Family Tips for Enjoying the Winter Holidays
The holiday season is a time to make and share delicious food, exchange gifts and enjoy cherished traditions. But for many families, the “happiest time of the year” also means unmanageable stress. Year-end schedules are often crammed with social events that place extreme demands on our time. We may feel pressured to splurge on gifts […]
Area prices rose 0.1 percent in September; up 2.1 percent over the past year
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the South rose 0.1 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A notable decline in the gasoline index was more than offset by increases in the shelter, medical care services, and apparel indexes. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. […]
New Partnership Between U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Education to Expand SNAP Awareness and Access for Eligible College Students
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced the signing of a joint agreement to strengthen college student access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. This agreement aims to increase awareness of SNAP among college students, as […]
AAP: Shared Reading is the Best Gift for Children
A book can inspire joy and stir the imagination. Even better this holiday season is the gift of sharing that book with your child. Starting from infancy, reading aloud helps build the foundation for healthy social-emotional, cognitive, language and literacy development. Sharing books helps with language development and vocabulary and prepares children to listen and […]
Youth Tobacco Product Use at a 25-Year Low, Yet Disparities Persist
Current tobacco product use among U.S. middle and high school students has dropped to the lowest recorded level in 25 years. This is according to newly released data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). Within the past year alone, at least half a million fewer students are using tobacco products, contributing to this important progress. […]
Stay Safe this Halloween with these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Spooky season is in full swing with costumes and festivities galore! Halloween can be an exciting and creative time of year where children can be whoever they want to be. Whether they’re dressed up as scary monsters, a blushing princess or anything in between, it’s important to make sure safety is a top priority. Some […]
New CDC Data Show Adult Obesity Prevalence Remains High
New CDC population data from 2023 show that in 23 states more than one in three adults (35%) has obesity. Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. Currently, at least one in five adults (20%) in each U.S. state is living with obesity. “This new data highlight the need for […]
Youth E-Cigarette Use Drops to Lowest Level in a Decade
Half a million fewer U.S. youth reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2024 compared to 2023, according to new data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) released today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The nationally representative data featured in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) includes findings […]
More illnesses and deaths in Listeria outbreak linked to deli meats is reminder to avoid recalled products
A CDC Food Safety Alert update regarding a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections has been posted at https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/delimeats-7-24.html Key Points: Since the last update on August 8, 2024, 14 more illnesses have been reported bringing the total to 57. All 57 people have been hospitalized and 9 deaths have now been reported. The 6 new deaths include one […]
American Academy of Pediatrics Offers 10 Tips to Keep Children Healthy and Happy in School
As the school year begins, every family wants their children to be healthy, active and ready to learn. To prepare children and teens to be at their best – physically, mentally, socially and emotionally – the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends regular visits with the pediatrician, as well as immunizations that help keep all […]
Rep. Harshbarger & House Freedom Caucus Oppose Rep. Thompson’s Appointment to Investigation Task Force
House Freedom Caucus released a statement urging leadership to prevent Representative Bennie Thompson from being a member of the task force assigned to investigate the assassination attempt against President Donald Trump. Additionally, HFC is urging leadership to remove him from his role as Ranking Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security, citing his effort […]
CDC Data Shows Over 70 Million U.S. Adults Reported Having a Disability
The CDC has released the annual update to the Disability and Health Data System (DHDS), providing quick and easy online access to state-level health data on adults with disabilities. The latest data, from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), reveal that more than 1 in 4—over 70 million—adults in the United States reported […]
Payroll employment increases by 206,000 in June; unemployment rate changes little at 4.1%
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 206,000 in June, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in government, health care, social assistance, and construction. This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The household survey measures labor force status, including unemployment, […]
Drowning Deaths Rise in the United States
Drowning deaths are on the rise in the United States, following decades of decline, according to a new CDC Vital Signs study released today. Over 4,500 people died due to drowning each year from 2020–2022, 500 more per year compared to 2019. CDC experts looked at drowning deaths, self-reported swimming skills, participation in swimming lessons, and exposure to […]
AAP Offers Resources for Parents on the Many Health Benefits of Immunization for their Babies
Introducing a new baby to your home, whether as a new parent or as part of a growing family, can be challenging. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is helping new parents learn the facts about vaccines with a new, completely free set of video courses for parents. “Having a baby is a wonderful, life-changing event. […]
Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a disease that is highly contagious and often deadly in poultry, caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5) and A (H7) viruses; it is also known as bird or avian flu. HPAI viruses can be transmitted by wild birds to domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. […]
