Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. skyrocketed 21 percent in 2016, dragging down life expectancy predictions for a second straight year.
Publication: News
Snopes→ Police: Texas Baby Found Alive After Mother Fatally Stabbed
The 6-week-old daughter of a woman who was stabbed to death was found alive on 21 December 2017 in a Houston apartment.
Snopes→ Marijuana Activist Since 1960s Facing California Pot Charges
A marijuana activist whose advocacy dates to the 1960s has been arrested in California toting 22 pounds of illegal marijuana, prosecutors said.
Snopes→ Car Rams Into Pedestrians in Melbourne; 19 Injured
Police say the driver is an Australian citizen of Afghan decent who has a known history of drug use and mental health issues.
Snopes→ Family of Slain Australian Concerned About US Investigation
John Ruszczyk demanded a more rigorous probe into the fatal shooting of his daughter, Justine Ruszczyk Damond, by Minneapolis police.
Snopes→ White House Temporarily Removes Petition Tool
The White House is temporarily removing a petition tool from its website after 11 months of silence, promising to respond to public concerns next year.
Snopes→ Man Convicted of Plotting to Behead Blogger to be Sentenced
Prosecutors will ask the judge to sentence 28-year-old David Wright to life in prison for his role in the plot to kill New York resident Pamela Geller.
Snopes→ Reports: Trump Family’s Votes Weren’t Counted in New York Mayoral Election
The New York Daily News has reported that due to errors on their absentee ballots, the votes of Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner didn't count.
Snopes→ Did a Georgia City Council Refuse to Give Its New Mayor the Keys to City Hall?
Mayor Rufus Davis is boycotting Camilla City Council meetings because of what he calls "segregationist practices."
Snopes→ Amtrak Commuter Train Derails on I-5 Freeway in Washington State
The train was carrying 78 passengers and five crew.
Snopes→ Is ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ About Date Rape?
Recent events have played a role in changing the public's perception of the 1944 Christmas standard.
Snopes→ Facebook to Downrank Posts that Ask You to Like or Share
The social network announced an algorithm change targeting "engagement bait."
Snopes→ Popular S. Korean Boy Band Member Dies in Possible Suicide
Kim Jong-hyun, known by the stage name Jonghyun, was found unconscious at a residence hotel in Seoul and was pronounced dead later at a nearby hospital.
Snopes→ Tavis Smiley Says PBS Made Mistake in Suspending Him
PBS says it has suspended distribution of Smiley’s talk show after an independent investigation uncovered “multiple, credible allegations” of misconduct by its host.
Snopes→ Military Investigation Reveals American Soldier Fought to the End
The results dispel a wave of rumors and misinformation about how Sgt. La David T. Johnson died in Niger.
Snopes→ Trump Administration Bans CDC Officials From Using Certain Words
Policy analysts will be prohibited from using seven words, including "fetus" and "transgender."
Snopes→ Earthquake Hits Indonesia’s Java Island, Deaths Reported
National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said there were deaths reported but could not immediately provide details.
Snopes→ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Marry May 19
Kensington Palace says the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be held on 19 May 2018.
Snopes→ Reading a Story With Unnamed Sources
A frightening story about President Trump's "deep state spies" citing unnamed sources sparked readers to question its veracity.
Snopes→ FCC Repeals Net Neutrality
The Republican majority of FCC commissioners voted to approve Chairman Ajit Pai's proposal to eliminate Obama-era regulations that had ensured open Internet access.
Snopes→ Sheriff: Facebook Post Led Search for Lawmaker
An ominous Facebook post from a Kentucky lawmaker facing sexual assault allegations is part of what prompted family to report him missing to authorities.
Snopes→ Fertility Doctor Faces Judge for Lying About Using Own Sperm
Dr. Donald Cline, a retired fertility doctor accused of inseminating patients with his sperm, is set to plead guilty to charges he lied to investigators.
Snopes→ Forged Documents Alleging Schumer Sexual Harassment Spark Police Investigation
Far-right trolls who boasted about having documents that could end a senator's career ended up backpedaling after journalists discovered that the complaint was faked.
Snopes→ Disney Buying Large Part of 21st Century Fox in $52.4B Deal
Disney is buying a large part of the Murdoch family's 21st Century Fox in a $52.4 billion deal announced on 14 December 2017.
Snopes→ Judges to Examine if Drug Stash-House Stings Racially Biased
A question about whether federal agents stage phony stash-house stings overwhelmingly in black neighborhoods is the focus of landmark hearings in Chicago.
Snopes→ Kentucky State Lawmaker Facing Assault Allegations Kills Himself
Rep. Dan Johnson had repeatedly denied that he assaulted a teenaged girl in his home.
Snopes→ CNN Says Anderson Cooper’s Twitter Account Apparently Hacked
CNN is claiming Anderson Cooper’s Twitter account was hacked after a tweet from his handle called the president a "pathetic loser."
Snopes→ Would-Be Suicide Bomber in New York City Faces Court Hearing
Commuters returning to New York City's subway system were met with heightened security after a would-be suicide bomber's rush-hour blast.
Snopes→ Democrat Jones Wins Stunning Red-State Alabama Senate Upset
In a stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama's special Senate election on 12 December 2017.
Snopes→ Did a Philadelphia Politician say Bulletproof Glass is ‘Racist’?
Councilwoman Cindy Bass did introduce a bill to outlaw bulletproof glass in certain establishments, but the reasons behind it are more complex than you might expect.
Snopes→ Keaton Jones Bullying Controversy
An initial outpouring of support for a bullied kid veered into controversy over his mother's Facebook posts and a GoFundMe campaign.
Snopes→ Trump Says Accusations of Sexual Misconduct ‘Fabricated’
President Donald Trump said he's the target of "false accusations and fabricated stories of women who I don't know and/or have never met."
Snopes→ City Official: San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee Dead at 65
Snopes→ Yes, Sylvia Thompson Really Is a Black, Conservative, Female Writer
The pronouncements of a right-wing, African-American columnist are "too good to be true," for some. But they are authentic.
Snopes→ Were Jewish Democrats Banned from White House Hanukkah Party?
Only two Jewish members of Congress, both Republicans, received invitations to the Trump White House's first Hanukkah celebration.
Snopes→ Pentagon to Allow Transgender People to Enlist in the Military
The move comes after two federal courts have ruled against President Trump's proposal to ban transgender troops.
Snopes→ Were Black and LGBT Reporters Banned from the White House Christmas Party Guest List?
The only White House reporter from an LGBT news organization, as well as a prominent African-American White House correspondent, didn't receive an invitation this year.
Snopes→ LuLaRoe Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Sales Tax Charges
The women's clothing retailer sent emailed notices to customers informing them of pending refunds for overpayments of state sales taxes.
Snopes→ ‘Raftergate’ Explained: Was Trump’s Pensacola Rally ‘Packed to the Rafters?’
Another day, another discussion of crowd size at a Trump event.
Snopes→ CNN Corrects Report About Trump Campaign and Wikileaks Tip
The network had to correct a story that suggested the Trump campaign had been tipped off early about Wikileaks documents damaging to Hillary Clinton.