Source: The White House
While President Donald J. Trump is in the Gulf region securing over a trillion dollars’ worth of investments in U.S. companies, deals on the home front keep coming:
Sanofi announced it will invest at least $20 billion over the next five years in manufacturing and research and development.
Kraft Heinz announced a $3 billion investment to upgrade its U.S. factories — its largest investment in its plants in decades.
Carrier announced an additional $1 billion investment in manufacturing, innovation, and workforce expansion, which will create 4,000 new jobs.
Anheuser-Busch announced a $300 million investment in its manufacturing facilities across the country.
Siemens Healthineers announced a $150 million investment to expand production, including relocating manufacturing operations for its Varian company from Mexico to California.
That’s in addition to the trillions of dollars already secured in President Trump’s second term — investments that will bring tens of thousands of new, high-paying jobs to communities across the country as President Trump ushers in the new Golden Age.
A serving officer has been convicted of assaulting a man suffering a mental health crisis after he sprayed him with PAVA and stuck him 14 times with a baton while he was already restrained.
PC Rhys Walmer, attached to the East Area Basic Command Unit, was convicted on Thursday, 15 May of causing assault by beating and administering a noxious substance (PAVA) with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
He will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, 14 July.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, in charge of policing for the East Area Basic Command Unit, said: “The level of force used by PC Walmer was not proportionate or necessary and his actions have been subject to proper scrutiny and accountability through the legal process.
“I would like to thank the hospital staff for quite rightly raising their concerns with the officer’s supervisor. All officers must be held account for their actions, especially when it comes to use of force. Those found to be using excessive use of force, like PC Walmer, will be brought to justice.”
The court heard that on 3 August 2022, officers from the East Area Basic Command Unit were on hospital guard at an east London hospital for a man who had been arrested and subsequently sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
He was at hospital awaiting an assessment and had been placed in handcuffs, limb restraints and a spit guard.
The victim appeared to be resisting officers and as he attempted to stand up, Walmer deployed his PAVA into his face.
As officers continued to restrain the victim, Walmer delivered a total of 14 strikes with his baton to his right arm and leg – despite the victim already being restrained by three officers and being in limb restraints, handcuffs and a spit guard.
Due to the level of force used by Walmer, hospital staff raised their concerns with a police supervisor. They carried out enquiries and the incident was passed to the local Policing Standard Unit, which referred it to the Directorate of Professional Standards.
Following a thorough investigation, Walmer was charged by postal requisition on 21 June 2024 and was convicted as above.
Walmer was placed on restricted duties in November 2022.
Now that criminal proceedings have taken place, Walmer will face a misconduct hearing at the earliest opportunity.
This week, the dean of the School of Dental Medicine, along with faculty, received awards from the Connecticut State Dental Society (CSDA) during their annual meeting.
According to the CSDA, this year’s honorees have “demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and innovation in their respective areas.”
Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean, received the CSDA Presidential Award, the highest recognition from the state dental association. The award is given to a CSDA member, dentist, group or any other contributor that has enhanced the image and professionalism of dentistry.
Dr. Afroditi Pita, assistant professor of general dentistry, received the Rising Star Award. This award recognizes advocacy, philanthropy, or community service, and excellence entrepreneurial skills, or ethical behavior. The Rising Star has also made significant contributions in the field of science and has held leadership positions in the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) chapter of their school, local dental society, or the CSDA.
Along with Pita, recent graduate in the Class of 2025, Dr. Sarah Nevolis, also received the Rising Star Award.
Dr. Elie Ferneini, associate clinical professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, received the Horace Hayden Award. This award recognizes contributions to the interest of dentistry and dental health.
As hunger deepens and Gaza’s health system collapses, the US and Israel are pushing a new aid mechanism, which raises widespread ethical, legal, security, and logistical concerns, said Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières on Wednesday.
The plan—centered around the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—seeks to bypass UN-led coordination and place aid delivery under direct Israeli control, effectively forcing a militarized system on humanitarian organizations, donors, and civilians, said MSF.
The United States, the UN, EU member states, and all those with influence over Israel must urgently use their political and economic leverage to stop the instrumentalization of aid.
Avril Benoît, CEO of MSF USA
Rather than facilitate access, the plan threatens to further institutionalize obstruction, instrumentalize aid, and entrench the Israeli occupation. By conditioning lifesaving assistance on displacement and compliance with Israeli screening, the plan violates humanitarian principles. Making aid conditional on forced displacement and vetting of the population would be another tool in the ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population. MSF firmly rejects and condemns this plan of full control over who receives aid. We cannot accept a system which subjugates humanitarian aid to military and occupation objectives.
The obstruction of humanitarian aid is a direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2720, which calls for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. Claims that aid is being diverted by Hamas remain unverified and in no way justify such measures. As the occupying power, Israel must facilitate impartial humanitarian assistance for the population in need.
“The United States, the UN, EU member states, and all those with influence over Israel must urgently use their political and economic leverage to stop the instrumentalization of aid,” said Avril Benoît, CEO of MSF in the United States. “Humanitarian supplies, food, fuel, and medicines must be allowed to reach the people of Gaza now. Humanitarian aid must reach all the people who desperately need it.”
Organizations including World Central Kitchen and the World Food Programme (WFP) have announced that they have no more food stocks available in Gaza. Most community kitchens and bakeries have closed. MSF medical teams in Gaza City have seen a 32 percent increase in the number of patients presenting with malnutrition over the past two weeks.
Message from Gaza: “We are running out of time to save lives”
Dwindling fuel stocks are limiting the ability to desalinate and distribute water. The health facilities that are still functioning—already critically inadequate in number and capacity for the population—are still being attacked and are suffering from rapidly diminishing stocks of medications and other essential supplies. MSF teams in Gaza have not been able to receive any supplies for 11 weeks and face critical shortages of essential medical items such as sterile compresses and sterile gloves.
Israel’s evacuation orders and established no-go military zones now cover 70 percent of Gaza. The population has been forcibly transferred from one place to another, while not a single area of Gaza has been spared from attacks. The desperateness of the situation is such that MSF teams have treated and discharged patients only to see them return with new injuries.
Israel’s plan to instrumentalize aid is a cynical response to the very humanitarian crisis they created. If they wished, Israel and its allies could lift the blockade today and let humanitarian aid reach all those in Gaza whose survival depends on it.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine looks at a new CRISPR gene therapy for children with a rare genetic disease.
Dr Alena Pance, Senior Lecturer in Genetics, University of Hertfordshire, said:
“The authors searched thoroughly for off-target effects because this would seriously jeopardise the use of the approach in therapy. However, as far as the document I could see goes, there is no attempt to assess the cell type targeting efficacy, meaning whether the genetic tools (CRISPR and guide RNA) are reaching hepatocytes and what percentage or proportion of these cells are being corrected. This is very important because this will determine the level of physiological improvement of the disease hence also the value of the intervention.
“CRISPR-based therapy has been used to correct genetic diseases before as the authors mention in their introduction. The best example is the recently approved therapy for sickle cell disease. The approach used in that case, as well as the one in development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is different though in the sense that sickle cell anaemia is overcome by using CRISPR tools to de-silence a foetal globin gene that leads to functional haemoglobin. This is done outside the body using Haematopoietic stem cells which give rise to all cell types in the blood, these cells are obtained from the patient, modified and then put back to re-populate the bone marrow, so in this way full correction can be achieved. The DMD approach consists in using CRISPR to cause skipping of the portion of the dystrophin gene that has the most frequent mutations in it. These mutations lead to deficiency in dystrophin expression by generating a stop signal so the protein isn’t made, so by making the machinery ‘hope over’ this region, a smaller but functional dystrophin is made thereby restoring muscle mass and function. In this case, the therapy is administered intravenously and though not all the muscle cells are corrected, and the proportion varies, it is sufficient for a significant restoration to make a physiological difference. Many different cell types will be targeted but as only muscle cells produce dystrophin, it doesn’t really matter.
“In the case of CPS1, the therapy consists in substituting a nucleotide for the correct one, so this is a highly precise corrective change. As opposed to the two examples described which can be applied to a variety of mutations causing the same disease, the approach in the paper is applicable to the one specific nucleotide change or in other words this specific form of the disease. The paper explains that the patient has in fact two different mutations affecting each of the genes from their father and their mother, only one, the paternal mutation, is targeted. The approach is applicable to any disease caused by a single nucleotide change, however more often than not, diseases are caused by a variety of variants so perhaps more general strategies could be more effective than very precise ones. It will depend on how accurate the general vs specific options can be in terms of targeting the right cell types and DNA sequences.”
Comments provided by our friends at the Spanish SMC:
Dr Miguel Ángel Moreno-Mateos, Tenured scientist CSIC & PI, Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, CSIC-Pablo de Olavide University, said:
“Since the emergence of CRISPR-Cas technology, progress has been made to develop a variety of tools that have the potential to contribute to the cure of many genetic diseases. This work demonstrates how, by detecting a specific congenital disease in the first days after birth, a robust protocol can be implemented with the ultimate goal of curing, at least partially, a patient with a particular genetic alteration that causes a rare disease. This protocol contains several steps, including i) characterization of the mutation or mutations that cause the disease, ii) design and comparison of the efficiency of various CRISPR-Cas approaches, which in this case are based on base editing and include various Cas proteins with different DNA recognition capabilities, iii) genetic and physiological safety testing of CRISPR-Cas reagents and lipid nanoparticle-based complexes both in vivo and in vitro, and iv) finally, targeted treatment in the patient’s liver in two doses seven months after birth, following approval by the relevant agencies.
“Although this has been a very specific approach, partly motivated by the devastating nature of the disease, it represents a milestone that demonstrates that these therapies are now a reality. In any case, as the article reports, the patient will be monitored for a long time to ensure his well-being and determine whether additional doses are needed to further improve the symptoms of the disease.
“On the other hand, given the risk involved and as the article itself acknowledges, the percentage of gene editing in the patient himself and any possible unwanted edits have not been evaluated, although they were determined in in vivo and in vitro studies. However, based on the physiological results, everything indicates that, at least so far, the therapy has been successful and has significantly improved the patient’s quality of life.
“In summary, this work is proof of principle for a rapid and effective protocol for CRISPR-Cas therapies for the cure of human diseases in general and so-called rare diseases in particular, opening the door to other similar treatments in the near future.”
Prof Marc Güell, coordinator of the Translational Synthetic Biology research group and full professor at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), said:
Is the study of good quality?
“It seems to me to be a study of the highest quality and totally extraordinary. In fact, I was deeply moved to read it. It reflects the great potential of gene editing for therapeutic purposes. The researchers and clinical team have done a very thoughtful design with all the precautionary steps that the situation allows: characterisation of mutations, design of editors to correct, measurement of efficiency and off-target [unwanted effects], as well as testing the reagents in cell and animal models. Extraordinary work in record time.”
How does this work fit with the existing evidence?
“Great proof of concept that it is not impossible to treat very rare diseases at the individual level.”
Are there any major limitations to be taken into account?
“We will have to characterise the precision gene editing process in the future (patient safety permitting). For now, it has been possible to measure the positive clinical effects, but for patient safety reasons it has not been possible to obtain liver tissue to characterise the efficiency of gene editing.
“It’s a great demonstration, but it’s also worth noting that this correction has been done in the liver; other tissues are much more difficult to gene edit, for now.”
What are the implications for the real world?
“Individualised, tailor-made therapies for a single patient are no longer a dream. Obviously, the process followed is of very high complexity and will require a lot of work to see how to scale it up and expand it to other cases. In any case, this work sheds a lot of light on the future.”
Prof Gemma Marfany, Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona (UB) and CIBERER member, said:
“This is the first case of a fully customised therapy, for a single baby (what is called ‘n of 1 therapy’), treated in vivo with a base-editing therapy for a very severe ultrarare disease. The disease causes the accumulation of ammonium, which is highly toxic to neurons and can lead to death in the first months of life. With the help of several leading biotech companies, a novel and very precise strategy has been designed to uniquely modify the mutated nucleotide in the gene to reverse the effect, and instead of a truncated protein, produce the complete protein. In addition, instead of using therapeutic viruses, lipid particles have been used to deliver the gene-editing system to the liver, in three doses within weeks of each other, avoiding an unwanted immune response and achieving remission of the most dangerous symptoms, reducing palliative medication and allowing incorporation of a normal diet.
“It is truly a unique case, a successful proof of concept, designed and applied in record time, in which researchers and clinicians have not skipped a single preclinical step, as they have generated human cellular models and also a humanised mouse model with the patient’s mutation to test the safety of the dose and the efficiency of the therapeutic strategy. In addition, they have had all the approvals from the relevant bioethics committees. It seems to me to be a scientific ‘miracle’ that has made it possible to cure a very rare severe disease, and provides knowledge to treat many other diseases.”
‘Patient-Specific In Vivo Gene Editing to Treat a Rare Genetic Disease’ by K. Musunuru et al. was published in The New England Journal of Medicineat 18:00 UK time on Thursday 15 May 2025.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2504747
Declared interests
Dr Miguel Ángel Moreno-Mateos: “I have collaborated with one of the authors of the paper, Benjamin P. Kleinstiver, with whom I published a research paper three years ago.”
Prof Gemma Marfany: no conflicts of interest
Dr Alena Pance: No conflicts.
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
(Washington, D.C.)—Unions across nursing, education, mining and manufacturing industries, along with a manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), today sued the Trump administration to reverse the illegal dismantling of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reckless cuts to NIOSH—made under the direction of Elon Musk’s DOGE—have shut down vital programs and will result in the firing of more than 85% of the staff by July. The chaos of dismantling, temporarily recalling, and piecemeal reinstatements of staff has wreaked havoc on workers’ lives, discontinuing services and programs altogether and creating total disruption in the benefits and protections that workers and the public depend on.
Public Citizen Litigation Group and the AFL-CIO’s Office of the General Counsel filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of unions, workplace safety experts and a PPE manufacturer. The plaintiffs include the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), Dentec Safety Specialists Inc., the IAM Union (IAM), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United (NNU), New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), United Auto Workers (UAW), Mine Workers (UMWA) and United Steelworkers (USW).
As the complaint explains, the cutbacks directly threaten the lives of workers whose safety and health depend on NIOSH, detailing cuts to its vital, congressionally mandated work that all depend on the expertise throughout the whole of the agency, including:
Certifying respirators and testing other PPE and technologies used by workers across industries, including in health care, mining, manufacturing, firefighting and construction, and preventing counterfeits from entering the market.
Conducting critical mine safety research and providing medical screenings for coal miners.
Investigating workplaces to identify and mitigate exposure to toxins and potential health hazards.
Funding the formal training for future industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, physicians, and other occupational safety and health professionals through universities and field-based internships.
Providing scientific and technical support to enable medical compensation for nuclear weapons workers and Sept. 11 first responders.
On Tuesday, following a sustained outcry from unions, public health experts, and lawmakers, HHS rescinded the layoff notifications for approximately 300 workers, a fraction of the total NIOSH staff of approximately 1,000 workers. The move came after a judge granted a temporary restraining order late Friday, ordering the Trump administration to stop any moves intended to implement Trump’s February executive order directing agencies to begin major reorganizations. Today’s complaint calls for all NIOSH workers to be reinstated across the agency so that NIOSH can resume its work.
“By gutting NIOSH, Elon Musk and his DOGE won’t just be cutting corners—they are cutting lives short and placing working people in danger. Working people have fought too hard for these critical protections to now watch an unelected billionaire dismantle them and take us back to a time when chronic disease and death on the job was commonplace,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with unions and partners today in filing this lawsuit to challenge this illegal, reckless and potentially deadly assault on worker health and safety.”
Each year, more than 5,000 workers die from injuries on the job, 135,000 workers die from occupational disease, and millions more are injured. Without NIOSH, these numbers will increase. The lawsuit follows a May 1 letter from the AFL-CIO and 27 unions urging Congress to intervene to reinstate NIOSH staff and restore its programs.
“The illegal firing of NIOSH workers and the gutting of critical safety programs by Elon Musk and the Trump administration will have devastating consequences for American workplaces,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “This reckless action threatens our preparedness for workplace violence, emergency planning, chemical and biological threats, and vital worker training. This lawsuit will help us to restore NIOSH’s mission and protect the safety and health of workers throughout our nation.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)
Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act would make wealthiest Americans pay fairer share to protect solvency of bedrock health care and retirement programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee and member of the Ways and Means Committee reintroduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act alongside U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). This bicameral legislation would protect the future solvency of Medicare and Social Security by reversing inequities in the tax system so the nation’s highest earners contribute their fair share. The Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act will extend the solvency of both programs indefinitely according to analyses from the nonpartisan actuaries of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Social Security Administration.
“From my first day in Congress, I’ve pledged to protect the long-term stability of Social Security and Medicare—two bedrock promises our country made to seniors, workers, and people with disabilities,” said Ranking Member Boyle. “Now, with Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE-fueled billionaires openly attacking these programs, that fight is more urgent than ever. This bill would protect Social Security and Medicare for generations by making the wealthiest Americans pay what they owe. While Republicans are pushing a $7 trillion tax giveaway to the ultra-rich, we’re working to protect the benefits that millions of Americans have earned—and we won’t let them be stolen to fund another billionaire windfall
“Working-class seniors pay into Social Security and Medicare their whole careers so they can enjoy a dignified retirement, but they end up paying a much larger share of their income in taxes than billionaires because the tax code is rigged in favor of the rich,” said Senator Whitehouse. “As the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans gear up to deliver budget-busting giveaways for their billionaire donors, I will continue pushing to make our tax code fair and protect these twin pillars of retirement security as far as the eye can see.”
Medicare and Social Security are twin pillars of economic fairness and retirement security, providing lifelines to elderly Americans and their children, and disabled workers. In 2022, Social Security alone lifted 28.9 million Americans out of poverty, and nearly half of seniors live in households that receive at least 50 percent of their family income from Social Security benefits that they have earned after a lifetime of work. Medicare protects its over 65 million beneficiaries from potentially catastrophic health care costs.
Despite the bedrock importance of these programs, both are at risk of being unable to fully pay out benefits within the next 15 years. Without new revenue, the Hospital Insurance trust fund and the Old Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund are expected to become insolvent in 2036 and 2033, respectively.
The bicameral legislation would:
Preserve Medicare and Social Security while safeguarding benefits.
Require taxpayers with over $400,000 in income to contribute a fairer share to Social Security.
Lift the Social Security tax cap to ensure that no matter the source of their income, high-income taxpayers would pay the same tax rate on their income exceeding that threshold.
Require taxpayers with incomes above $400,000 to contribute more to Medicare.
Increase the rate for income above $400,000 by 1.2 percent, and ensure that wealthy owners of pass-through businesses like hedge funds and private equity firms with more than $400,000 in annual income cannot avoid Medicare taxes.
Joining Boyle and Whitehouse on the bill as original cosponsors are Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The bill has been endorsed by Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Tax Fairness, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Communications Workers of America, Doctors for America, Families USA, Groundwork Collaborative, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Main Street Alliance, Mary’s Center, MomsRising, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council on Aging, National Education Association, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, People’s Action, Public Citizen, Revolving Door Project, Social Security Works, and Teamsters.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GAZA, May 15 (Xinhua) — At least 80 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Palestinian medical and institutional sources said.
The shelling of the town killed 54 people, including women and children, according to a press statement issued by Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.
Gaza’s European Hospital, the only medical facility in the Palestinian enclave that provides cancer care, was put out of action by recent Israeli airstrikes, according to health officials in the Palestinian enclave.
The attacks by the Jewish state “caused significant damage to infrastructure, in particular sewer lines, damaged department buildings and destroyed roads leading to the hospital,” the authorities said in a press statement.
Medical sources also told Xinhua that another 26 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and other areas in the northern part of the enclave.
On May 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the Jewish state’s military would enter the Gaza Strip “with full force” in the coming days to continue the defeat of the Hamas movement.
Israel resumed full-scale military action in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month truce. Since then, 2,876 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,800 wounded, according to health officials in the enclave.
The total number of Palestinians killed since the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict began on October 7, 2023, reached 53,010 as of Thursday, according to official statistics from Gaza’s health authorities. –0–
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has introduced H.R. 3378, the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA), which protects the health and welfare of racing horses and improves the integrity and safety of horse racing. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
This legislation is a direct response to the concerns surrounding the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which was signed into law, through an omnibus bill, in 2020. Passed with the intention of bringing uniformity to the horse racing industry, HISA establishes a wide set of rules that are implemented and enforced by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Since its passage, which Congressman Higgins opposed, HISA has been riddled with legal setbacks, including the death of 12 horses at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
The Racehorse Health and Safety Act would:
Repeal the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA);
Grant states the right to enter into the interstate compact, which is a contract between multiple states to develop nationwide rules governing scientific control and racetrack safety for horse racing;
Establish the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), which will regulate the horse racing industry;
Establish three Scientific Medication Control Committees (SMCCs) to draft recommended rules for each breed.
“Government overreach is impacting industries across our nation with rules in places where they have no business being,” said Congressman Higgins. “The well-intentioned disaster of HISA proved that enforcing uniformed rules in horse racing plagues the industry with confusion and disruption. This legislation is rooted in science and draws from industry experts. It is of horsemen, by horsemen, and for horsemen. We must push back against federal oppression and protect the horse racing industry and the beautiful animals we love.”
“The RHSA will provide horse owners and racetracks flexibility, while also bringing safe and effective regulation to the horseracing industry,” said Senator Cotton.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
Former agency officials from the FDA, CMS, HRSA, CDC, NIH, and more will testify
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) will lead their Democratic colleagues in holding a two-day forum to examine the human harm caused by the Trump Administration’s shuttering of key departments and mass firings of health experts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The forum will be held Tuesday, May 20th and Wednesday, May 21st, and is entitled “Trump’s Destruction of HHS: Mass Firings, Reorganization, and the Human Harm Caused.”
Welch and Baldwin’s forum will feature former officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Administration for Community Living (ACL), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Former HHS agency officials will testify and offer insights on the immediate and long-term impact of mass firings and restructuring on essential programs millions of Americans rely on.
