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ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
ICE agents detain workers at Mexican restaurant after visiting business for lunch
Arrests by ICE agents in the greater Minneapolis area have closed restaurants and left communities on edge.
‘If we can't respond in this moment, then we have failed’ — lawmakers reflect on ‘25 fires
(Inside California Politics) — One year after massive fires devastated southern California communities, state lawmakers say there’s still more work to be done. Marking the first anniversary of the …
Kettering Health and Ohio University Scale Partnership to Improve Health for Ohio Communities
Kettering Health and Ohio University announced an academic, research and clinical affiliation designed to improve health for Ohioans.
Trump touts rural health fund as part of affordability push
President Trump on Friday touted a targeted $50 billion rural health fund as evidence of his administration’s commitment to helping rural communities improve health care costs and access, part of a…
Ohio University’s Academic Health Sciences Center to improve health outcomes, access across Southeast Ohio and beyond
The Ohio Academic Health Sciences Center (OHIO-AHSC) will address significant health challenges and health care workforce shortages across the state, particularly in rural and Appalachian communities.
Trump, advisers to hold roundtable on rural health care
Rural communities have feared the impact Medicaid cuts will have on health care.
St. Louis Science Center cancels MLK Day showcase, halts YES teen program
One month ago today, the Saint Louis Science Center convened a meeting of staff assigned to its Community Science program—and then informed all of them they were being let go, effective immediately. The staffers supervised the science center’s long-running Youth Exploring Science program, better known as YES, which supports local students from underserved communities with […]
Science is best communicated through identity and culture – how researchers are ensuring STEM serves their communities
Scientists have traditionally focused on educating the public on science or correcting misinformation. But researchers from marginalized communities often have broader goals in science communication.
One cure for sour feelings about politics − getting people to love their hometowns
Fostering a sense of pride in local communities increases citizen participation, including, at a bare minimum, voting in municipal elections.
Science for Public Good: Introducing the Community Engagement Graduate Fellows
Four graduate students from the College of Sciences were recently selected for the new Community Engagement Graduate Fellowship, made possible through a gift from Google. This one-year research opportunity awards up to $5,000 for each fellow to develop a project with local partners that aims to build stronger communities.
Local nonprofit health center launches flat-rate membership program
A new direct primary care membership program has launched at Elevated Community Health, adding more options for health care to local mountain communities. This innovative model, called Elevated Essentials, offers the opportunity to pay a...
National Science Foundation renews Montana State program offering hands-on research experience to elementary schoolteachers
The RET Engineering program will bring to MSU for six weeks at least eight elementary school teachers from rural communities throughout Montana, including tribal reservations.
Minnesota state legislators go to rural communities to better understand healthcare needs
Rural Minnesotans face rising health care costs and clinic closures. Lawmakers are holding listening sessions to hear residents’ challenges and explore solutions.
