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Nation’s top climate science assessments removed from federal websites
WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has quietly shut down a major federal website that hosted congressionally mandated national climate assessments, which were the U.S. government's preeminent reports on climate change impacts, risks and responses.
The disappearance Monday of the U.S. Global Change Research Program's website marked an unexpected loss in public access to the most crucial source for climate-related science.
Al...
The disappearance Monday of the U.S. Global Change Research Program's website marked an unexpected loss in public access to the most crucial source for climate-related science.
Al...
The Medical Community Tells Congress That Telehealth Needs Permanent Federal Support
WASHINGTON–In March 2020, Stephanie Hendrick, a retired teacher in Roanoke, Virginia, contracted COVID-19, a virus that over 110 million people in the U.S. would contract over the next couple of years.She recovered from the initial illness, but like many, she soon began experiencing long COVID symptoms. In the early months of the pandemic, hospitals and medical centers prioritized care for individuals with active COVID-19 infections, and pandemic restrictions limited travel and in-person treatme...
WorldPride celebration ends with a rainy protest against the Trump Administration
WASHINGTON–At the tail end of a weekend full of Pride celebrations, people from all over the country marched on Sunday in support of LGBTQ+ rights, protesting an administration that has targeted members of the community. International Rally + March on Washington for Freedom culminated a string of DC events hosted by WorldPride, an annual international celebration.
Every year, it selects one city for its marquee LGBTQ+ event. Hosted this year in Washington D.C., the celebration saw a pride parad...
Every year, it selects one city for its marquee LGBTQ+ event. Hosted this year in Washington D.C., the celebration saw a pride parad...
Coalition of Nonprofits, Research Institutions Fight Against Proposed Cuts at CDC Injury Center
They can suffer from losing their ability to walk, hold jobs, and being able to live a normal life. Several organizations are stepping into this space to provide the services they need since they’re so limited.
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In 2022 and 2023, Access Living conducted over 100 interviews with gun violence survivors to hear what barriers they experienced firsthand. They also interviewed government officials, community-based organizations, violence prevention leaders, and staf...
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In 2022 and 2023, Access Living conducted over 100 interviews with gun violence survivors to hear what barriers they experienced firsthand. They also interviewed government officials, community-based organizations, violence prevention leaders, and staf...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defends lean HHS budget proposal at Senate hearing
WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his proposed budget for next year on Tuesday amid challenges from members of both political parties at a budgetary subcommittee hearing.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies hearing was the third Kennedy attended in the last week.
The 2026 skinny budget, which was released by the...
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies hearing was the third Kennedy attended in the last week.
The 2026 skinny budget, which was released by the...
Senators question deputy secretary nominee James O’Neill in committee hearing
WASHINGTON – The deputy secretary nominee of the Department of Health and Human Services faced direct questioning on the current changes happening at the largest department in the federal government.
James O’Neill, President Donald Trump’s nominee for deputy secretary, testified at a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Senate Committee hearing on Thursday, underscoring his support of the administration’s vision to improve the country’s health.
O’Neill said his goals with the position would be...
James O’Neill, President Donald Trump’s nominee for deputy secretary, testified at a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Senate Committee hearing on Thursday, underscoring his support of the administration’s vision to improve the country’s health.
O’Neill said his goals with the position would be...
NIH cancels participation in Safe to Sleep campaign that decreased infant deaths
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has cancelled federal participation in Safe to Sleep, a 30-year campaign to prevent babies from dying in their sleep, STAT and the Medill News Service have learned.
The elimination of the National Institutes of Health’s role in the program, which helped slash infant deaths in the 2000s, comes at a time when sleep-related deaths among infants have increased. Sudden infant death rates were up nearly 12% between 2020 and 2022, according to the most recent da...
The elimination of the National Institutes of Health’s role in the program, which helped slash infant deaths in the 2000s, comes at a time when sleep-related deaths among infants have increased. Sudden infant death rates were up nearly 12% between 2020 and 2022, according to the most recent da...
Governmental healthcare task force challenged in front of Supreme Court
WASHINGTON – At the Supreme Court this week, a Texas corporation argued that the secretary of Health and Human Services did not have the authority to convene a health task force, but justices seemed skeptical.
“It’s unlikely that Congress was just throwing it out there in terms of who would [appoint the board],” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.
Although arguments in Monday’s hearing of Kennedy v. Braidwood focused on technical legal issues, many observers saw the case as a harbinger of whether priv...
“It’s unlikely that Congress was just throwing it out there in terms of who would [appoint the board],” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said.