On March 27, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. unveiled a plan to eliminate 20,000 HHS public health experts, scientists, and public servants and eliminate key agencies within HHS entirely. The Trump Administration has refused to provide Congress with information about the decision-making process or the potential impacts on vital programs that serve millions of Americans.
LOGISTICS:
WHAT: “Trump’s Destruction of HHS: Mass Firings, Reorganization, and the Human Harm Caused.”
DATE and TIME:
Tuesday, May 20Time: 3:00–4:30PMLocation: SD-G50 Watch via livestream
Wednesday, May 21Time: 3:00–4:30PM Location: SH-216 Watch via livestream
WHO: U.S. Senators; former officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Administration for Community Living (ACL), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Media interested in attending this event are encouraged to RSVP to Aaron_White@welch.senate.gov by 11:00AM on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
More than £900,000 is being invested to create more capacity at special schools in Plymouth.
This is part of Plymouth City Council’s £13 million SEND sufficiency plan, which aims to improve support for children and young people with special needs and/or disabilities (SEND) by increasing the availability of special school places.
The Council will spend £728,392 to carry out reconfiguration works at Woodlands Special School, transforming an unused space to facilitate a 10-place assessment nursery provision and creating extra school places.
The nursery provision will provide year-long placements for pre-school aged children who are waiting to be assessed for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It will be staffed by a teacher and Education, Health and Care assistants, who will monitor children to see whether they need a specialist or mainstream school place. Children will then be supported to transition directly from the nursery into their new school placement.
A further £192,000 will also be used to increase capacity at Longcause Special School, by converting four offices into additional classroom spaces to better meet the needs of pupils at the school.
Woodlands Special School supports pupils aged between two and 19-years-old who have complex physical and sensory difficulties, with many also having medical needs.
Longcause Special School provides places to children aged four to 16-years-old who are on the autism spectrum and have other learning difficulties.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “One of the biggest challenges we face when it comes to improving our SEND services is the lack of special school places available for children who really need extra support to learn and thrive.
“We are committed to maximising the limited resources available to us to create more specialist provision. I’m delighted that we’re able to work with Longcause and Woodlands to reconfigure their respective school buildings to turn underutilised space into useful learning environments for children and young people with SEND.
“Thank you to our special school headteachers for working so constructively with us to help find creative solutions to what are very complex problems.”
All of the new places for the next school year have already been allocated to children who have been waiting for a specialist place.
The majority of the building work is due to take place during the summer holidays to avoid disrupting pupils and staff.
While most children’s needs can be met in a mainstream setting, for some a specialist setting is more appropriate. To be eligible for a special school place, children must have an EHCP or be undergoing a statutory assessment of their special educational needs and have needs that cannot be met in a mainstream school.
The Council and local schools have recently launched a new website outlining the Plymouth Graduated Approach to Inclusion. This helps schools and parents and carers by setting out the support available for children and young people with SEND to ensure that their needs are meet. Find out more at https://plymouthgati.co.uk.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
MHRA approves vaccine to protect against pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia and meningitis
As with all products, the MHRA will keep its safety under close review.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (15 May 2025) approved a vaccine (Capvaxive) for people aged 18 years and older to help protect against illnesses caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus.
Illnesses caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria include lung infection (pneumonia), inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and infection in the blood (bacteraemia). The vaccine works by helping the body to make its own antibodies, which protect against these diseases.
This vaccine has been approved through the International Recognition Procedure (IRP). The IRP allows the MHRA to take into account the expertise and decision-making of trusted regulatory partners for the benefit of UK patients.
The MHRA conducts a targeted assessment of IRP applications and retains the authority to reject applications if the evidence provided is not considered sufficiently robust.
As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine under close review. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
Notes to editors
The marketing authorisation was granted on 15 May 2025 to Merck Sharp & Dohme (UK) Limited.
More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgments to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
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Results from a recent multi-center, randomized, controlled trial demonstrate that testosterone gel does not improve long-distance mobility compared to exercise alone in older women recovering from a hip fracture.
The STEP-HI (Starting a Testosterone and Exercise Program after Hip Injury) study results were published in JAMA Network Open on May 15. This is to date the largest study of testosterone administration to women following a fracture of the hip.
UConn Center on Aging was a clinical trial site for the national STEP-HI study since its launch in 2018.
Threat of Broken Hips in Older Women “Historically, despite dramatic advances in surgical techniques, nearly three out of four older women fail to regain their previous level of function following hip fracture even when followed by the usual level of rehabilitation,” shares study co-author Dr. George Kuchel, director of the UConn Center on Aging.
In fact, hip fractures are the most serious type of osteoporotic fracture, as they are accompanied by considerable pain, loss of muscular and bone strength, reduced mobility and independence with daily activities, and increased risk for future fractures and death. After a hip fracture, patients undergo surgery to repair the broken bone, followed by a period of rehabilitation.
Patient does leg presses at UConn Center on Aging. (Lauren Woods/UConn Photo)
Results of the STEP-HI Clinical Trial The large STEP-HI study focused on interventions intended to improve outcomes after standard therapy was completed. The study, “Effects of Exercise Training and Testosterone Therapy in Older Women after Hip Fracture: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” provides valuable information that does not support adding low-dose testosterone to exercise in women recovering from a hip fracture to improve long-distance mobility. Testosterone is a hormone present in all women that declines with age. It has effects on muscle that were hypothesized to augment the benefits of exercise during the recovery period.
The study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial that enrolled women aged ≥ 65 years who had a recent surgical repair of a hip fracture, met objective criteria for mobility impairment, and were community-dwelling. Participants (n=129) were recruited from 8 clinical sites in the United States between February 2018 and February 2023.
Key findings of the study include:
24 weeks of supervised exercise combined with testosterone therapy did not significantly improve Six Minute Walk Distance (a measure of long-distance mobility) compared to supervised exercise alone. This suggests that adding testosterone to exercise may not provide further benefits beyond exercise itself in terms of long-distance mobility in older women post hip fracture.
Adding testosterone therapy to exercise had positive effects on short-distance mobility and balance, while also reducing the requirement of assistive walking devices at the end of the study. These secondary findings will require further research to confirm.
Jenna M. Bartley, Ph.D. served as the UConn Center on Aging’s clinical trial site principal investigator alongside Kuchel and Richard Fortinsky, Ph.D.
“While we did not see improvements with testosterone in endurance activities, these findings are important for our understanding of how older women can best recover from hip fracture. While we thought that adding an anabolic agent like testosterone would aid in mobility improvements, we did not see a benefit in that aspect. We did see a benefit of testosterone in other functional domains, but more research is needed to confirm those findings,” Bartley reports.
Kuchel, director of the UConn Center on Aging, agrees.
“Our findings did not demonstrate any additional benefits in long-distance mobility of testosterone replacement beyond the positive effects of exercise. However, our findings confirm that more intense and sustained exercise protocols are well-tolerated by older women and can result in substantial functional improvements.”
Kuchel stresses a secondary post hoc finding of the study that needs further investigation.
“Among women who required a walker or cane at baseline, those who were randomized to receive exercise and testosterone replacement were more likely to be able to walk without a cane or walker 6 months later as compared to women receiving only exercise or usual care. These findings will require future study and further confirmation,” says Kuchel of UConn.
Striking Impact of Strength Training for Older Women at UConn Center on Aging “What was most striking from our STEP-HI study was how well the older women performed the progressive resistance training and how much they improved over the course of the study,” says Principal Investigator Bartley at UConn.
She says while some women were hesitant at first, by the end of the study some were leg pressing over 100lbs!
“It was really impressive to see the progress over time from these women. It really is never too late to start an exercise training program!” Bartley advises.
Also, Bartley shared how progressive resistance training for 6 months led to huge improvements in functional outcomes.
‘‘The power of weight training is really impressive, even in these older women. This research really highlighted how older women can benefit from weight training despite being recently injured or more frail,” concludes Bartley.
The study team of co-authors concluded overall that: “Although testosterone did not provide the functional benefits to older women recovering from a hip fracture that we were expecting, our study offers valuable information on the importance of exercise and other treatments during recovery,” wrote the study co-authors led by Dr. Ellen F. Binder of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Other study co-authors include: Sarah D. Berry, MD, MPH, Peter Doré, MS, Steven R. Fisher, PT, PhD, Richard H. Fortinsky, PhD, Camelia Guild, MPH, Douglas P. Kiel, MD, MPH, Robin L. Marcus, PT, PhD, Christine M. McDonough, PT, PhD, Kelly M. Monroe, MSW, Denise Orwig, PhD, Rocco Paluch, MA, Dominic Reeds, MD, Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, Elena Volpi, MD, PhD, Kenneth B. Schechtman, PhD, and Jay Magaziner, PhD.
The JAMA Network Open study co-authors are faculty at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the UConn Center on Aging, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life and the Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, University of Texas Medical Branch, University of Utah, University of Pittsburgh. University at Buffalo, University of Colorado, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio GRECC, Sealy Center on Aging, and the University of Texas Medical Branch.
This work is in part supported by the following grants: The National Institute on Aging provided funding and supervision for STEP-HI under award numbers: R21 AG023716, R34 AG040257, R01 AG051647, P30 AG067988 (UConn Older Americans Independence Pepper Center), P30 AG024832, P30 AG028747. Support for STEP-HI at the Baltimore site was also provided by the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECC).
With the Spring sitting of the Legislature concluding today, Premier Scott Moe highlighted the Government of Saskatchewan’s balanced 2025-26 Budget and how it is delivering for you.
“Our government continues to prioritize safety in our communities and ensuring services are available to all residents when and where they need them,” Moe said. “Saskatchewan is a growing and vibrant province that continues to benefit from a strong economy even in uncertain times. Record investments were made this year to keep Saskatchewan an affordable place to live, work and raise a family.”
In this year’s budget, record investments continue to be made in health care, education and community safety, in addition to delivering more affordability measures than ever before.
New affordability measures include:
The Fertility Treatment Tax Credit, helping individuals or couples cover costs associated with fertility treatments.
Doubling the Active Families Benefit tax credit and raising the qualifying income threshold to $120,000 will make accessing children’s sports, arts, cultural and recreational activities more affordable.
Seniors receive an increase in the senior supplement amount by $500 annually for the next four years, starting in 2025 – over and above the impact of indexation.
An increase to the Personal Care Home Benefit will help more than 2,000 low-income seniors with the cost of living in a licensed personal care home.
The Graduate Retention Program has also increased, with a maximum benefit of $24,000 for students who live and work in Saskatchewan after graduating from a post-secondary institution.
The Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship provides up to $3,000 for Grade 12 students who will be attending post-secondary institutions in the province.
All education property tax mill rates have been reduced to absorb the increase in property assessment values and ensure this assessment year is revenue neutral for the province. This change will save property owners in the province more than $100 million annually.
Reinstating the Home Renovation Tax Credit saves residents up to $420 and seniors $525 annually in provincial income tax.
The First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit maximum benefit increased to $1,575, making homeownership more attainable for first-time homebuyers, and the PST Rebate on New Home Construction was made permanent.
