America is one of the few countries lacking federally funded family leave, but the former secretary of state can’t see it happening anytime soon; it’s detrimental to think of Alzheimer’s as a natural consequence of growing old; meanwhile, fireflies, those beautiful glowing insects, are cannibals. These discoveries and more below.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that have found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

Hillary Clinton Doesn’t Think Paid Family Leave Is Possible—Yet Most of the rest of the world has it. Why doesn’t America?

Ending 50 Years of Silence About Mississippi’s Freedom Summer For decades, black and white residents struggled to discuss the murders of three young civil-rights workers on June 21, 1964.

Most People Think Alzheimer’s Is a Normal Part of Aging It’s important not to think of the disease that way.

Fireflies Are “Cannibals”—And More Surprising Facts About the Summertime Insect For many people, nothing signals the start of summer quite like a field full of flickering lightning bugs.

With Millions of Tons of Plastic in Oceans, More Scientists Studying Impact A surprising amount of our garbage ends up in the sea. Can it ever be cleaned up?

The Coming Gay Marriage Witch Hunt Is this the new McCarthyism? With the battle over gay marriage beyond hope, some conservatives say they fear being run out of public life for being on the losing side.

Pigs Fly – Megyn Kelly slams Cheney. I haven’t seen this diaried here yet, but in an unprecedented outbreak of journalism, Fox News’ Megyn Kelly rips into Dick Cheney for his track record over Iraq.

Americans Really Do Not Want to Be Part of Another War in Iraq Americans do not want to send ground troops back to Iraq. Strike that.

On Teen Sexting: Same Sexism, Different Technology A new study finds adolescent girls and boys are equally likely to sext, but girls face harsher repercussions from their peers.

Your support matters…

Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.

You can help level the playing field. Become a member.

Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.

Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG