Jacob Turcotte

1 week ago | csmonitor.com | Troy Sambajon |Jacob Turcotte

The United States is seeing a sudden drop in overdose deaths. The country saw a 25.7% decline in drug overdose deaths in 2024 compared with the previous year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was the lowest number of overdose deaths in a 12-month period since 2020. Some 46 states reported a decline from 2023 to 2024. Virginia observed the most drastic reduction in deaths – a 41.6% decline.

2 months ago | csmonitor.com | Laurent Belsie |Jacob Turcotte |Sara Miller Llana |Whitney Eulich

With the self-assurance of an entrepreneur and the bluff of a big-time poker player, President Donald Trump inaugurated a new and uncertain era in U.S. trade relations this week. Hours before he was to initiate punishing 25% tariffs on America’s two largest trading partners, Mr. Trump agreed to a one-month delay. No trade missions to hash out details. Instead, the president relied on direct one-to-one calls with the leaders of Mexico and Canada to seal deals.

2 months ago | csmonitor.com | Jackie Valley |Jacob Turcotte

America’s struggling students have fallen further behind in math and reading. The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the “nation’s report card,” underscore the steep challenges that remain nearly five years after the pandemic disrupted learning for a generation of children. By and large, the results released Wednesday paint a grim portrait of academic recovery since the pandemic, especially in reading.

Jan 21, 2025 | csmonitor.com | Linda Feldmann |Jacob Turcotte

With the inauguration of the nation’s 47th president, Americans prepare for the promises and perils of Trump 2.0.

Jan 16, 2025 | csmonitor.com | Stephen Humphries |Jacob Turcotte

The “loneliness epidemic” has reached a new phase: One in 6 U.S. adults now feels socially isolated all or most of the time, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center. What surprised Pew researchers was who feels the most lonely. Why We Wrote ThisA story focused onAmericans now spend more time alone. Is isolation the price of technological convenience? One might imagine that older Americans are more isolated than young people. Turns out, the opposite is true.