SH08L007HOMESTYLE Dec. 1, 2008 -- A beautiful date book or journal is an ideal selection for everyone on your gift list this hol

A special report by Scripps Howard News Service finds as many as one in five Americans does not have a family doctor. And this translates directly to higher rates of illness and death and higher costs.

Docs: Primary care shortage means millions have no doctor
• Docs: Primary care by the numbers
• Docs: Primary care takes too much time for too little money
• Docs: In ERs, more sore throats than cardiac arrests
• Docs: For millions, community health center is 'family doctor'
• Docs: End of Marcus Welby era spawns new care networks
• Docs: Nurse practitioners, physicians' assistants filling void
• Docs: 'Cash-only' practices take different styles
• Docs: Patients say 'concierge' care is worth the extra cost
• Database search of primary care physicians across the United States

A special investigative report by Scripps Howard News Service finds taxpayers paying millions for students who never show up for class. For-profit "ghost schools" collect money even when students are absent.

'Ghost schools' paid millions for absent students
• What is it like to go to a school next to a cocktail lounge?
• State laws for truancy, dropouts vary greatly
• Statement from White Hat Management about its schools
• Poll reveals Americans split on for-profit charter schools
• Ohio spends millions on students who rarely go to class
• Inflated school attendance sparks refund push in Texas
• Florida taxpayers spend millions on absent students
• EDITORIAL: At-risk students at even bigger risk
'Ghost Schools' videos available at:

A special investigative report by Scripps Howard News Service has prepared an in-depth look at the issues surrounding vaccine exemptions and the risk of disease resurgence.

Thousands of unvaccinated children enter schools
• Fears of long-range side effects fuel vaccine debate
• Cost of vaccines puts them out of reach for many
• Poll: Americans see both need, potential dangers of vaccines
• Facts about common vaccines