George Zapo

A non-profit consumer group recently released a report warning parents to check for hazardous toys. The report is based on tests of more than 200 toys purchased at toy, drug, and dollar stores. Highlights of the 30th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report from the non-profit group called U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (PIRG) […]

People trying to lose weight face a variety of challenges. Weight loss experts and people who have done it before offer their ideas to stay on track, make exercise easier, cut calories, plus more. Some are proven safe and effective methods, and others are somewhat surprising, and if trying to lose a lot of weight […]

A Perdue Farms worker was arrested and charged with four felony counts of cruelty to animals. A recent Mercy For Animals investigation into Perdue Farms uncovered disturbing and heartbreaking cruelty to animals, including workers throwing chickens against the walls, violently kicking the birds, and stomping the chickens to death. Mercy For Animals was able to […]

Having a pet dog in the home helps in reducing childhood anxiety, according to research recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. Public Health Service reports that pet dogs have been linked with health benefits for adults. The CDC decided to see if there’s any evidence whether pet dogs […]

The number of women dying because of pregnancy and childbirth is going up in the United States. One of the wealthiest nations on earth is now one of only eight countries — including South Sudan and Afghanistan — where the mortality rate for American mothers is increasing. Why is giving birth in the U.S. more […]

Legoland donated $10,000 to the Church of Scientology’s Youth for Human Rights group, on behalf of actress Jenna Elfman. In exchange for a Christmas tree lighting appearance by film and television actress Jenna Elfman, Lego donated the money to the Scientology group in honor of the celebrity. At the gala event, Jenna Elfman said Legoland […]

Walnuts considerably improved diet quality, the inner lining of blood vessels, and cholesterol levels in people who participated in a recent study. Walnuts were able to achieve these improvements without negatively affecting blood pressure or glucose levels in individuals who participated in the research. In a randomized trial, researchers found that when 112 study participants […]

Whether double dipping is a disgusting habit, or a serious food safety and health threat, intrigued a team of researchers at Clemson University. A group of undergraduates decided to design a series of experiments to find out just what happens when someone double-dips. Researchers set up experiments to see how much bacteria makes it from […]

Melinda Gates has become one of the most powerful individuals on earth whose primary focus is advocating for girls and women. The American businesswoman and philanthropist has a $41.3 billion endowment, and she can use it in just about any manner that she and her husband, Bill Gates, see fit. She intends to take full […]

The United States Air Force successfully completed a test of a nuclear gravity bomb at Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. The newly upgraded B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb completed its third and final test in the Nevada desert on October 20. After the U.S. Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) completed the test, […]

The Department of Justice announced that it had brought criminal charges against dietary supplement manufacturer USPlabs and arrested several of the firm’s corporate officers. The Justice Department’s actions resulted from a yearlong effort, which focused on the dietary supplement market that is causing increasing concern among health officials across the United States. Since November 2014, […]

Overuse of antibiotics in animal feed drastically interferes with doctors trying to treat life-threatening infections in young children, doctors warn. A report published in the November issue of American Academy of Pediatrics advises that giving antibiotics to healthy livestock, in an attempt to promote growth and prevent disease among livestock, is making antibiotic drugs ineffective […]

Tom Brady is having one of his best seasons ever, and the New England Patriots have a huge advantage in having him on their roster. Brady plans to play football for ten more years, but that isn’t the main reason the Patriots have an enormous advantage over other NFL teams; neither is Brady’s great performance […]

Anne Frank died 70 years ago at a German concentration camp called Bergen-Belsen. Anne, a 15-year-old Jewish girl, died at the prison after being arrested and after having spent years in hiding with her family and others to escape from the Nazis during World War II. In 1942, Anne Frank, her father Otto, mother Edith, […]

Young people across the United States are suing states and the federal government to push for more action on climate change. The youth say their generation will withstand the worst of global warming and that every level of government has an obligation to protect natural resources — including the atmosphere — as a public trust […]

Scientists using elevated levels of vitamin C were able to kill certain kinds of colorectal cancer cells, according to a new study. This breakthrough discovery suggests that scientists may be able to harness vitamin C to develop new cancer treatments. On Nov. 5, Science published this recent study on vitamin C cancer therapy conducted by […]

Thousands of TXU Energy customers are taking advantage of the utility company’s offer of free electricity at nighttime. The free overnight plan offered by TXU is just one of the more than 50 other retail electricity companies in Texas offering similar savings over the last three years. Energy companies are running aggressive campaigns, including radio […]

