Newsdesk

On drug costs, modest steps follow Trump’s big promises

By Matthew Perrone, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

As a candidate, Trump advocated Medicare negotiations and he called for allowing consumers to import lower-priced medicines from abroad. But the White House strategy paper veers away from such dramatic steps.

The hidden superpower of ‘Black Panther’: Scientist role models

By Clifford Johnson, The Conversation

Seeing black lead characters who are accomplished scientists could be just the thing to inspire future generations to follow in their footsteps.

Pennsylvania race to test how tax law plays with voters

By Bill Barrow, Associated Press

The tax law has formed a defining fault line ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

As the fight in northern Syria shifts focus, here’s what has changed

By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

A ground-level look at what has changed between northern Syria today and six months back, when a fight against ISIS dominated the headlines.

It’s not just athletes: Doctors at the Olympics have also worked years to get there

By Leah Samuel, STAT

The official U.S. Olympic Committee’s Sports Medicine Division recruits a crew of volunteer doctors — as well as orthopedists, chiropractors, nurses, sports therapists, massage therapists, and more — every two years.

Trump accuses Democrats of playing politics with memo

By Jonathan Lemire and Chad Day, Associated Press

President Donald Trump is explaining his decision not to declassify a Democratic memo, saying the document is “very political” and needs heavy redactions.

Lobbying expenses spiked as Congress shaped tax overhaul

By Richard Lardner, Associated Press

Money spent on lobbying by corporations, trade associations and special interest groups spiked during the final three months of 2017.

Rachel Brand, No. 3 at the Justice Department, stepping down amid turmoil

By Associated Press

Rachel Brand attracted interest because of her potential to assume a key role in the Trump-Russia investigation.

Michigan State says it plans to fire official who didn’t follow up on Nassar scandal

By David Eggert, Associated Press

It is the first major personnel action announced by interim President John Engler, who was hired after Lou Anna Simon resigned under a storm of criticism about the university's handling of Nassar, who is serving decades in prison for molesting…