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	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Enjoying this newsletter? Why not share it with a friend? Lead in protein powders. What you need to know The Dose (October 20) Katelyn Jetelina and Hannah Totte, MPH Oct 20 REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION READ IN APP Happy Monday from Atlanta! I just tried to convince thousands at a public health conference that it’s time to reimagine systems—not just defend the status quo. I’m happy to report that tomatoes weren’t thrown my way. This is my fourth state in five days, and the highlight is actually seeing the seasons change and meeting a lot of you in person. I couldn’t be more excited to see my girls (and survive another round of the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack). Top: Plenary stage with Mike Osterholm; From the bottom left: Met YLE reader Krisandra Allen at the conference. Fall leaves in Idaho. My daughter welcoming me home at the airport. This week’s Dose runs the gamut: from what’s really going on with lead in protein powders (and whether you should be worried), to a refreshing burst of leadership as 15 governors join forces to strengthen public health collaboration, to falsehoods swirling around mammograms. We’ll wrap with an infectious disease weather report and a quick note for dog owners on an FDA recall. Let’s go! Consumer Reports found lead in protein powders. How bad is it? Last week, Consumer Reports released an analysis revealing elevated lead levels in several popular protein powders and shakes. Google searches for “lead in protein powder” spiked 300%, and influencers lit up social media. Depending on which news source you read, it was either a five-alarm fire or no big deal. So what’s actually going on?  Lead is everywhere—soil, food, water, and air. Thankfully, overall exposure has dropped dramatically since the 1970s, and modern lab tests can now detect vanishingly small amounts (down to parts per billion). But detection does not necessarily equal danger. How bad is bad? That’s where things get tricky because not everyone agrees: California limit: 0.5 mcg/day. This number comes from a very conservative calculation: regulators took the “no observable effect” level for reproductive harm for inhaled lead exposure in workplaces and divided it by 1,000. Many experts argue that this threshold is unrealistic. It’s also not linked to adverse health outcomes. FDA’s limit: 2.2 mcg/day for kids, 8.8 mcg/day during pregnancy, and 12.5 mcg/day for other adults based on blood lead levels, toxicology data, and a built-in 10x safety factor. European Union limit: Allows up to 3 mg/kg (3 ppm) in food supplements—roughly 90 mcg per 30-gram scoop of protein powder. In this case, the FDA is far more cautious than Europe (and that’s not usually how things go). Back to the report: of the 23 protein supplements they tested, two-thirds exceeded “Level of Concern.” One brand (Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer) hit nearly 16 times the limit. But because Consumer Reports used California’s exceptionally strict benchmark, those numbers sound scarier than they really are. The average American already gets 5.3 mcg of lead daily from food and the environment. That’s another reason California’s cutoff doesn’t make much sense. Still, some products identified in the report could push intake close to the pregnancy (8.8 mcg) or adult (12.5 mcg) daily thresholds. What this means for you: Don’t worry too much. While the FDA continues to reduce lead exposure through programs like Closer to Zero and the Total Diet Study (that is, if the funding continues), there are several things we can do in our own homes, especially for parents of kids and during pregnancy. Check to see if your protein supplement (or any supplement, really) has third-party testing for heavy metals (like USP or Informed Sport). Advocate for more pre-market regulatory oversight in the supplement industry (which has very little, if any at all) by writing to your local representative. Eat a diet that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods, which helps limit exposure to specific food sources and ensures we get an array of protective nutrients. Prioritize getting your protein from whole food sources. Big thanks to YLE’s Megan Maisano—Registered Dietitian Nutritionist— for writing this section. Fifteen states join forces to launch Governors’ Public Health Alliance Governors from 15 states announced the creation of the bipartisan Governors’ Public Health Alliance, which is a new effort to strengthen coordination and collaboration across state lines. Why do we need this?  In the U.S., authority over health rests with the states, not the federal government. Health (encompassing both health care and public health) is not only the highest budget item for a state but also the primary reason for state bankruptcy. In other words, governors hold enormous power over your health. Today, though, federal support is shifting fast, funding is drying up, and states are being forced to get creative. States must decide whether to maintain their public health departments (due to funding cuts), how to continue purchasing vaccines (if the federal government stops recommending them), whether to negotiate drug prices (like insulin), and more. We saw a similar challenge during the pandemic with bulk purchasing of PPE. In general, the more coordinating, collaborating, and innovative thinking, the better. However, I’m growing increasingly concerned about the partisan gaps in public health. Although some Republicans are on the advisory board and the initiative was framed as bipartisan, no Republican-led states have joined. This worries me for my friends in red states, like Texas, but it also has implications for everyone, as diseases don’t care about borders. What this means foy you: If your state is included, you can rest assured your governor is talking to others, which is a helpful step toward innovative solutions. You could argue it was needed before this moment, too. Public health has been siloed for far too long. Mammograms save lives. They’ve been wrongly targeted. Happy Breast Cancer Awareness month! Unfortunately, this month has driven some influencers to post false claims about the harms of mammograms. So let’s clear this up. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S., and accounts for 1 in 3 new cancers among women each year. (It affects men too, just at lower rates.) There is strong scientific consensus in support of routine mammograms to prevent breast cancer and detect it early: Randomized trials show that mammograms reduce the risk of death from breast cancer by 12-20%, depending on age. For every 1,000 mammograms, one death is prevented. Regular mammograms starting at age 40 are recommended for everyone, but may have even greater benefit for Black women, who are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women and more likely to have aggressive cancers, younger. There’s some critical nuance here: With each mammogram, breast tissue is exposed to a small amount of ionizing radiation. But!  We’re exposed to this type of radiation every day in our natural environment. At high doses, radiation exposure can change DNA and cause harm, but the amount of radiation exposure during a mammogram is about the same as flying from California to New York. Organizations disagree on whether mammograms every year or every other year are optimal.  Screening recommendations are based on evaluating science to maximize benefit (lives saved) while reducing patient worry, unnecessary costs, and diagnosing and treating cancers and pre-cancers that ultimately wouldn’t cause health problems—also called “overdiagnosis.” This is a balancing act. Mammograms are just one tool for detecting cancer, and women with dense breasts or high risk for cancer (e.g., family history, known genetic predispositions, or other key risk factors) may benefit from additional screening, such as through an MRI. What this means for you:  The benefits of mammograms far outweigh the risks. The U.S. Preventive Task Force, the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend routine mammograms starting at age 40 for women at average risk of breast cancer. If you have risk factors for breast cancer, dense breasts, or you’re 75 or older, talk to your doctor about your screening goals and plan. Don’t know your risk? Here’s one risk assessment tool. For more, see YLE’s deep dive on breast cancer screening recommendations. Infectious disease “weather report” CDC STILL ON PAUSE In the U.S., flu and RSV are still quiet. CDC data is still on pause because of the government shutdown, so we’re continuing to reference PopHive data. RSV activity is still low but growing in southern states, like Louisiana and Texas. RSV Activity in the U.S. Figure from PopHIVE However, Covid-19 is having a moment in the U.K., with hospitalizations increasing exponentially after a 10-month lull. This isn’t driven by a dramatic variant, but rather by a lack of immunity building up over time. Flu might also be increasing, which suggests it’s coming soon (as expected) for the U.S. Figure from Dr. Christina Pagel’s Substack. Dog owners, check your pup’s food The FDA ​​recalled Raw Bistro frozen beef dog food for possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were sold directly to consumers and to select distributors between Sept. 1 and Sept. 17 in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota. Salmonella can make dogs sick, just like humans. Contaminated food can cause illness days later in dogs. And dog owners can get sick from handling contaminated food or dog bowls. What this means for you: Check the lot numbers on your dog’s food, and toss it if they are included in the FDA recall notice. Sanitize bowls if they held contaminated food, wash your hands, and watch for warning signs in your dog: lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. If you notice these signs, take your pet to the vet. That’s it for this week! Share your fall leave pics in the comments below so that I can continue to live vicariously through you. Love, YLE Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife. YLE is a public health newsletter that reaches over 400,000 people in more than 132 countries, with one goal: to translate the ever-evolving public health science so that people are 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:

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 130 FLOCKED TO THE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY  FOUNDATION CELEBRATING THE FOUNDATION, THE LIBRARY  AND “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”

SALUTING 50 YEARS OF “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” ITS CREATOR LORNE MICHAELS

WITH HIS BIOGRAPHER AND GUEST AUTHOR SUSAN MORRISON 

WRITER OF THE BOOK “LORNE: THE MAN WHO CREATED SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”

WPCNR ON THE TOWN DOWNTOWN By John F. Bailey. October 19,  2025:

It wasn’t a Gala. It was a 30^TH  Anniversary  with 130 of  White Plains Who’s Who, Who Supports, Who is, Who Love the White Plains Public Library  staged by the White Plains Library Foundation.

The occasion: the recognition of  the Foundation’s   30^th year since it was suggested by former Library Director, Sandy Miranda.

The Foundation 30^th  anniversary  coincided with the 50^th anniversary on October 11, 1975 when that American entertainment institution, Saturday Night Live, the  program that was not just comedy but a comedy reality check every week for 5 decades.  It has amused America  hilariously coast to coast and delivered truths and realities with what Mr.Michaels  called “The Big Laugh.”

Ms. Morrison said “Lorne,” was always in search of the big laugh which made the writing and the performance of the  a joke or skit “work.” The Big Laugh  is still a big star for 50 years after it premiered on NBC and is still on the air.

In my opinion the humor on SNL is most always funny, and laugh-out-loud funny even when silly or actors  spell-binding lampoons of the rich and powerful personalities, in spot-on impressions of household known personalities  showed the truths behind public figures.

The  White Plains Library Foundation frequently  honors authors at its events and this year the perfect Guest was Susan Morrison writer of Lorne, The Man Who Created Saturday Night Live.

 Her book tells in a clever progression of events uniquely presented with enough inside reveals to satisfy the never-miss-an-SNL fan while portraying a real eye-opening picture of what it takes to make a hit show every week from a man who did it.

Ms.Morrison had the audience glued to her every word as she explained the secrets of how Lorne Michaels started and ran SNL and produced it for 50 years was the natural choice.

Graham Trelstadt,  (above) President of the White Plains Library Foundation , after a cocktail hour with very tasty hors d’oeuvres and jazz by the finger-snapping, head bobbing Library Jazz Band in the art gallery, welcomed the festive convivial gathering of believers in reading writing and real intelligence (never artificial) in the auditorium to hear the confidente  Susan Morrison of Lorne Michaels whom she worked with for 10 years to write his story and that of the show.

Mr. Trelstadt  explained why it is important to support the White Plains Library Foundation:

“The Foundation exists to provide private support to the publicly funded library. We raise funds that leverage the phenomenal support the Library gets from the Common Concil  and State sources. The funds we provide to the library  allow for innovation and flexibility. They give the Library Director  and her staff opportunities to respond to changing needs or brilliant ideas between budget cycles.

Over 30 years the Foundation has been in existence we have served the catalytic seed for exciting new programs (which can be found on the Library website), for innovative equipment like the Igloo, or the 3D printer in The Edge.

We have helped to complete three significant capital projects in the Trove, the Edge, and the Hub.”

With Ms. Morrison at left, White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach thanked the guests for supporting the White Plains Library and reminisced how his mother took him to the library in his home town. Mayor Roach has spearheaded the improvements in the library The Trove, The Edge and the Hub. 

Then it was “Saturday Night Live on stage” with the editor turned author for the first time, Susan Morrison (right)  in conversation with Foundation Vice President Jessica Rao Lonski, (left) award-winning journalist and media professional  with  contributor roles at CNBC and Gannett, and communications for Fortune 500 companies.

Ms. Lonski asked short questions that enthused Ms. Morrison and smoothly drew out fascinating Morrison  insights  into the key structure of the writing of “Lorne”  that Ms. Lonski said read like a novel.