People who purchased apple cider from vendors at a fall festival in Illinois are encouraged to contact a local health department. Public health officials in two western Illinois counties say the number of people who became ill in this latest foodborne illness outbreak linked to apple cider has risen to 70 — nearly twice the […]

Horse fighting is a cruel and bloody sport most prevalent on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. At present, thousands of horses are involved in hundreds of fights on the major island, as well as other parts of the world. In a horse fight, two stallions are provoked to fight each other over […]

Tony Dorsett, the legendary Dallas Cowboys running back, was diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease. Dorsett has chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease that has been linked to dementia, depression, and to suicides of NFL players. In 2013, Tony Dorsett, the Heisman Trophy winner, as well as College and Pro Football Hall of Famer who […]

McDonald’s fired eight staff members for allegedly selling marijuana at the fast-food restaurant. Coworkers filed a report against eight of their fellow McDonald’s staff members, claiming they sold marijuana via the drive-thru window. The workers who purportedly were selling bags of marijuana at the drive-thru window cut up the cannabis and bagged it at the […]

Toyota announced that they have added artificial intelligence research and development to the company’s business objectives. On Friday, the Japanese auto manufacturer declared they initiated a five-year, $1 billion research and development effort with its center of operation to be located in the United States. Toyota’s plan will be one of the largest research laboratories […]

Two turkeys are seeking a presidential pardon from the White House. The big birds, who appeared in San Francisco on Friday, want clemency so they don’t end up on anyone’s dinner plate, not even for the President of the United States and his family. Two actors dressed as Secret Service agents are guarding the pair, […]

Mikhail Lesin, a prominent Russian millionaire with high-level ties to the Kremlin, was found dead inside a Washington hotel on Thursday. A Russian official and a senior U.S. official told ABC News the former head of media affairs for the Russian government had been staying at Dupont Circle Hotel when he was found dead. Mikhail […]

Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline, was forced to cancel hundreds of flights on Friday. On Saturday, the German airline warned that more interruptions for passengers might take place due to a number of flight attendant and cabin crew walkouts, which could possibly become the longest-ever labor union strike at the major airline carrier. Reuters reports Lufthansa […]

A major new report warns that children from good homes are at the same risk of sexual and online abuse as less fortunate children. Children who were never considered at risk of online abuse because of their stable family backgrounds and education level are now considered easy targets for pedophiles, just like young children in […]

By using a legitimate, state-licensed online pharmacy, people can safely order their medication on the internet and save money. Even if an individual is uninsured, he or she can buy medication prescribed by a doctor at a substantially lower cost than retail prices from a reputable online pharmacy. This is great news for people on […]

Researchers developed a groundbreaking technique that can detect different types of cancer at an early stage from a single drop of blood. Current cancer detection methods usually rely on scans and tissue biopsies. These types of methods are time consuming, complex, and very often quite expensive. For example, CT scans are only able to detect […]

Health care companies in the United States have been involved in acquisitions and mergers worth close to $270 billion in the first nine months of 2015. The health care merger frenzy involving insurers, hospitals groups, and drug makers is far more active in recent years, according to Mergermarket. For example, on Thursday, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his Security Council to evaluate Russia’s readiness to survive a nuclear, biological, or chemical disaster. In addition, Putin also told them to stockpile protective equipment if necessary. Putin gave specific orders during one of his regular meetings with the council – a group made up of the heads of Russia’s […]

Chevron Corp. is cutting close to 10 percent of its workforce and sharply trimming back its budget. On Friday, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Watson gave a modest view of an industry under pressure by low oil prices. Crude oil declined more than 55 percent since last year, and this descend is felt throughout […]

A Polish court on Friday rejected a U.S. request to extradite Oscar award-winning director Roman Polanski over a child sex-crime conviction. In 1977, French-Polish film director Roman Polanski was accused of six crimes, which included the rape of a person under the influence of drugs and molestation of a minor. Roman plea bargained, made an […]

Hundreds of health professionals participated in a die-in demonstration a few blocks from the United Nations in New York City Thursday evening. Each health worker carried a card with information about an individual medical professional killed in the recent airstrikes in Syria. Nearly 700 health workers have died since the Syrian civil war broke out […]

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen will be inducted in the team’s prestigious Ring of Fame Sunday night. A little more than 15 months after the Denver Broncos announced that CEO Pat Bowlen would have to cut back his involvement with the team because of Alzheimer’s disease, the Broncos are expected to spend a large majority […]

