Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Second Person Dies In South Bronx Legionnaires’ Disease Cluster
The Hill: Second Death In South Bronx Legionnaires' Cluster
A second person has died in connection with the South Bronx Legionnaires’ disease cluster, according to the city’s health commissioner. “We mourn the loss of each New Yorker, and our hearts are with their loved ones as they navigate this difficult time,” Dr. Alister Martin said on social media. As of Thursday, 13 people had tested positive for the disease and two were still in the hospital. Yankee Stadium is among 10 buildings the health department ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers. (Gustafson, 9/18)
Health news from Texas —
The Texas Tribune: Texas Supreme Court: Baby In Surrogacy Case Can Leave Texas
The Texas Supreme Court has rejected a surrogate’s attempt to keep the child she delivered in Texas, clearing the way for the biological parents to take the medically fragile infant to California. On Thursday, the Texas Supreme Court denied the request by McKenna West, an Alaskan surrogate who had tried to block the biological parents from removing the 1-month-old from Texas and taking him to a hospital in Los Angeles, where the couple lives. (Langford, 9/18)
The Texas Tribune: Report: Immigration Officer Shoots, Injures Man In Austin
An immigration enforcement agent shot and injured a man in Austin on Sunday, city officials said. Police nor the U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified the man. But Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an Austin immigration lawyer, said she was hired to represent the man and that he was released from the hospital and into federal custody Sunday evening. (Nguyen, Garcia and Serrano, 9/20)
More health news from across the U.S. —
The Colorado Sun: Colorado State Budget Woes Deepen, As Medicaid Costs Soar
The best-case scenario forecast that Colorado budget writers received in June turned out to be too good to be true. Three months later, the budget picture has crumbled again, economists told the Joint Budget Committee at the state’s quarterly revenue forecasts Friday. Analysts now expect the state to face a $1.6 billion deficit next fiscal year, setting the stage for another round of grueling spending cuts for the state legislature and Colorado’s next governor. (Eason, 9/18)
Verite News: State Proposal Would Shift Tens Of Millions In Homeless Housing Assistance Funds To Open 200-Bed Shelter In Baton Rouge
Thousands of formerly homeless people in the greater New Orleans area rely on federal dollars to help pay for their housing. But homeless advocates and service providers worry that that money — currently administered by a local coalition that provides support to people experiencing homelessness — could be in jeopardy. (Fernelius, 9/18)
ProPublica: Tennessee Lawmakers Demand Answers On Safety In State Youth Prisons
Four Democratic Tennessee state lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Children’s Services demanding answers about safety and oversight in the state’s juvenile justice facilities. The letter cites a recent WPLN and ProPublica investigation that found that juvenile justice facilities run by Tennessee businessman Jason Crews repeatedly failed to report abuse of children and other serious incidents to the state as required. (Pfleger and Swaby, 9/18)
Phys.org: Black Moms And Pregnant Women Forced Out Of Their Homes In Metro Detroit Face Health And Safety Threats
Is everyone entitled to a fair process before being forced out of their home? The state of Michigan says "yes," but the reality is often very different, and the consequences are severe. In Michigan, landlords need a court order to evict a tenant. The formal eviction process includes several steps and concludes only when a judge signs an order saying a tenant has to move. (Sealy-Jefferson, 9/18)
The Washington Post: A Big Chemical Company Is Trying A New Way To Recycle. Neighbors Are Worried.
W.R. Grace & Co. says emissions from its plastics-recycling machine in suburban Maryland are so minimal they flow from a tube “about the size of a drinking straw.” (Hedgpeth, 9/20)
Stat: Kratom Withdrawal A Growing Problem For Addiction Clinics
Addiction clinics around the country are seeing a growing number of cases related to gas station products made from the kratom leaf and its derivatives. (Gaffney, 9/21)
KFF Health News: Health Journalists Visit Conservative Georgia District And Weigh AI Bioweapon Threat
Céline Gounder, KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health, discussed the findings of a recent cancer report on CBS News 24/7’s Mornings on Sept. 16. Gounder also discussed the potential of artificial intelligence to be used in developing biological weapons on CBS News’ CBS Mornings on Sept. 11. (9/19)
