A national study of public parks released Wednesday puts several Valley cities in the bottom third with Gilbert ranking last among the 100 most populous U.S. communities.

A new report by the Anti-Defamation League shows a big uptick in antisemitic incidents across the U.S. and in the state over the last two years.

Coming up on this episode, musician Lizzo is the subject of a new graphic short story series. Plus, a linguist argues for bad language … "Like, literally, dude." And, a rapid-fire play examines the search for love and dignity by single Black females.

National Poetry Month continues on this episode of Word, which also features crime fiction, a novel set in 1940s Harlem, plus a memoir from journalist and NPR's All Things Considered co-host Marie Louise Kelly.

Hate crimes have gone up across the board in the United States. The rise was the sharpest for Asian American and Pacific Islanders and LGBTQ people.

Route 66 has long been a nostalgic symbol of American opportunity and Western expansion. But for many people of color who made their lives along the historic route, it was a different story.

Gov. Katie Hobbs on Friday forbade all state agencies under her control from discriminating against workers based on their hair texture and style. In signing the executive order on Friday, Hobbs said she wants to make sure that Black state employees as well as workers for companies that contract with the state "will be able to wear their natural hair without fear of discrimination."

Arizona won't be banning what has been called critical race theory in public schools. Gov. Katie Hobbs on Thursday vetoed legislation that its sponsor says would preclude schools from teaching what its prime sponsor called "pushing a destructive and racist ideology" in our schools.

Tempe is changing park and street names with ties to the KKK. Among the moves approved by the City Council this week include renaming Hudson Park to Parque de Soza, and renaming Hudson Lane to Thomas Lane.