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30182 | "The United States government canceled an $80 million contract with sports apparel manufacture Nike, Inc. because the company ""hates America"" and ""disrespects dead veterans." | A related story on the website falsely claims that Nike rescinded their endorsement deal with Kaepernick after the latter went on an “anti-white” tirade. | false | Junk News, colin kaepernick, national anthem protests, nike | Nike, Inc.’s renewal of an endorsement deal with currently unsigned NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has prompted the federal government to cancel an $80 million contract with the company, according to a website notorious for publishing fabricated news. Last Line of Defense (LLOD) reported on 4 September 2018 that the ... |
17819 | "The federal government ""has $3 trillion in cash flow, so we can pay our bills"" and won’t default." | "Williams said the government ""has $3 trillion in cash flow, so we can pay our bills"" and won’t default. In the 12 months through September 2014, the government is projected to raise $3 trillion in revenue, far more than enough to cover some $237 billion in its projected interest costs. In this way, perhaps, default ... | mixture | Debt, Federal Budget, Texas, Roger Williams, | "In an interview, first-term U.S. Rep. Roger Williams vowed not to vote for raising the federal debt ceiling. ""I just won’t do it,"" the Austin Republican was quoted as saying in an Oct. 11, 2013, Austin American-Statesman news story. Besides, Williams said, even if the debt ceiling isn’t raised, ""we are not going to... |
5046 | California officials: Immigration facilities lack oversight. | Detainees confined to federal immigration detention facilities located in California have inadequate access to health care, lawyers and family, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Tuesday. | true | Access to health care, Health, Immigration, California, Xavier Becerra | Becerra was discussing the findings of a 147-page report prepared by his office that also found that detainees face long periods of confinement without breaks and language barriers in the 10 detention facilities state authorities inspected in 2017. Becerra said the annual report released Tuesday is the first of 10 that... |
5593 | Missouri agency tracked Planned Parenthood patients’ periods. | Missouri’s health department director on Tuesday said he tracked the menstrual cycles of Planned Parenthood patients as part of an effort to identify what the agency says were “failed abortions” at a St. Louis clinic. | true | Michael Brown, Health, General News, Kansas, Abortion, St. Louis, U.S. News | Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams made the revelation during the second day of an administrative hearing to determine whether Missouri’s only abortion clinic will lose its license to perform the procedure. Williams said an investigator made a spreadsheet at his request that included the... |
12936 | New York state law says you are alive when you begin to breathe. | "Glick said during an Assembly debate that ""New York state law says you are alive when you begin to breathe."" State law says a person has been born alive when the fetus has exited the woman’s body and shows signs of life. The law specifically mentions breathing as one of the signs. But the law also mentions other evi... | true | Abortion, New York, Deborah Glick, | "Assembly Democrats want to guarantee access to abortion for New York state residents if the Supreme Court overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. A bill, commonly referred to as the Reproductive Health Act, would change state law to guarantee women the choice to have or refuse an abortion or contraception if the ... |
5376 | Wisconsin glassblower customizes glassware for scientists. | When Tracy Drier comes to Science Expeditions, the annual public open house held across the UW-Madison campus, he’ll arrive with a wealth of scientific glassblowing knowledge and, of course, his Wisconsin FireWagon. | true | Madison, Chemistry, Wisconsin, Science, Education | The FireWagon is equipped with Drier’s tools of the trade: a delicate torch, a small cylinder of propane and a stock of borosilicate — glass that can tolerate heat and is chemically inert. Drier frequently takes the portable lab-on-wheels around the city to demonstrate his passion: scientific glassblowing. But his real... |
3538 | New Hampshire reports 1st vaping-related lung injury. | New Hampshire health authorities say they’ve identified the first person in the state with a lung injury associated with electronic cigarette use. | true | New Hampshire, Health, Public health, Vaping, Injuries | The state’s Division of Public Health Services says the person is an adult from Sullivan County who developed respiratory symptoms and had chest imaging showing evidence of lung injury. This person reported recent vaping of nicotine products. The division said the individual was hospitalized, but has since been dischar... |
9690 | Panel Reasserts Mammogram Advice That Triggered Breast Cancer Debate | The story provides an excellent overview of new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on when, and how often, women should receive mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The story discusses the long-running debate over mammogram recommendations, as well as the differing advice that vari... | true | mammography,US Preventive Services Task Force | The story does a good job of explaining how the USPSTF recommendations may affect insurance coverage of mammography screening — which is laudable, given the complexity of the issue. However, the story does not tell readers the bottom line: how much would a mammogram cost if it were not covered by insurance? While we fo... |
37957 | A young Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) fought for a woman named Susan Struck, who sought to avoid being forced to terminate a pregnancy. | A popular September 20 2020 Facebook post asserted that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in the aftermath of her death, left a legacy associated specifically with the right to abortion codified under Roe v. Wade. As the Facebook post described, Ginsburg was instrumental in Struck v. Secretary of Defense as well, successfully conte... | true | Fact Checks, Viral Content | On September 20 2020, two days after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Facebook user Amber LeBeau shared a post claiming that Ginsburg had intervened on behalf of combat nurse Susan Struck, more broadly addressing the narrative around reproductive choice:LeBeau wrote:It’s disheartening to see the ... |
10964 | New robot may ease prostate surgery for Oklahomans | "This story about a local surgical center’s new daVinci ""robot"" surgical device describes the patient being operated on in the opening anecdote as ""unconscious."" So was someone at the newspaper. The story fails to: describe the new daVinci machine sufficiently, and compare it to its predecessor or conventional su... | false | "The story says the new daVinci machine costs $1.7 million. But it fails to say how much this affects the cost of surgery. It also accepts without verification the sketchy assertion that the cost of the machine is offset by shorter hospital stays. The report does not provide any data on the benefits of daVinci-assisted... | |
3612 | NY lawmakers to review school health, P.E. programs. | New York state lawmakers want to review the current state of physical education, mental health and health instruction in the state’s schools. | true | Albany, Mental health, Physical education, New York, Health, Education | The Assembly’s Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday in Albany to review the current programs in place related to student health and fitness. Under a new state law that took effect this year schools are required to teach mental health in traditional physical education and health classes. The mandat... |
5704 | UConn men’s coach Hurley back at work after spinal surgery. | UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley says he spent his life believing that when it came to his health, he was bulletproof. | true | Health, Basketball, Mens basketball, Dan Hurley, Mens college basketball, College basketball | But that was before being told by doctors in August that he had a degenerative spinal condition that could have left him paralyzed. Hurley returned to work full time Wednesday, less than two weeks after having surgery to replace two disks in his neck with artificial ones. He expects to make a full recovery, but says as... |
37500 | If wearing a fabric mask, Meharry Medical president just stated to place mask in ziplock bag and heat in microwave for 2-3 minutes to sanitize after each use. | Did the President of Meharry Medical Advise Sterilizing Cloth Face Masks in the Microwave Between Uses? | true | Fact Checks, Viral Content | Discourse regarding personal protective equipment (PPE, including cloth face masks) was a large part of COVID-19 discussion on social media in early April 2020, including a viral Facebook post that repeats purported advice to sterilize cloth masks by microwaving them between uses:The brief post attributed the recommend... |
2761 | AbbVie sees 2014 approval of hepatitis drugs, shares rise. | AbbVie Inc issued a cautious 2014 profit forecast, but said it expects U.S. approval this year for its potentially lucrative new all-oral treatment for hepatitis C, sending its shares up 3.4 percent. | true | Health News | The company, before releasing fourth quarter earnings on Friday, released favorable data from four additional Phase III studies of its experimental treatment for the liver disease. AbbVie previously had said it expected approval of the treatment in early 2015. “The excellent hepatitis C safety and efficacy data publish... |
9564 | More Breast Cancer Patients Should Consider Radiation, New Guidelines Say | The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department said a federal appeals court should reverse a lower court verdict finding Bayer AG liable in the case of a California man who blamed its Roundup weed killer for his cancer. | true | breast cancer | The government said in a friend of the court brief filed on Friday that glyphosate, the weed killer’s active ingredient, is not a carcinogen and as a result a warning on the label was not required as California state law demands. The backing by the EPA and Justice Department comes days after Bayer asked a U.S. federal ... |
5086 | Oil and gas defenders, critics test Colorado’s new law. | The petroleum industry’s defenders and critics are testing the limits of a new Colorado law that flips the state’s priorities from producing energy to protecting the public. | true | Bills, Colorado, Hydraulic fracturing, Statutes, General News, Jared Polis, Denver, Environment, Longmont, Laws | Officials in energy-friendly Weld County say the law gives the county complete control over the location of new wells in unincorporated areas. That could challenge the state’s attempts to tighten regulations. Just across the county line in Longmont, environmental activists are trying to use the same statute to revive t... |
31461 | "CNN aired a story about a university student who discovered a ""diet hack"" involving apple cider vinegar." | Although we can’t speak to the effectiveness of drinking apple cider vinegar with Refresh Garcinia Cambogia, we can say that this text did not originate in a genuine news article. This is an advertisement that used a fabricated interview, falsified claims, and an unrelated photograph to sell a diet product. | false | Food, Amanda Haughman, apple cider vinegar, diet | In April 2017, an advertisement for a diet product called “Refresh Garcinia Cambogia” or “Garicinia Slim” was disguised as a genuine news report and published on web sites such as Running Evolutions.com and The Platinum Beard: Student from Cornell University Cuts 31lbs On University Budget! Amanda Haughman, a student... |
6262 | Teens to share their vaping experiences with Melania Trump. | Melania Trump will hear directly from teens and young adults about their experiences with electronic cigarettes and vaping. | true | Alex Azar, General News, Kellyanne Conway, Politics, Vaping, Public health | The White House says she has invited a group from the Truth Initiative to participate in a “listening session” Wednesday. It will be the second time this week that the first lady has highlighted e-cigarettes and vaping among youth. Mrs. Trump used a speech Monday to call on companies to leave children out of marketing ... |
12324 | The GOP health care proposal would slash more than $135 million in federal funding available to PA schools. | "In a tweet, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said: ""The GOP health care proposal would slash more than $135 million in federal funding available to PA schools."" His office pointed to data that indicated schools in the state received a total of $134.5 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year in Medicaid reimbu... | false | Health Care, Pennsylvania, Bob Casey, | "U.S. Sen. Bob Casey says the Senate GOP’s healthcare plan could devastate already cash-strapped public schools that receive Medicaid reimbursements for programs benefiting poor children and students with disabilities. Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat who has been outspoken on social media against the Senate GOP plan, tw... |
26849 | Back in 2005, when we did that first point-in-time count, there were over 188,000 thousand people that were deemed homeless in the state of California. … That’s 35,000 more than we have today.” | Gov. Newsom's figures are technically right based on federal homelessness reports. But his statement ignores a key change in how those reports count homeless people. In the past, they tallied a large number of “hidden homeless,” those living temporarily at a friend’s home or motel. Today, those people are no longer cou... | mixture | National, Homeless, Housing, Poverty, State Budget, California, Gavin Newsom, | "Gov. Gavin Newsom dedicated his second State of the State address almost entirely to California’s deepening homelessness crisis. He said the problem today requires ""a coordinated crisis-level response,"" one that gets ""the mentally ill out of tents and into treatment"" and produces affordable housing to ensure no Ca... |
5017 | Study: Mud stirred up during PortMiami dredge killed coral. | Dredging at PortMiami killed far more coral than the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers predicted, scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service and the University of Miami have concluded in a new study. | true | Panama Canal, University of Miami, Miami, Panama, Florida, Environment, U.S. Army, Dredging, Corals | Researchers set out to determine what killed coral near the $205 million dredge work at the port, which was done to make way for the larger ships sailing through an expanded Panama Canal to bring cargo to South Florida. Their study, published this month in the online journal PeerJ, compared work done in the channel to ... |
8370 | Support builds to end free EU carbon permits for aviation. | A proposal to end free European Union carbon allowances for airlines and make them buy all the pollution permits they need gained momentum on Thursday, as at least seven member states backed the idea, EU officials said. | true | Environment | The change would increase costs for airlines when they already face multiple challenges, including a drop in demand because of the coronavirus. But critics say the current system has removed the incentive for the sector to tackle its rising emissions. Poland, itself under fire because of its dependency on carbon-intens... |
9402 | GOOGLE RETINAL SCANS CAN PREDICT IF YOU WILL HAVE A HEART ATTACK | Scanning of an eye in progress. Concept for Biometrics This vague Newsweek story describes how scientists from Google have reported developing an algorithm that can use large data sets of retinal scans to determine a person’s risk ofdeveloping cardiovascular problems. The story establishes the novelty of this approach ... | false | heart disease | This Newsweek story offers no information on what the cost of such retinal scan might be, nor does it mention whether health insurance would cover such screening, if it is proven to eventually work. There are a number of free cardiovascular risk assessment tools available online. The only numerical data offered by this... |
11227 | Knowledge That Can Save You: After gene testing, more women choose surgery | The risk of developing breast cancer for a woman with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation increases dramatically. Recent advances in genetic testing can identify these women, but leaves them with very difficult decisions to make. Should they remove both breasts and/or the ovaries to drastically reduce the risk of breast cance... | mixture | The story does not mention costs of the test. The story provides quantification of benefits in relative terms only. The story states that removing both breasts reduces the risk of breast cancer by 90% and that removing the ovaries also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 90%. But 90% of what? Readers need the absolut... | |
