This week Matter of Fact explores why a growing number of young adults are choosing career-oriented programs over four-year universities. Plus, rural maternity ward closures force expectant mothers to travel for care. And, a Colorado man explains how he restores dinosaur fossils for museums.
Gabriella Garbero and Juan Johnson have been happily engaged since 2021, but no wedding date has been set. That’s because Gabriella, a lawyer living with a disability, fears marriage could threaten her access to much-needed Social Security and Medicaid benefits, and she’s not alone. We travel to St. Louis, Missouri to understand how a so-called “marriage penalty” is affecting couples across the nation.
The Colorado River is a major resource for about 40 million people in the west, but an historic drought poses a threat to its water supply. Now, some Native American tribes with government-allocated control of a portion of the river’s water are stepping in with a possible solution. Correspondent Dina Demetrius travels to the California-Arizona border to see how one tribe could benefit from leasing some of their water to people outside of the reservation.
Several new studies are focusing on how the economy has been impacting women in recent years. According to the National Women’s Law Center, women accounted for a majority of pandemic-related job losses, but recent data shows they are quickly bouncing back. Soledad O’Brien sits down with former U.S. Department of Labor Chief Economist Betsey Stevenson to find out what’s driving this female workplace revitalization.
This week Matter of Fact explores how women are making a comeback in the workforce after the pandemic. Plus, a Native American tribe plans to use its water supply to address drought concerns. And, the fear of losing disability benefits puts one couple’s wedding plans on hold.
At just 14 years old, Heman Bekele holds a very prestigious title – America’s Top Young Scientist. 3M awarded him with the honor for creating a soap to treat skin cancer. Matter of Fact travels to Fairfax, Virginia to talk to Bekele about his inspiration for making the soap and his multi-year plan for getting it out to the public.
This Minnesota restaurant takes customers back in time through food. Owamni’s menu only consists of ingredients that were available to indigenous people before colonization. Correspondent Leone Lakhani travels to Minneapolis to meet the chef behind it all.
This week Matter of Fact catches up with a family that became a lot bigger when they made a surprising discovery about their ancestry. Plus, an award-winning chef “decolonizes food” with a menu inspired by his indigenous roots. And, a 14-year-old scientist receives a top honor for creating a soap to treat skin cancer.
This week Matter of Fact explores how former NFL player Eric Reid is helping people of color get on an even playing field financially. Plus, a clinic in Arizona helps mothers break the stigma around postpartum depression and mental health care. And, an economist analyzes the reasoning behind America’s pessimistic view of the economy.
More teens are experiencing mental health challenges. According to the CDC, 57% of teenage girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021. That’s the highest level reported in the last decade, and many believe social media is responsible. Soledad O’Brien speaks with psychologist and author Jean Twenge, Ph.D., about how a multi-state lawsuit could slow this negative trend.