Health
State officials encourage families to catch up on routine childhood vaccinations
Like many other states, routine childhood vaccination rates have declined in Colorado since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment encourages families to catch their children up on routine childhood immunizations. “With all of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been difficult to keep up with our […]
As fentanyl kills more Coloradans, prosecutors call for stricter penalties
An assortment of Colorado’s top prosecutors and state lawmakers, along with the mother of a young man who died after taking pills containing fentanyl, are calling for stricter penalties for drug dealers peddling the powerful synthetic opioid. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment predicts the number of drug overdose deaths in the state […]
Colorado’s 2021 overdose deaths on track to break last year’s record
It’s all but certain: More Coloradans will die of drug overdoses in 2021 than in any other year in recent history. According to preliminary data from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, as reported by Colorado Politics, the state lost 1,230 people to overdoses between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31. That’s significantly more than […]
Biden pick to lead FDA fields questions over pharma ties, abortion pill, COVID tests
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration drew praise from a top Senate Republican, as well as critical questions from conservatives and others during a Tuesday confirmation hearing. Dr. Robert Califf fielded queries on his ties to the pharmaceutical industry, the pandemic-loosened rules around abortion drugs, and frustrations involving COVID-19 […]
The poor health of American health care
Sometimes you can’t win for losing. A family member and long-time Colorado resident recently found himself working in a restaurant that paid health benefits (not always the case in the food service industry). All was well until a) management messed up and closed down, and b) my relative was diagnosed with a form of throat […]
Mandates, tests, ‘enforcers’ help college students remain on Colorado campuses
One Colorado college hired students to act as COVID enforcers. Another school conducts about 10,000 COVID-19 tests a week. As fall semester concludes, Newsline examined how three Colorado colleges and universities managed COVID-19 on campus as a wave of cases arose in the state. Since the start of the semester, COVID-19 cases increased across Colorado. […]
Investigation urged of doctor who operated on immigrant women in detention
WASHINGTON — Two congressional panels are calling for Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to investigate a doctor who was accused of performing gynecological procedures on immigrant women in a Georgia detention center without their consent or full understanding of the treatment being performed. In a Dec. 3 letter, Democrats on the House Homeland Security […]
Shelters for homeless pets and their humans open in Grand Junction
When HomewardBound of the Grand Valley’s board of directors met last January for a strategic planning retreat, the nonprofit shelter organization identified as a top priority the need to serve houseless individuals unable to reside in congregate living situations. Homeless pet owners are among that group. “Previously we had put kennels outside the shelter, but […]
‘Roadmap’ points Colorado in direction of health care equity, improved data sharing
New state objectives are in place to expand the digital tools and technologies that support Colorado health care services. The state’s Office of eHealth Innovation released this week a refreshed Colorado Health Information Technology Roadmap, a framework for leveraging technology to address gaps in the state’s health care systems. “We’ve taken a really critical look […]
Money will help homelessness. Better mental health care will help more.
Life never ceases with its teachable moments. I’m certainly not a know-it-all, but I believe I have a solid base on the issues surrounding homelessness in Colorado. Well, on Nov. 17, I added another lesson to the mental Rolodex. I spoke at the Denver Press Club alongside 9News’ Jeremy Jojola and Denver Voice’s Robert Davis […]
End tissue donation policy that discriminates against gay men, write Neguse, Crow, Bennet
Despite a shortage of people consenting to donate corneas, heart valves, skin and other tissue after their death, the U.S. bars many gay and bisexual men from becoming tissue donors. Several dozen Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse of Lafayette and Jason Crow of Aurora, along with U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, are calling on […]
U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments that its […]