9857 | Hormone use: Studies suggest two years max | "Hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness). However, it is clear that taking hormone therapy has certain risks – stroke, heart attack, blood clots – and if taken for five years – breast cancer. New studies and analyses indicate that the ... | true | "It would not be necessary for the story to discuss the costs of hormone therapy. The story adequately quantifies the increased risk in breast cancer. While the story does provide quantification in relative terms only for the WHI study (it mentions a 60% increase), it does use absolute numbers to quantify the increase ... | |
36581 | "Photograph shows used needles found in ""Democrat run"" San Francisco." | Is This a Picture of Used Syringes Recovered in ‘Democrat Run’ San Francisco? | false | Disinformation, Fact Checks | On December 20, 2018, the Facebook page Try Decaf shared a photograph, purportedly showing used needles “found on the streets of Democrat run San Francisco”:As of January 4, 2019, the image had been shared thousands of times. Angry users commented on the photograph:paid for by these cities! give them free drugs and nee... |
9484 | Scientists Edge Closer To Elusive Lab Test For 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ | This story about the potential use of cytokine testing to diagnose and then guide the treatment of chronic fatigue is cautiously worded. It reports that a new study “could point the way.” Yet even with such careful language, readers are likely to get an inflated sense of what the latest study actually reported, because... | mixture | chronic fatigue syndrome | The story talks about work to develop a commercially available test, but there is no discussion of what such a test might cost. A story needs to at a minimum discuss what is known about the costs of diagnosing and potentially treating a cytokine-based condition. The most relevant text here is: “Out of 51 cytokines inve... |
13083 | Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order! | "Trump tweeted, ""Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!"" The company is actually building two planes, not one. As for the price tag, Trump has more of a point. The project’s current cost is $3.73 billion, which is withi... | mixture | National, Federal Budget, Military, Donald Trump, | "President-elect Donald Trump tweeted criticism about Boeing, the lead contractor on the next generation of Air Force Ones, early in the morning on Dec. 6, 2016. Trump tweeted, ""Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!"" B... |
35983 | Current world food production makes enough to feed 10 billion people; there are only 7.5 billion people on Earth. | Current World Food Production is Enough to Feed 10 Billion People, Starvation isn’t Profitable to Solve? | mixture | Fact Checks, Politics | Amid election primary policy debates in December 2019, a post about current world food production being sufficient to feed more than three times the world’s population circulated on Facebook in screenshot form:Labeled “when you accidentally have a good idea,” the screenshot showed two tweets — one from Rep. Thomas Mass... |
33327 | The NRA banned the carrying of guns at their own national convention. | A popular claim about the NRA confused that organization's rules with those of the venues at which they held events. | false | Politics Guns, nra | Ahead of the National Rifle Association’s annual national convention, scheduled to take place in Nashville from 10 to 12 April 2015, an online rumor began to spread holding that the organization had paradoxically banned attendees from carrying guns at that gathering: If you would believe the logic the NRA has used to... |
8468 | Thailand reports 30 new coronavirus cases, two new deaths. | Thailand reported 30 new coronavirus cases and 2 deaths on Wednesday. | true | Health News | Of the new cases, 19 patients were linked to previous cases, and three had no links to old cases, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration. One of those infected was in state quarantine, and the cases of seven people who tested positive were being investi... |
16254 | "Ebola is ""incredibly contagious,"" ""very transmissible"" and ""easy to catch." | "Paul called Ebola ""incredibly contagious,"" ""very transmissible"" and ""easy to catch."" A person who comes into contact with bodily fluids from an Ebola patient for a short period can contract the virus. In that limited sense, Ebola is ""easy to catch."" Health care workers and individuals handling patients at or n... | false | National, Ebola, Public Health, Rand Paul, | "Count Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., among Republicans who don’t think the White House has taken the Ebola threat seriously enough. While campaigning for Republicans in New Hampshire on Oct. 16, Paul told Concord News Radio that President Barack Obama ""has so tried to downplay the transmissibility of"" the Ebola virus that i... |
26774 | “Florida hospital reports a coronavirus ‘infestation’ with multiple confirmed patients.” | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presumptively confirmed two cases of the 2019 coronavirus in Florida. No Florida hospital has reported multiple confirmed patients. | false | Public Health, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, YourContent, | "A popular article is inflating the number of 2019 coronavirus patients in Florida. The story was published March 1 by a website called YourContent. Using an anonymous source, it claims there are multiple patients with the coronavirus at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota, Fla. ""A total at least (sic) three but possibly as ... |
2055 | Extending daylight could boost health, help planet. | Putting the clocks back in winter is bad for health, wastes energy and increases pollution, scientists say, and putting an end to the practice in northern areas could bring major health and environmental benefits. | true | Environment | The sun shines through the pillars of a memorial in Hyde Park, in London October 11, 2010. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor Countries across Europe, the United States, Canada and parts of the Middle East mark the start of winter by ending Daylight Saving Time (DST) and putting their clocks back by an hour — often in late October... |
38564 | Former Miss Arkansas Sally Miller, who claims that she had an affair with Bill Clinton in 1983, has said that Hillary Clinton had a coke habit, had multiple abortions and is secretly a lesbian. | Sally Miller Dishes on Hillary Clinton’s Coke Habit. | unproven | 9/11 Attack on America | Sally Miller’s claims that Hillary Clinton had a coke habit, multiple abortions and relationships with women in the early 80s are unproven. Sally Miller first emerged on the public scene in 1992 during Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign. Miller claimed that she had had an affair with Bill Clinton in 1983, but s... |
5252 | Wrestling Wonsettlers are now getting physical with therapy. | Cliff Wonsettler had wrestled with the idea for a while. | true | Health, Washington, Wrestling, Physical therapy | “From the time I was in physical therapy school, I wanted to do something like this,” he said, relaxing for a few moments inside his own PT facility. Wonsettler has been a physical therapist for more than a decade, mostly in the Seattle area. He became somewhat disillusioned in the Great Northwest, though, after workin... |
31127 | Major cities harbor rodent populations equivalent to one rat per person. | In 1949, [rodent control expert] Dave Davis analyzed New York’s rat population and called the one-rat-per-human statistic “absurd.” He had just completed a precise calculation of the rat population of Baltimore — by trapping, counting burrows, and measuring such things as rat runways and rat droppings. In New York, he ... | false | Critter Country, Wild Inaccuracies | Rats (at least the kinds commonly kept as pets) are for the most part intelligent, clean, quiet, sociable, and even affectionate. Still, there are many people who are absolutely repulsed at the sight of any rat and will run screaming even from the tamest Rattus norvegicus. This reaction is due in large part to our cult... |
17680 | The U.S. Department of Defense spends $80 million a year on prostate cancer research, $25 million a year on ovarian cancer research and $150 million a year on breast cancer research. | Senator questions some areas of Defense budget | true | Georgia, Federal Budget, Military, Saxby Chambliss, | "Remember the classic U.S. Army slogan? ""We do more by 9 a.m. than most people do all day,"" a voice said in the famous commercial. What you may not know is that the military is doing some significant multitasking. In addition to chasing down terrorists and conducting humanitarian rescue missions in places such as the... |
