Health

Chicago mayor, teachers still at odds over COVID protocols

By Kathleen Foody, Associated Press

Negotiations resumed Saturday to resolve a standoff between Chicago school officials and the city's teachers union over COVID-19 precautions that canceled three days of classes, but the public war-of-words between union leaders and Chicago's mayor showed little sign of easing.

Omicron explosion spurs nationwide breakdown of services

By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Terry Tang, Associated Press

First responders, hospitals, schools and government agencies have employed an all-hands-on-deck approach to keep the public safe, but they are worried how much longer they can keep it up.

Vaccine mandate challenge reveals deep divides in the Supreme Court

By John Yang, Ian Couzens, Ebony Joseph

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday heard lengthy arguments challenging the Biden administration's vaccine and testing requirements in the workplace. The rules at stake are at the heart of the government's pandemic response and could have significant implications for roughly…

Continue watching

Inventor Louis Braille touched lives with literacy

By Dr. Howard Markel

Braille first encountered an early predecessor to his tactile writing system in 1821, while he was still an adolescent.

What you need to know about the free at-home COVID tests promised by the Biden administration

By Darlene Superville, Zeke Miller, Associated Press

Despite the high public demand for tests, White House officials say it will still be several more weeks before these kits are available to be shipped.

Tennis star Djokovic and 2 others deal with fallout from Australian Open visa issue

By John Pye, Associated Press

Novak Djokovic isn't alone in having his visa canceled after flying in for the Australian Open without the required evidence to support a medical exemption to the country's strict COVID-19 vaccination rules.

FDA shortens timing of Moderna booster to 5 months

By Associated Press

U.S. regulators are shortening the time that people who received Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine have to wait for a booster — to five months rather than six.

Hospitalizations skyrocket in children too young for COVID vaccines

By Lindsey Tanner, Mike Stobbe, Associated Press

Hospitalizations of U.S. children under 5 with COVID-19 have soared to unprecedented levels, a worrisome trend in youngsters too young to be vaccinated.

As omicron continues to surge, families despair over return to remote learning

By Corey Williams, Associated Press

A growing number of U.S. school districts are moving back to online classes because of the winter surge in COVID-19 cases.

LISTEN: Supreme Court holds special session on vaccine requirements

By Jessica Gresko, Mark Sherman, Associated Press

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority appears skeptical of the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine-or-testing requirement on the nation’s large employers.