As Space Exploration Expands, So Will Space Law – Science Friday

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Almost 70 years agoin the middle of the Cold Warthe United States and the Soviet Union kicked off the race to space, and that high-stakes sprint transformed humanitys relationship with space forever. Ultimately the USSR launched the first satellite, Sputnik, and the U.S. put the first humans on the moon.

Now were in a different space race. But this time, there are a lot more contenders. There are more satellites in orbit than ever before, NASA is trying to put humans on Mars, countries are still sending landers to the moon, and billionaires are using rockets as tourist vehicles. All this activity raises some serious questions: Who is in charge of space? And who makes the rules?

Journalist Khari Johnson explored these questions in a recent feature for Wired magazine, featuring experts at the forefront of these issues. Guest host Sophie Bushwick is joined by two of them: Dr. Timiebi Aganaba, assistant professor of space and society at Arizona State University, and Dr. Danielle Wood, assistant professor and director of the Space Enabled Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They discuss the role of space lawyers, what cases they may argue, and how the rules of spaceand the potential for conflictsare evolving.

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As Space Exploration Expands, So Will Space Law - Science Friday

Steward Health Care news: ER near Boston put patients in jeopardy – The Boston Globe

Two weeks after the patients death on Sept. 13, state health inspectors arrived at the hospital, owned by for-profit Steward Health Care, to investigate. During their review of patient records, they found an emergency department with recurring staffing problems that at times seemed to be in near-meltdown.

Extremely sick patients had no assigned nurses, including one patient who was previously found unresponsive in a hallway. In another instance, an overworked nurse who was extremely busy and was behind, trying to catch up left a patient who had been vomiting in the waiting room for more than 10 hours. A friend discovered the patient barely conscious; the person was intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit, according to a state inspection report. It is unclear from the report if those patients survived, and hospital officials declined to provide that information.

State and federal officials declared the safety lapses put patients in immediate jeopardy, a severe sanction that required Good Samaritan to develop a plan within 23 days to fix its emergency department or risk losing its Medicare funding. Good Samaritan executives said they addressed the problems immediately, including bringing in more staff.

The hazards in the hospitals emergency department should not have been a surprise to state and federal regulators. Inspectors for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health had found serious patient safety violations in Good Samaritans emergency department three other times since 2021, documents obtained by the Globe show. After each inspection, investigators required the hospital to produce an improvement plan, but their visits resulted in little lasting change.

It wasnt until Jan. 31, when the seriousness of the financial crisis engulfing the company had become public, that the health department began sending daily monitors to Good Samaritan and other Steward hospitals, raising concerns about why the state didnt do more sooner.

While emergency departments are under strain across Massachusetts and the country, staff at Good Samaritan have been especially overwhelmed as they try to treat thousands of additional patients after two nearby hospitals shut their doors. At the same time, nurses have told state inspectors that private equity-backed Steward has neglected to hire enough staff and buy enough supplies.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union that represents nurses at the hospital, warned state and federal health officials in 2021 and 2022 about the deterioration of the emergency department. Among the problems they cited: the potentially avoidable deaths of two patients, patients without nurses, patients being left in the waiting room for hours without being reevaluated, and managements failure to follow through on its promises, according to a letter and a memo obtained by the Globe.

Last March, emergency room nurses spoke directly to Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh about their concerns when Massachusetts officials visited Good Samaritan after a fire shut down nearby Brockton Hospital.

In September, on the day the patient died while in the registration line, 19 nurses were supposed to be on duty, according to an internal staffing report. There were eight.

Dr. Robbie Goldstein, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said the patients death was a tragic event and for all us it really gave us significant pause. But he said inspectors have provided close oversight of the Good Samaritan emergency department since 2021; the department thoroughly investigated every complaint, required an improvement plan, and revisited the hospital once after each plan was submitted to ensure its implementation, he told the Globe.

He acknowledged the department did not send in regular monitors until two weeks ago, but said that step has traditionally been taken only during nursing strikes.

