Ban on school mask mandates violates Constitution’s ‘single-subject’ rule, opponents argue
PHOENIX – Arizona school boards want to be able to make their own decisions regarding mask mandates, but a Legislature ban will prevent them from doing so.
Program continues to provide medical care for 9/11 survivors, first responders
Since 2011, a federally funded program has provided medical care for emergency responders, recovery workers, volunteers and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
White House plan would help schools skirt Ducey ban on mask mandates
WASHINGTON - Gov. Doug Ducey's threat to withhold funding from schools that impose mask mandates took a severe hit Thursday, when the White House said local school districts can apply directly to the federal government "to restore funding withheld by state leaders."
Poor nutrition heavily influences COVID-19 death toll, studies find
Obesity and dietary issues are contributing to complications and deaths from COVID-19 infections, multiple studies and health officials say.
Delta variant continues to strain Arizona hospitals, nearly all patients are unvaccinated
PHOENIX – Although COVID-19 cases remain stable at Arizona hospitals, nearly all of them are caused by the delta variant. Valleywise Health says 97% of its hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.
Heads-up on concussions: Cardinals’ receiver Christian Kirk praises Barrow’s Brainbook
Christian Kirk and Dr. Javier Cárdenas of the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center discussed the usefulness of the Barrow Brainbook for detecting concussions and other head trauma among high school athletes.
Transgender people have higher risk of heart health issues, experts say
PHOENIX — Transgender people experience elevated levels of heart health risks due to levels of stress present in this demographic, and may also avoid preventative care providers due to stigma and fear of mistreatment. Transgender men and women have a four times higher risk of heart attack than people who identify as the gender with which they were born.
Oklahoma tribes prepare to pivot to booster shots in COVID-19 battle
WASHINGTON - Formal guidance from the Indian Health Service on how and when to give COVID-19 vaccine booster shots is still in the works, but some tribes in Oklahoma are not waiting but getting ready with the news that booster shot guidelines are on the horizon.
Maricopa County health care workers ask for school mask mandate as COVID pediatric cases rise
PHOENIX – Health care workers across Maricopa County signed a letter to the county Board of Supervisors asking for mask mandates in K-12 schools as more children are being hospitalized with COVID-19.
‘A cliff effect’: As federal benefits drop, food insecurity likely to rise again
An enormous influx of federal dollars helped stem the rising tide of hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, but what happens when those benefits end?
The results are in: Standardized test scores fell during pandemic year
WASHINGTON - Standardized test scores in Arizona fell across the board last school year, as COVID-19 upended learning through the year and led to a sharp drop in the number of students taking the tests, the Arizona Department of Education said.
How COVID-19 and red tape pushed millions to the brink of homelessness
Across the U.S., as many as 1 in 5 renters have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic. For families who have no financial safety net to fall back on, the economic consequences of the pandemic have pushed them to the precipice of homelessness. The situation is made worse by bureaucracy.