Trump joins Dems’ assault on rural Colorado
Ruling Colorado Democrats have assaulted rural Colorado for the past seven years under Gov. Jared Polis and the Democratic socialists who drive their massive legislative majorities. They are destroying mining and oil-and-gas jobs while imposing wolves on Colorado ranchers and communities. The First Gentleman tried to appoint a blatantly anti-livestock production activist onto the state veterinary […]
Western Pacific Region achieves milestone: 19 countries complete comprehensive health information system assessments
The Health Information and Digital Health (HID) unit in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has successfully supported 19 countries, covering 99% of the Region’s population, to conduct comprehensive health information system (HIS) assessments, surpassing the regional target of 15 set for 2025 and advancing efforts toward universal health coverage. Using SCORE, a technical package of essential interventions, recommended actions, tool and resources developed by WHO and partners to address challenges in meeting HIS needs, these assessments systematically assess health data availability and quality, enabling countries to monitor trends, identify and respond to emerging health challenges, and improve policies and programmes for healthier families, communities and societies. The first round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2019-2021 in 14 countries in the Region and over 130 countries globally. The second round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2024-2025.SCORE assessments are a key priority identified by Member States and WHO at all levels, including within WHO-Country/Multi-Country Cooperation Strategies, the Regional Vision Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025–2029), and the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14, 2025–2028). Within the Regional Vision, implementing SCORE assessments is a key action for technology and innovation to advance health equity (strand 5).The SCORE for Health Data technical package is based on five key interventions, represented by the acronym SCORE. Interventions S, C and O focus on strengthening core data sources. Survey (S) covers population-based health surveys, surveillance systems and censuses, including their capacity to monitor health-related SDGs. Count (C) focuses on birth, death and cause of death registration as parts of a functional CRVS system. Optimize (O) addresses routine health service data and key health service inputs such as health financing and health workforce.Interventions R and E focus on data use for action. Review (R) examines regular analytical reviews of health sector progress and performance, together with national analytical capacity. Enable (E) looks at the policy, governance, and digital foundations needed to support effective data use.The Western Pacific Region shows relatively strong performance in the Review (R) and Count (C) interventions. Most countries in the Region demonstrate good analytical reporting and institutional capacity for analysis and learning. More than two-thirds of countries show more mature CRVS systems, driven by improvements in birth and death registration. However, medical certification of cause-of-death remains a key gap, with limited or low coverage in over half of countries in the Region.Performance under the Survey (S) intervention is mixed. While surveillance systems are generally strong, several countries in the Region continue to face challenges in implementing their surveys and censuses. Monitoring health-related SDGs is still a challenge for more than a third of countries in the Region.The greatest challenges are observed in the Optimize (O) and Enable (E) interventions. More than half of countries have lower maturity levels in routine health service and resource systems. Two-thirds of countries also face challenges with effective use of data and evidence for policy and action, largely due to gaps in digital infrastructure, governance and legislation for health data systems, and especially in data and sharing.  As part of the SCORE methodology, multi-stakeholder consultations and validation workshops were conducted in many countries to review findings and plan strategies for HIS strengthening. The HID unit continues to provide targeted support to facilitate dialogue and assist countries in developing HIS improvement plans. These plans guide governments and partners to align investments and coordinate efforts for maximum impact.WHO also assists countries with tailored technical support to address key gaps as requested by countries/national health authorities. SCORE assessments should be conducted periodically to monitor progress in HIS strengthening, although progress across addressing gaps identified in SCORE should be continually tracked as countries implement improvements.Additional countries will be supported to implement SCORE in 2026. The Regional Vision delivery-for-impact target, endorsed by Member States, is for all countries and areas to have implemented SCORE assessments and have an increased SCORE index by 2029 while WHO is aiming for 80% of Member States in the Region to conduct round two assessments. Countries yet to complete assessments are therefore encouraged to contact the HID unit at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific for tailored support.The implementation of SCORE HIS assessments in the Western Pacific Region was supported by The Gates Family Foundation.
Blog takes deeper look into hospital and health system contributions to their communities
An AHA blog published Jan. 8 highlights an EY analysis prepared for the AHA on the ways nonprofit hospitals and health systems contribute to their communities and deliver community benefits, as reported in the IRS Schedule H, that far outweigh the value of their tax exemption.
