Advocates behind Black Maternal Health Week hope the campaign will draw attention to the experiences and voices of Black mothers, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women.
Why it matters: The maternal mortality rate for biological Black women is 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is 2.6 times higher than white women, the latest research from the CDC's 2021 report says.
Why it matters: Music lovers may experience cold- and flu-like symptoms, including coughs, irritated throats, sneezing and running noses after attending large outdoor festivals this spring.
Health insurance companies have swelled in both size and scope over the last decade, with the revenues of six for-profit parent companies making up nearly 30% of total U.S. health spending last year — compared with less than 10% in 2011.
Why it matters: The size of health insurance companies — which are now often part of larger companies that do far more than provide coverage — raises big questions about competition, costs, quality of care and the risks of a system featuring such sprawling players.
Companies that make cannabis-infused drinks are encouraging people to ditch booze for weed on 4/20 — the longstanding pot holiday.
Why it matters: More people are going "California Sober" — no alcohol or hard drugs, just marijuana, thank you — but the medical community is split over whether this is a good idea.
