Stealing Is Wrong, But Food Theft Isn’t As Clear-Cut [The Question]

Readers drew sharp ethical lines between stealing food out of hunger, taking luxury goods and targeting homes, local shops or chain stores.

NOAA Updates Solar Wind Tracking To Improve Northern Lights Forecasts

Solar wind measurements, which can suddenly color a night sky with vivid colors, are among the forecasting tools NOAA has recently updated.

5 Stories That Show Kindness Still Exists In America: Block Talk

Patch readers share small but lasting moments of kindness, ranging from a tied shoelace to strangers offering comfort and aid after a crash.

Park Etiquette For Group Exercise, Dog Walkers, Cyclists And Families: Block Talk

Parks are for all, but loud workouts, crowded paths, off-leash dogs and sprawling activities can test the unwritten rules of sharing space.

Dog Turns On Toaster, Sets House On Fire: Weird News & Oddities

Kidnapped kitten dragged into crime; poison-resistant mice continue evolutionary arms race; couple found a spent shell casing in an avocado.

Kindness Has Limits When It Comes To Lying, Readers Say [The Question]

Readers debate the ethics of white lies and brutal truths, and the line between fibs sparing feelings and falsehoods causing real harm.

What To Do After Witnessing Someone Stealing [The Question]

Stealing seems ethically clear-cut, unless it involves food, a coworker, or personal risk.

How To Tell Neighbors They Cannot Use Your Swimming Pool: Block Talk

A backyard pool can turn into a neighborhood free-for-all fast when one friendly invitation becomes an assumed free pass.

Kindness Is America’s Default, Poll Shows; Tell Us Your Story: Block Talk

Most Americans see kindness and respect in daily life, according to a recent poll. We want to hear your stories.

Man Fights Bear For 40 Minutes To Save Pet Goat: Weird News & Oddities

Joe Snitch wants to help; “UFO clouds” drift into California; e-bikes menace the grocery aisles; and the M&M’s don’t have the blues.

Perseids, Solar And Lunar Eclipses Highlight 2026 Summer Skywatching

The Perseids headline a busy summer skywatching season that includes solar and lunar eclipses and a lingering chance of seeing the aurora.

White Lies, Honesty And The Etiquette Of Telling The Truth [The Question]

Most people agree honesty matters, but life is full of awkward moments when the truth can feel needlessly cruel. When, if ever, is a lie OK?

How To Correct Bad Manners Without Shaming [The Question]

Readers debate when it’s appropriate to correct bad manners, how to do it without shaming someone, and whether public civility is fading.

Stay Connected While Apart: Meaningful Ways To Support A Loved One During Deployment

From a brand partner: From handwritten notes to family traditions, small gestures can help loved ones feel closer across the miles.

Plan To Sell Titanic Artifacts Faces US Government Opposition

Auctioneers say the unending fascination with the Titanic and the rarity of artifacts adds up to high demand and exorbitant prices.

E-Bikes And E-Scooters Are Fun, Useful And Sometimes Terrifying: Block Talk

Americans want clearer rules for e-bikes and e-scooters, including age limits, speed restrictions, sidewalk bans and stronger enforcement.

Meet Libby And The Ordinary People Trying To Bring The Lost Dog Home.

Libby, a golden retriever startled by a loud noise 3 years ago, stays a step ahead of rescuers. But where there’s kindness, there’s hope.

Porn Mysteriously Appears In City Rec Guide: Weird News & Oddities

Bears are where they shouldn’t be. An emu is on the run. And a woman was buzzing down the highway when she discovered she wasn’t alone.

What To Do When Neighborhood Kids Keep Asking To Use Your Pool: Block Talk

Letting the neighbor kid swim on a hot day may seem like a kind thing to do. But what if they bring more kids and come back again and again?

How To Respond To Nosiness Without Being Rude [The Question]

Rude questions, real boundaries: Patch readers debate whether personal questions deserve grace, deflection, humor or a hard stop.

How To Correct Bad Manners Without Being Rude Yourself [The Question]

Is it ever OK to correct someone’s manners? And how do you do it without embarrassing them or sounding like the etiquette police?

Flesh-Eating Fly Returns To U.S.: What To Know

A flesh-eating parasite once wiped out in the United States is back on the radar after new cases of New World screwworm were confirmed.

Elephant-Sized Meteor Buzzes Earth: Weird News & Oddities

People are entering NYC sewers, and no one knows why. A man fell into a septic tank, but the stench kept a rescuer away. Animals run amok.

E-Scooter Crashes Spark Questions About Rider Rules: Block Talk

Fatal and serious e-scooter crashes raise fresh safety questions. How should your town balance safety and the convenience of e-scooters?

The Simple Neighborhood Traditions That Are Quietly Disappearing: Block Talk

Porch chats, block parties and back-and-forth favors once defined neighborhood life. Now, even small connections feel harder to find.

High Grocery And Gas Prices Change What Americans Put On The Dinner Table

As grocery and gas prices climb, readers say they’re cutting meat, skipping meals and stretching leftovers.

Cellphone Etiquette Doesn’t Allow These Rude Habits [The Question]

Some cellphone etiquette guidelines should be obvious, such as not using them in restaurants, stores and public bathrooms, readers said.

When To See Rare Blue Moon; It’s Also A Micromoon

Of the two definitions of a blue moon, this one — the second full moon in a calendar month — is the more common.

As Food And Gas Costs Rise, How Is Your Budget Changing? [Patch Survey]

Consumers feel squeezed by higher gas prices, rising grocery bills, and more expensive health care. How is your budget changing?

How To Shut Down Nosiness Without Being A Jerk [The Question]

What’s the best way to deflect nosy questions and set boundaries without being rude — or over-explaining yourself?

Lost Pets In The Neighborhood? When To Help And When To Call The Pound: Block Talk

Dogs and cats on the loose can put neighbors in a tough spot. Should they intervene or call the pound?

Hell Is For Sale For About $666K: Weird News & Oddities

Parrot saves family from fire; woman gives birth in night court; car that hasn’t moved in years gets $50 ticket; world’s oldest oak spared.

Strangers Next Door May Prefer Keeping Their Distance: Block Talk

A survey suggests the American neighborhood remains important but no longer plays a central role in everyday social life.

The New Cellphone Etiquette: What’s Considered Rude? [The Question]

The use of smartphones in social situations is increasingly a flashpoint in manners, but it also raises privacy concerns.

These Gen Z Changemakers Are Creating Kinder Communities Across The U.S.

The Riley’s Way Foundation’s Kindness fellows address food insecurity, the STEM gender gap, AI fakes, civic engagement and other issues.

What Do You Do If You Find A Lost Dog Or Cat? Block Talk

Do you help find the owner or call the pound? Your instinct may be to help, but that’s not always the safest way to proceed.

Chonkers, A Sea Lion As Big As A Bison, Is Having A Moment: Weird News & Oddities

A rare lobster didn’t go to market; FBI recovers 17th-century reliquary urn stolen from Italian church; bright blue blobs blanket beaches.

The Doorbell Rings; Do You Answer, Or Has Etiquette Changed? Block Talk

For many readers, the standard isn’t etiquette but safety or privacy when they decide whether to answer the door.

When Grieving, These Words And Deeds Offer Comfort [The Question]

What comforts the grieving most? Respondents to Patch’s informal survey say simple words, shared memories, or just showing up matter most.

What's The Chance Of Seeing 30 Meteors An Hour As Eta Aquariids Peak?

The potential for fireballs with glowing trains that can last for several seconds to minutes makes it worth searching the skies.