San Francisco Declares Tent City A Health Risk
The city has given people there 72 hours to leave. Elsewhere, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigates teen suicides in Palo Alto. Also, tips on how to talk about the HPV vaccine, students learn how tobacco companies target them and regulators fine a tomato packaging plant.
The Associated Press:
S.F.: Homeless Tent City A Health Hazard
San Francisco health officials declared a tent city that has been growing along a city street a health hazard and gave homeless people living on the sidewalk 72 hours to clear the area. (2/23)
KQED:
CDC Investigates Teen Suicides In Palo Alto
Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently in Palo Alto, in the second of a two-week study on youth suicide. (Dembosky, 2/23)
KPCC:
How To Talk About The HPV Vaccine
Now, experts have another reason to push the HPV shot: Since it was introduced a decade ago, the shot has cut the rate of human papilloma virus - the most common sexually transmitted infection - by about two-thirds among young women ages 14 to 19, according to a report published in Pediatrics this week. (Plevin, 2/24)
The Ventura County Star:
Ventura County Students Learn How Tobacco Firms Target Them
About 375 students in Ventura County are being taught this week how tobacco companies target their products to young people and how teens can fight back with their own anti-tobacco messages. Nearly 180 middle schoolers attended the 18th annual Teens Kick Ash presentation Monday at the Ventura County Office of Education in Camarillo. About 200 high schoolers will attend Tuesday. (Kallas, 2/23)
The Sacramento Business Journal:
Regulators Hit Woodland Tomato Processing Giant With $1.5M
Regulators have hit tomato packaging giant Morning Star Packing Co. with a $1.5 million fine for wastewater violations at its Williams plant. But the company plans to fight back. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board charged the Woodland-based company with unauthorized expansion of wastewater ponds. The board also required Morning Star to address 10 other violations at the packing operation. (Anderson, 2/23)