Oct 13 'You can't just hold your breath.' Toxic smoke, fueled by wildfires, chokes California By Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado A new analysis of air quality in the United States clears up just how far smoke from wildfires burning in the western part of the nation can travel, as the fires continue to pose significant health risks to nearby communities. Continue reading
Oct 13 Watch 7:40 Rural U.S. hospitals stretched thin after nurse shortage exacerbated by the pandemic By John Yang, Frank Carlson Nursing shortages are impacting healthcare workers and hospitals across the United States. In just the past few days, nurses and other workers in Southern California and Oregon authorized a potential strike against provider Kaiser Permanente. Staffing shortages are part of… Continue watching
Oct 13 WHO proposes experts to advise on virus origins By Associated Press The World Health Organization released a proposed list of 25 experts to advise it on the next steps in searching for the origins of the coronavirus after its earlier efforts were slammed for accommodating China, where the first human cases… Continue reading
Oct 13 FDA spells out lower sodium goals for food industry By Candice Choi, Associated Press U.S. regulators on Wednesday spelled out long-awaited guidelines aimed at reducing sodium levels in dozens of foods including condiments, french fries and potato chips. Continue reading
Oct 13 WATCH: White House COVID task force holds briefing as vaccine makers seek approval for boosters By Associated Press U.S. manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines are seeking additional approvals from federal regulators in order to distribute and administer more booster shots for at-risk Americans and first doses for children ages 5 to 11. Continue reading
Oct 12 Raising the Future: The Child Care Crisis - A PBS NewsHour Special In this hour-long special, the PBS NewsHour reveals how shifting societal values, as well as decades of federal policy, have shaped the U.S. child care system into what it is today. It explores the burden costly child care places on… Continue reading
Oct 12 FDA authorizes first e-cigarette, cites benefit for smokers By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press For the first time, U.S. health officials have authorized an electronic cigarette, saying the R.J. Reynolds vaping device can benefit adult smokers. Continue reading
Oct 12 Watch 4:42 The latest health guidance on taking aspirin as heart attack, stroke preventative Adults 60 or older should not necessarily take a daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, according to a draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The government-backed panel of independent experts is revising several… Continue watching
Oct 12 Why millions of Americans feel they must choose between caring for loved ones and work By Laura Santhanam Generations of workers have simply absorbed the chaos of balancing labor and child care, and the pandemic exposed how underappreciated -- and broken -- the nation’s child care system is. What policymakers do next could change the way U.S. families… Continue reading
Oct 12 Florida fines key county $3.5 million for mandating vaccines By Anthony Izaguirre, Mike Schneider, Associated Press The Florida Department of Health issued the $3.5 million fine Tuesday for Leon County, saying the municipality violated Florida’s “vaccine passport” law. Continue reading