US Edition - Today's top story: Hiking canyons can quickly turn deadly when storms hit – what you should know before going in September 4, 2026 US Edition   Top headlines Over million immigrants are losing their right to remain in US Why mosquitoes are drawn to some people more than others Happy birthday to us! Take our special 4th anniversary quiz Lead story To me, the perfect long holiday weekend starts early in the morning, pulling on hiking boots, grabbing my camera and heading for the mountain trails. Some of my favorite hikes cross quiet streams and wind through valleys. When you’re in a narrow valley, or a slot canyon in Utah or an arroyo in New Mexico, it can be easy to forget that water created that passage – and that water can easily rush through in a torrent again. That happened to hikers in a narrow stretch of Grand Canyon National Park a few days ago. Those who survived came out with harrowing tales. With those stories in mind, I got in touch with Anner Paldor, a geologist at the University of Tennessee, who studies how water interacts with landscapes. Like most of the geologists I know, he’s an avid hiker and climber. Paldor explains why canyons like these can quickly become dangerous, and importantly he offers some tips to help everyone stay safe as they enjoy the beauty of nature this holiday weekend. Sign up for our newsletter on how AI is impacting society. Every Friday.   Stacy Morford Senior Environment + Energy Editor   Mud and debris, including a mangled piece of construction equipment, remain after a flash flood in Grand Canyon National Park on Aug. 31, 2026. Katherine Hensel/National Park Service via AP Hiking canyons can quickly turn deadly when storms hit – what you should know before going in Anner Paldor, University of Tennessee After the deadly Grand Canyon flood, a geologist and avid hiker explains what nature lovers need to prepare and watch for to stay safe. Politics + Society What comes next for the 1 million people who have lost – or will soon lose – Temporary Protected Status Jean Lantz Reisz, University of Southern California Congress never built a path from temporary status to permanent residence, leaving many people facing deportation with little recourse. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem lifted up women everywhere, leaving behind a more gender-equal world Sharon Crozier-De Rosa, University of Wollongong The journalist, author and activist has died aged 92. She spent more than 60 years setting feminist torches alight the world over. Environment + Energy Farmer-poet Wendell Berry’s environmental ethics were deeply rooted in his Christian faith and belief in caring for creation Kristy Nabhan-Warren, University of Iowa Berry’s belief that humans have a responsibility to care for God’s creation traces back to the Book of Genesis. So does an opposing argument for environmental exploitation. Science + Technology Mosquitoes are picky eaters – we studied 3 common South Florida species to learn why they like some people more than others Kaylee Marrero, Florida International University; Matthew DeGennaro, Florida International University A new study shows what microbes and odors on human skin appeal to different species of mosquitoes. Essential digital technologies are critical infrastructure – they are not always built and managed that way Francine Berman, UMass Amherst Search engines, social media and AI models can be made as safe and reliable as bridges and water supplies. Arts + Culture Dog parks are an antidote to the isolation and divisions that social media can fuel Kevin B. Johnson, University of Pennsylvania The people who stretch a person’s sense of humanity may be the ones no algorithm currently selects. Taxpayers don’t want to pay for new NFL stadiums – so why did politicians approve billions in subsidies to fund six new ones? J.C. Bradbury, Kennesaw State University Research has repeatedly found that stadiums generate little economic benefit, while subsidy referendums often fail when put before voters. Yet team owners continue to receive billions in tax dollars. International The product is the problem: Why Meta’s $17 billion settlement matters beyond America Robert Muggah, Instituto Igarapé; Princeton University The agreement could mark a turning point for public policies on social media precisely because it addresses the architecture of the platforms themselves. Niger’s failed coup is a warning to the Sahel’s military rulers: those with power must keep their promises Salah Ben Hammou, Rice University Military leaders in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger came to power promising to defeat the insurgencies plaguing their countries. Instead, insecurity has worsened. Podcast