18175 | "Rachel Maddow Says Ohio budget item later signed into law by Gov. John Kasich requires women seeking an abortion to undergo a ""mandatory vaginal probe." | Rachel Maddow says that Ohio budget includes requirement for transvaginal ultrasound | false | Abortion, Ohio, Pundits, Women, Rachel Maddow, | "Ohio’s new operating budget calls for $62 billion in spending over two years and several abortion restrictions, including one that requires patients seeking one to first undergo an ultrasound. And while Democrats are plenty upset about the economics of the plan that Republican Gov. John Kasich ratified on June 30, the... |
3837 | Some North Dakotans turn to Canada for prescription pills. | Roger Roehl four years ago found the “silver bullet” for leukemia — a medication called Gleevec. | true | Medication, Health, General News, Financial markets, Bismarck, Prescription drugs, North Dakota, Canada | Roehl, of Mandan, was 64 years old and had a state health insurance plan that covered the life-saving medication minus a $10 copay. But when he turned 65 and enrolled in Medicare, the price of the drug skyrocketed to $2,400 for a 30-day supply. Roehl, a retiree living on a fixed income, couldn’t afford the medication, ... |
9695 | Why Tortillas May Hold The Key To Healthier Babies | In this story, the FDA is weighing a request to add folic acid to corn flour in order to possibly prevent neural tube defects during pregnancy. Hispanic women are at higher risk of giving birth to babies with these issues. Corn flour is often consumed more than white or wheat flours in some diets. Folic acid is already... | true | FDA,folic acid,Hispanic,March of Dimes,neural tube defects | The story does not talk about any costs. There are a few places where cost might have been valuable. The story could have discussed whether refining corn flour by a different method would cost more than the existing method. The story might have included whether fortified corn flour would be equal or higher in price for... |
26763 | “Shands Hospital of Gainesville Florida has confirmed its first case of coronavirus.” | As of March 2, 2020, the CDC has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in Florida. Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, has not confirmed a coronavirus case. | false | Florida, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Viral image, | "Wash your hands and beware suspicious-looking posts on social media claiming the novel coronavirus has arrived in your community. ""CNN Breaking News Update,"" reads the text of what looks like a screenshot published on Facebook on March 1. ""Shands Hospital of Gainesville Florida confirmed its first case of coronavir... |
9818 | Nicotine Patch May Improve Memory | This was an ambitious piece for such a short amount of space. The story tries to cover all the relevant ground and give readers enough context to make sense of the findings. While we applaud some of the conflict of interest information it provides, it does not quote any independent sources. As we age, one of the things... | true | mild cognitive impairment | The story didn’t mention cost. The nicotine patch is readily available over the counter. We found a range of prices online, including one big chain’s patch for roughly $2.70 a day. Quantifying changes in cognitive function for readers is a challenge. Exactly what does a long term memory performance of 46% of normal mea... |
34667 | A woman and her daughter narrowly avoided sex traffickers in the parking lot of a Hickory, North Carolina, Walmart. | We contacted police in Hickory, North Carolina, to determine whether they’re aware of any incidents at Walmart (or elsewhere) matching the example above. According to the department, no reports of attempted abductions or unwanted solicitations in local parking lots had been received. | unproven | Crime | On 4 August 2015, a Facebook user published a claim that she and her daughter had encountered kidnappers working on behalf of human traffickers in the parking lot of a Walmart store in Hickory, North Carolina: My daughter saved my life today! My daughter, Amanda […], and I were at Wal Mart in hickory earlier and were ... |
22119 | "Gwinnett Medical Center is operating in the negative,"" in part, because of illegal immigrants." | Illegal immigrants hurt hospital's bottom line, Georgia senator says | mixture | Georgia, Immigration, Health Care, Renee Unterman, | "A Georgia state senator recently shared some distressing news about one of metro Atlanta’s largest hospital systems. ""Gwinnett Medical Center is operating in the negative,"" Renee Unterman, who represents a portion of Gwinnett County, said in a speech on the Senate floor. ""And one of the reasons they are is because ... |
8421 | Singapore reports 728 new virus cases in biggest daily jump, total 4,427. | Singapore’s health ministry confirmed 728 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, a new daily record, taking the total in the city-state to 4,427. | true | Health News | It said 654 of the new cases were linked to migrant workers’ dormitories. The latest count of new infections was much higher than the previous record of 447 reported on Wednesday. No new deaths were reported on Thursday, leaving the toll at 10. Authorities have managed to mitigate the spread of the virus and the COVID-... |
10814 | Antibiotic might help after stroke, study says | "This article on a study about potential benefits of the antibiotic minocycline in reducing brain damage when given up to 24 hours after a stroke is very well balanced and reported. It makes clear that the findings are promising but preliminary, and that any clinical application at this point would be off-label and at ... | true | "The article is sufficiently clear that the drug is generic and inexpensive. Because this use would be novel, and not used as an alternative to existing treatments, more information about its cost is not required. While the report uses study data to describe the findings, it does not clarify what those findings mean to... | |
40886 | There were no Covid-19 deaths in Ireland in August. | Incorrect. There were 14 confirmed Covid-19 deaths in Ireland in August. | false | online | There were 700 deaths from cancer in Ireland in August. We don’t know these figures yet as it is too soon after the fact. The figure for cancer seems realistic from past trends, as there were around 830 deaths caused by cancer in Ireland per month in Q1 of 2020. There were 70 deaths from alcohol in Ireland in August. W... |
26398 | Dr. Anthony “Fauci told us there’s nothing to worry about. That’s his quote, ‘There’s nothing to worry about.’” | "Former White House advisor Steven Bannon says Anthony Fauci, director of the Centers for Control and Prevention, said Americans shouldn't ""worry"" about corona-19. In late January, Fauci twice said the country shouldn't fret. But both times, he added that the situation could change." | mixture | Coronavirus, Steve Bannon, | "Former White House advisor Steve Bannon has been defending President Donald Trump against criticism that he was slow responding to the coronavirus. Bannon recently lauded Trump's Jan. 31 order restricting travel with China, the original source of the virus. Bannon said the action came while a key medical adviser - An... |
3370 | Cuomo to propose ban on e-cig flavors and ads aimed at youth. | Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday he’ll introduce legislation to ban all flavored nicotine e-cigarette products as well as vaping advertisements aimed at youth. | true | Health, Andrew Cuomo, General News, Legislation, Vaping, Public health, Tobacco industry regulation | The Democrat announced that legislation he’ll propose in his 2020 State of the State agenda on Jan. 8 will also prohibit online, phone and mail-order sale of e-cigarettes to anyone but registered retailers. “Vaping is a public health crisis, claiming too many lives and making countless others sick in a short period of ... |
33829 | "The lyrics to the song ""Louie Louie"" contain multiple obscene references." | Sightings: John Belushi’s ‘Bluto’ character (anachronistically, because the film is set in 1962) references the dirty “Louie Louie” lyrics to a group of fraternity pledges in 1978’s Animal House, and the three Libner brothers hold a hilarious debate over the real lyrics in 1990’s Coupe de Ville. | false | Entertainment, song meanings and origins | “Sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll” is more than an Ian Dury slogan; it also neatly encapsulates the three pastimes of America’s youth that adults have expended the most effort in trying to control for the last half-century. Films such as Reefer Madness and Blue Denim have been supplanted by “Just Say No” and sex educati... |
5654 | Doctor: Hernandez’s brain was severely damaged by disease. | Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez suffered substantial damage to parts of the brain that affect memory, judgment and behavior from the most severe case of a degenerative disease linked to head blows ever found in someone so young, a researcher said Thursday. | true | NFL football, New England Patriots, Health, Boston, Aaron Hernandez, Boston University, North America, Sports, Football | Dr. Ann McKee, director of Boston University’s CTE Center, stressed she could not “connect the dots” between the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy and the behavior of the 27-year-old who hanged himself in April while serving life in prison for murder. But McKee said CTE had significantly impacted key parts... |
4733 | Louisiana leaders exchange barbs over health care ruling. | Louisiana’s governor and attorney general are trading criticism and suggesting state legislation in the wake of a Texas federal judge’s ruling that, if upheld, will jettison the entire federal health care overhaul. | true | John Bel Edwards, Health care reform, Lawsuits, Legislation, Jeff Landry, Health, Medicaid, Louisiana, Texas | Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said the decision could eliminate insurance coverage for 480,000 people enrolled in Louisiana’s Medicaid expansion program and 850,000 residents who are estimated to have pre-existing conditions. He criticized Attorney General Jeff Landry for joining other Republican attorneys general... |
41634 | There are four young people with no underlying illnesses in an intensive care unit in Cork due to Covid-19, who had all been taking anti-inflammatory drugs. | This is not true. It has been denied by the clinical lead of Ireland’s public health service and the whole message branded ‘misinformation’. | false | health | A medical alert says to stop the use of anti-inflammatories for pain or high temperatures. This message is fake. Current advice from health authorities in the UK and Ireland say to continue taking previously prescribed medication, including anti-inflammatories unless told otherwise by a healthcare professional. The NHS... |
4136 | Offices of Brazil’s environmental protection agency torched. | Police in Brazil say gold miners have torched the offices of the country’s environmental protection agency Ibama in the northern jungle state of Amazonas. | true | Brazil, Environment, Biodiversity, Latin America | The Environment Ministry’s Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation was also set afire. The offices were torched Friday by miners who were angry with Ibama’s seizure of nearly 40 barges used in the illegal extraction of gold from the bottom of the Madeira River, which cuts through the city of Humaita. Comma... |
37571 | While Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida was allowed to wear a gasmask on the House vote, Democrat Bobby L. Rush was removed from the same grounds for wearing a hoodie. | Was Rep. Bobby Rush Removed From the House Floor for Wearing a Hoodie? | true | Fact Checks, Politics | After Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) donned a gas mask while Congress debated a bill securing emergency funding to fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United States and beyond, one of his colleagues rebuked both him and an apparent set of double standards.“In 2012, I wore a hoodie on the House Floor to mak... |
1776 | U.S. military specialists in Liberia to conduct Ebola testing: general. | About two dozen U.S. military specialists deploying to Liberia will test laboratory samples for Ebola, but most of the nearly 4,000 troops due to go there are not expected to be in direct contact with the virus, defense officials said Tuesday. | true | Health News | General David Rodriguez, head of U.S. forces in Africa, said three mobile labs had deployed to Liberia and four more were being sought to run tests that would distinguish between people infected with Ebola and those who have diseases with similar symptoms, such as malaria. Each lab would be staffed by a team of three t... |
6628 | Officials: 1 more vaping-related illness in Oregon. | Health officials say one more Oregonian has a vaping-related severe lung illness, raising Oregon’s toll to nine victims, two of whom have died. | true | Health, Vaping, Kate Brown, Oregon | The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Gov. Kate Brown on Oct. 4 ordered a six-month ban on sales of all flavored vaping products with nicotine or THC. It’s unclear when the ban will start. The governor told state agencies to “immediately” pass emergency rules to ban the products. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Pre... |
469 | Massive bushfires send Australia's clean and green reputation up in smoke. | Breathing masks are selling out in Sydney with the city enveloped in the smoke from bushfires sweeping across a large swath of Australia’s east coast, damaging the country’s clean and green reputation. | true | Environment | Office workers wearing protective masks, previously a rarity, have become a common sight in recent weeks in downtown Sydney, where record pollution levels have consistently ranked the city above the likes of Jakarta, Shanghai and Mumbai. The world-famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge have regularly been shrouded by th... |
25891 | The CDC said it “made a mistake” and reduced its count of Florida COVID-19 cases from 90,000 to 11,000. | The CDC did not admit making a mistake that resulted in any systematic undercount of coronavirus cases in Florida. | false | Public Health, Florida, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Viral image, | "Was it a conspiracy that made Florida a coronavirus hotspot? That’s the suggestion made in a viral image shared by a Facebook account called ""Stay with Trump."" The image, which includes a photo of comedian Tim Allen smiling, says: ""So, now that Trump has said hospitals are to report numbers to WH instead of the CDC... |
7550 | With fewer humans to fear, flamingos flock to Albania lagoon. | Home confinement rules have upset some people in Albania, but humans getting their wings clipped during the coronavirus pandemic has allowed flamingos and other birds to flourish in a coastal lagoon by the Adriatic Sea. | true | Albania, International News, General News, Health, Adriatic Sea, Science, Virus Outbreak, Europe, Birds | Local officials and residents say the flamingo population is up to about 3,000 at Narta Lagoon, an important waterfowl habitat that greater flamingos returned to in recent years after a long absence. Bird watchers also have noticed more pelicans, herons and other species this spring at the 28-square-kilometer (10-squar... |
10878 | Pill as good as chemo on lung cancer, but costlier | This was a concise (only 430-word) story reporting on the outcomes of a recent study which compared outcomes for patients with lung cancer who had previously undergone platinum-based treatments and received either the oral medication Iressa or chemotherapy infusions. It shows how efficiently critical elements can be re... | true | The story mentioned that the cost of this drug treatment was several thousand dollars a month and that this was higher than the costs of other treatments. It would have been better to provide a more concrete estimate of costs (several thousand – does this mean 2,3 or 6 thousand?). The story might have included some inf... | |
39151 | A picture is being circulated that says it is from surgery on a 21-week-old fetus…and the fetus is holding a doctor’s hand. | Picture of a Surgeon Holding Hands With a 21-week Old Fetus | mixture | Inspirational, Medical | "The surgery cited in this story did take place, but the accounts of what actually happened are hotly disputed. Photo by Michael Clancy Dr. Joseph Bruner at Vanderbilt is known for his work in fetal surgery, especially on babies with spina bifida, a condition in which the spine does not close properly during develo... |
37563 | There is an International Men's Day (in November), but the only time people care to verify that via Google search is on International Women's Day (in March). | Do Searches for International Men’s Day Peak on International Women’s Day? | mixture | Fact Checks, Viral Content | "On March 7 2020, one day before International Women’s Day, @the_female_lead tweeted a screenshot claiming that there is also an International Men’s Day — but searches for the latter spiked around International Women’s Day every March:Happy ""When's International Men's Day?"" Day 🤣 👇#IWD2020 pic.twitter.com/I2IlL7unm... |
