Parents lose appeal at U.S. Supreme Court in vaccine case Updated: Tue, Feb 22, 2011 The court voted 6-2 against the parents of a child who sued the drug maker Wyeth in Pennsylvania state court for the health problems they say their daughter, now 19, suffered from a vaccine she received in infancy. Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the court, said Congress set up a special vaccine court in 1986 to... Read More

House Rule No. 1: Make time for the readers Updated: Fri, Mar 19, 2010 One of the most telling things about novelist Jodi Picoult is that she answers every e-mail sent to her by readers. The number is significant, too: more than 200 a day. But she is a writer who prides herself on the bond that readers feel with her. "This is a huge gift for any writer. I would be no one without... Read More

Introduce young readers to friendly new biographies Updated: Fri, Feb 26, 2010 A boy who worships Elvis, baseball great Ted Williams, acclaimed literary icon Virginia Hamilton and a young boy with autism are presented with strength and grit in these new children's books. "Shake, Rattle & Turn That Noise Down! How Elvis Shook Up Music, Me and Mom" by Mark Alan Stamaty; Knopf Delacorte Dell;... Read More

Parents press states for autism insurance laws Published: Sun, Oct 19, 2008 CHICAGO -- In Washington state, Reza and Arzu Forough pay more than $1,000 a week for behavior therapy for their 12-year-old autistic son. In Indiana, Sean and Michele Trivedi get the same type of therapy for their 11-year-old daughter. But they pay $3,000 a year and their health insurance covers the rest. Two... Read More

Arrest made in fatal stabbing Published: Thu, Oct 9, 2008 SALLISAW - A first-degree murder complaint was filed Thursday against a Sequoyah County jail inmate in connection with the death of a Sallisaw woman last month. DNA helped lead to the arrest of Leon Markel Winston, 41, who was already in custody on outstanding warrants, said Jessica Brown, a spokeswoman for the... Read More

J.Lo performs at elementary school graduation Updated: Fri, Feb 22, 2008 NEW YORK (AP) -- Students at a Staten Island, New York, elementary school for autistic children sure like the way Jennifer Lopez moves. Teacher Kathy Amati and a paraprofessional showed the video for Lopez's "Let's Get Loud" to the students at P.S. 37. The children liked it so much, they wanted to watch... Read More

Autism: Individuals and families look for acceptance Published: Thu, May 8, 2008 Hannah Bingham Edmond Memorial Sophomore Loralee Hamilton wants to hang out with other girls her age. The 16-year-old wants to go to the movies with friends and have sleepovers on Friday nights, but she can’t because she has autism. “The biggest problem for Loralee is making friends,”... Read More

Autism-vaccine link debated Updated: Wed, Jul 20, 2005 The debate over childhood vaccinations is heating up. Some parents claim the vaccines caused autism in their children, and they're speaking out about it. But federal health officials are just as vocal. Read More

Tropiary: February 2005 Updated: Mon, Feb 28, 2005 Note: Some of the links referred to may no longer function. Sorry. Friday, Feb. 25, 2005 Fond childhood memories? | Link Feb. 20: I returned home from Martin Nature Center with my three children. I sat on the couch. I grabbed the remote control. I turned on the TV. I watched an installment of Read More

Wait for it ... Updated: Thu, Feb 17, 2005 Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005 Wait for it ... | Link The year was 1989. I had delusions of Jimmy Page-ism. Or Page-dom. That's to say, I sported a mullet and owned a cheapo Les Paul that I would plug into a spluttering Ampeg amplifier. I would proceed to play messy major and minor pentatonic ascending and... Read More