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EXCLUSIVE!
THE POWER STORY
THE PUSH FOR RETURN TO FOSSIL FUELS AND EFFECT ON RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH
SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER PROGRAM DIRECTOR DAN WELSH ON
FUTURE FIXED RATES FOR SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER COMMUNITIES INCLUDING WHITE PLAINS AND THE PUSH FOR RETURN TO FOSSIL FUELS AND NATURAL GAS EXPANSION
WILL RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLAR, WIND, WATER POWER CONTINUE TO GROW
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| MEXICAN NATIONAL EXTRADITED TO NY AND ARRAIGNED ON 2008 INDICTMENT CHARGING RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced today that a Mexican national, who has been a fugitive from justice since his 2008 indictment on rape and sexual assault charges, was apprehended by the Mexican authorities, extradited to Westchester County and arraigned in County Court Monday afternoon.
Galo Herrera, 52, was arraigned before County Court Judge Sheralyn Pulver and remanded to the custody of the Westchester County Department of Correction pending further proceedings. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. DA Cacace said: “Justice has no expiration date. The defendant’s horrendous conduct, as alleged in the indictment, is no less shocking nearly two decades later. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners in Mexico and the U.S. who brought Mr. Herrera to answer for these charges. This multi-jurisdictional effort exemplifies my commitment to working with any and all agency partners in furtherance of community safety.” In 2008, Herrera was indicted on one count of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, a class A-II felony, two counts of Rape in the First Degree, a class B felony, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor. Between December 2006 and January 2007, the defendant is alleged to have forcibly raped a young girl who was under the age of 13 years old. Herrera fled the jurisdiction before he could be apprehended on these charges. The case is being investigated by the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Westchester DA’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Westchester County Department of Labs and Research and the New York State Police Crime Lab were utilized in the course of the investigation. |
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CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC HIGH SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 19, 2022, IN WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA. HIS EMINANCE WILL LEAD THIS YEAR’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE. (WPCNR PHOTO)
On Saturday, March 8, the City of White Plains will be wearing green for the 26th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Parade Co-Chairs, John Martin, Beth O’Keeffe Cleary, Declan Farrell and Brian Mahon, have announced the selection of His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, as the Grand Marshal.
The parade will begin promptly at noon at the intersection of Mamaroneck Avenue and Livingston Avenue and proceed up Mamaroneck Avenue to Main Street, ending in front of City Hall.
This year, in addition to our traditional Aides, we have selected David Walsh, born in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, and longtime White Plains resident as Special Aide to the Grand Marshal.
In addition, Colleen Wall and Westchester County Police Officer Vincent Finnegan, Jr., have been selected as the first ever, Rising Lad and Lassie. They represent the under 30-age group.
Aides this year are Paul Thomas, Jed Dorney, White Plains Firefighter Thomas Devine IV, Nancy Ryan Tirone, Elizabeth Doherty DiLullo and Caroline Molloy.
The White Plains Parade celebrates the contributions of the Irish people to humankind through their rich culture and music, their indomitable spirit, and their legendary warmth and humor.
This year’s event will feature 20 marching bands, over 12 floats and numerous community groups and organizations. For further information, please visit https://www.wpsaintpatricksdayparade.com/.
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Welcome to the Northeast edition of Outbreak Outlook! It is only available to paid subscribers. If you wish to become a paid subscriber and access region-specific information, please click the Subscribe now button below. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin
Flu activity is finally starting to recede. What a year it has been!
New York City leads the Northeast region with an outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) rate of 10.6%.
Massachusetts is not far behind at 10.2%, though this is a big decrease from 11.8% in the previous week. Emergency department visits stand at 8.3%, a drop of 1.8 percentage points from the previous week.
As a reminder, outpatient ILI is the percentage of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat. The emergency department metric is the percentage of visits to the ED that are for influenza.