Do I think that we will change the way that we provide oversight, evaluate facilities, and intervene at times of financial distress? Absolutely. That story is being written right now, Goldstein said.

He said he recognizes the situation at Good Samaritan and other Steward hospitals is hard for patients and Steward staff. We are working 24/7 with Steward and with the rest of health care to make sure that we can address the challenges that people are facing, he added.

The inspections of Good Samaritan were conducted by state officials on behalf of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which issues reports called statements of deficiencies when it finds problems. Those reports include descriptions of incidents but not patients names or other identifying details.

In a statement emailed to the Globe, Good Samaritan president Matt Hesketh said that after the immediate jeopardy findings on Sept. 26 and 28, the hospital immediately hired technicians to help assess the vital signs of patients in the waiting room, and deployed nurse practitioners and physician assistants to help triage walk-in patients steps that were part of the improvement plan. The hospital also is offering $40,000 signing bonuses to nurses hired to work in the emergency department.

Inspectors from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently visited the hospital and we remain in full compliance with all guidelines and protocols, Hesketh said.

We have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years, however, the safety of our patients and providing excellent, compassionate care is our focus day in and day out, he added.

Goldstein, however, said that monitors stationed at Good Samaritan and other Steward hospitals have received additional complaints about patient care, and that the department is investigating the allegations. He did not describe the nature of them.

Experts in emergency medicine and patient safety consulted by the Globe could not assess whether the issues at Good Samaritan were more severe than elsewhere.

Theres a lot of bad things there, said Dr. Joseph C. Tennyson, president of the Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians, an advocacy group for doctors, after being told of the reports. But he added, Bad things like this are happening everywhere right now because the capacity doesnt exist.

Just two weeks ago, the state Department of Public Health designated hospitals in Greater Boston and north of the city as Tier 3, meaning they have a high risk of capacity problems throughout their hospitals and need to meet more frequently with health officials and one another to coordinate patient load. Good Samaritan and other hospitals south of Boston have been in Tier 3 for the past year, after Brockton Hospital closed.

Patients have suffered because of delays at other hospitals. A disabled patient became unresponsive in the emergency department waiting room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton in November 2022, during a six-hour wait for care. He died several hours later.

The patient, a 74-year-old man, checked in about 8:30 p.m. complaining of a cough and other respiratory symptoms. The triage nurse ordered lab tests and a chest X-ray and sent him to the waiting room, but failed to measure his blood oxygen level, according to a state inspection report. Another nurse told inspectors the triage nurse was running behind and there were too many patients waiting to be triaged. When his guardian the man was disabled, according to a relative told staff he did not look well, they found him unresponsive. Death records show he had the flu and pneumonia, and died of sepsis.

Laura Oggeri, a spokesperson for Mass General Brigham, which owns Cooley Dickinson, said that she could not discuss a specific case due to patient confidentiality rules, but that the hospital now requires mandatory additional medical reassessments for those waiting for care.

While many emergency departments are struggling with severe overcrowding amid a national shortage of nurses, they differ in how effectively they respond, said Barbara Fain, executive director of the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, a Massachusetts state agency.

We do know that there is wide variability in the safety cultures of different hospitals, and that is really driven by the leadership, she said.

Dr. Zirui Song, associate professor of health care policy and medicine at Harvard Medical School, said the circumstances at Good Samaritan might be attributable to staffing reductions. A study he and others published in December found that after hospitals are acquired by a private equity company, they experience a 25 percent increase in adverse events, such as infections and falls. This is happening even as other hospitals are seeing a decline in such events, he said.

One of the primary hypotheses that we have is that staffing reductions after a private equity acquisition might explain these findings, Song said, and that might apply as well to the emergency department.

Song, an internist at Massachusetts General Hospital, called what happened to patients at Good Samaritan gut-wrenching and heart-breaking and not something he would expect to see at Mass. General, even when the emergency department is extremely busy. Patients with chest pain and shortness of breath are typically worked up fairly rapidly, he said.

So the fact the E.D. is full does not mean that these adverse events . . . are acceptable or expected, he said.