Morrison’s secret:

the book is structured around the unfolding of every sequence of the  events of a 7-day week of producing one Saturday Night Live program.

 Ms. Morrison revealed the show is rigorous, fraught with anxiety of new cast members about being retained after the summer for the fall season.

She revealed the secret of every successful supervisor as Lorne Michaels is– asking the performer or writer to get a real flavor or nuance to deliver the feeling the script or performance of the script intended.

The audience got a good dose of entertainment reality from Ms. Morrison:

 Though Saturday Night Lives are fabulous fun to view, Mr. Michaels’ ability to wrangle writers and actors with psychology, sensitivity and precise definition of what he wants to achieve takes patience, rehearsal (and lots of it), doing it until you get it right. It is a tough demanding business.

He also, Ms. Morrison  revealed, was terrible on meeting deadlines.

Lorne’s biographer confided this was her first book she had written herself. 

When asked by a member of the packed auditorium how she liked being the editee instead of the editor, she shared a penetrating insight into getting the performance you want.

The editor and she had a lot of discussions about portions of the book, and Ms. Morrison  found the discussions provided new perspectives she valued and helped the book. She observed that she took from having been edited, her editor gave her a new sensitivity to working with her own authors whom she edits.

Mr. Trelstad saluted highlights over the Library’s  and the Foundation the last 30 years.

Sandra Miranda Library Director from 1989 to 2011. Brian Kenney Director from 2011 to 2024 when Mr. Kenney oversaw creation of The Edge for teens and The Hub in 2018 which reorganized services for adults. He welcomed Laura Eckley as new Library Director who started in October.

He recognized Lauren Candela-Katz. Libby Hollahan the first Executive Director of the Foundation from 2010-16. 

Mr. Trelstad praised Nancy Rubini recently retired Foundation Executive Director in the 9 years 2016-2025. “We couldn’t be here today without the skills and passion you each brought to your work.”

Mr. Trelstad closed with a look into the Library’s future:

“Now more than ever, as challenges  to public funding of libraries and other cultural institutions become more significant and real , we need your continued support to keep the White Plains Library the great community institution that it has become.”

Congressman George Latimer mingling with the White Plains Councilman Richard Payne as Congressman Latimer shared recent highlights in Washington.

The Library Jazz Band was not quite they were in the groove with jazz that was cool and and got the evening off to a rousing start

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Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program Mobilizes State Investments To Improve Resilience of Safety Net Hospitals

Over $2.6 Billion in Investments Awarded To Ensure Access to High Quality Health Care for More New Yorkers Across the State

Governor Kathy Hochul Thursday unveiled transformative investments in six new partnerships between safety net hospitals and health care organizations under the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program, totaling over $2.6 billion in capital and operating dollars.

St. John’s Riverside and Montefiore Health System to merge

• St. John’s Riverside Hospital will become part of the Montefiore Health System, protecting access to high-quality health care services for the existing patient community in Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry, and the surrounding River Towns.
• Through this partnership, Montefiore Health System will work with St. John’s Riverside Hospital to expand services at the hospital, with a focus on essential community services such as cardiac and cancer care in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• These service expansions will ensure more residents of Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry and the neighboring River Towns can receive crucial and high-quality care close to home.   

Westchester Medical Center, Bon Secours Charity Health System, and Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley   combine

• Westchester Medical Center (WMC) will fully integrate Bon Secours Charity Health System and Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley into WMC Health, seamlessly streamlining operations across the system.
• Under this partnership, WMC will unify its electronic medical record system, expand its residency program and improve access to behavioral health, maternal, pediatric, and ambulatory care services.

“The strength of our hospitals is a reflection of the strength of our communities, and safety net hospitals play a critical role in providing quality health care to vulnerable populations,” Governor Hochul said. “Every person should have access to affordable, reliable health care regardless of the zip code they live in, and these investments will bring vital resources to underserved New Yorkers.” 

