CHARLOTTE, N.C. — You might have seen videos of acts of violence come across your social media feed recently. Dr. Nicole Clark, a Spectrum News national mental health correspondent, says our psyche isn’t used to seeing trauma on an endless loop.
What You Need To Know
Recent acts of violence have dominated national and local headlines, including the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail, school shootings and Wednesday’s murder of political activist Charlie Kirk
Experts say consuming trauma can affect people in different ways, causing feelings of numbness, sadness, anxiety or depression
Dr. Nicole Clark, a Spectrum News national mental health correspondent, shares the different ways to deal with seeing violent videos
“You see it and now you can’t unsee it and you need to process what you’ve just seen,” Clark said. “It is a shock to the system. It is not something that we expect to see, so it can be very challenging, and it challenges our world view.”
Challenging our worldview can be disorienting.
“We, at the heart of who we are, believe that people are good and that the world is a safe place. When we see graphic images; it challenges that viewpoint and makes us question our sense of safety and our sense of identity in this world,” Clark said.
When trying to cope with these challenging moments, Clark says it’s important to recognize what you are feeling.
“Note that you are having a change on the inside, either in how you’re feeling, how you’re thinking. You may notice a change on the outside. Maybe your palms are sweaty, your heart is racing,” Clark said.
Then, she says, take action like talking to a family member, friend or professional counselor.
“If you need to do something about this in terms of limiting your news consumption or donating to a cause that you feel passionate about or even volunteering. Taking action helps you regain a sense of control,” Clark said.
If you continue to consume trauma, Clark says you’ll know if you’re facing a mental health issue or condition when it affects your quality of life.
“You’re having flashbacks, you’re having nightmares. You’re anxious, you’re adjusting and modifying your behavior. You are not enjoying yourself. You are not experiencing health in your relationships. This issue is taking over your life. That is when you know it is time to seek help,” Clark said.
For mental health help you can call or text 988 lifeline to talk to a crisis counselor.
Scientists have uncovered new evidence suggesting that autism may have it roots in how the human brain has evolved.
“Our results suggest that some of the same genetic changes that make the human brain unique also made humans more neurodiverse,” said the study’s lead author, Alexander L. Starr in a statement.
In the United States, around one in 31 children—about 3.2 percent—has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental condition affecting roughly one in 100 children worldwide, according to The World Health Organization.
It involves persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior.
Unlike other neurological conditions seen in animals, autism and schizophrenia appear to be largely unique to humans, likely because they involve traits such as speech production and comprehension that are either exclusive to or far more advanced in people than in other primates.
A stock image of 3D medical background with male head with brain and DNA strands. A stock image of 3D medical background with male head with brain and DNA strands. kirstypargeter/iStock / Getty Images Plus
The Human Brain and Genetic Change
Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing have allowed scientists to identify an extraordinary diversity of brain cell types.
Alongside this, large-scale genetic studies have revealed sweeping changes in the human brain that are not seen in other mammals.
These genomic elements evolved rapidly in Homo sapiens despite remaining relatively stable throughout the rest of mammalian history.
By analyzing brain samples across different species, researchers found that the most common type of outer-layer neurons—known as L2/3 IT neurons—underwent especially fast evolution in humans compared to other apes.
Strikingly, this rapid shift coincided with major alterations in genes linked to autism—likely shaped by natural selection factors unique to the human species.
Why Did These Changes Occur?
Although the findings strongly point to evolutionary pressure acting on autism-associated genes, the evolutionary benefit to human ancestors remains uncertain.
The team behind the research noted that many of these genes are tied to developmental delay, which may have played a role in the slower pace of postnatal brain growth in humans compared to chimpanzees.
The unique human ability for speech and language—often impacted by autism and schizophrenia—may also be connected.
One possibility is that the evolution of autism-related genes slowed early brain development or expanded language capacity, extending the time window for learning and complex thought in childhood.
This extended development may have offered an evolutionary advantage by fostering more advanced reasoning skills.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about autism? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Starr, A. L., & Fraser, H. B. (2025). A general principle of neuronal evolution reveals a human-accelerated neuron type potentially underlying the high prevalence of autism in humans. Molecular Biology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf177
A woman who was placed in a medically induced coma has revealed what it was like to feel “trapped” in her own body—still able to hear, feel and see her surroundings.
Earlier this year, Toyosi Adeneye learned that she was pregnant, expecting a baby this November. However, she was soon diagnosed with a short cervix, which increases the risk of preterm birth or miscarriage.
By the time she reached 23 weeks, Adeneye—who goes by the pseudonym Dorothy Tuash online—was already 4 centimeters dilated, and her waters broke. She told Newsweek that she was in pre-term labor, and surgeons had to perform “an emergency dilation and evacuation” on her in July.
The 30-year-old was subsequently diagnosed with chorioamnionitis, a serious condition that occurs when the membranes that surround the fetus and amniotic fluid are infected by bacteria. According to the Cleveland Clinic, chorioamnionitis can lead to severe infection as well as brain or lung problems.
Toyosi Adeneye posing beside a car, and pictured while in a medically induced coma in July. Toyosi Adeneye posing beside a car, and pictured while in a medically induced coma in July. @dorothytuash / TikTok
Things only got worse for Adeneye—who hails from from Alberta, Canada—when she developed sepsis and went into septic shock.
“They had to put me into a coma in order to administer treatment and save my life,” she explained.