New Hampshire follows with an outpatient ILI rate of 10.0%, down from 10.9% last week. The state shows the highest emergency department visit percentage in the region at 9.5%, though this represents a 0.6 percentage point decrease from the previous week.
Maine is third highest in the region with an outpatient ILI rate of 8.8%, a notable increase from 6.8% the previous week. Emergency department visits are at 7.2%, one of the few states showing an increase (+0.5 percentage points) in ED visits week-over-week.
New Jersey and Rhode Island have moderate activity levels, with outpatient ILI rates of 7.9% (down from 10.2%) and 6.8% (stable from 6.9%) respectively. Emergency department visits in New Jersey decreased by 2.0 percentage points to 6.9%, while Rhode Island’s ED visits fell by 1.5 percentage points to 4.5%.
The largest states in the region have lower activity. Connecticut reports an outpatient ILI rate of 6.2% (down from 6.8%) with a hospitalization rate of 11.6 per 100,000, representing a significant decrease of 10.6 per 100,000 from the previous week. New York state shows an outpatient ILI rate of 6.0% (stable from 6.1%) with a hospitalization rate of 14.3 per 100,000, down 2.3 from the previous week. Pennsylvania reports the region’s lowest outpatient ILI rate at 4.9% (down slightly from 5.1%), with ED visits decreasing by 0.8 percentage points to 7.3%.
There is quite a bit of variation in Covid-19 activity across the Northeast. While wastewater activity has decreased to low levels in the region as a whole, it remains quite high in several states. Severe illness remains fairly low-to-moderate across much of the region.
Wastewater activity is high and decreasing in New Jersey, Connecticut, and holding steady in Pennsylvania. In Massachusetts, activity has rebounded to high levels.
However, wastewater activity has dropped to moderate levels in Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island, and continues to be very low and stable in New York. (Insufficient data for New Hampshire.)
ED visits are low (<1.5%) and decreased or stable across the region.
Hospitalizations are low in Maine (1.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people) and have decreased to fairly low levels in Rhode Island (3.2), New Jersey (3.2), and Connecticut (4.1). New York held steady at a moderate 4.0. Hospitalizations remain high in Pennsylvania (8.5), but are on the decline. (Hospitalization data was not available this week for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.)
RSV activity is low and declining in the Northeast, with all states reporting that well under 1% of visits to the emergency department are for RSV. I expect activity to remain low until next fall.
A few common causes of colds are at or nearing their high points for the season.
Human coronaviruses look to be nearing a peak, roughly consistent with peaks the past several years tending to fall in February-March. Human metapneumovirus also is at its highest point so far this season.
This brutal norovirus season continues. Test positivity decreased slightly to 19.1% this week. Rates have been oscillating between ~15-22% since mid-December and I expect rates to remain quite elevated for the next several weeks, much to my – and I expect your – disappointment.
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Source: CDC
The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:
New:
Previously reported:
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Hugo Horacio Perez-Gabriel, 32, of New Rochelle, was arraigned this morning on a felony complaint charging him with two counts each of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, a class C felony, Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree, a class D felony, and Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, a class E felony.
Judge Tamika Coverdale, sitting as a New Rochelle City Court judge, remanded Perez-Gabriel to the custody of the Westchester County Department of Correction.
DA Cacace said: “The allegations in this complaint are extremely disturbing. The fact that this same defendant was previously charged in connection with the dumping of a 15-year-old boy’s corpse makes this case all the more horrific. My office is working around the clock to find out what happened to this boy, and I am committed to delivering justice to his family.”
As alleged in a felony complaint, Perez-Gabriel used WhatsApp to request sexual material from an underage New Rochelle resident in early February. The minor sent Perez-Gabriel two videos engaging in a sexual performance, according to the complaint.
On Feb. 7, 2025, Perez-Gabriel was charged with one count of Concealment of a Human Corpse, a class E felony, in connection with the dumping of a 15-year-old boy’s body in New Rochelle. The deceased 15-year-old is the same victim who allegedly communicated with Perez-Gabriel on WhatsApp. The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation. A 16-year-old New Rochelle resident was also charged in connection with that incident.
