Tahoe Truckee Region Local News: Health


All Local Health News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: A smoky blanket of particulate matter hovers over San Francisco’s skyline.
Getting Acquainted With AQI

Learn what's getting into Californians’ lungs and why it matters.

Image caption: The California mental health crisis is tied to both homelessness and rising crime.
UPDATE: California’s Mental Health Crisis: How We Got Here

How the California mental health crisis emerged out of the state’s history of deinstitutionalization and laws designed to protect the mentally ill, as well as the communities around them.

Image caption: From nitrates to arsenic to “forever chemicals,” California’s water supply faces a serious pollution threat.
Dirty Water: California Faces a Water Contamination Crisis

Almost one million California residents are forced to drink from contaminated water supplies, or pay for bottled water. Economic inequality makes the crisis worse. What is the state doing to fix it?

Image caption: Though life expectancy has declined in recent years, Californians still live longer than most Americans.
Want to Live a Long, Healthy Life? Move to California

Life expectancy in California exceeds all but three other states, but how long you live depends on which county you live in. They're not all equal. Why? The answer may lie in political policies.

Image caption: Access to abortion in California is limited in many areas, though state laws protect a woman’s right to choose.
Abortion Rights in California, Explained

California has historically been ahead of the rest of the country in expanding the legal right to abortion services. Here’s what state laws say today, and how we got here.

Image caption: Mosquitos kill about 725,000 people every year, worldwide.
Taking a Bite Out of the Mosquito Population

The pesky mosquito can be deadly as well as annoying. Here’s how local governments in California have been waging war on mosquitoes for more than a century.

Image caption: California will soon be getting a new hotline number as an alternative to 911 for mental health crises.
988, the New Mental Health Emergency Number, Explained

California will soon add a new emergency hotline service with the number 988. Here’s the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.

Image caption: States have expansive powers to protect the health of the general public.
The State’s Broad Power to Protect Public Health, Explained

Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states have possessed broad authority to protect public health, even to suspend laws and commandeer private property. Here’s why, and how it works.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

01/25/2025
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Forest Health Announces New President & CEO

The Tahoe Forest Health District announced the appointment of new President & CEO Anna Roth this week following an extended search. Roth is scheduled to begin her new position in March. She is the first person to take over the position since previous CEO Harry Weis left the role in May, 2024, after being placed on administrative leave.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

01/16/2025
The LA fires have left domestic workers and day laborers jobless. They may soon be hired for wildfire cleanup work, where they can be exposed to ash and other toxins.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

01/14/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitious plan to produce a cheap, generic insulin for the 3.2 million Californians with diabetes is behind the schedule he announced and unlikely to make it to market for several years, industry experts say.

California Local Pin Marker From Local News Matters...

01/13/2025
A presumptive case of H5N1 bird flu has been identified in a child who resides in San Francisco, the city’s Department of Public Health announced.The child had a fever and conjunctivitis but did not need to be hospitalized and has since made a full recovery, public health officials said Friday.

Tahoe Daily Tribune logo From Tahoe Daily Tribune...

01/10/2025
Image for display with article titled Lake Tahoe Unified School District to Host Community Conversation on Mental Health

Join Lake Tahoe Unified School District for the next Community Conversation on January 14, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the LTUSD District Office, 1021 Al Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe. Local mental health experts will be discussing resources available to LTUSD students as well as current trends being seen on our campuses. Parents will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

01/09/2025
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Food Hub: Revolutionizing Local Food Systems With Sustainability and Community Focus

In North Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Food Hub is reshaping the local food landscape by integrating fresh, sustainable produce with a commitment to community welfare. Led by Chairman Daniel Barstein, the initiative is dedicated to supporting small, family-run farms and promoting regenerative agricultural practices that benefit both the environment and local economies.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

01/09/2025
The Newsom administration on Friday is expected to release its next budget proposal. Health care advocates want the governor to fix a Medi-Cal rule that discourages seniors from getting coverage.

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12/28/2024
Image for display with article titled Affordable Health Screenings Coming to Truckee

Residents living in and around the Truckee area can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. Sierra Bible Church will host this community event on Feb. 3, 2025. The site is located at 11460 Brockway Rd. in Truckee.

California Local Pin Marker From CapPublicRadio...

12/26/2024
Following news of the death of pet cats from eating bird flu infected raw food or raw milk, CapRadio has information about how to protect your feline friends.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

12/25/2024
A new state law will keep medical debt off your credit report, sparing a hit to your all-important credit score. This is a big deal for California where millions struggle with unpaid medical bills. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.

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12/23/2024
Image for display with article titled Changes Coming in January 2025 to Community Health Labs

Tahoe Forest Health System's Community Health Labs (previously called Affordable Labs) is changing on January 2, 2025. This service aims to improve health outcomes, reduce wait times, and provide cost-effective options for individuals seeking lab tests.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

12/19/2024
For California nurses seeking help with alcohol or drug abuse, the road to recovery through a program managed by their licensing board can be fraught, writes CalMatters health reporter Kristen Hwang.

California Local Pin Marker From California Healthline...

12/19/2024
Keith Poulsen's jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October. A livestock veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin, Poulsen had seen sick cows before, with their noses dripping and udders slack.

California Local Pin Marker From CapPublicRadio...

12/18/2024
As the first serious case of bird flu in a human is reported and more dairy herds across the state are infected, California Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency. Read on to learn what that entails.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

12/18/2024
California doctors are asking the state to create a ‘safe harbor’ program for addiction recovery. They say the current system discourages doctors from participating because they regard it as punitive.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

12/11/2024
Gov. Newsom launched an ambitious program that uses Medi-Cal to help Californians access housing, healthy food and more. Now, its fate is in the hands of President-Elect Trump.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

12/09/2024
California has an aggressive mandate for zero-emission trucks, which are powered by electricity or hydrogen. But trucking companies face big obstacles — and people are still breathing dangerous diesel exhaust.

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12/07/2024
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Forest Hospital Achieves Highest Level of Performance in the 2024 Maternity Care Honor Roll

Tahoe Forest Hospital announced its recognition by the California Health and Human Services Agency and Cal Hospital Compare for meeting or exceeding performance standards in key maternal health metrics for 2024.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

12/02/2024
California Democrats have passed two dozen laws to protect abortion access since the Supreme Court in 2021 overturned Roe vs. Wade. New bills are on the table.