Rosemary Westwood
@rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
Award-winning host of Banned. Repro health and editing
@wwno @wrkf. rosemary at wwno dot org bylines @NPR @GuardianUS @oxfordamerican @globeandmail etc
@wwno @wrkf. rosemary at wwno dot org bylines @NPR @GuardianUS @oxfordamerican @globeandmail etc
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
The health department has partially reversed course on canceling Medicaid contracts that provide health insurance to hundreds of thousands of people.
It will now continue to work with Aetna in 2026, but UnitedHealthCare is still out.
lailluminator.com/2025/12/09/l...
It will now continue to work with Aetna in 2026, but UnitedHealthCare is still out.
lailluminator.com/2025/12/09/l...
Louisiana partially reverses course to restore Aetna’s canceled Medicaid contract • Louisiana Illuminator
Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration partially pulled back on its plan to cancel two of the state’s six Medicaid contracts with private companies that provide health insurance to hundreds of thousands of...
lailluminator.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The health department has partially reversed course on canceling Medicaid contracts that provide health insurance to hundreds of thousands of people.
It will now continue to work with Aetna in 2026, but UnitedHealthCare is still out.
lailluminator.com/2025/12/09/l...
It will now continue to work with Aetna in 2026, but UnitedHealthCare is still out.
lailluminator.com/2025/12/09/l...
Here's a beautiful story if you need one: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/h...
These Hospitals Figured Out How to Slash C-Section Rates
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Here's a beautiful story if you need one: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/h...
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
Louisiana's former surgeon general is reportedly now the deputy director of the CDC. Earlier this month, we published a story about how he addressed a deadly (and vaccine-preventable) whooping cough outbreak.
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Louisiana Took Months To Sound Alarm After Two Babies Died in Whooping Cough Outbreak - KFF Health News
Louisiana health officials appear to have deviated from the usual steps for public health communications amid a whooping cough outbreak after it killed two infants.
kffhealthnews.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Louisiana's former surgeon general is reportedly now the deputy director of the CDC. Earlier this month, we published a story about how he addressed a deadly (and vaccine-preventable) whooping cough outbreak.
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
By @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Story to come but here's some reporting on Louisiana's surgeon general, named to the No. 2 position at the CDC
November 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Story to come but here's some reporting on Louisiana's surgeon general, named to the No. 2 position at the CDC
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
“I’m devastated because I know that this [season] is happiness for him, he loves presents and he knows these days are supposed to be joyful. On Monday I asked for permission to see if he could spend Thanksgiving with me but they told me it wouldn’t be possible.”
A disabled child’s mom reported him missing. He was in federal custody for 48 days.
When Emmanuel Gonzalez walked away from his mom’s fruit stand in October, Houston Police called ICE instead of reuniting them.
19thnews.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
“I’m devastated because I know that this [season] is happiness for him, he loves presents and he knows these days are supposed to be joyful. On Monday I asked for permission to see if he could spend Thanksgiving with me but they told me it wouldn’t be possible.”
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
NEW: ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
Delayed warnings of #whoopingcough child deaths by public health officials in Louisianna via @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Louisiana Took Months To Sound Alarm After Two Babies Died in Whooping Cough Outbreak - KFF Health News
Louisiana health officials appear to have deviated from the usual steps for public health communications amid a whooping cough outbreak after it killed two infants.
kffhealthnews.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Delayed warnings of #whoopingcough child deaths by public health officials in Louisianna via @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response. n.pr/4obRAo5
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
n.pr
October 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response. n.pr/4obRAo5
BREAKING: Louisiana's health secretary is threatening to furlough staff who work to administer SNAP, the federal food aid program, over the "Schumer shutdown."
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
Louisiana Department of Health threatens furloughs over SNAP funding
A letter from Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein to staff at LDH states that employees will be furloughed without pay for up to 240 hours between November 3 and December 2.
www.wwno.org
October 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
BREAKING: Louisiana's health secretary is threatening to furlough staff who work to administer SNAP, the federal food aid program, over the "Schumer shutdown."
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
@rosemarywestwood.bsky.social spent months carefully reporting this important, nuanced, and chilling piece.
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
www.npr.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
@rosemarywestwood.bsky.social spent months carefully reporting this important, nuanced, and chilling piece.
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak?
Take a look/listen:
New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
www.npr.org
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
Every large health care institution in Louisiana - Ochsner, LCMC, the Louisiana Department of Health
and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana - did not respond to questions from a reporter about how to get the COVID vaccine. #lalege #lagov
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana - did not respond to questions from a reporter about how to get the COVID vaccine. #lalege #lagov
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
Want a COVID vaccine? You might have trouble getting one in Louisiana.
Louisiana patients face new hurdles to get a COVID shot this fall, as federal rules and state pharmacy laws limit who can be vaccinated.
www.theadvocate.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Every large health care institution in Louisiana - Ochsner, LCMC, the Louisiana Department of Health
and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana - did not respond to questions from a reporter about how to get the COVID vaccine. #lalege #lagov
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana - did not respond to questions from a reporter about how to get the COVID vaccine. #lalege #lagov
www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...