John Glenn made history in 1962 as the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. The astronaut and politician is also the oldest human to travel in space. On February 20, 1962, John Glenn piloted the Friendship 7 spacecraft, which was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. For nearly five hours, he orbited Earth three times. […]

ESPN was forced to pull its videos from YouTube because of the YouTube Red deal. Even though Disney, the parenting company of ESPN, has a deal with YouTube for its new subscription service, due to rights issues involving its content, the sports network is prohibited from participating. According to a report by TechCrunch, YouTube requires […]

Dr. Jane Goodall gave a speech promoting health, gender equality, and conservation Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Goodall, a renowned primatologist and conservationist, spoke to an audience at the U.S. Department of State’s Marshall Center and discussed the work and success of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in conserving environments, promoting healthy lives, and empowering women. The […]

Recent scientific evidence shows the historic bubonic plague originated more than 2,000 years earlier than previously thought. Researchers set up their search for the origin of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, an ancient bacterium responsible for killing millions of people in the second human pandemic or Black Death in Europe from 1347 to 1351, and discovered […]

Delaying kindergarten enrollment for one year shows significant mental health benefits for children, according to a recent study. Researchers found that a one-year delay in enrolling a child in kindergarten dramatically reduces inattention and hyperactivity at age seven. Researchers found that children who were held back from kindergarten for as little as one year showed […]

Subway struck a deal and settled one of the largest class-action lawsuits in United States history. On October 21, a federal judge in Milwaukee signed off on a preliminary resolution of several class-action lawsuits over allegations that Subway’s Footlong and Six-inch sandwiches measured less than advertised by the American fast food restaurant franchise. In one […]

First Lady Michelle Obama delivered an inspiring speech at Fortune’s ’50 Most Powerful Women’ Summit, in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. The First Lady asked a group of the world’s top business leaders to lend their support to educate girls around the world. Mrs. Obama noted that about 62 million girls do not attend school and […]

A St. Louis County circuit court judge declared a mistrial in a PCB lawsuit against Monsanto Company. According to the lawsuit, Monsanto was accused of being negligent in the production and marketing of PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, when the company was the primary U.S. manufacturer of PCBs from 1929 to 1977. The plaintiffs alleged that […]

Kelly Ripa was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. The honor coincides with her 15th year as host on Live! Earlier this year, the actress, talk show host, and television producer won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host. Kelly Ripa is best known as the co-host […]

Nightmares are normal, but when dreams result in intense anxiety or terror and recur often, they can become an unbearable sleep disorder. A nightmare is a dream that occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that results in feelings of extreme anxiety, strong fear, distress, or terror. This unwelcome experience usually occurs late in the […]

In recent months, new tax scam tricks and variations have materialized. Taxpayers are warned to remain on high alert and protect themselves against the increasing amount of fraudulent tactics tax scam artists use to trick people. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a consumer alert providing taxpayers with tips to protect themselves from tax scam […]

Albert Poland Jr. was caught up in the grip of a Jamaican phone scam. After an intense struggle, the 81-year-old husband, father, and retired Burlington hosiery factory quality-control manager took his life in the basement of his family home in Harriman, Tennessee. Albert left a suicide note telling his family not to spend much money […]

Kim Goldman says she is still coping with the not guilty verdicts that were read inside a Los Angeles County courtroom on October 3, 1995. Kim is the sister of the late Ron Goldman who was murdered alongside Nicole Brown Simpson more than 20 years ago. Ron Goldman was a 25-year-old waiter and aspiring model. […]

Teddy’s story is a heartwarming tribute to parents and a newborn that continues to inspire millions of people. When Jess Evans was 12 weeks pregnant with twin boys, doctors told her one of them was fatally ill with anencephaly – a rare birth defect that prevents brain and skull development. Even though Jess and Teddy’s […]

The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet remains at the Mayo Clinic for medical evaluation. The 80-year-old Buddhist spiritual leader went to the clinic for a routine annual checkup. However, Reuters reports he had to cancel plans to visit the United States in October at the advice of doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, […]

The murder case of Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his family has been reopened. On Wednesday, spokesperson Vladimir Markin of Russia’s Investigative Committee announced the exhumation plan and the committee’s intent to resume the investigation of the death of members of the Romanov family — the last Russian tsar, and four members of the family’s […]