Health May 31 Purdue Pharma family protected from lawsuits in exchange for addiction treatment funding A court ruled the owners of Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, will be protected from civil lawsuits linked to the opioid crisis in exchange for a $6 billion settlement. Purdue, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019 amid thousands of lawsuits,…
Health May 30 How Rosalynn Carter reduced stigma around mental health and caregiving Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been diagnosed with dementia. That news comes about three months after it was announced her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, was moving into hospice care. Caregiving has been a major focus of Mrs. Carter’s…
Science May 27 The UN wants to drastically reduce plastic pollution by 2040. Here’s how As plastic waste piles up in the world’s landfills, sewer systems and oceans, the United Nations has set a goal to reduce plastic pollution by 80 percent by the year 2040. Inger Andersen, head of the United Nations Environment Programme,…
Science May 25 Supreme Court decision weakens EPA authority, scales back scope of Clean Water Act The Supreme Court has again weakened the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency. The case involved the EPA blocking an Idaho couple from building a house near a lake on their property, saying the construction would pollute water protected by…
World May 24 Taliban’s crackdown on women makes delivering aid to Afghanistan even harder Afghanistan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Nearly two years since the Taliban’s reconquest, Afghans are facing extreme levels of poverty and many are dependent on aid for their survival. But the Taliban's crackdown on women makes delivering that crucial…
Politics May 23 Economist Mark Zandi on the potential impacts of the U.S. defaulting on its debt The impact of the U.S. defaulting on its debt would be felt by many Americans. It could include suspension of Social Security checks or a loss of food stamp benefits, to name just a few. Many economists argue it would…
World May 23 Tenuous ceasefire in Sudan offers some needed relief after weeks of brutal fighting After weeks of brutal fighting, a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia was signed by leaders of the two factions at war for control of Sudan. The conflict has killed hundreds, injured more than 5,000, and sent nearly…
Nation May 22 What the Colorado River water use agreement will mean for western states The Biden administration reached a landmark deal with several western states to stave off an immediate crisis with the Colorado River and the communities that are dependent on it. Under the agreement, California, Arizona and Nevada will take less water…
Education May 18 How homeschooling’s rise during the pandemic has impacted traditional school enrollment Since the start of the pandemic, homeschooling has been on the rise with an estimated 30% increase in enrollment since the beginning of the 2019 school year. While the total number of homeschooled families remains relatively modest, its rise has…
Economy May 16 Biden and GOP leaders meet but make little progress on debt ceiling deal Republican and Democratic leaders from both the House and the Senate met with President Biden in the Oval Office Tuesday to discuss the debt ceiling. Shortly after, Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy both acknowledged the two parties…