State Highlights: Texas Gets Nearly $200M In Zika Funding; Mich. Gov. Says He Has ‘No Reason To Be Concerned’ About Potential Flint Charges

The Washington Post: CDC Sends $184 Million In Zika Funding To States As Texas Reports New Case
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is awarding nearly $200 million in Zika funding to states and territories to continue the fight against the mosquito-borne virus as Texas reported a new local case, officials announced Thursday. The money, approved earlier this year by Congress as part of the emergency response to Zika, is aimed at helping local communities at greatest risk. (Sun, 12/22)

The Hill: Michigan Gov Not Concerned About Being Charged Over Flint
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) says he’s not worried about facing criminal charges over the Flint, Mich. water crisis despite recent criminal complaints against his appointees. “I have no reason to be concerned,” Snyder told the Detroit Free Press. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette (R) on Tuesday brought criminal charges against four officials connected to the crisis in Flint, where water contaminated with lead has posed a threat to public health. (Henry, 12/22)

The Minneapolis Star Tribune: State Lifts Licensing Restrictions On St. Peter Mental Hospital
The Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter marked a major turning point this week, as state regulators lifted long-standing licensing restrictions that were imposed over persistent breakdowns in patient care and safety. The state’s largest psychiatric hospital, which treats about 360 of Minnesota’s most dangerous and psychiatrically complex patients, has been operating under a conditional license for the past five years as it struggled to protect patients and staff from violence. (Serres, 12/22)

Kansas Health Institute: Some Kansans’ Health Perceptions Out Of Sync With Reality 
Kansans have sunny perceptions of their own health despite health outcomes that are only so-so. One of 10 Kansans reported they had “frequent physical distress,” meaning their physical health was poor for at least two weeks of the past month, according to the recently released America’s Health Rankings Report. Only eight states had fewer residents reporting poor health. While Kansans’ perceptions might make the state appear to be a picture of health, they are about as likely to develop health problems as the rest of the country. (Wingerter, 12/22)

The Austin American Statesman: Aggie Dean Explains Why Hawaii Beats Texas When It Comes To Health
Jay Maddock, who ran the University of Hawaii’s public health program for eight years before coming to Texas A&M to lead its School of Public Health, says Hawaiians are so much healthier for one main reason: Their state is willing to spend more to stay healthy. (Toohey, 12/22)

Chicago Tribune: No Time For An Eye Exam? RV Clinic Brings Exams To Chicago Offices
A group of savvy businesses are figuring out what cubicle dwellers already know: It can be tough to duck out of work for routine medical appointments. So providers are bringing the office to them. The latest to set its sights on the Chicago market is 2020 On-site, a Boston company that recently expanded into Chicago with a 34-foot RV tricked out to offer eye exams outside employers' offices. The company tapped Chicago for expansion because the city has a lot of midsize employers and many people have long commutes and are looking to ways to save time, said 2020 On-site founder and CEO Howard Bornstein. (Schencker, 12/22)

Los Angeles Times: Kids And Mental Health: CHOC Builds The County's First Inpatient Facility For Youths Ages 3 To 18
One of the earliest hints arrived when Chris Dureiko was picking up her eldest son, Sean, from day care. She noticed the then-9-year-old's hands were red and bruised, as if he had a rash. "[Then] I caught him one day washing his hands while counting for half an hour," recalled Dureiko, who lives in Irvine. "He was always extremely afraid of germs. If something would touch another, that thing would become contaminated and had to be removed. (Escobar, 12/22)