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Why medical marijuana in Pennsylvania is some of the most costly in the U.S.
PHILADELPHIA — Bill Cobb uses medical marijuana to treat PTSD and chronic back pain. “I’m a 50-year-old Black man who’s been a civil rights worker,” said Cobb, now a criminal-justice activist in Philadelphia. “I smoke to have my brain slow down. But to be honest, I also smoke because I enjoy it.” Alleviating his physical and mental pain is difficult when he feels another sting: His doctor-recommended medicine is not covered by insurance. He pays out of pocket — as much as $120 a week. “It’s way too expensive,” Cobb said. “It’s ridiculous.” Other marijuana users in Pennsylvania agree. Surveys s...
The Philadelphia Inquirer
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‘Educators hurt when their students are hurting’: College faculty experience rising rates of stress, burnout due to COVID-19
PHILADELPHIA – When Temple University transitioned from in-person classes to virtual in the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Wargo knew immediately that he had to reassess his goals for what he wanted his students to accomplish. As virtual classes continued into the fall, Wargo, an associate professor of economics, tried to capture the atmosphere of an in-person classroom to the best of his ability — using icebreaker questions at the beginning of the semester to engage freshmen and assigning students to Zoom breakout rooms for small discussions. But it has been difficult to recr...
The Philadelphia Inquirer
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Auto review: Ford Mustang Mach-E goes toe-to-hoof with Tesla Model Y
A 1910-era Model T sits on a farm just off North Territorial Road outside Unadilla, Mich. I pulled my battery-powered 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E alongside for a picture. A century ago the Model T buried its electric-car competition with superior range and affordability — and revolutionized 20th-century transportation. At the dawn of the 21st century, the Mach-E SUV wants to bring EVs back from the dead. To achieve its goal, the Mach-E not only must prove itself superior to more affordable gas-powered Ford sport-utilities — it also has to catch the Tesla Model Y. Silicon Valley's EV king delibera...
The Detroit News
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Mental health issues more likely to affect communities of color during the holidays: 'This is the time where people can bottom out'
CHICAGO — For Listiner Martinez, the holiday season never brought feelings of merriment. Coming from an abusive home, she said, she never really celebrated the holidays. Martinez said she tried to move past that feeling when she had children, but sadness around the holidays still lingers.“I typically look forward to when the holidays are over with,” said the West Ridge mom of three who has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and seasonal affective disorder — a mood disorder that occurs at the same time each year. Diet and exercise are tools Martinez uses in her mental health journey, but s...
Chicago Tribune