Midwest Bureau Archives - Page 18 of 49

The Walz Record

Episode 359

Aug. 8, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris this week officially became the Democratic nominee for president and named Minnesota governor and former U.S. congressman Tim Walz as her running mate. Meanwhile, a new study finds the number of abortions taking place since the overturn of “Roe v. Wade” continued to rise into early this year, despite the imposition of abortion bans around the country. Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call and Shefali Luthra of The 19th join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

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An digital illustration of a teen girl surrounded by a circle of giant cell phones, creating a vortex around her. On the screens of the phones closest to her are images of her friends. The screens further back have gone black.

Social Media Bans Could Deny Teenagers Mental Health Help

Congress and state legislatures are considering age bans and other limits for Instagram and TikTok out of concern that they harm kids’ mental health. But some researchers and pediatricians question whether there’s enough data to support that conclusion.

By Daniel Chang

Aug. 7, 2024

Native American Public Health Officials Are Stuck in Data Blind Spot

For decades, state and federal agencies have restricted or delayed tribes and tribal epidemiology centers from accessing public health data, a blackout that leaves health workers in Native American communities cobbling together information to guide their work, including tracking devastating disease outbreaks.

By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez

Aug. 6, 2024

A man in a dark blue shirt and cap faces away from the camera and stretches out his right arm where another person wearing purple medical gloves draws blood.

Bird Flu Cases Are Going Undetected, New Study Suggests. It’s a Problem for All of Us.

Dairy workers in Texas show signs of prior, uncounted bird flu infections in a new study. Without labor protection and better health care, cases are bound to quietly rise as the outbreak among livestock blazes in the United States.

By Amy Maxmen

July 31, 2024

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Harris in the Spotlight

Episode 357

July 25, 2024

For the 2024 campaign, Joe Biden is out, and Kamala Harris is in. As the vice president makes moves toward the top of the Democratic presidential ticket, health policy is resurging as a campaign issue. Meanwhile, Congress tries — and again fails — to make timely progress on the annual government spending bills as abortion issues cause delays. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Stephanie Armour of KFF Health News, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Anthony Wright, the new executive director of Families USA, about his plans for the organization and his history working with Harris on health topics. 

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A photo of the exterior of Wall Drug's complex.

Postcard From South Dakota

World-Famous Wall Drug Isn’t Immune From Challenges Facing Rural Pharmacies

Even as part of a popular South Dakota tourist attraction, an independent pharmacy serving locals, remote ranchers, and sightseers struggles with staffing and insurer payments.

By Arielle Zionts

July 24, 2024

The Nation’s 911 System Is on the Brink of Its Own Emergency

911 outages have hit at least eight states this year. They’re emblematic of problems plaguing emergency response communications due in part to wide disparities in capabilities and funding.

By Stephanie Armour

July 17, 2024

A photo of Senator J.D. Vance smiling in the middle of a crowd.

JD Vance, Trump’s VP Pick, Says Media Twisted His Remarks on Abortion and Domestic Violence

In his first interview after being named as the vice presidential pick by former President Donald Trump, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) spoke about his previous statements on topics like abortion.

By Maria Ramirez Uribe, PolitiFact

July 16, 2024

Four people, two men and two women, pose for a portrait holding a sign that says "embryo transfer day"

Before Michigan Legalized Surrogacy, Families Found Ways Around the Ban

Until this spring, Michigan was the only state that had a broad criminal ban on surrogacy. Many families say that left them in limbo: forcing them to leave the state to have children, finding strangers on Facebook who would carry their child, or going through the legal hassle of having to adopt their biological children.

By Kate Wells, Michigan Public

July 16, 2024

A photo of a bunch of chickens in a poultry plant.

Colorado Poultry Workers Battle Bird Flu in Heat Wave as US Struggles to Contain Outbreak

So far, all 10 cases reported nationally this year at dairy and poultry farms have been mild, consisting of respiratory symptoms and eye irritation. Scientists have warned that the virus could mutate to spread from person to person, like the seasonal flu, and spark a pandemic.

By Amy Maxmen

July 15, 2024

Taylar Swartz uses an ultrasound scanner on a pregnant patient's belly.

Rural Hospitals Built During Baby Boom Now Face Baby Bust

Fewer than half of rural U.S. hospitals offer labor and delivery services. In some areas, births have dropped by three-quarters since the baby boom’s peak.

By Tony Leys

July 15, 2024

A photo of a woman sitting at a table with a pile of medical records and billing documents.

‘A Bottomless Pit’: How Out-of-Pocket TMJ Costs Drive Patients Into Debt

Millions of Americans suffer from temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, disorders. The high cost and poor insurance coverage of TMJ care can bury patients in debt even as the treatments do more harm than good.

By Brett Kelman and Anna Werner, CBS News

July 11, 2024

A sign on a lawn reads 'Free Lead Replacement'

Why the Election May Slow Plans To Replace Lead Pipes

Lead in drinking water is a known danger. But how many of the country’s estimated 9 million lead service lines need to be replaced — and how quickly — is subject to debate. The clock is ticking on two competing plans as the election looms.

By Sandy West

July 10, 2024

A photo of the outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Planned Parenthood to Blitz GOP Seats, Betting Abortion Fears Can Sway Voters

The reproductive rights organization hopes to oust GOP incumbents from key California congressional seats by highlighting the possibility of a national abortion ban. A state Republican official calls it a swing and a miss, noting that, under Democrats, hospitals have closed maternity wards and filed for bankruptcy.

By Molly Castle Work

July 8, 2024

Health Brief

Two Rival Hospitals Want To Join Forces. Will Patients Lose?

By Samantha Liss

July 3, 2024

A portrait of Cori Lint. She is a young woman with short hair; part of it is dyed a teal color. Her crossed arms are resting on a metal fence as she looks towards the camera.

Beyond PMS: A Poorly Understood Disorder Means Periods of Despair for Some Women

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is estimated to affect around 5% of people who menstruate, but a lack of research and limited awareness of menstrual disorders — even among health care providers — can make getting care difficult.

By Lauren Peace, Tampa Bay Times

July 3, 2024

Health Brief

Abortion Ballot Measures Won’t Automatically Undo Existing Laws

By Bram Sable-Smith

June 28, 2024

A woman and man sit on a couch, smiling at each other, with arms intertwined

The Injured

$2 Million Disbursed to Victims and Community Groups in Wake of Super Bowl Mass Shooting

The United Way of Greater Kansas City gave $1.2 million to victims and $832,000 to 14 community groups Thursday, hoping to reach other victims from the violence at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, as well as those working to prevent gun violence.

By Peggy Lowe, KCUR and Bram Sable-Smith

June 28, 2024

Protesters gather in front of the US Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, on a sunny day.

HealthBent

Republicans Are Downplaying Abortion, but It Keeps Coming Up

Torn between a base that wants more restrictions on reproductive health care and a moderate majority that does not, it seems many Republicans would rather take an off-ramp than a victory lap when it comes to abortion. But they can’t escape talking about it.

By Julie Rovner

June 28, 2024

A red-eyed cicada rests on the middle finger of Kasey Fowler-Finn.

Chorus or Cacophony? Cicada Song Hits Some Ears Harder Than Others

Cicadas are the song of the summer, but this year’s large broods may be especially irritating for people on the autism spectrum who have hearing sensitivity.

By Zach Dyer

June 27, 2024

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Midwest Bureau

KFF Health News covers health care in the Midwest, with a bureau headquartered in St. Louis and staff reporters based in Iowa, Michigan, and South Dakota.