Your weekend must reads 📰

America's pain crisis and more. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Short List   Saturday, December 17 Good morning, friends! I'm John Riley, editor of The Short List weekend edition✨, where each week we bring back some of great stories you may have missed in USA TODAY. Let's get to it! 👉But first: If you're driving in the snow, this graphic shows how to do it safely. And here's something you shouldn't do to your car. America in pain ⚕️At least 1 in 5 Americans live with chronic pain. Some experts put the figure at 100 million. And nearly 1 in 10 are disabled by it. To better understand America's pain problem, USA TODAY spoke with more than 50 pain experts. The result was a five-part series exploring the reality of pain, pain medications including opioids, nondrug alternatives, and scientific advances offering hope for the future. • The pain crisis: The state of pain treatment 'should depress anyone' • Pediatric pain: When it comes to pain, children are not just little adults • Drug alternatives: 'Your lifestyle is your medicine' • Pot for pain relief?: What cannabis can (and can't) do for chronic pain • The future of pain control: Future treatment could look very different Drag shows are under siege. Why? 🎤Drag shows, in which performers typically wear elaborate costumes that exaggerate traditional gender norms, have a long history in the U.S., especially in the South. Over time, they've become mainstream and are a gathering place for people who feel marginalized in the straight world. Yet an increasing number of drag shows are facing threats and protests — at least 126 in 2022 through mid-November, including 48 in the South, GLAAD reported. And legislative efforts to limit drag are underway in six states and the U.S. House. Enjoying the holidays 🎁Enough with the doom and gloom! Here are some tips on having a happy holiday season. • Christmas cookies: Google shares popular holiday searches by state • Gift wrapping: How to wrap presents like an adult • Being single: 5 perks of being single for the holidays • Not-so-secret Santa: How to keep gifts a secret when shopping online • Stocking stuffers: 45 gift ideas for everyone on your list There are more great reads below.👇 See you next week! Online identity thief scammer busted by Ohio mom after homespun probe An Ohio woman exposed a scammer who allegedly used stolen identities to live a luxury lifestyle in Las Vegas. She's still cleaning up the mess. People are taking GHB at clubs. Experts warn of the dangers. USA TODAY analysis: The airports with the most flight cancellations 3 charts show how Trump is losing steam COVID is about to explode in China: What does that mean for the US? Job growth set to slow in 2023 as inflation, Fed hikes risk recession Mapping the Dutton Family in 'Yellowstone' and '1883' Grant Wahl's widow reveals soccer journalist died from aortic aneurysm The 10 most stressful jobs in the US: See which ones made the cut Which college football bowl games are worth watching? We ranked them.   Problem viewing email? View in browser Unsubscribe • Manage Newsletters • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights • Privacy Notice • Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy • Feedback © 2022 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102