Category Archives: Progress

LOUISVILLE, Colo. A single father from Louisville who lost everything in the Marshall Fire is reflecting on his rebuilding journey six months after the fire.

Cristopher Benner is an emergency worker and search and rescue volunteer who was helping treat an influx of hospital patients in Boulder the day the Marshall Fire broke out on Dec. 30.

"It was a very busy day in the emergency department. I didn't know if my property was going to be okay. And I literally had gone to work that day, just thinking it'd be a normal day in the E.R., just with the clothing on my back," said Benner.

Benner said he never expected a wildfire to impact his suburban-area community. The home where he had been raising his 9-year-old son, Fergus, was destroyed. They also lost their beloved cat, Bugsy.

"I came back in the early hours the next morning to see the area was decimated. It was catastrophic, to say the least. It was like a scene in a movie," added Benner.

Benner said deciding to rebuild in Louisville was an easy decision, especially when it comes to his son.

"He has been my pillar of strength. He has done amazingly well in the process," he said. "This is his first home. This community is incredibly strong. So I never doubted that we would ever sell this property or doubted that we would rebuild here."

Rebuilding has been a challenge for Benner when it comes to dealing with the insurance process. But his lot has been cleared out and he has contracts with a builder and they are in the design process. He hopes to break ground on the property in the next few months.

"The community has come together so well through this process. I think we'll actually get a stronger community when this is all said and done, as sad as it is," said Benner.

Benner and his son are temporarily staying in an apartment in Louisville until their home is rebuilt. He is still not sure how long the process will take but estimates it will be between 1 to 2 years before they are in their new house.

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Marshall Fire victim reflects on rebuilding progress 6 months after losing everything - Denver 7 Colorado News

The Veterans Health Administration is seeing severe staffing shortages back on the rise, after years of making progress on this front.

The Veterans Affairs Departments inspector general office, in a report released Thursday, found all 139 VHA facilities it surveyed this year reported at least one severe occupational staffing shortage.

In total, the VA IGs report found 2,622 severe staffing shortages for 285 occupations in VHA nationwide.

The overall number of current VHA staffing shortages...

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The Veterans Health Administration is seeing severe staffing shortages back on the rise, after years of making progress on this front.

The Veterans Affairs Departments inspector general office, in a report released Thursday, found all 139 VHA facilities it surveyed this year reported at least one severe occupational staffing shortage.

In total, the VA IGs report found 2,622 severe staffing shortages for 285 occupations in VHA nationwide.

The overall number of current VHA staffing shortages remains lower than what the agency reported in 2018. But it also marks the first report in recent years in which the VHA didnt continue to decrease the overall number of occupations with staffing shortages.

For the first time since reporting to the facility level, there was a net increase in severe occupational staffing shortages suggesting it was more difficult to fill positions in VHA, the report states.

The report finds the VHA in FY 22 saw a 22% increase in severe staffing shortages, compared to the year prior. The agency saw year-over-year reductions in staffing shortages in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Deputy Undersecretary for Health Steven Lieberman told the IGs office that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health care workforce and the shortage of physicians and nurses across the entire labor market has driven and continues to drive the shortage across health care as documented by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The VA has seen record-high turnover among its health care workforce since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency has called on Congress to pass legislation that would raise caps for health care positions and make permanent some pandemic-era hiring authorities.

The VA is also preparing to transform its workforce and health care facilities in anticipation of legislation that would deliver a historic expansion of health care to veterans.

The Senate last month passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (Honoring Our PACT) Act. The bill is now back in the House waiting for a final floor before heading to President Joe Bidens desk.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough told the Senate VA Committee in June that the PACT Act would give the VA much-needed authority to set higher pay caps for certain health care positions, and that the VAs ability to get veterans into care more quickly is obviously impacted by the tightness of the labor market.

The VHA continues to face long-standing challenges in keeping enough medical officers and nurses.

The report finds that 87% of facilities experienced severe occupational staffing shortages for medical officers, and 91% reported severe shortages for nurses. The VA IG has noted a severe shortage of these positions every year since 2014.

This years report marks the first in which the IGs office found more than 90 occupations facing severe shortages.

In FY 2022, more severe occupational staffing shortages were reported by more facilities than in recent FYs. Although VHA experienced net increases in onboard staffing levels of certain occupations, severe occupational staffing shortages continued to exist. The OIG acknowledges that the COVID-19 Pandemic affected VHAs delivery of healthcare and their staffing needs, the report states.

