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Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Si quiere leer la versión en español, pulse aquí. Ticks, allergies, measles, top nutrition scientist resigns, covid.gov gets a rebrand, and the HHS budget proposal. The Dose (April 21) Katelyn Jetelina Apr 21 READ IN APP Public health is moving fast—and the ripple effects on your health and community are real. Keeping up can feel like drinking from a firehose. While YLE content remains free, we rely on your support to keep our team—and our community—sustainable (and sane). Please consider upgrading to a paid subscription below. Subscribed Goodbye, respiratory season. Hello, ticks, allergies, and spring cleaning. Meanwhile, public health gutting continues: the administration’s top nutrition scientist resigned due to concerns over censorship, the Covid.gov website underwent a dramatic shift in direction, and a huge $40 billion cut proposal for Health and Human Services. Here’s the context and what it means for you. It’s spring! Enter tick season Emergency department visits for tick bites are climbing, but remain middle-of-the-road for now. By year’s end, more than 500,000 people will likely be diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease. Source: CDC; Annotated by YLE Ticks thrive in warm, lush spring environments and can carry pathogens responsible for over a dozen diseases—including Lyme disease, which can cause flu-like symptoms and, if untreated, serious complications like neurological or cardiac issues. Not all ticks carry disease. Risk depends on the species, geography, and the duration of a tick’s attachment. Currently, tick-borne illnesses are most concentrated in the Northeast, with emergency department (ED) visits at 115 per 100,000 people. What does this mean for you? You can take several steps to protect yourself from ticks, including applying DEET or picaridin, treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, and conducting thorough tick checks after engaging in outdoor activities. Here is a YLE deep dive. Cue: A rough allergy season The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) says it’s going to be a brutal year. 41% of the U.S. is currently experiencing medium-high allergy levels—especially in the South and East. Cities like Atlanta and Houston have already set records for pollen. Below is a live allergy map for 2025, showing pollen counts across the country that shift over time in your area. Allergy season is becoming longer—plants are releasing pollen earlier in the year (about 40 days earlier) and stopping pollination later in the year (about 2 weeks longer)—due to rising temperatures. It’s also more pollen because of the increased amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. What does this mean for you? You’re getting exposed to more “pollen grains,” and your immune system may be irritated by them. Dr. Zach Rubin, an allergy doctor, joined us on our podcast America Dissected last week and gave great tips on managing allergies: Rinse your nose with saline water (just like we brush our teeth) Go with second-generation antihistamines, like Zyrtec, instead of Benadryl. Benadryl was made in the 1940s as one of the first antihistamine drugs, but it has a lot of side effects. Always chat with your doctor for more information. The measles game of whack-a-mole continues. Measles cases are climbing exponentially. The U.S. has 839 cases and 7 active outbreaks, spanning states like Montana, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas. The outbreak in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas is growing rapidly. My concern about spreading in urban areas is coming to fruition. The El Paso outbreak is spreading fast. Within 11 days we rose from 2 cases to 11, signaling exponential growth. In Lubbock, cases are also on the rise. In particular, a cluster has been identified in the Tiny Tots daycare, resulting in 7 cases and 2 hospitalizations thus far. This outbreak has also extended into Mexico (the country; not to be confused with New Mexico), with 451 cases reported, primarily in Chihuahua, and Canada, with 1,045 cases, mainly in Ontario. The Canada outbreak has been traced back to a large gathering in New Brunswick last fall that was attended by guests from Mennonite communities. For those who want a deeper dive, go here for the SITREP (situation report): Ysph Vmoc Special Report Measles Outbrea… 2.27MB ∙ PDF file Download Other sporadic cases continue to emerge across the country, often linked to international travel (see map above). What does this mean for you? Keep up on vaccinations. If you plan to travel with a child under 12 months, be sure it’s not to a high-risk area (either nationally or internationally). BIRD FLU H5N1 is still quiet. And we don’t know why Many of you have asked for an update: H5N1 is currently pretty quiet. Over 1,000 dairy cow herds across 17 states have been infected with H5N1. However, new infections have slowed considerably—both in cows and poultry. The most recent human case was in December 2024. We don’t know why, but there are a few epidemiological guesses: It began to run out of herds to infect. Expanded milk testing is allowing faster containment. It was an oddly active winter, so a spring spike hasn’t appeared. The virus burned through enough of the migratory fowl. Unknown unknowns. I don’t think anything is being hidden, especially on the human side. That would be near impossible to keep under wraps. What does this mean for you? Bird flu isn’t something that should be top of mind. The pandemic risk has decreased for now, although scientists continue to monitor it. NIH loses a top nutrition scientist—and that’s bad news In 2019, Dr. Kevin