Public Health
Cities such as Baltimore and New York are training doulas to assist expectant mothers during pregnancy, delivery and afterward. The hope is that doulas can help reduce racial disparities in infant mortality. Cities such as Baltimore and New York are training doulas to assist expectant mothers during pregnancy, delivery and afterward. The hope is that doulas can help reduce racial disparities in infant mortality.

Cities Enlist ‘Doulas’ to Reduce Infant Mortality

Research suggests that doula-assisted mothers are less likely to deliver babies with low birth weights or birth complications, and more likely to breast-feed their infants.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Cities Enlist ‘Doulas’ to Reduce Infant Mortality

Research suggests that doula-assisted mothers are less likely to deliver babies with low birth weights or birth complications, and more likely to breast-feed their infants.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts
Cities such as Baltimore and New York are training doulas to assist expectant mothers during pregnancy, delivery and afterward. The hope is that doulas can help reduce racial disparities in infant mortality.
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New CDC Report: Teen Overdose Deaths Rose 19% in One Year

As is the pattern for overdose deaths in all age brackets, this spike has been driven primarily by opioids—most notably heroin

  • By Quinn Libson
The Rotunda of the Texas State Capitol The Rotunda of the Texas State Capitol

Texas Bill Restricting Abortion Insurance Heads to Gov. Abbott’s Desk

The measure does not provide exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

  • By Quinn Libson
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New Numbers Reveal Huge Disparities in Opioid Prescribing

A town in southwest Virginia has the highest per capita opioid prescribing level in the country. New state prescribing rules could help change that.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

How Mental-Health Training for Police Can Save Lives—and Taxpayer Dollars

But only if officials at all levels of government are willing to invest in it up front.

  • By Norm Ornstein and Steve Leifman, The Atlantic
President Donald Trump, accompanied by Vice President Mike Pence, speaks to reporters at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Vice President Mike Pence, speaks to reporters at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.

Trump Makes It Official: The Opioid Epidemic Is a National Emergency

The White House says the action allows the administration to “use all appropriate emergency and other authorities to respond to the crisis caused by the opioid epidemic.”

  • By Route Fifty Staff
(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Local Health Officials Sound Alarm on Trump Efforts to Defund Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Baltimore, Seattle, Los Angeles and Portland will all be affected. But health departments aren’t letting funding for these projects go down without a fight.

  • By Quinn Libson

Will Cities Ever Outsmart Rats?

The age-old strategy is “see a rat, kill a rat.” The new plan is to end an infestation before it ever begins.

  • By Linda Poon, CityLab

Trump Didn’t Declare the Opioid Crisis a National Emergency. What If He Had?

The president hasn’t yet used his powers under the Stafford Act, something his own special commission has said is its “most urgent recommendation.”

  • By Quinn Libson
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry speaks during a news conference in her office Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry speaks during a news conference in her office Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville Mayor Opens Up About the Tragedy of Losing Her Son

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | West Virginia’s new effort to reduce fire fatalities; women are underrepresented in Utah city halls; and despite an economic development disaster, S.C. county isn’t “going to curl up and die.”

  • By Route Fifty Staff

America's Opioid Epidemic is Way Worse Than We Realized

Opioid mortality rates may be 24% higher than the official stats.

  • By Gwynn Guilford, Quartz
The view Tuesday night from Route Fifty's Seattle bureau. The view Tuesday night from Route Fifty's Seattle bureau.

Wildfires Cloak Pacific Northwest in Smoky Haze as Fire Threats Increase

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | L.A.’s structural deficit; N.C.’s attorney general forced to slash 10% of staff; and a “notable lack of hellfire” from satanist at city council meeting.

  • By Route Fifty Staff
Vietnam veteran and Veterans Affairs Department volunteer Durward Forbes of Alamogordo, N.M., discusses the challenges of transporting veterans hundreds of miles from Otero County to medical appointments in Albuquerque, N.M. Vietnam veteran and Veterans Affairs Department volunteer Durward Forbes of Alamogordo, N.M., discusses the challenges of transporting veterans hundreds of miles from Otero County to medical appointments in Albuquerque, N.M.

For Rural Veterans, New Approaches to Health Care

Rural veterans are far older and far more likely to be disabled than other rural residents. New programs across the country show promise in ensuring that they get the health care they need.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Which States Have Breastfeeding Laws on the Books?

Eighteen states mandate that hospitals implement baby-friendly practices. Is your state one of them?

  • By Quinn Libson
Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo, N.Y.

This County Would Have Seen Its Opioid Overdose Rate Double

Erie County, N.Y. Executive Mark Poloncarz says his jurisdiction was on its way to 550 overdose deaths in 2016. Here’s what the county government did to keep that from happening.

  • By Quinn Libson
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who led the effort to pass the "skinny bill." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who led the effort to pass the "skinny bill."

Public Health Has Dodged a Bullet

Funding to fight lead poisoning, opioid addiction, and chronic disease could have vanished with the “skinny repeal” of the ACA.

  • By Laura Bliss, CityLab
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, arrives for a vote as the Republican-run Senate rejected a GOP proposal to scuttle President Barack Obama's health care law and give Congress two years to devise a replacement on Wednesday. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, arrives for a vote as the Republican-run Senate rejected a GOP proposal to scuttle President Barack Obama's health care law and give Congress two years to devise a replacement on Wednesday.

Trump Warns He’ll Protect Alaska’s Environment, if Murkowski Doesn’t Back Obamacare Repeal

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP: Missouri still refers to Asian Americans as 'Oriental'; Election Integrity vice chair's credibility questioned; no more parties in Miami Beach . . . after 2 a.m.?

  • By Route Fifty Staff
Philadelphia, Pa. Philadelphia, Pa.

Philadelphia Ranks High for Smoking and Other Unhealthy Behaviors

Federal data show how Philly compares with other big cities.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., front left, with Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., right, speaks to supporters during a women's health rally hosted by Women's Voices for the Earth on the grounds of the Capitol in May 2017. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., front left, with Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., right, speaks to supporters during a women's health rally hosted by Women's Voices for the Earth on the grounds of the Capitol in May 2017.

Flurry of Laws Enacted on Women’s Access to Health Care

As Washington moved to reduce federal funding for women’s health, the battle over affordable birth control and other women’s health services shifted to state capitals.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Arkansas Tops Most Other States When It Comes to This Connectivity Metric

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP: Bulletproof glass for a Georgia city hall; Indianapolis revenge shootings; and a small town closes a big legal loophole in its municipal code.

  • By Route Fifty Staff