STDs continue to spread

U.S. researchers reported this week that the reluctance to talk about sex and protection has led to an increase in STD infections, especially among vulnerable teens.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections continue to spread in the United States, according to the latest statistics.

John Douglas, director of the division of sexually transmitted diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the U.S. has among the highest rates of STDs of any developed country in the world.

Hunger in the U.S. hits record high

This winter, more Americans than ever are expected to go hungry, based on a recent trend reported by the US Department of Agriculture.

This year, the amount of families struggling to put food on the table soared to an all time high since the Department of Agriculture began monitoring food insecurity 14 years ago.

13 million more Americans joined the ranks of people classified as food insecure; a number even larger than the most grim projections of increasing hunger in the country during the current economic recession.

Hate crime hits Puerto Rico

Over the weekend the brutalized body of gay teen George Steven Lopez Mercado was found by the side of a road in Puerto Rico.

The 19-year-old who was a well known figure of the gay community in Puerto Rico, was found on an isolated road in the city of Cayey, a mountain town in the central portion of the island.

National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week

The week of November 15th is National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. Organizations across the country have scheduled events across the country to bring greater understanding of the challenges that homeless individuals, families and children face daily.

How bad is the homelessness problem in the United States?

H1N1: Not gone yet

That’s what the CDC is saying. In fact, the updated figures are triple the estimates the CDC issued just last week.

According to the new numbers, about 4,000 Americans, including 540 children, have died of H1N1 flu, and 22 million people have been infected since April, when the novel flu virus first surfaced. Contrary to initial impressions, health officials insist the increase does not mean that the disease has suddenly become more deadly or severe.

A boy and his flag

Ten-year-old Will Phillips is making news for refusing to pledge allegiance in his school. His reasoning? Because he says he can’t pledge allegiance to a country that discriminates against gays:

"I've always tried to analyze things because I want to be lawyer," Will said. "I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all."