Daniel Avram // Shutterstock

CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in the U.S. using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15.

U.S. by the numbers
– Gas current price: $2.91
– Week change: -$0.05 (-1.6%)
– Year change: -$0.12 (-3.9%)
– Historical expensive gas price: $5.02 (6/14/22)

– Diesel current price: $3.63
– Week change: -$0.05 (-1.5%)
– Year change: +$0.13 (+3.7%)
– Historical expensive diesel price: $5.82 (6/19/22)

Metros with the least expensive gas
#1. Lawton, OK: $2.18
#2. Oklahoma City, OK: $2.18
#3. Columbus, NE: $2.19

Read on to see which metros have the most expensive gas prices.

Elen Nika // Shutterstock

#5. San Diego, CA

– Regular gas price: $4.56

Rangsarit Chaiyakun // Shutterstock

#4. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA

– Regular gas price: $4.57

jittawit21 // Shutterstock

#3. Napa, CA

– Regular gas price: $4.58

Istvan Csak // Shutterstock

#2. Hilo, HI

– Regular gas price: $4.63

Christian Mueller // Shutterstock

#1. Lihue (Kauai), HI

– Regular gas price: $4.97

This story was produced by CheapInsurance.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The post How gas prices have changed in the U.S. in the last week Dec. 15, 2025 appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

Back in the early 1900s, about one in five children died before entering kindergarten. The most common reason: infectious disease. Today, just one in 27 dies so young, most often because of an accident. Those saved lives are largely thanks to vaccines, which introduce weakened or killed viruses or bacteria into the body to trigger the body’s natural defenses and immune responses.

Over the years, vaccines have prevented millions of hospitalizations and childhood deaths. As the number of cases of serious, vaccine-preventable diseases, like measles, starts creeping back up, it’s more important than ever for parents to have evidence-based, up-to-date information about childhood vaccinations and the vaccine schedule.

Sticking to a vaccine schedule that’s been approved by top pediatric experts as both effective and safe is key to protecting your child. Pediatric infectious disease specialist Mundeep Kaur Kainth, DO, MPH, told Northwell Health what she wants parents to know.

1. Vaccines work

“Vaccines are extremely effective at preventing diseases. It’s why we haven’t seen some diseases — smallpox and German measles, for example — for generations,” says Dr. Kainth. “The fact that we’re seeing some of these preventable diseases coming back has nothing to do with how well vaccines work. It’s because fewer people are getting their children vaccinated.” In a way, vaccines are victims of their own success, says Dr. Kainth. “One of the things parents say to me is, ‘I’ve never seen polio or measles before.’ We have a whole generation of parents who have not seen these illnesses as their parents did, which is wonderful — but also means they don’t feel the same urgency to vaccinate.”

2. Vaccines are safe

Parents sometimes cite possible side effects as a reason to opt against vaccination, Dr. Kainth says. But the most common side effects, such as soreness or swelling at the injection site, fever or fatigue, are temporary inconveniences that recede on their own or with small doses of Tylenol. “I’m far more concerned with the disease I’m preventing, which generally can have very serious outcomes, such as hospitalization or death,” she says.

The truth about vaccines and autism

As for concerns about autism: A number of very large, well-designed studies have searched for signs of a link with vaccines and have failed to uncover anything worrisome. Allergic reactions to vaccinations are also exceedingly rare. The worst reaction she sees? Fainting from anxiety. “Honestly, way more patients are anxious about getting shots than are allergic to vaccines,” she says.

3. Following a vaccine schedule is critical

Just as vaccines themselves are carefully researched and tested, so is the timing of vaccine delivery, says Dr

CSNafzger // Shutterstock

Deciding where to move is a big decision — and the landscape is shifting fast. As costs, job markets, and lifestyle trends evolve, some markets are emerging as attractive options. To help you sort through the noise, HomeLight rounded up the best states to move to in 2026, based on the factors that shape everyday life most.

From strong economies to cleaner air, safer communities, and expanding job opportunities, each state on this list brings something unique to the table.

If you’re weighing a relocation or simply curious about the best places to live in the U.S. in 2026, this year’s top contenders offer a compelling mix of stability, opportunity, and quality of life.

Best state for maximum affordability: South Dakota

South Dakota stands out as one of the cheapest states to live in 2026, with everyday costs that stay surprisingly manageable. In its Best States Rankings list, U.S. News ranked South Dakota 8th overall, with an affordability ranking of 4th. The state’s cost-of-living index sits well below the national average, and typical homes sell for around $289,000 — far under the U.S. median of $377,367.

However, what really sets South Dakota apart is how stable those costs remain. SmartAsset found that the income needed to live comfortably barely budged over the past year, even as many states saw sharp jumps. That holds true for the state’s two biggest metro areas, Sioux Falls and Rapid City. The state’s no-income-tax policy also helps keep budgets predictable.

