Beyond red dye No.3: Here’s what parents should know about food colorings Food companies have two years to get red dye No.3 out of their products. But other synthetic dyes have also raised concerns, because of behavioral issues in kids. Here’s what parents need to consider. Read more on NPR

Is the air quality index actually useful right now? The air has improved in the LA region as firefighters get blazes under control, but there are questions about how safe the air actually is. Read more on NPR

One longtime Gaiman fan on where we go from here Pop culture critic Glen Weldon says he can’t separate the art from the artist. But in light of the sexual abuse allegations against Gaiman, he will separate himself from the author’s future work. Read more on NPR

More teens say they’re using ChatGPT for schoolwork, a new study finds According to the survey, 26% of students ages 13-17 are using the artificial intelligence bot to help them with their assignments. Read more on NPR

Private firefighters are helping out in L.A. wildfires. It raises ethical questions Insurers are deploying private firefighters amid the Los Angeles wildfires. Are they an added bonus for all — or only for those who can afford them? Read more on NPR

These are the U.S. citizens held hostage in Gaza Seven of the nearly 100 hostages held in Gaza are U.S. citizens, several of whom are confirmed dead. Read more on NPR

In Lebanon, these Palestinian refugees sew designs from a homeland they’ve never seen In a workshop in an infamous refugee camp in Beirut, Palestinian women practice an ancient art form — as a livelihood, and also as therapy. The designs come from a homeland most have never seen. Read more on NPR

Trump’s return recalls when inaugurations have been more than ceremonies Presidential inaugurations are by definition historic acts, but when we think of past Inauguration Days there is clearly a hierarchy of historical pop. Read more on NPR

After major 2024 defeats, the Democratic Party searches for a new direction The Democratic Party begins 2025 with several looming questions. Among them: who will lead its national party apparatus, and how it will handle President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Read more on NPR

A California fifth grader interviews his firefighter father Cian Lawlor’s father was dispatched to the Palisades Fire just over a week ago and he’s been working it ever since. The 11-year-old had some questions for his dad. Read more on NPR