Daily Edition for Thursday, January 16, 2025
First Covid, Now Wildfires: California Teens Say Their Mental Health Is Suffering: The disaster has again disrupted the education and nutrition of thousands of children. In Pasadena alone, five school sites have been destroyed or severely damaged. “The pandemic took a really hard toll on my mental health, and getting back into a regular schedule and going to a campus ... was really healing,” said Kira Weibel, a senior at Aveson Global Leadership Academy. “And now all of it’s gone.” Read more from the Los Angeles Times. Scroll down for more news about the wildfires.
Childhood Vaccination Rates, a Rare Health Bright Spot in Struggling States, Are Slipping
By Daniel Chang and Sam Whitehead
Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia — states with some of the worst health outcomes — also have some of the highest childhood vaccination rates. But doctors and health officials worry a rising tide of vaccine skepticism is causing those public health bright spots to dim.
Las sólidas tasas de vacunación infantil, un raro punto positivo de salud en estados complejos, están disminuyendo
By Daniel Chang and Sam Whitehead
Defensores, médicos, investigadores, y funcionarios de salud pública temen que estos logros en algunos estados como Mississippi y Tennessee estén desapareciendo.
Daily Edition for Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Drinking Water In LA Area Unsafe Unless Told Otherwise, Utilities Say: As fires continue to burn across Los Angeles, several utilities have declared their drinking water unsafe until extensive testing can prove otherwise. Toxic chemicals in drinking water after a fire pose risks ranging from temporary nausea to cancer, experts say. Read more from AP.
I’m Moving Forward and Facing the Uncertainty of Aging
By Judith Graham
Our “Navigating Aging” columnist sets off on a new phase in life with lessons she’s learned reporting on aging and health.
New California Laws Target Medical Debt, AI Care Decisions, Detention Centers
By Christine Mai-Duc
California has a few major changes coming to its health policy landscape in 2025. New laws that took effect Jan. 1 ban medical debt from credit reports, allow public health inspections of private immigration detention centers, and ban toxic chemicals in makeup.
Daily Edition for Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Is Pink Fire Suppressant Harmful To Your Health?: Hundreds of thousands of gallons of pink fire suppressant have been dropped on Los Angeles hillsides and homes ahead of the flames in a desperate effort to stop the fires from spreading. The pink goop is generally a mixture of water, ammonium phosphate, and iron oxide. But is it safe? Read more from AP. Scroll down for more wildfire updates.
Midwives Blame California Rules for Hampering Birth Centers Amid Maternity Care Crisis
By Ronnie Cohen
Birth centers, where midwives deliver babies with emergency backup from hospitals, can offer an alternative for families as hospitals close maternity units. But the state’s stiff regulations and what many call a dysfunctional licensing process are hobbling new initiatives and forcing some facilities to shut down.
Voters Backed Abortion Rights but State Judges Have Final Say
By Bram Sable-Smith and Katheryn Houghton
Illustration by Oona Zenda
Though abortion rights supporters prevailed on ballot measures in seven of the 10 states where abortion was up for a vote on Nov. 5, the state supreme courts voters have elected indicate legal fights to come aren’t clear-cut.
Beyond Hard Hats: Mental Struggles Become the Deadliest Construction Industry Danger
By Katja Ridderbusch
The physical hazards of construction work have long been a focus of safety professionals. Yet attention on the psychosocial hazards is relatively new, with suicide and substance use soaring among male construction workers. Mitigating those risks requires more than hard hats, safety vests, and protective goggles.
