UA professor sues state over denial of health-care coverage to transgender employees
TUCSON – Transgender state employees in Arizona are excluded from insurance coverage of transition surgery and related medical treatments, according to a lawsuit filed by University of Arizona professor Russell Toomey. The ACLU-backed suit says the policy violates his civil and constitutional rights.
Pro-life groups seize on Trump call for federal late-term abortion ban
WASHINGTON - Even though Arizona has some of the strongest anti-abortion laws in the nation, pro-life advocates hailed President Donald Trump's call last week for a federal ban on late-term abortions, as pro-choice gave such a measure little chance of succeeding in a divided Congress.
Arm injuries for young pitchers? AIA, athletes take strides toward prevention
PHOENIX – Due to the rise of arm injuries in youth baseball, physical therapy and pitch counts are ways to prevent serious injury.
Arizona, other states in ‘governors challenge’ target veteran suicides
WASHINGTON - Arizona was one of seven states that met with federal officials and veterans groups in Washington to map out a strategy for reversing the high rate of suicides among vets, a particular problem in Arizona which had the sixth-highest veteran suicide rate in the nation in 2016.
Move it: Educators encouraged by early results of Arizona recess law
PHOENIX – Recently passed Arizona recess law requiring two recess periods per day has already made a positive impact on students.
‘Afflicted not addicted’: Chronic pain sufferers rally for access to opioids
PHOENIX – About 40 people rallied at the Arizona Capitol Tuesday to support chronic pain sufferers, who said state laws that limited opioid prescriptions to alleviate a national crisis also restrict access to people who desperately need them.
‘Enough is enough’: State considers cellphone ban for drivers weeks after officer’s death
PHOENIX – Three weeks after Officer Clayton Townsend was hit and killed at a traffic stop, allegedly by a motorist who was driving and texting, state Sen. Kate Brophy McGee introduced a “hands-free” bill to prohibit the use of a cell-phone in a moving vehicle.
New fellowships help train doctors in battle against drug addictions
PHOENIX – The opioid crisis has underscored the shortage of U.S. doctors trained in addiction medicine, but two new Arizona fellowships hope to encourage more doctors to enter the field.
Report: Arizona kids more fit than U.S. kids, but U.S. is pretty sorry
WASHINGTON - Arizona's schoolkids are doing better than their peers nationally when it comes to physical activity, according to a national report card.But that's nothing to brag about: The report card said kids nationwide are not even close to being active enough.
Hispanics, blacks more likely to develop Alzheimer’s; cardiovascular diseases may be a factor
LAVEEN – The family network of care for Santiago González has become, over the years, as familiar as the lyrics of his favorite music. The family is like those of many of more than millions diagnosed in the U.S. with Alzheimer’s. But older Hispanics are more likely than older whites to be diagnosed with the brain disease, which affects memory.
Alzheimer’s disease also upends the finances and lives of those caring for patients
PHOENIX – More than 14 million people are expected to have Alzheimer’s by 2050, but the brain disease affects people of all ages as caregivers grapple with the social and financial costs of a devastating diagnosis.
Played among livestock, medicinal plants, ‘rez golf’ builds community among Navajo
LOW MOUNTAIN – “Rez golf,” played with secondhand clubs on rugged courses amid rocks, livestock and medicinal plants, is gaining popularity among Navajos.
