POLICY CHANGE

Jun 14 2026POLITICS

Sweden Lowers Youth Crime Age to 14 as Violent Incidents Rise

Sweden is adjusting its legal stance on young offenders, lowering the age at which a child can be tried for serious crimes from 15 to 14. The change follows an earlier proposal that would have set the age at 13, which lawmakers rejected for lacking sufficient support. The new plan allows children ag

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Jun 10 2026OPINION

Mental Health in Crisis: Why Jails Aren't the Answer

People in San Diego County facing severe mental health episodes often end up in places they never should – ERs overcrowded with psychiatric cases or jail cells designed for punishment, not treatment. That's not just unlucky. It's a sign of a system that confuses sickness with crime. Crisis teams exi

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May 31 2026POLITICS

Where does America go when social science funding disappears?

Government money has long shaped what American researchers study. In 1945, President Truman wanted an agency that paid scientists to discover how the world works. That agency became the National Science Foundation. Today, one out of every ten federal research dollars for U. S. universities comes fro

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May 20 2026BUSINESS

Diversity Work Still Pays Off, Even if the Buzz Is Fading

In a recent gathering in Atlanta, two former top diversity officials talked about why companies should keep working on diverse and fair workplaces. They explained that the word “DEI” has become a hot topic, but the real goal is to help businesses thrive. One speaker said that the label can be

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May 06 2026HEALTH

Future of Healthcare: When Rules Slow Down Care

Insurers want to speed up the system by dropping approval checks for some treatments. One big player, UnitedHealthcare, plans to remove 30% of prior authorization rules by 2026. This means simpler access to outpatient operations, diagnostic tests, therapies, and chiropractic care. Currently only 2%

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Apr 30 2026HEALTH

New Deadlines for Medicaid Drug Pricing Plan Give Extra Time to Companies and States

Government health officials recently pushed back several important dates tied to a new policy that could lower prescription drug costs under Medicaid. Instead of finishing applications by late spring, drug manufacturers now have more than a month extra to join the program. The original deadline had

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Apr 21 2026HEALTH

Oregon’s Health Insurance Drop: Why Fewer People Are Signing Up

The Oregon Health Authority released its latest report showing that about 21, 000 fewer residents joined the state’s health insurance marketplace this year compared to last. The drop comes after a series of policy shifts that have made plans more expensive and harder to access. During open enrollme

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Apr 04 2026BUSINESS

Black Businesses Struggle as Texas Changes Rules, While Big Names Push Forward

Texas recently changed how it certifies minority-owned businesses, leaving over 15, 000 companies in limbo overnight. Before the change, these businesses could compete for state contracts worth billions. Now, most have lost their certification, forcing them to start from scratch. The shift came thro

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Mar 30 2026POLITICS

Medical School Curriculum Shift: A New Focus on Self‑Learning

The main accrediting body for U. S. medical schools has changed its teaching requirements for the 2027‑28 academic year. The new rules no longer explicitly ask students to study health disparities or the social forces that shape patient outcomes. Instead, they emphasize skills in independent l

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Mar 29 2026POLITICS

Rebuilding Youth Care in Maine: A Call to Act

The state’s newest plan for the Long Creek Youth Development Center keeps delaying real help for young people who need it. Instead of opening the doors to new programs, lawmakers have swapped a clear timeline for five years of “studies. ” This change means the center will stay stuck, without fres

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