Alicia Ault

What One Man’s 45-Year-Old Case Tells Us About the “Jim Crow Juries” Haunting Louisiana Today, a split verdict would mean a mistrial. But in 1980s Louisiana, when nonunanimous juries were still legal, 19-year-old Lloyd Gray, a Black man, was sentenced to prison for life — even though the...

Louisiana has refused to reconsider the convictions of 1,000+ mostly Black men sentenced by split juries, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2020 that such convictions are unconstitutional and based on an inherently racist law.

By @richardawebster.bsky.social

NBA’s Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier arrested in federal betting probe Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Miami Heat reserve Terry Rozier were among more than 30 people arrested in ”illegal gambling schemes,” according to federal authorities.

Gambling is America's pastime, especially when it involves sports. There is a massive wave of addicted gamblers on the horizon.

#NBA #NFL #NHL #WTA #ATP #MLB #Medsky #Psychsky #addiction

RFK is going to make cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and dementia great again!

#Medsky #CardioSky #nutrition #publichealth #diet

For anyone celebrating these gasping breaths from the Washington Post--be careful what you wish for.

More Than 100 Cases of Measles Reported in Utah and Arizona

ICYMI: A new measles epicenter is forming in Arizona.

#Medsky #IDsky #vaccines #publichealth

Idaho Banned Vaccine Mandates. Activists Want to Make It a Model for the Country. The Idaho Medical Freedom Act makes it illegal to require anyone to take a vaccine or receive “medical intervention.” Leslie Manookian, the activist behind the law, hopes to make it a “societal norm” ...

The Idaho Medical Freedom Act makes it illegal to require anyone to take a vaccine or receive “medical intervention.” The activist behind the law hopes to make it a “societal norm” for the rest of the country. @audreydutton.bsky.social

ICE is hiring dozens of health workers as lawsuits, deaths in custody mount Nearly as many migrants have died in detention so far this year than over the four years of the Biden administration.

At least 20 immigrants have died in custody this year. Attorneys for detainees tell of diabetes medications and chemotherapy being withheld and describe incidents of self-harm and suicide.

#Medsky

FDA Warning on RF Microneedling Short on Specifics The agency is warning the public about known adverse events reported with RF microneedling but has not provided information on the number of reports or the types of events reported.

FDA issued an alert on radiofrequency microneedling, but did not say what prompted it or give any numbers on how many people affected or in what way. via @medscape.com

#Medsky #dermatology #Dermsky #beauty #skin #fashion #TikTok #devicesafety

Gabapentin Now Among Most Prescribed Drugs in US Although widely prescribed off-label to treat many types of chronic pain, experts warn of harmful side effects.

“Many clinicians still view gabapentin as ‘benign'"

#Medsky #geriatrics #pain #opioids #arthritis #rheumatology #neurology #Neurosky

Steak, Butter and Ice Cream: MAHA Sets Up Fight Over Saturated Fat The federal government is set to unveil new diet advice likely to embrace saturated fat, alarming some doctors and scientists.

www.wsj.com/health/welln...

I grew up in DC. I have visited the White House many times--starting in the 1970s--as a visitor, and then as a journalist. Sure, it could use some remodeling and/or improvement. But this image just makes me sick to my stomach. Has any other historic building been treated with such disdain?

Demolition crews have begun tearing down part of the White House to build President Trump’s long-desired ballroom — despite his pledge that construction of the $250 million addition wouldn’t “interfere” with the existing building. https://wapo.st/4hl7jyF

Higher Obamacare Prices Become Public in a Dozen States

In KY, a 60-yr-old couple making $85k/year could face an increase of $23,700 in annual premiums. In NV, a similar couple could pay an additional $18,100, in MN, the cost might be $15,500 more and, in MD, an additional $13,700.

Yikes.

#Medsky #healthpolicy #shutdown #ACA #Obamacare

Eye Injuries Are Rising Among Pickleball Players

I'm not a pickleball player, but eye injuries can happen in tennis, also. This doesn't give numbers on how the 2 sports compare. It says a pickleball can travel up to 60MPH. That's easily attained in tennis, probably not so easily in pickle.

#sports #opthalmology #Medsky #emergencymedicine #injury

What's the impact of the manipulation and removal of federal data? Three data experts explain the critical consequences of the manipulation and removal of federal data in recent months.

New from @naseemmiller.bsky.social and the Shorenstein Center. How the removal of federal data harms those who depend on it and some advice for journalists on how to mine other sources.

