Economy Mar 02 How high could gas prices go as sanctions ratchet up on Russia? As nations increase economic pressure on Russia, President Biden has warned that some of those moves could also end up hurting U.S. consumers, especially at the gas pump. Gas prices are already high, further pinching consumers who are also dealing…
World Feb 28 UN releases dire climate report highlighting rapid environmental degradation A new United Nations science report warned that the effects of climate change are growing faster and more severe than expected. It cited hunger, disease, poverty and other ills made worse by a warming planet and indicated the repercussions may…
Health Feb 25 CDC changes recommendations on when to wear masks in public The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday loosened its COVID-19 guidance on wearing masks in indoor public settings. The new standard says people don't have to mask-up if case counts and hospitalizations aren’t especially high where they live.
Science Feb 23 Alarming new climate report predicts ‘catastrophic’ global wildfires in the coming years There's grim new reports about potential causes and effects of climate change. The United Nations Environment Program has projected intense wildfires linked in part to climate change could increase 50 percent by the end of the century, and the International…
Nation Feb 17 What a Minnesota trial says about police officers’ responsibility to intervene This is the fourth week of the trial of three former officers who were on duty with Derek Chauvin when he murdered George Floyd in 2020. The officers are on trial for their role in his death and over questions…
Politics Feb 16 New details on 2016 Russia probe prompt flawed allegations of espionage A filing last week from the special counsel investigating the origins of the Russia probe has ignited a misleading media firestorm on the right that Hillary Clinton's campaign was guilty of illegally spying on Donald Trump. In a column this…
Science Feb 15 Western states face a bleak future amid the worst drought in more than 1,000 years The so-called megadrought that is afflicting the American West is the worst in 1,200 years, according to a study published this week. It has dried up water supplies, threatened ranchers and fueled wildfires. Park Williams, the lead author of the…
World Feb 14 Controversy swirls around Russian figure skater’s doping scandal at Winter Olympics Despite being cleared to compete in more events this week, controversy and criticism surrounds the continued presence of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva in the Beijing Olympics. Her failed drug test has jeopardized Russia's gold medal in team figure skating,…
Nation Feb 11 Sarah Palin lawsuit against The New York Times challenges free speech protections The boundaries of the U.S. Constitution and freedom of the press are being deliberated in Manhattan, as a jury considers Sarah Palin's libel case against The New York Times. It centers on a 2017 Times' editorial about dangerous rhetoric and…
Health Feb 09 New report details the scale of the U.S. opioid crisis and its link to drug trafficking The opioid overdose crisis that killed more than 100,000 Americans in a year is being called one of the most pressing national security and public health challenges facing the U.S. A majority of the overdoses are driven by the potent…