One of Connecticut s largest health systems launched a new resource in Hartford this month, aimed at helping patients access healthy and nutritious foods free of charge. The Healthy Food Resource Center is located on Hartford Hospital s campus, and is open to patients with a doctor s referral. When they walk in, they ll find a refrigerator and freezer, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, many of which are locally sourced. .
With the unofficial start to summer, pools around Ohio are opening this Memorial Day weekend, and when it comes to swim time, experts encourage parents to become "water watchers." Drowning is the top unintentional cause of death for children ages one to four, and the second-leading cause among kids ages five to 14. Dawne Gardner, senior injury prevention specialist for Cincinnati Children s Hospital Medical Center, pointed out 70% of drowning deaths occur between May and August. She said the most important pool safety measure is to ensure an adult is actively watching children at all times. .
A new report urges states to take steps to minimize Medicaid coverage loss when the state of emergency for the pandemic comes to an end. COVID relief legislation in 2020 implemented continuous coverage for Medicaid through the public health emergency, meaning people could not be kicked off while the emergency remained in effect. It is set to expire in July, but the Biden administration has said it will give 60 days notice, so it is likely to be renewed until at least October. .
A new report found dishonest employers steal from some 213,000 people in Ohio each year by paying them less than the minimum wage; and it is just one type of wage theft. According to the analysis from Policy Matters Ohio, other forms of wage theft include nonpayment for all hours worked, not paying time and a half for hours worked overtime, and misclassifying workers as nonsalaried to avoid overtime pay. Ernest Hatton of Cleveland said he experienced wage theft at a time when he was working a security job for nearly 60 hours a week. .
The White House is fielding pitches from top Democratic lawmakers about their desire to dramatically expand student loan forgiveness. While a politically divisive topic, the idea has support in North Dakota, especially from those teaching future generations of professionals. The Biden administration has been considering whether to take executive action on canceling student loan debt, with possible income caps and other eligibility requirements. .