Adeneye was in a coma for three and a half days, throughout which she had moments of consciousness when she could hear, see, and even feel pain. Her last memory was being sedated prior to the operation, but when she realized that she had awareness and yet couldn’t move or do anything, she knew she was in a coma.
Adeneye said: “I tried really hard to move my limbs and eyes, but it felt impossible. I heard the machine breathing for me and could feel my chest heaving; that’s how I knew I was in a coma.
“I had moments where I was conscious and could hear clearly—I could even hear my nurses talking about me. My eyes were closed, but whenever they would open them to administer eye drops, I could see,” she continued.
‘State of Panic’
It was a terrifying experience for Adeneye, who felt “a state of panic” every time she came back around and remember she was in a coma. She didn’t know why, how long she had been there for, or whether she was making any progress. She also had no idea of how much longer she would be stuck there for, which made it all the more frightening.
Being in a coma means a deep unconscious state where a person cannot show any signs of awareness or reaction. There are varying depths of coma, however, and some people may still have some reflex responses.
As in Adeneye’s case, it is possible for people to hear or remember things that happened during their coma. The Cleveland Clinic notes that this varies greatly and can be hard to predict.
Toyosi Adeneye, 30, pictured in a coma and beside her husband after waking up. Toyosi Adeneye, 30, pictured in a coma and beside her husband after waking up. @dorothytuash / TikTok
Adeneye lived in a temporary cycle of coming to, feeling anxious and then blacking out.
“I kept looking for my husband and I was upset I couldn’t communicate with him. I was scared because I wasn’t sure if they were going to turn off my life support,” Adeneye said.
What added to her discomfort is that Adeneye could also feel pain while she was in the coma. At one point, a complication with one of her intravenous lines meant a nurse had to squeeze Adeneye’s arm to flush it out—and all she could do was “scream inside” from the pain.
She could also feel the lines going into her arm any time she was turned over and there was mild discomfort when a nurse adjusted her neck.
Waking Up From the Coma
When she finally came out of the coma, there was instant relief. She’d felt “trapped in [her] own body” for so many days, and she was finally free.
“I had blacked out and suddenly I came to again, but this time I could move my body slightly,” she said. “I was so excited to see my husband. He fed me ice chips, but my gums hurt really bad from being intubated. I was also happy to be able to breathe by myself again.”
When she told her husband, friends, family and hospital staff that she’d been conscious the whole time, they were all incredibly shocked.
Adeneye remained in the hospital for an additional four days after waking up from the coma, during which time she had to learn how to breathe, talk and walk again. It was painful and she also experienced nightmares after, but she says that’s all in the past now, thankfully.
Victorious and Grateful
When she looks back at that time now, she can’t help but feel “victorious and grateful to God” that she made it through.
Adeneye told Newsweek: “I’m doing way better than I was, but grief still shows its face from time to time. However, I thought it would take me longer to improve mentally, but I am in such a good place now, focused on continuing to build myself and my career.”
Adeneye, who is part of a content creator duo called The OT Love Train, has started documenting her experiences on TikTok (@dorothytuash), with videos detailing her pregnancy loss and the coma. The video about being aware during a coma has gone viral with over 1.4 million views and 155,100 likes at the time of writing.
The online response has been overwhelmingly positive, as many people even shared their own similar experiences too. Whether it’s connecting with others or educating them, Adeneye is glad that she could spark this conversation.
Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
OHIO — In recent weeks, health and political officials have been calling attention to kratom, warning about the dangers of it and trying to ban it.
But what exactly is kratom, and why are officials so concerned?
What You Need To Know
Kratom is a stimulant, according to Mayo Clinic
Kratom can be turned into highly addictive synthetic forms that can result in bad side effects
Ohio law states kratom can only be sold in its natural dried leaf or powdered form; it’s illegal to sell it in the form of capsules, liquids or as an ingredient in food products.
On Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, called for the ban of kratom and for it to be removed from Ohio store shelves. DeWine asked the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to designate all forms, both natural and synthetic versions, of kratom as illegal.
Here’s what it is, and why it’s gaining attention.
What is kratom?
Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from a tree called Mitragyna speciosa, according to the Mayo Clinic, which grows in Southeast Asia. Users claim it provides energy and boosts mood, but Mayo Clinic states there’s still research being done of whether it really works.
What are the other reasons people use it?
Kratom is a stimulant, according to Mayo Clinic, which users reported not only makes them alert with more energy, but also reduces pain. People also reported it makes them feel calm and less anxious. Addtionally, some people reported taking it to help quit opioids by combatting withdrawal symptoms.
Seizures, liver toxicity and cardiovascular issues
Dependency and withdrawal symptoms similar to those caused by opioids
Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated some mothers who used the drug during pregnancy resulted in newborns suffering from neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome at birth.
The substance starts to work in minutes and lasts a few hours, according to Mayo Clinic.
What’s legal and what’s not?
Ohio law states kratom can only be sold in its natural dried leaf or powdered form. It’s illegal to sell it in the form of capsules, liquids or as an ingredient in food products.
The FDA hasn’t approved any prescription or over-the-counter drug products that contain kratom or its two main chemical components, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH-mitragynine). The FDA working to classify some compounds found in kratom, including 7-hydroxymitragynine, as Schedule I controlled substances.
It’s currently sold online and in stores and gas stations, marketed as gummies, drinks and more.
Why is DeWine trying to ban it?
Kratom can be turned into highly addictive synthetic forms that can result in the symptoms listed above. According to the Ohio Department of Health, there have been more than 200 unintentional overdose deaths involving kratom in Ohio between 2019 to 2024.