Denver Health text message campaign boosts kids' flu vaccination rates by 63% in Black communities
Accel Entertainment Evaluates Chicago Market Opportunities Following City’s VGT Announcement
CHICAGO, January 08, 2026--Accel Entertainment, (NYSE: ACEL) ("Accel" or "the Company"), a leading locals-focused gaming operator partnering with small businesses, local communities, and state governments to provide entertaining, convenient, and safe gaming experiences nationwide, is evaluating the potential to bring its distributed gaming and local entertainment model to the city of Chicago following recent public announcements regarding the possible introduction of Video Gaming Terminals ("VGT
WellSpan Health Announces Comprehensive Migration of Technology Portfolio to AWS
Add to FavoritesWellSpan Health, the leading health care system serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland, today announced plans for a comprehensive cloud migration of its full technology infrastructure. Together with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider, WellSpan will transition its applications, data and environments from traditional data centers to AWS. This migration will establish the foundation for delivering next-generation, AI-enabled health care solutions that reduce administrative burden and improve outcomes for patients across the region and beyond. Supercharging Innovation, Efficiency and Patient Outcomes WellSpan's migration of systems and clinical applications, which serve 1.2 million patients across nine hospitals and 250+ facilities, is expected to be complete by April 2026, one of the fastest full-scale migrations in the health care industry. This transformation enables WellSpan to unify disparate data systems for care teams and patients alike, achieving operational efficiencies and care improvements that fragmented systems are unable to deliver. “Our comprehensive migration to the cloud accelerates our ability to deploy new clinical capabilities that transform patient care while advancing our overall innovation strategy,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health. “When a physician can access complete patient imaging in seconds instead of hours, we're not just modernizing technology—we're improving patient outcomes. Our new cloud infrastructure also enables us to quickly implement solutions that will free our clinicians from thousands of hours of administrative work annually so they can focus on what they do best: caring for our communities.” The transition allows WellSpan to move away from a data center-based model and enables the rapid deployment and scale of AI technology. WellSpan’s strategic partner, General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Company (HATCo), facilitated the collaboration with AWS to support the migration. WellSpan’s transformation journey benefits from HATCo’s specialized technology solutions, as well as General Catalyst and AWS’s significant partnership to improve patient outcomes, which was announced in January 2025. “Our decision to go all-in on AWS will enable insights and innovations impossible in traditional siloed environments,” said Kasey Paulus, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WellSpan Health. “This is the largest health care technology transformation in our region's history, and it positions WellSpan to be a premier partner for technology leaders across the country.” “WellSpan is building a foundation with AWS that will improve care and outcomes for patients across their health system by bringing data together into standardized formats that are optimized for AI applications,” said Dan Sheeran, vice president and general manager, Healthcare and Life Science, AWS. “To do this, it is essential to have the most secure and compliant cloud when handling patient data, along with AWS’s built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks that follow the industry’s highest standards to protect patient information. We look forward to continuing to work alongside WellSpan as they unlock the cloud and AI’s full potential to deliver exceptional care to their patients.” Key Benefits of the AWS Collaboration Full Portfolio Migration: WellSpan will transition its applications and data from on-premises data centers to AWS, including full IT environments and specialized applications for functions such as nursing, cardiology, pharmacy and the company’s supply chain systems. This represents approximately 7.5 petabytes of clinical and non-clinical data and more than 300 applications—the most comprehensive health system cloud migration in the Mid-Atlantic region. Approved Architectures: AWS will deliver secure, WellSpan-specific architectures tailored to each build, ensuring compliance and reliability across the health system. Unified, AI-Ready Data: Migrating to AWS enables WellSpan to harmonize data across separate systems, transforming unstructured clinical notes and multi-modal datasets into standardized, AI-ready formats. Accelerated Results and Improved Outcomes: Automated data normalization and processing will enable the deployment of applications that reduce turnaround times for items such as analyzing medical imaging or patient records from days to minutes, helping clinicians get patient results faster and improving overall health outcomes. Reduced Administrative Burden: The transition to AWS will enable swift deployment of AI-powered solutions that reclaim thousands of hours for WellSpan’s clinical and corporate teams, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than paperwork. Elastic Infrastructure: Cloud architecture will enable WellSpan to scale computing resources dynamically, supporting seasonal demand fluctuations without infrastructure investments, as well as the rapid deployment of new services across multiple locations simultaneously. Most Secure, Compliant Cloud: AWS offers the highest network availability of any cloud provider, with more than 166 HIPAA-eligible services and certifications for global compliance standards, including HITRUST CSF. Built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks ensure that WellSpan’s data is protected under the industry’s most rigorous standards. Tags:News releaseInnovation and partnerships
Berrien County Health Dept. to open enrollment for RX Kids program in select communities
Berrien County Health Department is launching Michigan State University's Rx kids program.Beginning January 12th pregnant mothers in the cities of Benton Harbor
Colorado chose politics over public safety and now our communities pay the price
By Chris Richardson and Max Brooks This week, federal authorities arrested Jose Barrera-Bolanos in Denver. He is an illegal immigrant who had already been convicted of sexually assaulting a child. That fact alone should stop every parent, grandparent and lawmaker in Colorado in their tracks. This was not a minor offense. This was not a […]
String of overnight burglaries in Bucks County leaves small business owners on edge
Small business owners in Yardley and nearby communities are worried after a series of nighttime burglaries.
