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Indiana's infant mortality progress at risk without sustained health funding
Indiana's infant mortality progress at risk without sustained health funding

Indianapolis Star

time15-07-2025

  • Health
  • Indianapolis Star

Indiana's infant mortality progress at risk without sustained health funding

As a first-time mom, I took a deep breath of relief at my daughter's 1-year-old birthday party as she dug into a giant chocolate cupcake. A maternal health researcher and anxious new parent, I had lived the past year constantly checking for breath and movement while she slept, and her first birthday signaled an end to the anxiety of monitoring for sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. But more than 500 Hoosier mothers a year never get to experience that sigh of relief; their babies don't make it to their first birthday. Although preliminary data suggests a decrease in Hoosier infant mortality, current trends in public health funding endanger this recent progress. The Indiana Department of Health has released provisional infant mortality data, showing infant deaths in Indiana decreasing from 6.6 out of every 1,000 live births in 2023 to 6.3 infant deaths out of every 1,000 live births in 2024. Assuming a birth rate similar to 2023, we can guess that about 16 fewer Hoosier babies died in 2024 than in 2023. Understandably, the dedicated public servants that comprise IDOH celebrated their hard work over the last decades, and especially since the inception of the pandemic, lauding the 'lowest infant mortality rate since the 1900s.' Opinion: Indiana misses out on good ideas by caring more about politics than results We won't know how Indiana ranks nationally until the CDC releases all states' 2024 data, but with a rate still well above the national average of 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, we can expect that Indiana has not solved the crisis that left us ranked 45th for infant deaths as recently as 2022. And while saving 16 babies should most certainly be promoted as a success of our state and local public health agencies, current public health funding in Indiana will not sustain these gains. When preventing infant deaths, many think of safe sleep practices, timely pediatric care and vaccinations. But, in reality, most infant deaths are due to prenatal influences. Almost 75% of infant deaths result from congenital conditions (like birth defects), conditions of preterm birth, low birth weight and maternal pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia. Some of these are unpreventable, like congenital conditions that disallow a baby from developing the organs needed to sustain life. Many others are preventable through early and consistent prenatal care, quick referral to specialists, and early medical intervention. IDOH and local health departments provide programs to new moms that offer these preventive measures. But the most recent state budget and a series of other legislative actions endanger these programs. Projected shortfalls attributed to economic uncertainty led to the decimation of historic public health funding supported by the Holcomb administration, leaving just $40 million for Indiana's 92 counties, down from $100 million in previous budgets. Opinion: Nurses are drowning while Braun ignores Indiana's health care crisis Add that to the nearly $40 million in federal public health dollars lost from cancellation of COVID-era funding for myriad public health programs, and programs that support healthy pregnancies and healthy babies are in grave danger. And when Hoosier babies do make it past infancy, public health funding clawbacks and policy changes in the last six months won't bolster efforts to Make Indiana Healthy Again. Cuts to programs such as Indiana Immunization Coalition in the midst of a (now-ended) measles outbreak and ongoing COVID threat, policies privileging business growth over environmental regulations that protect lung and heart health, and the elimination of critical reproductive health services across the state leave vulnerable Hoosiers in a state of precarity. To be sure, even one fewer Hoosier infant death should be celebrated. But when that celebration is not backed by sustainable policy, we will soon find ourselves seeking solutions that take years to rebuild. Now that my daughter is an energetic 6-year-old, my worries about SIDS and lethal respiratory viruses have been replaced by new concerns. But regardless of standard parental anxiety, I consider myself lucky to have to tackle these challenges as she grows. For years, Indiana has trended in the right direction for public health. Indiana should support the systems that allow all Hoosier infants to grow into healthy kids and adults.

Steelers Top 3 comeback player candidates headlined by 2 second-year players
Steelers Top 3 comeback player candidates headlined by 2 second-year players

USA Today

time09-07-2025

  • Sport
  • USA Today

Steelers Top 3 comeback player candidates headlined by 2 second-year players

This offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned over a significant portion of the roster from 2024. The Steelers are also banking on several players who were already on the roster but missed all of 2024 with injuries. The Steelers have a trio of such players, one of which is already plugged into the starting lineup and the other two who promise to be key reserves. Here are our top three candidates for Steelers Comeback Player of the Year. WR Roman Wilson We aren't sure where Wilson will fit in the wide receiver rotation now but we do expect training camp and the preseason to be huge for Wilson to establish himself as the team's primary slot receiver after missing all of his rookie year. The Steelers drafted Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft and he is hoping to put last year behind him. LB Cole Holcomb There was a real possibility that Holcomb was never going to get to play again. The injury he suffered kept him shelved for more than a year but the Steelers stood by Holcomb and now he's healthy and forms maybe the best four-man rotation at inside linebacker in the NFL. OT Troy Fautanu If Fautanu has the season we expect, he could be a finalist for NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Fautanu was drafted to be the team's starting right tackle but after losing his rookie year to a knee injury, he's back and fully healthy, allowing Broderick Jones to move to left tackle.

‘Chiseled' Cole Holcomb ready to make impact in return from injury
‘Chiseled' Cole Holcomb ready to make impact in return from injury

Yahoo

time04-06-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

‘Chiseled' Cole Holcomb ready to make impact in return from injury

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (BLACK AND GOLD NATION) – Cole Holcomb is the forgotten member of the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker room among fans. The last time they saw him; Holcomb was being carted off the field due to a gruesome knee injury that he suffered back in November of 2023. 'He's been here every day working since he's been injured,' Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. Holcomb didn't want to dive too deep into his injury, which wasn't disclosed to the media. However, he made it clear that retiring wasn't on the table. '(My mindset) was just do everything I got to do to get back, just go to work, come to work every day and prove myself again,' Holcomb said. Over the past year and a half, Holcomb has been with the team during his recovery process. During Tuesday's Organized Team Activity practice, some of his teammates realized just how different he looked since he last played in an NFL game. 'Honestly, he looks more chiseled and swole than he was before he got hurt,' Fitzpatrick smiled. Holcomb's physique isn't the only thing that looks different in the team's linebacker room. Since his injury, the Steelers have added Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison and Payton Wilson, who is expected to step up tremendously heading into his second season. 'I feel like we have a whole room of dudes that can run and cover,' Holcomb said. 'We have a room full of three-down linebackers, which is pretty awesome.' No matter what Holcomb's role looks like for the 2025 season, his journey over the past 18 months has impressed plenty of his teammates. 'It's an honor working with somebody that is fighting so hard to get back on the field,' the Steelers safety said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Judge Blocks Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations in L.A.
Judge Blocks Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations in L.A.

Yahoo

time04-06-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

Judge Blocks Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations in L.A.

Judge Blocks Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations in L.A. originally appeared on L.A. Mag. U.S. District Judge John Holcomb, a 2019 Trump appointee, issued a preliminary injunction Monday blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants in the Los Angeles area. The ruling is the latest effort to limit mass deportations of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under the wartime law, which allows the government to detain or deport citizens of enemy order applies to individuals in custody within the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles and Orange case stems from the arrest of Darwin Antonio Arevalo Millan, a Venezuelan asylum seeker taken into custody during a routine ICE check-in, allegedly due to tattoos linked to the gang. Although the government claimed Arevalo was not detained under the Alien Enemies Act, Holcomb found he faced an imminent threat of removal under the law. Holcomb ruled that Arevalo must be given due process to challenge his designation as an "alien enemy.""Arevalo seeks to avoid being deported as an alien enemy without being afforded the opportunity to challenge that designation—not to avoid deportation altogether," Holcomb judge also noted that Arevalo is unlikely to prove the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act unlawfully, emphasizing that it is up to the president to determine whether an invasion has occurred under the ruling adds to a growing number of court decisions in other states that have limited or blocked the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act, deepening the legal uncertainty surrounding the law since it was first invoked in March against alleged members of Tren de Aragua. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.

Steelers LB Cole Holcomb describes difficult injury process — ready to compete in 2025
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb describes difficult injury process — ready to compete in 2025

USA Today

time03-06-2025

  • General
  • USA Today

Steelers LB Cole Holcomb describes difficult injury process — ready to compete in 2025

Steelers LB Cole Holcomb describes difficult injury process — ready to compete in 2025 Steelers LB Cole Holcomb is finally healthy after suffering a devastating knee injury back in 2023. At Steelers OTAs on Tuesday, Holcomb explained how difficult it was being sidelined (courtesy of Steelers Live): "Yeah, it's hard — I'm a pretty impatient person. Definitely had some days where you just want to be out there and it's frustrating — but it's kind of just one of those take it one day at a time." Holcomb then touched on how the state of the linebacker room has changed since his injury — and how he fits into the group: "I got to know [Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson] pretty well last year. I tried to stay as involved as I could. Now, being able to come out here and play with those guys has been great. Just trying to get in where I fit in — love the competition. I love competing, so it's been great." If Holcomb can effectively rotate with Wilson and Queen on defense, the Steelers may very well have the best inside linebacker unit in the NFL. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

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