ATLANTA -- Anxious, depressed, isolated and worthless — that’s how the DeKalb County School District said its 91,000 students increasingly feel. From TikTok to YouTube, Georgia’s third-largest school district points to a $4 million social media addiction problem.

Now, paired with new research from the University of Georgia, phone use is ...Read more

EDITOR’S NOTE: Editorial Page editor Megan Schrader takes a side in the “real vs. fake” Christmas tree debate. Look for the counterpoint by Features coordinator Barbara Ellis, slugged HOME-TREES-DEBATE-FAKE:DP.

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If you’ve tried to buy a fresh Christmas tree since 2020, the sticker shock probably drove you to check out the plastic ...Read more

When it comes to household chores, I work for free. And I’m worth every penny.

But since I’m on a fixed income, I am thinking of charging for my services.

“You don’t do anything,” said my wife, Sue, who is the family banker.

“That’s not true,” I replied defensively.

“What do you do, take out the garbage?” she said.

“...Read more

EDITOR’S NOTE: Features coordinator Barbara Ellis takes a side in the “real vs. fake” Christmas tree debate. Look for the counterpoint by Editorial Page editor Megan Schrader, slugged HOME-TREES-DEBATE-REAL:DP.

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I can still see my dad, hand slapping his forehead, looking exasperated, as my mom instructed (OK, bossed) him on how to �...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Traveling near the Warehouse District with Derrek Miranda is akin to riding in a motorcade with an elected official.

Under the moniker Whitewallstuntz, Miranda has carved out a name for himself in downtown Los Angeles. On social media, he can be seen cutting through the most downtrodden parts of Skid Row on his white and neon ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — During the first four years of California's new transitional kindergarten program, 167 community-based preschools in Los Angeles County shut down, unable to financially survive amid enrollment drops or pivot to more costly infant and toddler care, according to new U.C. Berkeley research.

The closures represent some painful and ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- As Jay Morris describes how he and a bunch of helpers use chunks of donated wood to create children’s toys each Christmas, one of those volunteers interrupts.

“Jay, we got a wobbly,” neighbor Steve Wood hollers out from across the small woodshop in Morris’ basement in Lawrence, Kansas.

Just like a head elf would do at...Read more

After the last winter season, I’ve started following several weather forecasting gurus. They all seem to be on the sensationalist side of journalism, but it makes it a lot of fun. It keeps me second guessing whether the collapse of the polar vortex is a good thing or a bad thing. As a horticulturist I know one thing and that is that Snow is in...Read more

LOS ANGELES — "Face! Center! Low! Hit him hard!"

The shouts — a husky voice with a Southern surf bro twang — echoed in the dojo as a 4-year-old blond boy with a headband reading "Lil' Dragon" punched up at a scowling mannequin.

"Kiiiiick! Don't jump. Just kick. … Yeahhh!"

More shouts. A huge smile from the tiny boy, a karate student ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- A yearslong surge in displaced roosters is overwhelming animal sanctuaries in Maryland and across the country, fueled by a pandemic-born boom in backyard chicken coops and the noisy realities of owning a male bird.

“All the time — calls, emails, text messages wanting us to take roosters,” said Cathy Rogers, executive ...Read more

Dear Anna,

I’m 24 and recently started seeing a guy I’ve had a crush on for six months. We finally went on two dates and both went incredibly well. He was affectionate, introduced me to his friends, cooked me dinner, even cleared a little space on his bathroom shelf for my toothbrush. It all felt very sweet and intentional, and I left his ...Read more

I got this interesting question recently, and it made me think. And when things make me think, you know I have to write about them!

Q: How do I balance ‘You deserve zero red flags’ with the reality that no one is perfect? Thank you!

A: Those are VERY different things. A red flag, by my definition, is objective: Someone is rude to people. ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Elliot Copen, 17, was worried the Scouting America camp he had visited dozens of times in an undeveloped canyon of the Santa Monica Mountains would feel empty.

The Palisades fire roared down the canyon 11 months ago, destroying the historic lodge and its Hogwarts-like interior (albeit without the “flying balls,” Copen noted),...Read more

If you’re rethinking whether to spread the holiday cheer by tipping this year, you might not be alone. Fewer Americans are planning to tip their service providers this holiday season compared to last year — from their housekeepers, trash collectors and gardeners to mail carriers, teachers and childcare providers.

More than half of U.S. ...Read more

SAN DIEGO -- An elderly couple huddled over a long to-do list.

“So you’re going to cash the check …,” said 75-year-old Warren Wiscott.

“And then go get groceries,” finished Winona Wiscott, 72. “Then you can go to the pawn store.”

A voice booming out of a nearby speaker added another worry: “Do not leave your cash just ...Read more

Dear Kid Whisperer,

I need you to change my name if you answer publicly because I am about to complain about my principal. One of my fifth-graders threatened another student with violence while on the playground and was consequently suspended by the principal for a day. The kid came back the next day with a smile on his face. I overheard him ...Read more

I talked to Santa by phone today. Truly. He was in St. Louis getting ready to head out for an afternoon shift at the mall and after that a couple of runs on the Polar Express.

Mrs. Claus was helping with the custom-fit red and white suit (which his daughter makes for him), the belt, the hat, the boots, the gloves and the signature beard.

Santa...Read more

Q. My husband of nine years died in a car crash three years ago. I continued to spend the holidays with his parents each year. Last year his mother passed away so his father is all alone. My new fiancé doesn't think we should spend the holidays with my former father-in-law. I understand his point of view, but this man has been family for years....Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Saturday was the 105th anniversary of Altadena's Christmas Tree Lane lighting ceremony and festival, but you couldn't quite call the night a celebration. It felt more like a memorial in a holiday wonderland.

Along the near mile of the cedar-lined street, there were glorious lights, children singing and a soul-thumping procession ...Read more

Since I am in the holiday spirit (and, having just consumed a mug of hot toddy, a glass of eggnog and a nip of cheer, the holiday spirits are in me), I have decided to follow in that great tradition of boring everyone silly by writing a Christmas letter.

That is why I am pleased as punch (which I also drank) to present the following chronicle ...Read more