How Louisiana plans to spend $208 million in federal funds on rural health care
Louisiana will leverage an anticipated $1 billion in federal funding for rural health care over the next five years by expanding existing training programs and creating new financial incentives for medical professionals to work in rural communities.
NC receives $213 million from CMS for rural health care
"Thanks to Congress establishing this investment and President Trump for his leadership, states are stepping forward with bold, creative plans to expand rural access, strengthen their workforces, modernize care, and support the communities that keep our nation running."- CMS administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Business in Roanoke strip mall burns in early-morning fire
WSET ABC 13 covers news, sports and weather in the Heart of Virginia: Lynchburg, Danville and Roanoke and nearby communities including Amherst, Lexington, Cave Spring, Blacksburg, Martinsville, Farmville, North Shore, Glasgow, Altavista, Gretna, Chatham, Blairs, Bassett, Rocky Mt, Penhook, Moneta and Buena Vista
Growing number of California sheriffs no longer respond to mental health calls
A shift away from police-led responses spreads, but gaps in crisis teams leave some communities exposed
South County Politics Are…Complicated
The more you learn about the region’s tribal feuds, diverse communities and uncategorizable people, the more you realize how wrong conventional wisdom really is.
Tenet and Cigna reach agreement to keep Palm Beach Health Network in-network for patients
WPEC CBS 12 provides local news, weather, sports, traffic and entertainment for West Palm Beach and nearby towns and communities in South Florida including the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, serving Stuart, Royal Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Belle Glade, Palm Beach, and Riviera Beach.
Idaho Senator responds to Health and Welfare fraud allegations
KBOI-TV CBS 2 covers news, sports, traffic, and weather in the Treasure Valley and Boise, Idaho and nearby communities, including Meridian, Nampa, Garden City, Caldwell, Kuna, Middleton, Eagle, Mountain Home, Star, Melba, Payette, Weiser, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho City, Marsing, Homedale, Parma, New Plymouth, Murphy, Fruitland, Emmett, Wilder, Notus, McCall, Cascade, Donnelly, Council, and Vale, Oregon, and Nyssa, Oregon, Ontario, Oregon.
Cannabis, data centers and Trump vs. Massie: 3 storylines from 2025 in Kentucky politics
Communities grappled with data center projects, the cannabis industry faced delays and setbacks, and the president battled with a Kentucky congressman throughout 2025.
