The United States is similar to developing countries in the percentage of mothers who give birth before their child is due, according to the World Health Organization and other agencies.

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U.S. Lags in Global Measure of Preterm Births

The father of a seven-year-old boy whose mother is on trial for his murder told police he knew nothing of any injuries to the child, a court hears.

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Man ‘unaware of son’s injuries’

In general, it is a bad idea to insult people’s appearance, religious texts, or children. “Ma’am! You are ugly, I think Scientology is bunk, and your child is ill-equipped to handle basic math!” are some of the most cutting words you can utter. Add vulgarity, and you may never be on speaking terms again. Read full article > >

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Alexandra Petri: Savage remarks on the Bible: bully, or bully pulpit?

Police questioning a man over the murder of a two-year-old boy say the child died from abdominal injuries.

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Murder probe boy’s death revealed

HMRC letters sent to 1.3m homes advising on changes to the child tax credit system are ‘misleading’ says a tax reform charity.

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HMRC ‘misleading’ on tax credits

Elizabeth Gordon is the author of 'The Complete Allergy-Free Comfort Foods Cookbook and Allergy-Free Desserts'. She was diagnosed with multiple food allergies in 2007 after the birth of her first child and decided to combine her social work background with her love of the culinary arts to help people just like her. She cooks up new treats, weekly, on her blog allergyfreedelights.com The United States is home to 9 million adults and 6 million children coping with food allergies ranging from annoying rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Millions of other families are taking note of government-funded initiatives like Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move project and reaching for less processed and more natural fare. While healthy and safe eating is the common denominator between these groups, there is likely another: sticker shock when the checkout person hands over the grocery receipt. When I was diagnosed with allergies to wheat, eggs, string beans and figs in 2004, I wrongly assumed that my food bills would plummet, largely because it felt as though most of the foods that I enjoyed had just been eliminated from my diet. Venturing into the supermarket after that fateful doctor’s visit, I felt relieved that I finally knew why I was covered in a rash and that by simply choosing rice over rotini, I might be able to eliminate the itching that had plagued me since my daughter was born six months before. I was more than surprised when the cart, loaded with produce, a package of gluten-free flour , some gluten, dairy, soy, nut and egg-free chocolate chips and gluten-free snacks like pretzels came out to be almost three times what I previously budgeted for groceries. I thought that there was a mistake. There wasn’t, but even seven years later, I still can’t believe the amount of money that we spend on food. Granted, there are four of us, we live in New York City where the cost of living is higher, and specialty items that are both safe for me to eat and that my children enjoy are simply more expensive. However, I know that I am not alone. I took an informal survey of my Facebook fans, and of the roughly 50 responses, only one person said that her food bill hadn’t tripled as a result of her child’s severe food allergies. One food allergic family even added that they factored their food budget into their mortgage refinancing as a medical hardship. Whether coping with life-threatening food allergies or just buying more mindfully, families know that eliminating any or all of the top eight allergens (dairy, wheat , eggs, soy, fish, tree nuts, peanuts and shellfish) from their diets can get pricey. Here are five practical ways to reduce the weekly expenses: Opt for beans and rice over pasta Rice is always inexpensive and so are hominy, beans (like kidney or black beans), spaghetti squash and sweet potatoes. Gluten-free pastas and cereals are not. Reach for canned or dried legumes or starchy vegetables, which generally have more nutritional value anyway, and save the rice pasta and cold cereal for special treats. Make your own Cooking your own meals, snacks and treats instead of relying on pre-packaged fare will drastically reduce the allergic family’s food bill. It also ensures food safety. Cooking doesn’t have to be a five-course meal every night. Simple steps like making your own gluten-free flour mix for baking or making chicken stock at home really add up to savings. Invest in a slow cooker If you eat meat, the slow cooker turns inexpensive cuts like brisket or chicken thighs tender and moist, and it saves time because it can be left alone all day to have dinner on the table when you get home from work. If you live a vegetarian lifestyle, the slow cooker can be a great way to cook up hearty soups, stews and even big batches of gluten-free, steel-cut oats for breakfast. Eat seasonally The laws of supply and demand apply here. When fruits and vegetables are abundant, they are less expensive. Roast up some root vegetables in the fall. Load up on berries in the summer. Choose citrus in the winter to save. Don’t be afraid to freeze If you can’t live without blueberries in February or your kids want some corn come December, don’t hesitate to look in the freezer section. Better still, load up your own freezer with fresh fruit when it’s in season to eat later in the year. Evidence suggests that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious, and they can be cheaper, too. Don’t stop at just frozen produce! Freeze leftover herbs to avoid waste. Freeze coconut milk kefir in ice cube trays if you only use a little bit for baking. Stash the meat that was on sale at the market in the freezer for up to three months. Just these little steps reduce waste and expenditures in the supermarket. Safe and healthy eating does come at a price. Fortunately, simple steps can reduce it, because as every family, whether allergic or not, knows, every penny counts. Previously – Being gluten-free and well-fed and Living with peanut allergies