The Disability Tax Credit and the Disability Tax Credit supplement for children under 18 both increase by 25 per cent, in addition to indexation.
The Caregiver Tax Credit also increases by 25 per cent, in addition to indexation, which provides financial support for families who care for adult children or parents with physical or mental impairments.
The Small Business Tax Rate permanently remains at one per cent, which benefits more than 35,000 small businesses and saves them over $50 million annually in corporate income taxes.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Tax Credit provides a non-refundable tax credit for individuals or corporations that invest in the equity of eligible Saskatchewan small and medium enterprise, while the Saskatchewan Class 1 Truck Driver Training Rebate Program supports individuals seeking their commercial driving license.
Additionally, legislation introduced and passed this year aims to promote community safety. Amendments to The Construction Codes Act allow the development of a pilot framework intended to help eligible municipalities dispose of these structures as well as provide a training opportunity for local volunteer fire departments. Amendments to The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act include fentanyl, methamphetamine and hypodermic needles as categories of street weapons recognizing the significant risks these items present to public safety. New regulations under The Trespass to Property Amendment Regulations, 2025, will allow police to immediately enforce the Act against individuals partaking in activities such as public intoxication and drug use as it will be automatically considered trespassing in public spaces or businesses.
This April, the Government of Saskatchewan was pleased to reach a new agreement between the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) and the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee. This new agreement recognizes the important role of teachers and provides certainty for teachers, students and their families.
Health care continues to be a priority for the government with continued investment into new and enhanced services and the Health Human Resources Action Plan to ensure services are staffed. The new Regina Breast Health Centre started welcoming patients this spring offering a co-location of essential services to streamline care, reduce wait times and improve patient experiences in what can often be a challenging time. Success continues to be made with recruitment guided by the Health Human Resources Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retain more staff in the province. To continue that work, Saskatchewan’s Rural and Remote Recruitment
Incentive (RRRI) program has been expanded to an additional 16 communities for a total of 70. This incentive of up to $50,000 for a three-year return-in-service is offered to new, permanent full-time employees in nine high-priority health occupations in rural and remote communities experiencing or at risk of service disruptions due to staffing challenges. A recruitment campaign also launched recently encouraging physicians from the United States to consider practicing in Saskatchewan.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said the major surveillance indicators of COVID-19 reached a one-year high, urging all sectors of the community to heighten their vigilance and enhance personal hygiene and protection measures.
In addition to advising citizens to receive the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, the CHP also recommended people at high risk to receive a booster dose in a timely manner to minimise the risk of serious complications or death after infection.
CHP Controller Dr Edwin Tsui pointed out that after the resumption of normalcy, Hong Kong experienced cycles of active periods of COVID-19 in every six to nine months.
“Taking into account local and global epidemiological data in recent years, the CHP is of the view that COVID-19 has evolved into an endemic disease with a periodic pattern.”
The CHP’s analysis suggested that the active periods are associated with the changes in the predominant circulating strains and declining herd immunity in Hong Kong.
In early 2024, the predominant strains circulated locally changed from XBB to JN.1.
In the third quarter of 2024, the strains changed from JN.1 to KP.2 and KP.3.
Since late March this year, they have further changed to XDV.
Dr Tsui said there is no evidence suggesting that XDV will cause more severe disease.
According to the latest surveillance data as of the week ending May 10, the viral load of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance, the test positivity rate and the cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests in the laboratory have continued to rise over the past four weeks.
In particular, the percentage of respiratory samples testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus gradually increased to 13.66% from 6.21% four weeks ago, marking a record high in the past year.
For sewage surveillance, the per capita viral load of SARS-CoV-2 virus was around 710,000 copy/litre, which was also significantly higher than that of about 390,000 copy/litre four weeks ago.
During the same period, the consultation rate of COVID-19 cases at Accident & Emergency departments, general outpatient clinics and sentinel private medical practitioner clinics also recorded a significant increase.
“Based on previous statistics, we expect the activity level of COVID-19 to remain at a higher level for at least the next few weeks,” Dr Tsui added.
Regarding severe and fatal cases, the CHP recorded a total of 81 COVID-19 severe cases involving adults in the past four weeks, among which 30 were fatal cases.
Epidemiological investigations showed that 83% of the patients were aged 65 or above.
For children, the CHP has recorded five severe cases so far this year. Of which, two have underlying illnesses and three cases have not received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr Tsui noted that the currently prevalent XDV strain is a related variant of JN.1.
“Therefore, the JN.1 vaccine used in Hong Kong is effective in preventing the disease, reducing the risk of severe illness and death, and enhancing herd immunity.”
He urged high-risk groups, especially the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, to receive an additional booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, parents should also bring their children to complete the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) questioned the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., today during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP).
During the hearing, Senator Marshall asked Secretary Kennedy about the chronic disease epidemic in America, efforts to make HHS more efficient, and vaccines.
Senator Marshall has been a long-time ally of Secretary Kennedy and was heavily involved in his confirmation process. As an OB-GYN of over 25 years, Senator Marshall is also the Chairman of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus.
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Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full line of questioning.
Highlights from the hearing include:
On Making America Healthy Again:
Senator Marshall: “This was going to be a question. I’m just going to make a statement. All the research that we do on MAHA, on soil health, on nutrition, in my heart, that’s research on cancer. It’s research on Alzheimer’s, at the end of the day… We should be spending as much money at the front side of this as we are trying to cure the end of it. We’re seeing epidemics of colorectal cancer, young age Alzheimer’s, all these things. And I think the research at the front end is every bit as important at the hind end.”
Secretary Kennedy: “…NIH made all these extraordinary breakthroughs, and particularly in treating cancer and, you know, reducing mortalities for colorectal cancer. But my question is, isn’t it as important to find out why kids are getting colorectal cancer?
“When you and I were kids, there were zero kids with colorectal cancer. It’s an epidemic now, so it’s not really a badge for us when we say, ‘Oh, we can make it less lethal.’ Why don’t we go figure out what’s causing it and eliminate that exposure with all of these with Alzheimer’s, with heart disease? There’s something making Americans very, very sick, and our response should not be just ‘okay, we’ll develop a pharmaceutical fix for it, or medical fix.’ Let’s figure out what it is and get rid of it so we can have healthy kids again.”
On efforts to make HHS more efficient:
Senator Marshall: “Isn’t it true that under Joe Biden’s White House, they added 20,000 employees to HHS? When you were nominated, there were 28 divisions with HHS, 100 communication offices, 40 IT departments, and nine HR units as well? Can you answer that question?”
Secretary Kennedy: “Yes, that’s right. There are dozens of IT departments. There’s eight senior finance officials. There are nine separate offices on women’s health, eight separate offices for minority health, 27 separate offices for HIV, 59 behavioral health programs, [and] 40 opioid programs.”
“What we’re trying to do is consolidate, streamline, eliminate the redundancies, eliminate all those administrative costs for each one of those little departments, consolidate them and make them make sense, and make them accountable to the American people.
“… As you point out, there’s 40 procurement departments with four separate computer systems that don’t talk to each other… [HHS] grew like 38% of the last four years. I would say that’s great if Americans got healthier, but they didn’t. They got worse.
“So what we’re trying to do is go back to the pre-COVID levels and to start making the department function as it would… in a rational universe, and to bring in, you know, modern AI and telemedicine, and all the opportunities we have now, these new efficiencies and for medical delivery to the American people and for patient care.
“And we’re not able to take advantage of any of them because there’s so much chaos and disorganization in this department, and everybody who’s gone up against it in the past has thrown their hands up and given up. What we’re saying is, let’s organize it in a way that I can quickly adopt and deploy all these opportunities we have to really deliver high-quality health care to the American people.”
On vaccines:
Senator Marshall: “Let’s stay on the measles vaccine, just for a second… I’m an obstetrician. If a 25-year-old pregnant woman asked me if she should take the measles vaccine, the MMR… I would give her the answer, ‘No, you shouldn’t.’ But if she was 25 and trying to get pregnant, I would give her different advice.
“I’ve always valued the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship. I went to medical school for four years. I did four years of residency. I delivered thousands of babies. It’s my job to give that recommendation. What’s the role of the Secretary of HHS as far as recommendations of vaccines?”
Secretary Kennedy: “Well, the vaccine recommendations, Senator, are normally made through ACIP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is an outside consulting committee at CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. There’s another committee called VRBPC [the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee], which is within the FDA [Food and Drug Administration], that actually recommends whether the vaccines get licensed or not, and so that’s where the recommendations come from.
“… Traditionally, they have not done evidence-based medicine. They only adopted evidence-based medicine about 12 years ago, and what we’ve said during our administration is we want to have safety studies prior to the licensure and recommendation of vaccines.
“Vaccines are the only medical product that is exempt from pre-licensing safety testing. So the only vaccine that has been tested in a full-blown placebo trial against an inert placebo was the COVID vaccine. Of the other 76 shots that children in this country received between birth and 18 years old, none of them have been safety tested in pre-licensing studies against the placebo, which means we don’t understand the risk profile for those products, and that’s something that I intend to remedy.”
Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union
WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after House committees voted to move forward with a budget that will hurt public services nationwide:
“Anti-worker extremists in Congress have shamefully voted to strip 13.7 million people of their health insurance and take food off the tables of families all to fund tax breaks for billionaires. These extreme cuts will impact everyone — not just those who receive health insurance through Medicaid or food through SNAP. Hospitals, nursing homes and clinics — particularly in rural areas — will be forced to close. More people going to the doctor without insurance means health care costs will go up for everyone, and emergency departments will be overwhelmed as people only go to the doctor when in crisis.
“These examples merely scratch the surface of the harm our communities will face. As costs continue to rise, working people will have even less to spend, hurting small businesses, resulting in layoffs and devastating Main Streets across the country. From child and home care providers to sanitation workers and corrections officers, AFSCME members are essential in providing the public services that keep our nation safe and healthy. Without federal funding, our jobs are at risk as states, cities and towns struggle to afford these lifesaving services. Clearly, the intention of those voting for this budget package isn’t to put people to work and stimulate our economy; it’s to give the wealthiest among us a handout at the expense of working people.
“As this bill heads to the House floor, AFSCME members will continue to speak out to protect our communities. Tens of thousands of us have called, written and even traveled to D.C. from across the country to ensure that elected officials know how cuts will hurt our families, communities and jobs. Now, we’ll be even louder as we fight this cruel, anti-worker budget tooth and nail.”
NEW YORK, NY, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Climb Credit, a leading student lending platform focused on skills education, today announced the launch of its new deposit collection feature, designed to give career-training schools greater control over enrollment and repayment outcomes—without adding operational overhead.
The feature enables schools to automatically collect and track student deposit payments through a seamless workflow integrated with the loan process. Once a student is approved for a Climb loan and accepts their offer, they receive an automated prompt to submit their school’s required deposit, with all payment tracking managed in Climb’s School Portal.
“Deposits are a key signal of student commitment, but schools have traditionally had to manage them separately from the loan process,” said Casey Powers, CEO of Climb Credit. “With this launch, we’ve streamlined deposit collection for schools and simplified the experience for students—reducing friction and accelerating enrollment.