The Grand Junction VA Medical Center in Colorado and the Palo Alto VA Medical Center in California both reported 89 staffing shortages in this years report the most shortages reported by any one VA facility.

The report finds seven occupations that have remained in the top 10 most frequently reported severe shortages annually: police, psychiatry, primary care, practical nurse, general engineering psychology and medical technologist.

However, the IG found that VHA has generally seen net increases in staffing levels for each of these seven occupations every year since FY 2017.

Therefore, although these occupations were identified as severe occupational staffing shortages, VHA has been increasing the number of staff in these occupations, the report states.

The IG also identified five occupations that saw the biggest increase in facilities reporting severe shortages between FY 2022 and FY 2021. These include custodial workers, practical nurses, medical support assistants, nursing assistants and registered nurses.

The OIG believes this comparison provides VHA with insight into which occupations may benefit from additional workforce planning strategies, the report states.

The IG found that 63% of VA facilities reported a severe shortage of medical support assistants, the more critical staff shortage among Title 38 occupations VHA is able to non-competitively select individuals using direct-hire authority for Title 38 positions.

The VA IGs office, under the 2017 Choice and Quality Employment Act, is required to identify staffing shortages across the agencys clinical and non-clinical positions.

The VA, meanwhile, faces a 23% vacancy rate for licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHCs), as well as marriage and family therapists (MFTs).

Senate VA Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are seeking an update from the VA and the Office of Personnel Management on steps to bring more of these personnel onboard.

The senators, in a letter to McDonough and OPM Director Kiran Ahuja, seek an update under the 2020 Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, which requires the agencies to create a new federal occupational series for these specialists.

Creating an occupational series for LPMHCs and MFTs is integral to ensuring streamlined hiring of these mental health care professionals and delivering timely mental health care to veterans. The absence of an occupational series for these two positions can add difficulties to the hiring process for human resources personnel attempting to fill vacancies and candidates researching and applying for positions at VA, the senators wrote.

VA officials briefed lawmakers on the implementation of the Hannon Act last November. Tester and Moran said OPM last October had agreed to establish an Integrated Project Team (IPT) to create an occupational series for LPMHCs and MFTs.

This briefing provided no timeline regarding the IPTs course of action, and now, nearly seven months later, we have received no update on the work of the IPT or a projection for completion of the occupational series for LPMHCs and MFTs. This is also troubling given we have been asking VA and OPM since 2017 to establish an occupational series for these mental health professionals, the senators wrote.

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VA health staffing shortages back on the rise after years of progress - Federal News Network

Contra Costa County firefighters stopped the "forward progress" of the Marsh Fire, which happened near a decommissioned power plant in Pittsburg early Saturday evening.

A Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesperson said firefighters will remain on scene overnight to mop up numerous hot spots.

The vegetation fire, which has been smoldering since it first started a month ago, has scorched 200 acres and 70% contained. The smoldering fire flared up early Saturday afternoon, creating a huge, dark cloud of smoke that was seen throughout the eastern portion of the county.

No structures were affected by Saturday's flare-up. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.

During the afternoon, Cal Fire air support was brought in to assist, dropping thousands of gallons of water on the flames from three large, heavy-lift helicopters that carry a massive capacity of water and fire retardant.

Pittsburg residents have been dealing with the smoke for weeks now.

We have our children playing outside, we cant go outside even when we open the garage, theres smoke coming in, one resident said.

With the wind blowing, its been a problem lately, said Pittsburg resident Markell McCain.

Firefighters said a persistent fire keeps coming back and burning more land every time it reignites. It originally started on May 30 at Bay Point.

Because of that we were monitoring the fire daily or the smoldering fire daily to make sure it wasnt going to take off on us again, said Joe Ottolini with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

With air and ground resources, crews were able to stop forward progress and eliminate any threats against the communities on the eastern side of the fire. A nearby car shop said five or six of their vehicles did catch on fire.

Residents in the area are just hoping crews win the final battle against this troublesome fire.

"It's too close for comfort. I dont feel safe. Hopefully, they can get it fixed, said McCain.

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Forward Progress Stopped on Brush Fire Near Old Power Plant in Pittsburg - NBC Bay Area

WHEATLAND (CBS13) Firefighters on Saturday worked quickly to contain a new fire that sparked east of Wheatland near the Yuba and Placer county lines.