But sometimes they are unavoidable, said Tennyson, the emergency physicians group president. As an emergency department physician, he said, he has seen patients designated ESI 2 the second most severe level of patient illness who have waited 14 hours or longer. Ideally a patient with chest pain would be seen right away and get an electrocardiogram, a recording of the hearts electrical activity that can help diagnose a heart attack, within 10 minutes, said Tennyson, who is chief of emergency medicine at UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital.

But its not uncommon for a chest pain patient to have to wait in a busy ER, because there are five or six people or more that are having chest pain, and most of them are not having a heart attack, Tennyson said.

Those situations are painful and demoralizing for the staff, he said.

To see somebody in the waiting room that you absolutely know you need to go see, that you need to get seen right away, and theres no way to do it thats injurious and its contributing to burnout, he said.

Liz Kowalczyk can be reached at lizbeth.kowalczyk@globe.com. Felice J. Freyer can be reached at felice.freyer@globe.com. Follow her @felicejfreyer.

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Steward Health Care news: ER near Boston put patients in jeopardy - The Boston Globe

OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Mass. – WCVB Boston

OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Massachusetts

Updated: 12:29 PM EST Jan 14, 2024

BOSTONS MAYOR MICHELLE WU. WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM GOVERNOR HEALEY ABOUT THIS A LITTLE LATER THIS WEEK. BUT THE COST OF EMERGENCY SHELTERS IS BECOMING A BUDGET BUSTER FOR THE STATE. IT IS DRIVEN BY A SURGE IN MIGRANT FAMILIES. THE GOVERNOR IS NOW CUTTING SPENDING. SEVERAL PROGRAMS BOSTON, A SANCTUARY CITY, IS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION. WHERE IS THIS GOING? THE STATE SAYS THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG TERME. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I HEAR FROM EVERY MAYOR I TALK TO ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A TREMENDOUS STRESS. WE KNOW THAT NATIONALLY, PEOPLE NEED SERVICES, NEED SUPPORTS, AND WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE FOLKS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE THE BUREAUCRACY IS IS TAKING SO LONG. SOME OF THIS IS IT IN BOSTON, SOME OF THE INTERVENTIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TOGETHER HAVE BEEN WORKING. WEVE HAD SEVERAL VERY SUCCESSFUL WORK AUTHORIZATION CLINICS TO HELP PEOPLE APPLY FOR THEIR THEIR AUTHORIZATIONS FASTER AND THEN BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK. BUT THIS IS A LARGER CHALLENGE AROUND HOUSING WHERE WE STARTED BECAUSE HOUSING IS SO EXPENSIVE TO BEGIN WITH. WHEN WE HAVE NEW FAMILIES ARRIVING WHO NEED SERVICES, IT IT ALL CONTINUES TO PILE ON. AND SO WE HAVE TO DO MORE TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE WELCOMING AND HAVE MULTI LINGUAL, UH SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, BUT ALSO ON THE HOUSING FRONT TO MAKE SURE WERE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BUILD MORE HOUSING. NEXT. NEXT TOPIC I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WAS HARVARD. YOU HAVE YOU HAVE TWO DEGREES FROM HARVARD. YOU YOU ARE THE MAYOR OF OF THE LARGEST CITY IN IN NEW ENGLAND. YOU ARE THE MAYOR OF ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. YOUR NAME HAS COME UP IN CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE ALMA MATER MIGHT BE. WHATS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? IS THAT WHAT THE QUESTION IS? I, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE WITH THAT QUESTION. OKAY, OKAY. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PLANS TO LEAVE THIS AMAZING JOB THAT I HAVE. I THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION, THOUGH, THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO MAKE IN A TIME OF TREMENDOUS STRESS AND CHALLENGE FOR ACADEMIA. OVERALL, THERE ARE MANY, MANY WAYS IN WHICH THE THE CONVERSATIONS NATIONALLY ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHO BELONGS AND WHAT THE ROLE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS AND DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN IS BEING DIRECTED AT PARTNERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WE KNOW THAT MASSACHUSETTS AND BOSTON IS HOME TO THE, THE BEST OF THE BEST. ITS WHERE THE WORLD LOOKS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD AND TO TEACH, TO EDUCATE AND THEY HAVE A BIG TASK AHEAD OF THEM. AND WELL CONTINUE TO TRY TO SUPPORT WHEREVER WE CAN WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CLAUDINE GAY? I THINK IT IS. UM, I, IM VERY SADDENED. I THINK IT WAS A, A VERY QUICK AND RAPID, UM, SERIES OF MISSTEPS AND MISTAKES THAT SHE TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT GOT WRAPPED INTO A MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT ISSUES THAT THAT WERE BEYOND WHAT SHE COULD CONTROL AND BEYOND, UM, THE WHAT YOU NORMALLY THINK OF AS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF A UNIVERSITY. AND SO THERE ARE, UM, DECISION POINTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WE HEAD INTO THIS NEXT YEAR AND THIS NEXT ELECTION CYCLE, ABOUT HOW WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER, HOW WE COME TOGETHER AND UNITE CITIES ARE DEFINITELY IN THE CROSSHAIRS. WAS SHE WRONGED CLAUDINE GAY, IN YOUR OPINION, WRONGED. I MEAN, SHE SHE HAS MADE HER DECISION AT THIS POINT AND SHE HAS SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT THE, UM, STATEMENTS THAT SHE WISHES HAD GONE DIFFERENTLY. SHE I DO BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT THERE WAS VERY MUCH A TARGETED EFFORT HERE BECAUSE OF WHO SHE WAS. THE INSTITUTION SHE REPRESENTED, AND A MOMENT WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO DISMANTLE THE PROGRESS TO INCLUDE MORE PEOPLE AND TO INCLUDE ALL OF US IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN LEADERSHIP. THIS WAS A THIS WAS VERY MUCH CONNECTED TO THE SAME, UH, SOURCE OF TRYING TO DISMANTLE DEI AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND RESHAPE WHO HAS ACCESS AND WHO BELONGS HERE. WE CANT LET YOU LEAVE WITHOUT ASKING IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO RUN FOR A SECOND TIME. I HAVE, WHICH IS WHY WE KIND OF TRIED TO ASK ABOUT THE HARVARD PRISON. RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. I KNOW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ARE YOU RUNNING RIGHT? UM. I LOVE MY JOB. I HAVE A LOT TO DO. AS AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MANY OF OUR PLANS THAT IVE LAID OUT WILL REQUIRE SOME TIME TO UNFOLD. AND TO REALLY IMPLEMENT AND GET GOING. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME LATER FOR POLITICAL FRUITION. IS THAT. OH, I WOULD LOVE TO. I WOULD LOVE TO. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERES A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US AND IM FOCUSED ON GETTING THAT WORK DONE. AND WHEN THERES TIME FOR POLITICS, WELL GET TO THAT IN THE FUTURE. BUT RIGHT

OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Massachusetts

Updated: 12:29 PM EST Jan 14, 2024

The mayor of Boston also addresses speculation that she will step down and become president of her alma mater, Harvard University.

The mayor of Boston also addresses speculation that she will step down and become president of her alma mater, Harvard University.

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OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Mass. - WCVB Boston

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market to Reach Value of USD 26.15 Billion by 2030 | Skyquest Technology – GlobeNewswire

Westford,USA, Jan. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest report, the global stem cell therapy market is experiencing substantial growth, primarily propelled by the increasing burden of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, and orthopedic injuries. These debilitating ailments have placed a significant strain on healthcare systems worldwide.

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Browse in-depth TOC on the "Stem Cell Therapy Market"

The field of stem cell research has undergone a remarkable transformation driven by significant advances in technology and scientific understanding. These breakthroughs have broadened our knowledge of stem cells and expanded their potential applications in the global stem cell therapy market. Innovative methods for isolating, growing, and differentiating stem cells have been developed, facilitating their use in various therapeutic environments.

