First Edition: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025
January 29, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Led by RFK Jr., Conservatives Embrace Raw Milk. Regulators Say It’s Dangerous.
By Stephanie Armour
January 29, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Controversy over raw milk reflects the push-pull the Trump administration faces in rolling back regulations and offering consumers more choices. For now, the CDC still recommends against consuming raw milk and the FDA bans its interstate sale.
Sports Betting Is Coming to Missouri. A Fund To Help Prevent Problem Gambling Will Follow.
By Zach Dyer
January 29, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Can a $5 million compulsive-gambling fund help Missouri avoid the mistakes of other states that have legalized sports betting?
Trump’s Funding ‘Pause’ Throws States, Health Industry Into Chaos
By Phil Galewitz
Updated January 29, 2025
Originally Published January 28, 2025
KFF Health News Original
A sweeping Trump administration order threw the nation’s health system into disarray Tuesday, as states and the health industry tried to make sense of what looked like a freeze on federal Medicaid funding.
Sleep-Related Infant Deaths Soar 12%, With Notable Racial Disparities
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, overall infant mortality rates from 1999 to 2022 dropped by 24%, researchers found. Additional news of public concern covers breast milk guidance for air travelers, heart disease stats, the link between sugar-laden drinks and Type 2 diabetes, and more.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, January 28, 2025
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
Each month, KFF Health News’ Rural Dispatch newsletter covers health issues in places where accessing care can be more challenging. Check out our Montana, Colorado, Georgia, and California newsletters, too. Sign up here!
White House Halts Federal Grants And Loans, Rattling Health Agencies
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
Although the memo specifically mentioned gender-affirming care, it is unclear how many other federal programs will be affected. It does not include Medicare. Meanwhile, NIH researchers can resume their work as long as they don’t violate the communications freeze, and the CDC was ordered to stop working with the World Health Organization immediately.
Trump To Revamp Military Standards, Targeting Trans Troops And ‘Mental And Physical Health Conditions’
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
The president’s executive order cites diagnoses “that require substantial medication or medical treatment” and could affect many thousands of servicemembers. It likely also would stunt efforts to reduce the military stigma surrounding asking for help. Plus: Troops who were dismissed for not getting a covid shot will be reinstated with full back pay.
HHS Nominee RFK Jr. Won’t Rule Out Seizing Drug Patents To Lower Prices
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would consider authorizing the government to seize from manufacturers the patents of high-dollar medicines that were developed with taxpayer money and give them to drug makers to bring down costs, Politico reports. Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups are unsure about whether to back his nomination. More news is on vaccine policy and skepticism.
Walgreens Unlikely To Sell To Private Equity Firm Sycamore Partners
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
Pharmacy chain Walgreens has been struggling for over a year and has been in talks to sell to Sycamore Partners, a deal that is now “mostly dead.” Meanwhile, some independent pharmacies are opting to not stock drugs that are under negotiation because of significant loss of revenue that they may sustain. Other news includes layoffs, cardiac device recalls, and more.
Wyoming House Committee Passes Bills Making Abortion All But Impossible
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Supreme Court race could determine the future of abortion in the state; Minnesota will implement insulin price cap; Denver hospital opens its free naloxone vending machine; and more.
Largest US Tuberculosis Outbreak On Record Happening Now In Kansas
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 67 active TB cases and 79 latent cases have been reported since the beginning of 2024 in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. Separately, a rare strain of bird flu has been detected at a farm in California’s Merced County.
First Edition: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025
January 28, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
What RFK Jr. Might Face in His Nomination Hearings This Week
By Arthur Allen
January 28, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Two Senate committees are expected to question Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on how his disproven views of science and medicine qualify him to run the $1.7 trillion, 80,000-employee federal health system.
Schools Aren’t as Plugged In as They Should Be to Kids’ Diabetes Tech, Parents Say
By Phil Galewitz
January 28, 2025
KFF Health News Original
With continuous glucose monitors, students with Type 1 diabetes no longer have to visit the school nurse for a finger prick. But some parents say it falls to them to keep an eye on blood sugar levels from home or work — even though they may not be able to quickly reach their child when something’s wrong.
Las escuelas no están conectadas como debieran a la tecnología para afrontar la diabetes infantil
By Phil Galewitz
January 28, 2025
KFF Health News Original
En las escuelas, los maestros están atentos a las alarmas de los MCG de los teléfonos de los alumnos. Sin embargo, muchos dicen que no hay garantía de que un maestro pueda escucharlas.
Iowa Faces Backlash Over Swapping ‘Evolution’ For ‘Biological Change’
January 27, 2025
Morning Briefing
The current K-12 curriculum draft downplays human impacts on climate change, critics contend. The state is still reviewing feedback, and the draft has not been approved. Also in the news, transgender care in North Dakota; developmental disability costs in Montana and Maryland; and more.