Initial data from schools collecting deposits shows a 46–48% decrease* in the likelihood of borrower default for lower credit borrowers. This improvement is attributed not only to the upfront financial commitment, but also to a smoother path into auto-pay enrollment. When students submit deposits via bank transfer, those details can be automatically linked to Climb’s loan servicing platform—making it easier to activate auto-pay and receive a 0.25% interest rate reduction.**
The new feature is fully integrated into Climb’s lending platform, meaning schools no longer need to manually invoice students or track payments across systems. Adjusting individual deposit amounts, verifying funding status, and accessing real-time student-level data can all be done through Climb’s School Portal.
This launch adds to Climb’s growing suite of products aimed at improving access, outcomes, and operational efficiency for career training providers—particularly in healthcare, skilled trades, and technology.
*Data calculated through an assessment or repayment performance on loans from 2Q23 to Q12025 with and without a deposit requirement. Assessment included Climb advance loans without a full deferment period and borrower FICO scores below 660. Data was collected across market segments including programs in Computer Sciences, Healthcare, IT, and Trade Schools.
**The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. This discount only applies to interest-bearing products, not 0%interest financing products.
Climb encourages students to do thorough research in selecting a training program that meets their unique needs. Details provided by Climb are for information purposes only and are not meant to qualify an institution or be relied upon in determining which institution is right for you.
About Climb Credit
Climb (NMLS# 1240013) is an innovative student payment platform that makes career-focused education more accessible and affordable. Driven by a mission to empower individuals to unlock their potential – no matter their credit profile – Climb identifies programs and schools that offer skill-based training programs, then provides learners with payment options that are structured to meet the unique needs of those seeking career training. Recognizing the dynamic and diverse nature of a rapidly-changing economy, Climb partners with schools that teach everything from cybersecurity to healthcare training, heavy machine operation to data science, and culinary arts to AI & Machine Learning. While status quo education pathways are struggling to meet the real-world needs of students and prospective employers, Climb and its partner schools are committed to an inspiring practicality that helps bridge the gap between people looking for career training and companies looking to build a skilled workforce.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Amani Karisa, Associate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center
Kenya has long recognised the rights of persons with disabilities in law. The 2010 constitution guarantees access, dignity and inclusion for people living with disabilities.
But these legal promises remain largely aspirational. Their provisions are rarely translated into everyday realities. Many Kenyans with disabilities still face stigma, inaccessible environments, unequal education opportunities and limited access to employment.
Many schools remain exclusionary due to inaccessible physical infrastructure. This includes classrooms and latrines that lack ramps or hinder mobility for children with disabilities.
The fact that there are disputes over the number of Kenyans with disabilities is also telling. The 2019 census recorded 2.2% of the population – fewer than 1 million people – as having disabilities. This is far below the World Report on Disability’s estimates of an average of around 15%. This undercount reflects both cultural stigma and systemic gaps in how disability is understood and reported.
As someone who has spent more than a decade researching disability in Kenya, I have seen how the promise of rights is often undercut by structural and social barriers. This has come through in my own research and that of others.
The persistent failure to translate rights into tangible outcomes for persons with disabilities created urgency for change.
The new law expands the definition of disability to encompass a broader range of impairments. This ensures more individuals are recognised and protected under the law. The law also mandates accessibility across sectors such as education, employment, healthcare and public services, requiring reasonable accommodations and prohibiting discrimination.
In my view, the new law reflects a broader move from symbolic recognition to legal obligation. But passing a law is just the beginning. Implementation will be the real test.
What’s been missing
In my research, and that of others, the question of why the 2003 law did little to shift everyday exclusion has been addressed. A few things were apparent.
First, employment quotas were suggested but never enforced. Discrimination in hiring and promotions was prohibited in theory, but was common in practice.
Second, there has been little support for caregivers.
Third, there was minimal access to assistive technologies (which are tools designed to help persons with disabilities perform tasks and improve their quality of life, such as mobility aids, communication devices and adaptive software).
Rather than disability being the problem, it is the lack of accommodation, inclusive policies and public understanding that creates exclusion. This is a core insight of the social model of disability, which views disability as arising from the interaction between individuals and an unaccommodating society. This perspective explains that people are disabled not by their bodies but by barriers in society – like stairs without ramps or employers who won’t adapt.
Workplace inclusion: public bodies must now ensure that at least 5% of jobs are held by persons with disabilities. This provision, although previously suggested, now comes with clearer oversight requirements. Private employers are both mandated and incentivised to create inclusive workplaces. Reasonable accommodations, such as accessible workstations or flexible hours, can be counted as deductible expenses.
Access to public services and spaces: the law requires that buildings, roads and services be made accessible. Hospitals must have trained sign language interpreters. Schools must adapt their admission criteria, curricula and facilities to include learners with disabilities. These requirements signal a move away from treating accessibility as optional or charitable.
Stronger institutional framework: the National Council for Persons with Disabilities has been given more robust powers, including enforcement, monitoring and management of disability-related funding. The law also recommends the use of affirming and respectful language in public communication – a subtle but essential step in reducing stigma.
The law incorporates disability considerations into sector-specific practices. For example, the law requires justice sector actors to consider disability when arresting, detaining or trying someone.
What needs to happen now
The government must act swiftly to implement supporting regulations. Funding is needed to retrofit public buildings, hire staff to support individuals with disabilities, and subsidise assistive devices. Without proper budgeting, the law risks becoming another unfulfilled promise.
Employers and institutions must do more than comply: they must transform their attitudes. Disability inclusion should be built into human resources practices, school policies and service design. Training will be key.
Finally, persons with disabilities must be central to the law’s implementation. Inclusion must be driven by those who live the reality of exclusion. Their insights are essential to making services responsive and respectful.
The 2025 Act is an important step. But if it is not backed by funding, political will and public education, its potential will remain unrealised.
The real question is not whether the law is good enough, but whether Kenya’s institutions, communities and leaders are prepared to make it work for those it was designed to serve.
– Kenya has a bold new disability law: now to make it work – https://theconversation.com/kenya-has-a-bold-new-disability-law-now-to-make-it-work-256646
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mary J. Scourboutakos, Adjunct Lecturer in Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
GLP-1 is a good example of how it’s not just what you eat that matters, it’s also how you eat it.(Shutterstock)
Despite the popularity of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss, surveys suggest that most people still prefer to lose weight without using medications. For those preferring a drug-free approach to weight loss, research shows that certain nutrients and dietary strategies can naturally mimic the effects of semaglutides.
Increased intakes of fibre and monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil and avocadoes) — as well as the time of day when foods are eaten, the order that foods are eaten in, the speed of eating and even chewing — can naturally stimulate increased production of the same hormone responsible for the effects of semaglutide drugs.
As a family physician with a PhD in nutrition, I translate the latest nutrition science into dietary recommendations for my patients. A strategic approach to weight loss rooted in the latest science is not only superior to antiquated calorie counting, but also capitalizes on the same biological mechanisms responsible for the success of popular weight-loss drugs.
Increased intake of monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil and avocadoes) is one factor in naturally stimulating GLP-1 production — the same hormone responsible for the effects of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic. (Stevepb/Pixabay)
Semaglutide medications work by increasing the levels of a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), a satiety signal that slows digestion and makes us feel full. These drugs also simultaneously decrease levels of an enzyme called DPP-4, which inactivates GLP-1.
As a result, this “stop eating” hormone that naturally survives for only a few minutes can survive for an entire week. This enables a semi-permanent, just-eaten sensation of fullness that consequently leads to decreased food intake and, ultimately, weight loss.
Nevertheless, medications aren’t the only way to raise GLP-1 levels.
What you eat
Fibre — predominantly found in beans, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds — is the most notable nutrient that can significantly increase GLP-1. When fibre is fermented by the trillions of bacteria that live in our intestines, the resultant byproduct, called short chain fatty acids, stimulates the production of GLP-1.
Monounsaturated fats — found in olive oil and avocado oil — are another nutrient that raises GLP-1. One study showed that GLP-1 levels were higher following the consumption of bread and olive oil compared to bread and butter. Though notably, bread consumed with any kind of fat (be it from butter or even cheese) raises GLP-1 more than bread alone.
Another study showed that having an avocado alongside your breakfast bagel also increases GLP-1 more so than eating the bagel on its own. Nuts that are high in both fibre and monounsaturated fats, like pistachios, have also been shown to raise GLP-1 levels.
How you eat
However, the specific foods and nutrients that influence GLP-1 levels are only half the story. GLP-1 is a good example of how it’s not just what you eat that matters, it’s also how you eat it.
The Mediterranean diet outperformed semaglutide drugs at lowering risk of cardiac events. (Shutterstock)
Studies show that meal sequence — the order foods are eaten in — can impact GLP-1. Eating protein, like fish or meat, before carbohydrates, like rice, results in a higher GLP-1 level compared to eating carbohydrates before protein. Eating vegetables before carbohydrates has a similar effect.
Time of day also matters, because like all hormones, GLP-1 follows a circadian rhythm. A meal eaten at 8 a.m. stimulates a more pronounced release of GLP-1 compared to the same meal at 5 p.m. This may partly explain why the old saying “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper” is backed by evidence that demonstrates greater weight loss when breakfast is the largest meal of the day and dinner is the smallest.
While certain foods and dietary strategies can increase GLP-1 naturally, the magnitude is far less than what is achievable with medications. One study of the GLP-1 raising effects of the Mediterranean diet demonstrated a peak GLP-1 level of approximately 59 picograms per millilitre of blood serum. The product monograph for Ozempic reports that the lowest dose produces a GLP-1 level of 65 nanograms per millilitre (one nanogram = 1,000 picograms). So medications raise GLP-1 more than one thousand times higher than diet.
The following strategies are important for those trying to lose weight without a prescription:
Eat breakfast
Strive to make breakfast the largest meal of the day (or at least frontload your day as much as possible)
Aim to eat at least one fibre-rich food at every meal
Make olive oil a dietary staple
Be mindful of the order that you eat foods in, consume protein and vegetables before carbohydrates
Snack on nuts
Chew your food
Eat slowly
While natural approaches to raising GLP-1 may not be as potent as medications, they provide a drug-free approach to weight loss and healthy eating.
Mary J. Scourboutakos does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas E. Yates, Professor of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Health, Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester
Throughout history, few things have inspired as much quackery as the pills, potions and promises to slow ageing, boost vitality, or extend life. Yet, amid the hype and hollow claims, a few golden truths remain. As far back as 400 BC, Hippocrates, widely considered the father of modern medicine, famously said, “Walking is man’s best medicine.” More than two millennia later, science is finally catching up with that wisdom.
People who walk more than 8,000 steps a day reduce their risk of premature death by half, compared to those who walk fewer than 5,000 steps – the threshold for a sedentary lifestyle. But beyond 8,000 steps, the benefits tend to plateau, which challenges the long-held belief in the magic of 10,000 steps a day.
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Lately, researchers have been exploring a simple but important question: does every step count the same, or can walking faster — at a brisk pace of more than 100 steps a minute, or around three to four miles per hour — actually give you more health benefits?