Additionally, through July 2025, poison control centers received 1,690 reports of exposure cases involving kratom.
“These modified kratom products, sold online and in stores, are essentially legal, over-the-counter opiates that anyone – including kids – can buy with just a few bucks,” DeWine said in a written statement. “There is no accepted medical use for kratom in Ohio, and it is an imminent public health risk. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy should act with urgency to schedule all kratom compounds and future alterations of them as Schedule I illegal drugs.”
CINCINNATI — The DEA is going after the source of the illegal fentanyl problem while more families in Ohio mourn those lost to the drug.
What You Need To Know
Thursday marked National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day and the DEA and victims’ families are reminding everyone of the dangers
The DEA says they’re targeting drug traffickers and trying to get the chemicals that make up fentanyl off the streets
One Cincinnati mom who lost her son to addiction says he would still be here if it wasn’t for fentanyl
Diane Peterson has been holding back tears.
“My son, Brett, passed away two years ago from fentanyl poisoning,” said Peterson.
Her son was 35 when he died. She says he’d been battling a drug addiction since the end of middle school.
“I feel like peers have more influence than parents at that age. and, you know, we just thought something was going wrong,” said Peterson.
She says he’d been in and out of rehab trying to overcome his addiction, but when he relapsed two years ago, it was the last time.
“It’s the one thing that I always prayed for that he would get up, but it didn’t happen,” said Peterson.
What happened to him is adding to a deadly trend.
“It’s a drug threat to the nation has never seen before,” said DEA Public Information Officer Brian McNeal. “Last year we lost more than 100,000 people to overdose — 70% of those to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. We did see a decrease last year, which is encouraging, but there’s still way too many people dying.”
That’s why he says Thursday, the day that marked National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, is a reminder of what they’re doing to stop it.
“One, we’re going after those precursor chemicals. we’re getting the chemicals that create fentanyl before they even become fentanyl so we’re going after those precursors before they make their way from Asia into Mexico, and then we’re going after those large-scale drug traffickers, those people who have or crossing the border in bringing those drugs from from Asia to Mexico and right here into our streets in Michigan and Ohio,” said McNeal.
But he says it’s going to take more than the DEA. He says it’s going to take recognizing the danger that can be hidden in other illegal drugs before it’s too late.
“Whether it’s a first pill or if it’s a history of addiction, it’s still the same outcome if you get a hold of fentanyl,” said Peterson.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It may feel futuristic to see robots rove around St. Anthony’s Hospital every day, but Beaker and Hygeia are more than just mechanical marvels — they serve an important function.
Nurse Manager Kristen Lefkimiotis says Beaker helps nurses in the ICU and on the dialysis floors by delivering specimens to the hospital lab. Hygeia is part of a pilot program and makes deliveries for the pharmacy.
Beaker moves between the first-floor laboratory and the ICU, cardiovascular ICU and dialysis floors, making pickups and deliveries to the lab, and Hygeia goes to and from the pharmacy
St. Anthony’s Hospital is a 94-year-old facility and does not have a pneumatic tube systems on some floors
Prior to the robots, staff members would act as runners, sometimes making between 40 to 60 trips to the laboratory each day
Beaker was funded by the St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation, which donated $119,000 for his purchase
Prior to Beaker’s arrival, nurses would have to do the deliveries themselves. For most, that would mean walking to an entirely different floor in the hospital.
Lefkimiotis said it was a bit of a hassle.
“It can be a challenge,” she said. “We are, you know, a 90-year-old-plus hospital. We do have newer towers that have been built. Not every tower has a tube system. We don’t have a tube system in the ICU and dialysis, so this has really it’s been huge.”
When nurses need something delivered to the lab, they just summon Beaker.
“It’s as easy as tap your badge, his lid opens, drop in your sample, and off he will go,” Lefkimiotis said.
While running to the lab to make a delivery seems like a small task, Lefkimiotis said it has a big impact on the nurses’ day — sometimes they would make that trip between 40 to 60 times each day.
“Adding this type of technology helps our care teams. It cuts down on the miles they have to travel on foot,” said Craig Anderson, vice president of Innovation at BayCare’s St. Anthony’s Hospital. “This year alone, we’ve saved over 1,100 miles between the two robots — and that equals thousands of hours of nursing time that they can spend with their patients.”
Less time making deliveries means more time with patients and better care, health care providers say.
Anderson said Beaker and Hygeia may just be the beginning for BayCare Hospitals.
“There could be more robots where it makes sense, where it drives value for our teams, for baby care,” Anderson said. “That’s where we want to deploy the technology. And that’s a focus for everything we do in innovation, is make sure we’re putting the technology in the right places.”
St. Anthony’s Hospital was able to purchase Beaker — who cost $119,000 — thanks to a donation from the St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation.
INVERNESS, Fla. — A health care tax credit that helps fuel Florida’s small businesses is going away.
What You Need To Know
Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies will expire this year, putting health insurance at risk for many Floridians
The expiration is affecting self-employed workers at a Citrus County salon, along with millions of other self-employed workers
Those tax premium credits make insurance more affordable for those with coverage under the Affordable Care Act
An estimated 2 million Floridians will lose their health insurance coverage when those enhanced tax credits expire at the end of this year
Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies will be expiring this year, putting health insurance at risk for many Floridians. The expiration is affecting self-employed workers at a Citrus County salon.
On the second floor of Tangles Hair Salon & Day Spa, Tara McVicker does what she knows best.
“I get to nurture people,” McVicker said. “I get to take care of people. It’s not just doing skin care, it’s learning who these people are and their lifestyle.”
McVicker is an esthetician, having worked at the salon since 2020. Being self-employed means her health insurance is through the Affordable Care Act.
“To be able to have affordable insurance is really nothing less than a miracle,” McVicker said. “For us, to provide insurance for ourselves and our family at an affordable cost is something that gives us freedom to expand and not have that monkey on your back, worrying about getting sick.”
But two years into being enrolled, McVicker was diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing three major surgeries. Her insurance meant a lot.
“Had I not had the health insurance that I had, I really don’t know what I would have done, because I was already having to take so much more time off from work that I anticipated,” she said.
Those tax premium credits made her insurance more affordable, as they do for many others like McVicker.
Sherry Brown is a nail technician working out of the salon. She said she relies on her coverage for prescriptions related to orthopedic issues.
“I think when they take those away, I don’t believe that I’ll be able to afford the prices of insurance,” said Brown. “I do have orthopedic issues and see a doctor for that. I’m on a couple of prescriptions that I probably won’t be able to afford so, that being said, yeah, we’re a little concerned about it.”
As for what they will do next, McVicker said she will have to make cutbacks. Hoping in the meantime, her coverage stays.
“All of these people that are hustling to make a buck on their own merit and run their business, they’re proud of being American,” McVicker said. “But they just need a little bit of help with these tax premiums so they can afford coverage for themselves and their family.”
While continuing to do the work she loves and sticking through with her family.
“This is what we do here — we’re like family with all of our clients,” she said.
It is estimated that 2 million Floridians will lose their health insurance coverage when those enhanced tax credits expire. Those subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year.
ST. LEO, Fla. — Saint Leo University is celebrating its first graduating class from its new nursing program on Wednesday.
Twelve students will walk the stage and receive their diplomas, and most will quickly begin work in local hospitals after passing the State Board NCLEX exam.
What You Need To Know
Saint Leo University is celebrating it’s first graduating class from its new nursing program
Twelve students will walk the stage and receive their diplomas
Most will quickly begin work in local hospitals after passing the State Board NCLEX exam
Nathanael Allen will be the first of 12 to receive his diploma, and says he decided to get in to nursing because of his family.
His mother is a teacher, and he was raised to help others.
“Being a part of a program that just is going to grow and grow as the years go by, and to be remembered as the first class is really special,” said Allen.
Associate Professor of Nursing Paige Porter said Saint Leo began its nursing program because of the statewide shortage of nurses.
She said Saint Leo partnered with AdventHealth in order to give nursing students hands on experience in local hospitals, and also help them develop contacts that could lead to jobs in the Tampa area.
“A lot of the nursing students have chosen to stay local and work at Advent Health,” Porter said. “And they’ll be working right alongside their preceptors, and at the same time addressing our mission to help impact the nursing shortage locally.”
Saint Leo University plans to expand its nursing program in the coming years with more instructors as well as more classroom space on campus.
CLEVELAND — University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic are teaming up to host events on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday.
More than a dozen locations across northeast Ohio will be taking unwanted or unused prescriptions from residents between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We want to ensure people can safely get rid of unused medications in their home,” said Michael Carlin, vice president of Hospital Pharmacy Operations at University Hospitals. “These medications have the potential to be mishandled or abused. It’s why we are giving the community resources to intervene if someone in their life has an overdose.”
All UH drug take-back sites will also have free naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips as part of an effort to fight the opioid epidemic.
“We are proud to continue collaborating with University Hospitals on this important issue,” said Lindsey Amerine, Pharm.D., chief pharmacy officer at Cleveland Clinic. “Ensuring the public has access to safe disposal of unused drugs is an important way to reduce accidental or deliberate misuse of medication in our communities. Drug Take-Back Day serves as a great reminder for individuals to check their medicine cabinets for prescriptions that should be removed from their homes.”
Additionally, University Hospitals’ Ahuja, Lake West, Portage and TriPoint will also offer no-cost glucose and blood pressure health screenings.
Click here for information about University Hospitals locations and hours.
Click here for information about Cleveland Clinic locations and hours.
OHIO — Kroger, in partnership with the Cardinal Health Foundation, will be taking part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday.
“As many people use this time of year to participate in spring cleaning, this is the perfect opportunity to check their medicine cabinets for expired medications or medications they are no longer using,” said Mark Bruce, corporate affairs manager at Kroger’s Columbus Division. “Each year, Drug Take Back Day provides us with an opportunity to show our commitment to creating healthier communities by providing a space for anyone to safely dispose of these unused and or expired prescription or nonprescription drugs.”
The participating locations will take unwanted prescriptions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be law enforcement officers at each location to help accept the prescriptions.
“At Cardinal Health, we are committed to creating a healthier future for all communities,” said Jessie Cannon, president of the Cardinal Health Foundation. “Supporting Kroger Health on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day allows us to provide a safe and accessible way for people to dispose of unwanted medications, while also educating the public about medication safety and reducing the risk of accidental misuse.”
Stores where prescriptions can be dropped off include:
BRADENTON, Fla. – Manatee County commissioners voted Tuesday morning to stop adding fluoride to county drinking water.
The vote was 5-1 to stop adding the mineral.
In discussing the move, commissioners mentioned the bill making its way through the legislature, saying the bill to ban it statewide will likely pass and they were reluctant to spend taxpayer dollars to fix their broken fluoride system.
What You Need To Know
Manatee County commissioners voted 5-1 Tuesday morning to stop adding fluoride to county drinking water
Commissioners mentioned the bill making its way through the legislature, saying the bill to ban it statewide will likely pass and they were reluctant to spend taxpayer dollars to fix their broken fluoride system
The fluoridation system in Manatee County was already broken been working for the last couple of years.
“I am not going to authorize our utilities department to start spending millions of dollars of your money to fix a machine to start putting fluoride in, a few months before the state bans me from putting fluoride in,” said Commissioner George Kruse. “That is bad use of taxpayer funds.”
What makes the vote regarding Manatee County’s drinking water different than others is that their fluoridation system hasn’t been working for the last couple of years.
Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski confirmed during a January meeting that the system has not been operating and it will cost between $1.5 million and $2 million to fix in a process that could take up to three years.
Ongoing Debate
During a recent public hearing on the issue, those on both sides of the issue spoke to commissioners hoping to sway their decision.
“Even though it’s not currently fluoridated, if you’re looking to save money or save the IQ of children, I would ask that you consider you don’t fix the fluoridated water and look for other alternatives,” resident Allison Euker said while speaking at the podium.
Manatee County dentist Dr. Robert Clement also spoke to commissioners and stressed the importance of fluoride and keeping it in the water supply.
“Fluoride decreases decay in children up to 65% and it also helps adults,” he said. “Dental decay is the number one chronic disease and adding fluoride to water is like adding iodine to salt, calcium in milk, and Vitamin C in juice to help prevent other chronic diseases.”
A study published earlier this year kicked off a push from Florida’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo to get communities to stop adding the mineral to water supplies. The study raised concerns about fluoride exposure saying it can lead to a lower IQ in children.
The American Dental Association says fluoride is not toxic in the levels that it is currently added to water. The agency released a statement in January on a report regarding fluoride’s impact on IQ.
“The main takeaway is that it did not find any connection between lower IQ and fluoride intake at the level recommended for community water fluoridation,” the statement reads in part.
Over the last few months, a number of Tampa Bay area communities have mulled the decision of if they should pull the mineral from drinking water sources. Lakeland and Winter Haven chose to remove fluoride, while more recently Clearwater and Hillsborough County voted to keep drinking water the way it is now.
Meanwhile, the statewide fluoride bill to stop adding fluoride to drinking water across Florida, not just city by city or county by county, cleared its final committee stop in the state senate on Thursday.
DAVENPORT, Fla. — Concerns are growing as federal healthcare programs, such as Medicaid, face potential cuts.
The House passed a budget resolution that would cut $880 billion from these programs over the next decade.
While President Donald Trump says the bill will not affect Medicaid benefits, experts argue that the budget plan cannot be executed without impacting the program.
What You Need To Know
The House has passed a budget resolution that would cut $880 billion from federal healthcare programs, such as Medicaid, over the next decade
Davenport resident Barbara Harris says Medicaid helped her family access healthcare
Both Harris and experts, like Scott Darius, encourage the public to advocate against these cuts by engaging with lawmakers
Davenport mother Barbara Harris is doing her part to prevent the proposed cuts to protect the wellbeing of her family and others.
“Every single solitary day. Every day in some way I take an action to save this country for them,” she said.
Harris says that includes engaging elected officials who are looking to make changes that could impact Medicaid. As a single mother in the 70s, she says the program was the only way she could get healthcare for her daughter, Tabitha. Over the years, Tabitha has also relied on Medicaid assistance for her own three children.
“It allowed my grandkids to grow up healthy,” she said. “The ability to get medicine that they would have never been able to afford otherwise. It gave them the ability to not worry about their health because every person should have healthcare.”
According to data from the Florida Department of Health, roughly 202,230 people in Polk County rely on Medicaid — about 25.5% of the population.
If the budget plan passed by the House goes through, Scott Darius, executive director of Florida Voices for Health, says even the smallest cut could be detrimental.
“Even like a one percent decrease in the amount of funding that the state’s receiving from the federal government, you’re losing billions of dollars in that exchange,” he said.
Darius said that also applies to making cuts in the name of protecting the program from fraud. However, a press release from the White House said the Trump administration will not cut Medicaid benefits and, “What kind of person doesn’t support eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending that ultimately costs taxpayers more?”
“To the waste, fraud, and abuse argument, I say that’s a worthy cause if that’s what you’re actually doing, and there are ways to maybe surgically approach that. But to do arbitrary cuts, to not think critically about how the program works and who it’s serving, is not those things,” Darius said.
While Darius tries to shed light on the potential impact, he encourages the public to reach out to lawmakers. As for Harris, she’s already sent out several letters.
“You have to bother these people because if you don’t bother them, it won’t change,” she said. “You have to continue to affect them. You have to continue to try to change the story.”
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A Tampa Bay area non-profit dedicated to helping those recover from drug addiction is expanding.
For years, the Recovery Epicenter Foundation has helped with its peer-led recovery center— ‘The Catcher’s Mitt’— in Clearwater. They want to provide that same service in Pasco County.
“The answers are very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied, very dissatisfied or unsure.”
