Jeffco Health Officials: Violence is a Public Health Issue
Violence is the newest strategic focus for the Jefferson County Department of Health. During Tuesday’s annual State of Health in Jefferson County address, Dr. Mark Wilson said the department added the issue in response to increasing rates of homicide.
“It (violence) isn’t something that our health department has devoted resources to in the past,” Wilson said, “but it is clearly a public health problem.”
Wilson said the health department is working with city officials in Birmingham on a campaign to address gun violence. He said last year’s homicide rate in Jefferson County was nearly the highest it has been in three decades.
During Tuesday’s speech, Wilson also discussed county initiatives to reduce tobacco use, expand services for chronic and infectious disease, and improve birth outcomes. He said the health department continues to focus on mental health and substance abuse.
“We are trying to get away from the idea that mental health should be viewed as different from physical health,” Wilson said.
In 2018, there was a decline in the annual number of deaths due to opioid overdose in Jefferson County. Wilson said he hopes that trend will continue, but it is too early to tell. He also said there has been a significant increase in the use of methamphetamine in recent years.
FAA seeks to fine Boeing $3.1 million for safety violations, door plug blowout
The FAA said it identified hundreds of quality system violations at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Wash., and Boeing subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems' 737 factory in Wichita, Kan.
Fed’s Cook claimed second residence as ‘vacation home,’ undercutting Trump fraud claims
Fed Gov. Lisa Cook referred to a condo she bought in 2021 as a "vacation home" in a loan estimate, which could undermine claims by the Trump administration that she committed mortgage fraud.
Charlie Kirk’s widow: ‘You have no idea what you have just unleashed’
Erika Kirk said Charlie Kirk's mission will continue, and thanked law enforcement and President Trump for supporting her family in the aftermath of her husband's death.
Opinion: Our backgrounds and beliefs may vary, but we’re all American
NPR's Scott Simon recounts the toll of five years of political violence in the U.S.
Trump’s Energy Department disbands group that sowed doubt about climate change
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has disbanded a controversial Climate Working Group (CWG), which wrote a report that scientists say was full of errors and misrepresented climate science.
The Toronto International Film Festival is full of great movies. Here are 6 we loved
Channing Tatum plays a real armed robber who hid out in a Toys "R" Us. Daniel Craig returns for the next Knives Out mystery. And Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler gets a gorgeously rendered adaptation.
