Laura Santhanam

Jan 23, 2025 | mississippivalleypublishing.com | Laura Santhanam

In the United States, deaths tied to excessive alcohol use rose 29 percent in just five years, according to federal data out this week, an increase that has alarmed experts and devastated many people who have lost loved ones. A study published this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated an annual average of nearly 138,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes, such as motor vehicle crashes, alcohol poisoning, cancer and cirrhosis, based on data from 2016 to 2017.

Aug 24, 2024 | newsbreak.com | Laura Santhanam

VIDEO As new, highly contagious mutations are making this summer’s COVID surge significantly bigger than expected, the FDA approved updated COVID vaccines on Friday. But funding runs out this month for a federal program providing free vaccines to uninsured and underinsured Americans. John Yang speaks with PBS News digital health reporter Laura Santhanam for more.

Aug 6, 2024 | pbs.org | Laura Santhanam

Moving Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket has reinvigorated Democrats’ prospects of winning the White House, according to a new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll. Weeks ago, many Democrats were losing confidence that their party’s presumptive nominee, President Joe Biden, would be able to defeat former President Donald Trump. Before Biden left the race, 39 percent of Americans – regardless of who they support – said he stood a chance at winning the election.

Aug 5, 2024 | pbs.org | Laura Santhanam

When Vice President Kamala Harris announces her pick for running mate, there’s a strong chance that many Americans won’t know much about them, according to the latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll. Sen. Mark Kelly? Gov. Josh Shapiro? About half of Americans say they don’t know either of them well enough to have a positive or negative opinion. About 7 in 10 Americans say the same of Gov. Tim Walz.

Jul 29, 2024 | pbs.org | Laura Santhanam

More than 10,000 elite athletes from around the globe are competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they face incredible pressures to perform in front of an audience of billions. For these Olympians, years of grueling preparation and training precede an event that leaves no room for error – mere seconds can mean the difference between a medal on the winner’s podium or being dropped from competition, retired Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno told the PBS News Hour’s Amna Nawaz.