A drug commonly called “tranq” has shown up in 39 states and has made heroin addictions even more difficult to overcome. Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, also produces horrific wounds in users. The FDA recently issued a national alert about tranq being added to other drugs but also that authorities aren’t sure where the drug is coming from. And as cases spread, there is no national reporting system to help track them.

Pay raises are rising but, on average, they are not keeping up with inflation. The U.S. Department of Labor says average pay hikes are running about 5% to 6%, but before you demand a raise, keep in mind that layoffs are rising too. Still, more people are being hired than let go. 

In about three months, Canada will relax its euthanasia laws. Already Canada has the most permissive right-to-die laws in the world. Last year about 10,000 people died with a physician's help or using drugs expressly designed to take their lives. 

While watching video of Mauna Loa’s volcanic eruptions, remember that native Hawaiians do not see eruptions as a threat. Many see it as a spiritual connection to Pele, the Hawaiian deity of volcanos and fire. Some Hawaiians feel compelled to get closer to the lava flow as a show of respect.