Established in the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program incentivizes partnerships between safety net hospitals and health care organizations. Through this program, New York is encouraging partnerships with safety-net institutions by providing strategic capital and operating support, in addition to required regulatory flexibility, to improve the resilience and sustainability of safety-net hospitals and expand access to high quality care. Earlier this year, the Governor announced the first eight projects under this program.  

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her steadfast commitment to strengthening health care in New York. Safety net hospitals are the backbone of care for vulnerable and underserved communities across our state. Through these strategic investments and partnerships, we are not only stabilizing these hospitals but also building a foundation of resilient and sustainable health services that will ensure access to high-quality care for all New Yorkers for years to come.”

The Department of Health will work closely with these applicants to effectuate their proposed transformation plans and improve access to high quality health care across the state.

Breakdown of Investments In  the other 4 Safety Net Hospitals

Arnot Ogden Medical Center and Cayuga Health  

• Arnot Ogden Medical Center and Cayuga Health will continue to develop a new comprehensive and coordinated health system, Centralus Health. Through this work, critical infrastructure upgrades will be made to Arnot Ogden Medical Center, including an expansion of behavioral health, ambulatory surgery, and primary care outpatient services.
• This new fully integrated health system will improve access and care coordination across the Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes.

Crouse Hospital and Northwell Health

• Northwell Health will offer its world-leading clinical and operational expertise in a new collaboration with Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, NY.
• Through this collaboration, Crouse Hospital will expand its ambulatory network, modernize its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and construct a new cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Erie County Medical Center and University of Buffalo Physicians Group

• Erie County Medical Center and the University of Buffalo Physicians Group will expand access to primary and specialty care in Western New York through a series of projects, including the implementation of a community-wide electronic medical record system for all of ECMC and UB’s medical practices.
• The partnership will strengthen the health care workforce in Western New York by investing in recruitment and retention efforts for physicians and primary care residents.
• The partnership will also enhance access to care as well as strengthen the health care workforce through the construction of a Community Health Pavilion and Learning Center located on the East Side of Buffalo – a site that will combine primary, outpatient and diagnostic care while offering clinical learning, care simulation and care innovation opportunities.

Maimonides Medical Center and NYC Health + Hospitals

• Maimonides and NYC Health + Hospitals are partnering together to preserve and strengthen critical services for the Brooklyn community. NYC Health + Hospitals is a federation of diverse and unique hospitals. Like Maimonides, each has its own respected history and traditions.
• This partnership will enhance Maimonides and the role it plays for its patients, staff, and neighbors. The partnership includes a new and sophisticated electronic health record system at Maimonides to improve care coordination and patient experience.

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COUNTY POLICE SEEK PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING SUSPECTS IN BURGLARY AND VANDALISM AT PLAYLAND

(Hawthorne, NY) – Westchester County Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying three people who entered the Playland amusement park in the overnight hours of Sept. 23-24 and committed acts of theft and vandalism.

The trio arrived on the Playland beach in a small boat a little before midnight on Sept. 23. Then they climbed a fence to enter the amusement area. The intruders:

·         Vandalized an electrical room, cutting or ripping out fiber optic cables for phone and internet service;

·         Stole 200 stuffed animals, which they hauled away in garbage bags; and,

·         Attempted to throw a photo booth off the boardwalk but were unable to do so.

Detectives have previously shared suspect photos and case information with law enforcement in the region but the suspects have yet to be identified. Anyone who recognizes them is asked to contact detectives in the General Investigations Unit at 914-864-7916.

The County Police also maintain telephone and electronic tips lines for the public to provide information. Calls, e-mails and text messages to these tips lines are confidential. Tipsters can remain anonymous if they chose.

·         Voice Tip Line: (800)898-TIPS (8477).

·         Electronic Tips: Send email, text messages and small video clips to tips@wccops.com.

·         Via Mobile App: The WCPD Mobile App contains a home screen Submit a Tip button to enable tips to be sent confidentially or anonymously. It is available for Apple and Android phones. Enter Westchester County PD in the app store search bar to locate and download it.

Note: Additional photos will be posted to the Westchester County Police social media channels.