With a median household income of $71,810 and a poverty rate below the national average, South Dakota also offers strengths beyond affordability. The state ranks well for environmental quality, with cleaner air and water, and fewer industrial toxins than much of the country. Infrastructure is reliable, higher education is strong, and agriculture and a growing tourism sector anchor the economy.

Best state for strong job growth: Utah

Utah has one of the strongest job markets in the country. U.S. News ranks it the #1 best state overall, with high marks for both its economy and employment strength. Recent labor data shows Utah has more open positions than available workers, putting it just ahead of the national average.

Over the

Kateryna Kon // Shutterstock.

Around the world, some 40 million people are living with HIV. And though progress in treatment means the infection isn’t the death sentence it once was, researchers have never been able to bring about a cure. Instead, HIV-positive people must take a cocktail of antiretroviral drugs for the rest of their lives.

But in 2025, researchers reported a breakthrough that suggests that a “functional” cure for HIV — a way to keep HIV under control long-term without constant treatment — may indeed be possible. In two independent trials, which Knowable Magazine highlights here, using infusions of engineered antibodies, some participants remained healthy without taking antiretrovirals, long after the interventions ended.

In one of the trials — the FRESH trial, led by virologist Thumbi Ndung’u of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa — four of 20 participants maintained undetectable levels of HIV for a median of 1.5 years without taking antiretrovirals. In the other, the RIO trial set in the United Kingdom and Denmark and led by Sarah Fidler, a clinical doctor and HIV research expert at Imperial College London, six of 34 HIV-positive participants have maintained viral control for at least two years.

These landmark proof-of-concept trials show that the immune system can be harnessed to fight HIV. Researchers are now looking to conduct larger, more representative trials to see whether antibodies can be optimized to work for more people.

“I do think that this kind of treatment has the opportunity to really shift the dial,” Fidler says, “because they are long-acting drugs” — with effects that can persist even after they’re no longer in the body. “So far, we haven’t seen anything that works like that.”

People with HIV can live long, healthy lives if they take antiretrovirals. But their lifespans are still generally shorter than those of people without the virus. And for many, daily pills or even the newer, bimonthly injections present significant financial, practical and social challenges, including stigma. “Probably for the last about 15 or 20 years, there’s been this real push to go, ‘How can we do better?’” says Fidler.

NIAID / NIH

The dream, she says, is “what people call curing HIV, or a remission i

VH-studio // Shutterstock

Therapy for neurodivergent adults could include trauma-informed care, sensory sensitivity, support for masking burnout, and flexibility in communication styles and pace. If you’re neurodivergent, or think you might have a neurodivergent brain, you’ve probably spent a lot of your life adjusting to a world not built for your brain. Maybe that includes therapy, too.

Traditional therapy can fall flat, or even feel invalidating, when it treats neurodivergence as something to “fix” rather than as an important part of your identity. That’s where neurodivergent-affirming therapy comes in. This therapeutic approach celebrates neurodivergence as a part of who you are and builds support around your unique needs and strengths.

Here, Spring Health explains what neurodivergent-affirming therapy entails and how to find it.

Understanding ‘Neurodivergent’: For Readers New to the Term

Neurotypical refers to people whose brain functions and processes align with societal norms for thinking, learning, and behaving. Neurodivergence, on the other hand, is an umbrella term used to describe natural variations in how people think and process information. It includes conditions like:

• Autism
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Dyslexia or dyspraxia
• Tourette syndrome
• Sensory processing differences

Some people may identify as neurodivergent due to nonpathologized cognitive and sensory differences, meaning they don’t see their brains as “disordered” with a certain condition; they just know their brains operate differently than neurotypical people.

The Problem With Traditional Therapy

Many neurodivergent adults say that therapy, especially when led by clinicians unfamiliar with neurodiversity, has left them feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or even harmed.

This isn’t because therapy can’t help, but because traditional approaches often rely on neurotypical norms that don’t reflect how many neurodivergent people operate. These disconnects can show up in subtle but impactful ways during sessions.

• Misread their communication style as “flat” or “rude”: Neurodivergent people may communicate in ways that are more direct or less emotionally expressive, and this can be misinterpreted by therapists unfamiliar with neurodivergent expression. What may be perceived as disinterest or defiance is often just authenticity or honesty.
• Prioritized eye contact or “normal” social behavior: Therapists without training or experience with neurodiversity may encourage neurotypical social norms like making eye contact or using a “typical” tone of voice as goals for progress. This can make therapy feel like a space where masking is rewarded and comfort is ignored, reinforcing shame instead of safety.
• Misunderstood special interests: Infatuation with a specific topic or hobby (often referred to as a special interest in the neurodiverse community) is often viewed as inappropriate or even obsessive. For neurodiverse people, spec