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Tag: Health

  • House Takes Step Toward Extending Affordable Care Act Subsidies, Overpowering GOP Leadership

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    WASHINGTON (AP) — Overpowering Speaker Mike Johnson, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted Wednesday to push forward a measure that would revive an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowered health insurance costs for roughly 22 million people, but that had expired last month.

    The tally of 221-205 was a key test before passage of the bill, which is expected Thursday. And it came about because four GOP centrist lawmakers joined with Democrats in signing a so-called discharge petition to force the vote. After last year’s government shutdown failed to resolve the issue, they said doing nothing was not an option as many of their constituents faced soaring health insurance premiums beginning this month.

    Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, one of the Republicans who crossed party lines to back the Democratic proposal, portrayed it as a vehicle senators could use to reach a compromise.

    “No matter the issue, if the House puts forward relatively strong, bipartisan support, it makes it easier for the senators to get there,” Lawler said.


    Republicans go around their leaders

    If ultimately successful in the House this week, the voting would show there is bipartisan support for a proposed three-year extension of the tax credits that are available for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The action forcing a vote has been an affront to Johnson and GOP leaders who essentially lost control of their House majority as the renegade lawmakers joined Democrats for the workaround.

    But the Senate is under no requirement to take up the bill.

    Instead, a small group of members from both parties are working on an alternative plan that could find support in both chambers and become law. One proposal would be to shorten the extension of the subsidy to two years and make changes to the program.

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said any plan passing muster in the Senate will need to have income limits to ensure that it’s focused on those who most need the help and that beneficiaries would have to at least pay a nominal amount for their coverage.

    That way, he said, “insurance companies can’t game the system and auto-enroll people.” Finally, Thune said there would need to be some expansion of health savings accounts, which allow people to save money and withdraw it tax-free as long as the money is spent on qualified medical expenses.


    Democrats are pressing the issue

    It’s unclear the negotiations will yield a bill that the Senate will take up. Democrats are making clear that the higher health insurance costs many Americans are facing will be a political centerpiece of their efforts to retake the majority in the House and Senate in the fall elections.

    Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who led his party’s effort to push the health care issue forward, particularly challenged Republicans in competitive congressional districts to join if they really wanted to prevent steep premium increases for their constituents. Before Wednesday’s vote, he called on colleagues to “address the health care crisis in this country and make sure that tens of millions of people have the ability to go see a doctor when they need one.”

    Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Lawler signed the Democrats’ petition, pushing it to the magic number of 218 needed to force a House vote. All four represent key swing districts whose races will help determine which party takes charge of the House next year.

    Johnson, R-La., had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party’s conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed program.

    Lawmakers turn to discharge petitions to show support for an action and potentially force a vote on the House floor, but they are rarely successful. This session of Congress has proven an exception.

    A vote requiring the Department of Justice to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, for instance, occurred after Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced a petition on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The signature effort was backed by all House Democrats and four Republicans.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

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  • New dietary guidelines: The 10-page document and its major changes

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    The 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which updates recommendations for a healthy diet, was released by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday.

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  • Trump administration declares ‘war on added sugar’ in overhaul of food guidelines

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    The Trump administration announced a major overhaul of American nutrition guidelines Wednesday, replacing the old, carbohydrate-heavy food pyramid with one that prioritizes protein, healthy fats and whole grains.

    “Our government declares war on added sugar,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a White House news conference announcing the changes. “We are ending the war on saturated fats.”

    “If a foreign adversary sought to destroy the health of our children, to cripple our economy, to weaken our national security, there would be no better strategy than to addict us to ultra-processed foods,” Kennedy said.

    Improving U.S. eating habits and the availability of nutritious foods is an issue with broad bipartisan support, and has been a long-standing goal of Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again movement.

    During the news conference, he acknowledged both the American Medical Assn. and the American Academy of Pediatrics for partnering on the new guidelines — two organizations that earlier this week condemned the administration’s decision to slash the number of diseases that U.S. children are vaccinated against.

    “The American Medical Association applauds the administration’s new Dietary Guidelines for spotlighting the highly processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and excess sodium that fuel heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic illnesses,” AMA President Bobby Mukkamala said in a statement.

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  • Measles cases reported in North Carolina after holiday travel

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On the heels of holiday travel, cold and flu season is in full swing. For those who aren’t fully vaccinated against measles, however, experts at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services say they could be putting themselves at high risk.

    “Measles is what we call airborne,” Dr. Erica Wilson said. “The droplets that it travels in are so tiny that they will stay in the air for up to two hours after that person has cluster sneezed or coughed in that room, which is part of what makes it so infectious.”

    What You Need To Know

    • At least five cases of measles have been reported in North Carolina in the last two weeks

    • One case reported in Polk County, three in Buncombe County, and one case of a reported exposure by a traveler passing through Gaston County that was infected

    • Experts say the best way to protect against measles is to get the vaccine

    • Health Experts say it can be especially serious for children who may not be vaccinated yet


    Wilson is the medical director in the Medical Consultation Unit for NCDHHS. She says after the measles vaccine was introduced, it was rare to see cases of measles.

    But in the last few years, cases have reappeared.

    “We’re certainly concerned,” Wilson said. “These cases are part of a larger trend in decreased vaccination rates. And we will continue to see more and more cases of these vaccine-preventable diseases as vaccination rates go down.”

    Wilson says that while measles may start like a common cold, it can be much more serious long term.

    “Measles can have some serious sequelae. It can cause inflammation of the brain in severe cases,” Wilson said.  “In kids who have been infected, it can affect their immune system and their immunity to other diseases, so that they lose immunity that they’ve gained through all those colds that kids get in daycare and elementary school.”

    Over the last two weeks, NCDHHS has reported at least five cases of measles in the state.

    One in Polk County, three in Buncombe County, and one report of an exposure in Gaston County after a traveler passing through ate at a restaurant and later tested positive.

    “This virus doesn’t follow state lines,” Wilson said. “So, you know, there’s a risk of spread, as we’ve seen with several travelers coming through the state.”

    NCDHHS officials have praised the restaurant for its response to the situation. They say the restaurant quickly alerted staff and patrons of the exposure and advised them to take proper precautions.

    “The restaurant putting out that notification is exactly the right thing to do,” Wilson said. “There’s nothing the restaurant could have done to prevent that. Somebody who was infectious ate there, and they had no way of knowing that.”

    Still, Wilson says the best option for people to prevent the spread of measles is to get vaccinated.

    “Every child that gets sick, every child that dies, is a death that could have been prevented with vaccination,” Wilson said. “And that’s something that we never want to see, is a child dying when we could have prevented it.”

    Wilson says most children are vaccinated against measles after they turn 1 year old. However, Wilson says if you are traveling with a baby that is even 6 months old to a high-risk area, or internationally, talk to your child’s doctor about whether they should get the vaccine early to protect them.

    Measles symptoms often appear 7-14 days after exposure, DHHS said, but can appear up to 21 days after. Health officials say to watch for the following symptoms:

    • High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees)
    • Cough
    • Runny nose
    • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
    • Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) two to three days after symptoms begin
    • A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin 

    Anyone who comes in contact with the disease and experiences these symptoms should seek immediate medical care and contact their local health department.

    Wilson says to keep in mind that measles is not the only virus on the rise. Flu and other respiratory illnesses are very common this time of year.

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  • Flu surges across U.S. as doctor visits reach highest level since 1997

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    Flu cases are continuing to spike in the United States. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that at least 5,000 people have died of the illness this year and that doctor’s visits for flu have reached their highest level in decades. 

    The CDC estimated there have been at least 11 million flu cases as of December 27, as well as at least 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. There have been nine flu-related pediatric deaths, the CDC said. 

    At the same time, 8.2% of outpatient doctor’s visits nationwide were for flu-like illnesses, the CDC said. That’s the highest level recorded since 1997, according to CDC data. 

