Health

What you need to know to stay safe from ticks and Lyme disease this summer

By John Yang, Andrew Corkery, Claire Mufson

According to the Centers for Disease Control, as many as 476,000 people in the U.S. contract Lyme disease every year. Climate change and human encroachment into wilderness areas means ticks and the disease-causing bacteria they carry are becoming more common.

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How some families are banned from food stamps for life due to past drug convictions

By Laura Santhanam

A 1996 federal law allows states to place lifetime bans on SNAP benefits from people who hold felony drug convictions. But advocates say it only succeeds in undermining a person’s ability to start over.

Here's why there's so much smoke in the air right now

By Kathy McCormack, Michael Phillis, Associated Press

The effects reach as far south as North Carolina and west to Ohio, blotting out skylines and irritating throats.

Wildfire smoke over U.S. and Canada may last into the weekend

By Jennifer Peltz, Rob Gillies, Michael Sisak, Associated Press

Across the eastern U.S., officials warned residents to stay inside and limit or avoid outdoor activities again Thursday, extending “Code Red” air quality alerts in some places for a third-straight day as forecasts showed winds continuing to push smoke-filled air…

How a 950-mile bike ride is helping Cherokee youth reclaim their history

By Adam Kemp, Gabrielle Hays, Hannah Grabenstein

For the 15th straight year Cherokee youth are retracing the Trail of Tears on bikes in hopes of achieving a deeper understanding of their homeland and the forced removal that took it away.

As conservative adults target schools, LGBTQ+ kids and students of color feel less safe

By Annie Ma, Claudia Lauer, Adriana Gomez Licon, Associated Press

As politicians and activists push for limits on discussions of race, gender and sexuality, some students say the measures targeting aspects of their identity have made them less welcome in American schools — the one place all kids are supposed…

How to stay safe when the air outside is toxic

By Laura Santhanam

Wildfire smoke is estimated to be 10 times more toxic than pollution from burnt fossil fuels.

Missouri governor signs bill banning gender-affirming care for minors and some adults

By Summer Ballentine, Associated Press

Beginning Aug. 28, Missouri health care providers won't be able to prescribe those gender-affirming treatments for teens and children.

LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning

By Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press

Along with its warning on Tuesday, the HRC released a guidebook with summaries of laws in each state, "know your rights" information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers as well as those already living in so-called hostile states.

Federal judge blocks Florida ban on gender-affirming care for minors in narrow ruling, says 'gender identity is real'

By Brendan Farrington, Associated Press

The lawsuit challenges the law Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the same week he announced a run for president. The ruling was narrowly focused on the three children whose parents brought the suit.