Lather, rinse, revolution

May 23, 2016 - Daily News Briefing

The seismic changes coursing through Western society today, seen though a wide lens, are just the instruments of humankind's perpetual reinvention.

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Congress votes to ban Confederate flags from VA cemeteries

Congress passed a proposal on Thursday that essentially bans Confederate flags from national cemeteries.

Opioid prescriptions are declining. Will it ease the addiction epidemic?

Opioid prescriptions in the United States have declined by at least 12 percent since 2012, but experts worry it won't stop Americans from overdosing on heroin and fentanyl.

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President Barack Obama on Friday signed a bill into law that allows the ashes of women who flew in the Women Airforce Service Pilots program to be laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery.

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Lake Mead's drop to an all-time low is another sign that solutions to the West's prolonged drought may involve creative approaches to water allocation and conservation.

Yale introduces gender-neutral bathrooms: A college trend?

In addition to the gender-neutral bathroom, Yale will allow transgender graduates to use on the diploma their preferred name rather than the name on their birth certificate.

How did some birds become red? Scientists unravel clues.

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How Islamic State militants attempt to outwit spies

A group claiming Islamic State ties is distributing manuals on a secure messaging app to help the militant group use common encryption tools to thwart government surveillance.

Is the Pentagon doing enough for sexual assault victims?

A report by the Human Rights Watch argues that victims of sexual assault have been given "bad discharge" from the military.

Utah GOP Senator's final wish: Apologize to Muslims

A Republican former senator's deathbed wish to apologize for anti-Muslim rhetoric is echoed by many others whose politics sometimes clash with their faith and ethics.