Vanessa Romo
Stories
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National
In an effort to make rides safer, Lyft launches Women+ Connect
The new opt-in feature lets women and nonbinary drivers prioritize passengers who fit the same description. But it's not a guarantee and is only available in a handful of cities for now.
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National
Climate activists protested at Burning Man. Then the climate itself crashed the party
Burners were forced to endure hours of torrential rains before tens of thousands bailed on the festival. Scientists warn that such large bursts of showers are a result of a warming planet.
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National
The front page of UNC's Daily Tar Heel was a gut punch. Here's the story behind it
In the midst of a school shooting, UNC's student journalists kicked into action, covering the story as it unfolded. Now, the paper's front page — a block of heart-wrenching texts — is earning praise.
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Arts & Life
Billy McFarland went to prison for Fyre Fest. Are his plans for a reboot legal?
The controversial entrepreneur is seeking redemption and some people are ready for him to try. Tickets have sold out. But he still owes $26 million in restitution to the people he fleeced.
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National
A mother raced to save her son from the Maui fires. She couldn't reach him
When everyone was trying to escape the flames in Lahaina, Luz Vargas ran toward them: Her son was home alone. Days later she found his body. Sunday would have been his 15th birthday.
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Environment
In California, wildfires are prevented by crews of unlikely firefighters: goats
The four-legged creatures with digestive tracts of steel make easy work of consuming vegetation that typically fuels wildfires.
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Politics
U.S. recovered non-human 'biologics' from UFO crash sites, former intel official says
Lawmakers heard first-hand accounts of craft that are "beyond our current understanding of our technology," and allegations that the U.S. recovered non-human "bio remains."
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Food
Netflix's pop-up eatery serves up an alternate reality as Hollywood grinds to a halt
The new restaurant runs on star power from the streaming giant's unscripted programs. Dining there feels surreal, as striking writers and actors have brought the movie and TV industry to a standstill.
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National
What we know about Travis King, the U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea
King, 23, was stationed in South Korea, but was scheduled to fly back to the U.S. to face disciplinary action when he escaped an airport outside of Seoul and managed to flee into North Korea.
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World
U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea was facing disciplinary action
The man was touring the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula when he crossed into North Korea without authorization, according to the United Nations Command.