10451 | Simple measures can reduce post-operative cognitive dysfunction in older patients | This news release focuses on a recent article published in the journal PLOS ONE, reporting that the use of the corticosteroid dexamethasone and avoiding “deep” or “profound” anesthesia during surgery can reduce the incidence of post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in older patients. However, the release does not... | true | Foundation/nonprofit news release | The release doesn’t discuss cost at all, which is somewhat surprising given that dexamethasone has been on the market for many years with various clinical applications. It’s not that dexamethasone is especially expensive (it isn’t — though the cost isn’t necessarily negligible), but that cost needs to be addressed. Rea... |
35309 | Nancy Pelosi visited Wuhan, China, in November 2019, just a month before the COVID-19 outbreak there. | Praising the meeting between the two presidents, Pelosi said she expected the legislative bodies of the two countries to strengthen exchanges to promote friendship between their peoples. | false | Politics, COVID-19 | In April 2020, as the COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic continued to take its grim toll in countries around the world, a meme circulated on social media held that U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had undertaken a trip to Wuhan, China — the apparent origin place of the coronavirus outbreak — just a month befor... |
2855 | "Vaping"" a slow burner in China, world's maker of e-cigarettes." | When Qu Liang’s wife became pregnant, the 30-year-old Shanghai salesman switched from smoking to “vaping”, a practice uncommon in China although it is the world’s leading producer of electronic cigarettes. | true | Health News | E-cigarettes were invented about a decade ago by a Chinese medical researcher and the country supplies nearly all global demand. Puffing on the devices, or vaping, is surging worldwide, but it forms only a tiny part of China’s 1.2 trillion yuan (about $200 billion) cigarette business. Now, rising public awareness about... |
1593 | U.S. women push back against stigma, cost of menstruation. | Sixteen-year-old Emma Joy and her younger sister Quinn recently spent an evening stuffing bags with a full year’s supply of tampons or sanitary pads for women who often miss work or school because they cannot afford menstrual products. | true | Health News | The South Orange, New Jersey, residents got the idea for their charity, Girls Helping Girls Period, when Emma learned that federal assistance programs for the indigent do not cover menstruation products, leaving many low-income and homeless women to cope with their cycles on their own. “We found out a lot of people don... |
13225 | "Global warming leads to much quicker spread of the Zika virus because the increased temperature, ""makes mosquitoes mature faster, . . . bite more due to having a higher metabolism, and makes the Zika virus inside of them incubate faster." | Al Gore claims global warming will lead to faster spread of Zika virus | mixture | Global News Service, Climate Change, Public Health, Science, Florida, Al Gore, | "In a nod to environmentally oriented voters, Hillary Clinton campaigned in Miami with Al Gore to detail her plans for investing in green energy and combatting global warming. During his speech, Gore highlighted the dangers that global warming poses to public health in the United States. While discussing Florida’s Zika... |
13752 | "Jerry Brown Says Indiana Gov. Mike Pence ""denies that there's such a thing as evolution." | "California Gov. Jerry Brown said GOP Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence ""denies that there's such a thing as evolution."" Pence, in a 2009 interview on MSNBC, said: ""I embrace the view that God created the heavens and the earth and the seas and all that’s in them."" When asked again and again whether he believes... | mixture | Religion, Science, California, Jerry Brown, | "EDITOR'S NOTE: On July 28, 2016, PolitiFact California rated as True a statement by Democratic California Gov. Jerry Brown that Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Pence ""denies that there's such a thing as evolution."" We based that ruling on Pence’s comments in a 2009 MSNBC interview. Subsequently, our readers made some g... |
26176 | “You see suicide rates are skyrocketing now…” | """You see suicide rates skyrocketing now,"" Murtaugh said, in amplifying Trump’s call for an end to COVID-19 business restrictions that have hurt the economy. He addresses a subject of great concern because suicide rates historically have gone up when there were prolonged increases in unemployment rates. But Murtaugh ... | false | Economy, Public Health, Coronavirus, Virginia, Tim Murtaugh, | "Are COVID-19 business restrictions causing U.S. suicides to soar? Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, made that claim during a May 26 interview on Newsradio WRVA in Richmond. Murtaugh has deep Richmond connections, having worked in the city as television reporter... |
32818 | Visitors to Hollywood's Walk of Fame regularly defecate on Donald Trump's star. | We contacted the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to ask about the rumor, and the representative with whom we spoke said that the rumors were false on both counts: Not only are there no plans to move or remove Donald Trump’s star, but the Chamber had received no reports or complaints of visitors defecating on the landmark... | false | Uncategorized, donald trump | The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a collection of five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars that adorn the sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, California, to honor the achievements of individuals from the entertainment industry. More than 2,000 actors, musicians, directors, producers, and musical ... |
5291 | 11-year-old girl gets heart transplant after visit by Drake. | A suburban Chicago girl has received a heart transplant just days after she danced her way into a hospital visit from Drake. | true | Heart transplants, Chicago, Hip hop and rap, Entertainment, Drake, North America, Health | Surgeons performed the transplant on 11-year-old Sofia Sanchez on Monday at Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital. The Canadian rapper visited Sofia there after seeing a video of her dancing in a hospital hallway to his song, “In My Feelings.” The video inspired a viral dance craze. Cardiovascular surgeon Carl Backer say... |
27440 | A man named Shane Patrick Boyle died shortly after starting a GoFundMe fundraiser for insulin. | Last night/ this morning, I was so depressed I did not want to live in this world anymore (and as a type one diabetic, I honestly don’t know how long I will live if I lose access to affordable healthcare). Today, I feel more optimistic, not because I think everything is going to be okay, but because I have seen so many... | true | Politics, diabetes, insulin | In February 2017, Shane Patrick Boyle started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for “a month of insulin.” A few weeks later, he died after developing diabetic ketoacidosis. Although several local outlets reported on Boyle’s death at the time, it wasn’t until November 2017 that Boyle’s story reached many readers, thank... |
26052 | A “face mask exempt card” allows you to cite the ADA and not wear a mask. | The Justice Department has debunked the claim. The Freedom to Breathe Agency isn’t a real federal agency. The Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability, does not specifically say anything about face masks. While it’s true that businesses are not allowe... | false | Civil Rights, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Instagram posts, | "As more cities impose mandatory mask-wearing rules, some Americans are looking for loopholes. Enter the so-called ""face mask exempt card."" A June 23 Instagram post shows a photo of a laminated card that says it exempts the owner from ""any ordinance requiring face mask usage in public."" The image bears the seal of ... |
26118 | “FREE HORSES!!!! 52 thoroughbred horses need homes. Will go to Sugarcreek this Sat. for slaughter. Gentleman died due to COVID-19 and his son wants nothing to do with them.” | A U.S. judge on Wednesday appointed prominent attorney Kenneth Feinberg as mediator for court-mandated settlement talks in the federal litigation over allegations that Bayer AG’s glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused cancer. | false | Animals, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Facebook posts, | Feinberg has been instructed to meet with lawyers for Bayer and plaintiffs within the next 14 days, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said during a court hearing on Wednesday. Chhabria, who oversees some 900 federal Roundup lawsuits, on April 11 ordered the parties to start confidential mediation. He ... |
18134 | "The ocean is now ""much more acidic . . . than it has been for many millions of years." | "Former Vice President Al Gore said the ocean today ""is much more acidic, more than it has been for many millions of years."" It's clear that the ocean is more acidic than it was before the Industrial Revolution. It's also clear that many millions of years ago it was much more acidic. But the best estimates suggest th... | mixture | Environment, Animals, Rhode Island, Climate Change, Economy, Energy, History, Population, Public Health, Science, Weather, Al Gore, | "Former Vice President Al Gore, now a crusader against climate change, argues that the continued release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is going to do more than just raise temperatures. It's going to alter the balance of sea life by changing the acidity of the oceans. During a June 11 keynote address at U.S. Sen... |
10325 | A Rubber Twist On Treating Tennis Elbow Pain | The story said that a study showed the new treatment improved strength and decreased pain from tennis elbow — but it never said by how much or how this improvement was measured. We also never learn about important limitations in the study design that should have been mentioned. A link to the study abstract provided in ... | true | NPR | The story states that the FlexBar costs between $16 and $33. It could have compared this cost with that of some other treatment options, which can be quite expensive. The story makes no attempt to quantify the benefits associated with the FlexBar, and we don’t think linking to the study abstract is sufficient to satisf... |
9999 | J&J Psoriasis Drug Shows Promise in Study | This 207-word story must have made the Johnson & Johnson drug company happy because it conveyed everything the company probably wanted to convey about a study of its experimental drug ustekinumab for psoriasis. But it didn’t tell readers anything about the quality of the evidence in that study, the harms found in the s... | false | "The story didn’t project any ballpark of costs for the drug, yet it was able to project the company’s plans to file for approval within the next two months. You can be sure if they’re ready for that, they have a ballpark idea of how much they will charge for the drug. The story only said that more than two-thirds of t... | |
2451 | Bigger and healthier: European men grow 11cm in a century. | The average height of European men grew by a surprising 11 centimeters from the early 1870s to 1980, reflecting significant improvements in health across the region, according to new research published on Monday. | true | Science News | Contrary to expectations, the study also found that average height accelerated in the period spanning the two World Wars and the Great Depression, when poverty, food rationing and hardship of war might have been expected to limit people’s growth. The swift advance may have been due to people deciding to have fewer chil... |
31834 | "A ""YXX"" notation on Donald Trump's Selective Service record indicates he suffers from the genetic condition Klinefelter syndrome." | A 2015 statement by Trump’s physician listed no genetic abnormalities, noting that he was in “excellent physical health” overall. Given, then, that it was prompted by the misinterpretation of an entry on his Selective Service record, that it is not supported by actual medical records or a physician’s diagnosis, and tha... | false | Politics Politicians, donald trump, klinefelter syndrome, the smoking gun | In April 2011, online rumors surfaced to the effect that billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump (who was already being spoken of as a potential presidential contender) might be suffering from a genetic disorder known as Klinefelter syndrome. Klinefelter syndrome, also known as XXY, is caused by a redundant X chromo... |
27104 | The Australian government's Threatened Species Strategy has as one of its aims the culling of 2 million feral cats by 2020, largely using a sausage bait carrying a lethal toxin. | “The focus on killing cats runs the risk of distracting attention away from other threats to biodiversity, most prominent of which is widespread, ongoing habitat loss, which has been largely overlooked in the Threatened Species Strategy. The culling target is a highly visible symbol of a broader campaign around feral c... | true | Critter Country | In April 2019, several news articles from around the world reported that the Australian government had a plan to cull millions of feral cats using poisoned sausages dropped by air. CBS News published an article with the headline “Australia is Trying to Kill Millions of Stray Cats by Airdropping Poisoned Sausages,” whic... |
36379 | Delta Airlines created a union-busting poster urging workers to buy video gaming consoles with would-be union dues. | Delta Union-Busting ‘Video Games’ Poster | true | Fact Checks, Viral Content | On May 9 2019, a poster attributed to Delta Airlines apparently urging workers to forgo union dues in favor of purchasing video gaming consoles circulated on Facebook and Twitter:lol fuck off @Delta pic.twitter.com/fMNOeW9uFG— Eoin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) May 9, 2019Above a rendering of a video game controller, blue an... |
37544 | "Amazon is suspending shipping of all items except medical supplies and ""high-demand items"" in March 2020." | Is Amazon Suspending All Non-Essential Shipments Except for Medical Supplies and and ‘High-Demand’ Products? | false | Fact Checks, Viral Content | On March 17 2020, a number of tweets suggested a massive looming disruption in the flow of products from Amazon to customers, claiming that only medical supplies and “high-demand items” would be available for up to a month:BREAKING – Amazon suspends all non-essential shipments amid the #COVID19 outbreak. The company se... |
9095 | Longtime antidepressant could slow Parkinson's | Researchers at the University of Michigan observed by looking at medical records a correlation between patients taking anti-depressants known as tricyclics and what appeared to be a delay in the worsening of Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Using rats and then test tubes full of cells, they experimented to see if the drug... | false | Michigan State University,Parkinson's disease | The story is about a proof-of-concept study, which is the very earliest step in research. But if it’s not too soon to issue a news release, it’s not too soon to address cost impacts. The release could have mentioned the cost of the medication, nortryptiline, or alternatively, the economic burden of Parkinson’s. No numb... |
20692 | "Susan Combs Says she ""wiped out"" the state Agriculture Department’s inspections of eggs at retail sites like grocery stores." | "Comptroller Susan Combs says she ""wiped out"" Agriculture Department's egg inspections at stores" | false | Agriculture, Regulation, Texas, Susan Combs, | "Reflecting on her time heading the Texas Department of Agriculture, Susan Combs told a blogger that she shrunk the size of government in 2003 by getting rid of a program to ferret out broken eggs at stores. Combs, who has been the state comptroller since 2007, made the statement in an interview with David Bellow, a bl... |
10306 | Cancer cells killed with extreme cold by Tulane University surgeon | Faced with imminent new global marine pollution rules, shipping companies and insurers are puzzling over the risks. | false | To reduce emissions of toxic sulphur that cause premature deaths, shipowners who have long relied on the dirtiest residues of oil extraction will have to either switch to low-sulphur fuel or install exhaust gas cleaning systems from Jan. 1. Neither option has been fully tested for long, and some problems have already b... | |
37486 | A form of therapy involving nebulized hydrogen peroxide can prevent the user from contracting COVID-19. | Will ‘Nebulized Hydrogen Peroxide’ Help You Avoid Contracting COVID-19? | false | Disinformation, Fact Checks | A self-proclaimed “health activist” with a history of incurring warnings over his practices from the federal government used Twitter to push another questionable treatment idea involving COVID-19 (also called SARS-CoV-2 or “the coronavirus.”)“Nebulized hydrogen peroxide therapy is an inexpensive and simple way to treat... |
