Health The flu is still going around Washington. It’s not too late to get your shot To date, at least 296 people in Washington state have died of the flu since the fall. But it’s not too late to get the shot if you haven’t already. Eilís O'Neill
Politics In new assessment, Trump team ranks fentanyl as a top threat to U.S. Drug deaths are declining but the Trump administration's intelligence team has issued a new report describing street fentanyl as a top threat to the U.S. Brian Mann
Health As legalized sports betting grows, experts are concerned about lack of addiction treatment Gambling is now widely legal: 38 states have adopted the practice since the Supreme Court allowed for legalized sports betting outside of Nevada in 2018. But experts warn there is not enough treatment and intervention for people who struggle with problem gambling. Play AudioListen 4 mins
Science Lavender, citrus and candy: weed's signature aroma changes with the times A tour of a grow facility in Maryland reveals the wide variety of scents from different cannabis strains. Pien Huang
Health Skin bleaching is terribly popular — and takes a terrible toll The government in Nigeria is warning about the health risks of skin lightening, where potent chemicals can thin and damage skin. It's a booming business in that country and others. Emmanuel Akinwotu Play AudioListen 5 mins
Health Pete Marocco tried to upend USAID in 2020 -- and failed. In 2025, he dismantled it This Trump administration official was a key figure in the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development — and will help set the agenda for the future of foreign aid. Fatma Tanis
Politics Trump's back-to-office order will hurt veterans, VA docs and therapists say The Department of Veterans Affairs embraced telehealth, especially for mental health care, in recent years. Now, staffers hired to give therapy and other health care remotely are ordered to do it from offices lacking privacy, VA clinicians told NPR. Katia Riddle Play AudioListen 4 mins
Science Feeling scatterbrained? 5 ways to focus your attention What would you do if you had more hours in a day? Here's how to carve out time for your interests and passions — even when you have a lot of responsibilities. Life Kit Malaka Gharib Play AudioListen 19 mins
Health How a rise in vaccine skepticism could affect our preparedness for the next pandemic Americans have become more polarized about vaccines since the COVID-19 pandemic began. That makes it harder to combat public health threats. Play AudioListen 4 mins
Health Reporter's notebook: 8 theories why fentanyl deaths are plummeting Some 30,000 fewer people are dying every year in the U.S. from fentanyl and other street drugs. This shift has stunned addiction experts, reversing decades of rising death. Brian Mann