    Forty-eight jurisdictions are showing “high” or “very high” levels of flu, the agency said. Last week, 32 jurisdictions met that description. 

    Only four jurisdictions had low or minimal flu levels. Nevada has “insufficient data,” the CDC said. 


    A new subtype of influenza A called H3N2 is spreading quickly and fueling this year’s cases, experts told CBS News. The CDC reported that of the 994 influenza viruses that tested positive for flu between Dec. 20 and Dec. 27, 971 of them had influenza A. When 600 of those specimens were subtyped, 91.2% of them were found to be H3N2. The strain is known to cause tough flu seasons, especially for seniors, and is harder for the immune system to recognize. 

    At the same time, fewer people have received the flu vaccine. The CDC estimated that about 130 million doses of the flu vaccine had been given this year. On Monday, the CDC announced updates to its recommended childhood vaccine schedule. The changes included saying that children who are not high-risk should engage in “shared clinical decision-making” with their doctor about whether to get the flu vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the changes “dangerous” and said they would continue to share their own recommendations. 

    “Making these changes amid ongoing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases shows a disregard for the real confusion families already face,” said Dr. Ronald G. Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, in a statement. 

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    Stephen Smith

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  • Your sleep and activity patterns may reveal hidden brain health risk, study suggests

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    The timing of your sleep patterns could be linked to increased dementia risk, according to a new study.

    Each person’s circadian rhythm, often defined as the body’s internal 24-hour clock, keeps the body operating on a healthy pattern of sleeping and waking. It also affects other systems in your body, according to Cleveland Clinic.

    While most people’s circadian rhythms are automatically regulated, things like light levels can throw them off balance.

    BRAIN HEALTH WARNING SIGN COULD BE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, SAY RESEARCHERS

    People with strong circadian rhythms are usually able to stick to regular times for sleeping and activity, even with schedule or season changes, experts say.

    With a weaker circadian rhythm, light and schedule changes are more likely to disrupt the body clock, leading to shifts in sleep and activity patterns.

    Older adults with weaker daily activity rhythms were more likely to develop dementia over the following years. (iStock)

    The new study, published in the journal Neurology, sought to explore whether these disruptions play a role in dementia risk among older adults.

    Researchers from the Academy of Neurology monitored more than 2,000 people for an average of 12 days to track their rest and rhythm activities.

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    “A novel aspect of our study is that we derived circadian rhythms from a chest-worn ECG patch that is commonly used clinically,” lead study author Wendy Wang, Ph.D., of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, told Fox News Digital.

    SCIENTISTS UNCOVER HOW SOME 80-YEAR-OLDS HAVE THE MEMORY OF 50-YEAR-OLDS

    The participants’ average age was 79, and none had dementia at the time of the study. They were divided into three groups based on the strength of their circadian rhythms.

    In the group with the strongest rhythms, 31 of 728 people developed dementia, compared to 106 of 727 people in the group with the weakest rhythms.

    Heart doctor with patient

    Chest-worn ECG patches monitored patients’ circadian rhythm in the new study. (iStock)

    After adjusting for factors such as age, blood pressure and heart disease, researchers found that people in the weakest rhythm group had nearly 2.5 times the risk of dementia.

    The researchers identified a possible “U-shaped” association between the stability of the sleep-wake cycle and dementia, noting that people with consistently low activity levels may have less stable circadian rhythms.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

    People whose activity peaked at 2:15 p.m. or later had a 45% higher risk of dementia compared to those whose activity peaked earlier in the day. About 7% of people in the earlier peak group developed dementia, compared to 10% in the later peak group.

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    The study did have some limitations. Data on sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea or sleep-disordered breathing, were not available. Wang noted that more research is needed to understand the possible link.

    Man awake at night can't sleep

    With a weaker circadian rhythm, light and schedule changes are more likely to disrupt the body clock, leading to shifts in sleep and activity patterns. (iStock)

    The researcher also recommended that people maintain a strong circadian rhythm that is “well-aligned” with the 24-hour day.

    TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

    “People with strong circadian rhythms often follow regular sleep and activity times,” she said.

    “However, it’s important to note that our research does not prove that irregular circadian rhythms cause dementia, only that an association was observed.”

    Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health. 

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  • Trump Tells Republicans to Be ‘Flexible’ on Abortion Restrictions to Get a Health Care Deal

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    President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants Republicans to reach a deal on health care insurance assistance by being willing to bend on a 50-year-old amendment that bars federal money from being spent on abortion services.

    “You have to be a little flexible” on the Hyde Amendment, Trump told House Republicans as they gathered in Washington for a caucus retreat to open the midterm election year. “You gotta be a little flexible. You gotta work something. You gotta use ingenuity.”

    With his suggestion, Trump, who supported abortion rights before he entered politics in 2015, is asking conservatives to abandon or at least ease up on decades of Republican orthodoxy on abortion and spending policy. At the same time, he is demonstrating his long-standing malleability on abortion and acknowledging that Democrats have the political upper hand on health care after Republicans, who control the White House, the Senate and the House, allowed the expiration of premium subsidies for people buying Affordable Care Act insurance policies.

    As negotiations on Capitol Hill continue, some Democrats are pushing to end the Hyde restrictions as part of any new agreements on health care subsidies.

    Trump’s road map on the Hyde Amendment came more than an hour into a stem-winding speech intended as a part strategy session and part cheerleading as Republicans attempt to maintain their threadbare House majority in the November midterms.

    The president touted the House GOP proposal to replace ACA subsidies — which taxpayers typically steer directly to insurance companies after selecting their policies — into direct payments that taxpayers could use for a range of health care expenses, including insurance. The expanded ACA subsidies expired on Dec. 31, 2025, hitting millions of policy holders with steep premium increases.

    “Let the money go directly to the people,” Trump said, before casually slipping in a reference to the Hyde Amendment.

    “We’re all big fans of everything,” he said. “But you have to have flexibility.”

    Turning directly to GOP leaders, Trump added, “If you can do that, you’re going to have — this is going to be your issue.”

    But the GOP faces considerable pressure from parts of its coalition that want absolute opposition to any policy that might ease abortion restrictions.

    At Americans United for Life, a leading advocacy group that opposes abortion rights, Gavin Oxley penned an op-ed this week for “The Hill” titled, “Republicans must hold the line: No Hyde Amendment, no deal on health care.”

    “If they play their cards right,” Oxley wrote, “Republicans just might earn back enough of their base’s trust to sustain them through the 2026 midterms.”

    The Hyde Amendment, named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde, originally applied to Medicaid, the joint federal-state insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, and barred it from paying for abortions unless the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Hyde first introduced it in 1976, shortly after the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide.

    Over the years, Congress reauthorized Hyde policy as part of spending bills that fund the government. Democrats who support abortion access often joined Republicans who opposed abortion rights as a bipartisan compromise to pass larger spending deals. But as the two parties hardened their respective positions on abortion, Democrats became more uniform opponents of the ban, most famously when presidential candidate Joe Biden reversed his long-standing support for Hyde on his way to winning the 2020 Democratic nomination and general election.

    Republicans, meanwhile, have maintained their near absolute support for the amendment.

    The anti-abortion movement was initially skeptical of Trump as a presidential candidate in 2015 and 2016. But he has mostly aligned with the key faction of the Republican coalition, especially on Supreme Court appointments that led to the 2022 decision overturning Roe.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

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  • Abortion stays legal in Wyoming as its top court strikes down laws

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    FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Abortion will remain legal in Wyoming after the state Supreme Court struck down laws that include the country’s first explicit ban on abortion pills, ruling Tuesday that they violate the state constitution.

