Nurse practitioners step in as geriatrician ranks shrink
Nurse practitioners are not trying to replace doctors — they’re trying to meet patients’ needs, wherever those patients are, an expert said. by Jariel Arvin. This story was originally published on June 15, 2025 in the Washington Post. On Fridays, Stephanie Johnson has a busy schedule, driving her navy-blue Jeep from one patient’s home to…
Read MoreHow Poetry Helps Dementia Caregivers Find Shelter from the Storm
by Holly McDede. This story was originally published on May 16 by KQED, where you can listen to the audio story. Frances Kakugawa is a firm believer that the act of caring for another human being can inspire poetry. She knows this from experience, having cared for her mother, Matsue, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the…
Read MoreTo help older veterans, a Virginia group gives each a ‘battle buddy’
by Wayne Gray. This story was originally published by The Washington Post on November 11, 2024. The organization, which was started by the daughter of a career marine, launched a Battle Buddy Call Center last year to serve veterans nationwide. Pinned to the wall of an office in Warrenton, Virginia, is a banner with the…
Read MoreFarmers Need Help to Survive. A New Crop of Farm Advocates Is on the Way.
by Cara Nixon. This story was originally published by Civil Eats on January 14, 2025. Farmers with expertise in law and finance have long guided the farming community through tough situations, but their numbers have been dropping. Now, thanks to federally funded training, farm advocates are coming back. In 2007, fourth-generation farmer Luciano Alvarado Jr.…
Read MoreRecords detail how Benicia teacher accused of sexual misconduct regained teaching license
by Holly McDede. This story was originally published by The Vallejo Sun on December 13, 2024. Matthew Shelton faces 12 felony counts of lewd acts with a child stemming from his employment at the Benicia Unified School District. BENICIA – Newly released records…
Read MorePolitical Influence of Behested Payments
by Laura Fitzgerald and Max Harrison Caldwell. This audio story was originally aired on CapRadio. There is a lot of money that flows through the state Capitol to shape the laws and policies that affect Californians. Corporations, trade associations, and other organizations invest in certain state lawmakers for political gain. But that money comes with…
Read MoreThis is the secret system that covers up police misconduct — and ensures problem officers can get hired again
Behind locked drawers of file cabinets, in police departments all over California, sit documents no one is supposed to see. Known as clean-record agreements, they conceal the misconduct of hundreds of officers, helping them land new jobs in law enforcement. These documents have been secret — until now. By Katey Rusch and Casey Smith This story was originally…
Read MoreHow California police agencies dole out disability pensions to problem officers: Key takeaways from our investigation
By Katey Rusch. This story was originally published in The San Francisco Chronicle on September 18, 2024. Few jobs are as dangerous as that of a police officer. Acknowledging this, California offers generous disability pensions to those who are so severely injured that they can no longer wear the badge. But an investigation by the…
Read MorePediatricians’ obesity guidelines rest on shaky evidence about eating disorder risks
By Kate Raphael. This story was originally published by STAT News on September 16, 2024. Joslyn Smith said she worries new obesity guidelines will inadvertently cause some young people to develop eating disorders. “I have no doubt that people are going to die because of this,” she said. / Heather Ainsworth for STAT To address…
Read MoreSpecial needs trusts bring peace of mind to aging parents of children with disabilities
By Hannah Frances Johansson, This story was originally published by CNN on September 13, 2024. Berkeley, California CNN — Over a decade before her husband’s death, Linda Tung was already concerned with estate planning. Their daughter, Rachel, was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that can greatly hamper mobility. Planning for Rachel’s financial future, one without the…
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