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Tuesday marks one year since George Floyd died.

His murder outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis was one of the defining stories of 2020. It brought to the forefront America's racist past and present. Calls for change spread widely: Hundreds of thousands protested, public opinion shifted and laws were challenged.

Welcome to Your Week, a weekly email guide to the must-reads from the Paste BN newsroom. I'm Lindsay, with the best of the best for subscribers, and a sneak peek at what's next.

First, top headlines from this week and last:

Vaccinated readers tell us they still plan on wearing masks. Why? They don't trust others.
Donald Trump investigation watch: Here's what we know about the New York investigations looming over Trump and the Trump Organization.
Celebrities such as Demi Lovato, Elliot Page and Sam Smith identify as nonbinary. What does that mean?
European travel is coming back. Here's what travelers need to know. (And here's what you need to know about US-Canada and US-Mexico border closures.)
'Broken' unemployment benefits are in need of reform, workers and lawmakers say.
The first storms of hurricane season 2021 may be forming in the Gulf and Atlantic. Here's what to watch for, including heavy rain coming to Texas and Louisiana.
The NBA playoffs have just begun. We asked NBA experts for their picks for the Eastern and Western conference finals, as well as the NBA Finals. Some of their answers may surprise you.

One year later.

"America failed George Floyd and so many others before and after him. But in the wake of George Floyd’s death, we have seen a nation awaken to the reality Black Americans live every day. We have seen people across the country and across the world demonstrate that changing the reality we live in is not an impossible task, it is our collective calling." - Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).

This week, we're looking at how the death of George Floyd impacted the United States' past, present and future with several pieces for subscribers only. Below you'll see links for today's deep-dives, which include new takes on police accountability to expression through art.

If you read one thing today: Paste BN asked well-known leaders from across the country to reflect on George Floyd’s death, one year later. What resulted is a stunning collection of first-person takes from Bernice King, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Nick Cannon, Julian Castro, Cory Booker (excerpted above) and others.

Stories you can't miss, just for subscribers

MENTAL HEALTH | About 31% of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder over the course of their lives. What does that feel like? Paste BN's David Oliver shares first-hand accounts of what those who face it wish people knew. As many of us grapple the next steps forward in a vaccinated life, it's a much-needed lesson in empathy and understanding.

CLEAN WATER | What's in your water? Spoiler alert: You probably want to know – and take action. An investigation by Paste BN and Indiana University’s Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism found gaps in water tank oversight that expose an unsuspecting public to multiple risks, including dead snakes and toxic sludge.

FUTURE OF WORK | Forty percent of Americans say they prefer to work from home full-time, according to a new survey, which is unsurprising given how comfortable sweatpants are. "The DNA of work has changed. Employers need to acknowledge that," Cali Williams Yost, CEO of Flex + Strategy Group, tells Paste BN's Paul Davison. Here's Davidson's deep-dive into the future of work. Plus: Is the freelance economy trend over? Davidson has the scoop on the shift from gig to permanent work in the marketplace.

COOL CARS | Electric vehicle technology is going mainstream – or is it? With thousands excited, including President Joe Biden, the first electric version of the nation's best-selling vehicle, the Ford F-150 Lightning, was unveiled this week. Paste BN's Nathan Bomey takes a peek under the hood of other electric pick-ups, and of what the trend means for the car industry.

CICADA WATCH | What's that sound? Oh yes, it's just the cicadas descending upon us after 17 blissfully buzz-free years. If you're curious, we're tracking Brood X.

Sharing histories never before told

Fifty-five years ago, people were talking about a different Black man whose death sparked change.

Activist Jimmie Lee Jackson died in 1956 after being shot by an Alabama State Trooper following a peaceful protest in Marion, Alabama. Considered the first martyr of the Civil Rights Movement, Jackson's death is a forgotten catalyst of the infamous Bloody Sunday march in Selma, paving the way for equal voting rights.

Jackson's story is one you'd think we'd all know. So we're sharing it now as our first installment of Never Been Told, a new historical investigative series from Paste BN that spotlights people of color that the history books forgot.

Coming tomorrow

For the past year, TV critic Kelly Lawler has chronicled her life changed by the pandemic in the newsletter Staying Apart Together. On Tuesday, the twice-a-week newsletter will begin to (slowly, responsibly, with masks nearby) look forward past the pandemic, changing its name to ... wait for it ... Keeping it Together. Sign up for Keeping it Together for mental health tips, tricks, and the week's best TV and movie recommendations, as we all set our sights on a healthy summer.

That's it for this week! What news are you thinking about today? Respond to this email and let's chat about it. - Lindsay

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