There’s No Undoing Tech’s Great Rewiring of Childhood

The book currently topping the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list is The Anxious Generation, a jeremiad against social media and its impact on young people. Its thesis is that apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have unleashed an epidemic of mental illness among children, preteens, and teenagers. Immediate and extreme measures are required to … Read more

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber are expecting a baby, renew their vows

NEW YORK — Cue up his 2010 megahit “Baby.” Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber (nee Baldwin) are expecting their first child together — and have renewed their vows. A representative for Hailey Bieber confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the model is just over six months pregnant. The couple announced the news on … Read more

It started with a tweet. What if Harry Potter attended an HBCU? Now it’s a book series

It all began with a post on Twitter. It was 2020 during the height of the pandemic and LaDarrion Williams was thinking about the lack of diversity in the fantasy genre. He proposed: “What if Harry Potter went to am HBCU in the South?” “Growing up, I watched ‘Twilight,’ I watched ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘Divergent’ … Read more

3 stress-management tips for parents, from experts

The word “burnout” is usually associated with career-related stress. But, the often-invisible work of parenting can take just as much of a toll on one’s mental health as a paid job. In fact, 62% of parents feel burned out by their responsibilities as a parent, according to a new survey by The Ohio State University … Read more

With a vest and a voice, helpers escort kids through San Francisco’s broken Tenderloin streets

SAN FRANCISCO — Wearing a bright safety vest with the words “Safe Passage” on the back, Tatiana Alabsi strides through San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood to its only public elementary school, navigating broken bottles and stained sleeping bags along tired streets that occasionally reek of urine. Along the way in one of America’s most notorious neighborhoods, … Read more

A senior UN official says northern Gaza is now in ‘full-blown famine’

WASHINGTON — A top U.N. official said Friday that hard-hit northern Gaza was now in “full-blown famine” after more than six months of war between Israel and Hamas and severe Israeli restrictions on food deliveries to the Palestinian territory. Cindy McCain, the American director of the U.N. World Food Program, became the most prominent international … Read more

Selling weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to minors in New York is now illegal

ALBANY, N.Y. — It’s now illegal to sell weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to minors in New York, under a first-in-the-nation law that went into effect this week. Experts say loose federal regulation of dietary supplements has resulted in these products sometimes including unapproved ingredients, like steroids and heavy metals, putting kids at risk. The U.S. … Read more

Mental illness now ‘part and parcel of growing up’ new report shows

Anxiety, self harm and eating disorders are now ‘part and parcel of growing up’ a leading expert warns at the launch of a new report highlighting the scale of mental illness among youngsters. The analysis, released last week, reveals up to one in five 13-14 year olds has a probable eating disorder, and one in … Read more

Chicago appeals court rejects R. Kelly ‘s challenge of 20-year sentence

CHICAGO — The singer R. Kelly was correctly sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex convictions in Chicago, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. Jurors in 2022 convicted the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, on three charges of producing child porn and three charges of enticement of minors for sex. … Read more

John Lithgow takes on the role of the new kid in school for a PBS special celebrating arts education

At 78, John Lithgow’s acting career is not slowing down. He appeared in the best picture nominee “Killers of the Flower Moon” and starred with Jeff Bridges in the FX series “The Old Man.” Recently, the two-time Academy Award nominee and multiple Emmy, Tony and Golden Globes-winning actor played the new kid in school. He … Read more