Johnson & Johnson wins a key court battle in baby powder case A federal judge has allowed a Johnson & Johnson spinoff to proceed with a controversial bankruptcy, despite complaints from thousands who say they were harmed by the company's baby powder. Scott Horsley
4 U.S. companies will pay $26 billion to settle claims they fueled the opioid crisis The companies, including Johnson & Johnson and McKesson, will admit no wrongdoing. Billions of dollars in payouts will fund drug treatment and harm reduction programs. Brian Mann
Florida House passes controversial measure dubbed the 'Don't Say Gay' bill by critics Opponents of the measure say it will hurt LGBTQ youth, who already face higher rates of bullying, but the Republican sponsor says it's meant to protect children and keep parents informed. Joe Hernandez
Looks like non-mRNA vaccines can be as good as Pfizer and Moderna in certain scenarios The consensus has been that Pfizer and Moderna are most protective. But a study looking at 5 vaccines — including Russia's Sputnik V and two Chinese types — offers an unexpected finding. Charles Schmidt
Focus shifts to safety as Washington prepares for the end of its statewide mask mandate Washington state's mask mandate lifts in less than a month, on March 21st 2022. King County's vaccine mandate will end on March 1st. All of us are dealing with shifting policies around COVID safety. So let's turn to someone who can help us understand what’s changing and why. Libby Denkmann
What’s in a nose? Smell training may help recovery from Covid-19 anosmia Otolaryngologists treating Covid-19 patients with impaired smell are finding success with a whiff of intense odors like cloves, eucalyptus, rose, and lemon. Libby Denkmann
Premature deaths from guns expose another toll of the firearms crisis Firearm-related deaths are continuing their rapid rise in the U.S., with a new study finding they have overtaken car crashes as the leading cause of "years of potential life lost" due to trauma. Rachel Treisman
Michigan aims to improve maternal and infant health Black doulas are setting out to help change the dramatic Black infant mortality rate. In Michigan and across the country, Black infants die far more frequently than white babies.
Who might benefit from a 4th shot — and who might not Some countries are moving ahead with plans to offer a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. But studies are raising questions about the potential advantages of this extra booster. Michaeleen Doucleff
Doctors find limited use for less effective Covid pill The antiviral pill molnupiravir was authorized and distributed by the government late last year. But it's not doctors' first choice of treatment, except for a narrow slice of patients. Pien Huang