Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve released an immense report detailing evidence of the nation's ongoing economic recovery. The collective net worth of American households and non-profits rose $6.3 trillion since the first quarter of 2009 (generally considered the low point of the Great Recession). And the value of household real-estate grew by well over $800 billion. But we are still billions of dollars down from where we were when the economy collapsed in late 2007. And for many Americans, the recovery has not yet begun—least of all for poor communities of color.

Last school year, 258 public school students were shot in Chicago, 32 fatally, on their way to or from school, traveling through gang-infested territory and narcotics wars on the South and West Sides. In an effort to get ahead of the next killings, the schools conducted an analysis to identify the 250 students most at risk of being shot (by studying profiles of 500 recent victims). Since December, each of those students has had an advocate like Ms. Tinajero on call to offer caretaking and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Last school year, 258 public school students were shot in Chicago, 32 fatally, on their way to or from school, traveling through gang-infested territory and narcotics wars on the South and West Sides. In an effort to get ahead of the next killings, the schools conducted an analysis to identify the 250 students most at risk of being shot (by studying profiles of 500 recent victims). Since December, each of those students has had an advocate like Ms. Tinajero on call to offer caretaking and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Kent Kiehl has studied hundreds of psychopaths. Kiehl is one of the world's leading investigators of psychopathy and a professor at the University of New Mexico. He says he can often see it in their eyes: There's an intensity in their stare, as if they're trying to pick up signals on how to respond. But the eyes are not an element of psychopathy, just a clue. Officially, Kiehl scores their pathology on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, which measures traits such as the inability to feel empathy or remorse, pathological lying, or impulsivity.

Kent Kiehl has studied hundreds of psychopaths. Kiehl is one of the world's leading investigators of psychopathy and a professor at the University of New Mexico. He says he can often see it in their eyes: There's an intensity in their stare, as if they're trying to pick up signals on how to respond. But the eyes are not an element of psychopathy, just a clue. Officially, Kiehl scores their pathology on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, which measures traits such as the inability to feel empathy or remorse, pathological lying, or impulsivity.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that cities and states must abide by the 2nd Amendment, strengthening the rights of gun owners and opening a new chapter in the national debate over gun control. In a 5-4 decision, the justices said the right to have a handgun for self-defense is "fundamental from an American perspective (and) applies equally to the federal government and the states."

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that cities and states must abide by the 2nd Amendment, strengthening the rights of gun owners and opening a new chapter in the national debate over gun control. In a 5-4 decision, the justices said the right to have a handgun for self-defense is "fundamental from an American perspective (and) applies equally to the federal government and the states."

More than 300 communities around the U.S. have submitted applications to the Department of Education to receive grants under a federal program designed to revitalize troubled neighborhoods. The "Promise Neighborhoods" program will award grants to 20 organizations and institutions of higher education to plan for a range of academic, health and career programs in distressed neighborhoods.

More than 300 communities around the U.S. have submitted applications to the Department of Education to receive grants under a federal program designed to revitalize troubled neighborhoods. The "Promise Neighborhoods" program will award grants to 20 organizations and institutions of higher education to plan for a range of academic, health and career programs in distressed neighborhoods.

With a nudge from the new health care law and pressure from Medicare, hospitals, doctors and nurses are struggling to prepare for explosive growth in the numbers of high-risk elderly patients. More than 40 percent of adult patients in acute care hospital beds are 65 or older. Seventy million Americans will have turned 65 by 2030. They include the 85-and-older cohort, the nation’s fastest-growing age group.

With a nudge from the new health care law and pressure from Medicare, hospitals, doctors and nurses are struggling to prepare for explosive growth in the numbers of high-risk elderly patients. More than 40 percent of adult patients in acute care hospital beds are 65 or older. Seventy million Americans will have turned 65 by 2030. They include the 85-and-older cohort, the nation’s fastest-growing age group.

Talk about firepower. Supreme Court Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas loaded up all kinds of judicial ammo to shoot down the arguments from Justices Stevens and Breyer in the Second Amendment case known as McDonald v. City of Chicago. When the smoke cleared and the 5-4 ruling was announced on Monday, Chicago's (and a Chicago suburb's) ban on personal handgun possession was a goner. While a lower federal court in Illinois will now appraise the local bans in light of the Supreme Court's guidance, municipal attempts to restrict possession of handguns are now an easy target for Second Amendment absolutists.

Talk about firepower. Supreme Court Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas loaded up all kinds of judicial ammo to shoot down the arguments from Justices Stevens and Breyer in the Second Amendment case known as McDonald v. City of Chicago. When the smoke cleared and the 5-4 ruling was announced on Monday, Chicago's (and a Chicago suburb's) ban on personal handgun possession was a goner. While a lower federal court in Illinois will now appraise the local bans in light of the Supreme Court's guidance, municipal attempts to restrict possession of handguns are now an easy target for Second Amendment absolutists.

In this economy, community colleges are widely seen as the solution to many problems. Displaced workers are registering in droves to earn credentials that might get them back in the game. Strapped parents, daunted by the cost of four-year universities, are encouraging their children to spend two years at the local community college. President Obama has announced an American Graduation Initiative to produce five million more community college graduates by 2020.

In this economy, community colleges are widely seen as the solution to many problems. Displaced workers are registering in droves to earn credentials that might get them back in the game. Strapped parents, daunted by the cost of four-year universities, are encouraging their children to spend two years at the local community college. President Obama has announced an American Graduation Initiative to produce five million more community college graduates by 2020.

The Obama administration released a strategy Tuesday to end homelessness by expanding programs to secure housing for veterans and families with young children and by building on efforts to help chronically homeless people. With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq highlighting the needs of veterans and the economic crisis straining more families, the administration's plan widens the role envisioned for the federal government in curbing and ending homelessness.

The Obama administration released a strategy Tuesday to end homelessness by expanding programs to secure housing for veterans and families with young children and by building on efforts to help chronically homeless people. With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq highlighting the needs of veterans and the economic crisis straining more families, the administration's plan widens the role envisioned for the federal government in curbing and ending homelessness.

There is a paradox when it comes to improving education in America: The system is failing to prepare many kids for success, but we have so much invested in the system that starting over isn't practical, let alone in a time frame that works for today's kids. We need to put a premium on simple, practical changes that have a big impact on teaching and learning within our existing schools.

There is a paradox when it comes to improving education in America: The system is failing to prepare many kids for success, but we have so much invested in the system that starting over isn't practical, let alone in a time frame that works for today's kids. We need to put a premium on simple, practical changes that have a big impact on teaching and learning within our existing schools.

Thousands of uninsured Massachusetts workers in low-wage jobs are ineligible for state-subsidized health coverage, but they will qualify for these low-cost plans under the new national health care overhaul — in 2014. Now, some consumer advocates, arguing that the wait is unfair and a black eye for the state, want the Patrick administration and legislators to launch a program to cover at least part of this group. Administration officials, already facing huge budget deficits, say the state can’t afford the tens of millions of dollars it would cost to subsidize additional workers’ insurance.