commonwealth University began to see it differently as she looked into graduate psychology programs that ...

Of thee I sing: A guide to US patriotic songs, from ‘The Liberty Song’ to Jay-Z and Kanye West

August 3, 2026

NEW YORK — The history of American patriotic songs offers a lesson about the different ways you can say you love your country. Composers have celebrated endurance under fire ("The Star-Spangled Banner") and invoked divine approval ("God Bless America"). While Toby Keith's "Made in America" ...

Fishing closures are becoming routine as record heat warms rivers in the US West

August 3, 2026

LIVINGSTON, Mont. — Trout need cool water to survive, but record heat this summer has driven water temperatures to lethal levels for fish. Wildlife officials are banning fishing during certain hours on rivers and streams across the U.S. West, following an exceptionally dry winter and amid ...

Leave it: Dog trainers help pets avoid venomous snakes

August 3, 2026

TUCSON, Ariz. — Ripley, a medium-sized dog with a strong prey drive, curiously approached Brian, a large western diamondback rattlesnake, until she got a quick zap on the neck meant to simulate a venomous viper's bite. Suddenly, the 2-year-old blue heeler mix wanted nothing to do with ...

Anthony Bourdain biopic ‘Tony’ is just an early nibble at a culinary giant

August 1, 2026

"Tony," the Anthony Bourdain biopic, is a coming-of-age tale for a modern culinary giant. Set over just a summer, it's also clearly an appetizer. And like all first courses, it leaves you with a nice first taste — but still hungry. Director and co-writer Matt Johnson has frustratingly ...