Arizona’s long-COVID rate is higher than the national average and Hispanics experience symptoms at a higher rate than other groups

PHOENIX – As Arizonans experience higher rates of long COVID, new treatment programs work to provide answers to persisting disparities.

Banner University Medical Center, where Dr. Hsu works as medical director of ambulatory internal medicine. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Behind the smile: How a nonprofit organization and a postpartum depression pill seek to help fight a silent battle

PHOENIX — A nonprofit organization, a Mrs. Arizona International, and a new $16,000 pill seek to help those suffering with postpartum depression.

Carolyn Larsen plays with her two kids on Feb. 15. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Annual 5K walk & run tackles misinformation and stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS

TEMPE – The Aunt Rita’s Foundation AIDS Walk Arizona & 5K Run brought together advocates and health professionals from across the Valley to raise awareness and funds for programs that help prevent and treat HIV and AIDS.

Runners and walkers take off from the starting line for the Aunt Rita’s Paint the Town Red AIDS Walk Arizona & 5K Run held April 6 at Tempe Beach Park. (Photo by Kayla Mae Jackson/Cronkite News)

Black people have the highest opioid fatality rate among all other races and ethnicities in Arizona

PHOENIX – African Americans have the highest opioid fatality rate among all other races and ethnicities in Arizona. As recently as 2015, Blacks were less likely to overdose than other races or ethnicities. Now, due to a steep rise in overdose deaths, Black people have the highest overdose fatality rate, followed closely by Native Americans.

Scottsdale Recovery Center, where Justin Bronson is a peer support specialist, on April 11. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Clinics vow to continue providing abortions, but unsure for how much longer

PHOENIX - One day after the Arizona Supreme Court resurrected a law that makes it a felony to perform an abortion, clinics around the state said they will continue offering care even as they scramble to figure out how long they can do so.


Attempt to repeal abortion ban fails as House devolves into raucous shouting

PHOENIX - The Arizona House blocked two efforts to overturn a near-total abortion ban Wednesday, one day after the 19th-century law was reinstated by the state Supreme Court. The procedural moves to block the repeal sparked an outburst by angry Democrats.


Arizona Supreme Court restores near-total ban on abortions in the state

PHOENIX - A divided Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated a 19th-century, near-total ban on abortion, saying it overrides a 2022 law that allowed abortions up to 15 weeks of pregnancy.


Low-income hearing health care expanded to all three Arizona universities

PHOENIX - The Hearing Healthcare Assistance Project provides hearing care for low-income adults who might not able to afford care. Founded in 2021 by the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and ASU, the program now includes NAU and UArizona.


Governor’s office partners with RIP Medical Debt to forgive billions in medical debt for some Arizonans

PHOENIX — Katie Hobbs announced that federal American Rescue Plan Act funds will be used to pay off medical debt of Arizonans who meet special criteria.

The governor’s office is partnering with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit geared toward clearing personal medical debt. (Photo by Marnie Jordan/Cronkite News)

Advocates hit milestone in push to get abortion-rights question on ballot

PHOENIX - Activists said this week that they have collected more than 500,000 signatures to put an abortion-rights initiative on this fall's ballot, giving organizers a 100,000-signature cushion already with another three months before petitions are due.


FDA considers updating pulse oximeter guidelines to make readings on dark skin more accurate

PHOENIX – The FDA is considering changing pulse oximeter clinical testing regulations after a series of events exposed inaccuracies for patients with dark skin

Meghan Dooley, spokesperson for Banner Health, puts her finger in a pulse oximeter machine on March 14. Multiple studies have shown that pulse oximeters may be less accurate with darker skin tones. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Menthol cigarettes, heavily marketed to African American communities for years, face possible state and federal bans

PHOENIX – Since the 1960s, menthol cigarettes have been heavily marketed to African American and other minority communities, which have suffered lasting health effects. Now a movement to ban menthol tobacco products is mounting.

A smoker in downtown Phoenix on March 28. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)