One Mass Shooting A Day
In light of the fatal shooting of two reporters on live TV in Virginia, the Washington Post examined a group that tracks gun violence in America and said that the country is averaging one mass shooting per day this year so far. The article explores how a “mass shooting” is defined, ultimately pointing out that the solution to ending such events is a complicated one. [Washington Post]
The 9/11 ‘Dust Lady’ Dies of Stomach Cancer
The woman in one of the most definitive photos documenting 9/11 — the haunting, horror-struck gaze of a woman coated in a thick layer of dust after having barely escaped the falling towers — passed away this week from cancer at 42 years old. [NJ.com]
The Last Normal Day
This weekend will mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans. The category five hurricane devastated the city, hitting the Ninth Ward particularly hard. On Wednesday, The Times-Picayune ran an article called "Our Last Normal Day" about readers' memories of the things they did the day before the storm hit. It's a moving, sobering look at the lives that were forever changed by Katrina. [The Times-Picayune]
Newborn Panda Twin Dies
One of the giant panda twins born at the National Zoo over the weekend passed away Wednesday. Veterinarians noticed the smaller of the two babies seemed less energetic and had difficulty breathing when they carried it to an incubator Wednesday morning. Despite the zoo’s best efforts, the panda died that afternoon. [Washington Post]
Is This The New York You Dreamed it Would Be?
Everyone has a New York story, and WNYC’s Brian Lehrer asked city transplants whether the Big Apple has lived up to their big expectations. Listeners shared their tales, from the Midwesterner settling in Williamsburg to the disillusioned aspiring writer who’s decided to leave. [WNYC]
Tourists Are Flocking to Queens. Here’s Why
Last year, "Lonely Planet" surprised many in the travel industry when it declared Queens the top place to visit in the entire country in its 2015 guide. Travel experts praised the borough’s microbreweries and new hotels, as well as its “reinvented seaside at Rockaway, a world-class art scene, and a truly global food culture.” A New York Times article this week took a closer look at the growth of tourism in Queens, where according to data provided by NYC & Company, the number of visitors went up about 12 percent between 2012 and 2013. [NY Times]
Meet Your New Digital Assistant?
First came Siri, then came Cortana. Now, meet M. Facebook announced it's beta testing a new digital assistant program that will be integrated with its Messenger app. In a post on the site, Facebook's David Marcus announced that M "completes tasks and finds information on your behalf." Marcus said that M is different than Apple's Siri or Microsoft 10's Cortana because it will be able to make restaurant reservations, buy gifts, book travel and complete other simple tasks for you. [USA Today]
#TheForceAwakens
The official "Star Wars" Instagram account posted a teaser Thursday afternoon and its 1.4 million followers (including half the DNAinfo New York newsroom) lost their collective minds. It's coming... [Instagram]
How to Stream the Black Keys Frontman's New Album
Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach has a new project: The Arcs. Now NPR First Listen is letting you stream the band's debut album Yours, Dreamily. Mike Katzif describes it as "immersive R&B and soul, built around buzzy guitars and funky grooves." Yours, Dreamily is due out September 4. [Vulture]
