A study published in the American Heart Journal found that sixth graders who ate school lunches had a significantly higher risk of obesity than those who brought food from home. The research linked school meals—often high in sugar, fat, and low-cost starches like corn and potatoes—to a 29% increased obesity risk, higher than the risk from excessive screen time. In...
Penn State Scandal: Court Cases Move Forward After Key Testimony (2011)
This 2011 ASL news video covers court proceedings tied to the Penn State University scandal. Two senior administrators faced charges for perjury and failing to report child sexual abuse connected to allegations against Jerry Sandusky. Testimony from a former coach described reporting what he witnessed to university leadership, leading a judge to allow the cases to move forward. Sandusky pleaded...
Deadly Hospital Fire in Kolkata: Safety Failures and Tragedy (2011)
This 2011 ASL news video reports on a deadly hospital fire in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). A basement fire at the Advanced Medical Research Institute filled the sealed building with smoke, trapping patients and leading to mass suffocation. Delayed emergency response, equipment failures, and lack of staff training contributed to 94 deaths. Investigations later led to arrests and raised serious questions...
Congress Hits Pause: Payroll Tax Cut & Unemployment Benefits Extended—Again (2011)
This 2011 ASL news video explains how Congress temporarily extended unemployment benefits and the payroll tax cut after failing to reach a long-term budget agreement. The short-term deal also delayed planned Medicare payment cuts to doctors. President Obama signed the bill, with lawmakers set to revisit the issue again in January—highlighting a recurring cycle in U.S. budget negotiations. ASL Receptive...
