Latest Morning Briefing Stories

California Health Workers May Face Rude Awakening With $25 Minimum Wage Law

A medical industry challenge to a $25 minimum wage ordinance in one Southern California city suggests health workers statewide could face layoffs and reductions in hours and benefits under a state law set to begin phasing in in June. Some experts are skeptical, however, that it will have such effects.

Más condados prohíben el fluoruro en el agua potable. Cómo afecta a la prevención dental

En los últimos años cientos de comunidades han dejado de agregar fluoruro a sus suministros de agua o han votado para evitar agregarlo, a pesar que la ciencia dice que ese nutriente ayuda a la salud dental y previene gastos en tratamientos dentales.

As Bans Spread, Fluoride in Drinking Water Divides Communities Across the US

The broad availability of over-the-counter dental products containing fluoride has some community leaders arguing that its addition to public drinking water is no longer necessary. But public health experts worry that, much like vaccines, fluoridation may be a victim of its own success.

Modesto Company Poised for Madera Hospital Takeover After Uphill Battle

American Advanced Management, a steadily growing operator of small hospitals, is expected to get the green light from a bankruptcy court next week to take over the shuttered Madera Community Hospital. Some community groups worry about the company’s track record.

California Fails to Adequately Help Blind and Deaf Prisoners, US Judge Rules

Thirty years after prisoners with disabilities sued and 25 years after a federal court first ordered accommodations, a judge found that California prison and parole officials still are not doing enough to help deaf and blind prisoners — in part because they are not providing readily available technology such as video recordings and laptop computers.

Dietary Choices Are Linked to Higher Rates of Preeclampsia Among Latinas

Researchers at the USC Keck School of Medicine found that Latinas who ate vegetables, fruits, and healthy oils-based foods had fewer incidences of preeclampsia. More research is needed to determine the exact diet that could be beneficial.

Heat Protections for California Workers Are in Limbo After Newsom Abandons Rules

Proposed rules to protect millions of workers from potentially dangerous heat inside workplaces are dead after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration refused to sign off. Labor advocates and state regulators are calling for emergency regulations before temperatures soar this summer.

Attacks on Emergency Room Workers Prompt Debate Over Tougher Penalties

In California, assaulting paramedics or other emergency medical workers in the field carries stiffer fines and jail time than assaulting emergency room staffers. State lawmakers are considering a measure that would standardize the penalties.