    What You Need To Know

    • Abortion will remain legal in Wyoming after the state Supreme Court struck down laws including the nation’s first explicit ban on abortion pills

    • The justices sided with the state’s only abortion clinic and others Tuesday in ruling that the laws violate the Wyoming Constitution

    • A lower court judge struck down the laws in November, ruling they violate a constitutional amendment that says competent adults have the right to make their own health care decisions

    • Earlier, the same judge blocked the laws from taking effect 

    • Wyoming sought to join 13 states that have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022

    The justices sided with the state’s only abortion clinic and others who had sued over the bans passed since 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

    Wellspring Health Access in Casper, the abortion access advocacy group Chelsea’s Fund and four women, including two obstetricians, argued that the laws violated a state constitutional amendment ensuring that competent adults have the right to make their own health care decisions.

    Attorneys for the state, however, argued that abortion can’t violate the Wyoming constitution because it is not health care.

    Voters approved the constitutional amendment in 2012 in response to the federal Affordable Care Act. The justices recognized that the amendment wasn’t written to apply to abortion but said it’s not their job to “add words” to the state constitution.

    “But lawmakers could ask Wyoming voters to consider a constitutional amendment that would more clearly address this issue,” the justices wrote in summarizing their 4-1 ruling.

    Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, said in a statement that he was disappointed by the ruling and called on state lawmakers meeting this winter to pass a proposed constitutional amendment banning abortion that would go before voters this fall.

    “This ruling may settle, for now, a legal question, but it does not settle the moral one, nor does it reflect where many Wyoming citizens stand, including myself. It is time for this issue to go before the people for a vote,” Gordon said.

    Such an amendment would require a two-thirds vote to be introduced for consideration during the monthlong legislative session devoted primarily to the state budget. But it would have wide support in the Republican-dominated statehouse.

    One of the laws overturned Tuesday sought to ban abortion except to protect a pregnant woman’s life or in cases involving rape or incest. The other law would have made Wyoming the only state to explicitly ban abortion pills, though other states have instituted de facto bans on abortion medication by broadly prohibiting abortion.

    Abortion has remained legal in this conservative state since Teton County District Judge Melissa Owens in Jackson blocked the bans while the lawsuit challenging them went ahead. Owens struck down the laws as unconstitutional in 2024.

    Wellspring Health Access and attorneys on both sides of the case didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.

    Last year, Wyoming passed additional laws requiring abortion clinics to be licensed surgical centers and women to get ultrasounds before having medication abortions. The Supreme Court ruling means those limitations could take effect, although a judge in a separate lawsuit has blocked them from taking effect while the case proceeds.

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  • U.S. cuts the number of vaccines recommended for every child

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    WASHINGTON  — The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of cutting the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — a move that leading medical groups said would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases.

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. has taken the unprecedented step of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — a move that leading medical groups say would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases

    • The overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule, announced Monday, is effective immediately and stops broadly recommending protection against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV

    • Protections against those diseases are now only recommended for certain groups deemed high-risk, or if their doctors recommend them

    • Officials say the overhaul won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, but medical experts say it creates confusion for parents and could increase preventable diseases



    The change is effective immediately, meaning that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now recommend that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases. What’s no longer broadly recommended is protection against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis or RSV. Instead, protections against those diseases are only recommended for certain groups deemed high risk, or when doctors recommend them in what’s called “shared decision-making.”

    Trump administration officials said the overhaul, a move long sought by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., won’t result in families who want the vaccines losing access to them, and said insurance will continue to pay. But medical experts said the decision creates confusion for parents and could increase preventable diseases.

    States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. While CDC requirements often influence those state regulations, some states have begun creating their own alliances to counter the Trump administration’s guidance on vaccines.

    The change comes as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, according to federal data. At the same time, rates of diseases that can be protected against with vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough, are rising across the country.

    Review came at the request of President Trump

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the overhaul was in response to a request from President Donald Trump in December. Trump asked the agency to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly.

    HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.

    “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement Monday.

    Trump, reacting to the news on his Truth Social platform, said the new schedule is “far more reasonable” and “finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World.”

    Among those left on the recommended-for-everyone list are vaccines against measles, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, chickenpox and human papillomavirus, or HPV. The guidance reduces the number of recommended vaccine doses against HPV from two or three shots depending on age to one for most children.

    Medical experts said Monday’s changes without what they said was public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.

    “Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.

    Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said countries carefully consider vaccine recommendations based on levels of disease in their populations and their health systems.

    “You can’t just copy and paste public health and that’s what they seem to be doing here,” said O’Leary. “Literally children’s health and children’s lives are at stake.”

    Most high-income countries recommend vaccinations against a dozen to 15 serious pathogens, according to a recent review by the Vaccine Integrity Project, a group that works to safeguard vaccine use.

    France today recommends all children get vaccinated against 14 diseases, compared to the 11 that the U.S. now will recommend for every child under the new schedule.

    Doctors’ groups criticize decision

    The changes were made by political appointees, without any evidence that the current recommendations were harming children, O’Leary said.

    The pediatricians’ group has issued its own childhood vaccine schedule that its members are following, and it continues to broadly recommend vaccines that the Trump administration demoted.

    O’Leary singled out the flu vaccine, which the government and leading medical experts have long urged for nearly everyone starting at age 6 months. He said the government is “pretty tone deaf” for ending its recommendation while the country is at the beginning of a severe flu season, and after 280 children died from flu last winter, the most since 2009.

    Even a disease that parents may not have heard of, rotavirus, could come roaring back if vaccination erodes, he added. That diarrheal disease once hospitalized thousands of children each winter, something that no longer happens.

    The decision was made without input from an advisory committee that typically consults on the vaccine schedule, said senior officials at HHS. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the changes publicly.

    The officials added that the new recommendations were a collaborative effort between federal health agencies but wouldn’t specify who was consulted.

    Scientists at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases were asked to present to the agency’s political leadership about vaccine schedules in other countries in December, but they were not allowed to give any recommendations and were not aware of any decisions about vaccine schedule changes, said Abby Tighe, executive director of the National Public Health Coalition, an advocacy organization of current and former CDC employees and their supporters.

    “Changes of this magnitude require careful review, expert and public input, and clear scientific justification. That level of rigor and transparency was not part of this decision,” said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, of the American Medical Association. “The scientific evidence remains unchanged, and the AMA supports continued access to childhood immunizations recommended by national medical specialty societies.”

    Kennedy is a longtime vaccine skeptic

    The move comes as Kennedy, a longtime activist against vaccines, has repeatedly used his authority in government to translate his skepticism about the shots into national guidance.

    In May, Kennedy announced the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by public health experts who saw no new data to justify the change.

    In June, Kennedy fired an entire 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee — later installing several of his own replacements, including multiple vaccine skeptics.

    Kennedy in November also personally directed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism, without supplying any new evidence to support the change.

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  • US drops the number of vaccines it recommends for every child

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    The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child—leaving other immunizations, such as flu shots, open to families to choose but without clear guidance.Officials said the overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, but medical experts slammed the move, saying it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and increase disease.The change came after President Donald Trump in December asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising its guidance to align with theirs.HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Monday.Medical experts disagreed, saying the change without public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.“Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.

    WASHINGTON —

    The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child—leaving other immunizations, such as flu shots, open to families to choose but without clear guidance.

    Officials said the overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, but medical experts slammed the move, saying it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and increase disease.

    The change came after President Donald Trump in December asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising its guidance to align with theirs.

    HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.

    “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Monday.

    Medical experts disagreed, saying the change without public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.

    “Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.

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  • Driving instructors teach students to dodge danger on Zimbabwe roads

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    HARARE, Zimbabwe — When Tafara Muvhevhi, a Zimbabwean driving instructor, began work 16 years ago, his job was simple: teach the highway code and prepare learners to ace their driving test.