Cal Fire said, just after 6:30 p.m., that firefighters had stopped the forward progress of the blaze, dubbed the Porter Fire. At last check, containment was at 80% containment.

The fire was first reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. and quickly grew to 166 acres. The acreag was initially reported at 175, but Cal Fire said more accurate mapping dropped that number just a bit.

The location of the fire was in the area of Porter Road and Camp Far West Road in Placer County near the Yuba County line.

The Placer County Sheriffs Office said the area of Porter, Karchner and McCourteny roads was evacuated and one outbuilding had been destroyed in the fire. All evacuation orders have since been lifted.

The fire was also reportedly threatening structures in nearby Sheridan for some time.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

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Crews Stop Forward Progress Of New Fire In Placer County That Grew To 166 Acres; 85% Contained - CBS Sacramento

The flamethrowing rookie who drew comparisons to his idol and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez during a buzzworthy first stint in the Majors? The centerpiece of the J.T. Realmuto trade with the Phillies? How could you not -- with him sporting a triple-digit fastball, a devastating changeup and an unforgettable first name?

But it has been nearly one year since Snchez underwent surgery to repair a capsular tear and to clean out the back side of his right shoulder. The discomfort first surfaced in a simulated game on March 31, 2021, as he prepared to join the Opening Day rotation. Diagnosed with inflammation, Snchez was sidelined for months -- his rehab going through a series of starts and stops before he finally underwent the surgical procedure on July 20.

On a humid Saturday morning at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex, Snchez tossed a 30-pitch bullpen session as he continues his gradual progression -- something that proved elusive last summer -- in his throwing program. This would've seemed improbable as recently as March, when the lockout ended and he was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville during Spring Training. He felt discomfort again while starting to long toss, but an MRI revealed no structural damage.

"I'd like to thank God that I'm feeling really good. [I'm] going to continue to work hard to get that success back," Snchez said via an interpreter.

Snchez, who turns 24 on July 29, calls these bullpen and side sessions Phase 1 of his return. He will face batters next week for the first time since March 2021. His stuff isn't completely back, though that is to be expected, considering the amount of time he has missed. His fastball has reached 94 mph, but just 91 mph on Saturday. His pinpoint command wasn't quite there -- unlike previous sessions -- and Snchez didn't hide his frustration. He only recently began incorporating his slider.

"From our perspective, he's not having any issues with the shoulder," general manager Kim Ng said. "This is just a natural progression for him, so there's going to be some rust, of course. He'll still work all that out."

So how is this go-around different from 2021? Snchez said he began to turn the corner once the complex reopened following the lockout and he could restart his throwing program. It has been a months-long journey of rebuilding his confidence.

"I think initially, with any surgery, you're a little [worried about] that happening again. But it looks like his confidence is back," said Hector Crespo, the Marlins' director of Minor League operations. "His work ethic has been great. We're excited. I know he feels great and he wants to be out there. It's just continuing his progression and being on him -- and I think his work ethic, right now, is he's ready to go."

Snchez's setbacks have tested his resolve. When he last took the mound in an MLB game, the Marlins faced elimination in the 2020 National League Division Series against the Braves.

Much has changed since then. The Marlins lost 95 games in 2021 and now they're in the '22 NL Wild Card picture. While Snchez catches some of the games, it can be tough to watch because he wants to be out there competing. His primary goal for '22 is a to return to The Show.

"You think back to when you were a child and when you're a kid [with] dreams of wanting to play Major League Baseball," Snchez said. "So you start thinking back to that point and that's pretty much what keeps me motivated and happy."

Once a Top 100 prospect, uncertainty with his health has pushed Snchez off of that list and down to No. 5 in Miami's system. Relative newcomers Eury Prez and Max Meyer have replaced him as the can't-miss prospects, something he used to be.

"I don't really feel forgotten, because the fans pretty much still reach out to me," Snchez said. "[They ask] when I'm going to to return and I pretty much just reply and tell them that I'll be back soon."

Added Crespo: "That's a guy who's tough to forget about. [He has] elite stuff and [is] a guy that's two years removed from pitching in meaningful innings in playoff games. We can't wait to get him back and we know he makes our team better."

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Sixto Snchez making progress in rehab - MLB.com

One pass went to the corner even though nobody was standing there. One player walked off the court after beginning to bleed. Grant Williams, usually a vocal critic of referees, officiated the scrimmage sessions Tuesday afternoon.

