In mid-January, the National Safety Council called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones while driving, citing overwhelming evidence of the risk of injuries and death from driver distraction. California has banned texting behind the wheel and, along with several other states, prohibits the use of handheld phones while allowing drivers to talk with hands-free devices. But research has shown talking is risky even when both hands are free, because the mind is somewhere else. ...more

January 31, 2009

"The people need to know the story," says Stool Pigeon in August Wilson's award-winning play "King Hedley II." ...more

January 25, 2009

Review of American Stage production of "King Hedley II." ...more

January 22, 2009

"This song is dedicated to Debbie Harry," Lisa Hsuan purrs into a microphone on the stage of Hyperion Tavern in Los Angeles. ...more

December 21, 2008

VOTE WITH YOUR MOUTH So, Election Day is Tuesday. Or it was last month, if you voted already. ...more

October 31, 2008

On a recent windy day, imaginations soared. During an hour of listening to a story by storyteller Emily Harris and subsequently creating their own stories, 35 youngsters between 6 and 9 years old pulled out all the stops. Responding to oral and visual cues from Harris as they sat outdoors at Palm Harbor Montessori Academy in Palm Harbor, they made up their own versions of classic children's tales. ...more

February 9, 2008

The soup, pudding and instant potatoes Xavier Peoples brought to class would help feed the hungry. In the special-needs class he attends with other kindergartners and first-graders, the donations also became lessons in math, reading and graphs. ...more

November 28, 2007