Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In Oregon, Heat Wave Mainly Killed The Old; In General, Heat Hits The Poor
The Hill: Most Oregon Heat Wave Victims Were Elderly, Had No Central AC, Lived Alone
A preliminary report by Oregon’s Multnomah County found that a majority of the deaths reported during the record-breaking heat wave that began late last month were elderly men who lived alone and did not have central air conditioning. In Portland, which is in Multnomah County, from June 25 and June 28 the city reached triple-digits, even hitting a high of 116 degrees. (Romaine, 7/14)
NPR: Extreme Heat Is Worse For Low-Income, Nonwhite Americans, A New Study Shows
Urban areas are known to be hotter than more rural ones, but the research published Tuesday in the journal Earth's Future provides one of the most detailed looks to date at how differences in heat extremes break down along racial and socioeconomic lines. The authors used census data and measured land surface temperature with satellite imaging and focused on 1,056 counties that are home to about 300 million Americans. They found that in more than 70% of those counties, neighborhoods with more people of color and lower income people, "experience significantly more extreme surface urban heat than their wealthier, whiter counterparts." (Shivaram, 7/14)
In news from Texas, New Mexico and Kansas —
Houston Chronicle: City Continues To Find Evidence Of West Nile
West Nile continues to make its way through Sugar Land, with the city confirming the presence of the virus in East River Park. The mosquitoes were caught last week at a trap located on East River Park in the River Park subdivision. Sugar Land was notified Tuesday evening that at least one had tested positive. Accordingly, the city has increased mosquito spraying to twice a week citywide with the goal of eliminating the infestation. Sugar Land will also continue working with the Texas Department of State Health Services to trap and test more mosquitoes. (Varma, 7/14)
Albuquerque Journal: New Disabilities Program Draws Limited Response
New Mexico launched a plan last year to offer scaled-down support services to thousands of families who have been waiting years for more comprehensive help under a developmental disabilities program. But it didn’t have the immediate impact officials had hoped. Fewer than 100 individuals are now receiving the support services – out of about 2,000 invited to apply for the program. Another 180 are in the eligibility process to qualify. (McKay, 7/14)
The Washington Post: Frito-Lay Workers In Topeka Are On Strike, Citing Forced Overtime And 84-Hour Work Weeks
Hundreds of striking Frito-Lay workers in Kansas are calling on one of the nation’s biggest snack makers to put an end to forced overtime and 84-hour workweeks brought on by a pandemic-era surge in demand. Workers at the Topeka plant have been pushed to the brink as the factory revved up operations during the pandemic according to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 218.Many of the factory’s more than 800 workers are working seven days a week and up to 12 hours per shift, with just eight hours between clocking in and clocking out, according to the union’s international president, Anthony Shelton. (Telford, 7/14)