For ageing and heart health there is mounting evidence that pace really matters. Simply converting a 14-minute daily stroll into a seven-minute brisk walk has been associated with a 14% reduction in heart disease.
An analysis of more than 450,000 adults in the UK used a genetic marker of biological age to reveal that by middle age, a lifetime of brisk walking reduces biological age by up to 16 years compared to a lifetime of slow walking.
A follow-up study suggested it is never to late to benefit from brisk walking. An inactive 60-year woman or man was modelled to gain around an additional year of life expectancy through simply introducing a ten minute brisk walk into their daily routine.
The power of brisk walking can also be seen in its ability to predict future health outcomes. It has been shown to be a stronger predictor of the risk of dying from heart disease than traditional predictors such as blood pressure and cholesterol, while also being a more powerful predictor than many other measures of lifestyle – including diet, obesity levels, and total physical activity.
In fact, perhaps the single most informative question a doctor could ask their patient is: “How fast is your walking pace in comparison to other people?”
Halo of benefits
But brisk walking may not provide additional benefits for all outcomes or in all contexts. For example, the benefit of brisk walking over light-intensity walking in lowering cancer risk is less certain.
A recent study suggested that although total walking was associated with reduction in 13 different types of cancers, there was no added value from brisk walking. Breaking prolonged sitting with light-intensity pottering around has also been shown to have profound impacts on metabolic effects.
Importantly, walking has a halo of benefits beyond physical health. It can help with brain activity, doubling creative idea production. Indeed, the systems in the brain that support memory and imagination are also the same as those activated during whole body movement.
Many of us already harness this very phenomenon, using walking to mull over problems and arrive at solutions or insights that would otherwise remain elusive. Context is also important here, with the mental health and cognitive benefits of walking thought to be enhanced when walking through nature.
So called “nature prescriptions” for clinical populations have harnessed these principles to increase walking activity and improving both mental and physical health.
Physical inactivity is a major driver of the modern epidemic of long-term conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, that are now observed in industrialised and developing economies alike. It has been estimated that 3.9 million premature deaths could be averted annually through targeting physical inactivity.
However, instead of prevention, medical systems are largely based on management – people get ill and are then prescribed medicines to treat the illness. On average it takes $1 billion to bring a new drug to market which, despite these research and development costs, still go on to generate sizeable profits for shareholders showing the scale of the health economy.
If just a fraction of these costs were diverted into public health initiatives aimed at increasing walking and physical activity opportunities for all, the need for an ever more sophisticated medical management ecosphere may retreat.
In short, when searching for the elixir of life, you could do worse than looking down at your feet.
Prof Yates receives funding from the The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre
Cleaner air, safer streets and kids moving more – Edward Wilson Primary sees 12% rise in active travel thanks to Westminster’s trailblazing Superzone project.
On Tuesday 6 May, Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Councillor David Boothroyd and Leader of the Council Councillor Adam Hug, along with representatives from the Greater London Authority, visited the school to mark the success of the project and discuss its next steps.
Children’s voices have been at the heart of the Superzone from the start. Through workshops and engagement activities, pupils, parents, and staff have helped shape local priorities and actions from improving air quality and active travel to creating greener, safer streets.
In addition to the school superzone, Edward Wilson Primary is the first accredited Asthma Friendly School in Westminster. With tailored interventions to support children with respiratory conditions and improve overall wellbeing, four other schools have also followed suit. They are College Park Bayswater, College Park Hallfield, Pimlico Primary, and Marylebone Boys School.
Headteacher of Edward Wilson Primary School added:
“We wouldn’t have achieved so much without the School Superzone project and the support of Public Health at Westminster City Council.”
As a result of the project, Edward Wilson Primary has achieved:
Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Voluntary Sector, said:
The Edward Wilson Superzone shows what can be achieved when we put communities at the heart of decision-making. This project is a brilliant example of partnership in action, helping us build a greener, healthier, and a fairer city for our children.”
The Superzone sets a blueprint for future school-based health initiatives across Westminster and beyond.
WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being. In just two years, between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years—the largest drop in recent history— reversing a decade of health gains. Increased levels of anxiety and depression linked to COVID-19 reduced global healthy life expectancy by 6 weeks—erasing most of the gains made from lower mortality due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during the same period.
The report also summarizes global data on progress towards WHO’s triple billion targets, revealing impacts of not just the pandemic shock but also a longer trend of slowing progress starting before the pandemic, followed by a slower recovery since. WHO warns that overall progress is under threat and urgent global action is needed to get back on track.
“Behind every data point is a person—a child who didn’t reach their fifth birthday, a mother lost in childbirth, a life cut short by a preventable disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “These are avoidable tragedies. They point to critical gaps in access, protection, and investment—especially for women and girls. Health progress is slowing. Every government has a responsibility to act, with urgency, commitment, and accountability to the people they serve.”
Health progress and setbacks
The World health statistics 2025 report presents mixed progress towards WHO’s Triple Billion targets. An estimated 1.4 billion more people were living healthier by the end of 2024, surpassing the 1 billion target. The progress in healthier lives was driven by reduction in tobacco use, improved air quality and better access to water, hygiene, and sanitation. But progress towards increased coverage of essential health services and protection from emergencies lagged; only 431 million more people gained access to essential health services without financial hardship, and close to 637 million more people were better protected from health emergencies.
Maternal and child deaths are not falling fast enough to reach global targets. Progress has stalled, putting millions of lives at risk. This slowdown follows two decades of remarkable gains: between 2000 and 2023, maternal deaths dropped by over 40% and child deaths under 5 years of age more than halved. But underinvestment in primary health care, shortages of skilled health workers, and gaps in services like immunization and safe childbirth are now holding countries back.
Without urgent course correction to meet the 2030 targets, the world risks losing the chance to prevent an additional 700 000 maternal deaths and 8 million under-5 deaths between 2024 and 2030.
Chronic diseases leading to more loss of lives
Premature deaths from NCDs—such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer—are rising, driven by population growth and aging, and now account for most deaths among people under the age of 70, worldwide. The world is currently off track to reduce NCD premature mortality by one-third by 2030. Progress has been possible where governments and civil society have committed to action: tobacco use is declining, and global alcohol consumption dropped from 5.7 to 5.0 litres per capita between 2010 and 2022. Air pollution remains one of the top causes of preventable death worldwide. The impact of poor mental health continues to hold back progress.
Recovery in essential health services remains incomplete. A shortfall of 11.1 million health workers is still projected by 2030, with nearly 70% of the gap concentrated in the WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions.
“Strong health systems rely on strong health information. Timely, trusted data drives better decisions and faster results,” said Dr Haidong Wang, WHO Unit Head for Health Data and Analytics. “WHO is supporting countries through the SCORE strategy to strengthen health information systems, and through the World Health Data Hub, which is helping to standardize, improve, and unlock the value of data across countries and systems.”
Uneven progress on infectious diseases
HIV and TB incidence rates are falling, and fewer people need treatment for neglected tropical diseases. But malaria has been resurging since 2015, and antimicrobial resistance remains a public health challenge. In 2023, childhood vaccination coverage—including third dose diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus containing vaccine (DTP3)—had not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Many countries are also falling behind in addressing foundational health risks—such as malnutrition, air pollution, and unsafe living conditions.
Recent disruptions in international aid further threaten to destabilize progress, particularly in countries with the greatest health-care needs. Sustained and predictable financing—from both domestic and international sources—is urgently needed to protect hard-won gains and respond to rising threats.
“This report shows that the world is failing its health checkup. But countries have shown that rapid progress is possible,” said Dr Samira Asma, WHO Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact. “Together, we can achieve a world where data is timelier and more accurate, programmes improve continuously, and premature deaths become rare. With speed, scale, and smart investments, every country can deliver measurable gains.”
“This collaboration represents an innovative approach to addressing uncorrected presbyopia, a condition that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, particularly in underserved communities,” said Stuart Keel, Technical Officer in WHO’s Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability Department. “By combining WHO’s public health expertise with the trusted presence of postal services in local communities, we’re bringing essential eye care closer to where people live and work.”
“Postal networks have a special role in communities, beyond handling communication and business,” said Susan C. Alexander, Programme Manager from UPU’s Sustainability Services, Policy, Regulation and Markets Directorate. “Through this collaboration, we’re opening doors to improve the health and quality of life for both postal employees and the people they serve.”
The agreement, signed at WHO headquarters in Geneva, includes a joint plan of action from 2025 to 2027. The plan focuses on two key goals: using postal services to distribute near-vision glasses and promoting awareness about eye health among postal workers and the communities they serve.
Delivering SPECS 2030 initiative goals
The WHO-UPU partnership aligns closely with the WHO SPECS 2030 initiative, launched in May 2024, which aims to help countries scale up access to eye care in a sustainable way. One of the most pressing needs addressed by the initiative is presbyopia – an age-related condition that affects near vision and can be easily corrected with low-cost reading glasses. More than 800 million people worldwide suffer from presbyopia, yet many lack access to basic corrective eyeglasses. WHO and UPU will collaborate to develop, pilot, and evaluate delivery models that use postal networks to bridge this gap, in line with SPECS 2030’s five strategic pillars: Service design, Personnel development, public Education, Costing, and Surveillance and research.
This project also forms part of the UPU’s Post4Health initiative, which builds on the special role of postal networks in integrating public health logistics and community outreach. It demonstrates how these networks can serve as an effective channel not only for vision care, but for a wide range of health-related services worldwide.
The untapped potential of postal networks
With an estimated 680 000 post offices operating globally, postal services offer a unique opportunity to reach remote and underserved areas. India Post alone runs over 150 000 offices, forming the largest postal network in the world.
This vast infrastructure provides an unprecedented channel for distributing eyeglasses to communities where health services are insufficient. In many low-income countries, fewer than one in four people who need eyeglasses can obtain them – a disparity the WHO–UPU collaboration seeks to reduce. By harnessing the postal system’s reach, the collaboration aims to create a scalable and sustainable model to improve vision care for millions of people.
First pilot project: India Post in the state of Assam
In collaboration with India Post, the state of Assam in India has been chosen as the site for the first pilot project aimed at evaluating the scalability of a model for delivering near vision spectacles. It will be implemented across five postal services in the state.
As part of the pilot, postal workers will be trained to perform simple vision screenings and provide low-cost, ready-made reading glasses to individuals with near vision impairment. Local outreach will be undertaken using public education efforts and neighbourhood events to inform and engage communities.
WHO and UPU plan to leverage the results from the pilot project to support the expansion in other countries, with the goal of reaching underserved populations globally.
“This collaboration is about reimagining how care reaches people – getting beyond regular health spaces and connecting with individuals in their own environments,” Keel added.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After more than 26 hours of debate in the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) delivered closing remarks exposing the impact of House Republicans’ plan to gut health care for nearly 14 million Americans. The House Republicans’ budget proposal slashes roughly $800 billion from Medicaid and other critical health care initiatives that serve low- and middle-income families to pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit billionaires and big corporations.