NEW: Louisiana’s deadly whooping cough outbreak is now its worst in 35 years www.wwno.org/public-healt...
Louisiana’s deadly whooping cough outbreak is now its worst in 35 years
So far this year, Louisiana recorded 368 cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis, as of August 23, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
www.wwno.org
September 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
NEW: Louisiana’s deadly whooping cough outbreak is now its worst in 35 years www.wwno.org/public-healt...
"We have been asked to revise and to review and change studies that have been settled in the past, scientific findings that were there to help guide vaccine decisions.”
August 28, 2025 at 8:04 PM
"We have been asked to revise and to review and change studies that have been settled in the past, scientific findings that were there to help guide vaccine decisions.”
Bill Cassidy is calling for next month’s meeting of a federal advisory panel on vaccines to be postponed in the wake of a mass exodus of leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Cassidy calls for meeting of CDC vaccine advisers to be postponed following agency shakeup
A key GOP Senator called for a federal advisory meeting on vaccines to be delayed, citing 'turmoil' at the CDC.
www.statnews.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I am so moved by the people who've given over $110,000 to @wwno.org in just a week and a half (!). We are so grateful and proud to know that so many believe in the mission of public media and keeping all people informed — for free — to build a stronger democracy. Thank you!
July 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I am so moved by the people who've given over $110,000 to @wwno.org in just a week and a half (!). We are so grateful and proud to know that so many believe in the mission of public media and keeping all people informed — for free — to build a stronger democracy. Thank you!
New data show more women in Louisiana had abortions last year than *before* the state banned nearly all abortions.
Why? Telemedicine.
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
Why? Telemedicine.
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
June 24, 2025 at 4:13 PM
New data show more women in Louisiana had abortions last year than *before* the state banned nearly all abortions.
Why? Telemedicine.
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
Why? Telemedicine.
www.wwno.org/public-healt...
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
Christianity grew by 122 million members, but declined as an overall slice of the world's population.
www.npr.org/2025/06/10/n...
www.npr.org/2025/06/10/n...
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, Pew study says
The Pew report reveals how religious disaffiliation and population growth have influenced the global religious landscape.
www.npr.org
June 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Christianity grew by 122 million members, but declined as an overall slice of the world's population.
www.npr.org/2025/06/10/n...
www.npr.org/2025/06/10/n...
Reposted by Rosemary Westwood
They call him "Cousin Leo."
Love this piece from @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
Love this piece from @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
Why Black Catholics in New Orleans feel a special connection to Pope Leo XIV
A genealogist has discovered that Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots in New Orleans, where Black Catholics are now celebrating "Pope Leo of the 7th Ward."
www.npr.org
June 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM
They call him "Cousin Leo."
Love this piece from @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
Love this piece from @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
New Orleans folks are the absolute best, and this is one of those stories that was an absolute joy to report. Cheers to all of Pope Leo XIV's new cousins 😂
My latest for @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
My latest for @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
Why Black Catholics in New Orleans feel a special connection to Pope Leo XIV
A genealogist has discovered that Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots in New Orleans, where Black Catholics are now celebrating "Pope Leo of the 7th Ward."
www.npr.org
June 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
New Orleans folks are the absolute best, and this is one of those stories that was an absolute joy to report. Cheers to all of Pope Leo XIV's new cousins 😂
My latest for @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
My latest for @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...
Actual PR pitch to an actual inbox; not an Onion headline
May 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Actual PR pitch to an actual inbox; not an Onion headline
🏅 Excited to win a regional Murrow Award for reproductive health coverage! Congratulations to all the winners — especially my WWNO and Gulf States Newsroom colleagues! And grateful to the sources who make this work possible.
www.rtdna.org/news/rtdna-a...
www.rtdna.org/news/rtdna-a...
May 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
🏅 Excited to win a regional Murrow Award for reproductive health coverage! Congratulations to all the winners — especially my WWNO and Gulf States Newsroom colleagues! And grateful to the sources who make this work possible.
www.rtdna.org/news/rtdna-a...
www.rtdna.org/news/rtdna-a...
A highlight of last year was getting to work with the tireless
@jackjenkins.me and our wonderful editors at @npr.org
and @rns.org — exciting to be awarded for that exhausting (and also fun) collaboration from the Associated Church Press! 🎉
@jackjenkins.me and our wonderful editors at @npr.org
and @rns.org — exciting to be awarded for that exhausting (and also fun) collaboration from the Associated Church Press! 🎉
May 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
A highlight of last year was getting to work with the tireless
@jackjenkins.me and our wonderful editors at @npr.org
and @rns.org — exciting to be awarded for that exhausting (and also fun) collaboration from the Associated Church Press! 🎉
@jackjenkins.me and our wonderful editors at @npr.org
and @rns.org — exciting to be awarded for that exhausting (and also fun) collaboration from the Associated Church Press! 🎉