A new program in Arizona aims to ease the dental workforce shortage by training assistants to handle basic cleanings—but the rules shut out graduates from many local schools. A recent law created the Oral Preventive Assistant role, allowing workers to clean teeth above the gum line under a dentist’s
Maine’s bottle bill has kept millions of bottles out of trash for decades. It also built a system where people can return empty containers and get money back. The program costs a lot. Every year the state must collect, sort and process about 850 million containers. That work costs more than $70 mil
California lawmakers are thinking about a new online list that would name people who have been found guilty of serious animal cruelty. The idea is to give shelters, rescue groups and everyday citizens a way to spot people who might still harm animals. The plan would share details like the offender’s
Burkina Faso’s military head, Ibrahim Traore, has made it clear that he sees no immediate future for elections in his country. Speaking to reporters last week, he bluntly stated that the idea of democracy isn’t practical right now, calling it something the nation "needs to forget about. " His reason
The sharp rise in fentanyl poisonings among young children in Washington shows a growing danger that isn’t being addressed fast enough. Kids exploring their surroundings can easily come across the drug when adults have it in the home. While fentanyl is already a major cause of accidental deaths, chi
This week, a quiet meeting between big banks and crypto companies could shape how Americans use digital money next year. A small team will review a new Senate proposal that tries to balance two very different worlds: traditional finance and the fast-moving crypto market. The debate isn’t about wheth
During Ramadan, Muslim women fast from sunrise to sunset for almost a month. This tradition is mostly known for its spiritual meaning, but it also affects their bodies in noticeable ways. Research now looks closely at how these changes might impact women’s reproductive health. Studies show that fas
Taiwan is set to reinforce its military presence on the Pratas Islands, a group of reefs located at the northern edge of the South China Sea. The islands lie more than 400 kilometres from Taiwan’s main coast, making them a potential target for Chinese forces. Because the Pratas are only lightly g
Zoos have long been a point of debate. Some people see them as cruel, others view them as important for saving species. The picture is more complex than it first appears. Recent changes in many zoos have shifted their focus from simply displaying animals to actively protecting endangered species.
The Senate is pushing a bill that promises to give developers of decentralized finance tools the strongest legal protection yet. A senator explained that recent tweaks to the draft will make it a powerful safeguard for those who build non‑custodial software. The changes are still hidden from the pub
