COVID-19 pandemic

Drug possession is a crime in Oregon once again as law rolling back decriminalization takes effect

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Drug possession is a crime in Oregon once again as law rolling back decriminalization takes effect

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon’s first-in-the-nation experiment with drug decriminalization is coming to an end Sunday, when possessing small amounts of hard drugs will once again become a crime. The Democratic-controlled Legislature passed the recriminalization law in March, overhauling a measure approved by 58% of voters in 2020 that made possessing illicit drugs like heroin punishable … Read more

Opera Philadelphia cuts all tickets to $11 in ‘pick your price’ model, hoping to widen audience

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Opera Philadelphia cuts all tickets to in ‘pick your price’ model, hoping to widen audience

Opera Philadelphia is lowering all tickets to $11 under new general director Anthony Roth Costanzo, establishing a “pick your price” model aimed at widening the company’s audience. Costanzo announced Tuesday the company has raised $7 million since June 1 when he replaced David Devan, who retired after 13 seasons. The money addressed debt and enabled … Read more

North Carolina court says speedway can sue top health official over COVID-19 closure

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Opera Philadelphia cuts all tickets to in ‘pick your price’ model, hoping to widen audience

RALEIGH, N.C. — RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina racetrack shuttered briefly for defying state gathering limits during the pandemic can sue the top health regulator on allegations that Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration violated the constitutional rights of its operators by trying to make an example out of it, the state Supreme Court ruled … Read more

Did Taylor Swift create a new era for food bank donations?

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Did Taylor Swift create a new era for food bank donations?

Ahead of Taylor Swift’s July 14, 2023, concert in Denver, Aditi Desai, chief marketing officer at the Food Bank of the Rockies, got an unusual call. The billionaire pop star wanted to donate tens of thousands of meals to the nonprofit — a philanthropic effort she had repeated, much like her favorite songs, as she … Read more

Dr. Fauci was hospitalized with West Nile virus and is now recovering at home, a spokesperson says

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Dr. Fauci was hospitalized with West Nile virus and is now recovering at home, a spokesperson says

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, spent time in the hospital after being infected with West Nile virus and is now recovering at home, a spokesperson confirmed Saturday. Fauci is expected to make a full recovery, the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. West Nile virus is … Read more

Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost

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Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost

WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — On the heels of a summer wave of COVID-19 cases, Americans will be able to get free virus test kits mailed to their homes, starting in late September. U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens, according to the … Read more

FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines, shots should be available in days

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FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines, shots should be available in days

WASHINGTON — U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, shots designed to more closely target recent virus strains — and hopefully whatever variants cause trouble this winter, too. With the Food and Drug Administration’s clearance, Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects its modified … Read more

Got cold symptoms? Here’s when kids should take a sick day from school

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Got cold symptoms? Here’s when kids should take a sick day from school

PHOENIX — As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school? School absences surged during the pandemic and have yet to recover. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, … Read more

COVID-19 is on the upswing in the US

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Opera Philadelphia cuts all tickets to in ‘pick your price’ model, hoping to widen audience

COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests it’s on the upswing around the country. “We’ve seen these summer increases every summer that COVID-19 has been with us,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Johns Hopkins University infectious disease physician. “What’s different about these cases this summer vs. prior … Read more

Mongolia is in the tourism spotlight and making it easier to visit. Reindeer sledding, anyone?

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Mongolia is in the tourism spotlight and making it easier to visit. Reindeer sledding, anyone?

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — With its reindeer sleigh rides, camel racing and stunning landscapes with room to roam, Mongolia is hoping to woo visitors who are truly looking to get away from it all. Like most countries, its tourism industry was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has launched a “Welcome to MonGOlia” campaign to … Read more