Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Caroline Lewis

Maya Kaufman @mayakaufman.bsky.social · 8d

NEWS: The federal govt is sending NYC’s top disease control official to Arizona for a months-long stint at an Indian Health Service facility.

That could complicate local infectious disease response efforts.

“If we have an outbreak, then we’re fucked,” a city health department staffer told me.

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · 8d

New Yorkers’ health insurance costs on the line amid battle over government shutdown

gothamist.com/news/new-yor...

New Yorkers’ health insurance costs on the line amid battle over government shutdown

Consumers may face sticker shock when shopping for insurance through New York’s Affordable Care Act marketplace.

gothamist.com

Reposted by Caroline Lewis

Gothamist @gothamist.com · 9d

New York state already legalized marijuana. Could magic mushrooms be next? https://gothamist.com/news/new-york-state-already-legalized-marijuana-could-magic-mushrooms-be-next

New York state already legalized marijuana. Could magic mushrooms be next?

Mushrooms being prepared at a psychedelic church in Colorado. The state Assembly held a hearing Tuesday on medical uses for psilocybin, which three states have legalized. [ more › ]

gothamist.com

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · 10d

Looking to talk to people in NYC who have an ACA plan. Working on a story about costs potentially going up with the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits.

If you want to talk today, email [email protected].

Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · 20d

ICYMI: NY and other states launch Northeast Public Health Collaborative as antidote to turmoil at federal health agencies

gothamist.com/news/ny-join...

NY joins new regional public health collaborative as antidote to federal vaccine turmoil

The group immediately issued its guidance on COVID vaccines, preempting federal recommendations.

gothamist.com

Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · 21d

NYC data: More ppl getting picked up for drug charges after a long decline associated with the move away from the war on drugs, and another drop early in the pandemic.

Lots of new low-level charges for possession -- and even cases involving "residue."

gothamist.com/news/low-lev...

Low-level drug arrests surge in the South Bronx, according to new data

Between January and the end of June, police made more than 800 drug arrests in the 40th Precinct, which includes the area known as The Hub.

gothamist.com

Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Sep 4

I’m sorry I’m not sure about that one! You might have to ask the pharmacy.

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Reposted by Caroline Lewis

The Brian Lehrer Show @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social · Sep 3

ICYMI, @clewisreports.bsky.social on the confusion over getting the updated COVID vaccine this fall:

www.wnyc.org/story/the-la...

The Latest on COVID Shots | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC

Caroline Lewis talks about the availability of COVID vaccines this fall and the confusion over the guidelines after the FDA's changes to approval.

www.wnyc.org

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Sep 3

In NY, chain pharmacies are now asking for prescriptions for COVID vaccines, while local pharmacies are putting off stocking the shots. Here's what's going on:

gothamist.com/news/why-get...

Why getting a COVID shot in NY could be a hassle this year

Changes in how federal immunization guidelines are being rolled out have sown confusion.

gothamist.com

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Aug 14

Mayor Adams wants NY to have compulsory drug treatment.

Brian Stettin, an advisor to Adams, says involuntary treatment is better than no treatment at all.

Kristine Torres-Lockhart, chief medical officer for Phoenix House NY, disagrees.

My latest: gothamist.com/news/mayor-a...

Mayor Adams calls for forced treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in NY

The initiative is part of a broader campaign push by Adams to target "quality of life" issues.

gothamist.com

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Aug 11

Why is NY seeing so many Legionnaires' cases every year?

My latest story putting the current Harlem outbreak in context.

gothamist.com/news/why-so-...

Why so many Legionnaires' cases in NY? Environmental and human factors may play a role.

Hundreds of new cases are reported annually in New York, despite laws meant to prevent infections.

gothamist.com

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Reposted by Caroline Lewis

Scott Waldman @scottpwaldman.bsky.social · Jul 29

As Zeldin speaks, the heat index at the bottom of the screen is showing parts of the country hitting feels-like temperatures of 121 degrees. Extreme heat is a leading cause of death from climate change, a toll that will increase as CO2 levels rise.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Jul 29

Zeldin: "EPA is proposing to rescind the 2009 Obama EPA endangerment finding to eliminate all of the greenhouse gas emissions regulations that followed."

