Investigation Finds Health Risks Posed By Military Housing Provider

AP: Senate Panel Finds 'Grave' Health Risks In Military Housing 
One of the largest providers of military housing in the United States continues to respond inadequately to mold and other structural problems, threatening the health and safety of service members and their families, according to a Senate panel’s investigation. The allegations against Balfour Beatty Communities LLC are focused on housing provided to service members stationed at Fort Gordon Army Base in Georgia and Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. The company oversees about 1,700 homes at the two bases. (Freking, 4/26)

In news from Maine —

AP: Maine To Require Test For Virus That Causes Hearing Loss
Maine is close to requiring screening for a potentially debilitating virus in some newborns in the state. The Maine Senate on Monday unanimously voted to enact a bill to require screening for cytomegalovirus for some babies, sending the bill to the governor. The proposal from Democratic Sen. Cathy Breen of Falmouth would require the state to test every infant for the virus if the baby fails two hearing tests. (4/26)

Bangor Daily News: Bangor Will Repeal 1st-In-State Flavored Tobacco Ban
Bangor’s city council will repeal an ordinance banning flavored tobacco sales after the city failed to provide enough notice to tobacco businesses warning them about the new law. Bangor was required to directly notify local tobacco retailers at least 30 days before it considered the ordinance, because the proposal was more restrictive than state law, city solicitor David Szewczyk told councilors on Monday during a workshop. The ordinance was set to go into effect June 1 after the Bangor City Council voted 7-1 last fall to ban the sale of flavored tobacco, like menthol cigarettes and electronic cigarettes that have a taste or smell other than tobacco. (Russell, 4/26)

AP: Maine, With Region's Highest Smoking Rate, Funds Cessation
Maine is increasing funding for smoking cessation programs as the state tries to shed the distinction as having the highest rate of smoking in New England. Almost 18% of adults in Maine use cigarettes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Maine Legislature enacted legislation on Monday to increase funding for cessation and prevention and treatment programs to $15.9 million. (4/26)

USA Today: What Is Powassan Virus? Maine Resident Dies Of Rare Tick-Borne Illness
A Maine resident died last week from a rare but potentially dangerous tick-borne illness, according to health officials. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Wednesday a fatal case of Powassan virus, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick or woodchuck tick. The person, a south-central Maine resident, developed neurologic symptoms and died in the hospital, according to the Maine CDC. The person likely became infected in Maine, health officials said. (Jimenez Moya, 4/26)

In news from Oklahoma, Michigan, and Montana —

CNN: Oklahoma Governor Signs Law Banning Nonbinary Birth Certificates 
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday signed a new law that bans nonbinary gender markers on birth certificates in the state. The legislation, which cleared the Oklahoma state legislature in recent weeks, states: "The biological sex designation on a certificate of birth issued under this section shall be either male or female and shall not be nonbinary or any symbol representing a nonbinary designation including but not limited to the letter 'X'." The law takes effect immediately because it was passed with an emergency designation. (LeBlanc and Rose, 4/26)

Detroit Free Press: Oakland County Names Calandra Green First Black Female Health Officer
Calandra Green, a registered nurse who has risen through the ranks at the Oakland County Health Division, was named its new leader on Tuesday. She is the first woman of color to hold the health officer position, and will manage public health in Michigan's second-most populous county. “Calandra shares our vision for having public health rooted in the community,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter in a statement. “As we transition to a new phase of the pandemic, her knowledge, skills, and commitment are what we need to move public health forward to achieve our strategic goal of having healthy residents.” (Jordan Shamus, 4/26)

Billings Gazette: Montana's Growing Hispanic Population Is Struggling To Access Health Care
Montana’s high mountain peaks and slower-paced lifestyle have drawn many newcomers over the past 10 years, including minority populations. The state is seeing the third-fastest-growing Hispanic population in the country, following only North and South Dakota. The 2020 Census reflects a nearly doubled Hispanic population over the last 10 years, although Montana State University researcher Sally Moyce expects only a sliver of that population is represented in the data. Though fast growing, the population remains below 100,000, meaning Montana is considered a “new-growth community” with limited Spanish-speaking resources, said Moyce. The state lacks certain basics such as Spanish-speaking health care providers, Spanish versions of documents and health questionnaires, exacerbating health disparities that already exist due to lack of affordable housing. (Schabacker, 4/26)