The Cat House on the Kings, California's largest no-cage, no-kill, and lifetime cat sanctuary based in Parlier, is urgently calling for donor support and new adoptive families. Cat House reports that this year there have been fewer adoptions even though the number of kittens, cats, and dogs (yes, Cat House...
The Surprising Sexual Politics of Nicole Kidman’s Kinky ‘Babygirl’
It has been a ghastly year for American women — at least those of us who are not looking forward to being ruled by a claque of cartoon chauvinists — but a pretty rich year for women in the movies. One of 2024’s biggest hits featured an unfairly maligned woman...
Why It’s Hard to Control What Gets Taught in Public Schools
But in a climate of extraordinary political scrutiny on the curriculum, many teachers say those efforts have little influence on how they run their classrooms. “I do business as usual,” said Derek Collins, a middle and high school social studies teacher in Roff, Oklahoma. And in El Paso, Texas, Daniel...
FDA Approves Weight-Loss Drug to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the weight-loss drug Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea. It is the first prescription medication approved to treat the common sleep disorder. The drug’s maker, Eli Lilly, announced that the agency authorized Zepbound for people with obesity and moderate to severe obstructive...
In a Calendar Rarity, Hanukkah Starts This Year on Christmas Day
Hanukkah, Judaism's eight-day Festival of Lights, begins this year on Christmas Day, which has only happened four times since 1900. For some rabbis, the intersection of the two religious holidays provides an auspicious occasion for interfaith engagement. "This can be a profound opportunity for learning and collaboration and togetherness," said...
A Look at the $100 Billion in Disaster Relief in the Government Spending Bill
WASHINGTON — Congress is allocating more than $100 billion in emergency aid designed to address extensive damage caused by disasters after this week's scramble to find consensus on a government spending bill. The money comes after back-to-back hurricanes — Helene and Milton — slammed into the southeastern United States this...
It’s Eggnog Season. The Boozy Beverage Dates Back to Medieval England but Remains a Holiday Hit
SAN FRANCISCO — At Scoma's Restaurant in San Francisco, this holiday season's batch of eggnog began 11 months ago. The process typically starts in late January, just after the previous year's celebrations are over. Nearly a thousand egg yolks, gallons upon gallons of heavy cream and roughly $1,000 worth of...
9-Year-Old Among 5 Killed in Christmas Market Attack in Germany
MAGDEBURG, Germany — A 9-year-old was among five people killed when a Saudi doctor drove into a Christmas market teeming with holiday shoppers in the German city of Magdeburg, an official said Saturday, as people mourned the victims and their shaken sense of security. City official Ronni Krug said he...
Biden Signs Bill That Averts Government Shutdown, and Brings a Close to Days of Washington Upheaval
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a bill into law Saturday that averts a government shutdown, bringing a final close to days of upheaval after Congress approved a temporary funding plan just past the deadline and refused President-elect Donald Trump's core debt demands in the package. The deal funds the...
This French Bulldog Is So Fetch: Meet Toaster Strudel
Toaster Strudel, a 3-to-4-year-old French bulldog, isn’t your average pup. This bundle of joy has a personality as vibrant as her name. With a happy-go-lucky demeanor and a love for people and other dogs, she charms everyone she meets — even if her potty-training skills are still a work in...