Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Los Angeles Times: California To Phase Out Paraquat, A Weedkiller Associated With Serious Health Issues
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation said all manufacturers of pesticide products containing paraquat have "voluntarily canceled" their product registrations. (Smith, 8/11)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: Sharp HealthCare Announces Restructuring That Will Impact About 260 Workers
Number includes 120 behavioral health workers who will be offered jobs on different shifts to comply with new state law. (Sisson, 8/11)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: UCSD Wins Pivotal Role In $81 Million Race To Improve Health After Age 50
The effort, which just named 20 finalists, will use testing designed and performed at the university's Stein Institute. (Sisson, 8/11)
Imperial Valley Press Online: El Centro Extends Timeline For ECRMC Transfer To Imperial Valley Healthcare District
Officials will have three additional months to finalize complex financial arrangements and statutory requirements necessary to complete the acquisition. (Bojorquez, 8/7)
The Union: Nurses Union Pushes Back On Planned CommonSpirit Health Cuts At Hospital
About 60 to 80 individuals from the California Nurses Association on Thursday protested layoffs and reduction in services initiated in June by CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit health system that Dignity Health - Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital is a member of. (Boll-See, 8/7)
Santa Maria Times: Cottage Health Partners With AI Company To Expand Patient Care Support
Cottage Health officials said the technology is intended to support — not replace — clinical teams by helping manage routine but time-intensive tasks. (André, 8/6)
The Stockton Record: Stockton Community Health Complex Celebrates Grand Opening
The Stockton campus will be home to the Central Valley PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) and will provide coordinated medical and support services for those eligible. (Rocha, 8/11)
Bay Area News Group: California Sets Aside $250 Million For Public Hospitals. Bay Area Officials Say It Falls Far Short
After the Trump administration funding cuts, state legislators have set aside hundreds of millions to help salvage California’s public hospital system. (Melecio-Zambrano, 8/11)
Chico Enterprise-Record: Enloe To Hold Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center
Enloe Health is celebrating the opening of the Gonzales Comprehensive Cancer Center, a 100,100 square-foot facility in Meriam Park that is meant to expand cancer care services in a region that has a “critical need” for it, according to Enloe Health. (Chiochios, 8/9)
Press Telegram: How California’s Hospice Industry Spiraled Out Of Control — And Cost Millions In Fraud
A quiet change in California law in 2018 unleashed a deluge of new hospices and spurred millions of dollars in Medicare fraud that state and federal authorities are still trying to unwind. (Henry, 8/9)
Sacramento Bee: California Falls Behind On Nursing Home Inspections
A state auditor report released Aug. 5 showed The Golden State missed the bar on more than 75% of the inspection surveys reviewed for the 2024-25 fiscal year. (Schmidt, 8/10)
Chico Enterprise-Record: Oroville Hospital Sues Former CEO Robert Wentz For ‘Self-Dealing’ Scheme
The lawsuit asserts Robert Wentz used his position as Oroville Hospital CEO and trustee on the boards of the hospital and OroHealth to financially benefit from a real estate deal for the purchase of the defunct Montgomery Ward Department Store building, now known as Dove’s Landing. (Gottesman, 8/10)
The Mendocino Voice: New Telehealth Site In Fort Bragg Brings VA Health Care Access To North Coast
A new chapter in veterans’ health care opened in Fort Bragg Thursday with the launch of a Veterans Affairs ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth Through Local Area Stations) site, bringing expanded health care services closer to veterans on the Mendocino Coast. (Kaczorowski, 8/9)
Pasadena Star News: How California’s Hospice Industry Spiraled Out Of Control — And Cost Millions In Fraud
State inspectors couldn't keep up, so private accreditors filled the void. One firm accredited nearly 1,000 hospices in LA County, including 170 in Van Nuys. (Henry, 8/9)
Redlands Daily Facts: Ronald McDonald House Inland Empire Honors ArrowHeart Foundation For Work With Its Meals Of Love Program
The Golden Spatula Award recognizes volunteers, corporate groups or community members who go above and beyond in the kitchens of Ronald McDonald Houses, which provide a home away from home for families of hospitalized children. (8/8)
KQED: Suisun City Declares State Of Emergency After Cyberattack
There was no interruption to emergency services or to dispatchers being able to answer 911 calls, officials said; however, some software became unusable because of the network shutdown. (Kennedy, 8/9)
Whittier Daily News: Ambulances Temporarily Diverted From Pasadena Hospital After Bomb Threat
An early morning call of a bomb threat triggered an hours-long search at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena on Friday before the property was declared safe at about 9 a.m., authorities said. (Van Der Brug, 8/7)
inewsource: San Diego County Supervisor Candidates Focused On 911 Calls
The San Diego County Sheriff’s office has failed to answer 911 calls fast enough for four years straight. (Futterman, 8/10)
San Francisco Examiner: SF Health Clinics Brace For Fallout From Cuts To Medicaid
The San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium and other community health clinics have been keeping an eye on how the cuts made in House Resolution 1 to social safety nets have affected their clients and how their clients who are undocumented or in families with mixed documentation status are more reluctant to seek care. (Gurevich, 8/6)