“Almost 14 million Americans will lose their health coverage to give the richest Americans a large, permanent tax cut, while working families will see eventual tax increases. They’re going to add $5 trillion to the debt. It’s fiscally irresponsible, and it is morally wrong,” said Castor. “Now, at the outset of our hearing that began over 24 hours ago, Democrats highlighted folks back home who rely on Medicaid, and the Republicans protested. They said none of those people are going to lose their health care. Well, here’s what we know. The nonpartisan, independent CBO (Congressional Budget Office) says 14 million Americans will lose care. And why won’t people believe what the Republicans are saying? It’s because the Republicans have a track record of opposing affordable health care, while Democrats have championed the health of our neighbors. We do not believe that you should be bankrupt if you get a diagnosis. This is smart policy. We want people to be productive and healthy.”
Watch Castor’s remarks here.
A transcript of her full remarks follows below:
“Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. This amendment says that none of the provisions of this Title shall take effect if any of the provisions result in reduced access to coverage under the Health Title. And as we bring this debate in for a landing today, I want to say to my Democratic colleagues, I’m so proud to stand with you. You’re eloquent and fearless. And to Chairman Guthrie and my Republican colleagues, I want to thank you. I appreciate your respectful tenor of the debate.
“But we’ve learned a lot since the Republicans sprung this cruel and costly tax and spending package on Americans late in the dark of night, on Mother’s Day no less, rushing it to committee without a hearing, shrouding the health care debate—starting that at 1 AM in the middle of the night—but here’s what we know. Almost 14 million Americans will lose their health coverage to give the richest Americans a large, permanent tax cut, while working families will see eventual tax increases. They’re going to add $5 trillion to the debt. It’s fiscally irresponsible, and it is morally wrong. 14 million Americans. That’s the combined population of the states of Kentucky and Virginia. Some of the largest health care cuts ever proposed in American history, harming not just our neighbors, but providers, doctors, nurses, hospitals, therapists, who provide care.
“So this is going to impact all Americans. Here’s how. They’re going to bury people in costly paperwork. You slip up? No care. [They’re] Going to make it harder to enroll. No care. They’re going to shrink the enrollment periods. No care. They’re going to choke off the ability of states and providers to fund care. So no care there either. They’re going to raise premiums and price people out, so they lose care. Eligible parents and families will be forced to jump through hoops when instead, they should be focused on setting their kids up for success in life. It will be harder for families to access long-term care, or [to] stay in their homes and live in dignity.
“Now, at the outset of our hearing that began over 24 hours ago, Democrats highlighted folks back home who rely on Medicaid, and the Republicans protested. They said none of those people are going to lose their health care. Well, here’s what we know. The nonpartisan, independent CBO says 14 million Americans will lose care. And why won’t people believe what the Republicans are saying? It’s because the Republicans have a track record of opposing affordable health care, while Democrats have championed the health of our neighbors. We do not believe that you should be bankrupt if you get a diagnosis. This is smart policy. We want people to be productive and healthy.
“In fact, you can go all the way back to the 1960s when it was a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress, who originally passed Medicaid and Medicare into law. Or maybe something more in the modern era. [In] 2010, when a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress, as the rolls of the uninsured reached 25 percent in the state of Florida, passed the Affordable Care Act to outlaw discrimination for preexisting conditions. We passed a law that said kids can stay on their parents’ plan to age 26. We expanded Medicaid. Twenty-one million Americans now have health coverage because of Medicaid expansion. That ultimately cut the uninsured rate in half. We’re now at a historic low in the number of uninsured. We were constraining spending.
“But see, the Republicans have a track record, because they fought it every step of the way. There wasn’t one Republican vote for the Affordable Care Act. And then, go to 2017, the first Trump Administration, Republicans in this committee fought to repeal the ACA. Contrast that to the Democratic record. We passed the Inflation Reduction Act, [including] key reforms to lower health care costs. [We] directed Medicare to negotiate prices for the highest cost drugs. We capped the price of insulin at $35, a $2,000 cap for everyone on Medicare, and enhanced premium tax credits. The track record, again, not one GOP vote here.
“In 2021, [in] the midst of a maternal mortality crisis, we gave states a new option to provide Medicaid postpartum coverage. [Now here] In 2025, at the outset of this Congress, the Republicans are turning a blind eye. They’re going down the same old path to rip health coverage away. It doesn’t have to be like this. [p]eople in America deserve affordable, reliable care, and that’s what we intend to fight for. From this day forward, no matter if you pass this bill out of this committee, we’re not going to give up. We’re going to stand up for our neighbors back home. See them. See them, listen to them. Empower them. Support them. Don’t rip away their coverage to fund a massive tax giveaway for the wealthy.”
The UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills recently hosted the 2025 Career Everywhere Recognition & Celebration, honoring the many faculty, staff, alumni, and employer partners who have supported students in their career journeys this past year.
Emceed by Micah Heumann, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and a member of the Career Champion Advisory Board, the event highlighted the momentum behind the Career Everywhere movement and its mission to embed career development into every corner of the UConn experience. In his opening remarks, Heumann emphasized that “career readiness is an equity issue” and acknowledged the collective efforts to make career conversations accessible to all students.
“What’s happening here is transformational,” Heumann said. “We’re moving from silos to systems, fostering collaborations that cross disciplines, roles, and departments. And that’s what makes Career Everywhere so powerful. It’s not about asking everyone to become a career counselor. It’s about creating a shared culture where we all feel empowered to be part of the conversation”.
The celebration recognized more than just this shared commitment, it also spotlighted specific individuals and initiatives making an extraordinary impact.
Five alumni, Ali DeGirolamo, Dominique Teskey, Jonathan Costa, Kelly Kerrigan, and Tessa Kalin, were recognized for their meaningful contributions through the Alumni-in-Residence program. These alumni volunteered their time to host monthly office hours and offer one-on-one guidance to students, covering everything from networking strategies to industry insights. Their involvement extended to career panels, classroom visits, and other campus events, where they encouraged students to embrace career growth as a process filled with twists, turns, and unexpected lessons.
Fourteen faculty members from twelve departments participated in the 2024 Summer Faculty Fellow Institute, integrating career readiness into their courses with a focus on helping students articulate career competencies. Posters showcasing their work were featured during the event, offering attendees a glimpse into how career learning is being embedded into the curriculum.
Provost Anne D’Alleva reflected on the power of this collective effort: “Career development doesn’t happen in isolation. It grows through the relationships, experiences, and encouragement students receive every day. The commitment of our Career Champions helps ensure that every student has the tools and support they need to take confident steps toward their future.”
This year, the Center received 154 award nominations; an all-time high that reflects the widespread commitment across the university to supporting student success. The 2025 Career Everywhere award recipients are:
Undergraduate Career Mentor of the Year: Craig Calvert, Associate Professor In-Residence and Co-Director of the MEM Program
Graduate Career Mentor of the Year: Mary Anne Amalaradjou, Associate Professor, Animal Science
Staff Career Mentor of the Year: Brooke Foti Gemmell, Design Strategist, Greenhouse Studios
Employer/Alumni Career Mentor of the Year: Ali DeGirolamo, Mayoral Aide, City of Waterbury
Faculty Career Advocate of the Year: Tamara Kaliszewski, Associate Professor-in-Residence, Allied Health Sciences
Staff Career Advocate of the Year: Arthur Galinat, Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Career Competency Innovation Award: Allied Health Sciences Department, including Anna Ramos, Cheryl Ordway, Janet Rochester, Jill Skowrenski, Justin Nash, Lauren Wilson, Paul Bureau, and Paula Kalksma-McDowell
From one-on-one mentorship and career guidance to curriculum innovation and institutional partnerships, each of these recipients represents the impact of making career development a shared responsibility—and a shared success—at UConn.
To learn more about the Career Champion program and how to get involved, visit https://career.uconn.edu/careereverywhere/.
Having grown up in Connecticut, Madeleine Willett ’26 (NURS) has only know what it’s like to be a nurse in New England, that is, until the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) gave her insight outside of the state’s border.
NSNA was founded in 1952 and has over “50,000 members in 1,500 nursing programs nationwide,” according to the NSNA website. It’s open to students enrolled in associate, baccalaureate, diploma, and generic graduate nursing programs.
The Student Nurses’ Association (SNA) has chapters in 600 nursing programs, UConn School of Nursing being one of them.
“Through the SNA chapter and my involvement with the national organization, I’ve been exposed to unique, geographically specific challenges in nursing that differ significantly from what I’ve known in New England,” said Willet, SNA vice president.
UConn SoN Student Nursing Association members with advisor D’Ana Brooks, DNP, RN, CNL, at the National Student Nurses’ Association convention on April 9-13, 2025. (Contributed Photo)
SNA currently has 213 students. Nine of those students, including Willett, got to attend NSNA’s 73rd annual convention hosted in Seattle, Washington on April 9-13, 2025.
D’Ana Brooks, DNP, RN, CNL, clinical instructor and SNA advisor attended the event alongside her students. To be selected to go, Brooks, Willett, and Chapter President, Allison Villano, selected students based off submitted applications.
“It was an absolute pleasure to join them for the conference and see them so involved as leaders at the national level,” said Brooks. “Connecticut was well represented at the conference, and UConn’s presence was felt! Our students have big goals to continue to grow our local and state chapters.”
This year’s theme was “Ignite, Innovate, Lead,” and over 2,000 nursing students, educators, and nursing leaders were in attendance.
Willett went to the conference as not only the SNA vice president, but as a member of the Nominations and Elections committee as part of the national leadership team. On this committee she helped organize and run the elections for the conference to elect the next national board and Chair of State Presidents.
They work throughout the year to explain the policies and procedures around campaigning, facilitating elections, voting, and debates.
The position gave her the opportunity to increase her communication, organizational, and conflict resolution skills while also showing her what nursing is like in other communities.
UConn SoN Student Nursing Association members with National Student Nurses’ Association President Ryan Barrett. (Contributed Photo)
“This convention offers so many opportunities to interact with students from across the country and learn new skills and get a broader perspective of what it means to be a nurse in the United States vs. Connecticut,” said Willett.
Exhibits throughout the convention provided students with the opportunity to meet and connect with individuals in employment and academic settings, creating a space for networking.
They also had the chance to meet NSNA leaders including the Board of Directors, Nominating and Elections Committee, and the Chair of the Resolutions Committee.
Being able to work on the committee with nursing students all over the country and interacting with NSNA staff including Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kenya Williams, EdD, MBA, MSN, RN, RP, CAE, FNYAM, FADLN, FAAN, was a highlight for Willett.
“You can see all of the different realms in nursing and get to meet some of the biggest leaders in the field,” she remarked.
Samantha Youngs ’26 (NURS), SNA secretary, attended the convention alongside Willett. Similar to Willett, the convention gave her perspectives on nursing from various specialties and backgrounds from all over the country.
“I pursued a career in healthcare to have the privilege of caring for others and to make a difference in the lives of my future patients, and I feel continuously empowered to do so while interacting with other nursing students and nurse leaders,” said Youngs.
While at the convention she had the privilege of serving in the House of Delegates. They voted on 39 resolutions and “witnessed firsthand how students are shaping the future of the nursing profession,” she said.
Youngs joined SNA as a freshman and has attended the convention since she was a sophomore. This past April, she was deemed the new CT and UConn SNA chapter presidents.
