Jack Orleans
Jack Orleans(he/him/his)
News Visual Journalist, Phoenix

Jack Orleans expects to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Orleans is a journalist based in Phoenix who has interned at ICT (formerly Indian Country Today).

Latest from Jack Orleans

Fiebre del valle afecta de manera desproporcionada a poblaciones minoritarias

TUCSON – La fiebre del valle es una enfermedad que proviene de las esporas de un hongo que se encuentra en los suelos de Arizona y de otros estados del país. La enfermedad afecta principalmente a comunidades de color.

Patches of dirt in both city and rural settings can contain the spores of the fungus that causes Valley fever and are released whenever the ground is disturbed. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Texas Tech Health El Paso program helps high school students go to medical school in state, aims to relieve statewide doctor shortage

EL PASO, Texas – As Texas faces a doctor shortage, a new program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso gives prospective medical students resources to encourage them to pursue their education and practice in state.

Makena Piñon, right, and Luke Briggs, freshmen at the University of Texas at El Paso, in a medical simulation lab at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Inmigrantes de Salton Sea experimentan altas tasas de asma por inhalar polvo del lecho marino seco

NORTH SHORE, California – Los residentes que viven cerca de Salton Sea, una laguna en California sur, experimentan asma a menudo, especialmente asma en la niñez. Los problemas de salud que los residentes experimentan son por el polvo de pescados muertos.

The Salton Sea in Southern California used to be a popular tourist destination, but the environment has been decimated through agricultural runoff and natural disasters as the water recedes. Photo taken on April 6. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Programa MedFuture de la Universidad Tecnológica de Texas tiene como objetivo aliviar la escasez de médicos en todo el estado

EL PASO, Texas – A medida que Texas se enfrenta a una escasez de médicos, un nuevo programa ofrece a los futuros estudiantes de medicina una recursos para continuar su educación en el estado.

Brian Wilson, director de educación del Centro de Capacitación y Educación para la Simulación de la Salud, controla la simulación educativa desde una sala de control. (Foto de Jack Orleans/Cronkite Noticias)

Salton Sea immigrant community experiences high rates of asthma from inhaling dust from the drying sea bed

NORTH SHORE, California – Childhood asthma rates are disproportionately high for immigrant families who live and work near the Salton Sea in Southern California. Scientists say the alarming rate of respiratory problems comes from inhaling dust of decayed fish that ingested toxic materials flowing into the sea from nearby agricultural sites.

The Salton Sea in Southern California used to be a popular tourist destination, but the environment has been decimated through agricultural runoff and natural disasters as the water recedes. Photo taken on April 6. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Tasa prolongada de COVID de Arizona es más alta que el promedio nacional y los hispanos experimentan síntomas a un ritmo más alto que otros grupos

PHOENIX – A medida que los Arizonenses experimentan tasas más altas de COVID prolongado, los nuevos programas de tratamiento trabajan para proporcionar respuestas a las disparidades persistentes.

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

The rise of Valley fever

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, Calif. – Valley fever has been infecting people in the Southwest U.S., Central America and South America for decades. Its name comes from early cases detected in the San Joaquin Valley, California.

Heavy black clouds of dust rising over the Texas Panhandle, Texas in 1936. (Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division)

Valley fever, a fungal disease endemic to the Southwest, disproportionately affects minority populations

TUCSON – Valley Fever, a disease caused by Coccidioides spores, can cause life-threatening illnesses, particularly in Black, Hispanic and Native American communities. There is still a lack of awareness as to how serious this disease can get, and the scope of it, even in the medical community.

Patches of dirt in both city and rural settings can contain the spores of the fungus that causes Valley fever and are released whenever the ground is disturbed. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Valleywise Health opens a new medical center in Phoenix to “serve the underserved”

PHOENIX – Valleywise opens a new medical center in Phoenix to provide updated health services to Valley residents.

The Valleywise Health logo in the main lobby of the new medical center on April 3. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Organización sin fines de lucro y una nueva píldora para la depresión posparto ayudan a quienes luchan su batalla silenciosa

PHOENIX - Una organización sin fines de lucro, Mrs. Arizona International, y una nueva píldora de $16,000 busca ayudar a quienes sufren de depresión posparto.

Carolyn Larsen embraces both of her kids on Feb. 15. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

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)

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)

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)

Cigarrillos mentolados, comercializados a la comunidad de la raza negra, afronta prohibiciones federales

PHOENIX – Desde la década de los sesenta, los cigarrillos mentolados ha sido muy comercializados a la comunidad de la raza negra y otras comunidades de color que han sufrido consecuencias a su salud. Ahora, un movimiento para prohibir los cigarrillos mentolados está en desarrollo.

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

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)

Phoenix evaluates downtown bike lanes on Fillmore Street

PHOENIX – The city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is currently working on a pre-design phase for a project that would add bike lanes, or a two-way protected bikeway, on Fillmore Street from Seventh to Central avenues. That project would connect to changes made in 2022 to Fillmore Street east of Central Avenue to Seventh Street.​

Bikes currently share the lane with cars on Fillmore Street near Second Avenue. (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)

Arizona registra un aumento del 20% en los casos de VIH que afectan sobre todo a la comunidad hispana

PHOENIX — Los casos de VIH registrados en Arizona han aumentado un 20%, un aumento que afecta en gran medida a la comunidad hispana. Una organización asistencial de Phoenix describe cómo persisten las barreras económicas y culturales para convencer a la gente de que se haga la prueba.