What You Need To Know
A new resource center dedicated to helping individuals overcome drug addiction is now open in Pasco County
‘The Outfield’ is an extension of ‘The Catcher’s Mitt’- another recovery center located in Clearwater, operated by the Recovery Epicenter Foundation
Both centers help individuals seeking support who might not qualify for traditional medical services
Those with the non-profit say they hope to one day expand in Hernando, Hillsborough and Manatee counties in the future
Inside an office is a pathway toward drug recovery. And helping lead the way is peer support specialist Ashley Eberts with ‘The Outfield.’ The newest branch of the Recovery Epicenter Foundation.
“Now- my goal is to help other people get clean because life is wonderful without drugs,” said Eberts.
Eberts is on her own recovery journey, having battled addiction with opiates. It led to Eberts losing her children for a period of time.
“I had a choice, to either get clean and get my children back or lose my children and continue down that road,” said Eberts.
Help from the non-profit aided Eberts and others on the road to recovery.
“We provide them with all the recovery resources,” says Teresa Mancuso, program director of The Catcher’s Mitt and The Outfield. “We really want to get them submerged in recovery so when they leave here, they have that network of people, right? Which is going to decrease their chance of relapse.”
‘The Outfield’ is now the second recovery center operated by the Recovery Epicenter Foundation. With a high demand for help in Pasco County playing a role.
“What we’re really striving to do is fill that gap,” Mancuso said. “That gap of, if somebody does relapse and they’re at a sober home, instead of them returning to the streets or returning to a motel, they’re going to have somewhere safe to go where they have that little bit of time to recover in order to get back into their sober home and embark on their recovery journey.”
It’s also finding new meaning for people like Eberts. Being reunited with her children and going 8 years strong in sobriety.
“That was the happiest moment of my life,” she says. “It compared to them being born, basically.”
Offering a second lease on life.
The grand opening of ‘The Outfield’ will be taking place Friday.
Mancuso says they hope to expand in Hernando, Hillsborough and Manatee counties in the future.
Doctors do not know why people under 50 are being diagnosed at a higher rate
Family history does play a role in colon cancer. Doctors recommend people with a familial history get checked to see if they inherited the genetic mutation
Meagan May was diagnosed at 38 with stage four colon cancer after having stomach pains and noticing a change in bowel movements; she does not carry the genetic mutation
As her twin boys take their time walking into the house from school, she patiently waits for them to make their way to the kitchen so she can help make them a snack.
Her boys are both 18 and could easily make themselves a snack, but this ritual is about spending time together.
“I’m thankful to be here,” said May. “Last October, last December, last year. Anyway, we didn’t really think I was going to make it through.”
In October 2023, May began feeling severe pain in her stomach. She also had noticed changes in her bowel movements.
At the time, she tried to ignore it, not wanting to go to the hospital for something small. But the pain grew to be too great to ignore.
“They found a massive tumor on my ovary and a tumor in my colon and in my liver,” said May.
She spent ten days in the hospital as doctors collected biopsies, did scans and performed a colonoscopy.
A collection of photos provided by Meagan May during her treatment at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital.
“My doctor was is one of the most amazing people and doctors I’ve ever come across. Dr. Williams,” said May. “He was the one that sat down and told us…”
May’s voice begins to crack as tears slowly trail down her face. Even now it is hard to retell how she found out she had stage four colon cancer.
She looks at the positive now, thankful for the hospital and doctors she turned to.
“I was grateful because at Orlando Health Bayfront, where I met Dr. Williams, they have a tumor board, so all of my doctors were meeting and discussing my case specifically all together at the same time,” said May.
“She had a large tumor here over on that right side of the colon,” said Dr. Williams when remembering May’s case.
Williams and other physicians had May go through chemotherapy prior to surgery to remove the tumor in her colon. May also needed a hysterectomy because of the severity of the tumor on her ovary.
After those procedures, she then did more chemo and radiation to remove the tumor in her liver.
Williams says May has responded well to treatment.
“Yeah, this is best case scenario, this is just absolutely just best care scenario that we just wished for her the whole time,” said Williams.
May, however, is part of a growing population of younger adults getting colon cancer, ages 35 to 50.
“I wish we knew what it was. I wish we could say this is the thing that’s causing it, but we don’t,” said Dr. Williams.
It is now recommended that people at the age of 45 get a colonoscopy screening. Then continued to get screened every ten years.
“Yeah, get it done,” said Dr. Williams. “If you have symptoms, don’t ignore them. Don’t ignore them. If you’re bleeding … if you’re having abdominal discomfort, that doesn’t seem to go away. Just go talk to your primary care doctor.”
“I take every day as a blessing,” said May.
March is colorectal cancer awareness month.
Colorectal cancer can run in families. If a family member has the disease, doctors recommend getting tested for the gene mutation.
May did not have the inheritable gene.
Symptoms for colorectal cancer include rectal bleeding with or without pain, blood in stool, a change in bowel pattern, anemia, bloating or cramping, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue or reduced stamina.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Artificial intelligence is playing a more significant role in the lives of everyday people. And in the medical field, it’s becoming a game changer.
Experts say AI can help identify issues with a patient
Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg uses an app that can help doctors identify, among other things, when a patient is having a stroke.
Ana Cortes, 88, nearly lost her life in 2022. She was sitting on her couch when she collapsed onto the ground. Her son, Richard Ramos, was nearby and helped her.
He called 911 and paramedics arrived and rushed her to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, where she underwent a CT scan. From the information gathered from the CT scan, it was then fed into an app called VIZ.AI.
“The application actually analyzes the data, so if there was something thar we missed, it overshoots, so sometimes it actually overcalls,” Dr. Lowell Dawson said.
