Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Jeopardy Host Alex Trebek Loses Battle With Cancer
The Washington Post: Alex Trebek, Quintessential Quizmaster As ‘Jeopardy!’ Host For Three Decades, Dies At 80
Alex Trebek, who became known to generations of television viewers as the quintessential quizmaster, bringing an air of bookish politesse to the garish coliseum of game shows as the longtime host of “Jeopardy!,” died Nov. 8 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 80. The official “Jeopardy!” Twitter account announced the death without further details. Mr. Trebek had suffered a series of health reversals in recent years, including two heart attacks and brain surgery, and he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019. He continued to host new episodes of his show until production was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, and then filmed socially distanced episodes that began airing Sept. 14. (Langer, 11/8)
USA Today: Alex Trebek Dead At 80: Why Pancreatic Cancer Is So Deadly
About 47,050 people will die this year from pancreatic cancer, according to the American Society of Cancer, and among them will be Alex Trebek, the beloved "Jeopardy!" host. ... Fewer than 10 percent of people live five years after being diagnosed, according to American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO). A lack of cost-effective screenings that can reliably detect cancer for people without symptoms make it difficult to diagnose. As a result, most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages — often Stage 4, when the cancer has spread to other parents of the body. (Peter, 11/8)
In other celebrity news —
Yahoo Entertainment: Al Roker Has Been Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, Says ‘It’s A Little Aggressive’
Al Roker has revealed he has prostate cancer. The Today show weatherman, 66, made the announcement Friday on the morning show. He said he will be undergoing surgery next week to have his prostate removed. “After a routine checkup in September, turns out I have prostate cancer,” Roker shared. “It’s a good news, bad news kind of thing. Good news is, we caught it early. Not great news is that it’s a little aggressive.” (Byrne, 11/6)
In sports news —
New York Post: Notre Dame Fans Storm Field After Clemson Win Amid COVID-19 Spike
Notre Dame’s double-overtime upset over No. 1-ranked Clemson ended on a frightening note on Saturday evening. Pandemonium broke out moments after the No. 4-ranked Fighting Irish secured a 47-40 victory, as thousands of students in the stands rushed onto the field in a scary mob scene with many either not wearing masks properly or not wearing them at all. The Tigers were already playing shorthanded with quarterback Trevor Lawrence sidelined while recovering from COVID-19.Attendance at the game in South Bend, Ind. was 11,011 and was limited to students, faculty, university personnel and families of players. (Previte, 11/8)
The State: Notre Dame Fans Stormed Field During COVID-19. Here’s What Dabo, Kelly Said About It
“When they stormed the field you got a sense of a special moment at Notre Dame,” [Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly] said. “I told our team in our walk-thru today, I said, ‘Listen, when we win this thing, the fans are going to storm the field. With COVID being as it is, we’ve gotta get off the field and get to the tunnel.’ Now I beat them all to the tunnel, so that didn’t go over so good.” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said, who was shown on TV trying to navigate his way off the field, said he didn’t have a problem with the celebration that came as new COVID-19 case counts are surging across the United States. (Connolly, 11/8)
The Wall Street Journal: Covid-19 Cases Are Surging In America—And The NFL
When the NFL returned to play in the middle of a pandemic, it could control how often its players were tested and when they had to wear masks. But there was one thing it had absolutely zero power over: the state of the pandemic in the U.S. Now Covid-19 cases are rapidly rising in America. They are rising in America’s most popular sport, too. (Beaton, 11/6)
AP: Tigers, Lugnuts Open Ballparks For Flu Shot Clinics
Take me out to the ballpark — for a flu shot. Flu shots will be available Monday and Tuesday at Comerica Park in Detroit and Jackson Field in Lansing. The doses will be provided by the state of Michigan and administered by Meijer pharmacy teams. The clinics are for everyone, including people who are uninsured or have limited health insurance. (11/7)