Top 10 Entertainment Articles for Portage.Life in 2025
Between sports, concerts, parades, and a variety of unique events, the Region brings communities together for some fun activities all year long. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, these events have something for people at every age level. In 2025, we were able to capture some of the most exciting moments in our … Continued
Top 10 Entertainment Articles for NWI.Life in 2025
Between sports, concerts, parades, and a variety of unique events, the Region brings communities together for some fun activities all year long. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, these events have something for people at every age level. In 2025, we were able to capture some of the most exciting moments in our … Continued
Top 10 Entertainment Articles for LaPorteCounty.Life in 2025
Between sports, concerts, parades, and a variety of unique events, the Region brings communities together for some fun activities all year long. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, these events have something for people at every age level. In 2025, we were able to capture some of the most exciting moments in our … Continued
Top 10 Entertainment Articles for Valpo.Life in 2025
Between sports, concerts, parades, and a variety of unique events, the Region brings communities together for some fun activities all year long. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, these events have something for people at every age level. In 2025, we were able to capture some of the most exciting moments in our … Continued
Top 10 Entertainment Articles for Michiana.Life in 2025
Between sports, concerts, parades, and a variety of unique events, Michiana brings communities together for some fun activities all year long. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, these events have something for people at every age level. In 2025, we were able to capture some of the most exciting moments in our local … Continued
Bringing a local community approach to Colorado health policy
Health policy is not always a straightforward topic of discussion. There are many aspects to the complex health care system we’re used to. When issues arise at the national level, disagreement and dueling press conferences can slow progress and constructive results that build a better future. When you bring these subjects into communities you’ll find […]
Mission Health announces visitor restrictions, citing high rate of flu in WNC
WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Asheville, NC and nearby towns and communities in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Transylvania, McDowell, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and also Biltmore Forest, Woodfin, Leicester, Black Mountain, Montreat, Arden, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Etowah, Flat Rock, Mills River, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Franklin, Cullowhee, Sylva, Cherokee, Marion, Old Fort, Forest City, Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Spindale, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville, Tryon, Columbus, Marshall, Mars Hill, Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Greer, Landrum, Clemson, Gaffney, and Easley.
2026 California Laws: Health, Shopping and Renting
KBAK CBS 29 and KBFX Fox58 are the news leaders for Bakersfield, California and serves surrounding communities including Oildale, Lamont, Shafter, Wasco, Buttonwillow, Maricopa, Tehachapi, Arvin, California City, Delano, McFarland, Ridgecrest and Taft.
New owner with checkered political past takes over newspaper serving Missouri’s capital
A trio of newspapers that cover Missouri’s capital city and surrounding communities will now be run by a polarizing figure in state politics.
Research expenditures ranking underscores ASU’s dramatic growth in high-impact science
Arizona State University has surpassed $1 billion in annual research funding for the first time, placing the university among the top 4% of research institutions nationwide, according to the latest National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD, survey.The milestone is a testament to ASU’s success at transforming research dollars into tangible benefits for people — from improved health care to safer communities to more powerful computer chips and more.
ND awarded $199M for Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen care in rural communities | North Dakota Office of the Governor
Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced that North Dakota has been awarded $199 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to support the first year of a statewide Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding will strengthen rural health care by improving access, quality and health outcomes for North Dakotans in rural communities over the next five years.
New mobile unit to help communities with mental health after Helene
More than a year after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, mental health and addiction providers say demand for services continues to grow. Crossroads Treatment Center is launching a mobile unit to expand access to holistic care.
Small Town Politics: WALB investigates allegations of election fraud; several South Georgia counties being investigated by the state elections board
Across South Georgia, small town politics can divide communities, neighborhoods, and even families. That’s why we are launching a new segment...Dedicated to uncovering and unpacking stories about local corruption, confusion, and conflicts. Beginning in the city of Nicholls where the November election led to a recount.
Nigeria provided US with intelligence for strikes on Islamist militants, says foreign minister
Strikes against group accused by Donald Trump of attacking Christian communities took place on Christmas Day in country’s north-west
We need to address the ‘cardiovascular deserts’ in health care: Lee Kirksey
For my part, I refuse to forget the communities like the one in which I grew up that represent the best of Ohio. Cardiovascular deserts are yet another dimension of health disparities that require political will, partnership and tailored strategies to address, writes guest columnist Dr. Lee Kirksey, a Cleveland vascular surgeon and health equity advocate.
Why local communities may hold the answers to national political divisions
Is there a Christmas truce in the Starmer farmer ding-dong?
