Billie Holiday will undoubtedly — and deservedly — be a household name for generations to come. The revered jazz singer was just 44 years old when she passed in July 1959. “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” the first musical of Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s summer 2024 season, takes
The Food and Drug Administration recently announced several actions in an effort to crack down on illegal, flavored, disposable vape products which are popular among kids and teenagers. 51% of Arizona high school students have tried electronic vaping products, and adds that teens who do vape are nearly four times more likely to start smoking cigarettes, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Jim Carroll, former director of National Drug Control Policy under President Donald Trump, said he is glad the current administration is taking steps to ban what he calls "dangerous products." "Specifically, what we are seeing is disposable vaping pens being shipped directly from China to the U.S., targeting our children," he expressed. .
Thousands of Kentucky residents and children face the threat of losing Medicaid and Kentucky Children s Health Insurance as pandemic renewal regulations ease and the Medicaid renewals process returns to normal. Kentucky Voices for Health staff say renewal notices will be sent through May 2024, requesting extra details to assess household eligibility. While some individuals may no longer qualify because of income, others risk losing coverage if they fail to provide necessary documents. .
July 1st is the official start date for Medicaid expansion in South Dakota, but health organizations involved with outreach say those who fall under the new eligibility guidelines can start applying ahead of time. Last fall, voters gave their consent for the state to use federal incentives to expand the public health coverage program. Determining Medicaid eligibility appeared daunting and nerve-wracking for first time applicants, said Sarah Houska, a volunteer with the American Heart Association who previously worked with the South Dakota Department of Social Services. .
In Pennsylvania, the Our HAIR initiative program will provide mental health support for Medicaid members at local Black salons and barbershops, and help to reduce the stigma often associated with mental health issues in communities of color. One in five Americans is affected by mental illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lori Weems, program manager of the Our HAIR project for Community Care Behavioral Health, said African Americans experience mental health issues at the same rate as the general population but only about a third of them actually obtain the help they need. .