Knob-and-tube wiring, medical aid in dying and building permits. Who knew?

These are just three of the intriguing ideas readers sent for 2026, and after reading them all, I’m convinced we should solicit your thoughts more often.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about our plan to give reporters two-week breaks in 2026 to work on impact stories. Some ideas will come from the newsroom, but we also asked for yours, and after reading them, I wish we had more resources to tackle them quickly. Here’s a sampling.

I’ll start with perhaps the most serious topic and arguably the most pressing: medical aid in dying. Eleven states already allow it, and more are poised to start. Polls show broad, bipartisan support. It gives terminally ill people the option to peacefully end their lives—what some call assist

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