The downloadable gun: next firearms frontier

While Americans argue over background checks and the like, tech changes could render firearm laws — and firearm manufacturers — irrelevant.

First person

Bus rides and toboggan slides with mom

How did my mother raise eight of us on $105 a week? Liver sausage sandwiches and unselfish love.

Miamians build a bakery for Haiti’s abandoned children

The kids have found a haven in Zanmi Beni Children’s Home (‘Blessed Friends’ in Creole).

To Our Readers

From the Editor: Legislative session’s over, but The Herald’s vigilance isn’t

More than 1,800 bills were filed during this year’s state legislative session, ranging from teacher pay raises to the contentious debate over Medicaid expansion.

Gay rights milestone

It’s Jason Collins’ story, but it’s our day

From one trailblazer to another, a salute to the NBA’s Jason Collins.

IMMIGRATION reform

An undocumented immigrant’s plea to pursue the American Dream

All Gaby Pacheco wants is a chance to pursue the American Dream. On Monday, she implored lawmakers to pass a bill to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants — including herself.

To Our Readers

Covering the Miami Heat courtside: Stay alert, don’t get flattened

Miami Herald Photographer Charlie Trainor was in his regular spot — right on the basketball court, in front of the most expensive seats in the house — lens trained on the first game of the inaugural “Three Kings” Miami Heat season.

Fathers and children

Miami dads find political voice in Tallahassee

A group of dads and traveled to Tallahassee to push for fatherhood issues.

MIAMI BEACH GAY PRIDE

The year of equality: South Florida LGBT activists, allies describe why they've got pride in 2013

South Florida’s large gay community is celebrating the fifth annual Miami Beach Gay Pride festival at what might be a pivot point in history.

Cheaper, better healthcare: yes, it is possible

No, it is not impossible. A new type of medical organization called an ACO is delivering encouraging results

To Our Readers

From the managing editor: Herald’s new iPad app: looks better, works better

If you are one of the 20,000 or so monthly users of The Miami Herald’s iPad app, you noticed a change this week.

PolitiFact Florida

Pssst! Here’s why people move to Florida, Speaker Weatherford

Americans are relocating to Florida in droves, House Speaker Will Weatherford told a group of liberty-loving activists at the Capitol.

Supreme Court

Same-sex marriage: the debate

Polls show a slow but steady sea-change in the public’s view of same-sex marriage. A sampling of Herald finds a similar phenomenon.

Blogger’s U.N. visit

The Yoani Sánchez roadshow at the U.N.

Yoani Sánchez at the United Nations, March 21, 2013, New York City:

Politifact Florida

PolitiFact takes Jeb Bush’s driverless=car claim for a test drive

Imagine that while fighting through traffic that you could paint your toenails, play the guitar or read a novel — but safely, because the car would be doing all the driving.

To Our Readers

From the editor: Savoring memories as The Miami Herald enters a new era

For 50 years, the building at One Herald Plaza has been the place we did what we love. But a $50 million new headquarters beckons.

Venezuela

Megalomania and farce: a visit with the unique Hugo Chávez

In 2010, Christopher Hitchens described his audience with Hugo Chávez. It is reprinted here.

Reporter’s notebook

Chávez: Not the cartoon he seemed to be

Impressions of a correspondent who covered Chávez for 10 years.

IN MY OPINION

From the managing editor: Why we all should care about public records

There is seemingly a never-ending quest to chip away at public records laws.