    Today, his priorities have changed. His main concern is no longer just the exam, but whether his students will survive some of the world’s deadliest roads. This is vital in a country where road crashes rank among the top killers, according to the national statistics agency, and road accident fatality rates are among the continent’s worst. In Zimbabwe, a crash hits every 15 minutes and five die and 38 are injured each day, according to the country’s traffic safety agency.

    “Back then we were teaching by the book, it was all by the book,” Muvhevhi said while coaching his latest student through parallel parking and smooth reversing into spaces marked by blue drums on a dusty and worn-out tarmac training ground on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.

    Once known for orderly traffic and well-kept roads, Zimbabwe’s road safety steadily has deteriorated since the 2000s, degenerating into traffic chaos in the 2010s as economic decline gutted road maintenance, informal public transport boomed and enforcement weakened. Despite renewed repairs and policing efforts, dangerous driving remains deeply entrenched.

    “The other drivers are no longer patient with us, they hoot, they overtake illegally, putting pressure on the students so our students are basically trying to adjust,” he said, before his student navigated through streets where both drivers and pedestrians have little regard for rules.

    For the student, 19-year-old Winfrida Chipashu, a university accounting major, the roads of Harare are more intimidating than balancing ledgers.

    “You cannot really compare it to accounting because (in accounting) you have all the concepts,” Chipashu said. “When you are driving in the jungle, you are confused by other people who are not following the road rules.”

    The southern African nation’s roads turn most lethal during festive seasons and other holidays, but peril lurks daily, driven largely by dangerous driving that the government says is of alarming concern.

    Zimbabwe has one of Africa’s highest road accident fatality rates, with the World Health Organization estimating nearly 30 deaths per 100,000 people.

    On the roads, the contradictions are stark. Minibus taxis bearing “safety first” signs swerve wildly into pedestrian lanes and oncoming traffic. Fare collectors hang off doors and the back of moving vehicles shouting for customers. Sedans jammed with 12 passengers, including in the trunk, defy five-seat limits.

    Authorities say 94% of road accidents in the country of 15 million people are caused by human error. Cellphone distractions among drivers and pedestrians cause about 10% of deaths, said Munesu Munodawafa, head of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.

    “That is frightening,” said Munodawafa. “For such a small population, those numbers are alarming.”

    Zimbabwe’s crisis mirrors a wider African pattern. Road accidents here kill about 300,000 people annually, about a quarter of the global toll. The continent has the world’s highest fatality rate at 26.6 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with a global average of about 18, according to the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa. This is despite the continent of 1.5 billion people accounting for just about 3% of the global vehicle population.

    Road traffic deaths in Africa are also rising quicker than in any other region, with fatalities jumping 17% between 2010 and 2021, according to the World Health Organization’s latest Africa road safety report released in mid-2024.

    The WHO links the surge in part to weak road safety laws and enforcement, reckless driving, and rapid urbanization and motorization. Vehicle registrations in Africa nearly tripled between 2013 and 2021, driven by imported used vehicles and a sharp rise in motorcycles and three-wheelers. Pedestrians, cyclists and riders of two- and three-wheelers account for about half of all fatalities, according to the U.N. agency.

    In Uganda, where unregulated motorcycles dominate transport, reckless overtaking and speeding caused 44.5% of crashes in 2024, police there say, while in neighboring Kenya and across East Africa, frequent accidents on poor roads and dangerous driving fuel repeated calls for tougher road safety rules.

    To increase road safety, police in Zimbabwe have recently acquired body cameras and breathalyzers and are pushing for a review of the driver licensing system, including docking points for offenders and a revamp of driver training programs to highlight the dangers of reckless driving.

    “Drivers are not licensed to be killers, they are licensed to practice road safety and safeguard lives on the road but sadly that is not the case,” said police spokesperson Paul Nyathi.

    For instructors like Muvhevhi, survival has become the lesson.

    “When we are teaching our students, it’s no longer an issue of just obtaining the driver’s license,” he said. “We teach them to stay alive in spite of incorrect actions of other road users.”

    ___

    For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

    The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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  • Longevity Science’s Penis Fixation Has an Extensive, Strange History

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    If you have dipped a toe into the very strange waters of longevity culture, you may have noticed a theme: There’s an awful lot of dick.

    Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson—he of the “don’t die” motto—is particularly obsessed with the ways his penis might help him live forever. The data Johnson collects on his johnson includes ejaculate volume (just over a half teaspoon, apparently double the norm), sperm count and motility, and nighttime erection quality, which he then compares with his teenage son. His regimen to keep his penis in tip-top shape includes shockwave therapy and Botox injections.

    He’s not alone. Dave Asprey, the self-proclaimed father of the biohacking movement and the founder of Bulletproof Coffee, plans to live to 180. He treats his penis to injections of stem cells and acoustic wave therapy. For the latter, he helpfully suggests a DIY version: “Grab the cock and slap it against your leg on the left 67 times,” he said on his podcast, The Human Upgrade. “And then on the right….And you lightly slap the balls…The shock waves stimulate the cells. All of those are good for testosterone and good for enhancing what’s called male energy.” (Urologist Dr. Leon Telis, director of men’s health at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, said he “would not recommend” this.)

    If that sounds like too much work, Asprey also promotes at-home shockwave wands, along with a cock ring that records data: “firmness, duration, and recovery time,” according to his website. Like an Oura, but for your schlong.

    The current political moment is perfect for penis-hacking. If there’s anything that excites longevity enthusiasts and biohackers more than untested stem cell treatments, it’s the MAHA promise to demolish regulation and bring red-blooded American masculinity back, creating a world where everyone is free to swim in sewage runoff wearing jeans before injecting whatever they want straight into their dicks. There’s a zeitgeisty Venn diagram here—MAHA, the manosphere, messianic tech-bro culture run amok—that makes it feel like the perfect 2025 storm.

    But Jonathan A. Allan, a professor at Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada, who has written a cultural analysis of foreskin and is at work on a book about vastectomies, says that the penis fixation isn’t unique to this particular group of enthusiasts. Instead, it’s an abiding archetype in the quest for immortality. “It’s extreme,” he says of the current culture. “But it’s nothing new. We’ve been doing this for at least a century now.”

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    Sarah DiGregorio

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  • NCDHHS confirms measles exposure in Gaston County, issues warning to residents

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    Another case of measles has been confirmed in North Carolina, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. This time, in Gaston County.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services has confirmed a measles exposure in Gaston County

    •  An unvaccinated person passed through the county on Dec. 26, officials said, and visited several areas while infected with the disease

    •  DHHS says anyone who visited Constantine’s Restaurant in Gastonia after 8:30 p.m. on that day has the highest chance of exposure risk and should monitor for symptoms


    Health officials say a person traveling through the county was not vaccinated for the disease and had recently visited areas in Spartanburg, South Carolina, linked to an ongoing outbreak in the northern part of the state.

    The person passed through Gaston County on Dec. 26, according to DHHS, and visited Constantine’s Restaurant on S. New Hope Road in Gastonia.

    Officials say anyone who was at the restaurant after 8:30 p.m. on that day may have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms until Jan. 16.

    The person also visited Christmas Town USA in nearby McAdenville, North Carolina, between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Dec. 26, officials said, but did not visit any indoor places. This makes the risk of transmission to anyone attending around that time low, DHHS said.

    Related: First case of measles reported in North Carolina this year, DHHS says

    Measles symptoms often appear 7-14 days after exposure, DHHS said, but can appear up to 21 days after. Health officials say to watch for the following symptoms:

    • High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees)
    • Cough
    • Runny nose
    • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
    • Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) two to three days after symptoms begin
    • A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin 

    Anyone who comes in contact with the disease and experiences these symptoms should seek immediate medical care and contact their local health department.

    Health officials also recommend anyone age one year and older who is unvaccinated to get the measles vaccine to help protect themselves and others. NCDHHS also offers a measles immunity checker tool to help those who are unsure whether they are protected against measles.