Yes, summer league is back. The summer Celtics opened training camp on Monday. They will start games in Las Vegas on Sunday. Here are four reasons to pay attention to their summer league entry.

As Brad Stevens suggested on draft night, the Celtics expect JD Davison to require significant developmental time. He is not a finished product but does have some intriguing tools. Some rough moments at summer league should be expected, but Davison should deliver some highlight plays.

He also wants to provide some defense. During his first interview with the Boston media, Davison stressed he wants to show he can be a dog. He said he looks forward to learning from other guards like Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon.

When I got that name called by the Celtics, when my agent called me to say the Celtics got you, it was just, like, youre (going to) be in an organization where they win, Davison said. So, it was just really going to where I knew I could come in here and get better every day and just come here and win. I was very happy.

Juhann Begarin stood out during the brief portion of Tuesdays scrimmage open to the media. He drilled a 3-pointer. He grabbed a rebound, drove coast-to-coast and dropped off an assist. At age 19, he already has an NBA physique and obvious court vision.

Ive liked what hes brought to the table, said Celtics assistant coach Ben Sullivan, whos at the helm of Bostons summer league entry. Good athlete, good size, can pass, can find his teammates, get downhill, finish at the rim, can really defend, competitive. So, really just getting to know him a little bit and seeing his progression from last year in summer league to this year and seeing where hes at. Ive really liked what hes done so far.

Begarin, the Celtics 2021 second-round draft pick, averaged 11.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in France this past season. Still, his game is raw. He shot just 30.9 percent from behind the 3-point arc and racked up more turnovers than assists. Even with some of his shortcomings, it doesnt take long to notice he has substantial potential. He should have a chance at summer league to try convincing the Celtics to bring him over to start his NBA career.

Sam Hauser was overshadowed on last seasons summer league team, but he should be a starter and one of the main players this time around. Though Hauser only played 158 minutes as a rookie, the team is hopeful he will become a regular contributor at the NBA level one day maybe even as soon as this season. The Celtics recently ripped up the final season of his contract to sign him to a three-year deal. Among the summer Celtics, he likely has the best chance of earning playing time next season.

The Celtics NBA roster is deep. They wont have many minutes available if they stay healthy. Still, while they have a load of useful guards, they could use another bigger wing behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Hauser, a 6-foot-8 sharpshooter, could help fill that role if the Celtics are right about his potential.

Theres a lot of things we like about Sam, Sullivan said. Hes a good shooter, hes a good person, hes a hard worker, hes a pro, he shows up every day, he puts the work in, he puts the time in, he understands the game. Theres a lot of things that Sam brings to the table. He has good size. Sam can do a lot of different things besides just shoot.

Hauser has always been known best as a shooter. He shot 43.2 percent over extremely limited reps with the Celtics last season after topping 40 percent during each of his four college seasons at Marquette and Virginia. Theres no doubt hes elite at throwing the ball through the basket from a long way.

After agreeing to re-sign Luke Kornet, the Celtics could still chase additional frontcourt help behind Al Horford and Robert Williams. Though they sound unlikely to use their $17.1 million trade exception before it expires later this month, they could potentially land a veteran on a minimum deal. They also have two prospects on their summer league team in Trevion Williams and Mfiondu Kabengele.

Williams, who went undrafted this year, made first-team All-Big Ten as a junior at Purdue, then won the conferences Sixth Man of the Year award as a senior. As you can infer, the 6-foot-10, 255-pounder came off the bench during his final college season, but only because the team split time between him and fellow standout center Zach Edey. Williams still lit up the college basketball world throughout his senior season, producing per-40-minute averages of 24 points, 15 rebounds and six assists while shooting 54.7 percent from the field. Williams attempted a smattering of 3-pointers but usually made his mark much closer to the hoop. Hes not exactly built in the modern big man mold, but scouts are enamored with his ability to pass the basketball, which was on display during the short scrimmage portion reporters were allowed to see Tuesday afternoon.

Kabengele, 24, was the Clippers first-round pick in 2019. After playing 51 games over his first two NBA campaigns, he spent most of last season with the G Leagues Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound big man averaged 17.5 points and 9.4 rebounds (3.7 offensive) while shooting an impressive 43.4 percent on three 3-point attempts per game. Not many players have his combination of size, shooting touch and athleticism.