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Prominent Players in Global Stem Cell Therapy Market

Allogeneic Therapy Segment is Expected to Rise Significantly due to Increasing Popularity of Stem Cell Banking

Allogeneic therapy segment has emerged as the dominant force in the stem cell therapy market, commanding a substantial market share of 59.14% in 2022. This remarkable growth can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, allogeneic therapies often come with higher pricing, contributing significantly to revenue generation. Moreover, the increasing popularity of stem cell banking, which involves collecting and storing allogeneic stem cells for potential future use, has driven demand for these therapies.

The market in North America has firmly established its dominance in the stem cell therapy market, commanding the largest revenue share at 44.56% in 2022. One key driver is the presence of innovative companies and major regional market players. North America is home to a robust and dynamic biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, fostering stem cell therapy product development, production, and commercialization.

Autologous Therapy Segment is Expected to Dominate Market Due to Lower Risk of Complications

Autologous therapy segment is poised to experience significant growth over the forecast period, and several key factors contribute to this trajectory in the stem cell therapy market. One primary driver is the lower risk of complications associated with autologous treatments, as these therapies utilize a patient's stem cells, minimizing the chances of immune rejection or adverse reactions. Additionally, autologous therapies are often more affordable and accessible for patients, making them attractive.

Regional market in the Asia Pacific region is poised to become a significant growth driver in the stem cell therapy market, with a projected CAGR of 16.09% expected from 2023 to 2030. The region boasts a robust product pipeline of stem cell-based therapies, with ongoing research and development initiatives driving innovation.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the stem cell therapy market has been recently conducted. The report encompasses various aspects of the market, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavors to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand.

Key Developments in Stem Cell Therapy Market

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Global Stem Cell Therapy Market to Reach Value of USD 26.15 Billion by 2030 | Skyquest Technology - GlobeNewswire

COVID and flu cases are rising across the U.S. : Shots – Health News – NPR

COVID cases are rising but hospitalizations and deaths are lower than last year's respiratory virus season. Patrick Sison/AP hide caption

COVID cases are rising but hospitalizations and deaths are lower than last year's respiratory virus season.

In most U.S. states, respiratory illness levels are currently "high" or "very high," according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Friday.

"After the holidays, after we've traveled and gathered, we are seeing what is pretty typical of this time of year, which is a lot of respiratory viruses," says Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC.

A few viruses have been driving the upward trend, including flu which is very high and respiratory syncytial virus or RSV which appears to have peaked around Thanksgiving.

COVID-19 levels have climbed higher than last season's peak. Still, they remain far below where they were at the height of the pandemic as do levels of severe disease.

"We are still very far below the levels that we were seeing with the omicron peak [in the 2021-2022 virus season]," says Amy Kirby, who leads the CDC's National Wastewater Surveillance System. "We're not looking at that really massive wave of infections. This is much more on par with what we saw [in the 2022-2023 season]."

And while COVID levels are still higher than they were last season, other COVID metrics including emergency room visits, hospitalization rates and deaths are lower now than previous seasons, indicating that "COVID-19 infections are causing severe disease less frequently than earlier in the pandemic," according to the CDC.

Respiratory viruses are hitting the southeast especially hard, said the CDC's Cohen, "but no part of the country is spared."

Flu levels are especially concerning. "The influenza virus is the thing that's really skyrocketing right now," says Dr. Steven Stack, public health commissioner for the state of Kentucky and president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. "Influenza is sharply escalating and driving more hospitalizations."

The flu is coming in later this season, compared with the 2022-2023 season, when "RSV and flu really took off right at the same time along with COVID," says Marlene Wolfe, assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University and a program director at WastewaterScan. "All three of those together were pretty nasty. This year, there's more of an offset."

That has been good news so far for hospital capacity, which has remained stable this season, meaning that people who are quite ill and need medical care are generally able to get it.

Some hospitals in different parts of the country from Massachusetts to Illinois to California are starting to require masks for staff again and in some cases for patients and visitors.