Dawson received the alert on his cell phone while celebrating his birthday at home and quickly determined that Cortes had a stroke.
“What it does is reference thousands of scans, so it analyzes it and the data as well,” he said. “We analyze it as well — we don’t 100% rely on the AI app — but it does facilitate the triage of patients quicker.”
Dawson was able to figure out a treatment plan quickly that cleared Cortes’s blood clot, and she was out of the hospital in just four days.
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — There’s a critical need for nurses around the state.
The Florida Hospital Association projects a shortage of about 59,000 nurses by 2035.
Saint Leo University is trying to fill that void by expanding its nursing program. The university estimates the program will add nearly 200 nurses to the workforce by the end of 2026.
Nursing Program Instructor Dr. Angelique Tolentino-Martin said part of the curriculum is also making sure students know how to take care of themselves to avoid burn out and preparing them for the real world of nursing.
“My experience was completely different than these students,” Tolentino-Martin said. “It was more observational, I felt like I was just following a nurse and not able to do anything, where these students they are submerged into it, they are the nurse for the day.”
The university has also partnered with advent-health, creating an education unit with nurse mentors and nursing students.
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Florida is facing a shortage of dentists with 65 of the 67 counties designated as dental deserts – where there are too few dentists to meet the needs of the public.
Some Florida lawmakers are proposing new legislation that might address the shortage by using dental therapists.
What You Need To Know
Florida is facing a shortage of dentists with 65 of the 67 counties designated as dental deserts
Some Florida lawmakers are proposing new legislation that would establish a dental therapist certification – which can be achieved in three years
These dental therapists would be licensed to do basic dental work like filling cavities and basic tooth extraction
The legislation would establish a dental therapist certification – which can be achieved in three years – compared to 8 years of study to become a dentist. These dental therapists would be licensed to do basic dental work like filling cavities and basic tooth extraction.
Frank Catalanotto is the President of Floridians for Dental Access. He says therapists would be employed at dental practices, dealing with routine dental work while more complex procedures would be performed by a dentist.
“They have exactly the same qualifications as dentists do but for a limited scope of procedures,” Catalanotto said.
He says dental therapists could help to cut down on the shortage of dentists.
“We are convinced that all the data says that dental therapists are high quality, they provide safe care and they provide cost effective care,” he said.
Some dentists say it’s the wrong approach.
Dr. Zack Kalarickal, who has been a dentist for 25 years and runs Wesley Chapel Dentistry, says the focus should be on expanding training for dental hygienists and dental assistants.
“Why not invest the money in those programs and make it easier for students who participate in those programs instead of creating another model that doesn’t have any track record of being successful anywhere,” he said.
He is concerned that dental therapists would lack proper experience to participate in irreversible surgeries like a tooth extraction.
Matching bills in the Florida House (CS/HB 21) and Florida Senate (SB 82) are pushing for dental therapists.
One just passed 14-1 in the House Health Professionals and Programs subcommittee.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article stated an incorrect number of counties in Florida. This has been corrected.
LAKELAND, Fla. — While people typically visit Lake Morton to feed the swans, experts recommend admiring the beloved birds from afar.
What You Need To Know
Veterinarians are concerned about the potential impact of bird flu on Lakeland’s royal swans
Precautions, such as hand sanitizing and avoiding direct contact with swans, are recommended to prevent the spread of the virus
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working on a vaccine to help control the spread of bird flu
As bird flu cases spread across the U.S., Lakeland’s royal swans may be at risk.
Dr. Price Dickson, veterinarian at My Pet’s Animal Hospital, started caring for the 53 swans at Lake Morton in 2019. However, recently she and other experts have become concerned about their health due to bird flu.
“Like any flu, it can be fatal and unfortunately bird flu can also affect the nervous system, causing seizures, high fevers, and other symptoms, as well as respiratory effects,” she said.
Thankfully, Dr. Dickson says swans prefer social distancing, unlike ducks and pelicans. However, they could come into contact with wild birds migrating from other areas. She says this increases the risk of the virus spreading through the swan population and to peoples’ pets.
“If we’re touching a bird and we get the virus on our hands, and touch mouths, noses, or bring it home and touch a cat or a bird, then that can be transmitted through mucous membranes,” Dr. Dickson said.
Though no bird flu cases have been reported in Polk County so far, she advises the community to take extra precautions when visiting the lake.
“If they are doing things like feeding the ducks and then going and feeding the swans, try to use hand sanitizer, or wash their hands in between, or just throw the food on the ground rather than getting them to do beak-to-hand touching,” she said.
Dr. Dickson recommends people be on the lookout for bird flu symptoms, like their pets sneezing, showing fatigue, or having seizures. In the meantime, she and the city will do their part to keep the swans around for years to come.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also working on a vaccine to stop the virus from spreading.
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — At least 25 percent of adults age 65 or older report an injury from falling each year — the leading cause of injury for seniors — and it’s increasing, according to the CDC.
A nonprofit in Manatee County has seen the increase locally and aims to educate its residents on how to prevent a bad fall.
Fall injuries are increasing among at least 25 percent of adults age 65 or older
The expo will take place at Manatee Technical Insitute
Every morning, Teresa Alford gets her body moving.
“I think it’s very important because it keeps the body limber and keeps it moving. And that’s the most important thing that your body needs — continuous movement,” she said.
She knows just how important staying fit is, as a few weeks ago, she fell while she was alone.