    Related: As measles case confirmed at RDU, doctor says best defense is vaccine

    Last month, a child in Polk County also tested positive for measles, according to DHHS.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Bristol Palin Shares Update on Facial Paralysis After 300 Days

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    Bristol Palin has been battling her mysterious facial paralysis for an entire year.

    “If anyone’s wondering, today’s Day 323 of my face being paralyzed,” Palin, 35, said in video footage taken last month that she posted to her Instagram Stories on Saturday, January 3. “Not looking great.”

    She continued, “This is what it looks like. There’s not a whole lot of movement.”

    According to Palin, she plans to “eventually” get Botox in one of her eyes as a result.


    Related: Bristol Palin Details ‘Painful’ Facial Paralysis and Slow Recovery

    Courtesy of Bristol Palin/Instagram Bristol Palin has been dealing with a case of facial paralysis. “I woke up nine days ago with a weird little sensation in my face,” Palin, 34, said in a Wednesday, January 29, Instagram Story video. “My mouth was pulling this way and it just felt a little off. So, I […]

    “It just gets so small when I smile or when I’m expressive at all,” Palin explained. “It’ll be a year in January, could be worse, could be better. At least I’ve got cute sunglasses.”

    Palin disclosed in January 2025 that half of her face was paralyzed.

    “I woke up nine days ago with a weird little sensation in my face,” she said in a social media video at the time. “My mouth was pulling this way and it just felt a little off. So, I went and looked in the mirror. I’m like, ‘Wow, this is looking a little weird.’”

    Bristol-Palin-IG.
    Courtesy of Bristol Palin/ Instagram

    A few hours later, the Teen Mom alum noticed the left side of her face was “numb and just paralyzed.”

    “Couldn’t really blink my eye, definitely had no movement on the side of my face,” she recalled. “So crazy. [I] went to the doctor. They ran tests, they did a CT scan [and] they put me on steroids, put me on other medications. Nothing came back with all the results. They think it’s just a case of Bell’s palsy maybe brought on by stress or lack of sleep.”

    She added at the time, “I’m not really sure. There’s nothing that I was super stressed out about, but I think it was brought on by stress.”

    According to the Mayo Clinic, Bell’s palsy is a temporary condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.

    Bristol Palin Jokes About Trying to Look Normal in Facial Paralysis Update 836


    Related: Bristol Palin Jokes About Trying to Look ‘Normal’ After Facial Paralysis

    Bristol Palin gave a lighthearted update on her facial paralysis condition. “If I just keep my mouth shut I look pretty normal, lol,” Palin, 34, wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday. February 4. “Maybe it’s a sign.” Palin’s update comes nearly a week after she initially opened up about her health struggle. “I woke […]

    “I’m finally starting to get some of the sensation back. It’s been, like, a little painful the last two days, which is a sign [and a] good indication that it’s getting better, so praise the Lord,” she said. “This has been wild. Also if you know anyone that has any of these symptoms, I would highly suggest going more of the Eastern medicine [route], as well. I’ve been getting acupuncture multiple times and that’s helped speed up the process of recovery tremendously.”

    Several months later, Palin revealed in another social media update that she was “handling [the situation] well.”

    “I can’t look at pictures of myself,” she said in July 2025, adding that her face is “probably 70 percent back to normal. … I woke up and it was paralyzed, completely out of the blue. No warning. [I] wasn’t sick, didn’t get the v@x, no recent Botox. Just paralyzed.”

    Palin still doesn’t have a definitive diagnosis.

    “Black skinnies, black long sleeve, same denim shirt I wear all the time, vintage Louis Vuitton,” she captioned a November 2025 Instagram pic of her outfit, jokingly adding, “And still a crooked face.”

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    Miranda Siwak

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  • How to actually make getting fit a successful New Year’s resolution

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    FROM TOWSON. A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION IS I HAVE A TWIN SISTER, SO OUR GOAL IS TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OUR FITNESS GOALS, BE DISCIPLINED AND THAT’S WHY KARISMA GREEN IS UP EARLY AT PLANET FITNESS IN TOWSON. FOR TYRA WHEELER. CONSISTENCY HERE HASN’T JUST HELPED HIM CHANGE HIS BODY, IT’S CHANGED HIS LIFE. WITH MY CAREER, MY SCHOOLING, MY FAMILY, IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO GO HARDER IN EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE. REALLY. ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, IN FACT, TYRELL SET OUT TO GO FROM FROM EXTREME BEING TO, YOU KNOW, A MEAN GREEN. AND BY NOT GIVING UP, HE’S GONE FROM THIS TO THIS. PUTTING ON NEARLY 30 POUNDS OF MUSCLE. AND ONCE YOU START TO SEE A CHANGE IN YOUR BODY, IT’S NO STOPPING THERE. PLANET FITNESS GENERAL MANAGER QUINTIN DAILEY SAYS THE KEY TO MAKING SURE YOU DON’T GIVE UP WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE DO, IS IT’S FINDING YOUR WHY, FINDING WHY YOU WANT TO DO THIS. IT MIGHT BE FOR HEALTH, IT MIGHT BE FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. IT MIGHT BE FOR TO YOUR FAMILY CAN SEE YOU A LITTLE LONGER SO YOU CAN MOVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER SO YOU CAN GET A LITTLE STRONGER. ONCE YOU FIND YOUR WHY IT BECOMES A LOT EASIER. GETTING FIT IS A NUMBER ONE RESOLUTION ACCORDING TO YOUGOV.COM. ALSO ON THE LIST. BEING HAPPY, EATING HEALTHIER AND SAVING MORE MONEY. ADULTS UNDER 45 ARE ALSO ABOUT TWICE AS LIKELY AS OLDER AMERICANS TO SAY THEY WILL MAKE A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION. DO YOU HAVE A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION? NO, I DON’T HAVE A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION. I BELIEVE IN MAKING PLANS EVERY DAY AND CARRYING THEM OUT EVERY DAY, INSTEAD OF JUST SAVING THEM UP FOR ONE DAY A YEAR. IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO IT, DO TODAY. MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTION IS TO BE AT THE BE AT PEACE WITH THE WORLD. THE FIRST ONE IS FINISH COLLEGE. THAT’S THAT’S LIKE BOTTOM LINE, WORK IN THE FIELD WOULD BE THE SECOND GOAL AND JUST KEEP GROWING. IF YOU HAVE RESOLVED TO GET OUTDOORS MORE, WHY NOT JUST TAKE A HIKE? FIRST DAY HIKES IS A NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE THAT THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS TAKING PART IN. SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GO ONLINE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN DO A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OR A RANGER LED TOUR. AND IT RUNS THROUGH JANUARY THE 2ND H

    Getting fit, healthy is a common New Year’s resolution. Here’s how to actually find success

    Updated: 10:38 AM EST Jan 4, 2026

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    People typically consider setting goals at the new year, so how does one find success?When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, many people got up early Thursday morning with a goal of getting fit in 2026.At Planet Fitness in Towson, Maryland, Tyrell Wheeler said consistency helped him change more than his body — it changed his life.”With my career, with my schooling, with my family, it just makes me want to go harder in every aspect of my life,” Wheeler said.On New Year’s Day about three years ago, Wheeler set out to “(go) from a string bean to a mean green.” And, by not giving up, he put on almost 30 pounds of muscle.Quintin Dailey, the gym’s general manager, said the key to making sure you don’t give up within the first month, as he sees most people do, is to find your why.”Once you start to see a change in your body, there’s no stopping there,” Dailey said. “(Find) the why you want to do this: It might be for health, it might be for your mental health, it might be so your family could see you longer, move a little bit better, so you can get stronger. Once you find your why, it becomes a lot easier.” Getting fit is the No. 1 resolution, according to a YouGov survey. Also on the list: Being happy (23%), eating healthier (22%) and saving more money (21%).The survey found adults under 45 are about twice as likely as older Americans to say they will make a New Year’s resolution (43% vs. 21%).”I don’t have a New Year’s resolution. I believe in making plans every day, carrying them out every day, (not) just saving them up for one day a year. If it’s the right thing to do, do it today,” said Bernie Simon, a gym patron.”The first one is finish college, bottom line. Second would be to work in the field. And then, just keep growing,” said Dylan Johnson, a gym patron.

