The North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled to keep in place a lower court order blocking the enforcement of the state's trigger law banning abortion while a legal challenge continues. This case was brought by the Red River Women’s Clinic, which argued that the state constitution protected a right to an abortion in certain circumstances. The decision is seen as a victory for abortion rights advocates in the state, and will keep the trigger law blocked while the lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds.
Posts published in “Health”
The CDC has released preliminary data showing that the number of maternal deaths in the United States has dropped significantly from a six-decade high in 2021. Though the final number is likely to be higher, the maternal death rate is on track to get close to pre-pandemic levels. The CDC is urging pregnant women to take extra precautions to protect themselves and their babies during the pandemic, and is committed to providing the latest information and guidance to help protect them.
Bobby Caldwell, the legendary singer-songwriter behind the 1978 platinum hit "What You Won't Do For Love," has passed away at the age of 71. His wife, Mary, confirmed the news and attributed his death to "FLOXED," a term used to describe the effects of fluoroquinolone toxicity after he was prescribed an antibiotic in 2017. Mary thanked fans for their prayers over the years and an official cause of death has not been released.
A federal judge in Texas heard arguments Wednesday in a case that could potentially threaten the most common form of abortion in the United States. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard arguments from the Alliance Defending Freedom lawyers to revoke or suspend the approval of the abortion medication mifepristone, which has been used by millions of American women for over two decades. Judge Kacsmaryk did not issue a ruling Wednesday, but the outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for women’s reproductive rights in the United States.
Northwestern Medicine in Chicago has announced a breakthrough treatment for late-stage lung cancer, with two patients with stage IV lung cancer who had been told they had weeks or months to live now breathing freely after receiving double lung transplants. The team was able to use knowledge learned during the Covid pandemic to successfully perform the double lung transplantations, and the two patients are now recovering and expected to make a full recovery. This novel treatment could be a potential game-changer for people with late-stage lung cancer.
Fourteen Democratic governors have called on major pharmacy retail companies to clarify their plans to dispense mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortion, in response to recent media reports. This call has been met with opposition from a coalition of anti-abortion groups, who have requested a preliminary injunction to take mifepristone off the market nationwide. If access to mifepristone is halted, it could affect millions of individuals in states where medication abortion is lawfully dispensed. The issue of access to abortion medication has become increasingly politicized, and it remains to be seen how the pharmacy retail companies will respond.
Kraft Heinz announced that their popular Lunchables snack packs will be available in school lunch programs this fall. The two offerings, Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stacker and Extra Cheesy Pizza, will be available for purchase in the lunchroom or for free through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The company is also testing the addition of packaged Lunchables fruits for sale in grocery stores nationwide.
The EPA has proposed a new regulation to limit the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, setting legally enforceable levels for six manufactured chemicals that are known to contaminate drinking water and pose significant health risks. The proposed regulation would require public water systems to monitor the chemicals and alert the public if the chemicals exceed the maximum contaminant levels. The proposed regulation is part of the Biden administration's efforts to reduce harmful chemicals in drinking water and provide much-needed clarity and protection for drinking water supplies across the country.