#journalism #politics #information

Chemtrails are already being investigated in Freaky Florida! As of October 1, people reported to be creating "suspicious" weather or involved in "geoengineering" can be fined.

#politics #tinfoilhat #HHS #RFK

Trump wants a White House ballroom. These companies are funding it. Tech, crypto and defense companies are among the donors that have committed millions to help turn Trump’s ballroom dream into a reality, according to the White House.

More than $250 mill contributed by corporations including Apple, Blackstone. WH now says it will fit 999 people (guess 1,000 sounded like too much). Many donors have large federal contracts: Amazon, Lockheed Martin and Palantir.

Can't wait to see which gets the naming rights!

Are you...
1) a person, who
2) has used a chatbot as an "AI therapist," and,
3) had an interesting experience they'd like to talk about with me?

Hit me up by DMs or on email at DariusT at kff dot org

Despite budgetary pressures, this Florida school board spends big bucks on banned books The Escambia County School Board has spent nearly $1 million on legal fees to keep certain books out of school libraries.

The Escambia County School Board has spent nearly $1 million on legal fees to keep certain books out of school libraries.
#DefendDemocracy www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

On the National Mall, ‘Democracy’ drips in daylight Ben Cohen, of Ben & Jerry’s, helped bring a 3,000-pound ice sculpture to the capital as a warning that “democracy is melting away before our very eyes.”

An ice sculpture of the word “Democracy” has been placed on the National Mall in direct view of the U.S. Capitol as a vanishing reminder, its creators said, of rapidly eroding rights and an existential threat to the freedom on which America was founded.

From @washingtonpost.com Health Brief: a screenshot of the 982 people RIFed from HHS. Majority--596--from CDC. The total was released as part of lawsuit filed by AFGE, the federal workers' union.

#Medsky #IDSky #politics #epidemiology #shutdown

Opinion | The Drug That Took Away More Than Her Appetite

Can GLP-1s help curb addiction to alcohol, drugs, nicotine? can they quiet eating disorders?

#obesity #diabetes #addiction #Mounjaro #Ozempic #Wegovy #Zepbound #overweight #smoking #tobacco

Spending Soars, Rankings Fall at New College of Florida Student outcomes and rankings are slipping at the liberal arts college while spending is up. Critics believe the college is at risk of implosion, and some are calling for privatization.

More than two years into a conservative takeover of New College of Florida, spending has soared and rankings have plummeted, raising questions about the efficacy of the overhaul. #DefendDemocracy www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...

For-Profit Punishment: Life inside a Florida taxpayer-funded rehab center In January 2022, after several long years of attempting to outrun her drug addiction, Abigail Harris was, at last, safely in jail. At just 21 years old,

Investigation into Florida's state-subsidized private rehab facilities, meant to replace incarceration. Sources described drug use, sexual misconduct, and retaliation against whistleblowers. via @floridatrident.bsky.social

#addiction #prisons #overdose #Psychsky

Wary of RFK Jr., Colorado started revamping its vaccine policies in the spring As Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s dismantling of federal vaccine policy continues, some Democratic-led states have struck out on their own.

Colorado passed a law in April that allowed the state to look to other sources outside the CDC for vaccine recommendations. Another law ensures that state-regulated insurers will cover vaccines.

#Medsky #IDsky #publichealth #politics

"Unobligated"? DoD found $8 billion in the couch cushions?

#shutdown

Has Your Scientific Work Been Cut? We Want to Hear.

ICYMI: the @nytimes.com wants to hear from scientists who have lost funding for a new series, "Lost Science."

#politics #science #NIH #research #health #climate #environment #space

A screen shot of the NREVSS dashboard produced by the CDC. It is a plot and line graph showing the detectable respiratory viruses including influenza, RSV, COVID, ets. The last data points are from september 20 and according the the subtext it was last updated 9/26/25.

Parents will ask "is something going around?" and we would, based on media reports, anecdotal data, and experience would answer "oh yeah, probably something viral".

The CDC produces the NREVSS dashboard which tells us exactly what diseases are "going around".

Is has not been updated for 3 weeks.

A bar chart showing Majorities of parents say their kids use tablets and smartphones; watching TV is especially common

Tablets and smartphones are common for kids 12 and younger, according to their parents – TV even more so. And AI is part of the mix for some kids. www.pewresearch.org/...

Moreno, who was born in Veracruz, Mexico and has worked as a broadcast journalist, state rep and city council member.

#NOLA #NewOrleans #politics