Instagram says it will notify parents if teens ‘repeatedly’ search for terms related to suicide

February 28, 2026

Instagram said Thursday it will start alerting parents if their kids repeatedly search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm. The alerts will only go to parents who are enrolled in Instagram’s parental supervision program. Instagram says it already blocks such content from showing up in teen accounts’ search results and directs people to helplines instead. The announcement comes as Meta is in the midst of two trials over harms to children. A trial underway in Los Angeles questions whether Meta’s platforms deliberately addict and harm minors. Another, in New ...

Whether it’s a mini-sabbatical or an adult gap year, more people are taking extended work breaks

February 21, 2026

If you daydream about getting a break from work, you might picture two weeks of vacation or a long weekend getaway. But some people dare to imagine something bigger and find ways to get a substantial breather from stress or their day-to-day routines. Mini-sabbaticals. Adult gap years. ...

As the US population ages, more employees are seeking caregiver benefits at work

February 21, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — Debra Whitman was traveling for work when her father was suddenly admitted to the hospital in serious pain. She jetted home to Maryland and took several days off to care for him in his rural community in eastern Washington state and to set him up with a motorized lift chair ...

Japan’s traditional kimonos are being repurposed in creative and sustainable ways

February 21, 2026

TOKYO (AP) — The kimono, that elaborate, delicate wrap-around garment worn by geisha and samurai from centuries back, is getting a vibrant remake, appreciated these days for a virtue that’s more relevant than ever: sustainability. A genuine silk kimono, which literally means “worn ...

Penn State Extension to offer free virtual walking program

February 14, 2026

UNIVERSITY PARK — Anyone interested in developing healthy habits and increasing stamina can benefit from a free Penn State Extension virtual walking program called “Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania.” The statewide program will take place from April 6 through June 1. The program is ...

Scientists say genetic analysis could greatly speed restoration of iconic American chestnut

February 14, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Billions of American chestnut trees once covered the eastern United States. They soared in height, producing so many nuts that sellers moved them by train car. Every Christmas, they’re called to mind by the holiday lyric “chestnuts roasting on an open fire.” But by ...