Although arguments in Monday’s hearing of Kennedy v. Braidwood focused on technical legal issues, many observers saw the case as a harbinger of whether priv...
VA Announces Record Efficiency Amid Potential Staffing Cuts
WASHINGTON – At a time when the Department of Veterans Affairs has been processing record levels of disability claims, Democrats warned last week that the agency’s productivity will not last under the deep cuts ordered by President Donald Trump.
Health chief RFK Jr.: Autism caused by environmental exposures; contradicts new CDC report
WASHINGTON, April 16 (UPI) -- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday labeled the increasing rates of autism in children an epidemic and said federal research dollars will be dedicated to identifying the cause.
Kennedy's statements at a news conference contradicted decades of autism research, which has generally not labeled the increased rates as an epidemic.
And although certain environmental factors have been correlated to potenti...
Kennedy's statements at a news conference contradicted decades of autism research, which has generally not labeled the increased rates as an epidemic.
And although certain environmental factors have been correlated to potenti...
High school student helps draft bill to require opioid overdose medications in Illinois libraries
ELGIN – High school students generally don’t participate in drafting legislation. Jordan Henry is an exception.
A senior at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, the Elgin native is working with her local state representative on a bill that would require public libraries to keep on hand medications that can reverse an opioid overdose. The legislation would also require libraries to always have at least one staff member working who is trained on responding to an overdose situation.Henry, 18, sai...
A senior at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, the Elgin native is working with her local state representative on a bill that would require public libraries to keep on hand medications that can reverse an opioid overdose. The legislation would also require libraries to always have at least one staff member working who is trained on responding to an overdose situation.Henry, 18, sai...
Illinois lawmakers revive push to create prescription drug affordability board
SPRINGFIELD — With prescription drug costs soaring, Illinois lawmakers announced legislation this week reviving efforts to create a prescription drug affordability board with the goal of capping the growing cost of medication.
Legislators and medical policy advocates revealed the proposal at a press conference Wednesday at the capitol in Springfield. The measure, House Bill 1443 is backed by Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, and Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine.“This bill creates a board, it meaningfu...
Legislators and medical policy advocates revealed the proposal at a press conference Wednesday at the capitol in Springfield. The measure, House Bill 1443 is backed by Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, and Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine.“This bill creates a board, it meaningfu...
Potential immigration raids spark fear, protests on Inauguration Day
CHICAGO – Immigrant communities around Illinois braced Tuesday for threatened mass deportations. But the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago, facing subzero temperatures, saw little foot traffic and no anticipated raids as of Tuesday afternoon on the second day of the Trump Administration.
Trump has vowed to carry out the “largest mass deportation in history.” He wasted no time on Inauguration Day before signing multiple immigration-related executive orders, including ones reinstating the “Re...
Trump has vowed to carry out the “largest mass deportation in history.” He wasted no time on Inauguration Day before signing multiple immigration-related executive orders, including ones reinstating the “Re...
Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments on a challenge to Illinois' concealed carry law
SPRINGFIELD — Amid multiple recent challenges to state gun control laws, the Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday concerning the constitutionality of concealed carry licenses and open carry bans.
Under Illinois’ aggravated unlawful use of a weapon statute, individuals are not allowed to carry a firearm in public unless the person has a valid Concealed Carry License. Tyshon Thompson, the defendant, was convicted of violating the statute in March 2022 after having been involved in a h...
Under Illinois’ aggravated unlawful use of a weapon statute, individuals are not allowed to carry a firearm in public unless the person has a valid Concealed Carry License. Tyshon Thompson, the defendant, was convicted of violating the statute in March 2022 after having been involved in a h...
Entrepreneurial support group finds success in Tarrant County. ‘It’s not a Shark Tank’
A small conference room above a Roots Coffeehouse in Fort Worth’s Near Southside sits quiet most days. Wednesday mornings are a different story. The room fills up, every chair is taken by a local entrepreneur and some attendees even stand. No matter where they are in the room, all listen attentively as people passionately present their business ideas.These Fort Worthians are attendees of the local chapter of 1 Million Cups, a national organization meant to foster dialogue and support to others i...
Fact brief: Is Texas eliminating temporary paper license plates in 2025?
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law in June 2023 that eliminates paper license plates starting July 1, 2025.
The law, introduced into the Texas Legislature as House Bill 718, substitutes paper license plates with temporary metal license plates.
State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, introduced the bill because of an increase in the number of counterfeit paper license plates.
Law enforcement officials estimated that more than 1.2 million fraudulent paper license plates were created in Texas in 2...