Health officials say that getting the latest flu and COVID-19 vaccines now can still protect people this season. While Stack, with Kentucky's Department for Public Health, encourages seasonal preventive shots for everyone 6 months and older, he says it's particularly important for "everybody who is elderly and not even old elderly like young elderly, 60 and older," since they are more likely to get very sick from these viruses.

CDC data shows that fewer than half of U.S. adults have gotten a flu shot this fall and winter. That's still better than the vaccination rate for this season's COVID-19 booster, which fewer than 20% of U.S. adults have gotten, even though COVID-19 remains the bigger danger.

"The thing that is putting folks into the hospital and unfortunately taking their lives the virus that is still the most severe [at the moment] is the COVID virus," says the CDC's Cohen.

Beyond vaccines, health officials say there's still a place for masking as a preventive measure.

Those who are sick should stay home and watch their symptoms. If they progress beyond a runny nose and a light cough "to body aches, fevers, difficulty moving through your day, a heavier runny nose, a worsening cough ... [those more severe symptoms] should trigger you to go get tested," says Cohen.

Getting tested and diagnosed early, with COVID-19 or the flu, can help those at risk of serious illness get access to prescription pills that can reduce their chances of ending up in the hospital.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments should be covered by health insurance.

For those who are uninsured, the government is also offering a program called Test to Treat that offers free tests, free telehealth appointments and free treatments at home.

Cohen says people can protect themselves over the next few weeks by staying aware of what's happening in the community and their individual circumstances.

"You want to know what's happening in your community," she says. "Is there a lot of virus circulating? And then, what are the tools that I could layer on to protect myself, depending on who I am, my age, my risk, as well as who I'm around?"

The CDC has maps of COVID-19 hospitalizations down to the county level on its website, and it provides weekly updates on respiratory viruses nationwide. Cohen says there are many tools including vaccines, masks, rapid tests and treatments available to help people reduce their risks this season.

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COVID and flu cases are rising across the U.S. : Shots - Health News - NPR

Wisconsin was Home to a Confederate Spy, Thomas Jefferson’s Illegitimate Son and a Failed Hollywood Producer – Shepherd Express

What do a female Confederate spy, the illegitimate son of Thomas Jefferson, and a failed Hollywood tycoon have in common?

These disparate, fascinating personalities rest for all eternity in peaceful Wisconsin graveyards. Belle Boyd, the seductive Mata Hari of the Civil War, died in the Dells. Eston Hemings Jefferson, illegitimate child of President Thomas Jefferson, passed away in Madison. And Harry Aitken, the driving force behind D.W. GriffithsBirth of a Nation, eventually came home to Waukesha.

Maria Belle Boyd, born in 1844, was 16 years old when she began managing her fathers Virginia hotel. Her curvy, buxom figure enchanted Union soldiers when they arrived for lodging, or a meal and she overheard bits and pieces of private conversations as she waited on them. Belle gave General Stonewall Jackson this information on a regular basis with the help of a slave, Eliza Hopewell. The two used a hollowed-out pocket watch so Eliza could pass the messages safely across enemy lines.

When several intoxicated soldiers assaulted her mother in one of the hotels parlors, Belle pulled a pistol and killed one of the men. While awaiting trial for murder, Belle initiated a clandestine affair with Captain Daniel Kelly, and he helped her escape in the middle of the night. She was recaptured and sentenced to be hanged. Using another man, Belle escaped again, and with a set of forged documents, she arrived at the Generals camp. For her bravery, Jackson awarded her the Southern Cross of Honor. He also made her his personal aide-de-camp, which no doubt raised more than a few eyebrows.