    TOWSON, Md. —

    People typically consider setting goals at the new year, so how does one find success?

    When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, many people got up early Thursday morning with a goal of getting fit in 2026.

    At Planet Fitness in Towson, Maryland, Tyrell Wheeler said consistency helped him change more than his body — it changed his life.

    “With my career, with my schooling, with my family, it just makes me want to go harder in every aspect of my life,” Wheeler said.

    On New Year’s Day about three years ago, Wheeler set out to “(go) from a string bean to a mean green.” And, by not giving up, he put on almost 30 pounds of muscle.

    Quintin Dailey, the gym’s general manager, said the key to making sure you don’t give up within the first month, as he sees most people do, is to find your why.

    “Once you start to see a change in your body, there’s no stopping there,” Dailey said. “(Find) the why you want to do this: It might be for health, it might be for your mental health, it might be so your family could see you longer, move a little bit better, so you can get stronger. Once you find your why, it becomes a lot easier.”

    Getting fit is the No. 1 resolution, according to a YouGov survey. Also on the list: Being happy (23%), eating healthier (22%) and saving more money (21%).

    The survey found adults under 45 are about twice as likely as older Americans to say they will make a New Year’s resolution (43% vs. 21%).

    “I don’t have a New Year’s resolution. I believe in making plans every day, carrying them out every day, (not) just saving them up for one day a year. If it’s the right thing to do, do it today,” said Bernie Simon, a gym patron.

    “The first one is finish college, bottom line. Second would be to work in the field. And then, just keep growing,” said Dylan Johnson, a gym patron.

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  • Barry Manilow gives fans positive health update following his recent cancer diagnosis

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    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Barry Manilow gave fans an update on his health shortly after sharing his cancer diagnosis.

    In an Instagram photo shared Friday, the 82-year-old singer was lying in a hospital bed in a green hospital gown with a smile on his face, captioning the post, “Better Today!”

    Fans were happy to see the “Copacabana” singer was doing better, with many sending him love and positive wishes in the comments section.

    “We love you Barry!! God is good! Can’t wait to see you again soon.”

    Manilow gave his fans a health update, letting them know he is doing better. (Barry Manilow Instagram)

    PINK HOSPITALIZED ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, RECOVERS FROM CHALLENGING 2025

    “I’ve loved you Barry for 50 years! My heart skipped a beat when I heard you were sick,” another said. “So glad to see you are doing well and recuperating.”

    Manilow first shared that a cancerous spot had been found on his lungs in an Instagram post shared in late December.

    APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR POST

    He explained that after suffering “through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” his doctors ordered more tests out of an abundance of caution and found something more serious.

    “Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”

    Barry Manilow performing on stage at the "Manilow: The Last Seattle Concert" in July 2025.

    Manilow first shared his cancer diagnosis last month. (Mat Hayward/Getty Images)

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    “The bad news is that now that the ‘Christmas A Gift of Love’ concerts are over, I’m going into surgery to have the spot removed,” he continued. “The doctors do not believe it has spread, and I’m taking tests to confirm the diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns.”

    He went on to apologize to all his fans who had already purchased tickets, telling them he was “looking forward to the January shows” as much as they were and that he “hate[s] having to move everything around.”

    LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

    Manilow is known for hits such as “I Write the Songs” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” but he told NBC News in April 2024 he didn’t think his biggest hit, “Copacabana,” would become what it did. He explained he and his co-producer at the time, Ron Duarte, “never thought it would ever get played on the radio.”

    Barry Manilow in concert in October 1975.

    Manilow didn’t think his hit song “Copacabana” would go on to become as big as it did. (Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images )

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

    “But we took it to a disco, when there were discos, and we asked the DJ to play it,” Manilow said. “And everybody ran to the dance floor and started to dance like they were back in the 1940s. They were dipping the girls and all because, you know, it’s ‘Copa.’ And, I said to Ron, ‘We may be onto something with this one.’ And then, it turned out to be the most popular song in my catalog.”

    Lori Bashian is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. 

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  • Can a mammogram help identify heart disease?

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    Nancy Preston didn’t have a heart attack. Nor did she have chest discomfort, shortness of breath or heart palpitations — all symptoms of heart disease. Instead, a routine mammogram led toPreston having quintuple bypass surgery last summer.

    “It was just something horrible waiting to happen,” said the 67-year-old from New York City. “I did not have symptoms, except for feeling a little more fatigued than usual, which I attributed to age.”

    Preston does have a family history of heart disease. Her mother had a heart attack and a double bypass, and an older sister had a heart attack and has a pacemaker.

    Even so, heart disease wasn’t top of mind for Preston, a yoga enthusiast who exercised daily and followed a healthy diet. Her high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes — two conditions that can increase a person’s odds of developing heart disease — had been under control before her health scare, she said.

    In October 2024, Preston got her annual mammogram at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. Doctors detected breast arterial calcifications, or BAC, on Preston’s mammogram.

    What are breast arterial calcifications?

    Breast arterial calcifications are calcium buildups within the breast arteries that may be associated with heart disease. Mount Sinai is conducting a behavioral study to understand how women react to being notified about the arterial calcifications with their mammogram results.

    After Preston, who is participating in the study, was notified of her breast arterial calcification, she underwent a cardiac stress test, which monitors the heart during physical exertion.

    “In [Preston’s] case, her heart function was very strong at rest, but during the stress portion, part of her heart muscle was not squeezing appropriately,” said Dr. Mary Ann McLaughlin, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. “Her results indicated multivessel coronary artery disease.”

    McLaughlin and Preston believe the BAC findings saved her life.

    “The only reason that Nancy went ahead with a stress test was because she was a participant in the study,” McLaughlin said. “If she had come to me with what she had, which was well-controlled risk factors and no symptoms, I likely would not have referred her for the stress test.”

    Preston continues to recover from the major surgery she had in July. “Thank God this BAC was shared with me,” she said.

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women ages 40 through 74 get a mammogram every other year to screen for breast cancer. While federal law mandates that certain information, such as breast density, be included in mammography reports, providers don’t have to mention breast arterial calcifications.

    Dr. Laurie Margolies, chief of breast imaging at the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai and a leader of the study, hopes to change that.

    “In over 10% of mammograms, you will see calcified arteries, and people are always surprised,” said Margolies, who has been studying the relationship between breast arterial calcification and heart disease for about a decade. “When the arteries are calcified in a woman’s breast, it only makes logical sense that vessels might be calcified elsewhere.”

    Breast arterial calcifications, which are specific to breast arteries, are different from the calcifications common to other areas of the breast. Macrocalcifications, which appear as white dots on a mammogram, are typically benign, according to the National Cancer Institute. Microcalcifications appear as white specks and may indicate cancer in some cases. About half of women develop benign breast calcifications.

    The Mount Sinai study, which began recruiting patients 40 and older in 2021, aims to analyze BAC rates in a diverse sample of 14,875 women. Margolies estimates 12.5% of women in the health system have breast arterial calcifications, including those with known heart conditions.

    The second part of the study randomly splits 1,888 patients with breast arterial calcifications into two groups. Women in the first group are notified of their results, educated about heart disease risk and encouraged to consult a preventive cardiologist. Women in the second group receive a standard mammography letter, then are notified of their BAC readings six months later.

    Results are expected in early 2027.

