Stephen J. Beard
The SS United States Is About to Sink. Many Scuba Divers Will Follow
George Petras, Stephen J. Beard, Jennifer Borresen and USA TODAY on November 11, 2026
Once the 990-foot liner settles 180 to 200 feet down, its upper decks will sit 55 to 60 feet deep, within reach of certified divers.
Is the Economy Better than before Trump Retook Office? See the Data
Rachel Barber, Stephen J. Beard and USA TODAY on November 1, 2026
Gas has stayed above $4 a gallon on more days than ever, far from the sub-$2 pledge, and the 30-year mortgage rate has climbed past 7%.
Are You Getting a $500 ACA Refund Check From Trump? See Where They’re Going
Joey Garrison, Stephen J. Beard and USA TODAY on September 30, 2026
Nearly 950,000 people qualify, but eligibility depends on their state’s exchange—and the $500 checks are separate from a different $5,000 promise.
See How the Texas Floods Unfolded and Why Camp Mystic Was in a Hazardous Location
Stephen J. Beard, Ignacio Calderon, Ramon Padilla, George Petras, Shawn J. Sullivan and USA TODAY on August 13, 2026
A deadly Texas flood exposed gaps in warning systems and showed how terrain, rainfall and development can turn rising water into a catastrophe
How Lettuce Linked to Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Can Get to Your Table
Stephen J. Beard, George Petras, Daniel de Visé, Dian Zhang, Ramon Padilla and USA TODAY on August 4, 2026
A CDC probe traces over 6,700 illnesses to a Mexican farm — here’s the nine-stop journey lettuce takes before it reaches your plate.
Trump Promised Lower Gas Prices. Here’s What’s Happening at the Pump.
Stephen J. Beard, George Petras and USA TODAY on June 18, 2026
Gas fell below $4 a gallon after the Iran ceasefire — but a fuel-market quirk called ‘rockets and feathers’ means the relief arrives far more slowly than prices rose.
Iran War Is Driving Up Fertilizer Costs. What Will US Farmers Do?
George Petras, Stephen J. Beard and USA TODAY on April 19, 2026
A new Farm Bureau survey found 70% of U.S. farmers can’t afford all the fertilizer they need this planting season — and that shortfall could push grocery prices higher by summer.
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