Topic: Columbus Day

The other Martin Luther King Jr. holiday: how it's observed

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, established in 1994, is meant to be a day of personal action in Dr. King’s memory – as its boosters say, a day on, not a day off.

Christopher Columbus: Five things you thought you knew about the explorer

It’s Columbus Day – a time when faulty lore about the “discoverer of America” abounds. The myths surrounding the epic voyages of Christopher Columbus are as plentiful as the riches he supposedly discovered. Here are some commonly held beliefs that have endured since, well, 1492.

Columbus Day: What's open, what's closed, what's happening?

True, it's not the most exciting holiday on the calendar. It's not even observed in every state, which means Columbus Day comes with a lot of confusion about practical matters, such as what's open and what's not. Here's your practical guide to Columbus Day.

Stock markets rise on hopes of Fed easing

Stock markets from Asia to Europe are higher, anticipating that the Federal Reserve will try to boost the struggling US economy.

Is it Presidents Day or President's Day or Presidents' Day?

In Virginia there is no Presidents' Day. It's legally only George Washington's birthday. How well do you know America's (often bogus) holidays?

Will a longer school day help close the achievement gap?

A longer school day can help improve student test scores, closing the achievement gap. But critics question the cost of those additional hours.

Should we even have a Columbus Day?

Though the holiday has been used to teach American ideals, we need to remember that to many native Americans, Columbus symbolizes slavery.

The words we need for the state we're in

On reflection, the Monitor's language columnist decides that bailout isn't a bad choice after all for 'Word of the Year.'

McCain campaign strategy: Go nu-cular or go nice?

Instead of 'Chihuahua,' try a book

Obama struggles to attract wavering Jewish voters

False rumors have tempered enthusiasm from this slice of the Democratic base.

Disagreement widespread within US government over 2002 harsh interrogations

Even some military lawyers opposed the techniques, according to congressional testimony this week.