The law, introduced into the Texas Legislature as House Bill 718, substitutes paper license plates with temporary metal license plates.
State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, introduced the bill because of an increase in the number of counterfeit paper license plates.
Law enforcement officials estimated that more than 1.2 million fraudulent paper license plates were created in Texas in 2...
What is Fort Worth’s identity? City embraces unexpected variety of nicknames
Fort Worth isn’t short on nicknames and taglines. Where the West Begins. Cowboys and Culture. Cowtown. Panther City. Funkytown. A city’s monikers arise from its history and its people, and the 12th largest city in the nation’s rich history — as with other large cities — led to all those nicknames.What seems to make Fort Worth stand out is the retention of its sobriquets.“There are cities like Chicago, the Windy City; San Antonio, the Alamo City; New York, the Big Apple,” said Ken Schaefer, presi...
Fact brief: Can Fort Worth police choose not to arrest someone for possessing marijuana?
Fort Worth police officers have the option to issue citations in lieu of arrest for 4 ounces or less of marijuana possession.
The Fort Worth Police Department Code of Ethics outlines certain Class A and B misdemeanors, including possession of marijuana, as eligible for the cite-and-release program. Individuals must attend a court date listed on the citation, where normal processing, including fingerprinting and posting bond, will occur.
Possessing 2 ounces or less of marijuana is punishable up...
The Fort Worth Police Department Code of Ethics outlines certain Class A and B misdemeanors, including possession of marijuana, as eligible for the cite-and-release program. Individuals must attend a court date listed on the citation, where normal processing, including fingerprinting and posting bond, will occur.
Possessing 2 ounces or less of marijuana is punishable up...
Feds accuse former Fort Worth crypto company of defrauding clients of $5.6 million
The federal government filed a lawsuit against a former Fort Worth-based cryptocurrency mining company for allegedly defrauding clients of more than $5.6 million.In April, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Geosyn Mining and its co-founders Caleb Joseph Ward and Jeremy George McNutt. The lawsuit alleges that Ward and McNutt entered into agreements with around 64 investors, promising to purchase, maintain and operate mining machines. Geosyn would then distribute t...
PETA alleged animal abuse at Fort Worth mall aquarium. City staff found no issues
Nothing was amiss at SeaQuest Fort Worth during visits by city animal control staff after PETA alleged abuse and neglect, according to a city official.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals published an investigation Aug. 12 alongside a letter to Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells asking for law enforcement to investigate SeaQuest Fort Worth, an aquarium located inside Ridgmar Mall. The nonprofit national animal rights organization claimed several animals died because S...
Mansfield protection agency wants to set the standard for the industry
Arlington native Frank Roberson wants to keep people safe.The security industry veteran started his company, Black Rhino Group, in 2014 to provide private investigations and executive protection. Black Rhino meets two sets of client needs: companies and individuals that require professional security services — such as trained bodyguards — and individuals seeking training in how to protect themselves.Roberson and his wife, Christy Roberson, run the company. She books security for weddings and spe...
Habitat for Humanity seeks to build tiny homes for seniors in southwest Fort Worth
Trinity Habitat for Humanity is looking to tackle affordable housing by creating a senior living community of tiny houses in southwest Fort Worth’s Wedgwood Square neighborhood.The nonprofit organization plans to build 39 small dwellings on 3.5 acres at 5250 Wonder Drive and 5240 Wooten Drive. The project will have 31 one-bedroom, 465-square-foot houses and eight two-bedroom, 835-square-foot houses. Trinity Habitat for Humanity plans to sell the homes exclusively to people 62 and older who meet...
UTA eliminates overnight library hours, citing low use. Many students aren’t happy
Overnight library hours at UTA’s main library are being eliminated, prompting students to raise concerns about the change. University of Texas at Arlington officials announced the reduction of hours at the school’s main Central Library Aug. 5. A day after, UTA student Justin Pacheco started a petition, “Keep UTA library open 24/7,” and by Aug. 8 more than 1,000 people signed. As of Aug. 16, the petition has collected more than 1,500 signatures.“Nobody expected it,” Pacheco said, talking about th...
A calling, not a job: Tarleton Fort Worth dean sets sights on expanding university’s impact
Rachael Capua often tells the story of how she got her first job in higher education.While attending Texas Christian University, she walked into the dean of transfers office with a couple of ideas to improve the transfer student experience. She left the office with a job helping her peers. “Sometimes I feel higher education found me versus me finding higher education,” Capua, dean of Tarleton State University Fort Worth and vice president of external operations for the university system, said.A...
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