Thousands helped, thousands more may still be in need after Medicaid scams
WASHINGTON - A state hotline has helped thousands of victims in the two months since state officials uncovered a string of fraudulent Medicaid-funded addiction care facilities in Arizona, but the exact scale of the problem is still unknown.
Healing from within: Athletes face mental health struggles during injury
PHOENIX – Leslie Hernandez, a 25-year-old fighter pursuing a UFC contract, suffered a torn labrum, causing anxiety and depression. Amid her recovery, she found solace in watching others train, reigniting her passion for the sport, and is now eager to return to combat with a fresh perspective. Still, she learned injuries can have a profound impact on an athlete's mental health.
‘Abortion-free America’: Initiative seeks more ‘sanctuary cities for the unborn’ across U.S.
PRESCOTT VALLEY – Texas pastor Mark Lee Dickson travels the country hoping to create more “sanctuary cities for the unborn” – with a goal of banishing abortion from America.
Valley food banks reimagine pantries to help seniors hit hard by inflation
Two Valley food banks are reimagining their pantries to help inflation-strapped seniors, expanding from traditional food boxes to market days, group meals, breakfast and takeout options. Their leaders know healthy meals support overall health and wellness.
Ohio special election, proposed constitutional amendment illustrate broader battles on abortion
DELAWARE, Ohio – A year after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, activists are facing off at the ballot box. In Ohio, voters are deciding whether to make it harder to amend the state constitution. That election comes just months before they consider an amendment to protect abortion rights.
Take as prescribed, if you can find it: Drug shortages hit a 10-year high
WASHINGTON - The number of drugs in short supply in the U.S. is now the highest in a decade, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, with one official calling the shortage of chemotherapy drugs particularly concerning.
‘We’re not the place’: Yuma County residents fight hazardous waste permit
PHOENIX – A petition to stop a local waste company from expanding into hazardous materials has reached more than 4,000 signatures as Yuma County officials prepare to vote on the special use permit.
Gallego touts Phoenix’s efforts during White House meeting on heat emergency
WASHINGTON - Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego told President Joe Biden Thursday that even in a town that knows who to cope with hot weather, this summer's record-breaking heat is posing a challenge.
New city comparison shows high UV exposure, sunshine hours and pollution contribute to poor skin health rating for Phoenix
PHOENIX – A new survey rates Phoenix as the worst in the country for skin health and fourth-worst in the world. Compare the Market, an Australian company that compares rates for health, auto and home insurance, evaluated 50 cities around the world for skin health. The comparisons were based on six factors including the intensity of ultraviolet radiation, sunshine hours, two types of particulates, nitrogen dioxide and ozone levels. Experts say there are ways Arizonans can protect their skin from environmental factors.
Valleywise Health expands access for young adults experiencing serious mental issues
PHOENIX – Valleywise Health is opening a second First Episode Center, an outpatient behavioral health center for young adults experiencing their first serious mental health episode. It can’t come soon enough. There is a dire need for programs that address mental health in young adults not just in Maricopa County but across the country, said Dr. Aris Mosley, a psychiatrist and medical director of the Valleywise Health First Episode Center in Avondale.
‘Confusing’ and ‘chilling’: First legislative sessions after Roe produce patchwork of laws on abortion
The first full state legislative sessions after the fall of Roe v. Wade produced hundreds of bills that lie all over the map on abortion, including proposals to do what was once considered unthinkable: criminalize pregnant people themselves.
Tucson ruling on transgender athletes puts Arizona at center of debate about biology, psychology and fairness
PHOENIX – A ruling by a federal judge in Tucson Thursday gave the green light to let transgender girls play on teams consistent with their gender identity, stirring a debate has reached a crescendo in recent months. But the outcry has ignored the nuances of what many experts say is a complicated and layered issue that deserves more research and thoughtful conversation about the biology and psychology of these athletes.