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Allergy-friendly grocery shopping without breaking the bank

Parents of graduating seniors might want to postpone turning their child’s bedroom into a guest room. A new study finds that young adults are not only moving back home at higher rates than ever before, they also don’t seem in a rush to move out. Read full article > >

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More adult kids living with parents and in no rush to depart

Guns N’ Roses stepped onto the Fillmore Silver Spring stage a few ticks after midnight Friday morning and didn’t pack it up until 3:04 a.m. It wasn’t a rock concert. It was a hostage situation. Where did these guys even find the gall to call themselves Guns N’ Roses? Led by the band’s only original member, frontman Axl Rose, this unfocused eight-man crew pranced and preened with the enthusiasm and talent of a tribute band. For three torturous hours, the guys sucked the life force from some of the most anthemic rock songs ever written — “ Sweet Child O’ Mine ,” “ Paradise City ” and “ November Rain ” among them. Read full article > >

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Guns N’ Roses, minus the heavy artillery, at Fillmore Silver Spring

MILFORD, Mich. — Mitt Romney attacked Rick Santorum on Thursday for saying that he voted for the federal No Child Left Behind legislation even though it went against his beliefs — seeing in his opponent’s candid acknowledgment a chance to undermine his claim to be the true conservative in the Republican presidential race. Read full article > >

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Mitt Romney attacks Rick Santorum for No Child vote

“Made a mistake” on No Child Left Behind.

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Santorum Hit From All Sides

The Obama administration will free 10 states from the requirements of No Child Left Behind, responding to complaints from teachers and school administrators across the country that the nation’s main education law is outdated and punitive. Read full article > >

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Obama: 10 states to receive No Child Left Behind waivers

The death of Joe Paterno could weaken the state’s prosecution of two former university officials who have been charged in connection with the child sexual abuse case involving Jerry Sandusky.

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Paterno’s Testimony No Longer Admissible

A man raped and stabbed a teenager two weeks before she was due to give birth to her child, a murder trial is told.

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Man ‘murdered pregnant teenager’

In retrospect, the July 2002 news release announcing the opening of “ Bon Appetit! Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian ” wasn’t overly optimistic. The National Museum of American History scheduled the exhibit to run only through February 2004, a mere 18 months. Nearly a decade later, the Smithsonian will begin to dismantle Child’s kitchen after the last visitor leaves the museum on Sunday, Jan. 8. Not to worry, though: The kitchen — and its 1,200-plus objects — will return this summer as part of a larger exhibit that will put Child’s favorite room in its proper context. Read full article > >

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‘Julia Child’s Kitchen’ to close temporarily on Sunday

A study by the Center on Education Policy says that under the No Child Left Behind law, 48 percent of schools would be labeled as failing this year — not 82 percent.

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Education Secretary Overstated Failing Schools Under No Child Left Behind, Study Says