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Marijuana: Pot use declines worldwide, but not in the USMarijuana legalization for recreational as well as medical purposes is growing in the US. A new UN report raises warning flags, especially for young or regular users.
US Census: Youth diversity hits all-time highNever has America's under-18 population been more racially and ethnically diverse, new census data show. A bare majority of children and youths are white, compared with 62.6 percent for the general population.
On social issues, America edges steadily leftThe tendency among Americans to be more conservative on social issues is shifting, mainly because of changing attitudes among Democrats and younger people.
Most important summer activity for kids? Not reading, many parents say.Although 83 percent of parents say it is very or extremely important that their children read this summer, only 17 percent say it is the most important activity, a new survey finds. Playing outside scores higher.
O.J. Simpson car chase: how it foreshadowed a new media landscapeTwenty years ago Tuesday night, 95 million Americans watched a white Ford Bronco carrying O.J. Simpson move slowly along California streets and freeways. It essentially started a new television era.
Post-Casey Kasem, what is 'Top 40' music, exactly?Casey Kasem's 'American Top 40' marked an America united by pop music in the era of commercial radio. But with the Internet, what constitutes a hit today is elusive.
Brooklyn Bridge gun control march: Could pushback against gun culture be working?Gun control advocates marched in New York City Saturday, part of the effort to take on America’s gun culture and the deadly shootings happening daily in the United States.- Progress WatchTeen alcohol use, sexual activity, and smoking decreasing, CDC findsThe percentage of students who had smoked cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days was 15.7 percent, the lowest figure since tracking began in 1991, according to the CDC.
Cover StoryRise of the 'flex' economyThe American labor force is undergoing a fundamental shift as more people become freelancers, contract workers, and part-timers – bringing new flexibility but also new insecurities.
Being gay: Upbringing or born that way?As rapid and wide-spread advances are being made in gay rights, including same-sex marriage, Americans remain divided over whether homosexuality is present before birth or acquired.- Food stamp soda study: Less soda, less obesityFood stamp soda study: A Stanford University study showed that banning the use of food stamps to buy soda, would reduce obesity. But others say that food stamp recipients would switch to cash to buy soda.
Slender Man stabbings: Why are we so fascinated by horror?Police say a gruesome attack by 12-year-old girls on a friend was to please the Slender Man – a mythical, online monster linked to a horror site. His popularity touches on deeper questions about why people embrace the disturbing.
FBI manhunt via social media? Citizen sleuthing is a double-edged sword.A cache of explosives in a San Francisco apartment prompts an FBI warning and request for help. The missing man posts an apology to friends. The public responds to all of it, posting and Tweeting.
‘Shoulder-shaming’ girls at Utah high school: Why the big coverup?Officials at a Utah high school added Photoshopped clothing to cover bare clavicles and shoulders in the yearbook photos of at least seven girls, bringing tears and charges of misogyny.
Drugs for treating heroin users: a new abuse problem in the making?Evidence is mounting that certain drugs used to treat heroin users are themselves being sold on the streets – and may even be a 'gateway' to heroin or opioid use. As some experts herald their value for treating addiction, others ask if the 'cure' is making things worse.
Santa Barbara killings: Is the Hollywood debate worth having again?While trying to draw a straight line between Hollywood and violence is simplistic and potentially counter-productive, say some experts, it is also important not to dismiss the relationship out of hand.- 'Slut-shaming': When women sling the word, it’s often about status, not sexWhile girls learn early how hurtful and damaging the term can be, often it's women who wield the weaponry of 'slut-shaming,' though for complex reasons, a new study says.
Progress WatchHomelessness declines as new thinking fuels 'giant untold success'Homelessness in America has declined 17 percent since 2005 as states reverse the old prevailing wisdom. Now, moving into a home can be the first step off the streets, not the last.
Support for same-sex marriage reaches a 'tipping point'Polls now show unwavering majority support for same-sex marriage in the United States as federal judges rule against state bans on such unions, a trend particularly popular among younger Americans.
New Boy Scout boss Robert Gates says scouts need a 'blunt talk' about homosexualityFormer Defense Secretary Robert Gates has taken over as head of Boy Scouts of America at a time when scout enrollment is dropping and the organization faces challenges about gay rights.