9908 | Study: Prostate cancer vaccine extends survival | "Given about double the space of the USA Today story we also reviewed, this report includes important information about conflicts of interest and the financial impact of research reports, as well as details that bring the trial results into clearer focus, such as median survival data and the fact that the FDA declined ... | true | "While no price has been set, this story still confronts cost by pointing out that other biotech drugs cost thousands of dollars per month of treatment. The story included key details about the difference in survival rates and length between the treatment and control arms of the trial. The story gives both the median s... | |
7184 | 2020 hopeful O’Rourke unveils plan to protect LGBTQ rights. | Democratic presidential candidate Beto (BET’-oh) O’Rourke has unveiled a plan to protect LGBTQ rights on the morning he led a Pride Run through a New York City park. | true | Universal health care, Politics, Election 2020, General News | The former Texas congressman promises to use executive orders to overturn the Trump administration’s transgender troop ban and reverse the practice of discharging HIV-positive service members. O’Rourke wants to work with Congress to pass The Equality Act, which he says would ensure LGBTQ people can “fully participate i... |
10641 | Ultrasound found to affect brain development in mice; experts urge limited use | Sonograms are a routine part of monitoring the developing fetus. Until recently, they were only done for medical purposes. However, women can now get songorams in many malls and shopping centers across the US, often in color and 3-D, to keep as mementoes. This story reports on a new study showing that prolonged exposur... | mixture | The story does not discuss costs. Because this story focuses on harms of ultrasound, quantification of benefits is not applicable in this case. The story does not adequately describe the harms of ultrasound. The story states that “a small number of nerve cells …. failed to extend correctly.” This is not sufficient info... | |
30502 | The National Rifle Association was formed for the express purpose of driving out the Ku Klux Klan and helping freed slaves defend themselves against racist attacks. | While it is not impossible that some black Americans were indirect beneficiaries of the NRA’s firearms training evangelism after the Civil War. | false | History, guns, KKK, ku klux klan | Since its inception as a group dedicated to providing marksmanship training in 1871, the National Rifle Association has grown into a powerful lobbying organization with a single overriding purpose: to promote and defend the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Some of the NRA’s rhetorical tactics on behalf of gun owner... |
5191 | Supreme Court leaves Kentucky’s ultrasound law in place. | The Supreme Court on Monday left in place a Kentucky law requiring doctors to perform ultrasounds and show fetal images to patients before abortions. | true | AP Top News, Matt Bevin, Health, General News, Abortion, Politics, Kentucky, U.S. Supreme Court, Ultrasound, Courts, Gun politics, Laws | The justices did not comment in refusing to review an appeals court ruling that upheld the law. Enforcement of the law had been on hold pending the legal challenge but will begin shortly, said Steve Pitt, general counsel to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin. The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged the law on behalf of... |
11060 | Fiber-based Lipozene’s weight-loss claims rest on thin evidence | "Lipozene, a weight-loss supplement containing a type of fiber called glucomannan, is being promoted as a magic bullet for weight loss. The evidence supporting this claim is weak at best as aptly indicated in this story’s headline. This story was well researched and did a good job evaluating and refuting Lipozene’s wei... | true | "A one month supply of Lipozene can cost up to $90 as reported in this story. This article also pointed out that other companies sell similar supplements for a much lower cost. This story is clear and accurate in its overall message that there appear to be no weight-loss benefits from taking Lipozene. This story uses e... | |
2784 | Georgia bill would seek limited access to medical marijuana strain. | Georgia state representative Allen Peake introduced a bill on Tuesday that would legalize a non-psychoactive strain of marijuana strictly limited to patients with severe seizure disorders. | true | Health News | The Republican lawmaker’s proposal is similar to legislation introduced recently in Florida and Alabama, while limiting its availability to a handful of medical research facilities. Peake’s interest in the issue was prompted by a constituent’s 4-year-old daughter, who suffers from a seizure disorder. “When I saw her, s... |
10115 | New colon cancer test makes screening easier | Early detection of colorectal cancer can save some lives. The perfect screen for the disease would be noninvasive, inexpensive, convenient, and highly accurate. Such a test has proven elusive, and researchers continue to look for better ones. This news story reports on a new colorectal screening test that uses a geneti... | false | "The story notes that one test that was available through June 1 costs about $800. It also mentioned that some insurance and health plans covered the cost partially or in full. The article says that experts at the American Cancer Society have added the newly recommended stool DNA screen to its screening guidelines beca... | |
16690 | We know how to stop AIDS: persuade men not to have sex with men. | "Fischer said, ""We know how to stop AIDS: persuade men not to have sex with men."" Though men who have sex with men are at the highest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS in America, this is not a serious solution to ending a pandemic disease. Not in the United States, and certainly not worldwide. Women, children, and men wh... | false | Gays and Lesbians, Health Care, PunditFact, Bryan Fischer, | "Some of the 298 passengers who died aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 were HIV/AIDS researchers and advocates headed for the 20th International AIDS Conference in Australia, a fact President Barack Obama mentioned after the plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine. Obama also said in July 18 comments about the crash ... |
1729 | Australian wildfires threaten to produce ashtray wine vintage. | Wildfires sweeping through southeast Australia are carrying with them the specter of a silent killer for grapes growing in the nearby Adelaide Hills wine region. | true | Environment | The vineyards have so far escaped the direct ravages of the worst bushfires for 30 years but winemakers fear their grapes may have fallen victim to “smoke taint”, which results in wines that taste like an ashtray and can ruin an entire vintage. As fears grow that climate change is lengthening the time and severity of A... |
9923 | New milestone for device that can 'smell' prostate cancer | News video screen grab: Prostate cancer screening sensor developed at the University of LiverpoolThis news release summarizes findings from a pilot study on a device that would screen for prostate cancer in men by “smelling” urine samples. The device employs gas chromotography, which separates and detects the presence ... | false | Academic medical center news release,Prostate cancer,Screening tests | There is no mention of the cost of this diagnostic test aside from the implication that it would be inexpensive. A lead researcher of the device states, “With help from industry partners we will be able to further develop the Odoreader, which will enable it to be used where it is needed most; at a patient’s bedside, in... |
33485 | A photograph captures a racially contradictory sign imploring that everyone be treated equally. | A follow-up Photoplasty contest from the same site in 2013 featured “The 28 Least Effective Public Service Announcements Possible.” | false | Fauxtography, Signs Of The Times | Public service announcements (PSA) are a type of message that originated in the mid-20th century with the intent of informing the public in order to raise awareness of and change attitudes towards various social issues, such as racism, drug use, environmentalism, obesity, animal cruelty, compulsive gambling, drunk driv... |
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