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KFF Study Warns Rural Pregnant Residents Face Longer Drives for Care Due to Medicaid Cuts

KFF Study Warns Rural Pregnant Residents Face Longer Drives for Care Due to Medicaid Cuts

A new analysis by KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation) indicates that pregnant residents in rural areas could face significantly longer travel times to access maternity care due to potential cuts to Medicaid insurance. Rural residents already endure long distances to deliver babies, and this situation is projected to worsen. Brittni Frederiksen, associate director of women’s health policy at KFF and co-author of the study, highlighted that in states like Nevada, a rural delivery unit closure could mean a two-hour drive to the next closest unit. This increased travel time raises the likelihood of negative outcomes for both mothers and babies. Since 2005, approximately 200 rural hospitals have closed, and many more have shuttered labor and delivery units, with Wyoming alone having at least nine counties lacking birthing hospitals. Changes to Medicaid under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' such as work requirements, could lead to people losing insurance, subsequently reducing revenue for hospitals from bi...

American Southwest Road Trip Itinerary Highlights National Parks and Iconic Landscapes from Las Vegas

American Southwest Road Trip Itinerary Highlights National Parks and Iconic Landscapes from Las Vegas

A popular 10-day road trip itinerary through the American Southwest begins and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada, guiding travelers through some of the region's most iconic natural attractions. The route includes Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Page (for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend), Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon South Rim, and Sedona. This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors, offering a comprehensive experience of the Southwest's red-rock canyons, desert highways, and spectacular national parks. The journey involves moderate driving times between destinations, typically 2-3 hours, with the longest stretch being 4.5 hours back to Las Vegas from Sedona. Travelers are advised to rent a car in Las Vegas for flexibility and to book accommodations and tours, especially for Antelope Canyon, in advance.

Western Star Resources Appoints Goldman Sachs Veteran Garland Scott to Board Amid U.S. Tungsten Push

Western Star Resources Appoints Goldman Sachs Veteran Garland Scott to Board Amid U.S. Tungsten Push

Western Star Resources Appoints Goldman Sachs Veteran Garland Scott to Board Amid U.S. Tungsten Push

Florida Ranks 41st in New Vaccination Study, Placing State in Bottom 10

Florida Ranks 41st in New Vaccination Study, Placing State in Bottom 10

A new study conducted by WalletHub has revealed that Florida ranks 41st in the nation for vaccination rates, placing it among the bottom 10 states in the U.S. The study analyzed various demographics within each state's population to determine overall vaccination responsibility. This low ranking is attributed, in part, to Florida's active efforts over the past year to end vaccine mandates across the state, which may have contributed to fewer people getting vaccinated. Specifically, Florida's vaccination rate for the adult and elderly population ranks 48th in the WalletHub study. The state performs slightly better for children and teenagers, ranking 27th in the country for that demographic. The states with lower vaccination rates than Florida include Idaho, Tennessee, Kentucky, Nevada, Texas, Wyoming, Alaska, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

Mark Wahlberg Reflects on Past Mistakes, Emphasizes Leadership and Faith in Hollywood

Mark Wahlberg Reflects on Past Mistakes, Emphasizes Leadership and Faith in Hollywood

Mark Wahlberg Reflects on Past Mistakes, Emphasizes Leadership and Faith in Hollywood

Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Fights for Water Rights Amidst Colorado River Disputes

Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Fights for Water Rights Amidst Colorado River Disputes

The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe is actively fighting for its water rights along the Colorado River, which flows for 17 miles through its reservation spanning Arizona, California, and Nevada. Chairman Timothy Williams highlights the tribe's reliance on the river for economic and cultural sustenance, including a significant alfalfa and upland cotton operation that funds essential services like healthcare, housing, and education. Despite having substantial water rights—133,000 acre-feet annually—the tribe faces challenges as water levels drop, making it difficult to pump water for their crops. Last winter, the tribe's pump was inoperable for four months due to low water, a first-time occurrence. The tribe is often excluded from negotiations between states and the federal government regarding the river's future, despite 22 out of 30 tribes having established water rights, with others still having unresolved claims. The Secretary for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribal Council, Colleen Neolge Garcia, emphasizes the trib...

