Gilbert Fire and Rescue’s best arson investigator is a 4-year-old Lab named Zeta
GILBERT – Gilbert Fire and Rescue’s arson dog, Zeta, is their best investigator of suspicious fires. The 4-year-old Labrador can quickly and precisely locate accelerants, saving the fire department time and money.
As more LGBTQ+ people face eating disorders, providers work to create appropriate care
PHOENIX – With research showing that LGBTQ+ individuals face a higher risk of developing eating disorders, more and more providers are creating specialized treatment to address these disparities and ensure people get the care they need.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used ‘off label’ to treat brain injuries, but questions remain
CAVE CREEK – Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is being used to treat patients with traumatic brain injuries but has not been approved by the FDA.
Three years on, COVID-19 no longer grabs headlines, still poses a threat
WASHINGTON - COVID-19 is down sharply from the height of the pandemic, but it has still accounted for more than 2.3 million infections and 32,182 deaths in Arizona since the first cases were confirmed in January 2020. And health experts say it's not going away.
Arizona’s falling vaccination rates could lead to serious health issues in the future
PHOENIX – Arizona’s vaccination rates, which have been declining for years, dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and haven’t rebounded since. Experts fear that could result in serious health consequences for Arizonans in the future.
Statewide hotline to support mental health during and after pregnancy
TUCSON – A hotline expected to launch next spring seeks to help improve access to information and treatment options for perinatal mental health.
Arizona taking steps to combat maternal mortality, one doula at a time
TEMPE – A new doula advisory committee in Arizona is developing certification procedures for the nonmedical labor professionals. It will bring the state one step closer to increasing access to doulas – who, research shows, can help prevent pregnancy-associated deaths.
Phoenix nursery provides model solution for newborns exposed to opioids
PHOENIX – Hushabye Nursery uses a model called Eat, Sleep, Console to treat newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome, the result of withdrawing from drugs they were exposed to before birth. The nursery gives parents and babies private rooms to allow for family-centered care, with the goal of breaking the cycle of addiction across generations.
Judges grill both sides in effort to untangle state’s jumbled abortion laws
WASHINGTON - Arizona Court of Appeals judges quizzed attorneys Wednesday as they tried to figure out how, or if, they can square competing abortion laws that could restrict or outright criminalize abortions in the state.
University researchers in Arizona, Washington collaborate to create a Valley fever vaccine
PHOENIX – A new research program combining the efforts of Northern Arizona University and the University of Washington aims to create a vaccine for Valley fever, an infectious fungal disease that poses an increasing threat as the climate gets drier and warmer.
As cartels turn to social media to push fentanyl, experts teach parents how to keep kids safe
GLENDALE – Opioid use, particularly the use of powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl, remains a pressing problem. As cartels do more to target young people on Snapchat and other social media, Arizona drug prevention groups are letting parents, kids and educators know what to look out for to stay safe.
‘We see value in you’: Arizona organization helps bridge gaps between foster kids and families
PHOENIX – An estimated 80% of the more than 400,000 children in foster care across the U.S. struggle with significant mental health issues. In Arizona, one nonprofit is working to help children persevere – by offering services for foster youth and parents alike.
