Sting

Cities across Europe are looking for ways to increase the supply of affordable housing as rents and property prices continue to strain households. The issue has become a central concern for urban policymakers, with local governments under pressure to act as housing shortages deepen in many major European cities.

New reporting highlights that the global heatwave season has quietly expanded by 39 days, with high-temperature periods now starting earlier in the year and ending later than they once did. The finding is being shared as fresh evidence of shifting climate patterns, prompting discussion about longer exposure to dangerous heat and the growing strain on health systems, infrastructure and summer planning.

Schools across California are beginning the academic year under a new law restricting student phone use on campus. Educators are working out enforcement details, storage options and how to handle parent communication, while districts report differing approaches to the rollout. KCRA's CA Politics 360 takes stock of how schools are adapting in the first weeks of the policy.

Climate change is altering what ends up on plates at the world's top restaurants, forcing chefs to rethink tasting menus as key ingredients become scarce or behave unpredictably. Shifting seasons, warming waters and extreme weather are changing the availability of prized produce, seafood and other staples of fine dining, prompting cooks to adapt recipes or seek alternatives.

A strong late-season Nor'Easter is sweeping the US Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts, with the coast taking the brunt of the pounding. Residents across the large storm region are sharing conditions, with winds strong even 60 miles inland and gusts dying down only briefly. People are warning others to stay safe as the storm continues.

Researchers at Cal State Fullerton have begun testing soil in Ladera Ranch, an Orange County community, for contaminants. The Orange County Register reports the study is underway, though details on what substances are being screened for and what prompted the sampling have not been made clear. Residents may be watching closely, as soil testing can affect property values and local health concerns.

New listings of homes for sale in the Greater Toronto Area are dropping more quickly than home sales are, according to local reporting. The shift suggests sellers are pulling back amid softer prices or uncertain demand, which could tighten supply and stabilize the market. Analysts and buyers are watching whether fewer listings will halt recent price declines or simply reflect a seasonal slowdown.