World Dec 19 How effective will UN biodiversity agreement be in saving species at risk? A historic agreement was reached Monday at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Canada that aims to increase protections for the world’s lands and oceans. It comes as the planet continues to experience a staggering decline in biodiversity driven in…
Health Dec 15 Winter surge in infections from RSV, flu, and COVID straining U.S. hospitals The White House is warning of a surge of illness this holiday season, as the country deals with the simultaneous uptick of three, highly contagious respiratory viruses. Hospitals across the country are filling up with patients suffering from flu, RSV…
Nation Dec 14 Newtown remembers those killed at Sandy Hook a decade after the tragedy Ten years ago, a mass shooting forever changed the small town of Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty students and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. William Brangham spoke with…
Health Dec 12 How multiple presidential administrations failed to stop fentanyl’s rise in the U.S. More than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses last year and the same toll is expected this year. Two-thirds of those deaths are tied to fentanyl, but the federal government has been slow to recognize the rise of the highly-potent…
Nation Dec 01 New York mayor orders some homeless people involuntarily hospitalized for mental illness The rise in homelessness is a source of major tension around the country, including in New York City, which has a larger homeless population than any other city in the U.S. This week, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new policy…
Economy Nov 30 Some economists concerned aggressive interest rate hikes do more harm than good The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates six times this year and Fed Chair Jay Powell suggested that a seventh hike, albeit a smaller one, is on the way next month. But some Democrats and economists worry the Fed hit…
Health Nov 25 Adderall shortage raises questions about widespread dependency on the drug There is a national shortage of Adderall, a drug used to treat several attention-deficit disorders. Intermittent manufacturing delays and a lack of supply to meet market demand in the U.S. left those who rely on the drug unsure about how…
Economy Nov 24 Inflation casts a shadow over Thanksgiving as food banks struggle to meet demand This Thanksgiving, as many sit down with friends and family at tables overstuffed with food, there are millions of Americans who aren’t as fortunate. The holiday is a reminder of the stark reality of what’s called food insecurity. It’s widespread…
Nation Nov 23 Six killed when employee opens fire inside Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia Chesapeake, Virginia, has now joined the long list of places in America where a lone gunman committed sudden, mass murder. Police say a Walmart employee opened fire in the store, killing at least six before taking his own life. William…
Politics Nov 22 Advocates push to end the automatic charging of juveniles as adults in certain crimes In some states, juveniles are automatically charged in adult court for certain serious crimes. It's a practice known as direct file. In Pennsylvania, there is a push to change that rule to prevent children from ending up with adult records.