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The federal government is reclassifying medical marijuana, categorizing it as a drug with potential medical benefits and less potential for harm. While this doesn't legalize marijuana nationally, it does open the door for further research into its effects. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

At a moment when there's a lot of political attention around questions of affordability, rising health care costs are a growing concern for many Americans. That's especially true for those who are worried about being able to afford insurance premiums after an expansion of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act expired. But they're not the only ones struggling with this. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Lena Dunham rapidly rose to fame more than a decade ago as the comedic force behind HBO's breakout hit, 'Girls.' In a new memoir, Dunham candidly, hilariously, and sometimes painfully explores how she balanced celebrity with her struggles with chronic illness, addiction, and trauma. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The U.S. fertility rate is at an all-time low, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers say this is part of a larger downward trend. Since 2007, the number of Americans having babies has dropped 23%, well below the replacement level, meaning not enough are being born to replace those who die. William Brangham discussed more with Brian Mann of NPR. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

More women are seeking treatment for menopause and perimenopause, driving a shortage of estrogen patches, one of the most commonly used forms of hormone therapy. Manufacturers are struggling to keep up with demand, leaving many to manage a range of difficult symptoms with little relief in sight. We hear from women impacted by the shortage and Stephanie Sy discusses more with Dr. Lauren Streicher. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Earlier this week, The Hershey Company announced that it is returning all of its classic brands to earlier milk and dark chocolate recipes. The move comes amid a growing backlash over the recipe changes and the use of chocolate alternatives in some of its candies. Deema Zein explores what's behind this latest battle in the chocolate wars. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

If you're under 50, it's likely that colorectal cancer isn't on your radar, but it should be. Once considered an older-age disease, rates are skyrocketing among young adults. Deema Zein spoke with two people diagnosed at an early age, and discussed the rise with Dr. Robin Mendelsohn, a gastroenterologist and co-director of the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancers. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

New York has become the 13th state, along with Washington, D.C., to legalize medically assisted suicide. More than a dozen other states are also considering legalizing the practice, which supporters call medical aid in dying. Stephanie Sy traveled to both coasts to reexamine an issue that has divided Americans along moral and political lines. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah has claimed more than 1,000 Lebanese lives, including 40 emergency workers. The latest victims include two young civil defense workers killed in Nabatieh, a town the Israel Defense Forces have placed under forced evacuation orders. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn and videographer Adrian Hartrick report. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Across the U.S. and around the world, coastal cities are grappling with rising seas and worsening floods. With 42 million people, Jakarta, Indonesia, is the world's most populated city. It's sinking rapidly as climate change and overdevelopment collide. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports for our series Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Dealing with grief and trauma can look different for everyone, and a group in Miami has found an unconventional way of helping people cope. Alessandro de Palma of Student Reporting Labs, the PBS News journalism training program, has the story. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The sauna industry in the U.S. is heating up. More health-conscious Americans are embracing this ancient Finnish tradition as a modern way to help reduce stress and promote wellness. Nowhere has the sauna culture taken root more deeply than in Minnesota. Kaomi Lee from Twin Cities PBS has the story. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Dr. Casey Means, the wellness influencer and ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is the president's nominee for surgeon general. As a prominent voice in the MAHA movement, some of her ideas, such as prioritizing natural foods, reducing pesticide use and exercise, are widely accepted. But she has been criticized for her views on vaccines and raw milk. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to scale back limits on toxic emissions from coal-burning power plants, clearing the way for them to emit more hazardous pollutants, such as mercury. Advocates are warning that rolling back limits could harm human health and drive up health care costs. Stephanie Sy discussed more with John Walke of the Natural Resources Defense Council. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Maurine Molach lost her son, David, in 2016 when he died by suicide. She is the co-founder of Parents for Safe Online Spaces, a coalition of families who have lost children to online harms and are bringing similar lawsuits. She is not a plaintiff in the case currently on trial. Ali Rogin spoke with Molach about social media's risks to children. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy