claim_id
stringlengths
1
234
claim
stringlengths
14
491
explanation
stringlengths
1
4.18k
label
stringclasses
5 values
subjects
stringlengths
0
223
main_text
stringlengths
18
41.7k
34741
Former president Jimmy Carter has announced that the cancer in his liver has spread to other parts of his body.
Viral social media posts rehashed a three-year-old announcement about the former president, who has been cancer-free since December 2015.
mixture
Inboxer Rebellion, jimmy carter
In August 2015, former president Jimmy Carter announced that he had cancer which had spread from his liver to other parts of his body. However, after less than four months of treatment, the 39th president was able to announce to his fellow congregants at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, that he was free fro...
8687
WHO officials rethink epidemic messaging amid pandemic debate.
The World Health Organization is considering changing the way it classifies and describes international epidemics, amid a protracted public debate over whether to call the outbreak of the new coronavirus a pandemic.
true
Health News
Officials at the Geneva-based WHO – who this week described it as a pandemic for the first time - are reviewing how the health agency communicates its risk assessment of disease outbreaks in the future, said two people familiar with the discussions. They said that included use of the term pandemic as well as PHEIC, whi...
27897
Mold has occasionally been discovered in packages of Capri Sun fruit drink.
The development of mold is an occasional and inevitable result of packaging food without preservatives.
true
Food
A warning about a consumer finding mold inside a container of Capri Sun fruit drink was posted to Facebook in February 2013 and echoed similar confirmed incidents consumers had experienced with Capri Sun products in the previous years: WARNING TO ALL PARENTS: my friend Jennifer gave her son a caprisun Saturday and he ...
3693
Capitol Watch: Nurses, midwives look for clarity on abortion.
There is still some some uncertainty about how nurse practitioners and midwives are affected by a law that was supposed to expand the number of New York health care providers who can perform abortions.
true
Legislature, Health, Andrew Cuomo, General News, Abortion, New York, Laws
In January, the state Legislature codified a “fundamental right” to have an abortion at a time when some states have restricted access. The law legalized abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy if a woman’s health is at risk or if the fetus is not viable. The law says a health care provider acting within “his or her lawfu...
13220
Several elected state officials have opened their homes to children in need of loving families.
"Patrick, calling for help finding families able to provide foster care, said: ""Several elected state officials have opened their homes to children in need of loving families."" Five Republican elected officials singled out by Patrick’s office have all adopted at least one child. Two also provided foster care, leaving...
true
Children, Texas, Dan Patrick,
"News reports show a persistent crisis at Texas’ Child Protective Services, where investigators missed a key deadline to meet with thousands of at-risk kids and dozens of children are sleeping in state offices due to a foster parent shortage. For his part, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick -- who has not been an adoptive or foster ...
16402
"David Perdue ""proposes rolling back the clock on women’s health care."
. The super PAC, Georgians Together, makes a claim that contains some truth. Some women could be hurt by repeal or replacement of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which has expanded some benefits for some women. But the ad never mentions Obamacare. That’s a major omission. Voters also need to know what Perdue is ...
mixture
Georgia, Health Care, Georgians Together,
"As election day draws closer and the push for votes intensifies, the airwaves are being flooded with political attack ads. One new ad for Michelle Nunn, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, makes a claim about her Republican opponent, businessman David Perdue, that piqued our interest. Perdue ""proposes rolling bac...
12275
"Tony Fabrizio Says Adam Putnam ""was for amnesty."
"Fabrizio said that Putnam ""was for amnesty."" While in Congress, Putnam supported legislation that would have expanded work visa categories for undocumented immigrants and put them on a path to legal permanent status. After leaving Congress, he supported the 2013 immigration legislation, which wasn’t blanket legal re...
mixture
Immigration, Florida, Tony Fabrizio,
"Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has largely had the Republican field for governor to himself, but the camp of one potential primary challenger has portrayed Putnam as soft on immigration and undocumented immigrants. Tony Fabrizio, a pollster hired by Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran who may challeng...
9020
Canadian neuroscientists say daily ibuprofen can prevent Alzheimer's disease
It’s unclear why there is a news release for this study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease under the heading, “Conquering Alzheimer’s Disease by Self Treatment.” There is no new research data in the paper. Four of the eight references in the paper — which reads more like an opinion piece — are from the pri...
false
ibuprofen,IOS Press
This news release mentions both a treatment and a screening test. The treatment is ibuprofen, an over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is probably widely known to be quite affordable. The screening test is measuring levels of amyloid beta protein 42 (Abeta42) in the saliva. The cost of that test is...
1961
HIV infections in U.S. stable but disparities exist.
The number of Americans newly infected with HIV remained stable between 2006 and 2009, but infections rose nearly 50 percent among young black gay and bisexual men, U.S. experts said on Wednesday.
true
Health News
An AIDS activist holds a sign while demonstrating near the site of the G20 Pittsburgh Summit against the policies of the world's wealthiest nations regarding AIDS research and treatment funding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania September 22, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Thayer New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Pre...
17858
"Domestic violence ""is seen as a pre-existing"" health condition and ""women had to pay 50 percent more for health care because of gender ratings,"" but under Obamacare, ""all of that is over."
"Moore said domestic violence ""is seen as a pre-existing"" health condition and ""women had to pay 50 percent more for health care because of gender ratings,"" but under Obamacare, ""all of that is over."" The thrust of what Moore said is partially accurate, in that there is some evidence to back the pre-existing cond...
mixture
Health Care, Crime, Government Regulation, Women, Wisconsin, Gwen Moore,
"On Sept. 29, 2013, two days before a political showdown over Obamacare led to a government shutdown, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore defended the health care law. On MSNBC’s ""Disrupt with Karen Finney"" show, the Milwaukee Democrat described how bad women have had it -- and how things will improve with the Affordable Care Act. ...
7564
Zoos turn to social media to delight, raise money amid virus.
The Phoenix Zoo, struggling like others worldwide during coronavirus closures, has found an unlikely savior in a sloth.
true
AP Top News, Animals, Phoenix, Technology, Media, General News, Entertainment, Social media, Lifestyle, Business, Science, Travel, Virus Outbreak, U.S. News
While Fernando may be a slow mover offline, the 4-year-old Linne’s two-toed sloth has risen rapidly on the internet. Since Fernando joined Cameo, a video-sharing platform where people pay for celebrity shoutouts, the zoo has received 150 requests for a personalized clip. His popularity let the zoo boost his fee from $2...
22046
"The Paul Ryan budget proposal would ""privatize Medicare."
Throw-granny-from-the-cliff ad says Paul Ryan plan would privatize Medicare
true
National, Federal Budget, Health Care, Medicare, The Agenda Project,
"Amid discussion of the Medicare overhaul proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., an ad created by the Agenda Project, a liberal group, cut through the clutter quite dramatically -- though with critics saying it was literally over the top. The ad, set to ""America the Beautiful,"" shows a man pushing an elderly woman in a ...
9717
IUDs and Hormonal Implants Remain Underused Contraceptives
Hormonal and copper IUDs. Changes in the behavior of doctors could make a big difference in how many women opt for using long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). This Jane Brody column reports on a committee’s strong argument urging obstetricians and gynecologists to increase their prescribing of long-acting alte...
true
contraceptives,drug costs,health costs,IUD,Pregnancy,teens,women's health
We applaud the way this story examines what may be the “under use” of devices and clearly explains some of the nuance about up-front costs versus the long-term cost of contraception. Bravo for pointing out that the Affordable Care Act now covers these devices, which at one time may have seemed “too expensive” for some ...
16280
We've had 27 (Ebola) outbreaks around the globe and they've never spread outside of the confines of the countries that were initially affected.
Hebert said there have been 27 outbreaks of of Ebola and in no case did the disease spread to a second country. His number is high. A more accurate figure would be between 16 and 22. However, he is correct in his main point, that past efforts have successfully contained the disease. The combination of an exaggerated nu...
true
Ebola, Public Health, PunditFact, Corey Hebert,
"The latest news on Ebola finally seems to be headed in the right direction. The World Health Organization declared Nigeria and Senegal to be Ebola-free. None of the people who lived in the apartment of Thomas Eric Duncan, the man who died in Dallas, have contracted the disease. Beyond the two nurses now in treatment, ...
10660
OrCam helps the blind math teacher 'see' again
The OrCam deviceThis story is basically a testimonial about a math teacher whose medical condition — Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy — left her with impaired vision. The teacher was able to use a new product, a camera that fits beside the wearer’s glasses and “reads” to the wearer, restoring at least in part her ab...
mixture
Fox News
The story does state the cost of the OrCam camera as being $3,500. The story cites one case of a single individual who has a comparatively rare form of vision loss, which the OrCam device seemed to remedy, at least in part. The individual told the writer that she now can read things in a short period of time where befo...
9863
Sounds gross, works great: Fecal transplants cure nasty C. diff infections
The story provides good information about the potential benefits of the procedure. We wish it had done the same in regard to costs and the potential harms. The story could have benefited from a good independent source who was not tied to the study or to the procedure itself. Such an independent source could have provid...
mixture
MSNBC
The story did not discuss costs. Given that the story at one point describes them as “regarded as something of a fringe treatment,” we wonder whether they are often covered by insurance. So both cost and insurability were issues that should have been addressed in our view. The story does quantify the benefits in one se...
26990
"Better Future Michigan Says Gary Peters ""supports ‘Medicare for All,’ siding with radical liberals."
"A TV ad by Better Future Michigan claimed that Peters ""supports Medicare for All, siding with radical liberals."" The statement is based on two videos from a 2018 town hall meeting. Though the senator does not tell a Medicare for All supporter that he backs this approach, he agreed that it could be a ""pathway"" in t...
false
Health Care, Health Check, Better Future Michigan,
"Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who is running for a second term as Michigan’s junior senator, is the subject of an attack ad that takes issue with his position on ""Medicare for All."" The ad claims that ""Peters supports Medicare for All, siding with radical liberals."" But Peters’ legislative record and public statemen...
34171
Colonel Sanders' original fried chicken recipe was stolen from a black woman named Miss Childress.
Alternatively, Sanders might have borrowed and taken elements of several fried chicken recipes, perhaps some of them invented by, or passed down or shared between, African American women — in the way that many recipes evolve and change over the years. “Miss Childress” might simply be a stand-in or symbolic victim in th...
unproven
Food
In September 2019, we received multiple inquiries from readers regarding an old story about the origins of the famous KFC original recipe — the blend of herbs and spices that went into creating “Colonel” Harland Sanders’ original Kentucky Fried Chicken. The African Diaspora Facebook page wrote: “Meet Mrs. Childress. Co...
26020
“The (COVID-19) cases are going up, but it's because the testing is going up.”
Testing rates were dropping — not rising — as COVID-19 cases rose in late June. Health officials say contract tracing has revealed many new cases stem from bars, parties and other events where social distancing is not being maintained, particularly among residents in their 20s.
false
Public Health, Wisconsin, Coronavirus, Chris Kapenga,
"After an extended period of mostly positive trends, COVID-19 is making a resurgence in America. At least 21 states were pausing reopening plans or taking new steps to limit the virus as of June 30, USA TODAY reported. In Wisconsin, new cases rose noticeably the last two weeks of June after falling steadily in the firs...
3709
Surgeon General, former state commissioner, heads to Purdue.
The federal government’s top doctor is making a stop at Purdue University to discuss the nation’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
true
Epidemics, General News, Health, Lafayette, Indiana, Donald Trump
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams was appointed to that post in 2017 by President Donald Trump after serving as Indiana’s state health commissioner. During Monday’s visit to Purdue, Adams will deliver a speech titled “The Road to Recovery: Combating the Opioid Crisis” and participate in a question and answer session wi...
31394
A video captures a cat with an extremely deep meow.
A video purportedly shows a feline with an extremely deep meow.
false
Fauxtography
In May 2017, a 2015 video featuring a cat with an unusually deep voice inexplicably went viral, and was duly picked up by various tabloids: Don’t let this cat’s small stature fool you – he has a bass voice that would put Barry White to shame. In a video filmed by the kitty’s owner, he’s just chilling on the kitchen cou...
11610
Fewer clogged arteries need heart stents, study finds; blood-flow test can show which ones do
Coronary artery stenting has not been shown to prevent deaths or other adverse events compared to medical treatment in patients with stable coronary artery disease. One reason for this is that many people are given stents based on the results of coronary angiography and this test cannot predict who will benefit from th...
true
The story adequately describes the cost of performing the test, although it could have been compared to the cost of no stenting. The story quantifies the mortality rate in the angiography alone versus angiography + FFR group. The story also quantifies the number of stents placed in both groups. The story could have als...
928
Democrats take aim as Trump abandons drug pricing plan.
Democrats see U.S. President Donald Trump becoming increasingly vulnerable to criticism about healthcare costs after the administration’s decision to scrap a proposal to lower drug prices, and 2020 White House candidates are rushing to seize the spotlight on the issue.
true
Health News
The debate over the future of the American healthcare system has become a focal point of the Democratic presidential nominating contest. As Trump has failed to make strides to remedy the problem, Democrats are becoming more vocal. Some Democrats have been making big promises on healthcare, vowing to sweeping overhauls ...
11117
Heart Attack Study Casts Doubt On Routine Use of Angioplasty
The article describes a new study that shows a commonly used procedure, angioplasty, is not more effective than medical therapy (taking medications and lifestyle change) in preventing heart attack or death in people with stable heart disease. The story does a good job of clearly letting readers know the availability of...
true
"The story mentions that angioplasty typically costs $50,000. While it would have been helpful to have a sense for the cost of angioplasty in in comparison to medical therapy, the story does give a sense of the cost burden to the healthcare system by providing procedures that don't benefit a significant proportion of p...
11347
Investigational CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib is active against a range of cancer types
This release about the first set of tests in patients prescribed an experimental cancer drug, abemaciclib, uses language that mostly hews to the careful tone of the researchers’ journal article. It does not make any premature claims of cure or even extended survival. The release includes sections labeled “Limitations” ...
true
Association/Society news release,Cancer
While one could say it is far too soon to start talking about the cost of a drug that is only beginning to be tested in people, the release compared abemaciclib to a somewhat similar drug, palbociclib (brand name: Ibrance) that is listed at approximately $10,000/month. The release could have referred to the costs of si...
189
Reuters asks judge to release secret Propecia documents.
Reuters asked a U.S. judge on Thursday to unseal documents filed in court regarding potential risks associated with Propecia, Merck & Co’s popular baldness drug.
true
Health News
"The motion was filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, after a Reuters article on Wednesday revealed accusations that Merck did not fully disclose on Propecia’s label the incidence and duration of sexual dysfunction in men who took Propecia in clinical trials. Those allegations are contained in court filings tha...
10431
Study: Many elderly get colon screening too often
As the WSJ blog did, this story’s interview quotes provided important perspectives: Researcher Goodwin saying “I was surprised by the magnitude of the issue.” “Robert Smith, director of cancer screening at the American Cancer Society, said some doctors may recommend more frequent colonoscopies because they think 10-...
true
Associated Press,Screening
The story stated: “Colonoscopy costs vary widely but typically exceed $1,000. While Medicare rules say the government won’t pay for too-frequent colonoscopies, only 2 percent of the study claims were denied for repeat exams in people without symptoms.” We’ll give the story the benefit of the doubt for deftly summarizin...
8776
Merck Vioxx study was for marketing: researchers.
The primary purpose of a 1999 clinical study that Merck & Co Inc said was done to test side effects of Vioxx was actually to support a marketing campaign before the now-withdrawn painkiller’s launch, according to U.S. researchers.
true
Health News
A pharmacist holds bottles of the prescription arthritis and pain medication VIOXX at a New York City Pharmacy after manufacturer Merc Research Laboratories announced a worldwide voluntary withdrawal of the drug September 30, 2004. REUTERS/Mike Segar The real aim of the study, called Advantage, was to promote prescri...
28909
Febreze and other Procter & Gamble products contain undeclared peanut and tree nut oils or byproducts, posing a risk to individuals with nut allergies.
What's true: Ingredient lists published by P&G in 2013 and 2014 stated that peanut oil and other nut derivatives were among the compounds used in fragrancing their products. What's false: Febreze odor elimination spray currently contains peanut or tree nut oil derivatives. What's undetermined: Whether Febreze ever cont...
mixture
Viral Phenomena, Contaminated Products, febreze, peanut allergy
In early 2016, the above-reproduced screenshot of an online comment began circulating online via social media, alleging that Procter & Gamble’s Febreze brand odor elimination spray had triggered symptoms of a child’s peanut allergy. The original author of the message, where the message was posted to, the date of the po...
17999
"In the Wisconsin health insurance exchange, ""the Society of Actuaries points out that there'll be, according to them, an 82 percent increase in individual premiums over the next couple years under Obamacare."
"Walker said the study by the Society of Actuaries projected an 82 percent increase in premiums over time. The actual figure was 80 percent, and the report explicitly did not try to predict premiums. What it looked at was the cost of claims in the non-group market, which pertains to less than 20 percent of people with ...
mixture
National, Health Care, Scott Walker,
"The new health care law faces tough sledding in many states controlled by Republicans. Wisconsin is a good example, There, Republican Gov. Scott Walker has opposed opening a state-run online site called an exchange where individuals and families can shop for health insurance. Walker left that to Washington to operate....
37858
H. R. 6666 (the TRACE Act) was introduced to allow the government to enter private homes, force COVID-19 testing on people, and remove children or adults from the home with legal force.
Does House Bill 6666 (the TRACE Act) Allow the Government to Enter Your Home, Test for COVID-19, and Take Your Children or Parents?
false
Disinformation, Fact Checks
In early May 2020, a number of panicked posts about proposed legislation (H.R. 6666, also called the Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone, or TRACE Act) began spreading on social media, including a May 8 2020 video with a massive 2.5 million view count from anti-vaccination conspiracy theorist Rashid Buttar:That ...
31689
U.S. President George Washington had wooden teeth.
Two hundred fifty years later, we’re still talking about Washington’s “wooden teeth.” Like the cherry tree he never chopped down as a child, they are forever enshrined in American legend.
false
History, American History, george washington, teeth
One of the most popular historical exhibits at Mount Vernon, originally the estate of the first President of the United States and now a monument to his life and legacy, is a set of the great man’s dentures. The crude, handmade prosthesis, comprising both upper and lower teeth, is displayed in a circular glass case per...
30820
A family dog saved sleeping young children from sexual abuse by biting off an intruder's genitals.
A family dog supposedly saved sleeping young children from sexual abuse by biting off an intruder's genitals.
false
Junk News, neon nettle
On 14 November 2017, various web sites reproduced an article reporting that a family dog had saved sleeping young children from sexual abuse by biting off an intruder’s genitals: A pedophile has been left with “life-altering” injuries after climbing through the bedroom window of two young children, only to be greeted ...
4328
Honeywell to pay Georgia $4M for pollution in coastal marsh.
A company has agreed to pay the state of Georgia $4 million for environmental cleanup of a former chemical plant.
true
Georgia, General News, Environment, Atlanta, Brunswick, Pollution
The Brunswick News reports Honeywell International has filed the settlement with the state Department of Natural Resources in federal court in Atlanta. The money will cover cleanup costs related to the former LCP Chemicals plant, as well as pay the state for lost fishing opportunities from chemicals polluting nearby ma...
34699
Soup cans are lined with dangerous levels of BPA.
We believe that current can packaging is one of the safest options in the world; however, we recognize that there is some debate over the use of BPA. The trust that we have earned from our consumers for over 140 years is paramount to us and we have been monitoring and working on the issue for several years. Because of ...
unproven
Medical, ASP Article, Toxin Du Jour
Recent studies have found that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) can migrate from the linings used in soup cans into the product itself, and thereby into the bodies of those who ingest the soup: Example: [Collected via e-mail, June 2012] Charles Drabkin thought that Progresso soup was a healthy option for lunch, but then ...
36287
A pair of DD breasts weighs between 15 and 23 pounds.
Does ‘a Pair’ of DD Breasts Weigh Between 15 and 23 Pounds?
false
Fact Checks, Viral Content
In June 2019 the Facebook page “Weird Facts“shared the following meme, claiming DD-cup breasts weigh between 15 and 23 pounds (6.8 to 10.4 kilograms):Under a photograph of a woman’s breasts in a bra, text read:A pair of D-cup breasts weighs between 15 and 23 pounds — the equivalent of carrying around two small turkeys....
35227
An uninsured 17-year-old boy died of COVID-19 symptoms after being refused care due to a lack of medical insurance.
What's true: A 17-year-old boy in Lancaster, California, died on his way to a hospital while suffering from COVID-19 coronavirus disease symptoms. What's false: Contrary to widespread reports, the boy did have health insurance and was not turned away from an urgent-care clinic.
mixture
Medical, COVID-19
In late March 2020, social media users shared an article published by the website Mic with a headline that read, “An uninsured 17-year-old died after being denied care for coronavirus symptoms.” The headline was widely seen and caused outrage and anxiety over health care access amid an ongoing pandemic with a rising de...
41290
Measles is at the top of the list of the MMR vaccine’s adverse reactions.
The World Wildlife Fund has rejected the findings of a Kenyan parliamentary inquiry that said the conservation group pushed Kenyan authorities to speed up a botched relocation of 14 rhinos last year that led to the deaths of 11 animals.
false
online
The black rhinos died of salt poisoning following the decision by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to ignore water test results in Tsavo East National Park, the committee’s report said. The deaths of the endangered animals, being moved to a more secure home in the face of the threat from poachers, were a major embarras...
11179
Electromagnetic Pulses May Stem Arthritic Knee Pain
We’re really not reviewing a story here. We’re reviewing a byproduct of a news release. In fact, the hospital news release upon which this is based was actually better. Journalism should lose credibility for simply shoveling on unvetted hospital news release claims.
false
"Described as ""relatively low-cost in the long run"" in the words of a researcher. But what does that mean? No dollar figures given. No explanation of how ""pain relief"" was measured. No discussion of results in sham device comparison group. No discussion of the limitations of drawing conclusions from a small (34 peo...
33336
Kids are rubbing Burt's Bees lip balm on their eyelids to get high.
Rumor: Kids are rubbing Burt's Bees lip balm on their eyelids to get high.
false
Horrors, ASP Article, burt's bees, drugs
On 19 March 2015, a Richmond-area ABC affiliate TV station published an article warning about a purported teen trend known as “Beezin'” in which kids rub peppermint-flavored Burt’s Bees brand lip balm onto their eyelids in pursuit of a stealthy way of getting high. The rumor involving Burt’s Bees lip balm was not new a...
34246
Cream of tartar is an effective treatment for migraine headaches.
With these facts in place, it is clear that the claim of headache relief efficacy as conveyed on viral websites relies on the debatable existence of MSG poisoning as a cause of migraines, as well as the demonstrably impossible notion that one can change blood or body pH through diet. In our view, that makes this specif...
unproven
Medical, natural news
For well over a century, people have made myriad assertions regarding the medicinal properties of cream of tartar, a cooking ingredient with the chemical name potassium bitartrate. Among the claims associated with the potassium-rich compound are that it can be used to manage high blood pressure, to aid in the cessation...
29821
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a pardon for the leader of the armed group that held migrants at gunpoint in New Mexico.
Hopkins’ past convictions include felony firearm possession and impersonation of a peace officer. According to the FBI, Hopkins said his group was “training to assassinate George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.”
false
Junk News
On 22 April 2019, a junk news site impersonating NBC News reported falsely that U.S. President Donald Trump had pardoned Larry Mitchell Hopkins, the 69-year-old leader of an armed group depicted in a widely seen video. The group is shown holding a large group of roughly 300 migrants at gunpoint in New Mexico. Hopkins w...
7668
Infant deaths, poor conditions at Indian hospital spark uproar.
In a dimly lit shanty in northwestern India, Padma Rawal sobs inconsolably as she recalls losing her 5-month-old infant, and recounts the hospital ordeal she endured last month.
true
Health News
Her infant, Tejash, is one of more than a 100 children who have died at a government hospital in Kota in the state of Rajasthan since early December. Infant deaths are common in India, but the spike in fatalities at a state-run institution and evidence of poor hygiene, broken equipment and staff shortages has made head...
32553
A woman was injured while trying to steal fireworks from Walmart by hiding them in her vagina.
The photograph used to accompany the article was actually a mugshot of a woman who was arrested in 2010 on charges unrelated to stealing fireworks.
false
Junk News, fireworks, news10live, walmart
On 5 July 2016, the web site News10Live published a hoax news article reporting that a woman was injured while trying to steal fireworks from a Walmart by putting them in her vagina: A Philadelphia woman has been hospitalized and now in police custody after she attempted to steal fireworks from a Walmart in Philadelphi...
36483
A vintage photograph shows different, far more relaxed safety standards in the 1960s.
Safety Standards in the 1960s Chairlift Photo
mixture
Fact Checks, Viral Content
On February 20 2019, the Facebook page Pictures in History shared a version of the photograph of a chairlift seen above simply captioned: “Safety standards in the 1960s.”The photograph was not new to the internet, and the meme-style version here was shared to me.me in November 2018 and by BoingBoing in September 2018. ...
3372
Study: California law lifts vaccination in ‘high-risk’ areas.
A study released this week has found that a law aimed at boosting vaccination rates across California had the greatest effect in high-risk areas where the vaccination rates were the lowest.
true
Measles, Legislation, California, Public health, Laws
The peer-reviewed study published in the journal PLOS Medicine on Monday shows that the 2016 legislation contributed to a 3.3% increase statewide for measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and a 2.4% decrease in the number of requests for non-medical or personal belief exemptions to childhood vaccination requirements. Cali...
34437
The simultaneous death of infant twins in Turkey in 2002 was connected to their having recently received vaccinations.
Thailand opened its first full-time clinic specializing in traditional and alternative cannabis-based medicine on Monday, as part of a move by the government towards developing a medicinal cannabis industry.
unproven
Medical, health nut news, SIDS, vaccinations
“This is a pilot clinic, because we cannot produce enough doctors with expertise in cannabis,” Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, told reporters at the opening ceremony in Bangkok. Patients will receive treatment free of charge for the first two weeks, he added. Thailand, which has a tradition of using cannab...
5374
New Hampshire proposes strict water drinking standards.
New Hampshire’s environmental agency proposed drinking water standards Friday that would be among the nation’s strictest for a group of industrial compounds that have increasingly turned up in public water supplies and private wells.
true
New Hampshire, General News, Environment, Chemistry
The Department of Environmental Services filed a proposal to set maximum contaminant levels for four compounds called per- and polyfluoroalykyl substances, known collectively as PFAS. The substances, widely used in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware and other products, have been dubbed “forever chemicals” because the...
11141
To Heal Diabetes, Doctors Push Weight-Loss Surgery
This is an extremely well-done story about bariatric surgery used not to support weight loss in the morbidly obese, but to treat diabetes in people of more moderate weight. The reporter has made good use of the unusually generous amount of space granted by quoting a variety of sources, citing high-quality research and ...
true
"The report states that the operation is costly, about $25,000, and that insurance coverage is not guaranteed. It also indicates that at this time surgery purely to treat diabetes, not reduce body weight, is unlikely to be covered. The report adds useful context by stating that conventional diabetes care costs $10,000 ...
5064
Moroccan vault protects seeds from climate change and war.
Should a doomsday agricultural crisis hit the world’s driest environments, scientists and farmers will turn to an up-and-coming research center and seed bank in Morocco to restock their harvests.
true
North Africa, Climate, Biodiversity, Climate change, Rabat, Africa, Morocco, Business, Agriculture, Environment
Tucked away in the university hub of Irfane in Rabat, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, or ICARDA, hosts the largest collection of seeds in North Africa. “If for any reason, a particular community lost all their resources, we are capable of providing them with the seeds for restoratio...
27087
A photograph shows a long line of climbers waiting to ascend Mount Everest.
A remarkable photograph showing a long line near the summit of Mount Everest was met with disbelief from online viewers.
true
Fauxtography
Freezing temperatures, avalanches, and altitude sickness are common hazards among mountain climbers along the route to the peak of Mount Everest. But in May 2019, another factor, overcrowding, was partially to blame for the deaths of several climbers on the 8,848-meter (29,029-foot) Himalayan summit: At least 11 people...
35914
The reason the U.S. documented the most COVID-19 cases in the world in 2020 was because it had tested more residents at a faster rate than any other country.
Yes I am aware that testing turns up more cases. That is indeed the point. But in many of the states experiencing a resurgence, hospitalizations are up and the percent of tests that are positive is rising. Those are signs of trouble. […] It’s not just testing.
false
Politics Medical, COVID-19
Since the early months of the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump alleged a scheme by his opponents and journalists to purposefully ignore his administration’s success with testing Americans for the potentially deadly virus and curbing its spread. On April 25, for example, Trump tweeted the U.S....
2137
Study links chemical exposure to breast cancer.
Exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants before a woman reaches her mid-30s could treble her risk of developing breast cancer after the menopause, Canadian scientists said on Thursday.
true
Health News
In a study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a British Medical Journal title, the researchers found that women exposed to synthetic fibers and petrol products during the course of their work appeared to be most at risk. “Occupational exposure to acrylic and nylon fibers, and to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon...
17017
"Karl Rove Says Hillary Clinton spent 30 days in the hospital in 2012 and appeared ""wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury."
Rove said Clinton spent 30 days in the hospital and then emerged wearing glasses that only people with traumatic brain injury use. Rove since said he was wrong about the length of her hospital stay. The actual number is four days. By describing a long hospital stay and tying it to signs of traumatic brain injury, Rove ...
false
Elections, PunditFact, Karl Rove,
"If Hillary Clinton decides to run for president, she knows every bit of her life will be put under a microscope. Republican strategist and Fox News commentator Karl Rove proved the point at an event near Los Angeles last Thursday. In remarks reported in the New York Post, Rove raised questions about Clinton’s health f...
17770
"Next Generation Climate Action Committee Says Ken Cuccinelli wants ""to eliminate all forms of birth control."
"NextGen Climate Action Committee says Cuccinelli wants to ""eliminate all forms of birth control."" The group cites an editorial that said personhood legislation Cuccinelli supported could have fostered legal challenges to types of contraception that prevent the implantation of fertilized eggs. But the editorial made ...
false
Sexuality, Virginia, Next Generation Climate Action Committee,
"As the campaign reaches its final stretch, Democrats and their allies continue to accuse Ken Cuccinelli of holding extreme views on everything from climate change to birth control. NextGen Climate Action Committee, a Democratic-aligned super pac, has fired out a series of mailers during the last two weeks accusing Cuc...
969
Missouri's only abortion clinic to stay open until at least August 1.
Missouri’s only abortion clinic will remain open for now after a state arbiter on Friday ordered a stay in response to Planned Parenthood’s challenge of the state health department’s refusal to renew the clinic’s license.
true
Health News
Planned Parenthood, the women’s healthcare and abortion provider that operates the clinic, filed a petition with Missouri’s Administrative Hearing Commission on Tuesday after the group challenged the health department’s denial in state court and a judge referred the matter to the commission. The clinic would have had t...
29587
A recent study revealed that one-third of pediatricians refuse to recommend the Gardasil HPV vaccine to patients.
"What's true: An item published in the journal 'Pediatrics' indicated that a third of 600 doctors surveyed failed to recommend Gardasil to patients, primarily due to anticipated parental objection or underestimating the likelihood of teen sexual activity. What's false: That third of surveyed doctors ""refused"" to reco...
false
Uncategorized, gardasil, not actually a study
In early January 2015, social media users began sharing links to articles about an item published in the journal Pediatrics, with many of their posts claiming a study had indicated a third of pediatricians refused to recommend the Gardasil HPV vaccine to patients. A popular iteration from Facebook, through which many r...
11408
Eye’s lament: How dry I am
The story describes the condition of dry eyes, including what it is, how it may affect people, who is affected, and what treatments might be tried (although the information on available treatments is cursory). The story misses an opportunity to develop treatment information. Story limitations include no clinical trial ...
false
No mention of costs. No evidence, including quantifiable benefits. The story does not state what any of the treatments actually do or how they help. No discussion of benefits or harms. There simply is no evidence provided. This story has elements of disease-mongering because the condition is not serious, although it ma...
24445
"Health care reform ""establishes a new board of federal bureaucrats (the 'Health Benefits Advisory Committee') to dictate the health plans that all individuals must purchase."
The Health Benefits Advisory Committee doesn't tell you what plan to buy
false
National, Health Care, House Republican Conference,
"A few months ago, a chain e-mail purporting to be a line-by-line analysis of the House health care reform bill reached in-boxes all over the country, warning people of the dire consequences of the Democratic plans for reform. Taking a page from the same playbook, the House Republican Conference has created a simila...
4238
Breast cancer risk from menopause hormones may last decades.
Women who use certain types of hormones after menopause still have an increased risk of developing breast cancer nearly two decades after they stop taking the pills, long-term results from a big federal study suggest.
true
Cancer, Health, General News, Breast cancer, San Antonio, Menopause, Womens health
Although the risk is very small, doctors say a new generation of women entering menopause now may not be aware of landmark findings from 2002 that tied higher breast cancer rates to hormone pills combining estrogen and progestin. “The message is probably not clear” that even short-term use may have lasting effects, sai...
2665
Scientists find gene linked to alcohol consumption.
Scientists have identified a gene that appears to play a role in regulating how much alcohol people drink and say their finding could help the search for more effective treatments for alcoholism and binge drinking.
true
Science News
A guest inspects the colour and body of wine at Chateau Malartic Lagraviere in Leognan, southwestern France, April 4, 2011. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau In a study of more than 47,000 people, an international team of scientists found that people who have a rarer version of a gene called AUTS2 drink on average 5 percent less ...
37727
Using chemical agents against medical facilities is considered a war crime by international treaty.
Is Pepper-Spraying Medical Supplies a War Crime?
true
Fact Checks, Viral Content
Footage posted by a journalist covering the ongoing protests against police brutality brought back to light an apparent loophole exploited by law enforcement.As part of his coverage on July 22 2020, Portland-area reporter Sergio Olmos posted footage of damaged medical items and observed, “It appears federal officers, d...
31883
Liquor and wine are illegal in the U.S. unless they are radioactive.
Ultimately, this is a cool bit of counterintuitive science that presents a less common use for carbon-14 analysis. However, the evidence that this scientific information is currently used by the United States federal government to prevent synthetic alcohol in beverages is lacking.
false
Legal Affairs, alcohol, atf
The claim that “Liquor and wine are illegal in the U.S. unless they are radioactive” stems from an excerpt that appears in multiple books authored by Berkeley physicist Richard Muller, including “Energy for Future Presidents“. Muller also posted the text of this claim on a Quora thread “What are some mind-blowing facts...
36198
"The Only Existing Footage Of 1st Plane Hitting WTC"" YouTube video shows the only existing footage of Flight 11 striking the north tower of the World Trade Center on September 11 2001."
Is This the Only Existing Footage Of the First Plane Hitting the World Trade Center?
false
Fact Checks, Viral Content
As the anniversary of September 11 2001 approached in 2019, a video called “The Only Existing Footage Of 1st Plane Hitting WTC” circulated on social media in remembrance of a brief but pivotal moment in American history — but it’s straight from a disinformation site.That video was first shared to a conspiracy theory Yo...
28538
"Donald Trump ""bankrupted"" a golf course in Puerto Rico, leaving taxpayers there on the hook for $33 million worth of debt."
What's true: A Trump company was unable to save a floundering Puerto Rico golf club and resort from bankruptcy after entering into a management and brand licensing agreement with its owners in 2008. As a result of the episode, $32.6 million in government investment was not recouped. What's false: Puerto Rico had been h...
mixture
Politics, donald trump, puerto rico
In the aftermath of a series of hurricanes in September 2017 — particularly Maria, which devastated the United States territory of Puerto Rico — President Donald Trump reflected on the infrastructural damage caused by those storms in a 25 September 2017 tweet: Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was ...
8130
China sees drop in new coronavirus cases; all of them imported.
Mainland China on Monday reported a drop in its daily tally of new coronavirus cases, reversing four straight days of increases, as the capital, Beijing, ramped up measures to contain the number of infections arriving from abroad.
true
Health News
China had 39 new confirmed cases on Sunday, the National Health Commission said, down from 46 a day earlier. All the new ones involved travelers arriving from abroad, many of them Chinese students returning home. Beijing stepped up measures to contain imported infections, diverting all arriving international flights fr...
14345
"The ""rate of uninsured Americans (is) 8.8 percent."
Barack Obama jumps the gun on U.S. uninsured rate, then reverses course
mixture
National, Health Care, Barack Obama,
"On the sixth anniversary of his signing of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama took a victory lap on Medium. In a brief article punctuated by several celebratory photographs, Obama wrote, ""20 million. That’s how many people now have the health coverage they need thanks to the president’s health care law. ...
9529
Exercise May Be the Key to Better Sperm
This short Time magazine story describes a study that looked at whether the quality of semen could be improved through one of three different exercise approaches, compared to that of men who did not exercise. The story did a good job establishing what made this study unique, and it included a comment from a source inde...
true
exercise,fertility,men's health
There was no mention of the cost of the methodology used in this study. Yes, in general exercise is free via walking or jogging, so we’ll rate this N/A. But, it’s worth pointing out that one of the studied exercise methods here–known as high-intensity interval training–was done on a treadmill, and may require paid expe...
2529
Aging a concern for many Americans but harder for women : poll.
Aging is a concern for many Americans, particularly its impact on health, but men seem to have an easier time dealing with the hallmarks of passing years than women, according to a new survey.
true
Health News
The national poll of 2,000 U.S. adults found that nearly 90 percent of people think women are under more pressure to look younger than men are. Men are also considered old about five years later than women, and sexier at an older age. While gray hair was thought to make men look distinguished, on women it was associate...
38843
A Texas slaughterhouse employee killed 71 employees over a 17-year span without being detected.
Slaughterhouse Employee Murdered 71 Coworkers Over 17 Years
false
Crime / Police
A fake news website is behind this hoax. World News Daily Report started the rumor that a slaughterhouse employee had been accused of murdering 71 coworkers over a 17-year period. The fake news website reported that Jeremiah Burroughs, a 57-year-old Gulf War veteran, killed 71 coworkers because he suffered from post-tr...
1052
Death toll rises to 58 as hope dims after Brazil dam collapse.
Brazilian rescuers searched into the night on Sunday for hundreds of people missing after a burst mining dam triggered a deadly mudslide, as the death toll rose to 58 and was expected to keep climbing more than two days after the disaster.
true
Environment
Rescuers worked past sunset to search a bus thought to have bodies inside and a home where three bodies were already found, state fire department spokesman Pedro Aihara told reporters. The collapsed dam at Vale SA’s Corrego do Feijao mine buried mining facilities and nearby homes in the town of Brumadinho, killing doze...
9616
A Scientist's Dream Fulfilled: Harnessing The Immune System To Fight Cancer
Immunotherapy researcher Jim Allison. Credit: MD Anderson Cancer Center The story provides an overview of researcher Jim Allison and his role in developing the cancer immunotherapy treatment drug ipilimumab (also referred to as “Ippy”) that is used in treating some melanoma cases. It is an interesting story, and holds ...
mixture
immunotherapy,ipilimumab
The story doesn’t address cost. Given that ipilimumab treatment can cost $120,000 (according to this 2012 paper in the journal Pharmacy & Therapeutics), and is not necessarily covered by insurance, that’s a significant oversight. A quick acknowledgement of the steep price tag would have made helped readers more fully u...
2105
Now scientists read your mind better than you can.
Brain scans may be able to predict what you will do better than you can yourself, and might offer a powerful tool for advertisers or health officials seeking to motivate consumers, researchers said on Tuesday.
true
Science News
They found a way to interpret “real time” brain images to show whether people who viewed messages about using sunscreen would actually use sunscreen during the following week. The scans were more accurate than the volunteers were, Emily Falk and colleagues at the University of California Los Angeles reported in the Jou...
10536
Cancer drug dramatically shrinks prostate tumors, study finds
"This Los Angeles Times story reports on research into abiraterone, a new drug being studied to treat aggressive prostate cancer. The report overstates the importance of early research and improperly anticipates the findings of studies not yet completed. It predicts approval and arrival on the market the same year as t...
mixture
"The drug is not commercially available. And since it is being tested to treat only a very aggressive, usually fatal form of cancer and not a chronic condition, we can accept the fact that cost wasn’t mentioned at  this point. The story does not appear to describe the findings accurately. The lede of the story says: ""...
16385
"Reza Aslan Says female genital mutilation is ""a central African problem,"" not an Islamic problem, as Bill Maher suggested."
"Aslan rejected Maher’s characterization of female genital mutilation as an Islamic problem, saying instead that it’s actually ""a central African problem."" Due to immigration, the term ""central African"" may be too restrictive, but his larger point -- that this is not a problem in only Muslim countries -- is valid. ...
true
Human Rights, Islam, Religion, PunditFact, Reza Aslan,
"Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher is outspoken about his atheism, a fact not lost on many viewers of his recent rant about the passive approach of some liberals toward human rights abuses in Muslim countries. Yet a scholar of religion called his commentary ""not very sophisticated"" on national TV. Why? Maher was conde...
29123
Costumed cast members have been accused of molesting Disney theme park guests.
What's true: Costumed cast members have been accused of molesting Disney theme park guests. What's false: Such accusations have generally not been sustained by courts when complainants have pursued legal redress.
mixture
Disney, disney parks, sexual harassment, Theme Parks
We expect the costumed characters who roam the grounds at Disney theme parks to be nothing less than kind and cuddly all the time. Even the not-so-cute “evil” characters (e.g., Jafar, Captain Hook) are supposed to exhibit nothing but boundless patience and good cheer in accommodating guests and posing for endless strea...
26249
“The COVID-19 future vaccine will come with the ID — a mark. The ID tells everyone you are free of COVID.”
A study that started in 2016 looked at using invisible dye to help doctors in developing countries track vaccination histories, but there are no plans to require such an identifier with a future COVID-19 vaccine.
false
Religion, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Facebook posts,
"The race to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 is underway, and so are online efforts to dissuade people from getting one whenever it is available. Among the many unfounded claims about a possible vaccine is this one: that it will ""come with the ID — a mark."" Not just any mark. ""The ID tells everyone you are free o...
37610
"Fish Mox"" and other fish antibiotics are acceptable substitutes for amoxicillin if a patient lacks access to healthcare services or treatment."
Fish Mox: ‘Same Antibiotic, Same Pill, Same Manufacturer, Same Drug’ as Amoxicillin?
unproven
Fact Checks, Viral Content
On February 17 2020 a Facebook user shared the following post, claiming that a product called “Fish Mox” is the “same antibiotic, same pill,” and “same drug” as the common antibiotic amoxicillin:Alongside three photographs, text read:Same antibiotic, same pill, same manufacturer, same drug. One you have to have insuran...
10487
Foreign Clinics Lure Americans With Unproven Treatments
This report describes the trend of some patients going overseas to get medical procedures that are not approved in the U.S. The articles focuses on one such treatment: adult stem cell treatment for advanced heart failure. The piece follows most health journalism best practices, including reporting on costs and availabi...
true
"The story reports that overseas stem cell treatment for heart failure cost one patient $13,000. The article briefly summarizes a major journal report on stem cell treatment for heart failure that finds little risk and only a ""modest benefit."" Since the story is premised on the fact that little evidence supports the ...
9072
Research pinpoints powerful biomarker of multiple sclerosis
A study by a group of Australian scientists has found a link between micro-RNA molecules in blood and multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that remains difficult to diagnose. The release does a credible job of explaining the target focuses of this basic research—micro-RNAs and exosomes, constituents of cells that find...
false
blood test,multiple sclerosis,University of Sydney
Although this research is basic stuff, a source in the release is already talking about its diagnostic value. Claims of that sort should be accompanied by at least cursory information about possible cost. In reality, this test is so far from clinical use that estimating cost would be difficult. A source describes possi...
6206
As shock wears off, mental health concerns grow in Bahamas.
One woman and her husband huddled on top of a bedroom dresser for two days, surrounded by floodwaters.
true
Caribbean, AP Top News, Mental health, Hurricane Dorian, Health, General News, Storms, Latin America, Bahamas, International News, Hurricanes
Another man sat in his wheelchair for nearly 48 hours in water up to his chest, alone in his home. A third rescued a friend who sat in shock when part of a building where they sought shelter blew away. Stories of survival are trickling out across northern Bahamas as the initial shock wears off from Hurricane Dorian, on...
14294
We have tougher standards holding toy gun manufacturers and sellers to account than we do for real guns.
"Clinton said, ""We have tougher standards holding toy gun manufacturers and sellers to account than we do for real guns."" She’s parroting a line she has stated previously. Clinton points to a 2005 law granting the gun industry certain immunity from lawsuits. In her camp are scholars who believe the law made the gun i...
mixture
National, Debates, Voting Record, Guns, Hillary Clinton,
"Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders voted for a law that gave higher standards to toy guns than real guns, opponent Hillary Clinton charged at the New York Democratic debate. A 2005 law put restrictions on people’s ability to sue the gun industry for crimes committed using their products. As Clinton ...
11484
Tai Chi May Help Ease Fibromyalgia
This story (one of five we reviewed on this study) summarizes the findings of a recent study into the potential of benefits of tai chi for patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Though somewhat longer than all but one of the other stories under review, the story provides only a surface look into the merits of the resear...
false
"The story does not mention costs. The story does not attempt to quantify benefits. Readers are left to make their own assumptions about what percentage of fibromyalgia patients in the US might benefit from tai chi classes. The story does not identify any possible harms. It is difficult to imagine that twice-weekly tai...
4827
18 sickened at NH restaurant popular with politicians .
Eighteen people were sickened with a gastrointestinal illness after attending a private function last month at a restaurant co-owned by a Democratic congressman that’s popular with presidential candidates, state health officials said Friday.
true
Health, General News, Manchester
People who became ill with norovirus attended the private function Nov. 24 at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, the state Department of Health and Human Services said. One person later died but it was unclear if the death was related to the norovirus outbreak, the department said. The restaurant is co-owned by Rep. C...
3428
Wisconsin lawsuit blames drug makers for opioid crisis.
Nearly two dozen Wisconsin counties are suing makers of prescription painkillers, alleging in a federal lawsuit Tuesday that the companies’ “nefarious and deceptive” marketing campaigns precipitated the nation’s opioid overdose epidemic.
true
Wisconsin, Epidemics, Lawsuits, Marketing campaigns, North America, Health
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and says the county health and law enforcement services “have been strained to the breaking point” because of the overdose crisis that has claimed thousands of lives. More than two dozen states, cities and counties have filed similar lawsuits against pharmaceutical compani...
22741
"Under federal law, Jared Loughner ""would not have been able to buy a gun"" had he been identified as mentally ill."
Sen. Sherrod Brown laments system failure that allowed Jared Loughner to buy a gun
true
Ohio, Guns, Sherrod Brown,
"Jared Loughner, the 22-year-old Tucson man accused of killing six people and injuring 13 others including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, scared community college classmates even before his alleged rampage. He should have been diagnosed, treated and kept in a mental health institution as long as he was a danger to others, or...
25739
“In West Virginia alone, overdoses have increased by 50% during the #COVID-19 pandemic.”
West Virginia has seen an overdose spike during the pandemic. For the period from April through June, responses by emergency medical services for suspected overdoses rose 33% compared to the same period a year earlier. But for May and June alone, the number rose 47%, which is close to the 50% Miller cited.
true
West Virginia, Drugs, Health Care, Coronavirus, Carol Miller,
"Has the coronavirus pandemic also sent drug overdoses soaring? That’s what Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., said in a July 30 tweet. Miller tweeted, ""In West Virginia alone, overdoses have increased by 50% during the #COVID-19 pandemic. We must stop the illegal drug flow across our Southern Border. That’s why I added an a...
12165
Rick Baker Says Rick Kriseman is $35 million over budget on St. Petersburg’s new police station.
Baker said that the new police headquarters is over budget. Baker considers the budget for the police department to be $50 million, which was the amount that was originally set aside in 2006 when he was mayor. However, before Kriseman took office, a consultant said the city would need $74 million to build a new police ...
false
Infrastructure, Florida, Rick Baker,
"All summer long, Rick Baker has hammered opponent and current Mayor Rick Kriseman over what he sees as exorbitant spending on the new pier and new police station. In a Tampa Bay Times article on June 14, Baker said: ""To me it's all about quality of life. Whether it's dog parks, skate board parks, rec centers ... And ...
15881
"Cigarette butts ""poison babies and small children because of the nicotine in them."
R.I. Lung Association representative says cigarette butts poison babies and small children
true
Environment, Rhode Island, Children, Public Health, Karina Wood,
"A bill before the General Assembly would prohibit smoking on public beaches; the Senate Judiciary Committee took testimony on the proposal Feb. 12. There were only two speakers. One was Steven Brown, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union,’s Rhode Island chapter, who objected to the provision calling...
41945
"It’s time that a president stepped up"" to address gun violence. ""And I’m talking Democrat and Republican presidents. They have not stepped up."
In a bipartisan meeting with members of Congress, President Donald Trump made false and misleading claims about his predecessors’ actions on gun control legislation and shootings in “gun-free zones.”
mixture
gun control, Guns,
In a bipartisan meeting with members of Congress, President Donald Trump made false and misleading claims about his predecessors’ actions on gun control legislation and shootings in “gun-free zones.”During the meeting, Democrats repeatedly told the president that as a Republican he is in an unique position to convince ...
10917
Yes Please to Yogurt and Cheese: The New Improved Mediterranean Diet
This news release summarizes findings from a recently published study on the effects of a dairy-supplemented Mediterranean diet on heart disease risk factors in 41 high risk patients. The news release neglects to provide readers with important study details like the types of dairy products consumed, while misreporting ...
false
dairy,Mediterranean diet,University of South Australia
The news release doesn’t discuss the costs of adhering to a dairy-supplemented Mediterranean diet. However, many people know the costs for typical Mediterranean diet food items like nuts, fruits, and fish and dairy products like milk and cheese. A statistically significant reduction in blood pressure doesn’t always tra...
10039
Study: New way to spot breast cancer shows promise
Bayer AG on Monday said it has asked a U.S. federal appeals court to throw out a $25 million judgment it was ordered to pay to a California man who blamed the company’s Roundup weed killer for his cancer.
true
In a filing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit dated Friday, Bayer said the verdict defied regulatory findings and sound science, adding that the “speculative case” should never have made it before a jury. Bayer in a statement said it stood behind the safety of Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosat...
7862
Attackers torch Ebola treatment center in Congo, patients evacuated.
Attackers set fire to an Ebola treatment center run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo late on Sunday, forcing staff to evacuate patients, the charity said.
true
Health News
There were no immediate details on the identity or motive of the people who torched the center in the district of Katwa, at the heart of the country’s worst outbreak of the deadly disease. But the World Health Organization has said aid workers face mistrust in some areas, fueled by false rumors about treatments and pre...
1867
Health care among top jobs for young people.
Young people looking for a job with good pay, flexible hours and job security should consider working in health care, according to a list of the top 15 best jobs in the U.S. for young people.
true
Health News
Health care is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy and nearly half of what are considered the top jobs for young people are in the sector, Forbes.com said. With a medium annual salary of $33,470, dental assistants topped the ranking, while medical assistants, who earn about $28,860, came in No. 3, followed b...
9063
Simple Electrocardiogram Can Determine Whether a Patient Has Major Depression or Bipolar Disorder, Study Finds
A news release by Loyola Medicine covers what it called a “groundbreaking” study that measured heart rate variability to help differentiate between major depression and bipolar disorder. It adds this would be a “major breakthrough in psychiatric and primary care practices” — made possible by a “simple 15-minute electro...
false
bipolar disorder,Electrocardiogram,Loyola Medicine,major depression
According to CostHelper.com, patients with health insurance typically pay between $30-$100 in copays for both the electrocardiogram (ECG) and its analysis. Uninsured patients can expect to pay $500-$3,000 in total. Since costs are not discussed in this news release, we give it a Not Satisfactory rating here. No numbers...
20230
Under a new law, doctors performing drug-induced abortions could be charged if women don’t return to them for follow-up care
Wisconsin Medical Society president says doctors could be charged if women don’t return for follow-up care after drug-induced abortions
false
Abortion, Legal Issues, Women, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Medical Society,
"The debate over a Republican-sponsored measure that requires new medical protocols in abortions has spawned confusion -- and its own debate -- over liability for doctors. The law, signed by Gov. Scott Walker in April, added penalties if physicians perform medication-induced abortions without an in-person exam before t...
36157
An image shows a man's mostly-consumed Red Bull energy drink, after he found a dead mouse in the container.
Did a Man Find a Dead Mouse in a Nearly Empty Red Bull Can?
unproven
Fact Checks, Viral Content
On September 5 2019, Facebook user Seth Bowman shared the following post (archived here), alongside a claim his Red Bull energy drink was contaminated by a dead mouse. According to Bowman’s claim, he had nearly finished drinking the can of Red Bull when “chunks” alerted him to the presence of the former rodent:So I dra...
29240
A npedophile was found dead in his prison cell after his testicles were removed and his injuries went untreated.
Neon Nettle is a fake news site with a particular focus on reporting made-up and exaggerated clickbait stories about pedophiles. This report about Daniel Davey is a near-duplicate of a previous article from the same site that similarly overlaid genuine news of a prison death with fabricated details attributing the deat...
false
Junk News, neon nettle
In December 2017, a 21-year-old British man named Daniel Davey received a six-and-a-half year sentence for having sexually abused a five-year-old boy: A 21-year-old man, who used to live in Bradford on Avon, has been sentenced to six and a half years in jail after admitting to sexually assaulting a young boy. Daniel D...
2178
Cholera cases reported as hunger, disease stalk African cyclone survivors.
Cholera cases were reported on Friday in the Mozambican city of Beira, adding a risk of deadly illnesses for hundreds of thousands of people who are scrambling for shelter, food and water after catastrophic flooding in southern Africa.
true
Environment
“There is growing concern among aid groups on the ground of potential disease outbreaks,” the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said. “Already, some cholera cases have been reported in Beira along with an increasing number of malaria infections among people trapped by the flood...
8584
France is fourth country to pass 10,000 coronavirus deaths.
France has officially registered more than 10,000 deaths from coronavirus infections, making it the fourth country to cross that threshold after Italy, Spain and the United States.
true
Health News
The rate of increase in the number of fatalities also rose on Tuesday for the second consecutive day, official figures showed. Jerome Salomon, head of the public health authority, told a news conference the pandemic was still expanding in France, which is now in the fourth week of a national lockdown to try to curb its...