Report: Violence, Housing Costs Affect Health Outcomes

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/03/Graphs.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1279;s:6:"height";i:719;s:4:"file";s:18:"2019/03/Graphs.png";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-336x189.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-771x433.png";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-768x432.png";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Graphs-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-600x600.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-553x311.png";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-470x265.png";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-600x400.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-600x600.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Graphs-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:37:"The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019 County Health Rankings
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, UW Population Health Institute
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_oembed_c25f7a5ecc987f706a2a81700d68b745] => Array
        (
            [0] => {{unknown}}
        )

)
1656090843 
1552989245

A report out Tuesday published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute ranks the health of all 67 counties in Alabama.

Researchers used data from more than 30 sources to analyze health outcomes across Alabama. This year, Shelby County comes in first. Jefferson County ranks in the top third. The report compares differences within the state based on location as well as race and ethnicity.

Giridhar Mallya, a senior policy officer with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, says the county ranking is based on a wide range of factors, such as education, violence and poverty.

“And what we can see is that the vast majority of people’s health is actually affected by things outside the doctor’s office,” Mallya says. “One of the things we focused on this year is how housing costs can affect people’s health.”

For example, in Lowndes County, which ranks last on the list, almost 20% of households spend over half their income on housing. Mallya says this leaves less money to cover health care costs.

Overall, several counties in the state’s Black Belt region ranked lowest in this year’s report.

 

Breaking another presidential norm, Trump drops the f-bomb on camera

Presidents have been known to use salty language behind closed doors. But President Trump may be the first to very deliberately drop an f-bomb on camera.

Fired Justice Department lawyer accuses agency of planning to defy court orders

The accusations from a veteran government lawyer add to broader concern about the Trump administration's repeated clashes with the judiciary.

She hoped key research could help save her eyesight. Then the Trump funding cuts came

Jessica Chaikof says research into gene therapies could someday save her eyesight. But she worries cuts to federal research funding could mean that therapy won't be ready in time.

6 new books out this week, including true stories of trailblazers

But for many working adults, the summer can often feel the same as the rest of the year. So, maybe our idea of a "summer read" should encompass a wider swath of books? Here are a few out this week.

Purple Heart Army veteran self-deports after nearly 50 years in the U.S.

Sae Joon Park left for South Korea on Monday. His removal order was the result of drug possession and bail jumping charges from over 15 years ago — offenses that, he said, stemmed from untreated PTSD.

RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz say health insurers will cut red tape on ‘prior authorizations’

In recent years, health insurers ramped up the practice of requiring doctors to get their approval before tests and procedures. On Monday, health leaders announced voluntary reforms from insurers.

More Front Page Coverage