Top Stories - U.S. News & World Report

Edward Hallowell is a psychiatrist with ADHD himself whose latest book, Superparenting for ADD (Random House, $25), is aimed at convincing parents, teachers, and kids that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (or attention deficit disorder) is a trait, not a disability. I asked Ned what's new; here's an edited version of our conversation.

Israel's top leaders rejected a proposal for a cease-fire with Hamas today, rebuffing global pressure and continuing to pound Gaza for the fifth straight day.

This year's list of most literate cities has been unveiled, with Minneapolis and Seattle tied for first place and the nation's northern latitudes coming in with a high bookish quotient. In its sixth year, the annual ranking is put out by John W. Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University. Miller views the level of literacy in a given location as a measure of the place's quality of life and level of culture. "I wanted to do a study of not whether people could read but whether or not they do read," he explains. The latter is the more important, he says. ...

As if you need to add to the long list of reasons to stub out your smokes for good, new research published online today in the journal Neurology suggests a family history of stroke makes smokers six times more likely to also suffer a stroke. The specific type of aneurysm, called a subarachnoid hemorrhage, is fatal in approximately 35 to 40 percent of cases.

It's that time of year when you look out over the next 12 months and ask yourself: "What would I like to accomplish?"

SAN FRANCISCO--There are two types of drivers who use their cellphones behind the wheel: Distracted and really distracted. Studies show, in fact, that people who talk on the phone or text message while driving are actually as impaired as drunk drivers, braking almost 20 percent slower than other motorists.

The number of students getting free and reduced-price meals nationwide is on the rise, presenting a dilemma for state and local school officials struggling to plug budget shortfalls. In California, for example, the state superintendent of public instruction recently warned that the state will run out of lunch money a month before the school year ends. If that happens, local school districts will have to absorb the extra costs of feeding students even if it means cutting academic programs and jobs, the San Diego Union-Tribunte reports.

Sports-related concussions pose a big risk to children and teenagers, particularly since kids rarely tell parents or coaches that they've been bonked in the head so hard that they feel confused, nauseous, or have a headache that won't go away. Doctors increasingly realize that serious head injuries can cause permanent brain damage, particularly if they're not treated properly. Thus, parents need to make sure that young athletes know the symptoms and aren't afraid to report them.

In Washington, everyone applauds a governor who wants to raise academic standards for all students. Back in his or her home state, a governor who proposes to do just that can get sued. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger learned this lesson not long ago when his plan to require algebra testing for all eighth graders angered the state's school superintendent and some education groups. Two organizations representing school board members and administrators filed a lawsuit to overturn the requirement, and now a judge has temporarily put the brakes on the governor's plan, the Associated Press reports. ...

People are cutting back on cosmetic surgery and other elective surgeries in response to the dismal economy, reversing the booming popularity of tummy tucks, eye lifts, and breast implants, which have soared in popularity in recent years, particularly among younger people and the middle class.

Seniors hoping that they wouldn't have to withdraw money from their depleted retirement accounts before their portfolios recover have run out of time. A law signed December 23 by President Bush and passed by both houses of Congress this month will allow retirees to avoid making withdrawals from 401(k)'s or IRAs in 2009, but seniors need to take withdrawals this year by December 31 or face a stiff tax penalty. Here is a look at the latest tax changes for required minimum distributions.

U.S. News recently published four additional lists as part of its second annual rankings of America's Best High Schools, which is based on an analysis of more than 21,000 public high schools in 48 states. These lists offer additional insights into the diverse characteristics of the schools that are part of the ranking.

Hillary Clinton doesn't think she will ever reach the Oval Office, so she sees her upcoming tenure as secretary of state as the high point of her political career and a way to complete her legacy, friends say. "Hillary has concluded that she is not going to be president," says a confidant who advised her husband, Bill, when he was in the White House. "She realizes that it's time for a new generation."

LONDON--That Britain faces a very real risk of home-grown Islamic terrorism has long been known. But now, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has not only publicly hinted at the extent of the problem but bluntly charged that most U.K.-based extremists are linked to Pakistan, some 3,700 miles away.

