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Medical Marijuana-Federal Research
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government has signed off on a long-stalled study looking at marijuana as a treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Department of Health and Human Services' decision was hailed as a major victory by marijuana researchers, who have struggled for decades to secure approval for research into marijuana's medical uses.
The proposal from the University of Arizona was long ago cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, but its researchers had been unable to purchase marijuana from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The agency's Mississippi research farm is the drug's only federally-sanctioned source.
In a letter last week, HHS cleared the purchase of medical marijuana by the studies' chief financial backer, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, which supports legalization of marijuana and other drugs.
Squaw Creek Geese
MOUND CITY, Mo. (AP) — More than a million snow geese have been counted at a northwest Missouri refuge in an annual spectacle that pumps much-needed revenue into the area's economy.
The Kansas City Star reports this year's gathering got off to a slow start because of frozen wetlands at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, 90 miles north of Kansas City.
Wildlife biologist Darrin Welchert says he counted only two geese at the refuge on March 5. But two days later, after the weather turned warmer, that number rose to 750,000. It later hit 1.2 million.
A 2013 Fish and Wildlife Service report estimates nearly 300,000 tourists come to the refuge each year to see the geese, adding about $2.6 million to the economies of Holt County and nearby Buchanan County.
NYC Mayor-The Good Wife
NEW YORK (AP) — Is an Emmy Award next for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (dih BLAH'-zee-oh)?
The mayor made a cameo as himself in Sunday night's episode of CBS' "The Good Wife," a legal and political drama set in Chicago.
During the episode, a character played by actor Nathan Lane is riding in a New York City taxi. De Blasio loudly extolls the city's virtues in a commercial shown on a loop on the cab's back-seat television.
This prompts Lane to ask his cab driver to turn off the video, saying "the mayor won't stop talking."
It's de Blasio's first acting job since taking office. He has described himself as an "intense" fan of the show.
"The Good Wife" is loosely inspired by another New York Democrat, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
TV-Teen Wolf-Death
NEW YORK (AP) — Fans upset about a main character's death in the just-concluded episode of MTV's "Teen Wolf" have a special place to go to vent.
The network said Monday it is launching a special website for fans to memorialize the character Allison Argent, who died by a sword wielded by a mythical Japanese demon. On the site, cast members offer "eulogies," and actress Crystal Reed explains that her character was killed off because she wanted to move on and do something else.
Killing a TV character isn't new, but MTV is taking an interesting step by offering an advertiser-sponsored site, TeenWolfMemorial.com, for fans to mourn.
"Teen Wolf" is one of MTV's most popular shows, with an audience that skews female and has a median age of 21.
Wal-Mart-Video Games
NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart plans to expand its video game trade-in program to its stores, offering store credit for thousands of video games.
The world's largest retailer plans to let video game owners trade in used video games online and in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores for store credit but not cash. Previously the company offered trade-ins on a more limited basis online.
It will also offer refurbished used games in its stores for the first time.
Wal-Mart has been seeking new ways to boost revenue as its low-income customers remain under pressure due to a weak jobs picture and shaky economy. In its most recent fourth quarter, net income dropped 21 percent, and the Bentonville, Ark.-based company gave a subdued forecast for the current year.
Poll-Media Habits
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new study shows Americans still follow the news, even as more social media, electronic entertainment and YouTube videos pull at their time.
The in-depth survey by the Media Insight Project finds that most people say it's easier to keep up with the news than it was just five years ago. Cellphones and tablet computers help people check headlines throughout the day. Young adults are especially likely to follow up quickly when they hear about breaking news.
Older generations are more likely to hear or see news daily. But a majority of people under 30 say they are daily news consumers, too.
The study was an initiative of the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the American Press Institute.
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