Daniel Theis, recently traded to the Pacers in the Brogdon deal, was solid insurance for whenever Horford or Robert Williams missed time. Kornet would likely fill that role as the roster stands, but the Celtics would like to add another player to soak up some frontcourt minutes.

(Top photo of Juhann Begarin: Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)

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Celtics progress with Juhann Begarin, JD Davison and more: Summer league what to watch - The Athletic

BALTIMORE (WJZ) Mayor Brandon Scott on Friday made public a safety report that shows a snapshot of the progress his administration has made under the implementation of his violence prevention plan.

The report on the incremental outcome of the five-year-long Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan was compiled by the Mayors Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), according to city officials.

The plan aims to treat gun violence as though it is a public health crisis through coordinated and sustainable practices.

Scott allocated $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds over the next three years to MONSE and charged it with funding violence prevention efforts, including community violence intervention, victim services, youth justice, re-entry services, and community healing.

Making Baltimore a safer city for all of our residents is the most critical undertaking of my administration; however, we can only produce sustained outcomes if we center our approach to public safety around public health, trauma-informed practices, and the lived experiences of our residents, Scott said. This is not work that occurs overnight, but MONSE and my entire administration remain committed to building and operationalizing systems that will help us move Baltimore forward towards a healthier and safer future.

To date, the year-old agency has accomplished the following:

In fiscal year 2023, MONSE will focus on (1) deepening and broadening a partnership with law enforcement partners through the group violence reduction strategy, (2) further developing Baltimores community violence intervention ecosystem, (3) increasing the capacity of community-based organizations to support the work of violence prevention, (4) developing a robust re-entry program for people experiencing incarceration, and (5) establishing internal and external data tracking tools to measure key performance indicators.

Also on Friday, Scott made public his decision to tap former acting police commissioner Anthony Barksdale to be Baltimores deputy mayor for public safety, according to city officials.

Scott revealed on Friday that he had asked Barksdale to oversee the policies and operations of the citys public safety agencies.

Those agencies include the Baltimore Police Department, the MONSE, the Baltimore City Fire Department, and the Office of Emergency Management.

Barksdale will also be tasked with ensuring the implementation of the citys consent decree.

Additionally, he expected to coordinate the implementation of the mayors Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan in partnership with MONSE.

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Baltimores Mayor Makes Public Year-In-Progress Report Of His Crime Prevention Strategy - CBS Baltimore

Imtiaz, R., Hopkins, D. R., & Ruiz-Tiben, E. (1990). Permanent disability from dracunculiasis. The Lancet, 336(8715), 630. https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(90)93427-Q

Biswas, G., Sankara, D. P., Agua-Agum, J., & Maiga, A. (2013). Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease): eradication without a drug or a vaccine. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 368(1623), 20120146. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0146Sankara, D.P., Korkor, A.S., Agua-Agum, J., Biswas, G. (2016). Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease). In: Gyapong, J., Boatin, B. (eds) Neglected Tropical Diseases Sub-Saharan Africa. Neglected Tropical Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25471-5_3

Watts, S. (1998). An ancient scourge: the end of Dracunculiasis in Egypt. Social Science & Medicine, 46(7), 811819. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00213-X

Tayeh, A., Cairncross, S., & Cox, F. E. (2017). Guinea worm: from Robert Leiper to eradication. Parasitology, 144(12), 1643-1648.

Reddy, C. R. R. M., Narasaiah, I. L., & Parvathi, G. (1969). Epidemiological studies on guinea-worm infection. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 40(4), 521. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2556107/pdf/bullwho00225-0041.pdf

Molyneux, D., & Sankara, D. P. (2017). Guinea worm eradication: Progress and challengesshould we beware of the dog?. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(4), e0005495.

Hopkins, D. R., & Ruiz-Tiben, E. (2011). Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease): case study of the effort to eradicate guinea worm. https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/news/health_publications/selendy-waterandsanitationrelateddiseases-chapt10.pdfCleveland, C. A., Garrett, K. B., Box, E. K., Eure, Z., Majewska, A. A., Wilson, J. A., & Yabsley, M. J. (2020). Cooking copepods: The survival of cyclopoid copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda) in simulated provisioned water containers and implications for the Guinea Worm Eradication Program in Chad, Africa. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 95, 216-220.

In dry climates, the disease is more common in rainy seasons when water accumulates in ponds and wells. In wet climates, the disease is more common in dry seasons when water is drying up and becoming stagnant.Muller, R. (1979). Guinea worm disease: epidemiology, control, and treatment. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 57(5), 683.