There’s an ‘early present’ for farmers but tensions between Labour and rural communities remain
Dismissing politics as ‘dirty’ is self-defeating
If we turn our backs on politics, we reject an essential way to improve our communities and our nation.
Elder, Mason teachers set trend for student-led sports media teams
Mason, Elder media teachers discuss how sports broadcasts give creative and educational outlets for students in their communities and beyond.
Gender Politics and the Weaponization of Personal Data
Katelyn Ringrose, CJ Larkin, Os Keyes, and Jay T. Conrad explain how federal policies are weaponizing data to target transgender and gender diverse communities.
Training the Next Generation of Health Care Workers
Addressing the shortage of health workers and ensuring those workers are connected to the communities they serve is at the heart of a San Diego training program doing just that, one graduate at a t…
Hackensack Meridian Health Day of Connection Donates $500,000 Worth of Warming Kits And Doordash Gift Cards To Shelters Across New Jersey This Holiday Season
It’s the season of giving, and Hackensack Meridian Health is giving back by supporting the communities it serves. New Jersey’s largest health network, and home to the number one hospital in the NY/NJ metro area, and top 20 in the nation hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, is donating nearly $500,000 dollars worth of winter items and food gift cards to more than 200 shelters across the state.
Balancing Water and Wildlife: How Science Guides the State Water Project
As a series of atmospheric rivers bring rain and high elevation snow to communities throughout California, the winter storms are crucial for the State Water Project, helping fill reservoirs and support water deliveries.
Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy - U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria
Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy The United States signed a five-year, $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Republic of Nigeria December 19 to advance the America First Global Health Strategy, supporting resilient, self-reliant, and durable health systems while promoting accountability and shared responsibility. Under the five-year MOU, the United States intends to commit nearly $2.1 billion in health assistance, with nearly $3.0 billion in new domestic health expenditures by the Government of Nigeria over the same five-year period. This represents the largest co-investment any country has made to date under the America First Global Health Strategy and underscore Nigeria’s commitment to greater national ownership of its health system. Under the MOU, the United States will continue to support surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, health commodities; frontline healthcare workers, and data systems. Nigeria faces significant health challenges, including one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and approximately30 percent of the global malaria burden. U.S. assistance under the MOU will expand access to affordable, preventive and curative services for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, polio, and maternal and child health, strengthening health outcomes across Nigeria. The MOU places a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers, recognizing their indispensable role in delivering care to communities in need. Nigeria’s more than 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals serve more than 30 percent of the country’s 230 million people, often in areas where healthcare facilities are limited or absent. The MOU provides approximately $200 million in dedicated support to strengthen and support these Christian facilities, enhance workforce capacity, and expand access to integrated HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal child health services. Investments in Christian faith-based health institutions are uniquely positioned to complement public-sector facilities and reinforce Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure. The MOU was negotiated in connection with reforms undertaken by the Government of Nigeria to prioritize the protection of Christian populations from extremist violence. As with all U.S. foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate programs that do not align with U.S. national interests, and the United States expects Nigeria to continue making measurable progress in combating religiously motivated violence against Christian communities. This five-year MOU is the latest of several health cooperation MOUs signed in Africa this month. The United States will continue to sign multi-year Bilateral Agreements on Global Health Cooperation with countries receiving U.S. health assistance to advance the America First Global Health Strategy.
Governor awards $20 million to expand rural primary care - 32 health care organizations to strengthen services statewide - Office of the Governor
SANTA FE — Thirty-two rural health care organizations will share $20 million in Rural Health Care Delivery Fund awards to expand primary care services across New Mexico. The fiscal year 2026 awards support projects that strengthen local health care capacity and improve access to coordinated, person-centered care in underserved areas — from tribal communities in […]
Zack Scrivner granted mental health diversion amid felony abuse and weapon charges
KBAK CBS 29 and KBFX Fox58 are the news leaders for Bakersfield, California and serves surrounding communities including Oildale, Lamont, Shafter, Wasco, Buttonwillow, Maricopa, Tehachapi, Arvin, California City, Delano, McFarland, Ridgecrest and Taft.
