Latest surge in COVID-19 cases stressing Arizona health care system
WASHINGTON - Arizona reported 18,783 COVID-19 cases Wednesday, the latest in a surge of infections that experts say is stressing a state health care system that is "not well suited" to take on more cases.
Pride of Navajo Nation: Diné College works to rebuild rodeo program amid the pandemic
TSAILE – In the heart of the Navajo Nation lies Diné College, home to a once-prominent rodeo program riddled with issues from COVID. Now the school is trying to return the program to the collegiate rodeo championships.
Pandemic adds pressure on doctors, who already had one of the highest rates of suicide
PHOENIX – Physicians have one of the highest rates of death by suicide, and the pandemic has excerbated the stress on health care workers. Doctors often are hesitant to seek help because of the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Door-to-door campaign helps Guadalupe turn the tide against COVID
GUADALUPE – With the help of Town Council members, tribal leaders, and health care organizations, tiny Guadalupe is driving down COVID-19 cases.
Remote work has potential to boost employment for those with disabilities
PHOENIX – People living with disabilities have some of the highest rates of unemployment. Ability360 has job training programs for those who want to be part of the workforce.
COVID-19 on track to be leading cause of death in Arizona in 2021
WASHINGTON - COVID-19 claimed almost 15,800 lives in Arizona this year, which puts it on track to outpace both cancer and heart disease and be the leading cause of death in the state in 2021.
Vaccine hesitancy, new variants kept COVID-19 infections from falling
WASHINGTON – Almost two years after the first case of COVID-19 was discovered in Arizona, new infections in the state have reached a "bizarre plateau," rising from summertime lows in the hundreds to more than 3,000 new cases a day through the fall.
Trap-Neuter-Return: The most humane way to save stray cats, veterinarians say
LOS ANGELES – This past summer was the worst kitten season in years due to many trap-neuter-return clinics losing funding to continue their services because of COVID-19.
Fentanyl, COVID-19 help drive overdose deaths to record 12-month high
The COVID-19 pandemic and a growing unsafe drug supply combined to push overdose deaths up by 27.6% in the U.S. over a 12-month period from 2020 to 2021, a surge in deaths that was matched in Arizona.
Asians, other minorities fear attacks because of race, survey finds
PHOENIX – An NPR report found that one in four Asian households in the U.S. fear physical and verbal attacks because of their race. Studies show mental health issues related to economic inequalities increased across the country during the surge in COVID-19 cases tied to the delta variant.
Arizona lags in prenatal care, but ranks well in infant deaths, preemies
WASHINGTON - Arizona outperformed the nation on its rates of premature births and infant deaths, despite having some of lowest rates of prenatal care among the states, according to a recent March of Dimes report.
Federal grant funds training of emergency medical services in rural communities
PHOENIX – $5.6 million has been awarded to rural communities for emergency medical services training in overdose and mental-health crisis cases. The grant is meant to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on smaller communities with fewer resources.
