A new report identifies ways for some communities to improve their water wastewater systems. The report was done in part by the Pacific Institute. Highlights include nature-based solutions, tailoring approaches to each community and using technology. It also advocates assistance programs to help poorer households pay their water and sewer bills. “What we hope to [...]
The next time you get a call about an upcoming medical appointment you may not be talking to a human. Hospitals are increasingly using artificial intelligence assistants to handle scheduling, preparation and patient questions about surgeries and other medical procedures. It’s the latest example of AI’s inroads into health care, where hospital executives are adopting [...]
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — A National Institutes of Health study aims to find out whether ultraprocessed foods lead people to eat more. And, if so, why? Finding the answers could shed light on the fare that makes up more than 70 percent of the nation’s food supply. Ultraprocessed foods have been linked to ailments including [...]
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has released its annual End-of-Season Air Quality Report, analyzing air quality trends from November 2023 to October 2024. Brandi Whetstone, MORPC’s director of Sustainability, said the majority of the 2023-24 season delivered reports within the Good Air Quality Index range, though there was a decline from the previous season. “The [...]
WASHINGTON (AP) — This year’s flu season — the most intense in 15 years — has federal health officials trying to understand if it sparked an increase in a rare but life-threatening brain complication in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 19,000 people have died from the flu so far this winter, [...]
Supplies of high-demand obesity treatments are increasing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier to get them. Many employers and insurers are scaling back coverage of Wegovy and Zepbound, and a key government program, Medicare, doesn’t cover the drugs for obesity. Some big employers, meanwhile, are adding coverage, but their commitment isn’t guaranteed. Treatment prices that [...]
Researchers say an Ohio State University-led study validates the premise that the relative safety of a generic drug is linked to where it is manufactured. Study co-author John Gray, a professor of operations at the university’s Fisher College of Business, said the data illustrated that all generic drugs are not equal, despite patients often being [...]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — On a recent Sunday, Tracy Quinn drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to assess damage wrought upon the coastline by the Palisades Fire. The water line was darkened by ash. Burnt remnants of washing machines and dryers and metal appliances were strewn about the shoreline. Sludge carpeted the water’s edge. Waves [...]
Medications that have transformed the treatment of obesity may also help people drink less alcohol, according to new government-funded research. The study was small — just 48 adults — and lasted a little more than two months, so it’s not the final word. Experts say it’s not yet clear how safe these drugs are for [...]
NEW YORK (AP) — The winter virus season is in full force, and by one measure is the most intense in 15 years. One indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor’s office visits driven by flu-like symptoms. Two weeks ago, that number was higher than the peak of any winter flu season since [...]