President-elect Barack Obama has been talking up green jobs, green energy, and green infrastructure for a while, but in the past few weeks, as pressure has mounted for a new economic stimulus package, his push for green spending has acquired a sense of immediacy: If Congress is going to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to boost the economy, as it appears likely to do, how much should be spent on green projects? And do some green projects hold more promise for the economy than others?

With two legendary political names--Kennedy and Cuomo--in play, New Yorkers are weighing in on the question of who New York Gov. David Paterson should select for the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton.

They are all too used to being neglected by U.S. presidents, but Canada and Mexico will soon come calling on Barack Obama, hoping that the incoming administration's foreign policy will accord them a higher priority than they have received in recent times.

Note to seniors (and anyone else) mixing prescriptions with painkillers and/or their favorite dietary supplements: Don't do it until you check with your doctor to make sure they don't interact to cause you harm. A new study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that 1 in 25 people in their late 50s and older is risking dangerous drug interactions by mixing, for example, the blood thinner warfarin with garlic pills.

It was probably never going to be easy for Ghassan Ateyah, an Iraqi ear, nose, and throat doctor who has been a refugee in the United States for 13 months, to land a job. But with the deepening recession, the hurdles are even higher.

SAN FRANCISCO--Supporters of Proposition 8, the California initiative that eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry last month, reacted with surprise and dismay this weekend to the announcement by the state's attorney general that he had reversed his position and would ask California's high court to invalidate the measure.

In the wake of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's indictment on corruption charges, Democratic sources are saying that incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel will be absolved of any rumors of wrongdoing when the results of the transition team's internal probe are released, most likely today or tomorrow.

By now, many people are familiar with America's poor academic performance on the international stage. Forty years ago, the United States had the highest high school completion rate in the world. Today, it ranks 18th out of 24 industrialized nations. In 1995, the rate of Americans going to college was among the highest in the world. Since then, 13 other countries boast higher college graduation rates than the United States. What can the United States learn from countries that seem to be doing a better job of preparing students for the 21st-century economy?

You probably saw the recent headline: Colonoscopy may not be as effective as previously thought at detecting the precursors of colorectal cancer. But whether the procedure finds 60 percent of polyps, as the new research suggests, or 90 percent, it's still the most effective screening test, other than the Pap smear, for any kind of common cancer. Unlike a mammogram or a PSA test, a colonoscopy can even be thought of as a form of prevention, since it enables the doctor to get rid of polyps before they become malignant. Even critics of many forms of cancer screening say it has its place. ...

Retirement may seem like a distant dream to many people. Americans have lost nearly $2 trillion in their retirement accounts this year. And a turbulent stock market coupled with falling home values is creating high anxiety among baby boomers approaching retirement age. But plans for a financially secure retirement don't need to be deferred indefinitely. Here are five reasons to be optimistic about your retirement prospects.

Often hailed as "wonder drugs" for their ability to lower cholesterol and reduce heart attack risk, statins actually don't work that well in about 20 percent of users. Turns out, these people may have certain genetic mutations that lower the drugs' effectiveness, according to a new study from Duke University Medical Center. ...

Some people are suggesting it might be good news that loud snorers--who are typically overweight--use up more calories than those who sleep quietly. I'd say, to the contrary.

With consumer spending in a rut, 2008 is not shaping up as a happy holiday season for many small-business owners. Still, there's nothing like the right gift to take a businessperson's mind off the recession. And at a time when every penny counts, why not pick a present that can also improve a business's bottom line? If there's a small-business owner on your shopping list, these gifts should bring a smile. And if you're a business owner, you just might be tempted to shop for yourself.

Many young workers and college students are positively mystified by this job market. What happened to the wide range of meaningful opportunities promised to those who labored for degrees, undergraduate and beyond? Work was supposed to be more than a paycheck. Now, if you're paying attention to the news at all, it seems lucky enough simply to get a paycheck.