New Study Details Hazardous Chemicals in Wildfire Smoke Impacting Reno's Air Quality

New Study Details Hazardous Chemicals in Wildfire Smoke Impacting Reno's Air Quality

A new study by DRI researchers has provided a detailed look into the hazardous chemicals present in wildfire smoke affecting Reno, Nevada's air quality. The study, published in the journal Atmospheric Pollution Research, compared air quality data from smoke-free days in 2019 to smoke-affected days in 2020. It found elevated levels of particulate matter (PM2.5), organic carbon, elemental carbon, ozone, and over 100 toxic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). On the smokiest days, PM2.5 concentrations were 1.1 to 2.8 times higher than the EPA National Air Quality standard, and PAH concentrations were 6.3 to 47 times higher. While ozone levels showed a limited increase of about 12% on smoke-affected days, suggesting vehicle exhaust remains the primary source, the study highlighted that many of these compounds are known to be hazardous to human health. Previous research has already linked elevated PM2.5 from wildfire smoke to increased emergency room visits for asthma in Reno and Sparks h...

Western States Expand Medicaid Reimbursement for Doula Care to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes

Western States Expand Medicaid Reimbursement for Doula Care to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes

A growing number of western U.S. states are now allowing Medicaid to reimburse for doula care, a significant shift from a decade ago when only two states offered such coverage. Currently, 28 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, provide Medicaid reimbursement for doula services, according to the National Health Law Program. Montana is expected to join this group later this year, with Wyoming lawmakers and advocates also considering the measure. Doulas are trained professionals who offer emotional support and information to individuals before, during, and after childbirth. Colorado began reimbursing up to $1,500 for doula care in 2024. This expansion aims to make doula services accessible to a wider population, moving beyond being a service primarily affordable only to wealthier individuals.

What Really Happened at Burning Man This Year?

What Really Happened at Burning Man This Year?

On the festival’s 40th outing, three deaths overtook media coverage — but for those on the ground, it seemed like just another perfect burn

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen Secures Funding for Elko National Veterans Cemetery

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen Secures Funding for Elko National Veterans Cemetery

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) played a key role in securing $553,000 in a 2023 federal funding package for the Elko National Veterans Cemetery. This funding contributed to the establishment of Nevada’s first federally operated national cemetery, which was dedicated on September 4. The 15.37-acre cemetery, located at 3602 Jennings Way, is expected to begin accepting interments in the fall and will become the 158th cemetery operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration. The project aims to provide burial services closer to home for over 3,700 veterans, their spouses, and eligible children living within 75 miles of Elko, who previously had to travel significant distances, such as 169 miles to the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery in Idaho. The development of the cemetery is part of the National Cemetery Administration’s Rural Initiative, designed to extend VA burial benefits to veterans in areas lacking reasonable access to national or state veterans cemeteries. Th...

Venari Minerals Discovers Strontium, Adding Strategic Value to its Lithium Projects in Nevada

Venari Minerals Discovers Strontium, Adding Strategic Value to its Lithium Projects in Nevada

Venari Minerals Discovers Strontium, Adding Strategic Value to its Lithium Projects in Nevada

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar Under Justice Department Investigation for Voter Records

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar Under Justice Department Investigation for Voter Records

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar is currently under investigation by the Justice Department, which has issued seven voter-related subpoenas and a litigation-hold letter. The letter informs Aguilar that he is under investigation and in ongoing litigation for alleged non-compliance with duties under the Civil Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, and the Help America Vote Act. The Justice Department is demanding the preservation of 2024 election records beyond the federal 22-month retention window, warning of civil and criminal sanctions for non-compliance. This development follows Aguilar's repeated refusal to provide the state's unredacted statewide voter registration list, citing Nevada law that bars public access to driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. A federal judge previously dismissed the department's civil lawsuit seeking this data, a decision that the department has appealed to the Ninth Circuit. Aguilar's office recently moved 400,000 voter records to...