Ancient oceans were ruled by super predators unlike anything today
Long before whales and sharks, enormous marine reptiles dominated the oceans with unmatched power. Scientists have reconstructed a 130-million-year-old marine ecosystem from Colombia and found predators operating at a food-chain level higher than any seen today. The ancient seas were bursting with life, from giant reptiles to rich invertebrate communities. This extreme complexity reveals how intense competition helped drive the evolution of modern marine ecosystems.
Communities are rising up against data centers
Opposition against data centers came to a head in 2025.
Guns marketed for personal safety fuel public health crisis in Black communities
KFF Health News undertook an examination of gun violence during the pandemic, a period when firearm deaths reached an all-time high.
Matt Siemer, head of nonprofit that provides free health care in underserved communities, dies at 43
Mr. Siemer helped expand the reach of Mobile Care Chicago, which currently operates four medical clinics on wheels.
Advancing health equity for people on the move
On International Migrants Day, WHO celebrates the contributions of 304 million international migrants and calls for health equity for people on the move. This year’s theme, “My Great Story: Cultures and Development”, underscores that refugee and migrant health is a right, essential for resilience and thriving communities. WHO works with Member States and partners to build inclusive, culturally sensitive health systems, guided by its Global Action Plan on Refugee and Migrant Health. Recent initiatives include the WHO Dashboard on global experiences, leadership training through the Health and Migration School, and free competency courses for health workers. WHO urges continued action to remove barriers, invest in migrant-sensitive systems, and achieve health for all.
SSM Health St. Mary's celebrates Christmas with annual Joy Day
KRCG offers coverage of news, sports, weather and local events in the Columbia and Jefferson City, Missouri area, including the communities of New Bloomfield, Shaw, Boonville, Ashland, Hallsville, Sturgeon, Centralia, Mexico, Auxvasse, Fulton, California, Tipton, Eldon, Wardsville, Westphalia and Sedalia, Missouri.
Karis Community Health receives Health Access Hero Award, including $100,000 grant, from Sun Life and DentaQuest
Karis Community Health has been selected as a 2025 Health Access Hero Award and grant recipient by Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest. The $100,000 grant will help expand access to dental care within and beyond Bradley County. The annual Health Access Hero Awards recognize nonprofits and individual change-makers working to broaden access to health services for communities in need.
Minister orders probe into foreign financial interference in UK politics
Communities Secretary Steve Reed says the country "must learn the lessons" from a recent court case.
Study: Property tax cuts, elimination would hit Florida’s rural communities hardest
Rural cities already devote most of their property tax revenue to basic services, leaving little room to absorb new tax cuts.
