Maybe because in the places where most news are written (DC, NY, SF) crime has spiked drastically?
EG:
"D.C. Police have responded to 227 homicides so far in 2023. That's up 34% from the same time last year. It also tops 2021's total for the year, which was the highest since 2003. That means the homicide rate in the District is the highest it's been in 20 years, and climbing, with two months left in the year."
Homicide is a tiny fraction of all crime, and the numbers of homicides are low enough in large US cities that small changes can lead to fairly large percentages.
EG:
"D.C. Police have responded to 227 homicides so far in 2023. That's up 34% from the same time last year. It also tops 2021's total for the year, which was the highest since 2003. That means the homicide rate in the District is the highest it's been in 20 years, and climbing, with two months left in the year."
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/dc-homicide-rate-20...
https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/10/03/dc-crim...