Masks can reduce risk of Valley fever, Arizona experts say

PHOENIX – Wearing a mask not only protects you from COVID-19, it also may help protect you from Valley fever, a fungal disease prevalent in desert soils.


Schools chief, health experts call for more precautions after Ducey stands firm on mask protocols

PHOENIX – Gov. Doug Ducey vows to keep Arizona’s ban on mask mandates in place despite the CDC’s updated guidelines asking vaccinated people to wear them. Health experts worry the effects this will have as school is starting for many in the state.


ASU partnership provides free hearing services to low-income Arizonans

PHOENIX – The Speech and Hearing Clinic at ASU, in partnership with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, has launched a program to provide free hearing care to low-income Arizonans.


Poll shows Arizonans aren’t concerned about COVID-19, despite rising cases

PHOENIX – A survey of 1,000 adults by OH Predictive Insights in early July found the percentage of Arizonans concerned about COVID-19 is less than those slightly or not at all concerned – even as the delta variant of the coronavirus spreads in the state.


En route to fifth Olympics, Tucson’s Abdi Abdirahman, 44, outraces Father Time

PHOENIX - Abdi Abdirahman, 44, has not let age nor injuries deter him from competing in his fifth Olympics. He is the oldest U.S. runner ever to qualify for the Games.


Navajo officials confident about reopening amid spread of delta variant in U.S.

PHOENIX – Cases of the delta variant are rising in the U.S., but the tribe’s president and officials with the Navajo Department of Health express confidence about reopening the reservation at 50%.


Q&A: How one warrior mobilized to deliver water to the Navajo Nation

PHOENIX – A year since its founding, a water access campaign on the Navajo reservation has delivered more than 250,000 gallons of water to those in need. Founder Zoel Zohnnie talks about how he has kept the effort going and lessons learned.


FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, but concerns raised about cost, effectiveness

For the first time since 2003, the Federal Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder. But with limited clinical trials and a hefty price tag, officials are skeptical about Aduhelm.


School nurses find new ways to provide care during COVID-19

PHOENIX – For many families, school nurses are the first line of defense for children’s health care. But when schools transitioned to remote learning during COVID-19, nurses had to adapt to meet the needs of their students. One New Mexico district did just that.


Hiking trails on Piestewa, Camelback will close during extreme heat

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board approved a pilot program which restricts access to hiking trails from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days when an excessive heat watch is in place.


A PSA on SPF: Tips on getting the most protection from sunscreen

PHOENIX – Arizonans are at a particular risk for skin damage by the sun, wearing sunscreen prevents exposure to harmful UV rays and sunburns.


Arizona’s ban on mask mandates in schools criticized by health experts

PHOENIX – Health experts speaking on behalf of the Committee to Protect Health Care have expressed concern regarding Arizona’s decision to ban mandatory mask-wearing and COVID-19 testing in public schools.