Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

Goodblend medical marijuana dispensary began filling prescriptions during the same visit for the first time on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Plano. Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer Customers lined ...

Texas’ medical marijuana program is expanding, with new laws now in effect that increase access for patients across the state, including in North Texas. While much of the debate in 2025 centered on ...

Java is becoming more popular for building AI applications, with 62% of respondents in Azul’s just-released 2026 State of Java Survey and Report relying on Java for AI development. Last year’s report ...

Oregon's decade-long voluntary road user fee program is scheduled to become mandatory in July 2027 for existing electric vehicles under House Bill 3991, which was signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek (D ...

Tempe is proposing a new program to increase affordable housing by offering developers incentives like more density and height. The program would speed up approvals by allowing city staff to approve ...

The three-year pilot program did not deliver the results hoped for, the health minister said. It had allowed drug users to avoid criminal charges for possessing small amounts of illegal substances. By ...

Less than one month after departing LIV Golf following four years with the league, Brooks Koepka has been reinstated by the PGA Tour to play tournaments in 2026. Under the new Returning Member Program ...

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama – The Capability Program Executive (CPE) Aviation, through its Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO), issued a Request for Information (RFI) to industry aimed at ...

The "Exalt" program takes youth offenders ages 13 to 19 and gives them a path to get back to school or enter the workforce. It’s structured through four and a half months of training, plus two years ...

AUSTIN, Texas — Nine new businesses have been granted conditional cannabis dispensary licenses as Texas expands its Compassionate Use Program for medical marijuana. The new companies include Central ...

Robert Payne lost his brother at a young age. The 66-year-old said he “tried to use drugs and everything else (so that) I could not feel and remember what had happened.” He said that when the money ...