For the next year, Belle avoided arrest by Union troops but was eventually apprehended and taken to Washington D.C.While in Old Capitol Prison, she seduced an officer named Samuel Harding and became pregnant. The couple fled to England where she supported Harding and their daughter as a music hall entertainer. Harding died unexpectedly just as Belle was finding success as an actress on Londons stages. At the end of the Civil War, she returned to the United States and earned a fortune in theaters and opera houses performing a racy melodrama of her life as a spy. She also married and divorced two ardent lovers and gave birth to four more children. Belle also published a highly fictionalized autobiography that became a bestseller. In 1900, she suffered a fatal heart attack while promoting her book in Wisconsin Dells. Only 56 years old, Belle Boyd was buried in the Dells Spring Grove Cemetery. Her autobiography and a few non-fiction books are still in print and range from $5 to $60 on eBay.

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In 1827, Thomas Jeffersons will stated that five of his slaves be freed. Among them were his mistress, Sally Hemings, and two of the children he fathered with her. Jeffersons 400 other slaves were sold to pay off the considerable debts against his estate. Sally was only one-quarter black, and occasionally her sons could pass for white. Jeffersons illegitimate son Eston, already a skilled carpenter and proficient violin player, was 19 years old upon his release from Monticello. He found lucrative employment in a Charlottesville, Virginia woodworking shop and built a house for his mother and older brother, Madison. Both brothers married, started families and lived with Sally until her death in 1835.

A few years later, Madison and Eston moved their families to Ohio, a free state and an important part of the Underground Railroad network. When the Fugitive Slave Act was enacted in 1850, Eston moved hiswife and three childrenfurther north to avoid capture by the bounty hunters.Settling in Madison, Wisconsin, Eston changed his surname to Hemings Jefferson, and the family lived comfortably in the white community.

When he passed away in 1856 at age 48, America was preparing for a war. In the waning years of the 19th century, Estons children and grandchildren faced public scorn from a handful of influential voices who challenged the family legend that connected Eston with his famous father, Finally, in 1998, a series on DNA tests proved once and for all that Eston Hemings was indeed the son of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

Born in 1877 on a farm near Goerkes Corners in Waukesha, Harry Aitken became fascinated by the shabby, turn-of-the-century storefronts that were outfitted to show the first silent movies produced by inventor Thomas Edison. Aitken studied the business model of a nickel theater and partnered with John Freuler, a wealthy Milwaukee investor. Violating the Edison companys patents, they made their own movies and delivered them weekly to hundreds of theaters in 45 cities.

In 1908 Aitken and Freuler went to Los Angeles and built a large movie studio of their own. They offered British vaudevillian Charlie Chaplin $10,000 a week to make 20-minute comedies for their rapidly growing theater chain. When Chaplin discovered his films were grossing more than $5 million annually, the popular comedian demanded a percentage of the profit. Instead, Freuler and Aitken sold the motion picture studio, divided the considerable assets and dissolved their partnership.

Aitken used his assets to finance a groundbreaking two-hour movie proposed by a talented filmmaker, D.W. Griffith. Based on a popular racist novel,The Clansman, Griffiths epic film was titledThe Birth of a Nation, and it sold out wherever it was shown.

Without informing Aitken, Griffith made a back-door deal with Louis B. Mayer, a shrewd Boston businessman who operated a large scrap metal yard. Mayer had seen the film and immediately sensed its potential. After lining up engagements at hundreds of theaters inConnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, Mayer gave$25,000 in cash to Griffith. The investment returned nearly $250,000, money that legally as well as ethically should have been used to retire Aitkens outstanding loans.

Mayer became the CEO of a tiny California movie studio that he transformed into the world-famous MGM. Unable to pay of his debts, Aitken declared bankruptcy and returned to Waukesha a defeated man. His attempts to start businesses in Wisconsin were only marginally successful. The one-time movie mogul died in 1956 and was buried in Prairie Home Cemetery near the farm where he was born.

Is Harry wandering along the freeways that devoured the streets of his childhood? Is Belle still using her charms on behalf of the Confederacy? Does a man once owned by a United States president roam the town where he became truly free? Its possible

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Wisconsin was Home to a Confederate Spy, Thomas Jefferson's Illegitimate Son and a Failed Hollywood Producer - Shepherd Express

MGM Springfield reports $21.5M gambling take in November – MassLive.com

SPRINGFIELD MGM Springfield reported $21.5 million in gross gambling revenue from slots and table games in the month of November, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported.

