Dec 20 Flu cases surge in parts of the U.S. as vaccine rates for children drop compared to last year By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Thirteen states reported high or very high levels of flu-like illness last week, about double from the week before. Continue reading
Dec 20 'This is a moral failure.' A Missouri community says leftover radioactive waste is making them sick By Gabrielle Hays St. Louis, Missouri, residents who grew up near contaminated nuclear waste, leftover from the Manhattan Project, say they are tired of waiting. Continue reading
Dec 20 VA faces urgent calls to fix benefits for vets with burn-pit injuries before time runs out By Dan Sagalyn, Elaine Grossman, Vivian Hoang The VA met with veterans behind closed doors Dec. 12 in what the agency termed a “listening session” about CB and other service-related lung conditions. Continue reading
Dec 19 Watch 8:29 Colorado dairy farms face calls to keep workers safe as bird flu spreads among cows By Stephanie Sy, Sam Weber California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to bird flu that's spreading among the state's dairy cows. The virus has already caused the deaths of more than 120 million birds across the country since 2022. Stephanie… Continue watching
Dec 19 Watch 6:41 Leading researcher explains how viewing addiction as a brain disorder improves treatments By William Brangham, Mike Fritz This week, we are reporting on some promising treatments for two of the deadliest drugs in America: opioids and alcohol. William Brangham sat down with one of the nation’s leading researchers who is studying America’s addictions and how we can… Continue watching
Dec 19 California declared an emergency over bird flu. How serious is the situation? By JoNel Aleccia, Associated Press Gov. Gavin Newsom said he declared the state of emergency to better position state staff and supplies to respond to the outbreak. Continue reading
Dec 18 Why some people can get away with only a little sleep every night By Marla Broadfoot, Knowable Magazine Short sleepers cruise by on four to six hours a night and don’t seem to suffer ill effects. Turns out they’re genetically built to require less sleep than the rest of us. Continue reading
Dec 18 Watch 10:21 Why a promising treatment for alcohol abuse is barely used By William Brangham, Mike Fritz In our ongoing look at treating substance abuse in America, we turn to the most commonly used drug, and one of the deadliest: alcohol. Drinking kills more Americans every year than opioids or any other illegal drug. But promising treatments… Continue watching
Dec 18 First severe bird flu case in U.S. reported in Louisiana, according to health officials By Mike Stobbe, JoNel Aleccia, Associated Press A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., health officials said Wednesday. Continue reading
Dec 17 Watch 10:21 Opioid crisis renews focus on expanding access to methadone treatment By William Brangham, Mike Fritz While the numbers are finally starting to decline, more than 74,000 Americans are still dying every year from opioid overdoses. Despite that, very few people who are struggling with addiction get treatment. William Brangham looks at the renewed focus on… Continue watching