    Dr. Daniel Frank of Duly Health offers guidance and advice for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

    How breast screening helps detect heart disease

    A 2018 review published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging advocated for mammography as a screening tool for heart disease. A 2022 study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging found an association between breast arterial calcification and heart disease in postmenopausal women ages 60 to 79, while 2024 research published in the journal JACC: Advances noted that BAC was “especially predictive” of heart disease in younger women ages 40 to 59.

    Dr. Naomi Ko, section chief of breast medical oncology at NYU Langone Health, said the Mount Sinai study adds to a growing body of evidence that cardiovascular disease clues lie in the breasts.

    In some cases, women may be able to improve their heart health through behavioral and medication changes to stave off more serious medical intervention.

    “Give me an opportunity to counsel my patients toward better lifestyle choices, and I’ll take it,” said Ko, who isn’t involved in the research. “If it triggers and influences improved health behaviors and engagement positively in your health care, awesome.”

    The budding link between breast arterial calcification, also called vascular calcification, and heart disease is just that.

    “It’s not a slam dunk,” Ko said. More research is needed, and women shouldn’t panic if they learn they have BAC.

    “We know these calcifications are associated with cardiovascular challenges, but we’re not 100% certain about what that could mean for every single individual patient,” Ko said. “This is one data point about your body.”

    Mammogram findings should prompt discussions about both a patient’s heart and breast health, said Dr. Melanie Chellman, a Cleveland Clinic breast radiologist who isn’t involved in the study.

    “The great thing about mammograms is that we’re already doing them on the particular women who are at the highest risk for heart disease: ages 40 and older,” Chellman said. “We can use those same pictures to look for calcifications that are vascular.”

    Dr. Steven Isakoff, co-clinical director of breast oncology at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, said educating health care providers is as big a hurdle as informing patients.

    “Most of my colleagues, I would bet, are not aware of the association between breast arterial calcifications [and heart disease],” said Isakoff, who wasn’t involved in the study. “Without more specific guidance in the report about what steps to take, I would think it might not get acted upon.”

    More research is needed to define how much arterial calcification in the breast may be cause for concern, he said. Meanwhile, he praised Mount Sinai’s efforts to fill in gaps in the data.

    “There’s a lot of information buried in mammograms,” Isakoff said.

    Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer for the American Cancer Society, says there’s a lot to celebrate when it comes to breast cancer awareness – but dense breast tissue can make the risk of getting cancer 1.5-2 times higher, and most people don’t know to look for it.

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    Lindsey Leake and Jessica Herzberg | NBC News

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  • Can a mammogram help identify heart disease?

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    Nancy Preston didn’t have a heart attack. Nor did she have chest discomfort, shortness of breath or heart palpitations — all symptoms of heart disease. Instead, a routine mammogram led toPreston having quintuple bypass surgery last summer.

    “It was just something horrible waiting to happen,” said the 67-year-old from New York City. “I did not have symptoms, except for feeling a little more fatigued than usual, which I attributed to age.”

    Preston does have a family history of heart disease. Her mother had a heart attack and a double bypass, and an older sister had a heart attack and has a pacemaker.

    Even so, heart disease wasn’t top of mind for Preston, a yoga enthusiast who exercised daily and followed a healthy diet. Her high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes — two conditions that can increase a person’s odds of developing heart disease — had been under control before her health scare, she said.

    In October 2024, Preston got her annual mammogram at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. Doctors detected breast arterial calcifications, or BAC, on Preston’s mammogram.

    What are breast arterial calcifications?

    Breast arterial calcifications are calcium buildups within the breast arteries that may be associated with heart disease. Mount Sinai is conducting a behavioral study to understand how women react to being notified about the arterial calcifications with their mammogram results.

    After Preston, who is participating in the study, was notified of her breast arterial calcification, she underwent a cardiac stress test, which monitors the heart during physical exertion.

    “In [Preston’s] case, her heart function was very strong at rest, but during the stress portion, part of her heart muscle was not squeezing appropriately,” said Dr. Mary Ann McLaughlin, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. “Her results indicated multivessel coronary artery disease.”

    McLaughlin and Preston believe the BAC findings saved her life.

    “The only reason that Nancy went ahead with a stress test was because she was a participant in the study,” McLaughlin said. “If she had come to me with what she had, which was well-controlled risk factors and no symptoms, I likely would not have referred her for the stress test.”

    Preston continues to recover from the major surgery she had in July. “Thank God this BAC was shared with me,” she said.

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women ages 40 through 74 get a mammogram every other year to screen for breast cancer. While federal law mandates that certain information, such as breast density, be included in mammography reports, providers don’t have to mention breast arterial calcifications.

    Dr. Laurie Margolies, chief of breast imaging at the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai and a leader of the study, hopes to change that.

    “In over 10% of mammograms, you will see calcified arteries, and people are always surprised,” said Margolies, who has been studying the relationship between breast arterial calcification and heart disease for about a decade. “When the arteries are calcified in a woman’s breast, it only makes logical sense that vessels might be calcified elsewhere.”

    Breast arterial calcifications, which are specific to breast arteries, are different from the calcifications common to other areas of the breast. Macrocalcifications, which appear as white dots on a mammogram, are typically benign, according to the National Cancer Institute. Microcalcifications appear as white specks and may indicate cancer in some cases. About half of women develop benign breast calcifications.

    The Mount Sinai study, which began recruiting patients 40 and older in 2021, aims to analyze BAC rates in a diverse sample of 14,875 women. Margolies estimates 12.5% of women in the health system have breast arterial calcifications, including those with known heart conditions.

    The second part of the study randomly splits 1,888 patients with breast arterial calcifications into two groups. Women in the first group are notified of their results, educated about heart disease risk and encouraged to consult a preventive cardiologist. Women in the second group receive a standard mammography letter, then are notified of their BAC readings six months later.

    Results are expected in early 2027.

    Dr. Daniel Frank of Duly Health offers guidance and advice for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

    How breast screening helps detect heart disease

    A 2018 review published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging advocated for mammography as a screening tool for heart disease. A 2022 study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging found an association between breast arterial calcification and heart disease in postmenopausal women ages 60 to 79, while 2024 research published in the journal JACC: Advances noted that BAC was “especially predictive” of heart disease in younger women ages 40 to 59.

    Dr. Naomi Ko, section chief of breast medical oncology at NYU Langone Health, said the Mount Sinai study adds to a growing body of evidence that cardiovascular disease clues lie in the breasts.

    In some cases, women may be able to improve their heart health through behavioral and medication changes to stave off more serious medical intervention.

    “Give me an opportunity to counsel my patients toward better lifestyle choices, and I’ll take it,” said Ko, who isn’t involved in the research. “If it triggers and influences improved health behaviors and engagement positively in your health care, awesome.”

    The budding link between breast arterial calcification, also called vascular calcification, and heart disease is just that.

    “It’s not a slam dunk,” Ko said. More research is needed, and women shouldn’t panic if they learn they have BAC.

    “We know these calcifications are associated with cardiovascular challenges, but we’re not 100% certain about what that could mean for every single individual patient,” Ko said. “This is one data point about your body.”

    Mammogram findings should prompt discussions about both a patient’s heart and breast health, said Dr. Melanie Chellman, a Cleveland Clinic breast radiologist who isn’t involved in the study.

    “The great thing about mammograms is that we’re already doing them on the particular women who are at the highest risk for heart disease: ages 40 and older,” Chellman said. “We can use those same pictures to look for calcifications that are vascular.”

    Dr. Steven Isakoff, co-clinical director of breast oncology at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, said educating health care providers is as big a hurdle as informing patients.

    “Most of my colleagues, I would bet, are not aware of the association between breast arterial calcifications [and heart disease],” said Isakoff, who wasn’t involved in the study. “Without more specific guidance in the report about what steps to take, I would think it might not get acted upon.”