Hopkins, D. R., Ruiz-Tiben, E., Eberhard, M. L., Weiss, A., Withers, P. C., Roy, S. L., & Sienko, D. G. (2018). Dracunculiasis Eradication: Are We There Yet?. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 99(2), 388395. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0204

Hopkins, D. R., & Ruiz-Tiben, E. (2011). Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease): case study of the effort to eradicate guinea worm. https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/news/health_publications/selendy-waterandsanitationrelateddiseases-chapt10.pdf

They are certified by the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE), which was set up in 1995.The International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication About us. (n.d.). World Health Organization. Retrieved June 3, 2022, from https://www.who.int/groups/international-commission-for-the-certification-of-dracunculiasis-eradication/about

Molyneux, D., & Sankara, D. P. (2017). Guinea worm eradication: Progress and challengesshould we beware of the dog?. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(4), e0005495.Hopkins, D. R., Ruiz-Tiben, E., Eberhard, M. L., Weiss, A., Withers, P. C., Roy, S. L., & Sienko, D. G. (2018). Dracunculiasis Eradication: Are We There Yet? The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 99(2), 388395. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0204

Kelly-Hope, L. A., & Molyneux, D. H. (2021). Quantifying conflict zones as a challenge to certification of Guinea worm eradication in Africa: a new analytical approach. BMJ open, 11(8), e049732.In some cases, the eradication effort has worked around conflicts or addressed them. For example, in 1995, former US president Jimmy Carter was involved in negotiating a ceasefire during the Second Sudanese Civil War, to allow healthcare workers to begin efforts to eradicate guinea worm disease in the region.Hopkins, D. R., & Ruiz-Tiben, E. (2011). Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease): case study of the effort to eradicate guinea worm. https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/news/health_publications/selendy-waterandsanitationrelateddiseases-chapt10.pdf

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Guinea worm disease is close to being eradicated how was this progress achieved? - Our World in Data

The Oxford School District released a press statement announcing a timeline of future construction projects in the district.

At the OSD Board of Trustees meeting, the board received a construction update from Eley Guild Hardy and ICM, LLC on various projects happening in or around OSD school campuses scheduled for the upcoming year.

This summer is exceptionally busy with moving teachers and classrooms to new campuses plus establishing the new OECC campus for Pre-K, said Bradley Roberson, OSD Superintendent. This is no tiny feat for all of those who are involved.

At Bramlett Elementary, work for phase 1 of work is underway. The school plans to have the asphalt repaved for the week of July 11 based on current construction progress, but its possible that it could be extended into the week of July 18.

Work for site retaining walls has been completed while work for sidewalk pours, curb and gutter and demolition of existing asphalt is ongoing.

Officials expect phase 2 to begin on July 11. It will start with the clearing on the north side of the property and it will take approximately three weeks. According to a press statement, the school wants to get as much done as possible during summer to minimize truck traffic when school starts back.

Construction on storm structures, retaining walls and grading will continue through August and September with completion dates projected into October and November, but all dates are dependent upon storm structure deliveries.

Plans for a playground at Bramlett are in the works. The district received bids and has approved a contractor and the submittal process is currently underway. Officials estimate the construction work will start once work at the Oxford Early Childhood Center is completed.

The OECC is undergoing construction work for phase 1. Phase 2 will begin with the citys design and approval process.

The school recently completed work on plumbing fixtures. Millwork began this week and supply/drain lines relocation and plan to commence with wall framing repairs on Friday, July 8.

Within the next two weeks, doors, frames and hardware will be installed at OECC. These projects are expected to be complete by August 1.

The school district has plans for playgrounds at OECC and Central Elementary, too.

OSD has received bids for the OECC playground and a contractor was approved. The submittal process is underway and equipment is estimated to be delivered by December 2022 and installed in January 2023, contingent upon the approval process.

The Central Elementary playground still requires approval from the city and for storm calculations to be redone and submitted for the citys review.

Other projects include a new parking area for Oxford High School and new signage at OECC, Bramlett and Oxford Middle School. The district is currently assessing the needs for the OHS parking area and working on a solution, however, a design is to be determined.

Signage for OECC is a part of the May 2023 phase 2 plan. Bramletts sign will be added to the phase 2 site work plan. A conduit is going into place but the design and bid process has not been completed.