The investigation is being conducted by the New Rochelle Police Department and the Westchester DA’s Office.
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PRESIDENTS DAY AND WEEK: GEORGE WASHINGTON THE FIRST AND THE BEST.
Posted on February 18, 2024 by John Bailey
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FEBRUARY 22 IS GEORGE WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY.
THE TIME WHEN WE REMEMBER THE FIRST LEADER AND THE BEST. IT IS INSTRUCTIVE TO LOOK AT OUR FIRST LEADER, GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE FATHER OF OUR NATION — AMERICA — THAT USED TO BE. ONE CANNOT HELP BE REMINDED OF THE SNOWY WINTER AT VALLEY FORGE, WHEN THE BEDRAGGLED, POORLY EQUIPPED REBEL ARMY SUFFERED BUT HELD TOGETHER, AND ATTACKED THE GERMAN TROOPS IN TRENTON ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 1776, CROSSING THE DELAWARE RIVER AT NIGHT. WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS HE THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON COULD INSPIRE HIS TROOPS AGAINST ALL ODDS? WHAT KIND OF MEN WERE THEY WHO WOULD RISK CERTAIN DEATH IF WOUNDED (NO MED-EVACS IN 1776) FOR AN IDEA: RIGHTS AND FREEDOM?
WASHINGTON WAS A MAN OF TREMENDOUS CHARACTER. OF PRINCIPLE. WHERE DID HE GET THIS CHARACTER? HE SPECIALIZED IN SELF-CONTROL AT AN EARLY AGE. THAT CONGRESSMEN, LOBBYISTS, AND PUNDITS AND YES, PRESIDENTS, MEANS MIND-CONTROL, REASON AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND HUMANITY. ACCORDING TO THE BOOK, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT,
WASHINGTON, AT SIXTEEN, HAD FORMED A CODE OF CONDUCT. HE HAD WRITTEN A BOOK OF ETIQUETTE WITH 110 “MAXIMS” TO GUIDE HIS CONDUCT IN MATTERS. IN THIS ETIQUETTE BOOK HE HAD WRITTEN:
EVERY ACTION DONE IN COMPANY OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH A SIGN OF RESPECT TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT PRESENT. SLEEP NOT WHEN OTHERS SPEAK; SIT NOT WHEN OTHERS STAND; SPEAK NOT WHEN YOU SHOULD HOLD YOUR PEACE; WALK NOT WHEN OTHERS STOP;…LET YOUR COUNTENANCE BE PLEASANT BUT IN SERIOUS MATTERS SOMEWHAT GRAVE…UNDERTAKE NOT WHAT YOU CANNOT PERFORM BUT BE CAREFUL TO KEEP YOUR PROMISE.
THE CHARACTER SKETCH PROVIDED BY THE AUTHORS OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, INDICATES THIS PERSONAL “RULEBOOK” WAS A BOOK THAT WASHINGTON WROTE OVER THE YEARS AND REFERRED TO IT OFTEN, FOR, THEY WRITE, FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: “FOR SELF-CONTROL, TO AVOID TEMPTATION, TO ELUDE GREED, TO CONTROL HIS TEMPER. REPUTATION WAS EVERYTHING TO HIM. IT HAD TO DO WITH HIS STRENGTH, HIS SIZE, HIS COURAGE, HIS HORSEMANSHIP, HIS PRECISE DRESS, HIS THOROUGH MIND, HIS MANNERS, HIS COMPASSION. HE PROTECTED THAT REPUTATION AT ANY COST.” EARNING RESPECT BY EXAMPLE. QUELLING REBELLION WITH A FEW WORDS.