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Medicaid Cuts Stand To Hit Everyone (Yes, Even You). Here’S Why
The healthcare system is deeply intertwined, and research indicates everyone may see reduced services, lower quality and potentially higher premiums. (Hwang, 8/8)
CalMatters: Medicaid Cuts Could Ripple Through California Healthcare Systems
Experts warn Medicaid cuts won't just hurt the uninsured — the effects could ripple through the entire health system. (Hwang, 8/7)
The Desert Sun: Universal Studios Hollywood Measles Exposure Warning
The person was at the famed theme park, located at 100 Universal City Plaza in Universal City, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. (Sasic, 8/6)
The Modesto Bee: Lead Contamination Resolved At Gregori High Before School Year
After replacing lead-affected water faucets at Gregori High, a July 29 retest of the lines for the contaminant showed the water system was in compliance ahead of the 2026-27 school year. (Iyer and Quinn, 8/10)
Imperial Valley Press Online: Heat Wave Sparks Health Crisis: Heat Illness Cases Double As Officials Push For Better Data
According to the Imperial County Health Department’s Heat-related Illness Dashboard, between March 12 and July 23, “119 heat-related illnesses and 4 probable deaths were reported by local hospitals and the Coroner’s Office.” (Uriarte, 8/6)
KQED: Cyclosporiasis Cases In California Are Way Up — But Officials Say It’s Not The National Outbreak. What’s Happening?
The California Department of Public Health’s most recent data shows 215 “confirmed and probable” cyclosporiasis cases as of July 15, including 13 hospitalizations. (Severn 8/7)
Imperial Valley Press Online: Federal And Local Officials To Host Public Roundtable On New River Cleanup Efforts In Calexico
Federal environmental agencies and local leaders will gather Aug. 18 in Calexico to update the public on efforts to address pollution in the New River, a vital cross-border waterway flowing from Mexicali, Mexico, into California’s Imperial Valley. (8/10)
Los Angeles Times: Toxic Site Near South L.A. Homes Finally Faces State Cleanup Order
The California toxic substances agency cites what "appears to be a major source of contamination" that "may present a substantial hazard to human health." (McNair, 8/11)
Modesto Bee: Monterey Park Tract Fights Decades Of Water Contamination
When Stanislaus County leaders applied for a grant in the early 1980s to help Monterey Tract residents get access to clean water, they did not do enough to prevent long-term contamination. (Quinn, 8/8)
Marin Independent Journal: Fairfax Bends Pesticide Rule To Attack Flea Surge
A Fairfax ordinance generally prohibits pesticides on town property, but staff are allowed to seek exceptions if an infestation is a threat to public health and there are no reasonable alternatives. (Rhoades, 8/7)
Imperial Valley Press Online: Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims To Safeguard The U.S. West’s Water Supply Through Expanded Desalination Funding
“Access to safe and clean drinking water is a human right, and investments in desalination programs will help us provide drinking water to millions of Americans in need,” said bill sponsor Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), pointing to California’s need to adapt to escalating environmental pressures. (8/8)
Bay Area News Group: Kennedy High School In Richmond Closed After Toxic Vapors Found
Kennedy High School in Richmond closed Monday due to toxic vapors identified underneath the campus. Officials on Tuesday said they’re still not sure if they’ll be able to reopen when students return in about two weeks. (Martin, 8/4)
KQED: Caltrans I-580 Truck Ban Study Finds Modest Health Gains, Major Traffic Shifts
More than half of residents living along I-880 are environmentally burdened — meaning they carry the heaviest pollution, health, and economic burdens — compared to just 8.7% of residents living along I-580, according to the Caltrans study. (Jackson, 8/7)
inewsource: Otay Mesa Detention Center Faulted For Tuberculosis Secrecy
San Diego County Public Health Officer Sayone Thihalolipavan said that the risks associated with the two suspected cases was low, but that the operator’s “failure to communicate promptly” was “a serious breach of basic public health protocol and creates unacceptable risk for detainees, staff, visitors, and the surrounding community.” (Kincaid, 8/10)
KQED: Trump Immigration Policy May Have ‘Chilling Effect’ On Latino Birth Rates
Latinos have long pulled up the U.S. birth rate, so why are they seeing the steepest declines in fertility rates? (Torres, 8/11)
Los Angeles Times: An Accounting Glitch Caused Nearly Half Of L.A.'s Increase In The Homeless Count
The homeless count recorded 638 beds at Union Rescue Mission that went uncounted last year, leading to a reported 24% rise in homelessness on Skid Row. (Smith and Zahniser, 8/11)
Manteca Bulletin: SJ County Grand Jury Expects Homeless Numbers Will Grow With Current State Of Economy
The report warns of what could be considered an obvious concern — growing economic pressures are likely to reduce state and federal funding that is making it possible for cities to address homeless issues. (Wyatt, 8/6)
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Point-In-Time Report Finds 12% Increase In Homelessness In Santa Cruz County
The Santa Cruz County Point-In-Time Count, conducted Jan. 29, found that a total of 1,648 people experienced homelessness. (Gillette and Hemphill, 8/6)
KQED: A Simple Way To Prevent Homelessness Is Growing In San Francisco. Is It Sustainable?