OMS signage design and bid process are not complete for an estimated timeline.

Lastly, the school plans to complete repairs to its Pressbox on August 19.

Construction timelines can be unpredictable but we know that these orange cones are a sign of progress and growth, said Roberson. We communicate any school traffic pattern changes to all parents and staff the week before school starts. As always, thank you for your patience and support of our students and staff. We are fortunate to live in a community where our schools are a priority.

To see thefull report from Eley, Guild, Hardy Architects, click here.

I want to publicly thank our maintenance crew for their hard work each day to make sure we are ready for students in just a few weeks, Roberson said. Our teachers have had a great get it done attitude and have worked hard to make this summers move seamless.

Excerpt from:

Signs of Progress: OSD updates community on future construction projects - The Oxford Eagle - Oxford Eagle

Two new innovations could make it easier for doctors to decipher when cancers that impact women are present and need urgent attention:

As part of a leading translational research team, it is gratifying and exciting to see the movement of science toward innovations with actionable information that can guide treatment decisions, said Richard Moore, M.D., chief of the division of Gynecological Oncology and director of the Targeted Therapeutics Laboratory at Wilmot.

Richard Moore, MD

Liquid Biopsies Could Simplify Metastatic Breast Cancer Detection

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted a United Kingdom-based company, ANGLE, the first-ever product clearance for technology called the Parsortix PC1 Clinical System. It harvests cancer cells from a patients blood sample, isolating tumor cells based on size and deformity, for analysis. It takes about two hours for results.

Moores laboratory at Wilmot was the sole location nationally to test whether the technology produces the same results each time, a research concept known as reproducibility. He also was an investigator on several clinical trials sponsored by ANGLE, enrolling more than 500 local women during the past few years in breast and ovarian cancer trials.

Technology like this is a big deal because its designed to capture living cancer cells early on, before a tumor is found by conventional means such as a CT scan or a surgical biopsy, Moore said.

And if tumor cells are detected, Moore said, the technology also allows us to test for gene expression to discover if a patient could benefit from a treatment that would target those genes all from a simple blood draw."

Kyu Kwang Kim, Ph.D., research assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at URMC, and Negar Khazan, Ph.D., performed the work in the Moore lab. All of the data generated at Wilmot was part of the companys FDA submission, ANGLE said. Moore is continuing to work with teams at ANGLE, which is also funding studies using the Parsotix system to detect ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Investigation of liquid biopsies is exploding; in fact, another Wilmot team led by James McGrath, Ph.D., and Jonathan Flax, M.D., is developing a liquid biopsy test to detect cancer-specific cells for colorectal cancer, which disproportionately impacts Black individuals in the 27-county region from which Wilmot draws patients.

What Does Cancer Look Like?

For some types of cancer, such as ovarian, routine screening and early detection is not always possible.

Akshya Gupta, MD

This is why research led by Akshya Gupta, M.D., assistant professor of Imaging Sciences at URMC is important: He validated an accurate way to classify pelvic lesions that show up periodically in women who do not have a high risk of ovarian cancer. The study showed that based on ultrasound appearance, pelvic lesions can be effectively placed into two categories classic and non-classic with 93 percent sensitivity.

Classic is for fluid- or fat-filled cysts that carry a very low risk of being cancerous.

The incidence of ovarian cancer in the general population is very low and the vast majority of lesions that we see as radiologists have classic, benign features where the risk of cancer is exceptionally low, below 1%, Gupta said. Thats reassuring.

But what separates the classic lesions from the ones that need immediate attention?

Non-classic masses usually have a solid component or blood flow within the lesion that can be seen on Doppler ultrasound. Of the 970 lesions analyzed in Guptas study, the non-classic ones had a 32 percent frequency of malignancy in younger women and a 50 percent chance of being cancer in older women.

Gupta explained that algorithms have existed for years to assess pelvic lesions but they are often based on patients who have already been referred for surgery or to a gynecological oncologist. These women have a higher incidence of cancer compared to the general population.

Therefore, he said, the classic versus non-classic approach can help to stratify lesions when radiologists are called upon to triage women of average risk for ovarian cancer. Many of these cases come about when women go to their doctors with concerns about an ovarian cyst, minor abnormal bleeding, or if a small pelvic mass is discovered incidentally during an evaluation for a different health issue.

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Concerned about Breast and Ovarian Cancer? Research Brings Progress - URMC