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Jul 25

Planned Parenthood clinics in NY are still seeing Medicaid Patients -- they're just not getting paid. A spokesperson says the situation is "unsustainable" and Planned Parenthood of Greater NY needs relief in short order.

gothamist.com/news/nys-pla...

NY’s Planned Parenthood clinics still seeing Medicaid patients after funding cut

But the reproductive health organization says the situation is "unsustainable."

gothamist.com

Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Jul 15

Kim Quidone went viral on TikTok for being a hilarious storyteller. Then her followers encouraged her to get sober... and she recently celebrated a year.

Radio story in link.

gothamist.com/news/a-bushw...

A Bushwick woman’s recovery from drug addiction starts on TikTok

Addiction specialists said finding community, even online, is crucial to success.

gothamist.com

Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Jun 23

Very cool! And yes it really does seem to be about just consistently showing up

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Jun 23

I think so but it sounds like it has been a very long process! If you can speed it up that’s awesome.

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Jun 23

anyway remember this psa?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-5d...

Nuclear Preparedness PSA (with captions)

YouTube video by NYC Emergency Management

www.youtube.com

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Jun 23

Hitting the pavement in Harlem with one of NYC’s street psychiatrists

gothamist.com/news/hitting...

Hitting the pavement in Harlem with one of NYC’s street psychiatrists

There are no quick fixes when it comes to helping people in need, outreach doctor says.

gothamist.com

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Jun 12

SNAP theft has run rampant in NY. Now victims are suing the state to try to force an update to outdated EBT cards they say put them at risk.

gothamist.com/news/victims...

Victims of food benefits theft sue NY over outdated tech they say puts them at risk

The residents allege the state isn’t doing enough to protect benefits to which they’re entitled under federal law.

gothamist.com

Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Apr 17

Wong’s situation points to a common predicament of aging parents caring for an adult child with a mental illness: “planning for what happens when they’re no longer here,” said Carolyn Reinach Wolf, a New York lawyer who works with families of people with mental health issues.

Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Apr 17

I met a neighbor of King Wong, the 60-yr-old police killed in Astoria this week.

She said his parents took care of him til they died a few years ago. After that, he often looked for food in the trash, and entered her apt uninvited, but was “harmless.”

gothamist.com/news/man-fat...

Man fatally shot by NYPD in Astoria had history of unusual behavior, neighbor says

Police said he moved toward officers with a knife after refusing to drop it.

gothamist.com

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Apr 15

Everyone's always talking about how to treat NYers with serious mental illnesses. OnTrackNY catches young ppl right after symptoms start and offers team-based care.

One OnTrack program in LI is now closing bc federal funding is up in the air.

gothamist.com/news/li-prog...

LI program for young adults with mental illness closes due to funds in limbo

Providers are making "critical decisions" about programs amid the uncertainty over proposed federal funding cuts, official said.

gothamist.com

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Reposted by Caroline Lewis

NPR @npr.org · Apr 12

After months of striking, some therapists with Kaiser Permanente stopped eating for five days to bring attention to their union's demands for parity with how the company's other workers are treated.

Mental health workers go on hunger strike, demanding better pay and benefits

After months of striking, some therapists with Kaiser Permanente stopped eating for five days to bring attention to their union's demands for parity with how the company's other workers are treated.

www.npr.org

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Caroline Lewis @clewisreports.bsky.social · Apr 10

As of April 9, 32k home care consumers still had to complete the process of registering with PPL, and 36k workers in the program still weren’t able to log their hours with the company, per the state health dept.

gothamist.com/news/ny-offi...

NY officials agree to delay $9B home care overhaul amid consumer complaints

The agreement is between the state and attorneys representing health care consumers with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

gothamist.com

Reposted by Caroline Lewis

Kevin Frey @kevinjfrey.bsky.social · Apr 9

First on NY1:

All 19 New York Democrats in the US House are demanding a meeting with HHS Sec. Kennedy over the Trump admin's attempt to cut off $11B in state & local health funding - a move they say will cost NY approx $400M.

Letter is led by @aoc.bsky.social and Rep. Nadler

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