Families say rental assistance is a crucial lifeline in an increasingly expensive city, but the need is growing. (Johnson, 8/7)
Imperial Valley Press Online: San Diego County Expands Senior Rental Aid Program
Nearly 200 low-income older adults in San Diego County will receive $500 a month in direct rental assistance next year as local officials launch the third round of a county initiative aimed at preventing senior homelessness. (8/7)
CalMatters: California Moves Early To Regulate Workplace Neurotechnology
Neurotechnology is advancing, and California companies, lawmakers and unions are jockeying to shape how the resulting data can be used. (Johnson, 8/10)
Los Angeles Times: Law And Science Collide In Federal Lawsuit Over Social Media Addiction
A blockbuster battle in federal court is set to open in Oakland this month, pitting Silicon Valley against attorneys for the state of California in a $1.4-trillion contest with existential stakes and potentially eye-watering payouts. (Sharp, 8/8)
KQED: California Teens Don’t Want To Hide Behind Screens. They Want More Places To Belong
Nearly nine in 10 teens say being with friends in person matters to them, and more than half wish they saw friends in person more often. (McClurg, 8/10)
Los Angeles Times: As AI ‘Therapists’ Dish Out Advice, California Lawmakers Try To Set Some Limits
A chatbot called 'Psychologist' offers empathy and advice, but it's not a real therapist. California legislators are trying to craft some guardrails. (Ibarra, 8/9)
The Sacramento Bee: Bipartisan Health Education Bill Advances To Newsom’s Desk
If the measure is signed into law, educational materials on nutrition, food literacy, sleep, exercise, stress management and screen use would be added to the Health Education Framework for California Public Schools in 2027. (Williams, 8/11)
Orange County Register: California Bill Would Ensure Juvenile Offenders In Less Restrictive Programs Have Adequate Care
Sen. Bob Archuleta, a Democrat who represents Brea and Placentia in the statehouse, is pushing a bill that would require judges to take into consideration whether “less restrictive programs” have certain programming expectations and safety frameworks before a young person is sent there. (Schallhorn, 8/10)
USA Today Network: California Joins Challenge To Idaho Transgender Bathroom Law
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting transgender students in their lawsuit challenging an Idaho law that prohibits them from using school bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. (Workman, 8/10)
inewsource: San Diego County Begins Free Food Distribution After Federal Cuts
The event is the first in over 90 the county has planned throughout the next year to support an estimated 9,600 households in need. (Kincaid, 8/9)
Monterey Herald: New Program: Monterey County Kids Helping Kids Battle Substance Abuse
An initiative recently launched by Montage Health aims to educate youth on the dangers of drug use – and curb what has become a leading cause of death among teens in Monterey County and beyond. (Nolan, 8/8)
Orange County Register: Not All Lifeguards Are Designated First Responders, But Efforts Are Underway To Change That
While many lifeguarding departments in Southern California have been folded into their local fire department and are now considered first responders, the designation is not universal across the state and country. (Connelly, 8/11)
Imperial Valley Press Online: Mindfulness-Based Opioid Treatment Delivers 12-To-1 Return On Investment, UCSD Study Finds
A low-cost, mind-body therapy designed to target chronic pain and addiction simultaneously could offer a powerful financial and clinical weapon against the U.S. opioid crisis, according to a study from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. (8/6)
The Desert Sun: How Do We Handle Grief Amid The Death Of Jackie The Eagle?
The death of Jackie, the celebrity bald eagle from Big Bear Lake, has left countless people heartbroken, in a state of shock, despair, and mourning. (De La Cruz, 8/10)
The New York Times: From Nest To Deathbed, Jackie The Eagle Entranced California And Beyond
The eagle, known as Jackie, gained worldwide fame during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a bored public became enraptured by her life in the rugged San Bernardino Mountains. Viewers tuned in to watch her soaring, nesting and squawking over a landscape that was suddenly far less filled with the affairs of human beings. (Hubler and Petri, 8/10)
