It may seem that books are ubiquitous across the country, but that’s not actually true, according to recent research. A study led by New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development found that children’s books are hard to come by in low-income…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates are rising across the United States. Since 1999, suicide rates have increased by more than 30 percent. In 2016, nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide. In Pennsylvania alone, the suicide rate increased…
The good news is that the rate of deaths from cancer continues to decline. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reported in January 2018 that the death rate from cancer in the United States has declined steadily over the past two decades, falling 26 percent from…
In October 2018, the Center for Auto Safety demanded a recall of 2.9 million 2011-2014 Kia and Hyundai vehicles because of fire hazards. The non-profit consumer advocacy organization noted that there had been more than 220 consumer complaints regarding fires that seemed to occur out…
E-cigarette company JUUL Labs says it cares about the rising use of e-cigarettes in teens, but a recent CNN investigation casts doubt on their intentions. Last month, JUUL pulled four e-cigarette flavors from retail stores—mango, fruit, crème, and cucumber—to help stop underage users from purchasing…
Cell phone batteries have been improved over the past few years, but explosions are still occurring. Recent incidents include a cell phone exploding on a school bus in Maryland, and cell phones causing explosions in trash cans and recycling bins. According to USA Today, 65…
The Make a Wish Foundation began back in 1980 because of one seven-year-old boy’s desire to be a police officer. Chris had leukemia, but he wanted to “catch bad guys” with U.S. Customs Agent Tommy Austin, a friend of the family. Austin took the issue…
Each year, about 2,640 babies are born with a cleft palate and 4,440 babies are born with a cleft lip (with or without a cleft palate), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Clefts that occur with no other birth defects are…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced plans to “modernize” its fast-track 510(k) approval process, which has been heavily criticized by some as allowing potentially defective medical devices onto the market before they are properly tested in clinical trials. The 510(k) process currently allows manufacturers…
Back in 1970, a handful of attorneys banded together to protect America’s land, water, and air from pollution and other harms. They called themselves the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Today the organization consists of nearly 500 attorneys, scientists, and other experts, along with 1.4…
