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33813 | Groucho Marx made a risqué wisecrack about his cigar to a female You Bet Your Life contestant with 19 children. | Rumor has it that Groucho Marx made a risqué wisecrack about his cigar to a female 'You Bet Your Life' contestant with 17 children. | false | Entertainment, ASP Article, Broadcast Legends, Groucho | You Bet Your Life was the post-World War II vehicle that provided Groucho Marx with a career apart from his brothers and introduced him to a generation of viewers too young to remember him from his stage or film work. The interview-quiz show, featuring the famous $100 bonus paid to any contestant who said the “secret w... |
854 | Indonesia's capital curbs private cars in bid to cut choking pollution. | Indonesia’s capital announced new curbs on private cars on Wednesday as it moves to rein in Jakarta’s choking air pollution, but experts warned the measures were unlikely to stamp out the problem. | true | Environment | The traffic-clogged city has more than 10 million residents, but about three times that number live in surrounding towns, swelling emissions from vehicles, factories and power stations. In the current dry season, Jakarta has consistently ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, based on data from Air Visual, a Sw... |
27425 | Seattle has imposed an excise tax on the distributors of sweetened drinks. | The stated purpose of the tax and the proceeds derived therefrom are to expand access to healthy and affordable food, close the food security gap (i.e., assist those who do not qualify for SNAP benefits), promote healthy nutrition choices, reduce disparities in social, developmental, and educational readiness and learn... | true | Politics Business, seattle | In January 2018, social media users began pondering a photograph seemingly showing a variety pack of Gatorade brand sports drink offered for sale at a Costco warehouse store in Seattle, priced at $26.33. What threw viewers for a loop was that the price of the drink itself was only $15.99, with another $10.34 (a markup ... |
9789 | Omega-3 oils shown as good for brain health in study involving older people | At least the Post, unlike CNN, managed to slip in a few caveats about the research in its 270-word snippet of a story. And it didn’t make any questionable claims about the health effects of omega-3s. However, the story lacked a clear explanation of the potential benefits and offered no independent perspective. Both wou... | false | dementia,Omega-3 | The cost of fish is not in question. The story tells us individuals with lower omega-3 levels “scored lower on cognitive tests measuring such things as memory, problem solving, abstract thinking and multi-tasking.” But how much lower were the scores and did they indicate a meaningful difference in how these people func... |
29564 | "The Obama Administration is ""fighting in court"" to allow non-citizens to vote in general elections." | "What's true: The League of Women Voters (along with the NAACP and other parties) filed for injunctive relief against the Election Assistance Commission on 12 February 2016 due to unilaterally imposed voter registration restrictions requiring ""documentary proof"" of American citizenship; current law prohibits non-citi... | false | Politics Ballot Box, DOJ, EAC, league of women voters | On 22 February 2016, the above-quoted text (and embedded video) began to get passed around on social media. The initial portion was transcribed and published by the Lou Dobbs Facebook page. Dobbs continued, concluding: …both organizations fighting to overturn state laws that ensure only citizens are allowed to register... |
29416 | A Minnesota man was jailed simply for possessing a windmill on his property. | What's true: Minnesota man Jay Nygard was jailed in October 2015 after being found in contempt of court for refusing to comply with an order to remove a concrete base from his property. What's false: Nygard was not thrown in jail for simply erecting a windmill; Nygard did not spend six months in jail. | false | Politics Legal, anonews.co, fake bans, illegal sustainable living | On 14 November 2016, The Mind Unleashed published an article reporting that a Minnesota man had been arrested and thrown in jail for six months simply because he had put up a windmill on his own (private) property: For more than a year, we have been following the story of a Minnesota man, Jay Nygard, who is routinely r... |
36019 | "Many people remember a line saying, ""I see white people"" in the film 'Scary Movie', which parodied, among other things, 'The Sixth Sense' — but that line is not actually in 'Scary Movie.'" | Scary Movie ‘I See White People’ Mandela Effect | true | Fact Checks, Viral Content | "Among the nooks and crannies of the internet lurk new generations of paranormal stories, rumors of alternate universes, and shared institutional memories that are presented as proof of parallel timelines bleeding into one another in a broader theory popularly called the “Mandela Effect.”In one such shared (but inaccur... |
9287 | Clinical trial examines safety, effectiveness of drug to treat binge eating disorder | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has proposed waiving a tax on coal to help finance pollution-curbing equipment, according to documents, but the move would also make coal more competitive in price with solar and wind energy. | true | binge-eating disorder,JAMA,Monica Seles,Shire Pharmaceuticals,Vyvnase | Modi’s office has proposed waiving the carbon tax of 400 rupees ($5.61) per tonne that was levied on the production and import of coal, according to the documents reviewed by Reuters. The documents say the savings would improve the financial health of utilities and distribution companies, and help the power producers t... |
12546 | President Trump last month proposed a $6 billion cut in funding to the National Institutes of Health. And thank God our congressmen made a deal last night to not go along with that. They actually increased funding by $2 billion. | "Kimmel said, ""President Trump last month proposed a $6 billion cut in funding to the National Institutes of Health. And thank God our congressmen made a deal last night to not go along with that. They actually increased funding by $2 billion."" Technically, the two funding changes Kimmel referenced are for different ... | true | Federal Budget, Health Care, Science, PunditFact, Jimmy Kimmel, | "During his widely watched monologue about his newborn son’s recent medical emergency, ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel offered a bit of praise for one group of Americans that doesn’t receive much love these days: members of Congress. ""President Trump last month proposed a $6 billion cut in funding to the National Ins... |
36686 | "Two videos show ""Muslim migrants"" and ""a Muslim mob"" attacking people." | Zimbabwe state doctors who were fired for going on strike have rejected a government offer to return to work, their union said on Friday. | false | Disinformation, Fact Checks, Politics, Trump, Viral Content | The doctors went on strike on Sept.3 to protest against poor wages, in some cases less than US$100 a month. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, which responded to the job boycott by firing 448 doctors and pursuing disciplinary action against more than 1,000 others, on Thursday offered to reinstate them if they r... |
7783 | As Ebola threatens mega-cities, vaccine stockpile needs grow. | Doubts are growing about whether the world’s emergency stockpile of 300,000 Ebola vaccine doses is enough to control future epidemics as the deadly disease moves out of rural forest areas and into urban mega-cities. | true | Health News | Outbreak response experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) and at the vaccines alliance GAVI are already talking to the leading Ebola vaccine manufacturer, Merck, to reassess just how much larger global stocks need to be. “We’re actively engaged with the World Health Organization and with groups like GAVI, the U.... |
31455 | Former Alaska governor was critically injured in an automobile accident. | Reports that the former Alaska governor was critically injured in an automobile accident are fake news. | false | Junk News, sarah palin | In April 2017, several web sites posted articles reporting that former Alaska governor was critically injured in an automobile accident (along with the suggestion that the incident was no “accident”): It seems as though there may be more than the normal forces at play here. Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin was th... |
9601 | A Cavity-Fighting Liquid Lets Kids Avoid Dentists’ Drills | The story focuses on the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to treat and prevent dental cavities, particularly in children. The story does a good job of addressing cost, discussing benefits in context, and drawing on input from a variety of independent sources. But the article seems to be somewhat one sided, praising... | true | dentistry | The story addresses cost in multiple places. One dentist notes that using SDF “comes out to pennies per tooth.” Elsewhere, the story refers to the overall treatment as costing $25 — and notes that getting a cavity filled at the same dentist’s office costs $151. We were glad to see the cost of a traditional filling incl... |
31413 | "A Clinton Foundation cargo ship arriving from Africa was raided and found to contain ""illegal contraband"" in the form of foreign refugees, narcotics, weapons, and illegal fruits." | The Resistance may include information from sources that may or may not be reliable and facts that don’t necessarily exist. All articles should be considered satirical and any and all quotes attributed to actual people complete and total baloney. Pictures that represent actual people should be considered altered and no... | false | Junk News, clinton foundation, fake news, last line of defense | On 11 May 2017, a slew of disreputable web sites posted an article alleging that a massive number of contraband items were discovered during a customs raid on a container ship belonging to the Clinton Foundation: A ship owned and operated by the Clinton Foundation was raided as it arrived from Africa this morning at th... |
29462 | Radio personality Michael Savage was fired because he talked about Hillary Clinton's health on the air. | What's true: Michael Savage's nationally syndicated radio show was temporarily preempted by one station in favor of live, on-scene coverage of the 26 September 2016 presidential debate. What's false: Michael Savage was not fired or removed from the airwaves for discussing Hillary Clinton's health. | false | Politics Conspiracy Theories, clinton health, conspiracy theories, curtis sliwa | On 26 September 2016 rumors began circulating that popular conservative political commentator Michael Savage had been fired, replaced by a liberal host, or forcibly removed from the radio airwaves by operatives of Hillary Clinton after he published the following tweets: I’VE BEEN SABOTAGED ON AIR. TO DESTROY SUPPORT FO... |
2986 | High anxiety: Proposed US hemp rules worry industry . | Hemp growers and entrepreneurs who were joyous a year ago after U.S. lawmakers reclassified the plant as a legal agricultural crop now are worried their businesses could be crippled if federal policymakers move ahead with draft regulations. | true | Plants, Health, General News, Marijuana, Business, Science, U.S. News, Agriculture | Licenses for hemp cultivation topped a half-million acres (200,000 hectares) last year, more than 450% above 2018 levels, so there’s intense interest in the rules the U.S. government is creating. Critical comments on the draft have poured in from hemp farmers, processors, retailers and state governments. Growers are co... |
5435 | ‘An Inconvenient Sequel’ kicks off climate-focused Sundance. | Ten years after the watershed environmental documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” debuted, climate change is as dire as ever and yet the solutions are right in front of us, say directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, whose film “An Inconvenient Sequel” kicks off the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday. | true | Al Gore, Climate, Climate change, Park City, Entertainment, Utah, Movies, Documentaries, Robert Redford, Environment, Film festivals, Sundance Film Festival | The film, which follows former Vice President Al Gore on his continued quest to educate and inform the public and world leaders on climate change, is the first in a series of 14 environmentally focused documentaries scheduled to play at the annual film festival in their newly anointed “New Climate” section. The films i... |
11403 | Your hairs are what you eat, study says | This story reports on the results of a new study describing the use of hair samples to diagnose eating disorders. This short story does not present much information and leaves the reader wondering if hair sample analysis could be useful in clinical practice or if it will simply be an interesting research tool. The stor... | false | "The story does not mention any costs of the hair analysis. The story does not adequately quantify the benefits of the test. Although the story says that the test was correct 80% of the time, it is not clear what this means. Does this mean that the test was positive 80% of the time in women with eating disorders (i.e. ... | |
7539 | Georgia to reopen some businesses as early as Friday. | Georgia’s governor announced plans Monday to restart the state’s economy before the end of the week, saying many businesses that closed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus could reopen as early as Friday. | true | AP Top News, Health, Anthony Fauci, General News, Restaurants, Tennessee, Georgia, Atlanta, Virus Outbreak, U.S. News | The governor in neighboring Tennessee planned to let businesses in most of his state begin reopening as soon as next week. Georgia’s timetable, one of the most aggressive in the nation, would allow gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and tattoo parlors to reopen as long as owners follow strict social-distancing and hygie... |
18193 | Sarah Ponder Says $800,000 cost of Texas special legislative session would pay for 1.6 million condoms, 90,000 months of the pill or 20 full-time sexual health educators. | "Ponder used a conservative estimate for the cost of the second special session, presuming it runs for the full 30 days. She used the lowest price we found for the pill, a mid-range price for condoms and a salary that doesn’t seem out of line for an entry-level sexual health educator position, so it’s probably true tha... | true | Abortion, Texas, Sarah Ponder, | "Amid thousands of protesters at the Texas Capitol, Sarah Ponder of Austin carried a sign with a financial comparison: ""$800,000: 1.6 million condoms, 90K months of the pill, 20 full-time sexual health educators or 1 medically unnecessary & hypocritical special session,"" it read. The July 1, 2013, rally took place th... |
11080 | Weekend workouts can benefit health as much as a week of exercise, say researchers | This story looks at an observational study comparing frequency of exercise vs no exercise on early risk of death, with an emphasis placed on “weekend warrior” style exercise. Like we saw in our review of Newsweek’s take on this study, this story from The UK Guardian confuses association with causation. It also didn’t m... | true | The Guardian | We don’t think that cost is relevant here. Like the story in Newsweek, which we also reviewed, this story does not provide an adequate sense of the size of the potential benefits, stating: In the study, those who met the physical activity target by exercising through the week had a 35% lower risk of death than the inac... |
3996 | Animal health care company to open Mississippi facility. | An animal health care company has announced a new Mississippi distribution center, carrying a $1.7 million investment and the creation of 27 jobs. | true | Mississippi, North America, Phil Bryant, Health, Animal health | Henry Schein Animal Health announced in a news release Monday that it will begin operations in a 50,000-square-foot facility in Southaven in December. Henry Schein Animal Health offers products and solutions to more than 29,000 veterinary professionals. Gov. Phil Bryant said northern Mississippi’s transportation networ... |
5740 | Vaccine panel gives nod to HPV shots for men up to age 26. | A vaccine against cervical and other cancers should be recommended for both men and women up to age 26, a U.S. government advisory panel decided Wednesday. | true | Immunizations, Cancer, Health, General News, Atlanta | The vaccine protects against HPV, a virus that is commonly spread through sex and can cause certain cancers and genital warts. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ vote in Atlanta raises the recommended vaccination age for men from 21 to 26, making it the same as the existing recommendation for women. The ... |
23226 | When Washington liberals wanted to take away our guns, Chet said no. | Rep. Chet Edwards says he said no to Washington liberals who wanted to take away our guns | false | Message Machine 2010, Texas, Guns, Chet Edwards, | "Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's faux-news program ""The Daily Show,"" wryly noted on its Sept. 29 episode that the Obama administration's track record is ""why you see so many Democrats running ads proudly touting their party's accomplishments."" Then flowed a montage of Democratic campaign ads denouncing Presid... |
26039 | Facebook post Says Gov. Tony Evers “removed the American flag from the Capitol building” | The picture presented as proof was from a rally in support of reopening Wisconsin on April 24, 2020. Like most protests, that occurred on the West side of the building, where the flagpole atop the entrance is controlled by the state Assembly. The Assembly only flies the U.S. flag there when in session, and they weren’t... | false | States, Wisconsin, Coronavirus, Facebook posts, | "When protesters gathered at the state Capitol in April to call for Gov. Tony Evers to reopen the state, the lack of an American flag at their chosen location became a point of contention. The Associated Press reported chants of ""Where’s our flag?"" and protesters calling it a ""disgrace."" A similar claim surfaced in... |
35858 | The so-called “Benadryl Challenge” went viral on TikTok in 2020, challenging teenagers to overdose on the allergy medication to elicit hallucinatory effects, prompting warnings from medical experts over the potential risk of overdose death. | Benadryl owner Johnson & Johnson wrote that the misuse of its drug can lead to serious side effects with “potentially long-lasting or even life-threatening consequences.” | true | Viral Phenomena | Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know may be suffering from an overdose. In Summer 2020, the so-named “Benadryl Challenge” dared social media users — generally teenagers — to overdose on the common allergy medication Benadryl to elicit a hallucinatory effect, record a video of the user’s reaction, and share t... |
10870 | Antidepressant May Help Ease Hot Flashes | In contrast with the poorly sourced blog post, this story includes comments from two experts who provide valuable context about the findings of a recent trial. And while the discussion of harms was still inadequate, this story did at least mention the possibility of harm from the treatment and described one of the most... | true | WebMD | The article did not include information about the cost of this medication. According to recent Consumer Reports data, Lexapro at the dosages studied here would cost about $110 a month. This significant cost is something to bear in mind considering the modest benefit the drug confers compared to a sugar pill. The story ... |
37612 | If you can't speak when calling 999 (the UK's version of 911), pressing 55 will alert the operator to your emergency. | For ‘Silent Help,’ ‘Ring 999, Then Press 55’ | mixture | Fact Checks, Viral Content | In January 2020, a Facebook photograph of a printed sign purportedly provided valuable advice to callers of 999, several countries’ version of the United States’ 911 — claiming that for “silent help,” callers impeded from speaking could dial “55” to alert the service to an emergency:A crumpled printout depicted in the ... |
3004 | New York called to include menthol in flavored tobacco ban. | New York lawmakers could ban flavored tobacco products amid growing concern over the tobacco and vaping industry’s use of flavorings to attract young people and African Americans, though it’s unclear whether a push to ban menthol cigarettes will succeed. | true | Albany, Health, General News, New York, Vaping, Bills, Tobacco industry regulation | The Democratic Senate Majority plans to pass a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and also smokeless flavored tobacco products as soon as next week, a Democratic Senate spokesman said Monday. Senate Democrats also plan to move ahead on seven other bills including a study on the long-term health effects of e-cigar... |
34707 | The artificial butter flavoring used in microwave popcorn poses a danger of lung damage to ordinary consumers. | Does the artificial butter flavoring used in microwave popcorn pose a danger of lung damage to ordinary consumers? | unproven | Medical, ASP Article, food warnings, microwave popcorn | It should come as no surprise to most consumers that many of the flavors found in modern packaged food products are created through the use of chemical flavorings. One example of such is diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial butter flavoring which is commonly found in microwave popcorn. Studies have linked diacetyl w... |
7794 | Snowstorms shut down Ireland, Britain calls in army for hospitals. | Snowstorms shut most of Ireland on Friday and forced Britain to call in the army to help battle some of the worst weather seen for nearly 30 years. | true | Environment | After a blast of Siberian cold dubbed “the beast from the east”, southern Britain and Ireland were battered by Storm Emma that arrived from the south and blocked roads, grounded planes and stopped trains. Overnight blizzards left snow drifts up to three feet (90 cm) deep across Ireland and Scotland. The storm knocked o... |
24614 | 53 percent of Americans cut back on their health care in the last year because of costs. | Pascrell says 53 percent of Americans cut back on health care due to costs | mixture | National, Health Care, Bill Pascrell, | The debate over reforming the U.S. health care system has inspired a torrent of often conflicting statistics. We will look at three assertions made by Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey. In this item, we will test his assertion that 53 percent of Americans cut back on their health care in the last year because... |
5340 | New Mexico governor seeks ideas for recreational pot law. | New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is launching a new effort to craft legislation that could legalize recreational marijuana sales next year. | true | Fiscal policy, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Health, Recreational marijuana, General News, Legislation, Marijuana, Business, New Mexico | The first-year Democratic governor announced Friday her recruitment of health, legal and fiscal policy experts to serve in a new discussion group that provides recommendations on state legalization. Members of the group include Democratic and Republican legislators who sponsored unsuccessful legislation this year to au... |
12767 | And this would be the first year, if everything holds true, we will spend over $10 billion of our state budget on Medicaid out of the $28 billion budget. | "Rowden was trying to illustrate that Medicaid spending has reached out-of-control levels. According to Greitens' budget recommendations for fiscal year 2018, the budget for Medicaid has gone up over $1 billion in the last three years and now takes up approximately 37 percent of the state budget. Despite the growing co... | true | Health Care, Medicaid, Public Health, Missouri, Caleb Rowden, | "A hot-button topic in Missouri this year has been the state budget, a large part of which goes to social services, primarily Medicaid. With more budget cuts looming, funding these services may be hard to maintain. That’s what state Sen. Caleb Rowden suggested in mid-January before Gov. Eric Greitens unveiled his propo... |
16130 | The number of killings of citizens by police is at a two-decade high. | "Morial said, ""The number of killings of citizens by police is at a two-decade high."" Morial was quoting a USA Today analysis based on FBI statistics. In that sense, Morial seemed to have good sources. But digging deeper showed the information is hardly reliable. Only a fraction of law enforcement agencies provide th... | mixture | National, Criminal Justice, Crime, Marc Morial, | "The shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown by former Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson has sparked national dialogues ranging from the racial makeup of police forces to the militarization of local law enforcement. Another issue up for debate is the use of deadly force by police. On this topic, we hear... |
27088 | Anti-abortion Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais testified that he encouraged some women to have abortions. | “Despite a fixation by his political opponents on the details of a previous marriage from the 1990s, the people of Tennessee’s Fourth District have shown they care much more about the Congressman’s job in Washington than the details of a divorce,” a spokesman for DesJarlais said in 2015. | true | Politics | With restrictive abortion laws either being proposed or passed in multiple states in May 2019, Snopes.com readers have inquired about years-old reports about U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, an anti-abortion Republican legislator from Tennessee who had testified almost two decades earlier during his divorce proceedings that... |
23314 | Jeff Merkley Says with the ongoing economic downturn, child abuse is on the rise. | Jeff Merkley says with the economic downturn Oregon is seeing more child abuse | true | Oregon, Children, Economy, Families, Jeff Merkley, | "Sen. Jeff Merkley appeared at the new Children’s Center in Clackamas County to raise awareness about an increase in child abuse and, according to his news release, to highlight ""the correlation to the economic downturn."" ""Even one case of child abuse or neglect is too many, and with the ongoing economic downturn, t... |
1505 | Millions of Americans to gaze upon Monday's once-in-a-lifetime eclipse. | Twilight will fall at midday on Monday, stars will glimmer and birds will roost in an eerie stillness as millions of Americans and visitors witness the first total solar eclipse to traverse the United States from coast to coast in 99 years. | true | Environment | "The sight of the moon’s shadow passing directly in front of the sun, blotting out all but the halo-like solar corona, may draw the largest live audience for a celestial event in human history. When those watching via broadcast and online media are factored into the mix, the spectacle will likely smash records. “It wil... |
21066 | "D.A. King Says Rick Perry ""proposed a binational health insurance program with Mexico." | Did Rick Perry propose a bi-national health care plan with Mexico? | true | Georgia, Immigration, D.A. King, | "The term ""Obamacare"" is used by critics to describe the health care overhaul that President Barack Obama signed into law last year. And some conservatives derisively use the phrase ""Romneycare"" to slight Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and the changes he approved to Massachusetts’ health care system ... |
33290 | A new tranquilizer dart gun on the market is designed to put children to sleep. | Fake news site reports the FDA has approved the sale of a new tranquilizer dart gun intended to put children to sleep. | false | Media Matters, ASP Article, fake news, newswatch 28 | On 8 May 2015, the web site Newswatch 28 published an article reporting that the FDA had approved a new tranquilizer dart to put children to sleep: The Food and Drug Association (FDA) has announced this morning that it has approved pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson’s request to produce and sell tranquilizer dart g... |
5025 | Evers vows to ‘fight like hell’ for Medicaid expansion. | Democratic Gov. Tony Evers pledged Thursday to “fight like hell” to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin, a day after Republican legislative leaders said they would kill his proposal next week. | true | Wisconsin, Public opinion, Health, Scott Walker, Medicaid | A defiant Evers held a news conference with Democratic lawmakers to urge the public to call Republicans and tell them to approve Medicaid expansion. They cited public opinion polls that showed a wide majority of support for Medicaid expansion. “We’re not giving up,” Evers said. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, su... |
21 | Exclusive: India's NTPC snubs foreign emissions tech, shuts out GE, others from $2 billion orders. | Top Indian electricity generator NTPC has rejected the emissions-cutting technology of GE and other foreign firms for its coal-fired plants, documents show, shutting them out of an estimated $2 billion in orders. | true | Environment | Despite struggling with some of the world’s worst air pollution levels, India has already pushed back a deadline to cut emission levels to up to 2022, after extensive lobbying by power producers who cited high costs and technical difficulties. The rejection of the foreign technology comes at a time when over half of co... |
12315 | "Blogger Says ""CNN host Fareed Zakaria calls for jihad rape of white women." | Recycled parody: CNN's Zakaria calls for jihadi rape of white women | false | National, Fake news, Islam, Bloggers, | "CNN’s Fareed Zakaria presents himself as an urbane observer of the global scene and not the sort of person to call for violence against women. But the website teoinfo.com sought to cast Zakaria in a much different -- and false -- light. The website ran an article June 30 with the headline: CNN Host Fareed Zakaria Call... |
2142 | Researchers dig up controversy in Jerusalem. | Archaeologists in Jerusalem are competing to unearth artifacts pointing to the ancient city’s Jewish past, which are used to justify Israel’s claim to all of it as the indivisible capital of the modern Jewish state. | true | Science News | Archaeologist Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem gestures near an archaeological site known as the City of David during an interview with Reuters in Jerusalem's Old City March 4, 2010. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen But critics say some of “finds” are really just bending science to prove a “Biblical heritage” t... |
17756 | If I have affordable coverage in my workplace, I'm not eligible to go into the marketplace. ... It’s illegal. | "It’s pretty clear Sebelius was wrong when she said ""it’s illegal"" for her to buy insurance on the exchange because she already has affordable insurance through her employer. Those inclined to do so certainly can, though the financial incentives to stay with the employer-based plan are quite convincing." | false | National, Health Care, Kathleen Sebelius, | "Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before Congress Oct. 30 for the first time since the federal health care marketplaces went online, answering questions about problems with the website and facing accusations that President Barack Obama lied to the American people about who c... |
6789 | Plague in Madagascar hits urban areas, kills 2 dozen people. | Authorities in Madagascar are struggling to contain an outbreak of plague that has killed two-dozen people in recent weeks and has prompted a ban on large public gatherings in the capital to curb the disease’s spread. | true | Madagascar, Health, Antananarivo, Africa, Plague, Basketball | The dead include a basketball coach from the Seychelles who was participating in a tournament in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo. Five people have died of plague in the capital, reported L’Express de Madagascar, a daily newspaper. The government has begun a campaign to disinfect school classrooms in the city, compel... |
3441 | Germany: Rare virus linked to more fatal encephalitis cases. | A review of fatal encephalitis cases in the southern German state of Bavaria has found that more than twice as many as previously known were tied to a rare animal-borne virus, researchers said Wednesday. | true | Health, Europe, General News, Germany, Animal health | The Federal Research Institute for Animal Health said scientists examined brain samples from 56 people who died in Bavaria between 1999 and 2019. They found evidence of Borna disease virus in eight samples. Along with six previously known cases since the mid-1990s, this brings to 14 the number of encephalitis deaths in... |
9467 | A new study claims prostate cancer screenings significantly reduce deaths. Not everyone agrees | This examination of two new mathematical modeling studies on the value of PSA testing accurately nails the problems in interpreting research of this nature and why it is difficult to draw firm conclusions. The reader is left with a broader understanding of different factors that might affect prostate cancer detection, ... | true | prostate cancer | The lack of any cost information is one flaw to this article. Reminding the readers of the costs of PSA screening programs–in terms of the huge volume of medical services that it can catalyze (including the costs of the test itself, the drugs, surgeries, urology consultations, hospital and operating time, as well as th... |
16157 | "Austin mayoral candidate Steve Adler opposed an injunction to stop a ""company from dumping petrochemicals directly into the Barton Springs aquifer." | "Rockwell said Adler opposed an injunction to stop a ""company from dumping petrochemicals directly into the Barton Springs aquifer."" It’s not that simple. Adler, representing Lowe’s in court, opposed a successful push by the City of Sunset Valley and environmental groups to get a temporary injunction to stop Lowe’s f... | mixture | Environment, City Government, Corrections and Updates, Texas, Brad Rockwell, | "UPDATE, 5:30 p.m., Nov. 25, 2014: After hearing from Rockwell, we removed parts of our original story: testimony about whether mechanical systems could cause the project to meet anti-pollution standards – an element that didn’t speak to Rockwell’s claim – and a comment by a lawyer that workers took care of spilled gas... |
6495 | Fresh grounds for coffee: Study shows it may boost longevity. | Go ahead and have that cup of coffee, maybe even several more. New research shows it may boost chances for a longer life, even for those who down at least eight cups daily. | true | Coffee, AP Top News, Genetics, Chicago, Health, U.S. News | In a study of nearly half-a-million British adults, coffee drinkers had a slightly lower risk of death over 10 years than abstainers. The apparent longevity boost was seen with instant, ground and decaffeinated, results that echo U.S. research. It’s the first large study to suggest a benefit even in people with genetic... |
4979 | Obesity surgery may lower heart attack danger in diabetics. | Obesity surgery may dramatically lower the danger of heart attacks and strokes in patients with diabetes, new research suggests, reinforcing evidence that benefits extend beyond weight loss. | true | Weight loss surgery, Health, North America, Diabetes, Stroke, AP Top News, Heart attack, Obesity, Seattle, U.S. News | The study tracked about 20,000 severely obese patients with Type 2 diabetes. Those who had weight loss surgery had a 40 percent lower chance of developing a heart attack or stroke in the five years following surgery compared to those who got usual care with diabetes medicines or insulin. For every 1,000 patients in the... |
7755 | France to cull wild boar at Belgium border in swine fever alert. | France will cull all wild boar in a zone along the Belgian border to try and avoid an outbreak of a deadly swine disease after new cases were discovered nearby in Belgium, the French agriculture ministry said on Monday. | true | Health News | France has been on alert for African swine fever since the virus was confirmed in September among wild boar in Belgium, not far from the French border. African swine fever, harmless for humans, is often deadly for pigs, and outbreaks in eastern Europe and China have disrupted the pork industry there. “The confirmation ... |
41948 | "Says an Obama-era rule denied gun rights to the elderly who ""sought help to do their taxes." | In a speech to conservatives, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre distorted the facts when talking about the federal system for conducting background checks on prospective gun buyers. | false | background checks, Guns, | In a speech to conservatives, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre distorted the facts when talking about the federal system for conducting background checks on prospective gun buyers.LaPierre got a lot wrong when describing a rescinded Obama-era rule requiring the Social Security Administration to report cert... |
4651 | Marijuana farms may be straining New Mexico water supplies. | More medical marijuana plants are being grown in New Mexico than ever, and the crop could be straining local water supplies. | true | New Mexico, Water rights, Marijuana, Medical marijuana | Two rural water systems in Sandoval County say the crop may be depleting local water supplies, and they say they have been left powerless to stop it, the Albuquerque Journal reports. The Peña Blanca Water and Sanitation District and Sile Mutual Domestic Water and Sewer Association sent a letter last month to state agen... |
10551 | Fish Oil Use in Pregnancy Didn’t Make Babies Smart | "This story didn’t fare quite as well in our scoring as a competing Wall Street Journal story. However, neither story adequately explained what can actually and effectively be measured at 18 months of age that is compelling. Can anything definitively – pro or con – be said so early? Did the researchers get out ahead of... | mixture | "No discussion of cost and we always think there should be. On the ""smarter babies"" issue, the story reported ""no cognitive difference at 18 months whether mothers received DHA supplements or placebos."" Perhaps that’s sufficient on the one issue. But then it also reported ""the new study showed small reductions in ... | |
5723 | Eastern equine encephalitis detected in 2 more communities. | New Hampshire health officials say that Eastern equine encephalitis has been detected in three mosquito batches, one in Portsmouth and two in Fremont. | true | Health, New Hampshire, Portsmouth | WMUR-TV reports the New Hampshire Bureau of Infections Disease Control has raised the risk level in Fremont high, where a batch positive for Eastern equine encephalitis in September. Batches for the virus also have tested positive for the disease in Pelham, Manchester, Candia, Sandown, Hampstead and Newton. There have ... |
6229 | Study: More evidence links earthquakes to energy waste wells. | Scientists say they have more evidence that an increase in earthquakes on the Colorado-New Mexico border since 2001 has been caused by wells that inject wastewater from oil and gas production back underground, similar to human-caused quakes in Oklahoma and other states. | true | Colorado, Business, Geophysics, Science, University of Colorado, Wastewater, New Mexico | A paper published last week by researchers at the University of Colorado concluded that the wastewater caused a big enough increase in underground pressure to make rock formations slip along fault lines. “You find that the pressure changes at a given depth are enough to trigger earthquakes,” said Jenny Nakai, the paper... |
26706 | "Being exposed to the sun for two hours"" kills the 2019 coronavirus." | There is no evidence that sun exposure kills the 2019 coronavirus. UNICEF has debunked a post that claims the organization said sunlight is effective against the virus. There is evidence that viruses don’t like heat. President Trump has said coronavirus infections could slow with warmer weather, but some experts doubt ... | false | Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Facebook posts, | "According to a recent Facebook hoax, all you need to cure the 2019 coronavirus is a little sunshine. An image published March 9 claims to show a list of recommendations from UNICEF for preventing and treating the virus. Among them include ""drinking hot water and sun exposure"" and ""stay away from ice cream and eatin... |
9872 | Flash: No Needles. Acupuncture No Better Than Placebo for Hot Flashes | This is a well-balanced and thorough report on the first randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes. It clearly describes the problem, the study, and its results. The writer provides useful context for understanding the scope of the problem and why researchers are interested in finding altern... | true | The article does not include any information on the cost of acupuncture or on whether insurers cover this for any indications. The story notes how many women in the acupuncture and sham treatment groups were still having hot flashes at the end of the active treatment part of the trial. The story states that women in th... | |
22087 | You can't give a child an aspirin in school without permission. You can't do any kind of medication, but we can secretly take the child off and have an abortion. | The thrust of Oelrich's point is correct: You can’t give a child an aspirin in school without permission. To administer any non-prescription medication, school officials must have approval from the parent. And in some cases, the schools also need a note from a doctor -- even for cough drops. While Oelrich is right abou... | true | Abortion, Health Care, Florida, Steve Oelrich, | "In a show of Republican muscle, Florida lawmakers passed several bills relating to abortion during this year’s legislative session. One proposal awaiting the signature of Gov. Rick Scott requires young women who want a judge to waive the parental-notification requirement to obtain the waiver in a circuit court closer ... |
3684 | Agency: Partially treated sewage enters Delaware Bay. | Partially treated sewage is still flowing into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and the lower Delaware Bay due to a system malfunction at a treatment plant, state officials said. | true | Environment, General News, Delaware, Wastewater, Dover | The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control learned of an equipment failure at the Lewes Wastewater Treatment Plant on Dec. 18, the Delaware News Journal reported on Wednesday. Because the problems couldn’t be fixed quickly, the plant had to bypass stages of treatment and discharge partially treated e... |
8129 | India shuts down flights, big cities as coronavirus toll rises in region. | India on Monday announced a halt to domestic flights and said the majority of the country was under complete lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus as the number of people dying of the disease ticked up across densely populated South Asia. | true | Health News | "India has reported 471 cases of the coronavirus but health experts have warned that a big jump could be imminent, which would overwhelm the underfunded and crumbling public health infrastructure. On Monday, India confirmed two more deaths, bringing the total to nine. One was a 54-year-old man with no history of foreig... |
2803 | Europe assessing if weight affects 'morning after pill' success. | European regulators said on Friday they would assess whether emergency contraceptives, known as the “morning after pill” worked as effectively in women weighing more than 165.34 pounds, and whether the warning labels should be changed. | true | Health News | The review was requested by the Swedish medicines regulatory agency, which decided in November to amend the product information for Norlevo, which contains levonorgestrel, the European Medicines Agency said. The labeling was changed to say that in clinical trials, contraceptive efficacy was reduced in women weighing 16... |
4443 | Huntsmans give $150M to start mental health institute. | A new mental health institute funded by a $150 million donation from the influential Huntsman family will focus on researching the genetic causes of the illnesses and provide more treatment to college students and rural residents, the University of Utah announced Monday. | true | Genetics, Mental health, Health, General News, Utah, Jon Huntsman Sr. | The Huntsman Mental Health Institute will aim to provide research-based treatment and help fund the University of Utah Health’s psychiatry department, according to a news release. The Huntsmans already have a major cancer research center in Utah that bears the family name. The late Jon Huntsman Sr. was the founder of a... |
9482 | Novel Procedure Improves Kidney Transplant Success | This news article describes a small clinical trial of an enzyme engineered to remove sensitizing antibodies from a patient about to undergo kidney transplantation within a few hours, increasing the chances of transplant success for potentially thousands of patients whose bodies are likely to quickly and forcefully reje... | true | kidney donation | Although the article notes that current desensitization efforts involving time-consuming immune system drug infusions to stifle rejection antibodies add up to $30,000 to the cost of a transplant, it does not make any estimate of the cost of the enzyme infusion that was the subject of the “novel” approach described in t... |
29871 | "A bill before the Oregon state legislature is “designed to allow for the starving of patients with dementia or mental illness"" to death. " | Because both Senate Bill 494 or House Bill 4135 did not substantively alter the legal requirements for terminating life support in incapable adults, however, we rank as false the claim that these bills’ purpose was “designed to allow for the starving of patients with dementia or mental illness.” | false | Politics | On 6 February 2017, the pro-life website Life News published an article headlined “Oregon Bill Would Allow Starving Mentally Ill Patients to Death.” That article, consisting primarily of a press release from the Oregon Right to Life group, reported on Oregon Senate Bill 494, which proposed changes to that state’s advan... |
10664 | Two new blood thinners better than Plavix and warfarin, studies say | This story reported on two studies published in the same issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Both studies compared the effects of an anti-clotting medication on a currently available treatment, though the two studies involved different patient populations. The story never made clear whether there was a connec... | true | "As the drug reported on is currently not available a precise cost may not yet be known. However – while not providing a precise cost of this treatment, the story indicated that it is likely to cost more than the currently approved and available clopidogrel especially in 2011 when it will be off patent. The story descr... | |
27181 | President Trump did not recite the Apostles' Creed as other attendees did during George H.W. Bush's funeral. | This wasn’t the only criticism levied at President Trump over something he allegedly did (or didn’t do) at George H.W. Bush’s funeral. Many social media users also accused him of disrespecting the deceased by failing to place his hand over his heart while the former president’s casket was carried into Washington Nation... | true | Politics, donald trump | The Apostles’ Creed is a statement of Christian belief commonly recited during services in a number of Christian denominations. The text of the creed varies with translation and denomination, but the English Language Liturgical Consultation version, for example, reads as follows: I believe in God, the Father almighty,... |
31574 | "There are ""no-go zones"" in Sweden where the police can't enter." | Those news reports are a far cry from the experiences of Malmö citizens, however. “I don’t recognize at all the picture in the media versus what my experience is,” Malmö resident Pontus Böckman told us. “We feel safe.” | false | Crime, crime, sweden, sweden refugees | This is Part III of a three-part series about crime in Sweden. Read Part I “Is Sweden the ‘Rape Capital’ of Europe” and Part II, “Are Refugee Men Overrepresented in Swedish Crime?” One of the most persistent myths about crime in Sweden is that some areas are so dangerous due to outlaw asylum seekers that police can’t ... |
7427 | Jobless claims decline as New Mexico prepares for reopening. | Fewer people filed for unemployment benefits for the week ending May 9, and state officials are hopeful that number will decline even more as New Mexico businesses prepare for the relaxing of coronavirus restrictions beginning Saturday. | true | General News, Virus Outbreak, Jobless claims, Public health, New Mexico | Numbers from the federal government show jobless claims dropped by about 35% from the previous week. In all, New Mexico has processed more than 139,000 claims since mid-March, and more than 96,000 employees — or one in eight eligible workers in the state — were receiving benefits as of early May. The latest numbers com... |
26001 | “COVID19 PCR tests are scientifically meaningless.” | Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are among the most common and reliable ways to test for the coronavirus. These tests look for the genetic material of the coronavirus in a sample that’s typically taken from a person’s nose or throat. Health care providers use them to confirm whether someone has the disease. | false | Public Health, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Bloggers, | "The United States has ramped up its COVID-19 testing capacity this summer in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Some bloggers and Facebook users say that’s a mistake. In a June 27 article, a website called OffGuardian wrote that the tests many health care providers use to diagnose COVID-19 are ""scientifically... |
11166 | The Healthy Skeptic: DHA touted as ‘smart’ pill for kids | We typically love the Healthy Skeptic column and truly look forward to its thoughtful analysis of health claims being made for various products and treatments. In this piece about DHA supplements, though, we felt there wasn’t enough hard-hitting skepticism. The story did a great job explaining the supplements themselve... | mixture | Los Angeles Times,Supplements | The story helpfully gives the price information for both products described. Even in the two studies that are cited, the benefits of DHA are not quantified. We don’t understand how you can note the lack of research on a topic, quote a study showing that children’s behavior actually worsened while taking the pills but t... |
8036 | U.S. group bombards doctors with coronavirus petition to cut 'red tape'. | Dr. Eric Anderson had just finished vacuuming his New Hampshire home early on Wednesday when the phone in his pocket buzzed with an unusual text message. | true | Health News | The message - part of a barrage of texts sent to doctors across the nation - urged him to sign a petition in support of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump as a potential miracle cure for COVID-19, the contagious and sometimes deadly respiratory disease caused by the new coronaviru... |
9174 | More IV fluids, fewer c-sections | Despite efforts by obstetrical organizations and other groups over the years to reduce cesarean surgeries, the procedure continues to be performed in approximately one-in-three births in the United States. The study described here explores the possible benefits of increased hydration during labor and finds, via a well-... | mixture | cesarean,Thomas Jefferson University | Cost does not make an appearance in this release. The concept may seem trivial when considering the cheap ingredients in saline fluid, but little about American medical care is cheap. Another important consideration is the cost of cesarean section compared with that of vaginal delivery, which is not addressed in the re... |
33647 | Pop star Lady Gaga is a 'hermaphrodite.' | For those who don’t fancy placing full faith in any one celebrity’s word, particularly where potentially delicate matters are concerned, we note that no one (of either sex) whom Lady Gaga has been intimate with has reported having come across any surprises of a penile nature. Given the all too often baseness of human n... | false | Entertainment, Artists, lady gaga, music | #1 Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart hits off a debut album and in 2010 garnered two Grammy awards: Best Dance Recording (“Pokerface”), Best Electronic/Dance Album (“The Fame”), plus had been nominated in three other categories: Record of the Year (“Pokerface”), Song of the Year (“Pokerface”), and Album of the Year (“The... |
35346 | A viral photograph showing a canine coronavirus vaccine demonstrates that there should already exist a human vaccine for COVID-19. | The popular Facebook photo does show a real vaccine used to help dogs fight a specific strain of coronavirus unique to that species. The type of shot, however, is not effective in humans and will not help scientists fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. | false | Medical, COVID-19 | In spring 2020, Facebook users circulated a post with a photograph of a small bottle labeled “canine coronavirus vaccine,” suggesting that the vaccine should have been available to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in humans. “Now this was 2001 tell me why 19 years later they say there is no vaccine,” reads part... |
35270 | A photograph shows protesters displaying an anti-Semitic sign during a COVID-19 lockdown protest. | Ohio state Rep. Casey Weinstein, who had previously tweeted the above photograph along with the comments “There is a long, scary and disgusting history of blaming Jews for plagues and disease. NOT ON MY WATCH” and “I’ll call this out and stand right up to antisemitism wherever and whenever I see it!” also tweeted a sec... | true | Fauxtography, COVID-19 | The weekend of April 17-19 saw a number of demonstrations take place in cities across the U.S. in protest of continued lockdown orders intended to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease. According to the BBC. Those taking to the streets say that the stringent measures restricting movement and businesses a... |
26401 | “Sweden has zero lockdown” and “is in no worse shape than Denmark or Norway,” which are in lockdown. | It goes too far to say Sweden has no lockdown in response to COVID-19. Sweden’s recommendations aren’t as strict as Norway’s and Denmark’s, but it is recommending social distancing. The rate of confirmed coronavirus cases is rising faster in Sweden than in Norway and Denmark, and Sweden has a higher death rate. Differe... | false | Public Health, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Facebook posts, | "Attacked by the coronavirus, superpowers such as the United States retreated into lockdown, deeming it the smartest way to stop the spread of the disease. Sweden, which hasn’t been in a shooting war in two centuries, faced the enemy by arming its citizens mostly with guidelines, not stay-at-home orders. That strategy,... |
11270 | FDA approves first new drug for lupus in 56 years | "Good caveats, including in the patient profiled, who said, ""It’s a bittersweet thing for me because I have friends with lupus for whom this drug won’t work. There’s no one-size-fits-all for lupus and I’m just extremely fortunate that my lupus is mild and is helped by Benlysta."" The story should have discussed potent... | true | "The cost of the drug wasn’t mentioned – a big oversight. Other news stories pegged it at about $35,000 a year. Adequate job. The story explained: ""But experts stress that Benlysta is not a miracle drug: It only worked in 35 percent of North American patients tested and was not effective for patients with the deadlies... | |
28247 | Two women entered a closed amusement park and then sued its operators after injuring themselves while improperly self-operating an attraction. | What's true: Two women entered a closed beachside amusement park and then sued its operators after they injured themselves while improperly self-operating a slide. What's false: The women withdrew their lawsuit within days of filing it. | mixture | Politics | In August 2019, a Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) group made a post on Facebook promoting a #DontSueSummer campaign, urging readers to “help us stand up to the frivolous lawsuits getting in the way of everyone’s summer fun.” The post offered the case example of “two women in South Carolina [who] tried to avoid th... |
37567 | "Players in the online ""World of Warcraft"" game were hit with an in-game virus, one that was later studied by researchers." | Was ‘World of Warcraft’ Once Hit by a Virus That Was Subsequently Studied by Researchers? | true | Fact Checks, Viral Content | As the COVID-19 (aka Coronavirus disease) continued to spread in March 2020, social media users flashed back to a “pandemic” that unfolded nearly 20 years earlier — but this one took place entirely in the virtual world.According to the Hong Kong-based tech news site AbacusNews.com, more people on the Chinese platform W... |
35277 | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for listing COVID-19 on death certificates in the absence of a test are resulting in a case overcount. | Jensen’s commentary contributed to a narrative promoted by right-leaning media outlets that the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic is not as deadly or serious as reported, and that social-distancing measures implemented to control its spread are unwarranted. “HUGE! MN Senator and Dr. Reveals HHS Document Coa... | false | Politics, COVID-19 | In April 2020, Dr. Scott Jensen, a Minnesota physician who serves in the Minnesota state Senate, gave television interviews in which he suggested that guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to health care providers on how to properly fill out death certificates for COVID-19 cases could ... |
28871 | The Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) said that cannabis legalization would harm their profits, and they spend $1 million per year fighting changes to marijuana laws. | "What's true: The wording on the meme comes from the CCA's SEC filings, and the organization spends approximately $1 million on (all forms of) lobbying per year. What's false: CCA's lobbying expenditures don't focus solely on marijuana prohibition, and the meme's quoted wording was neither taken from a ""memo"" nor exp... | mixture | Politics Legal, cannabis, marijuana | An image meme that spread via social media in March 2016 held that Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), a company that owns and manages private prisons and detention centers, spends $1 million a year in lobbying efforts to oppose the legalization of marijuana because fewer people being sent to jail on drug charges... |
38439 | Flu shots contain toxins and ingredients that can destroy your brain and cause Alzheimer’s disease. | Flu Shots Cause Alzheimer’s Disease | false | Health / Medical | Flu shots do not lead to Alzheimer’s or memory loss — research actually suggests that flu vaccines may be able to help prevent Alzheimer’s. While most doctors and scientists have rejected the theory that mercury used in some types of flu shots leads to Alzheimer’s disease, a handful of fringe doctors continue to spread... |
12474 | Last year was one of the deadliest years ever for law enforcement officers. | "Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said a new pro-police law is needed because 2016 ""was one of the deadliest years ever for law enforcement officers."" That’s wrong. In fact, 2016 saw a below-average number and rate of officer deaths compared to the last half-century. The 66 officers killed in 2016 pales... | false | After the Fact, Congress, Criminal Justice, History, Crime, Public Safety, North Carolina, Thom Tillis, | "Announcing his support for a national pro-police bill, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis cited an eye-catching statistic. Only a few years in U.S. history, he said, were more deadly for police than 2016. ""Last year was one of the deadliest years ever for law enforcement officers, a stark reminder that these ... |
37845 | "New evidence"" shows that wearing a face mask can ""help coronavirus enter the brain"" and ""pose more health risk." | There’s No ‘New Evidence’ Face Masks Pose Health Risks to Healthy People During the COVID-19 Pandemic | false | Disinformation, Fact Checks | "On May 18 2020, ScienceTimes.com posted a story with a frightening and shocking headline: “New Evidence Shows Wearing Face Mask Can Help Coronavirus Enter the Brain and Pose More Health Risk, Warn Expert.” The page picked up quite a lot of traffic and attention before it was quietly revised — but traces of the origina... |
30907 | Every time a particular message is shared, a company will donate money towards the medical care of a 14-year-old boy who was shot by his stepfather while he was defending his 2-year-old sister from rape. | If you want to make a difference in a sick child’s life, the best way is still the old-fashioned one: donate your money or your time, not a worthless text message. | false | Inboxer Rebellion, Medical Appeals | A touching appeal to help save a young life began circulating in e-mail and as a cell phone text message in February 2010: Last friday 2-12-10 a 14 yr old boy was shot 6 times by his step dad. The boy was protecting his 2 yr old sister, in whom the step dad was atempting to rape. The young girl was not harmed, bc of t... |
19276 | Laurie Monnes Anderson Says she is a registered nurse. | Is Laurie Monnes Anderson a registered nurse? | false | Oregon, Candidate Biography, Laurie Monnes Anderson, | "State Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, D-Gresham, is proud of her registered nursing credentials. She mentions it in campaign mailers, on her campaign website, on her legislative web page and in her official state Voters’ Guide statement, where she lists her occupation as ""Registered Nurse and Senator."" Monnes Anderson ... |
7338 | Most US states fall short of recommended testing levels. | As businesses reopened Friday in more of the U.S., an overwhelming majority of states still fall short of the COVID-19 testing levels that public health experts say are necessary to safely ease lockdowns and avoid another deadly wave of outbreaks, according to an Associated Press analysis. | true | AP Top News, Religion, Understanding the Outbreak, Health, General News, Latin America, Business, U.S. News, Asia Pacific, Virus Outbreak, Europe, Public health, Texas, International News | Rapid, widespread testing is considered essential to tracking and containing the coronavirus. But 41 of the nation’s 50 states fail to test widely enough to drive their infections below a key benchmark, according to an AP analysis of metrics developed by Harvard’s Global Health Institute. Among the states falling short... |
33673 | KISS bassist Gene Simmons had a cow's tongue grafted onto his own. | What's not to believe about a band founded as much on outrageousness as on music? | false | Entertainment, Artists, music | As Ottawa Citizen columnist Lynn Saxberg wrote of the origins of the rock band KISS: From the beginning, Simmons was determined to get attention with his new band. Taking his cues from the glam theatrics of David Bowie and the brash sneer of the New York Dolls, the concept was fiendishly clever: Songs that were as sim... |
5420 | British-Iranian woman held in Iran moved to psychiatric ward. | A British-Iranian woman imprisoned in Iran has been transferred to a hospital mental health facility, her husband said Wednesday. | true | Iman, Iran, Mental health, Prisons, Health, Middle East, Europe, General News | Richard Ratcliffe said in Britain that his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, has been moved to the mental health ward of Iman Khomeini hospital under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. “Hopefully her transfer to hospital means that she is getting treatment and care, despite my distrust of just what pressure... |
33840 | Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford decided to found their own university after being rebuffed by Harvard's president. | A 2001 version of this e-mail falsely attributed the piece to Malcolm Forbes, the founder and publisher of Forbes (a business magazine). | false | Glurge Gallery | A “Chicken Soup”-like tale warning us against the folly of judging people solely by appearances hit the Internet in mid-1998. As usual, the framework of the tale bore some general resemblance to the truth, but details were greatly altered so as to turn it into something quite different from the real story: The Preside... |
37353 | "Illegal immigrants"" are trashing the Arizona desert when they pass through on their way into the United States." | Photos of Trash in the Arizona Desert Left Behind by ‘Illegal Immigrants’? | mixture | Disinformation, Fact Checks, Immigration, Politics | A photograph showing trash and debris scattered across a desert landscape comes as part of a chain email that says it is an “eye-opener” from the Sonoran Desert region in Arizona, showing a trash-covered landscape:According to chain emails and Facebook posts, thousands of backpacks, clothes, food wrappers, water bottle... |
42158 | Federal Witness Due To Testify Against Hillary Clinton For Drug Crimes Killed In Massive Explosion | Q: Were the victims of a New Jersey home explosion tied to an investigation into the Clinton Foundation?A: No. A viral conspiracy theory is spreading that claim without any evidence. Investigators told us they “found no evidence of foul play” and that the deaths were ruled “accidental.” | false | conspiracy theories, | Q: Were the victims of a New Jersey home explosion tied to an investigation into the Clinton Foundation? A: No. A viral conspiracy theory is spreading that claim without any evidence. Investigators told us they “found no evidence of foul play” and that the deaths were ruled “accidental.”A tragic home explosion in New J... |
35297 | Former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy penned a text suggesting that COVID-19 was part of a conspiracy against U.S. President Donald Trump. | The common flu has killed more people this year already and the media is SILENT! | false | Politics, COVID-19 | In April 2020, multiple Facebook posts reproduced a screed suggesting that the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic was part of some political conspiracy between China and Democrats to unseat U.S. President Donald Trump, attributing the words to Trey Gowdy, a former U.S. representative from South Carolina who chaired the Hous... |
9566 | Study shines a light on low winter-time male libido | This story reports on a pilot study that used light boxes, similar to those for treating seasonal affective disorder, to increase flagging sex drive in men. Researchers said exposure to bright light for 30 minutes every morning for two weeks led to higher average testosterone levels and greater average reported levels ... | false | light therapy | How much does a light therapy box cost? The story doesn’t say. Using an online search, we found models ranging from $40 to $300, depending on size and features. It would be helpful to know the duration and intensity of light treatment in the study as well, as this can influence cost. The story quotes the lead researche... |
6587 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. to miss at least 2 more races. | Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not been cleared by doctors to return to racing and will miss at least two more races — at Michigan and Darlington — as he recovers from a concussion. | true | Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, Sports medicine, Alex Bowman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Sports, SC State Wire, Dale Earnhardt, NC State Wire, Michigan | Hendrick Motorsports announced Earnhardt’s status Wednesday. Earnhardt was evaluated by doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Owner Rick Hendrick said Earnhardt is working hard to get back and will follow doctors’ recommendations for his recovery. Hendrick said the p... |
7658 | U.S. warns citizens in China about pneumonia outbreak. | The U.S. State Department warned Americans in China about an outbreak of pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan believed to be caused by a new strain of coronavirus, which has killed one person. | true | Health News | The outbreak comes ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in late January, when many of China’s 1.4 billion people will be travelling to their home towns or abroad. The World Health Organization and Chinese authorities are taking steps to ensure the disease does not spread further. Thai health authorities said on Wednesda... |
11139 | A drink a day good for middle-aged women, study finds | We liked the careful framing of results, which avoided any suggestion that the alcohol was causing the better health outcomes. We also appreciated the caveat about avoiding higher alcohol intakes, which would likely negate any health benefits. But we wish the story included a comment or two from an independent expert a... | false | Washington Post,women's health | The cost of alcoholic beverages isn’t in question. The story cites the same relative risk comparisons reported by WebMD, which we think are misleading to the average reader for the reasons discussed in that review. The story should have found a way to communicate that the “almost 50 percent” difference between teetotal... |
10464 | Fruits and Vegetables May Prolong Your Life | Similar to another WebMD report we reviewed that was also about an article in the Archives of Internal Medicine, this one appears to be cribbed from the journal’s news release. The study reported that a one-time measurement of alpha-carotene blood levels showed that higher levels were associated with lower death rates ... | false | Diet studies,WebMD | Not applicable. Costs weren’t discussed, but the costs of these common foods are well known. The story is simply wrong to state that the “study shows that eating foods rich in antioxidants, like vegetables and fruits, fights disease.” As noted above, this story does mention that after similar studies pointing to healt... |
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