Hall authored arguably the most important study—a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard—showing that ultra-processed foods (UPF) lead to weight gain. He then did the next natural thing: run studies on why. Was it because UPFs are addictive or something else? A follow-up study of his found that UPF may not be inherently addictive, as indicated by the brain’s dopamine response. Another study, still in progress, suggests that UPF is problematic due to its high calorie density and hyperpalatability (heightened taste pleasure). These follow-up studies directly contradict RFK Jr.’s narrative—that UPF is addictive. Hall was initially restricted from publicly sharing the results. Once he was allowed to comment, the NIH press office edited his response, downplaying the significance. So, he announced his early retirement, citing censorship. He has been at NIH for 21 years. What does this mean for you? When scientists are muzzled, it hurts the public’s health and doesn’t move us toward a healthier world and better food system. This also follows a concerning pattern echoing recent departures like Dr. Peter Marks (FDA vaccines) and Kevin Griffis (CDC communications). Spring cleaning: Don’t forget your medicine cabinet Last week was National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day, and April 26th is National Drug Take Back Day. These are great reminders to clean out your medicine cabinet. Why is this important? Errors. People often take multiple medications, which doctors can frequently adjust to different doses. It can be confusing for anyone to keep track of. When a medicine cabinet is cluttered with older and current medications, it’s easy to make a mistake. Medications have powerful effects on our bodies, and it can be dangerous to take too little, too much, or the wrong combinations. Misuse and abuse. For example, you don’t want the leftover opioid pain killers prescribed for your root canal hanging around. These are powerful and addictive substances, and even a few pills can have devastating effects in the wrong hands. Effectiveness. Expired meds lose potency at different rates. Safety. Curious kids could stumble upon them. Here is a flush list. Medications not listed on this list can be disposed of in the trash. Our friends, The Nerdy Girls, have put together helpful tips. Covid.gov website has an unhelpful rebrand, to say the least The newly redesigned Covid.gov replaced vaccine and prevention information with a page focused on the lab leak—with no concrete calls to action for safety improvements. It’s political theater and a direct jab at scientists, as there isn’t any new evidence, and certainly doesn’t help the public navigate Covid-19. With the lab leak theory, I always try to take the 30,000-foot view: The origin of Covid-19 is an ongoing scientific debate. Scientific consensus has not settled. We can all agree that the Wuhan market was an amplification event (i.e., super spreader), but I don’t think we will ever know how it got there. Disproving the lab leak will be close to impossible. The debate is another example of false dichotomies. In reality, opinions range from “natural spillover” to “lab leak.” I lean more towards natural spillover, but I’m certainly not 100%. (I’m a ~70% given ongoing evidence.) I think everyone should recognize where they land on this spectrum and why. Also recognize that conflicts of interest are present everywhere. We continue to overlook the larger issue. Underlying all of this is the possibility of a lab leak, and a possibility of a natural spillover, and a possibility of intentional lab leaks. We need to address all of these to ensure a safer future. Quick government watch: Executive branch proposes HHS cuts $40 BILLION Last week, a document leaked revealing that the Trump administration plans significant cuts ($40 billion) to the Health and Human Services, which includes the elimination of programs focused on maternal health, rural health, Head Start, and other areas. Unlike previous executive actions, these cuts are moving through the normal budget process—making them harder to block and more dangerous long term. They are very dramatic compared to previous budget proposals. Importantly, this is a recommendation and/or political pressure from the Executive Branch. It’s not law or a guarantee. The next step is for Congress to draft, debate, and vote on actual funding bills. Then it’s put into law. Federal Budget Process and Timeline. Figure by Your Local Epidemiologist What does this mean for you? This is the ideal time to reach out to your congressional representatives about the issues that matter most to you. I’ll host a webinar soon with a few staffers (from both the Democratic and Republican parties) to maximize your effectiveness. Question grab bag I’m in a lot of mom groups on Facebook. Do you have recommendations on whether to respond (and if so, what) to a mom who posts something like, “Does anyone have a recommendation for pediatricians who allow delayed or modified vaccine schedules?” My biggest piece of advice: Don’t pick arguments about vaccines, especially when people have already said they are interested in something different. One approach would be to say something like: “I’m sorry you’re having trouble finding a pediatrician. For what it’s worth, my child got the routine schedule and did well, and I’ve had great experiences with his/her pediatrician.” And provide the contact information. It’s also okay to add, “All the pediatricians that I recommend also recommend the routine schedule because it maximizes protection at the right times. They also listen to and respect your questions and concerns.” Bottom line You’re all caught up! Have a great week. Love, the YLE team