HE SETS AN EXAMPLE TODAY FOR THOSE WHO WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AMERICA’S WEAKNESS AND SEIZE POWER BY OPPORTUNISM. WASHINGTON INSPIRED BY EXAMPLE. HE LIVED WITH HIS TROOPS. HE SHARED HARDSHIPS WITH THEM, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH RESPECT FOR HIM THAT HE WAS ABLE TO TALK THEM OUT OF ARMED REBELLION AT THE END OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
WASHINGTON HAD BEEN ASKED BY THE ARMY TO JOIN THEM TO OVERTHROW THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, AND MAKE HIMSELF KING. WASHINGTON HAD BEEN ASKED BY ONE OF THE OFFICERS OF THE REBELS TO JOIN THEM, AND HE WROTE THEM,
YOU COULD NOT HAVE FOUND A PERSON TO WHOM YOUR SCHEMES ARE MORE DISAGREEABLE. BANISH THESE THOUGHTS FROM YOUR MIND.
HEARING THAT THE REBELS WHO WERE PLANNING INSURRECTION (BACK IN 1783, THEY KNEW WHAT INSURRECTION WAS) AGAINST THE NEW COUNTRY DUE TO PAY BEING WITHHELD BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, WASHINGTON RODE TO NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, (NOT FAR FROM WHITE PLAINS, NY,USA) ON MARCH 15, 1783, TO MEET WITH THE DISSIDENT INSURGENTS. WASHINGTON SPOKE TO THE REBELLIOUS GROUP, SAYING,
“GENTLEMEN, AS I WAS AMONG THE FIRST WHO EMBARKED IN THE CAUSE OF OUR COMMON COUNTRY; AS I NEVER LEFT YOUR SIDE ONE MOMENT, BUT WHEN CALLED FROM YOU ON PUBLIC DUTY; AS I HAVE BEEN THE CONSTANT COMPANION AND WITNESS OF YOUR DISTRESSES…IT CAN SCARCELY BE SUPPOSED …THAT I AM INDIFFERENT TO YOUR INTERESTS. BUT…THIS DREADFUL ALTERNATIVE, OF EITHER DESERTING OUR COUNTRY IN THE EXTREMEST HOUR OF HER DISTRESS, OR TURNING OUR ARMS AGAINST IT…HAS SOMETHING SO SHOCKING IN IT THAT HUMANITY REVOLTS FROM THE IDEA…I SPURN IT, AS EVERY MAN WHO REGARDS LIBERTY…UNDOUBTEDLY MUST.”
THE WOULD-BE REBELS FELL SILENT, DIGESTING WHAT HE HAD SAID. THEN WASHINGTON WITHDREW A LETTER FROM CONGRESS, BUT COULD NOT READ THE TEXT, WITHDRAWING SOME EYEGLASSES FROM HIS TUNIC, REMARKING,
“GENTLEMEN, YOU WILL PERMIT ME TO PUT ON MY SPECTACLES FOR I HAVE NOT ONLY GROWN GRAY BUT ALMOST BLIND IN THE SERVICE OF MY COUNTRY.” THE MEN PRESENT WERE REPORTED TO HAVE TEARS IN THEIR EYES AT THIS GESTURE OF WASHINGTON’S AND ABANDONED THEIR PLOT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEIR LEADER.
WASHINGTON RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY, SURPRISING THE ENTIRE NEW COUNTRY. HIS ACTION SURPRISED KING GEORGE III OF ENGLAND, WHO WAS ASTONISHED THAT WASHINGTON HAD REFUSED TO HOLD ON TO HIS MILITARY AUTHORITY AND USE IT FOR POLITICAL OR FINANCIAL GAIN. THE DEFEATED KING OF ENGLAND, REMARKED, “IF TRUE, THEN HE IS THE GREATEST MAN IN THE WORLD.”
WASHINGTON WAS. SEEKER OF DIVERSE VIEWS. HOW TO PICK A CABINET. AS PRESIDENT, GEORGE WASHINGTON INVENTED THE PRESIDENTIAL CABINET, WHOM HE REFERRED TO AS “THE FIRST CHARACTERS,” PERSONS WHO POSSESSED THE BEST REPUTATIONS IN FIELDS AND AREAS OF THE JOBS HE WAS FILLING. WASHINGTON SAID ON POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS: “MY POLITICAL CONDUCT AND NOMINATIONS MUST BE EXCEEDINGLY CIRCUMSPECT. NO SLIP INTO PARTIALITY WILL PASS UNNOTICED…”
WASHINGTON TOLERATED THE RELENTLESS CLASHES BETWEEN THOMAS JEFFERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND ALEXANDER HAMILTON, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, BUT LECTURED THEM ON THE NECESSITY FOR TOLERANCE AND MOVING BEYOND PARTISANSHIP: “I BELIEVE THE VIEW OF BOTH OF YOU ARE PURE, AND WELL MEANT. WHY THEN, WHEN SOME OF THE BEST CITIZENS IN THE UNITED STATES, MEN…WHO HAVE NO SINISTER VIEW TO PROMOTE, ARE TO BE FOUND, SOME ON ONE SIDE, SOME ON THE OTHER…SHOULD EITHER OF YOU BE SO TENACIOUS OF YOUR OPINIONS AS TO MAKE NO ALLOWANCES FOR THOSE OF THE OTHER? I HAVE GREAT ESTEEM FOR YOU BOTH, AND ARDENTLY WISH THAT SOME LINE COULD BE MARKED OUT BY WHICH BOTH OF YOU COULD WALK.”
THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE PROTECTED WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON LEFT OFFICE AFTER TWO TERMS, HE MADE A FAREWELL ADDRESS WHICH WARNED FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS ABOUT FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS AND PARTISANSHIP IN THE REPUBLIC: I SHALL CARRY TO MY GRAVE THE HOPE THAT YOUR UNION AND BROTHERLY AFFECTION MAY BE PERPETUAL; THAT THE CONSTITUTION MAY BE SACREDLY MAINTAINED; AND THAT FREE GOVERNMENT…THE EVER FAVORITE OBJECT OF MY HEART…WILL BE THE HAPPY REWARD OF OUR MUTUAL CARES, LABORS AND DANGERS.”
WASHINGTON DIED IN 1800, THREE YEARS AFTER LEAVING OFFICE IN 1797. HE WAS SALUTED ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS AS BEING “FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN.” HE WAS THE FIRST AND BEST. THE ULTIMATE ROLE MODEL FOR ANY LEADER,
FEBRUARY 22, 2025 IS A DAY THAT TRIES AMERICANS’ SOULS. IT IS HOPED THAT SOME OF OUR “LEADERS” IN WESTCHESTER, IN ALBANY, IN WASHINGTON MIGHT READ THE WORDS I HAVE QUOTED ABOVE AND TAKE THEM TO HEART IN FUTURE DELIBERATIONS.
WORK A LITTLE. IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU. IT’S ABOUT DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR US ALL.
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S VISION OF HIS COUNTRY IS BEING CHALLENGED BY THOSE WHO KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. OR WANT TO DO TO VOICES THAT DISAGREE WITH THEM
BUT WE WHO REMEMBER, AND READ THESE WORDS MUST REFOCUS. I HEAR YOU, MR. WASHINGTON, AND WE HEED, SO HELP US GOD.
