Health May 13 Parents nationwide struggle with a critical baby formula shortage A baby formula shortage has become a major problem for parents around the U.S., one without quick solutions. About 40 percent of formula is out of stock nationwide due to supply chain disruptions, inflation and a recall by one of…
Economy Apr 28 As the U.S. economy slows down, fears of a possible recession grow The U.S. economy slowed down over the first three months of the year, the first time it has contracted since the pandemic brought it to a screeching halt. There have been other troubling signs, most notably inflation and concerns over…
Science Apr 26 Wildfires surge across the American Plains and the Southwest, forcing thousands to flee Winds picked up Tuesday in several states, adding more trouble and complications for firefighters out west and in the plains states. Nearly a dozen large fires have burned over 340 square miles in six states recently and more than 3,500…
Nation Apr 21 White House will push 'harm reduction' in latest fight against drug overdoses While the country is still wrestling with the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths from drug overdoses have been spiking -- and are expected to top 100,000 for 2021. On Thursday, the White House released its plan to address the crisis.
Nation Apr 19 What we get wrong about mass shootings and how to curb them Shootings in Pittsburgh and South Carolina this past weekend brought the year’s number of mass shootings (in which four or more people were killed) to 146. William Brangham talks to Mark Follman, a journalist who has long covered gun violence,…
Health Apr 13 People with alopecia share their stories: 'Hair does not define any of us' Alopecia, an auto-immune disease that causes hair loss, was brought center stage at the Oscars, when actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from the condition. We hear from…
Nation Mar 31 Slapping incident at the Oscars sparks difficult but important conversations Four days after the shocking events at this year's Oscars, the fallout is not over yet. The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences says it is considering disciplinary action against Will Smith. Author and film critic Eisa Nefertari Ulen,…
Health Mar 29 FDA and CDC authorize additional COVID booster shots for some Americans The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed a second booster shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for those over 50. It also applies to younger people with badly weakened immune systems.
Education Mar 24 States call in the National Guard to mitigate school staffing shortages For two years, the pandemic has hammered schools and accentuated the staffing shortages they are facing. It’s led to enormous problems with teacher morale, burnout, school closures and learning losses. But some states are using the National Guard to fill…
Health Mar 23 What's driving the dramatic rise in alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic? During the first year of the pandemic, alcohol-related deaths increased dramatically by 25 percent, according to a new study. In 2020, deaths jumped from about 79,000 a year to 99,000, with the spike seen across all drinking-age groups. Katherine Keyes,…