Un lema alentador sobre la mesa de Christopher Carrillo, gestor de casos en el Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS de Phoenix. Habló sobre las pruebas y el tratamiento del VIH y las afirmaciones que le han ayudado. (Foto de Jack Orleans/Cronkite Noticias)

Mobile maternity care clinics work to expand prenatal care accessibility

PHOENIX – One in six infants in Arizona was born to a woman receiving inadequate prenatal care in 2022. To tackle lack of accessibility, mobile maternity care units are bringing prenatal care to communities that need affordable prenatal resources.

Umaja Isaiah, a Healthy Mama Festival attendee, is expecting her third child. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Maricopa County, First Place hold mock election for disabled voters ahead of presidential primary

PHOENIX – Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and Elections Office is providing tools to help voters with disabilities cast their ballots and has teamed up with First Place, a residential center for people with disabilities.


Black Americans three times as likely to experience kidney failure as whites

PHOENIX — Black Americans are more likely to experience kidney failure than any other racial group in the United States, as the community has high rates of high blood pressure and diabetes.

Angela Beatty on her way to receive dialysis on Feb. 28. Beatty says untreated high blood pressure caused her kidney disease. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

The VA pioneered the use of telehealth for veterans who can’t easily access health care facilities

PHOENIX – Veterans Affairs has been using telehealth since the early 2000s, long before the surge in use brought on by COVID–19. Telehealth helps veterans who have mobility issues and gives them access to specialists even in remote areas.


Arizona reports 20% increase in HIV cases, predominantly affecting Hispanic communities

PHOENIX – Reported Arizona HIV cases have increased by 20%, an uptick largely affecting the Hispanic community. A Phoenix care organization describes how financial and cultural barriers persist to persuading people to get tested.

Christopher Carrillo, case manager at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS in Phoenix. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

LGBTQ+ youth face increased risk for suicide and barriers to accessing mental health care

TUCSON – LGBTQ+ youth are facing a persistent mental health crisis and seek gender-affirming resources for support. Societal attitudes and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation create barriers to mental health care for the community.

The exterior of the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th in downtown Tucson. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

New software tool takes on institutionalized racism in health care

PHOENIX – Mayo Clinic Arizona will integrate and enhance Truity, TruLite Health’s health equity software program, to address and potentially eliminate health disparities in patient care.

TruLite Health announced an agreement with Mayo Clinic Arizona to use and enhance the software systems developer’s Truity software in clinical practice. The hospital will focus on feedback, workflow enhancements and evaluating features of the health equity software platform. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Arizona is in critical need of blood donations for sickle cell disease patients

PHOENIX — A lapse in blood donations has caused a critical blood shortage in Arizona and is affecting sickle cell disease patients. Maintaining a diverse blood supply is especially important for African Americans, who have a higher incidence of sickle cell.

John Chavez gets his blood drawn in a donation chair on Feb 10. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite news)

Community 43 supplements Phoenix traditional mental health services with ‘clubhouse’ model focused on social and cognitive skills

PHOENIX — Community 43, a Phoenix mental health facility, uses a “clubhouse” model to provide recreational opportunities for members to improve quality of life and regain independence.


Inauguran máquina expendedora de naloxona en clínica Valle del Sol en el sur de Phoenix

PHOENIX — Valle del Sol, un servicio de salud comunitario con ubicaciones en todo Phoenix, ha instalado una máquina expendedora gratuita de naloxona en su clínica del sur de Phoenix.

The Narcan vending machine in the Valle del Sol clinic lobby contains both the injectable and nasal spray versions of naloxone. The nasal spray is considered easier for the average person to use. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Naloxone vending machine unveiled in Valle del Sol clinic in south Phoenix

PHOENIX –Valle del Sol, a community health service with locations all through Phoenix, has set up a free naloxone vending machine at its south Phoenix clinic.

The Narcan vending machine in the Valle del Sol clinic lobby contains both the injectable and nasal spray versions of naloxone. The nasal spray is considered easier for the average person to use. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Flight attendants demand better pay and working conditions during Sky Harbor Airport walkout

PHOENIX – Flight attendants at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport joined others across the country in an educational demonstration to shine a light on their struggle to make a deal with their airline employers.

Flight attendants walk out at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to advocate for better pay and working conditions on Feb. 13, 2024. (Photo by Mariah Temprendola/Cronkite News)

Arizona projected to have largest nursing shortage in U.S. in 2025

PHOENIX — A national analysis predicts Arizona will have the largest nursing shortage in the country by 2025, with 28,100 fewer registered nurses than needed. As both rural and urban hospitals struggle to retain and recruit nurses, advocates look at solutions.

A view into the emergency room at Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix. (File photo by Johanna Huckeba/Cronkite News)

Phoenix urgent care workers treat an influx of respiratory illnesses

PHOENIX – Health professionals say it’s not as bad as during the pandemic, but people with respiratory illnesses are filling hospitals and clinics in Maricopa County. Here’s what to expect if you come down with flu-like symptoms and need care.

The Banner Health Urgent Care at Central Avenue and Washington Street in Phoenix on Jan. 22 is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and provides flu shots. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)