2025.01.05

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!
New Orleans chose ease over safety with street barriers rated for 10mph attacks - report
Months before fatal attack, city found a Ford F-150 could enter Bourbon Street at 70mph
Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/05/new-orleans-street-barriers-safety

Oh really?
‘It didn’t use to be like this’: woeful US healthcare system exposed by CEO killing
Americans describe treatment denials, hidden costs and deceptive practices when filing claims with insurers
Jedidajah Otte
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/05/heatlhcare-insurance-challenges

Fears grow for voting rights as Trump plots to reshape US justice department
Experts warn that incoming president could direct DoJ officials to scale back enforcement of Voting Rights Act
Sam Levine in New York
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/05/trump-voting-rights-justice-department

The year China's famous road-tripping 'auntie' found freedom
Laura Bicker China correspondent
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr4rkz5nz69o

What can we learn about sleep from the land of the polar night
Erika Benke
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250103-what-people-living-in-the-arctic-polar-night-teach-us-about-sleep

Homes built with clay, grass, plastic and glass: How a Caribbean island is shying away from concrete
Amy Li Baksh
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250103-clay-grass-plastic-and-glass-the-materials-making-caribbean-houses-more-climate-resilient

Director of Edinburgh international festival warns cuts put its status at risk
Nicola Benedetti calls for significant rise in public and philanthropic support to maintain its global reputation
Severin Carrell Scotland editor
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/jan/05/director-edinburgh-international-festival-warns-cuts-status-risk