A rippling tragedy: Law would require review, standards to prevent maternal deaths
PHOENIX - SB 1040 would require an advisory committee to research and prevent pregnancy-related deaths and injuries. Arianna Dodde, 23, died in August, shortly after giving birth to her third child.
Title X fund limits would have ‘huge impact,’ Planned Parenthood says
WASHINGTON - A Trump administration plan to bar federal family planning funds from facilties that provide or endorce abortions will have a "huge impact" on Planned Parenthood Arizona, but the group said it will not back down for the "gag rule" that drew legal challenges this week ffrom 22 states.
Targeting a killer: UA researchers discover potential birth control for mosquitoes
TUCSON – A University of Arizona research team discovered a protein in mosquitoes that could lead to mosquito birth control, reducing such mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and West Nile virus.
Alzheimer’s advocates support bill requiring dementia training for care providers, first responders
PHOENIX – Caregivers and nonprofit leaders support SB 1357, which would create a coalition to study and recommend mandatory Alzheimer’s training for health care professionals and first responders.
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.
