Kristen Meinzer

Migrant farm workers

An investigation finds employers abusing a visa program for guest workers

The H-2 visa program allows US employers to bring in workers from foreign countries if they can't fill the job with an American. But an investigation finds many abuses of the system.

An investigation finds employers abusing a visa program for guest workers
Spring Awakening cast

In this Broadway show, the words are sung, spoken — and signed

In this Broadway show, the words are sung, spoken — and signed
Mitch Albom

What could have been: Mitch Albom originally wanted to be a singer-songwriter

What could have been: Mitch Albom originally wanted to be a singer-songwriter
Bill Murray

Bill Murray's latest Hollywood endeavor, 'Rock the Kasbah,' has roots in a true story

Bill Murray's latest Hollywood endeavor, 'Rock the Kasbah,' has roots in a true story
Hot Girls Wanted scene

Netflix documentary explores the choices made by the stars behind Internet porn's biggest genre

Netflix documentary explores the choices made by the stars behind Internet porn's biggest genre
The moment this bag pops could be terrifying, but it's also a moment when your brain goes into overdrive — and possibly a great learning opportunity.

Here's what happens after 'Surprise!'

Not everyone loves surprises, but Tania Luna says everyone's brain reacts to them in a similar way. And because our responses are designed to make us extra curious and focused intently on the moment, surprises can be valuable moments.

Here's what happens after 'Surprise!'
Rosa Parks is a candidate for the first woman on the $20 bill

Fighting to put a woman on the $20 bill

It's time, one group says, to end the monopoly of men on US paper currency. President Barack Obama thinks it's about time, too.

Fighting to put a woman on the $20 bill
Sumatran tiger Melati looks inside a present box put out to celebrate the first birthday of her cub triplets in their enclosure at the London Zoo on February 4, 2015.

Is it time to close all the zoos?

Who doesn't love a good zoo? The animals, for one. Many of the most popular attractions at zoos are animals like tigers and bears, who are particularly prone to boredom and depression when cooped up. That's why some people want to close traditional zoos and take a different approach.

Is it time to close all the zoos?
Oscar theater

Trying to figure out who will walk away with an Oscar? Let us help

The Oscars are Sunday, which means it's time to brush up on all the movies you missed in 2014 — or get a quick reminder about what you really liked, or loathed, in theaters.

Trying to figure out who will walk away with an Oscar? Let us help
The World

'I’m surprised at how boring a film about sex can actually be'

Critics offer plenty of shade to ''Fifty Shades of Grey'' but are sweet on Colin Firth in "Kingsman.'' Rafer Guzman, film critic for Newsday, and Kristen Meinzer, culture producer for The Takeaway, guide us through this week’s releases.

'I’m surprised at how boring a film about sex can actually be'
A student of Khmer descent learns Kinh language (the official Vietnamese language) at the Lac Hoa Primary School in Soc Trang province.

The language apocalypse is coming, and many tongues are already all but dead

Humans speak 6,000 languages, but half of them will disappear within the next 50 years. Even today, some ancient tongues have only one remaining speaker. The new PBS film, "Language Matters," looks at the languages that are struggling to survive.

The language apocalypse is coming, and many tongues are already all but dead
Director and producer George Lucas attends the 2013 White House Correspondents Association Dinner.

George Lucas' magic musical is 'one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen'

Jennifer Aniston is amazing in "Cake," but the Movie Date podcast says to avoid George Lucas' "Strange Magic" like the plague. Check out those and more of this week's movie picks and reviews

George Lucas' magic musical is 'one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen'
Actor Bradley Cooper arrives for the premiere of the film "American Sniper" in New York on December 15, 2014.

How Americans fell in love with snipers

"American Sniper" is a huge hit with audiences and critics, but it's also getting slammed for its portrayal of the war in Iraq and the sniper at its center. So what does the film say about the war's morality, and why do once-maligned snipers now star on the big screen?

How Americans fell in love with snipers
Cast member Julianne Moore poses at a special screening of the film "Still Alice" during AFI Fest 2014 in Hollywood on November 12, 2014.

Julianne Moore leads the stars of this week's new movies

Looking for a great movie to survive the cold weekend? The Takeaway's Movie Date podcast says you might be pleasantly surprised by "The Wedding Ringer"'s crass humor, but you'll definitely by blown away by Julianne Moore's Oscar-nominated turn in "Still Alice."

Julianne Moore leads the stars of this week's new movies
Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) shrugs at a question from reporters as he walks to a closed-door briefing on talks with Iran in 2013. Corker is a leading proponent of raising gas taxes to boost the nearly-dry Highway Trust Fund.

Can a rebrand make Republicans raise the gas tax?

Drivers are happy about the collapse in oil prices, but with federal highway funds also tanking, even Republicans are considering raising the gas tax to make sure road construction can continue. But calling the gas tax a "user fee" may not help push changes past conservatives in Congress.

Can a rebrand make Republicans raise the gas tax?