Gilberto Cárdenas, a highly respected sociologist who many considered a great advocate for advancing Latino and Chicano identity through academia and art, has died. Cárdenas died Sunday at his home in Austin, Texas, after a long illness, according to a statement released by his family. He was 79. Born and raised in San Gabriel, California, Cárdenas became deeply entrenched in the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He went on to earn a doctorate at the University of Notre Dame and establish Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin as a sociology professor. He also became known for his collection of Latino art, which numbered in the thousands.

Illinois prison officials say the former sheriff’s deputy who killed Sonya Massey won't get an early medical release from his two-decade prison sentence. Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Massey, a Black woman, after she called 911 about a possible prowler. The state Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously Friday to deny Grayson's application. Grayson, who is white, had been diagnosed with colon cancer before the 2024 shooting. His attorney noted that the cancer had advanced. Massey's family attorneys said the board “made the right decision.” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called Massey's killing “a profound loss.”

Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says his Muslim faith shapes his progressive views. Speaking recently to faith leaders in Detroit, El-Sayed emphasized accountability and helping others. El-Sayed supports “Medicare for All” and highlights growing inequality and the responsibility of the wealthy. As progressive Democrats gain traction, some connect their economic policies with religious beliefs. Faith-driven economic initiatives extend beyond elections, with some organizations supporting workers' rights. These efforts are being seen across the country. Religious support for labor movements is not new, even if it has ebbed and flowed in the U.S. over the centuries.

Former Rep. Cori Bush, outside the courthouse where the Dred Scott case was argued, promises to reverse her ouster from Congress. Bush, a progressive who started as a Black Lives Matter organizer, lost a primary to Wesley Bell, a more moderate prosecutor. Now, they're in a rematch that highlights Democrats' shifting landscape, including anger at the party establishment and growing support for democratic socialists. Bush blames the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for her previous loss. Bell, dismissing Bush’s attacks, argues he’s a more pragmatic lawmaker. The primary race has national implications, with both candidates accusing each other of corruption.

The WNBA has never been bigger. More people are watching. More are investing. Salaries for many players are higher than ever. With the attention, scrutiny of some of the league's biggest challenges has intensified: race, gender and sexuality. Mounting turmoil and discord has accompanied this transformative period for the WNBA that has featured a landmark collective bargaining agreement, league expansion and skyrocketing player recognition. It seems to have reached a new flashpoint as the league approached the halfway point of its 30th season. Race-driven conversations resurfaced after an incident between Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, while players have voiced frustrations with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and leadership.

A growing trend called “teen takeovers” where scores of young people converge on small areas have raised safety concerns in cities across the United States, and prompted officials to develop strategies to control the trend. Fueled by warm weather and driven by social media, takeovers have popped up in big cities like Houston, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Detroit, and smaller communities like Clearwater, Florida. The gatherings often lead to fights, theft and vandalism. In May, a 14-year-old was shot and wounded during a fight with other teens during a takeover in downtown Detroit. Vehicles in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood were damaged during a takeover there.