Why the government's slow move to appeal the mask decision may be a legal strategy One law professor has a theory about the Justice Department's slow response — and it all goes back to a case involving "heavy knitted underwear" from the 1940s. Selena Simmons-Duffin
More states are restricting the shackling of pregnant inmates, but it still occurs Nearly 40 states ban the practice medical experts say is dangerous for pregnant inmates and fetuses. But many of those states have exceptions for public safety, and others have no laws at all. Joe Hernandez
These airlines are letting passengers banned for mask violations back on planes The cases will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the company. Here's a look at where each of the major U.S. airlines stands. Jonathan Franklin
Why the CDC issued an alert on liver damage in children A cluster of children in Alabama were found to have liver damage. Dustin Jones
Battle over CDC's powers goes far beyond travel mask mandate A federal judge's decision to strike down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's mask mandate for travelers is only the latest in a series of challenges that seek to rein in the agency. Pien Huang
A Palestinian man's request to leave Gaza for surgery was a matter of life and death A Palestinian man in Gaza gets a glimmer of hope for treatment for his heart condition when Israel grants him a permit to travel to seek care in the West Bank. Daniel Estrin
Judge temporarily blocks Kentucky's new abortion ban Abortion has been unavailable in Kentucky for more than a week, after a new state law took effect that puts layers of new requirements on providers. Sarah McCammon
Checking the Covid risk meter Covid cases are creeping up in King County, and our testing infrastructure is getting worse at detecting them. Just how worried should we be? Clare McGrane
Drug overdose deaths are at a record high. Here's what the White House plans to do Harm reduction is one of four policies the Biden administration says must be immediately implemented in order to address the record high number of overdose deaths. Martha Bebinger
More than 137 million Americans live in areas with poor air quality, report finds The rising number of fires hamper decades of environmental efforts, and over 40% of Americans — more than 137 million people — live in places with poor air quality, a new report says. Dustin Jones