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT By John F. Bailey. April 20, 2025:

First Baptist Church on the windy blustery heath looking East to the rising sun this morning celebrated the rising of the sun on Easter Sunday in their traditional Sunrise Service at 6:15 A.M.

The  most joyous service of the year (in this reporter’s opinion)  was highlighted by a hazy sun breaking stalwartly through the clouds into a brisk west wind.

The event on “Resurrection Sunday” as Reverend Frank Farley described it, I thought the sun rising today reflected times in Jerusalem on Golgotha  (The Place of the Skull) when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified in 33 A.D. 1,992 years ago. The mighty sun rose not as clear as it did last year, but still reassured us it was there in the high sky

Reverend Frank Farley  observed at the close of the service, the message this day brings us is it it fires up the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth and God is still within each of us that each one of us and took to, feel within us reach into us for help to become better, for strength, for endurance,  to bring light into the world, be better at what we do. Reverend Farley with his soaring words into the wind said, “God is always in us for us. He rises up within us.”

Easter Sunday , I think, more than any other Sunday reminds us of the message of the good, the strength, the values, the code of living brought by existence of Jesus of Nazareth endures.

It does not  disappear after Easter Sunday. With each sunrise, each day, the comfort of the great universe of stars at night assure us of the presence in us of the strength of the good that is there.

Every sunrise and sunset reaffirms these eternal truths are in us for guidance, strength, endurance, selfgrowth and doing what is right always.

The little band of worshippers  joined hands at close  and a glow grew in each face at the mystery of good feeling generated by the hymns in English and Spanish and  hope of the messages  brought on the wind and the sun’s promise, and the eloquence of the Reverend Fraley, Reverend Ever Magana and Mrs. Magana. Mrs. Magana read the Invocation of the ceremony loud clear and as moving as ever when the good news came 1,992 years ago:

MRS. MAGANA WITH REVERAND EVER MAGANA AND  REVEREND FRANK FRALEY THIS MORNING.

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

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TONIGHT THE BIG PLANNING BOARD MEETING ON FARRELL ESTATES COMPLETE COVERAGE ANALYSIS

GOVERNOR HOCHUL WARNS OF MORE CUTS AHEAD TO STATE AID TO COUNTIES TOWNS CITIES

WHAT COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS SHOULS TALK ABOUT IN HIS STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS

GOVERNOR HOCHUL REVEALS HER STEPS TO CUT DOWN ON DISCLOSURE DELAYS, CASES DISMISSED ON TECHNICALITIES

THE LEGACY OF THE TITANIC: YOUR SAFETY IS IMPORTANT  BUT THE PROFIT

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE IN WHITE PLAINS NY USA

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APPELLATE DIVISION OF NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT RULES PLAYLAND PARK EXEMPT FROM TAX DURING STANDARD AMUSEMENTS CONTRACT IN MAJOR WIN FOR WESTCHESTER COUNTY

(White Plains, NY) – The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court has ruled that Playland Park in the City of Rye was tax exempt during the period of time the Park was being operated by Standard Amusements, resulting in a $3.6 million tax bill.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Westchester County has always maintained that Playland Park should have never been removed from tax exempt status by the City of Rye. The unnecessary legal expenses, the consequences of the self-inflicted negative financial impact to both the City of Rye and the Rye School District on this ill-advised change of tax status cannot be understated.”

In a letter sent to the Westchester County Tax Commission dated May 2022, the City of Rye notified the County of the change in tax exempt status for Playland, and announced it would be sending Standard Amusements a tax bill of $3.6 million. At that time, the City of Rye argued that because Playland Park was being operated under contract and not for public use, the Park was taxable.

The Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court rejected the City of Rye’s appeal this week, stating that because the County did not officially transfer ownership of the Park to Standard Amusements, and the Park was being operated under contract as a public park, the removal of the tax exemption for Playland Park by the City of Rye was not justified.