The states three resort casinos MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park race course generated $94 million in gross gambling revenue in November from slots and table games.

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MGM Springfield reports $21.5M gambling take in November - MassLive.com

The Smithsonian’s collection of brains is linked to eugenics, taken from vulnerable populations – Live Action

The Washington Post has published a follow-up to its investigation into the Smithsonian Institution, which has a staggering collection of human body parts, including brains and few of the remains were obtained through ethical means. Now, in the follow-up report, the Post has reported that most of the victims were Washington, D.C.s most vulnerable residents.

Ales Hrdlicka (1869-1943) was the anthropologist responsible for much of the collection of body parts, and he had a specific goal in mind: to prove that minorities, but especially Black people, were inferior to whites. Creating a racial brain collection was part of how he would prove this long-debunked theory. Of the 74 brains he got from residents of Washington, D.C., 48 were Black. Others were from disabled persons or were taken from children including 19 obtained from preborn children.

At least one of these brains was taken after the preborn child was killed in an abortion.

One of the children, Moses, died as an infant, and Hrdlicka performed the autopsy on him, with the familys consent; however, they had no idea that he was also taking the childs brain. It has remained in the Smithsonians collection for decades, though Michelle Farris, a distant relative, is now fighting to get it back so it can buried properly.

It feels like my family was robbed of something, Farris said. A child especially of that age cant speak up for themselves. Since the Washington Posts initial investigation, just five of the brains have been returned to either the persons family, or their cultural heirs such as an indigenous tribe.

While the Smithsonian has expressed willingness to return the remains, those remains must be requested through a formal petition, and as in Moses case, most of the families dont even know the collection exists, much less that a relative has body parts in it. Though the Smithsonian has names for at least 100 of the brains, the institution has not attempted to contact anyone or publish the names so their families can reclaim them.

READ: The media is outraged over stolen body parts but only if it doesnt involve abortion

An undercover investigation from the Center of Medical Progress found through documentation and video investigations that Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry still harvest body parts from the most vulnerable among us preborn children and sell them for medical research.

Notably, Hrdlicka was an ardent eugenicist something he had in common with Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. Sanger accepted an invitation to speak at a Ku Klux Klan meeting and surrounded herself with racists and eugenicists. Lothrop Stoddard was the Exalted Cyclops of the Massachusetts chapter of the Ku Klux Klan and also served on the board of Sangers American Birth Control League (ABCL) the organization that would later become Planned Parenthood. He believed that non-white races must be excluded from America. Clarence Gamble, heir of the Procter and Gamble company fortune, served as a director of both Sangers ABCL and Planned Parenthood boards and was also a eugenicist, supporting laws mandating the sterilization of the disabled. In a letter discussing the notorious Negro Project with Sanger, he said:

The mass of Negroes, particularly in the South, still breed carelessly and disastrously, with the result that the increase among Negroes, even more than among whites, is from that portion of the population least intelligent and fit, and least able to rear children properly.

In his 1904 guide to eugenics, Hrdlicka echoes these beliefs. He wrote of wanting to obtain brains from white people, of which he had abundant opportunity, but also from American negroes, which will be of increasing interest on account of the intellectual progress and mixture of this element in the American population.

In addition to brains, there are still numerous other remains in the collection, including bones and even complete skeletons.

To me, its very upsetting, Native American anthropologist Brad Hatch told the Washington Post. They essentially pulled our ancestors out of the ground, discarded who knows how many of them, and then the large pieces that they could identify, they took back and theyre holding them, essentially in storage where they cant really be given the respect they deserve.

The DOJ put a pro-life grandmother in jail this Christmas for protesting the killing of preborn children. Please take 30-seconds to TELL CONGRESS: STOP THE DOJ FROM TARGETING PRO-LIFE AMERICANS.

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The Smithsonian's collection of brains is linked to eugenics, taken from vulnerable populations - Live Action