“Taking on the role of President of the UConn Student Nurses’ Association feels absolutely surreal,” Youngs remarked. “I am looking forward to working alongside the accomplished SNA officers and continuing to foster an environment where student nurses feel seen, heard, and supported.”
Both SNA and the NSNA convention have given Willett and Youngs opportunities that they wouldn’t have thought possible prior to their involvement.
When reflecting on their time, they both emphasized their appreciation for their advisor Brooks.
“I am especially grateful for the guidance of our advisor, Dr. Brooks, whose support and creativity mean so much to our chapter,” Willett said. “UConn SNA helps shape leaders, creates community, and makes our nursing education more personalized and meaningful.”
Providence, RI � Actively serving military members and their families can visit participating museums nationwide for free as part of the Blue Star Museums program, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Blue Star Families (BSF) in collaboration with the Department of Defense.
In Rhode Island, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) announced today that the museums participating in the program, which kicks off Saturday (May 17) and concludes Sept. 1, include the following:
� Bristol Art Museum and Coggeshall Farm Museum, Bristol. � Newport Restoration Foundation and Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame, Newport. � Providence Children’s Museum and RISD Museum, Providence. � Living Sharks Museum, Westerly. � Museum of Work and Culture, Woonsocket.
“Blue Star Museums is another way to salute our active-duty military members and their families and provide them with valuable educational and cultural opportunities. It’s another tangible way to remind our troops and their families how much we all value and appreciate their service to our nation,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is honored to help connect military service members and their families with their communities through the Blue Star Museums program,” said Mary Anne Carter, Senior Advisor for the National Endowment for the Arts. “Museums and cultural institutions offer countless opportunities for our military to create special memories, celebrate America’s history, and connect with our country’s heritage and culture.”
“For 15 years, Blue Star Museums has opened doors for military families to explore, connect, and feel at home in their communities,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “Thanks to our continued partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and participating museums nationwide, we’re proud to continue this tradition of belonging and enrichment. Museums are more than cultural spaces�they’re places where military families feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated.”
This free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States military�Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps�and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
“We are grateful to all the museums in Rhode Island and throughout the nation who are showing their appreciation for members of the military and their families. The arts play an integral role in the health and well-being of individuals and communities,” Todd Trebour, Executive Director of RISCA, said. “RISCA is thrilled to help spread the word about this program.”
The NEA and Blue Star Families rely on national service organizations to help spread the word about the Blue Star Museums program, such as the National Assembly of State Art Agencies, American Alliance of Museums, American Association of State and Local History, Association of African American Museums, Association of Art Museum Directors, Association of Children’s Museums, Association of Science and Technology Centers, Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In addition, regional museum associations also help with recruitment efforts, including the Association of Midwest Museums, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums, Mountain-Plains Museums Association, New England Museum Association, Southeastern Museums Conferences, and Western Museums Association.
Established by Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Blue Star Museums is one of the NEA’s programs that supports military personnel and their families. Others include the Creative Forces�: NEA Military Healing Arts Network and grants awarded to nonprofit organizations to support projects that reach military and veteran populations.
Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. A “blue star family” is the family of a currently serving military member, including active duty, National Guard, reserve forces, and those transitioning out of service. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts.
Established in 1967, RISCA is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and federal grants from the NEA. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders. To learn more, visit www.arts.ri.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The delivery of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding report follows almost 70 hearing days and an extensive consultation with health policy experts, patients, consumers, and NSW Health staff involved in the delivery of care at every level. The report has made 41 recommendations across 12 key areas including workforce, education and training, funding and procurement processes. Over the coming months, the NSW Government will carefully consider and develop a response to these findings. NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM has today thanked every one of the people working in our healthcare system throughout NSW. Their dedication, skill, and commitment to providing the very best patient care have been recognised by the Inquiry throughout the pages of the report. “The Honourable Justice Beasley acknowledges the strength of the NSW Health system, its openness in its contribution to the Inquiry, and the commitment of our people to improving the public health system for the benefit of the people of NSW,” Ms Pearce said. While the focus will understandably be on recommendations made and areas for improvement, it is very important to note the comments of the Honourable Justice Beasley, who said: “…the NSW public health system is a very good one. It comprises doctors, nurses, other clinicians, and workers who are well trained, highly skilled, and dedicated. It is well managed. “It is not, and is unlikely to be in the near future, entirely mistake or incident free, but any person experiencing an illness or injury who attends a NSW public hospital, facility or service, is very likely to receive treatment and care comparable to the best that is provided in any other developed country.” On the central issue of healthcare funding, the Honourable Justice Beasley said: “The money allocated to the NSW public health system by a combination of the NSW and Commonwealth Governments is generally not wasted. Likewise, the local health districts and specialty health networks do not waste their budgetary allocation.” Ms Pearce said this is not to say that there are not areas for improvement across the public health system. “We work in a huge and complex public health system and there always has been and always will be room for improvement and innovation, as we strive continuously to enhance patient experiences and outcomes,” she said. “A crucial part of this ongoing effort is providing the support and creating the conditions to allow our staff to do what they do best – care for patients. I agree with the Honourable Justice Beasley, who said: “The health workforce is NSW Health’s greatest asset. It is the key to a strong and sustainable system into the future.” “We have longstanding recruitment issues, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas, which are challenging for staff and communities in these areas, as well as in some clinical areas and practice disciplines. This continues to be an area of focus.” “So, while I am the first to acknowledge that we have significant challenges to address, it is also true that we are addressing all these challenges from a position of strength, with one of the best healthcare systems in the world, staffed by the best workforce in the world.” “For those who may try to portray the Inquiry, or NSW Health, as something it is not, it should be noted the opening paragraph of the Inquiry Report says: “This Special Commission of Inquiry should at least be welcomed as a refreshing change to other Commissions conducted in Australia and NSW in recent years. Rather than being an inquiry into the failure of government and its agencies, or into their poor conduct, misconduct or unlawful conduct, it has been an inquiry into how a government service might be improved.” “More than that, I was heartened to see the Honourable Justice Beasley not only noted NSW Health’s cooperation with the Inquiry, but that this… “cooperation extended to facilitating evidence from witnesses, who on many occasions expressed a form of disagreement or criticism about how things were done, or offered a different viewpoint to that of the NSW Ministry of Health or management.” “Disagreement and criticism of the way things are done are not unwelcome. Every day in NSW Health, as the Inquiry noted, a genuine exchange of ideas about the ways in which the delivery of healthcare can be improved is critical.” “This includes supporting staff who raise concerns or make complaints to pursue these matters. I want everyone who works in NSW Health to know they can speak up if they feel they need to. I strongly encourage them to do so constructively. It is vital to ensuring we continue to provide the world class health service the Special Commission of Inquiry has recognised in its report,” Ms Pearce said.
Headline: First Round of Summer 2025 Sun Bucks Benefits More Than One Million Children
First Round of Summer 2025 Sun Bucks Benefits More Than One Million Children hejones1
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round ofSUN Bucksbenefits for summer 2025 has successfully reached more than one million children, with $121 million distributed to eligible families across the state.
The funds, which come in the form of debit-like cards that provide a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child, can be used to purchase nutritious food at retailers and farmers markets that accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), including most major grocery stores in North Carolina. The SUN Bucks program is one of threeNC Summer Nutrition (SUN) Programs for Kids, ensuring children have access to healthy meals during the summer months when school is out. This is a critical benefit for families as1 in 6 North Carolina childrenlive in households without consistent access to food.
“We are excited to have supported more than one million children and their families through the first round of SUN Bucks in 2025,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Healthy food is essential to overall health and well-being. This program helps bridge the gap during the summer months, so children can continue to thrive.”
The first round of funds was distributed from May 9 to May 11.Eligible families who have received their SUN Bucks eligibility notice can expect their cards to be mailed separately. Card delivery may take up to eight weeks and cards may arrive before funds are loaded, which will begin on May 22.
SUN Bucks supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture’sSummer Nutrition Programs for Kids, which offer free meals to children and teens up to age 18. Through SUN Meals, young people can enjoy meals and snacks while participating in fun fitness and educational activities during the summer at schools, parks and other local venues. In rural areas where access to SUN Meals may be limited, SUN Meals To-Go might be available for pickup or delivery. Families can find nearby summer meal locations and more details atSummerMeals4NCKids.org.
Eligible families who have not yet registered or applied for SUN Bucks benefits can still do so by visiting the SUN Bucks application page. Families with questions should visit the SUN Bucks website or call the NC SUN Bucks Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select a language, then select option 2 to speak with a SUN Bucks representative.
El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anunció hoy la primera ronda debeneficios de SUN Buckspara el verano de 2025 que ha llegado con éxito a más de un millón de niños, con $121 millones distribuidos a familias elegibles en todo el estado.
Los fondos vienen en forma de tarjetas de débito que proporcionan un pago único de $120 por niño elegible, se pueden usar para comprar alimentos nutritivos en minoristas y mercados de agricultores que aceptan Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (EBT), incluida la mayoría de las principales tiendas de comestibles en Carolina del Norte. El programa SUN Bucks es uno de los tresProgramas de nutrición de verano de NC (SUN) para niños, que garantiza que los niños tengan acceso a comidas saludables durante los meses de verano cuando no hay clases. Este es un beneficio fundamental para las familias, ya que1 de cada 6 niños de Carolina del Nortevive en hogares sin un acceso consistente a alimentos.
“Nos complace haber apoyado a más de un millón de niños y sus familias a través de la primera ronda de SUN Bucks en 2025”, dijo Dev Sangvai, Secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte. “La alimentación saludable es esencial para la salud y el bienestar general. Este programa ayuda a cerrar la brecha durante los meses de verano, para que los niños puedan seguir prosperando”.
La primera ronda de fondos se distribuyó del 9 al 11 de mayo. Las familias elegibles que han recibido su aviso de elegibilidad de SUN Bucks pueden esperar que sus tarjetas se envíen por separado. La entrega de la tarjeta puede tardar hasta ocho semanas y las tarjetas pueden llegar antes de que se añadan los fondos, lo que comenzará el 22 de mayo.
SUN Bucks apoya los Programas de nutrición de verano para niños del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU., que ofrecen comidas gratuitas a niños y adolescentes hasta los 18 años. A través de SUN Meals, los jóvenes pueden disfrutar de comidas y refrigerios mientras participan en divertidas actividades educativas y de acondicionamiento físico durante el verano en escuelas, parques y otros lugares locales. En las zonas rurales, donde el acceso a SUN Meals puede ser limitado, SUN Meals To-Go puede estar disponible para recogida o envio. Las familias pueden encontrar restaurantes de comida de verano cercanos y más detalles enSummerMeals4NCKids.org.
Las familias elegibles que aún no se hayan registrado o solicitado los beneficios de SUN Bucks aún pueden hacerlo visitando lapágina de solicitud de SUN Bucks. Las familias con preguntas deben visitar el sitio web deSUN Buckso llamar al Centro de atención telefónica de NC SUN Bucks al 1-866-719-0141, seleccionar su idioma y luego oprimir opción 2 para hablar con un representante de SUN Bucks.