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The legal drinking age in the United States is 21, but surveys show that parties with alcohol have become common for underage teens. And often, the parents know the teens are drinking. Some communities are trying to hold the parents accountable for the underage drinking. Listen to learn how one county in Southern California is cracking down on teen drinking by fining parents.
Story Length: 4:28
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January 7, 2015
2:59
A new study on the lives of American teenagers shows that teens are choosing electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, over traditional nicotine products. These findings have sparked a debate about the safety and long term impact of e-cigarette use. Listen to learn more about this debate from public health advocates and e-cigarette companies.
Read MoreOctober 13, 2014
4:11
The Seattle City Council is launching a mandatory composting program to stop people from throwing food waste in the trash. Mandatory recycling has expanded from yard waste, to normal recyclables, and now to compostable food waste. With the addition of a third trash bin, the city hopes to collect 100,000 tons of food waste a year. Listen to this public radio story to hear about the motivations, logistics, and goals of the program.
Read MoreMay 21, 2014
4:00
Young workers who aren’t old enough to buy a pack of cigarettes are allowed to harvest tobacco in the United States. Human Rights Watch says while it’s legal to have kids as young as 12 pick tobacco, it’s not legal to put children’s health at risk of nicotine poisoning. Human Rights Watch is calling on the major tobacco companies to stop putting kids to work in tobacco fields. Listen to this public radio story with your students and discuss.
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