US death rate rose slightly last year _ first time in decade

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. death rate rose slightly last year — the first increase in a decade, health officials reported Wednesday.
Researchers think the increase is due to a combination of factors. The death rate from heart disease — the nation’s leading killer — leveled off, instead of dropping the way it usually does. Meanwhile, deaths rates for accidental injuries, stroke, and some other causes increased.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the