Health Care
Alabama judge puts a temporary hold on medical marijuana companies
A Montgomery circuit judge issued a temporary restraining order late Wednesday to stop the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing licenses for “integrated” facilities that grow, transport and sell medical marijuana. The coveted licenses will be on hold while he hears a challenge to the selection process.
Why trees are an environmental and health Swiss army knife
Cool Green Trees plants trees in under-resourced communities in the Birmingham area to help mitigate climate change and advance environmental justice initiatives.
The flu is soaring in the South and rising elsewhere
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new flu data on Friday, showing very high activity last week in Louisiana, and high activity in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina.
LGBTQ doctors are leaving the Gulf South due to discrimination: ‘We weren’t welcome anymore’
The loss of specialized doctors due to the influx of anti-LGBTQ laws is the latest blow to a region already dealing with a shortage of health care providers.
Pastor’s suicide brings grief, warnings of the dangers of outing amid erosion of LGBTQ+ rights
Copeland he took his own life two days after a conservative news site exposed social media posts where he appeared in women’s clothing, a wig and makeup.
Court ruling offers temporary victory for Alabama birth centers
The preliminary injunction requires Alabama public health officials to license birth centers that meet certain national standards.
After 12 years and a pandemic, Jefferson County’s health officer steps down
Dr. Mark Wilson is well-known for leading residents through the COVID-19 pandemic, but his legacy includes a larger effort to expand the role of public health.
Q&A: Why New Orleans’ unhoused people face increased danger from relentless heat
Delaney Nolan discusses her report for The Guardian that revealed a spike in heat-related illness calls among New Orleans’ unhoused people this summer.
With spread of fentanyl, opioids kill record number of Black men in Birmingham
The number of opioid overdose deaths among Black men in Jefferson County has quadrupled since 2019, sparking action from residents and health experts.
A ‘catastrophic’ loss: Severe heat puts a heavy strain on rural farmers in the Gulf South
For one family of farmers in Louisiana, this year’s record-breaking extreme heat is taking a toll on both their crops and their health.
In fight to remove divisive New Orleans highway, activists turn to new strategy — an EPA study
The Claiborne Avenue Alliance hopes a study on the health impacts caused by the expressway will support efforts to remediate and potentially remove the highway.
A campaign aims to bridge the breastfeeding gap for Black mothers in the Gulf South
Despite its well-documented advantages, many regions in the US — especially in the South — continue to grapple with low breastfeeding rates. States like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana have some of the the lowest rates in the country.
Alabama can enforce ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children, court says
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a judge’s temporary injunction against enforcing the law. The judge has scheduled trial for April 2 on whether to permanently block the law.
A medical equipment company is trying to turn the tide on the Gulf South’s ‘diaper divide’
Aeroflow Healthcare has been pushing state lawmakers to end sales tax on necessary items such as diapers, breast pumps and other incontinence products.
7 cases of tuberculosis found in 4 Alabama chicken processing plants
Alabama state health officials are asking workers in the region’s poultry industry and their close contacts to get screened for TB after the outbreak.
Lawsuit challenges Alabama’s ‘de facto ban’ on freestanding birth centers
The lawsuit — filed by the operators of one birth center that closed and two others that paused plans to open — asks a judge to block the Alabama Department of Public Health from requiring the facilities be licensed as hospitals.
As infertility rates rise, data shows much of the US lives in a ‘fertility desert’
Factors like the cost of treatment, the location of clinics and a lack of specialized doctors have contributed to the lack of care across the country.
NIH selects UAB’s Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo to replace Dr. Anthony Fauci
Marrazzo, who has led UAB's Division of Infectious Diseases since 2016, served as a national expert throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those struggling with addiction meet ‘law and order’ treatment in Walker County
Anthony Mitchell allegedly froze to death after spending 14 days in a concrete room at the Walker County Jail according to a federal lawsuit his family filed in February. The case is drawing attention to how law enforcement treats those struggling with addiction.
To meet rising demand, UAB emergency room begins $73 million expansion
After experiencing a 20% increase in patient volume over the past five years, the hospital plans to double treatment capacity in its emergency department.
New CDC report finds ‘significant increase’ in children diagnosed with developmental disorders
While the results showing an increase in rates may seem alarming, researchers say it could be a sign of better access to mental health services.
In rural Mississippi, Baby University is helping parents with ‘more than diapers’
The free program in Clarksdale, Mississippi teaches young parents how to better care for their children while filling in the gaps of the social safety net.
Alabama’s health care system for women ranks near the bottom of this new scorecard
The Commonwealth Fund’s new report includes 12 new measures that evaluate and rank states on reproductive services and women’s health care.
A year after the loss of Roe v. Wade, Gulf South residents reflect on abortion rights
The Gulf States Newsroom asked Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi residents when they realized things had changed after the ruling. Here's what they said.
‘Kids will end their lives’: Anti-trans legislation is impacting mental health in the Gulf South
As book bans and legislation pile up, a Louisiana trans teen describes the mental toll it’s taking on him and highlights the importance of support systems.
Alabama ranked 45th in annual survey of child well-being
While this is one spot higher than the year before, analysts observed Alabama's improvement is largely the result of other states showing poorer outcomes as opposed to Alabama’s child well-being improving.
With pandemic-era boost to SNAP over, a Mississippi diaper bank is receiving more calls for help
With the COVID-19 public health emergency over, Diaper Bank of the Delta is trying to fill in the gap and connect struggling families to more resources.
Tell us your story about reproductive health care in the Gulf South
When it comes to reproductive health care, at what point did you realize things have changed since Roe v. Wade was overturned?
Why do so many Black women die in pregnancy? One reason: Doctors don’t take them seriously
Angelica Lyons knew it was dangerous for Black women to give birth in America. As a public health instructor, she taught college students about racial health disparities. Then, in 2019, it nearly happened to her.
To improve birth outcomes for uninsured moms, Birmingham is training more doulas
The city of Birmingham has teamed up with BirthWell Partners’ community doula project to sponsor 32 trainees to work in underserved communities.
Alabama health officials seek to eliminate cervical cancer by 2033
A new campaign aims to dramatically increase rates of HPV vaccination, cancer screening and follow-up care.
Birmingham officials launch violence intervention program at UAB hospital
The initiative connects gunshot survivors with resources to try to stop the cycle of violence.