    More research is needed to define how much arterial calcification in the breast may be cause for concern, he said. Meanwhile, he praised Mount Sinai’s efforts to fill in gaps in the data.

    “There’s a lot of information buried in mammograms,” Isakoff said.

    Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer for the American Cancer Society, says there’s a lot to celebrate when it comes to breast cancer awareness – but dense breast tissue can make the risk of getting cancer 1.5-2 times higher, and most people don’t know to look for it.

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  • Tracking a sharp rise in flu cases in Massachusetts

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    Health officials are reporting a sharp rise in flu cases this season, which is shaping up to be more intense than in past years.

    “We’re seeing a very high level of influenza-like illness right now,” said Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director for the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “We’re seeing early and large amounts of patient activity in emergency rooms, urgent cares, and hospitalizations.”

    Here in Massachusetts, the state recorded more than 8,800 flu cases in its most recent weekly report from Dec. 21 to Dec. 27. In the previous week, there were about 7,200 lab-confirmed cases.

    “It’s very concerning,” added Dr. Madoff. “We think things are still on the way up in terms of flu activity and the peak is not likely to be until late January or even February.”

    One cause of the surge is a variant known as “subclade K” which was first reported in other countries and is now spreading across the United States.

    “Evidence from England indicated that the vaccines remained protective against this strain, but nonetheless, it is able better to evade immunity so we think it causes widespread disease,” said Dr. Madoff.

    Right now, flu activity in the commonwealth is categorized as “very high” and flu severity is marked as “high.”

    “There’s quite a bit of flu activity at the hospital,” said Dr. Paul Sax, infectious disease specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Many people who are coming in for evaluation who are getting tested for the flu turn out to be positive. There’s a positive test rate as high as 10% in people coming in.”

    You can test yourself for the flu at home the same way you can test for Covid-19. If you are sick, you should stay home from work or school and wear a mask if you do have to go out.

    Doctors are also reminding people that it’s not too late to get a flu shot to reduce your risk for complications from illness.

    “It tends to make the flu illness milder. It doesn’t make it pleasant or fun by any means, but it does correlate with a more milder degree of illness so I strongly recommend the flu vaccine,” said Dr. Sax.

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  • AI disclosure in healthcare: What patients must know

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    How AI could transform Americas healthcare system

    Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel takes a look at how artificial intelligence could vastly improve the healthcare system but points out human doctors are still needed in the equation on The Story.

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Artificial intelligence is quickly reshaping healthcare. It now supports diagnostic imaging, clinical decision tools, patient messages and back office workflows. According to the World Economic Forum, 4.5 billion people still lack access to essential care, and the global health worker shortage could reach 11 million by 2030. AI could help close that gap.

    However, as AI becomes more embedded in care, regulators are zeroing in on a simple question. Should patients be told when AI plays a role in their care?

    In the United States, no single federal law requires broad AI disclosure in healthcare. Instead, a growing patchwork of state laws is filling that gap. Some states require clear disclosure. Others mandate transparency indirectly through limits on how AI can be used.

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    STATE-LEVEL AI RULES SURVIVE — FOR NOW — AS SENATE SINKS MORATORIUM DESPITE WHITE HOUSE PRESSURE

    AI now supports many healthcare decisions, from patient communications to coverage reviews, making transparency more important than ever for trust and accountability. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Why AI disclosure matters for trust

    Transparency is not a technical detail, it is a trust issue. Research across industries shows people expect to be informed when AI affects decisions that matter to them. In healthcare, that expectation is even stronger. An analysis published by CX Today found that when AI use is hidden, trust erodes quickly, even when outcomes are accurate.

    Healthcare depends on trust. Patients follow treatment plans, share sensitive information and stay engaged when they believe care decisions are ethical and accountable.

    How AI disclosure connects to HIPAA and informed consent

    While HIPAA does not directly regulate artificial intelligence, its principles still apply. Covered entities must clearly explain how protected health information is used and safeguarded.

    When AI systems analyze or generate clinical information using patient data, nondisclosure can undermine that goal. Patients may not fully understand how their information shapes care decisions.

    Disclosure also supports informed consent. Patients have the right to understand material factors influencing diagnosis, treatment, or care communications. Just as clinicians disclose new procedures or medical devices, meaningful AI use should be explained, so patients can ask questions and stay involved in their care.

    AI TOOLS COULD WEAKEN DOCTORS’ SKILLS IN DETECTING COLON CANCER, STUDY SUGGESTS

    A stethoscope

    States are stepping in where federal rules fall short, creating new disclosure requirements when AI influences care access, claims, or treatment decisions. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    What does AI disclosure mean in healthcare?

    AI disclosure means informing patients or members when artificial intelligence systems are used in healthcare-related decisions. This can include clinical messages, diagnostic support tools, utilization review, claims processing or coverage determinations. The goal is transparency, accountability and patient trust.

    Healthcare activities most likely to trigger disclosure

    According to analysis from Morgan Lewis, disclosure requirements most often apply when AI is used for:

    • Patient-facing clinical communications
    • Utilization review and utilization management
    • Claims processing and coverage decisions
    • Mental health or therapeutic interactions

    These areas are considered high impact because they directly affect access to care and understanding of health information.

    Risks of failing to disclose AI use

    Healthcare organizations that fail to disclose AI use face real consequences. These include increased litigation risk, reputational damage and erosion of patient trust. Ethical concerns around autonomy and transparency can also trigger regulatory scrutiny.

    MORE AMERICANS ARE TURNING TO AI FOR HEALTH ADVICE

    A doctor with arms crossed

    Clear AI disclosure helps patients stay informed and involved, reinforcing that licensed healthcare professionals remain responsible for every medical decision. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    How states are shaping AI disclosure rules

    States are taking different paths to regulate healthcare AI, but most are starting with one common goal: greater transparency when technology influences care.

    California focuses on communication and coverage decisions

    California has taken one of the most comprehensive approaches.

    AB 3030 requires clinics and physician offices that use generative AI for patient communications to include a clear disclaimer. Patients must also be told how to reach a human healthcare professional.

    SB 1120 applies to health plans and disability insurers. It requires safeguards when AI is used for utilization review. It also mandates disclosure and confirms that licensed professionals make medical necessity decisions.

    Colorado regulates high-risk AI systems

    Colorado’s SB24 205 targets AI systems considered high risk. These are tools that materially influence decisions like approval or denial of healthcare services.

    Entities must implement safeguards against algorithmic discrimination and disclose AI use. While broader than clinical care alone, the law directly affects patient access decisions.

    Utah emphasizes mental health and regulated services

    Utah has layered disclosure rules that intersect with healthcare.

    HB 452 requires mental health chatbots to clearly disclose AI use. SB 149 and SB 226 extend disclosure requirements to regulated occupations, including healthcare professionals.

    This approach ensures transparency in therapeutic interactions and clinical services.

    Other states that are expanding AI transparency

    Several other states are moving in the same direction. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Tennessee and New York are all considering or enforcing rules that require disclosure and human review when AI influences utilization review or claims outcomes. Even when clinical diagnosis is not covered, these laws push accountability where AI affects care access.

    What this means for you

    If you are a patient, expect more transparency. You may see disclosures in messages, coverage notices or digital interactions. If you work in healthcare, AI governance is no longer optional. Disclosure practices must align across clinical, administrative, and digital systems. Training staff and updating patient notices will matter as much as the technology itself. Trust will increasingly depend on how openly AI is introduced into care.

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    Kurt’s key takeaways

    AI can improve efficiency, expand access, and support clinicians. Yet its value depends on trust. Disclosure does not slow innovation. It strengthens confidence in both the technology and the professionals who use it. As states continue to act, transparency will likely become the norm rather than the exception in healthcare AI.

    If AI helps guide your care, would knowing when and how it is used change the way you trust your healthcare provider? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

    Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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