“I got up on my step stool, as I do to help me, and then to this big bed,” Alford said. “And then I put my left foot on the side of the bed, which is wide, as you can see. And then I sat down. The problem was, I guess, in my sleepy state, I misjudged and didn’t go in far enough and ended up sliding down back and fell. So that one was, yes, scary.”
It scared Alford, but it wasn’t the first time she’s fallen. A year ago, when she was rearranging patio furniture, she also fell and had no one to help her.
“I went and I could not get up by myself,” she said. “And I thought, what am I going to do? What a predicament. And I actually kind of laughed at myself. And these villas are so soundproof that, you know, it really didn’t help to call out for help.”
She avoided a major injury — both falls just left her sore — but she’s worried the next one could be worse.
“Since I’ve had that fall, you start thinking more about falls and how vulnerable you are,” she said.
That’s why she’s attending the Falls Prevention EXPO hosted by The Manatee County Falls Prevention Coalition.
Megan Hawkins is the president of the coalition, and the trauma prevention and injury coordinator at HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton. She says falls have increased since the pandemic.
“Our local trauma center, where we see trauma patients, more than 50 percent of the traumatic injuries seen at that hospital are related to falls in our aging community. So 65 years and older. That’s an alarming number. You know, the CDC says that one in three people in our senior population will fall each year,” she said.
Alford is retired, but she is on several boards of organizations which keep her busy. To continue doing the work she loves, she is doing everything she can to prevent another fall.
“I stay very busy,” she said. “I mean, as busy as I can, because if I’m not busy, there’s too much of a tendency to sit down and turn on the TV and not get up, which is the worst thing.”
Alford is staying active not just for her mind but also to keep her body agile and strong.
The Falls Prevention EXPO will be held on Jan. 23 at Manatee Technical Insitute on State Road 70. The event runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
More than 100 businesses that provide services for people living with dementia and related illnesses will be in attendance.
“We’re really excited this year because it’s come on the heels of the hurricane,” said Town Square University Parkway Co-owner Catherine McDermott. “We really learned a lot from our families and those in the community that need us that the resources that we’re going to be able to provide for them at the health expo is really coming at a time when folks really need these resources, this education.”
What You Need To Know
Town Square University Parkway’s second annual health expo is being held on Saturday, November 9
The event is meant to connect caregivers and family of people with dementia and related illnesses with resources
The adult day center’s co-owner said post-hurricane, Town Square heard from families and the community about the need for education about what help is available locally
The free expo is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 8450 Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota.
Arlene Locola, of Lakewood Ranch, said she went to last year’s expo.
“I just took a bag, and I threw everything in there,” Arlene said. “I went home, and I studied the resources.”
Arlene’s husband, Tom, attends the adult day center. She called it the perfect match.
“In addition to my having a little bit of a break. Tom is deliriously happy,” Arlene said.
Tom has Parkinsonism and mild cognitive impairment. Arlene is his caregiver and said Town Square has provided more than activities — it has created a second family for Tom.
“Tom comes out with two pretty girls on his arm,” she said, describing pickup at the end of the day. “They’re holding him, right? Two young, pretty girls, and then they’re doing a little dance. Then he goes, ‘Oh, you’re here.’”
“I just love the camaraderie of the people, and the staff is right there all the time to help you,” said Tom.
Like families throughout Tampa Bay, the couple braced for Hurricanes Helene and Milton. But for Arlene, there were worries many didn’t have to consider.
“It was anxiety-provoking because I was alone with Tom, and if something did happen, I would have to handle it really alone,” Arlene said. “The caregiving job is a lot of necessities of daily life. I have a lot of decisions to make, and it’s not as shared as it was. We’re married 31 years, so this changes.”
Arlene said she did look into staying in a special needs shelter in Manatee County but didn’t think it was the right fit.
“She says, ‘Is he on oxygen?’ ‘No.’ ‘Does he have any special medical needs?’ I said, ‘No, not really,’” she said, recalling a phone call from the county.
Bradenton resident Irene Rivera’s husband, Rich, also attends Town Square. She said he was already in respite memory care as she recovered from rotator cuff surgery when she learned she was going to have to leave her home, which is in a flood zone. Irene decided to extend his stay.
“I knew if he was home, evacuating with him was just going to be a nightmare. You know, trying to lock up the house and move things and just him getting anxious,” Rivera said.
In addition to concerns like Arlene’s and Irene’s, McDermott said the disruption in routine that storms can bring can cause patients to decline. She told Spectrum News that’s what happened to a former patient of hers years ago.
“His wife and he had to go to a shelter during the hurricane, and he never got back to his baseline,” she said. “He was agitated and paranoid with her afterwards and eventually had to be placed. So, we really want to give families and caregivers the resources that they need and the education that they need to know how to get through these trying times with someone with dementia.”
The Alzheimer’s Association calls the disease a growing public health crisis in Florida. According to the association, 580,000 people ages 65 and older in the state are living with the disease. It estimates there are 840,000 family caregivers in Florida, with 1.3 billion hours of unpaid care provided.
“The stress of the caregiving role is much harder than the person who has dementia,” said McDermott, who’s also a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who specializes in caring for patients with dementia.
When it comes to storm preparation, McDermott said she thinks classes offered at the expo will be helpful to caregivers.
“I think people understanding the disease process helps them understand how they need to change and navigate things that they’re doing with their loved one,” she said.
“Any presentation that’s given to help consumers is a blessing, because then you don’t have to do it on your own,” Arlene said.
