News

The upshot from a study of more than 75,000 low-risk births is that "childbirth in the United States is very safe regardless of where you decide to do it," says Dr. Michael Greene, who directs obstetrics at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Giving Birth Outside A Hospital Is A Little Riskier For The Baby

6:29pm December 30, 2015

by Rob Stein

A big study finds the risk that the baby will die soon after delivery is twice as high if the delivery was planned for home or a birthing center versus the hospital, but such deaths are very rare.

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National

Chicago Mayor Announces More Tasers, Training For Police

6:15pm December 30, 2015

by Laura Wagner

Rahm Emanuel outlined the changes as activists continue to call for the mayor's resignation after yet another fatal shooting involving police over the weekend.

Cage-free chickens in a barn near Hershey, Pa., get to roam and perch on steel rods (but they don't go outside). In September, McDonald's said it would buy only cage-free eggs, inspiring several other food companies to follow suit.

Science

The Year In Eggs: Everyone's Going Cage-Free, Except Supermarkets

5:21pm December 30, 2015

by Eliza Barclay

Egg producers who for years said they couldn't give up cages for egg-laying hens made the switch to cage-free in 2015. Big egg buyers, including McDonald's, Nestle and Subway, made commitments, too.

Science

VIDEO: Meet The Bots That Beat The Obstacles

5:00pm December 30, 2015

by Merrit Kennedy

A robot unveiled by Disney researchers can drive up vertical surfaces. Other machines pushing boundaries: a bot that can jump on water without sinking and a bot that flies like a bird.

A veiled woman and a man embrace in a painting at the recent art exhibition "LoudArt," an annual event in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. The exhibit, curated by a woman, often challenges conservative traditions in the kingdom.

World News

In Ways Big And Small, Saudi Arabian Women Are 'Pushing Normal'

4:44pm December 30, 2015

by Deborah Amos

It can be a provocative art show. Or teenagers going out for a walk. By law and tradition, Saudi women still face many restrictions. But they keep stretching the boundaries and the pace is picking up.

Pa. Court: Unconstitutional To Bar Employment Due To Criminal Record

4:34pm December 30, 2015

by Carrie Johnson

A state law that prevents convicted criminals from getting full-time jobs in nursing homes or long-term-care facilities is unconstitutional, the Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania ruled.

Submerged roads and houses are seen after several days of heavy rain led to flooding, in an aerial view over Union, Missouri, on Tuesday.

National

'Dangerous' Missouri Flooding Expected To Worsen

3:36pm December 30, 2015

by Laura Wagner

Mississippi River Valley flooding has already caused the deaths of at least 18 people in Missouri and Illinois. The water is expected to rise to an all-time high, according to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

Rio lifeguards Gustavo Melich (from left), Commander Fernando Santos and Maj. Felipe Puell on Copacabana Beach. The lifeguards say they are always busy, but never more so than on New Year's Eve.

World News

For Rio's Lifeguards, New Year's Means Hordes Of Drunken Swimmers

2:50pm December 30, 2015

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Some 2 million revelers celebrate New Year's Eve on Copacabana Beach every year, and excessive drinking doesn't improve their ability to swim.

People sample the Oculus-made Samsung Gear VR Virtually Reality headset Sept. 24 in Hollywood, Calif., at the Oculus Connect 2 event.

Economy

Is 2016 The Year Virtual Reality Finally Goes Mainstream?

1:42pm December 30, 2015

by Laura Sydell

Three different companies are bringing VR headsets to market in 2016, and some content companies have made major investments in the technology.

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National

Cosby Charged With Felony Sexual Assault In Philadelphia-Area Case

12:45pm December 30, 2015

Bill Cosby has faced numerous civil suits from dozens of women over the years, but this is the first criminal charge. The statute of limitations in the 2004 case was set to expire in January.

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