Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Gov. Newsom Plans To Commute California's 548 Death Sentences To Life In Prison Without Parole
Los Angeles Times: Newsom Moves To Commute All California Death Sentences To Life In Prison Without Parole
Gov. Gavin Newsom told the California Supreme Court on Thursday that he will commute the death sentences of all 548 state prisoners awaiting execution, reducing their punishments to life in prison without parole. “I take this action because I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values, undermines the foundation of our legal system, and diminishes each of us,” Newsom wrote in a letter to Californians explaining his decision. “I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency.” (Luna and Sharp, 11/5)
A Democratic champion of healthcare has died —
The Washington Post: Jay Rockefeller, Senate Voice On Health Care And Security, Dies At 89
John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV, an heir to a vast oil fortune and a liberal Democrat who entered politics in his adopted home state of West Virginia, serving as governor and a five-term U.S. senator and becoming a leading voice on health care, tax reform, social welfare and national security, died Friday at his home in Washington, D.C. He was 89. His family did not provide a cause. ... His signature accomplishments included expanding eligibility of the earned income tax credit and establishing the child tax credit and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a federal-state initiative that provides health coverage to children in low-income families. He also worked to protect Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, from proposed budget cuts. (Estrada, 11/6)
More health news from across the U.S. —
Chicago Tribune: State Board Approves Lurie Children's Hospital In Downers Grove
Lurie Children’s Hospital can move forward with building a new, highly anticipated children’s hospital in Downers Grove, after a state board voted to approve Lurie’s plan for the facility Thursday. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted unanimously Thursday to allow Lurie to proceed with building the facility — the last approval needed for the project. (Schencker, 11/5)
Cardinal News: Grant Program Aims To Expand Southwest Virginia’s Behavioral Health Workforce By Making Training More Affordable
Laura Pritchard-Compton was 34 and had already been working in nonprofit management and consulting for just over a decade when she enrolled in graduate school to become a therapist. It was a second career, and pursuing it meant balancing her education with the financial responsibilities of supporting her family. (Schabacker, 11/6)
MPR News: Report Calls For More Funding, Support To Address 'Collective Trauma' Across The State
Minnesotans know that the state has been through a lot over the past six years. The COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, fraud scandals, the Annunciation Catholic School shooting, the killings of Melissa and Mark Hortman and Operation Metro Surge. (Moini and Finn, 11/5)
Honolulu Civil Beat: Hawaiʻi Doctors May Soon Start Prescribing Fresh Food
More than 100,000 Hawaiʻi residents who qualify for Medicaid may soon find their doctors prescribing them fresh food as medicine. The script could be for fresh fruit and vegetables, even ahi, beef, chicken and eggs. The federally funded initiative will start as soon as January as part of a special state Medicaid program aimed at addressing chronic diet-related health issues in low-income communities. (Heaton, 11/5)
The Washington Post: SafeSport Says It Will Expand Efforts To Stop Banned Coaches From Working With Kids
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is taking steps to stop coaches banned over allegations of sexual abuse from working with children, part of an initiative that the organization said it is launching because of reporting by ProPublica and The Washington Post about gaps in the child protection system in youth sports. (Hensley-Clancy, 11/5)
InvestigateWest: A State Law Targeted Fentanyl Dealers. Prosecutors Are Using It To Charge Users Too
When two Idaho lawmakers pitched harsher penalties for people caught with fentanyl, they said the new law would target drug dealers -- not those struggling with addiction. But 2 years after the law was implemented, prosecutors have charged at least 30 people with fentanyl trafficking without presenting evidence that they were dealing or distributing the drug. (Bryen, 11/5)
The New York Times: Lucien Smith, Art-World Star, Died From Accidental Drug Overdose
Lucien Smith, the celebrated artist who found success at an early stage in his career and became known for his “Rain Paintings,” died from an overdose of fentanyl and oxycodone, the New York City medical examiner’s office said on Thursday. His death was ruled an accident. (Taylor and Sheridan, 11/5)