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GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND HUDSON VALLEY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS CALL FOR ESSENTIAL CHANGES TO NEW YORK’S DISCOVERY LAWS

Governor Hochul Is Fighting To Streamline Discovery Process To End Procedural Delays and Prevent Automatic Dismissals

Since 2019, Rate of Dismissal for Felony Cases More Than Doubled From 3.6% to 8.2% in Ulster County

Since Discovery Reform, Speedy Trial Dismissals Increased More Than 300%

Governor’s Plan Has Won Bipartisan Support From Elected Officials, District Attorneys and Advocates

Governor Kathy Hochul today stood with Hudson Valley law enforcement officials and elected leaders to call for essential changes to New York’s discovery laws. The Governor’s visit comes as she doubles down on her pledge not to approve a State Budget that fails to include key public safety measures. 

“I want New Yorkers to hear firsthand from the people on the frontlines about why these changes we are fighting for are so important,” Governor Hochul said. “No one understands the need for commonsense changes to our discovery laws better than victims of crime and our partners in law enforcement who see too many victims being denied justice and too many perpetrators reoffending thanks to loopholes in our laws. I made a promise to New Yorkers that their family would be my fight — that means standing strong to pass a State Budget that makes New York safer and more affordable for all.”

The proposed changes, which have received bipartisan support from elected officials, district attorneys, and victim advocate groups, would uphold the State’s discovery reforms that went into effect in 2020 while ensuring a fairer and more just legal system for New Yorkers. 

Since 2020, procedural delays and automatic dismissals, among other disruptions, have adversely affected victims and survivors of domestic violence and other serious crimes. Since 2019, when the discovery reform laws were passed, which essentially require perfect discovery compliance for a case to not be dismissed on speedy trial grounds, the number of cases dismissed for speedy trial violations went from 10,562 in 2019 to 49,974 in 2024 — a 373 percent increase. In Ulster County alone, dismissal rates for felony cases more than doubled from 3.6 percent to 8.2 percent between 2019 and 2023. At the same time, dismissal rates for misdemeanor cases doubled from 5.1 percent to 10.7 percent.

Without changing any of the essential features of the 2019 reforms, Governor Hochul’s proposed changes to New York State’s Discovery Law would ensure procedural fairness, shorten case processing times, reduce the length of pretrial incarceration and safeguard sensitive and personal information belonging to witnesses. These changes include:

• Expanding the scope of automatic redaction to include sensitive details, such as witnesses’ physical addresses and personal data unrelated to the case, eliminating the need to engage in lengthy litigation to redact such material.
• Removing the incentive to delay bringing a challenge in a manner that can result in technical dismissals unrelated to the merits of the case or the legality of the investigation.
• Ensuring that cases are not dismissed if discovery compliance falls short of perfection.
• Clarifying that prosecutors are not required to track down information that is by definition irrelevant.

Once passed, New York will still have the most open and transparent discovery laws in the nation, requiring prosecutors to proactively gather comprehensive material and disclose it quickly to individuals charged with a crime. Importantly, however, the law will prevent cases from being automatically dismissed based on inconsequential errors. Now, a court will have to assess whether an alleged error actually caused harm to the defense.

The Governor’s trip to the Hudson Valley follows the release of a new report by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) highlighting the importance of passing Governor Hochul’s proposal to streamline New York’s discovery laws to protect the rights of crime victims. The proposal aligns with Governor Hochul’s sustained investments in programs and initiatives that have allowed law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations to better address the causes and consequences of crime and drive gun violence to record lows.

New York State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget includes a record-level investment in victim services, expands access to compensation, and funds evidence-based strategies to reduce violence and victimization. Common-sense changes to the discovery law will improve how our criminal justice system functions, build trust among survivors that the system can protect them and continue to ensure due process for those accused of crimes.”

Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji said, “Discovery has always been about fairness and justice, which are mutually compatible for defendants and victims alike. The Governor’s proposed amendments do not in any way interfere with or roll back the good intentions of the reform.”

Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said, “Amending the discovery law allows a balance in criminal trials. The rights of the accused and the rights of Victims thus allowing discretion to our judges in pre-trial discovery matters.”

Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant said, “I stand with the Governor on her proposed discovery amendments. We need a system that is fair to all sides — defendants, the prosecution, and the victims of crime. These commonsense changes are not about rolling back reform — they’re about making the system work better for everyone. The Governor’s proposal strikes the right balance: it preserves transparency while restoring the ability to deliver justice swiftly and responsibly. It’s exactly what we need — and exactly what public safety needs.”