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Hochul Blasts Trump’s Power Grab |
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Governor Hochul: “At 1:01 p.m. today, The U.S. Department of Transportation emailed us a letter from Secretary Duffy, announcing their attempt to end the congestion pricing program in the State of New York… I don’t care if you love congestion pricing or hate it. This is an attack on our sovereign identity, our independence from Washington. And we are a nation of states. This is what we fought for. This is what people like Alexander Hamilton and others fought for: To set up a system where we are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington.” Hochul: “In the streets of this city, where battles were fought; we stood up to a king. And we won then. And in case you don’t know New Yorkers, when we’re in a fight, we do not back down. Not now, not ever. Because, who are we fighting for here? We’re fighting for our residents, our commuters, our riders, our drivers, our emergency personnel.” |
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THE RUNDOWN
TONIGHT JUSTIN BRASCH AND THE DEMOCRATIC CITY SLATE
JANUARY HOUSING CONTINUES SLOW RECOVERY? MIRAGE? REALITY?–PRICES HIGHER AVAILABLE HOMES LOW
AMAZING STREAK: 100% OF HOME SELLERS GET THEIR LIST PRICE
SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER TELLS WHERE RATES ARE GOING WHETHER IT’S GREEN ELECTRICITY OR DIRTY ELECTRICITY — THE UPCOMING POSSIBILITIES FOR THE RENEWABLE ENERGY FIXED RATE
GOVERNOR HOCHUL BUDGET OFFERS WORKERS WHO CARE FOR THE DISABLED A 2.1% COST OF LIVING iNCREASE. WORKERS SAY UNACCEPTALE.
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE WASHINGTON
THE FIRST PRESIDENT AND THE BEST
JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS
EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK
FOR 24 YEARS
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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Richmond Community Services. February 20, 2025:
Dear Richmond families,
We need your help!
For 10 years during Cuomo’s administration, the field of developmental disabilities received very little support, and we are still trying to recover from the consequences of it.
Governor Hochul unveiled her budget proposal, and there is only a 2.1% targeted inflationary increase to our budgets to “help with rising costs in the human services field.”
To keep up with the rising costs, I/DD providers throughout the state are asking for a 7.8% increase.
We need to be able to pay our staff who care for people we support a living wage.
We need to pay an increased cost of food, power, insurance, etc. 7.8% is a must for the field to continue to operate programs supporting your loved ones.
State legislators and Governor Hochul need to hear our voices.
To achieve that, Richmond is a proud sponsor of Rally in the Valley on March 7 at 10 AM in Ramapo.
Please join us and help us have a strong voice supporting people with developmental disabilities. You can register by following the link below, or let me know if you plan to join us, and we will register you. Richmond will support this fight with over 100 staff and residents.
Rally in the Valley Tickets, Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
Looking forward to seeing you all there,
Paca
Paca Lipovac MD, MPT, CWS
President/CEO
Richmond Community Services
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It’s Monday. Time for another week (breathe in and breathe out). But first, here’s some public health news you can use, including tips on effectively engaging with your state leaders.
With the news of RFK Jr., the line between falsehoods and truth, especially around vaccines, has never been more blurred. The upcoming months and years will take something from all of us.
On Tuesday (Feb. 18) at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, YLE will host a paid subscribers webinar titled Navigating Vaccine Conversations: Practical Strategies in a Changing Landscape. Katelyn Jetelina (YLE) will be joined by Drs. David Higgins and Kristen Panthagani—both physicians and excellent communicators. The goal is to equip you with tools that will surely need to be used today and in the years to come, both by talking with people directly and by approaching vaccine conversations online.
Paid subscribers register here!
There are a lot of sick people out there… still. “Influenza-like illnesses” (defined as a fever, cough, or runny nose) have now reached heights we haven’t seen since the 1990s.
The main culprit is flu, which seems to have peaked but can always rebound. Flu usually gives us a rollercoaster because of the changing weather, different strains receding, and others taking over.
Regardless, flu hospitalization rates are higher so far this season than at the same time during each of the past 15 years. And, interestingly, this is the first winter that flu deaths passed Covid-19 deaths.
There’s a lot we can do about flu—it’s not too late to get the vaccine, as flu season typically has a long tail. Masks and ventilation/filtration help prevent spread. Tamiflu can also help once you do have symptoms, but it needs to be taken within 48 hours.
Many other infectious diseases are also popping up across the country, like measles and two severe human cases of H5N1. Here’s what we’ve seen in the past week:
The Texas measles outbreak has doubled in size to 48 cases, including 13 hospitalizations mostly among kids. None were vaccinated, and the majority of cases are in Gaines County. Note: if you’re in a high-risk area, children can get an MMR vaccine as young as 6 months old (instead of waiting until 12 months).
Next door in New Mexico, a measles case was reported in Lea County—which borders Gaines County, Texas. However, this case didn’t travel, so whether it’s linked to the Texas outbreak is unclear.
On the other side of Texas, the Louisiana Department of Health stopped promoting routine vaccinations by banning vaccine events and ordering staff not to promote vaccinations. This came on the same day that RFK Jr. was confirmed as HHS Secretary.
Canned tuna sold at Trader Joe’s, Costco, and H-E-B is recalled for risk of botulism—a potentially fatal form of food poisoning in which a toxin caused by bacteria attacks the body’s nerves. This recall is due to a defect in the “easy open” pull, allowing bacteria to enter. No direct human cases are connected to this yet, but FDA suggests throwing these out in an abundance of caution.
Products were sold under the Genova®, Van Camp’s®, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand names across the U.S. See more details here.
This was a hard weekend for all those on the front line of public health. More than 5,200 federal workers (10% of the CDC workforce, for example) were fired without merit.
Can they do that? Under Title V, which sets the rules for civil service hiring, there are limits to why employees can be fired. Legal reasons include misconduct or poor performance. However, there is a loophole: those employees on probation (e.g., those hired less than one year ago or promoted in the past year) have more limited protections. Those on probation were fired over the weekend. Some teams were warned that more cuts are on the way.
Here is what some fired civil servants were doing for Americans:
What does this mean to you? In the day-to-day, not much will change. However, disrupting operations without a plan or vision on such a large scale inevitably introduces inefficiencies in places where speed protects the public’s health. It often takes time to see the on-the-ground impact of high-level policy changes.
Doctors For America sued the administration after removing important health data and guidance from government health websites, like CDC. Many healthcare providers rely on this data and guidance to treat their patients, from sexually transmitted diseases to domestic violence to HIV. The judge ruled in favor of Doctors for America. So data have been restored. But now the web pages have a banner at the top:
Can we trust this data? Turning data on and off is fairly easy on the back-end switchboard. However, I know columns were being rearranged and variables being renamed. It’s possible data was messed up—either by accident or on purpose. Someone needs to do a confirmation analysis to ensure the data integrity is upheld. (Any takers?)
Did you see the Hims & Hers commercial during the Super Bowl? Proceed with caution.
Hims & Hers—a telehealth startup—claims it has a “live-saving” weight-loss drug of compounded GLP-1. However, the ad skipped the safety disclaimer and failed to mention any risks of side effects. Compounded medications, while useful for specific patient needs, do not undergo the same rigorous FDA safety and efficacy testing as approved drugs. FDA has documented hundreds of adverse events linked to compounded versions of popular weight-loss drugs.
Two Senators—one Democrat and one Republican—sent a letter to the FDA warning of the ad’s risk of misleading patients. The Partnership for Safe Medicines, a coalition of nonprofits, also wrote a disapproving letter to the FDA.
No regulatory or legal action has been taken, and it’s unclear whether any will be, but we all need to remain vigilant about claims that will affect companies’ profits. With wellness influencers being elevated with the RFK Jr. nomination, there may be more of this.
Here’s a deeper dive from Unbiased Science if you’re looking for more.
“How can we help with all these slash-and-burn policies the new administration is authorizing? Are there steps we can take to fight these cuts? (I’m trying to be polite; I want to scream and swear.)”
Right now, we have to rely on checks and balances. Courts are one thing, but impact needs to be communicated effectively to state and local leaders. If you write or call to defend what is important to you, be sure to include some key factors for effective communication:
YLE hosted a webinar last month to frame health challenges across partisan lines. Check out the recording here.
You’re all caught up for the week. Stay sane and healthy out there.
Love, YLE team
Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is a public health newsletter with one goal: to “translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people feel well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:
