Delayed warnings of #whoopingcough child deaths by public health officials in Louisianna via @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response. n.pr/4obRAo5

BREAKING: Louisiana's health secretary is threatening to furlough staff who work to administer SNAP, the federal food aid program, over the "Schumer shutdown." www.wwno.org/public-healt...

@rosemarywestwood.bsky.social spent months carefully reporting this important, nuanced, and chilling piece. What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak? Take a look/listen:

New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. www.npr.org/sections/sho...

Every large health care institution in Louisiana - Ochsner, LCMC, the Louisiana Department of Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana - did not respond to questions from a reporter about how to get the COVID vaccine. #lalege #lagov www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/...

NEW: Louisiana’s deadly whooping cough outbreak is now its worst in 35 years www.wwno.org/public-healt...

"We have been asked to revise and to review and change studies that have been settled in the past, scientific findings that were there to help guide vaccine decisions.”

I am so moved by the people who've given over $110,000 to @wwno.org in just a week and a half (!). We are so grateful and proud to know that so many believe in the mission of public media and keeping all people informed — for free — to build a stronger democracy. Thank you!

New data show more women in Louisiana had abortions last year than *before* the state banned nearly all abortions. Why? Telemedicine. www.wwno.org/public-healt...

Christianity grew by 122 million members, but declined as an overall slice of the world's population. www.npr.org/2025/06/10/n...

They call him "Cousin Leo." Love this piece from @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...

New Orleans folks are the absolute best, and this is one of those stories that was an absolute joy to report. Cheers to all of Pope Leo XIV's new cousins 😂 My latest for @npr.org www.npr.org/2025/06/03/n...

Actual PR pitch to an actual inbox; not an Onion headline

🏅 Excited to win a regional Murrow Award for reproductive health coverage! Congratulations to all the winners — especially my WWNO and Gulf States Newsroom colleagues! And grateful to the sources who make this work possible. www.rtdna.org/news/rtdna-a...

A highlight of last year was getting to work with the tireless @jackjenkins.me and our wonderful editors at @npr.org and @rns.org — exciting to be awarded for that exhausting (and also fun) collaboration from the Associated Church Press! 🎉

Louisiana investigates second case against New York doctor over mailing abortion pills, @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social reports for @wwno.org lailluminator.com/2025/05/13/m...

I am utterly charmed. From Alaska Capitol’s cafeteria, author and illustrator claims Pulitzer Prize alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/05/f...

Extremely well deserved.

🎉 Excited to say I won *second place* in beat reporting from @healthjournalism.org! Beat out by the legendary Stephanie Nolen and @nytimes.com Proud to compete with the absolute best health reporters in the country from our scrappy public radio newsroom in NOLA

Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova has been in ICE custody for about two months. Her colleague and friend Leon Peshkin says her case is causing some scientists to reconsider working in the U.S.

BREAKING NEWS: The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Calling all environmental/coastal reporters! We're hiring! Happy to answer any questions but get your resumes in by FRIDAY to make first review! www.wwno.org/careers-and-...

NEW: Louisiana HIV organizations fear that millions of dollars in grants to stop the spread of HIV and help those who living with the virus could be cut, in the wake of major cuts to the CDC www.wwno.org/public-healt...

60 Minutes found no criminal record for 75% of the Venezuelan migrants the U.S. sent to a mega-prison in El Salvador. https://cbsn.ws/4lC4Vp5

👀 NEW at the IRS: The Trump admin is gaining power over criminal tax investigations -- the first time that's happened since Nixon. Trump installed an Hunter Biden "whistleblower" as deputy of the criminal division. Gary Shapley has told confidants he expects to soon be in charge.

I'm looking into the reproductive health impacts of recent HHS cuts, including a survey intended to improve maternal and infant health (PRAMS). The site is "being modified to comply with President Trump's Executive Orders." Get in touch if you have info www.cdc.gov/prams/index....

Most grants were in some way related to sexual minorities, including research focused on HIV prevention. Others centered on cancer, youth suicide and bone health. (Carla K. Johnson / Associated Press)

NEW: CDC FOIA page are being dismantled, including pages containing FOIA request logs and the portal to submit FOIA requests.

As EPA pulls back, Louisiana schoolchildren could face the steepest risks, Terry L. Jones reports for @floodlightnews.org lailluminator.com/2025/04/01/e...

Here's @apnews.com outlining how the federal cuts are gutting public health at the national *and* state level. It you've been hit by the cuts or have information to share get in touch. apnews.com/article/heal...

NEW DOGE website shows $55M in cuts to Louisiana Department of Health www.wwno.org/public-healt...

I wrote about how some doctors who mail pills to states with bans say they won't stop after Louisiana criminally charged the same doctor Texas has targeted in the civil case below. And the high legal stakes these cases set up: www.npr.org/sections/sho...

Major news on the legal battle over abortion shield laws: nytimes.com/2025/03/27/h...

First there was Mardi Gras 🎉 ... then there was Lent. We want to hear from you about how you're spending Lent this year. What are you giving up? Who are you giving *to*? And is this year any different from the last? Send us your voice memos! www.wwno.org/wwno/2025-03...

Major news from @anniewaldman.bsky.social and @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/nih-...

This is, to my knowledge, the first arrest of any provider post-Dobbs. We've seen other indictments/civil cases/criminal charges related to abortion but not the arrest of a provider as these bans had contemplated (again, to my knowledge).

A trend that has been growing: GOP lawmakers push to charge women with homicide for seeking abortions stateline.org/2025/03/06/g...

NEW: Vaccines. Bird Flu. COVID. Autism. Peanut Allergies. Fluoride. Environmental justice. Cancer Moonshot. These and other “controversial" or "sensitive” topics will get extra scrutiny at the National Cancer Institute under RFK. From me + @lisalsong.bsky.social: www.propublica.org/article/nati...

Trump nominee to head up FDA won’t make any commitments on abortion pill access @jennifershutt.bsky.social @statesnewsroom.com DC www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...

Trudeau says call with Trump was 'colourful' and warns trade war will continue for 'foreseeable future' Talks are underway to pause Trump tariffs on Canadian goods until April, but deal not certain www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Essential reading. I've talked to doctors who remember the screams of pain from the polio ward. Many told me they think the cause of anti-vax sentiment isn't just its politicization through the COVID pandemic, but the fact that people don't remember how gruesome and deadly these diseases can be.

I am extremely proud to work in public media. Free, unbiased, fact-based and unflinching. Journalism for whoever tunes in, to help you understand the world and connect to others. I've worked for public radio in three countries and it's a hallmark of a free press and a robust democracy.

Major reporting here. @propublica.org found a 50% rise in sepsis cases and an increase in deaths among pregnant women after Texas's abortion ban.

There’s no evidence Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham is board-certified family physician, @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social with @wwno.bsky.social reports: lailluminator.com/2025/02/18/a...

NEW: The LA State Medical Society and 8 medical orgs are calling for an end to the politicization of vaccines in the wake of a new health dept policy banning vaccine promotion and events. One doc said he's never seen orgs take a stance against a health dept policy www.wwno.org/public-healt...

A little concerned that people are reposting this in a misleading way without reading the story. Let's not create misinformation. This story explains that Abraham does not appear to be a board-certified family medicine physician. The state board of medical examiners only shows him as an MD.

BREAKING: The @LaMedSoc and eight other major state medical organizations are criticizing the politicization of vaccines, four days after @LADeptHealth ended all vaccine events and the promotion of all vaccines. Story coming.