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As critics continue to scrutinize the NFL for their timid response to a growing concussion problem, a chiropractor has invented a protective collar that aims to prevent neck injuries and head trauma in players of all ages. According to Fox News, Patrick Kerr, a practicing chiropractor, recently introduced the Kerr Collar, a lightweight device placed inside a player's shoulder pads that drastically reduces the impact from devastating hits. The Kerr Collar shortens the gap between a player's pads and helmet, which means that the force from hits is more evenly distributed. Kerr noted that the emphasis being placed on helmet quality is not enough, and focusing on the neck's role in concussions is an important step in addressing this widespread problem. "I wanted to create a system where the...

After a fatal shooting in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood, the city has voted on a crucial issue that could change the way police handle dangerous situations. The shooting took place near Third Street and Paul Avenue around 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The suspect, a man in his 20s, was involved in an earlier stabbing near the area and had not responded to demands to drop his weapon. Before shooting the suspect, police had fired a standard bean bag gun several times, according to police Chief Greg Suhr. "This suspect had already shown by committing a felony aggravated assault that he was a danger to others, so he could not be allowed to move away from the scene," Suhr told CBS San Francisco reporters. A bystander caught the shooting on a cell phone camera and uploaded t...

In a heartwarming tale out of Trenton, NJ, a group of elementary school students are learning firsthand the importance of giving back to their community. Five years ago, a non-profit called Christine's Hope for Kids partnered with the Trenton Catholic Academy Lower School for the Pajama Day program. Since then, it's become one of the non-profit's most popular programs and spread to other New Jersey elementary schools. To raise money, the kids and their families pay a small fee to be able to wear their pajamas to school. Christine's Hope for Kids then matches the funds the students raise dollar-for-dollar. Those funds are then used to buy pajamas, teddy bears, books, toothbrushes, and other toiletries for local homeless children. "Pajamas are fun clothing for kids, especially when ...

Marketers have been predicting that mobile Internet use will surpass Internet access from laptop and desktop computers for years. And it's finally happened in at least one major country: the U.K. According to research published in Ofcom's yearly Communications Market Report, "Smartphones are now considered the most important way of staying connected by 33% of Brits, with 30% preferring their laptops." Just last year, the majority of Brits (40%) used laptops to browse the Web, while smartphones lagged behind at 22%. Similarly, smartphones are "the most widely owned web-connected device, with a presence in 66% of [British] households compared with a 65% figure for laptops," Engadget reports. A drop in prices for 4G services and faster load times are a big part of the shift. Mobile Int...

If you've been lazy about washing and replacing your bedding, it's time to kick that bad habit. A recent study has shown just how much your mattress, sheets, and pillows can affect your quality of life. According to the Daily Mail, the bed specialists at Dreams conducted a scientific study of eight-year-old mattresses to determine how much bacteria a bed can absorb over the course of its lifespan. The results, to say the least, are quite unnerving. Researchers said that every single mattress they studied was riddled with high levels of bacteria, and part of the study was learning why they tend to get so germ-infested over time. "As mattresses tend to get warm during the night, molds, yeasts, and bacteria -- which thrive in humid conditions -- can build up to worrying levels," said...

Texas health officials have filed a motion in the state appeals court to request that the state override a ruling by District Judge Tim Sulak who, this past September, stopped health officials from cutting payments to a pediatric therapy program. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is hoping to have Sulak’s decision overturned and it’s arguing that Sulak “overstepped his bounds,” says the Texas Tribune. GOP Senate leaders have been trying to reduce Medicaid spending in Texas; earlier this year, they ordered the state’s health commission to reduce state funding by $100 million. According to Chron.com, the proposed cuts could result in the loss of $200 million of federal funds as well, since the federal government matches state contributions. The majority of funding cuts ...