Sean Salai
Articles by Sean Salai
Consumers blame corporate ‘greedflation’ as soaring prices help companies rake in record profits
Companies say they've raised prices in the COVID era to keep up with soaring production costs. But new research shows most consumers believe they are jacking them up more than necessary. Published April 25, 2023
Parents challenge books in record numbers, American Library Association report says
Parents challenged books in school libraries and classrooms in record numbers for the second straight year, with one highly contentious work on LGBTQ identity bearing the brunt of conservatives' wrath. Published April 25, 2023
Rising oil prices drive support for nuclear energy to decade high: Gallup
Rising oil prices have increased support for nuclear energy to its highest level in a decade of Gallup polling. Published April 25, 2023
FDA approves first ‘smart crib’ for babies
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first "smart bassinet" whose manufacturer says it reduces safety risks for infants through automated rocking that keeps them flat on their backs. Published April 21, 2023
Gen Z dumps smartphones for dumbphones to escape screen addiction
At age 17, Davida Rimm-Kaufman gave up her smartphone to finish high school with a so-called dumbphone, worried that an "extreme addiction" to social media was making her stressed and sad. Published April 21, 2023
George Floyd’s death a pivotal point in ‘cancel culture,’ campus speech censure started to spike
The 2020 murder of George Floyd sparked a dramatic increase in efforts to punish college professors, scholars and speakers for "controversial speech" with petitions, sanctions and firings, according to a free speech advocacy group. Published April 20, 2023
Authorities see surge in fake ‘swatting’ calls about college shootings
Nearly two dozen colleges have reported fake active shooter calls in recent weeks, with 10 such incidents reported April 13. Published April 20, 2023
Colleges push 3-year degrees as enrollments fall, costs rise
A small number of colleges are experimenting with three-year baccalaureate programs as an alternative to traditional four-year degrees amid rising tuition and declining enrollment. Published April 20, 2023
33.8 million adults in U.S. lacked dependable access to food, water in 2021, CDC says
About 33.8 million U.S. adults lacked consistent, dependable access to adequate food and water in 2021, according to federal data released Thursday. Published April 20, 2023
Therapists warn against ‘learned helplessness’ of COVID isolation
Mental health experts are warning that the prolonged isolation of pandemic lockdowns has prompted many Americans to adopt a coping strategy frequently used by drug and alcohol abusers. Published April 20, 2023
D.C. air gets an ‘F’ from American Lung Association
An annual report card from the American Lung Association gives the air quality in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington area an "F" grade for smog and says soot also worsened. Published April 19, 2023
Symposium focuses on obstacles for Black athletes on college scholarships
Former collegiate athletic stars discussed Tuesday the struggles many Black scholarship athletes in Division I college basketball and football face in graduating with a degree. Published April 18, 2023
Anti-inflammatory steroid effective in severe COVID cases: Study
COVID-19 patients who took the anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone while hooked up to oxygen at a hospital had "significantly reduced" odds of dying there or going into hospice care, a study has found. Published April 17, 2023
ChatGPT safe from cheating, contend ed tech firms; teachers have doubts
Two leading education technology companies have released products claiming to make the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT safe from academic dishonesty -- but teachers are not so sure. Published April 14, 2023
Utah first, New York last in economists’ ranking of business-friendly states
Utah ranked as the best state for businesses for the 16th straight year in an annual conservative economic forecast this week, with New York ranking dead last. Published April 14, 2023
Conservative students sue to end Texas State University speech code
Three conservative students have sued Texas State University in federal court, claiming a campus speech code suppresses their freedom to dissent on topics ranging from transgender athletes to affirmative action. Published April 14, 2023
COVID-19 burnout prompts exodus of nurses from workforce
More than 100,000 registered nurses have quit during the past two years due to COVID-related burnout, and one-fifth of the rest plan to leave by 2027, according to an industry survey released Thursday. Published April 13, 2023
Wives catching up with husbands as breadwinners: Survey
Wives are catching up to husbands as the primary breadwinners in marriages but men still have the edge in most households, the Pew Research Center reported Thursday. Published April 13, 2023
Suicides jumped in 2021 after two-year decline, CDC reports
The national suicide rate jumped in 2021 after declining the previous two years and the final count fell just shy of a two-decade high, according to government figures released Thursday. Published April 13, 2023
More than four in 10 ‘unequivocally’ not planning to buy electric cars, Gallup finds
A second national poll in two days has found significant resistance among American consumers to the big switch from gas to electric-powered cars and trucks in their driveways. Published April 12, 2023