WHO highlights health risks and opportunities in the global waste crisis
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report, Throwing away our health: the impacts of solid waste on human health – evidence, knowledge gaps and health sector responses, warns that poorly managed solid waste is driving a public health crisis and calls for urgent action to protect people and the environments they live in.Globally, the volume of municipal solid waste is growing at an unprecedented rate. Yet, many countries still lack the systems and resources to manage this waste safely. “Solid waste reflects how our societies produce and consume, and how we treat people and the environment in the process,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director a.i., Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health & Migration at the World Health Organization. “If we continue to treat waste as an afterthought, we will lock in avoidable disease, climate pollution and deep social inequities. This report is a clear call to put health and equity at the centre of how we design, manage and ultimately reduce waste.”The report summarizes evidence on how solid waste – especially municipal solid waste – affects health through polluted air, water, soil and food. When waste is not collected, or is dumped, burned or not poorly treated, it can release hazardous chemicals, contaminate drinking-water sources and create breeding grounds for insects and rodents.Communities underserved by waste management services, those living near dumpsites and poorly managed landfills and incinerators, children and pregnant women, as well as waste workers – particularly those working informally – face the greatest risks. For the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) community, the report underlines that safe management of municipal and health care waste is integral to safely managed, climate-resilient systems.A large share of municipal solid waste is still not collected or is disposed of in uncontrolled conditions, including open dumpsites and open burning. These practices damage ecosystems, contribute to climate change and undermine efforts to build healthy cities. When waste is properly managed, however, it can become a resource – generating energy and creating green jobs. The report calls for a coordinated, multisectoral response grounded in the waste hierarchy: preventing waste where possible, then reducing, reusing and recycling, with safe recovery and disposal.Key actions for governments and partners include reducing waste generation at source; expanding affordable and reliable waste collection services, especially in underserved communities; improving control at recovery and disposal facilities; and eliminating open dumping and burning, including hazardous waste. The new report identifies a central role for the health sector in addressing solid waste as a public health threat. The health sector can prevent and minimize health-care waste at source, improve segregation and safe treatment, invest in cleaner climate-resilient technologies, and advocate for health-protective policies and standards. The report also encourages more surveillance, research and biomonitoring to strengthen the evidence base, and promotes social protection and inclusion of informal waste workers.“This report gives countries and health authorities a very practical agenda,” said Mr Bruce Gordon, Head, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit, WHO. “Health ministries can start now by ensuring safe management of health-care waste, developing strong occupational health programmes for waste workers, and working with municipalities to reduce health risks from solid waste by closing open dumps and burn sites and gradually improving towards safe services. These concrete steps save lives today and will make cities cleaner and healthier in the future.
Threads adds new communities, tests badges for highly engaged members
Threads, which has more than 150 million daily active users, adds more communities to its platform.
Analysis: Two mass shootings many time zones apart shatter communities and expose fraught politics
At about 4:20 p.m. on a cold Rhode Island Saturday, a message from Brown University flashed up on cellphones all over campus — everyone should run or take cover from an active shooter.
Refugee and migrant health system review in Lithuania
Lithuania has experienced a substantial increase in the number of refugees and migrants, particularly following the 2021 Belarus border situation and the mass displacement from Ukraine in 2022. By late 2024, over 91,000 Ukrainians had been cumulatively registered in Lithuania, with about 47,000 holding valid temporary protection status. This increase, alongside sizeable communities of Belarusian nationals, Russian citizens and other regular migrants covered under compulsory health insurance contributions, has brought new challenges for Lithuania’s health system, especially related to continuity of care, interpretation support and equitable access across municipalities. This report presents the findings of a joint review of the health system in Lithuania, conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Lithuania, and other partners. The review examines the capacity of Lithuania’s health system to provide services for refugees and migrants. It focuses on the health challenges facing refugees and migrants, the policies and systems in place to address these challenges, and the opportunities to strengthen long-term health system capacity. Furthermore, the report offers practical recommendations for addressing the barriers refugees and migrants face in accessing health services.
Opinion: Pro-business in Bristol Bay means salmon, not mines
Rather than propping up a foreign mining corporation, Alaska should look after the businesses that already anchor Bristol Bay communities.
Registration opens for business expo
Registration is open for the University of Lynchburg’s third annual business expo, Building Communities Through Partnerships.
Essentia Health hosts local lawmakers at St. Joseph’s Medical Center ahead of legislative session
Sandy Zutz-Wiczek, vice president of operations at Essentia, led a tour of the hospital and discussed how lawmakers can help ensure rural communities preserve access to high-quality care
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Trust in science is low among minorities for a reason, research finds
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New Birth hosts World AIDS + HIV Awareness Sunday, offering free testing and critical health resources
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Primary health care
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Who Gets to Mourn? Rethinking Grief, Resistance and the Everyday Politics of Peace in Colombia
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New marathon course showcases San Antonio’s unique communities, driving business to local storefronts
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