Yes, we should send free at-home covid tests to everyone in America. It’s a pretty simple ask, especially almost two years into a pandemic and at the start of a fourth wave of covid cases due to the Omicron variant. But when NPR reporter Mara Liasson asked if the government would send free covid tests to American families, Jen Psaki, Biden’s press secretary, scoffed.1 Many countries around the world already send tests to households. It’s time the United States did as well. Sign the petition: Send free covid tests to all Americans! More than 800,000 Americans have already died from the coronavirus pandemic, and the omicron variant threatens another wave of infection and death.2, Our government needs to take every possible step to ensure the safety of American workers and families. In the UK, anyone can have free rapid testing kits sent to their home.3 In Germany, rapid testing kits are available for about $1 each–compared to the $12 they cost in the US.4 The state of New Jersey has just begun offering free home testing kits to anyone who requests one, so clearly this can be done in the US as well.5 It is urgent and essential that the federal government send free testing kits to everyone in America in the midst of a new wave of infections during a pandemic. Tell Biden: Send free covid tests for all now! Sources: 1. The Intercept, “Jen Psaki Accidentally Tells the Truth About How Expensive Covid Rapid Tests Are in U.S.,” December 7, 2021. 2. Worldometer, “US Covid Data,” December 15, 2021. 3, 4. The Intercept, “Jen Psaki Accidentally Tells the Truth About How Expensive Covid Rapid Tests Are in U.S.,” December 7, 2021. 5. NJ.com, “NJ residents can now get free covid tests delivered to their homes,” December 13, 2021.

This past year we lost our beloved "Chunks" Amarelo only days after he began showing symptoms of FIP. Chunks was a happy and loving kitten from the moment he became a member of our family. During his first yearly checkup, Chunks was found to have needed a tooth extraction and routine cleaning which we brought him to a week later. Over the next few weeks Chunks was recovering from his surgery at home, and only showed very limited signs that he was in pain. We attributed this to the tooth extraction, and his veterinarian prescribed pain medication. We found out much later that this was not due to his dental procedure and was something much more serious. One night we noticed Chunks had taken a serious turn for the worst and his entire body turned yellow with jaundice. We rushed him to the hospital where they took a deposit of several thousand dollars for treatments, and ran our kitten through countless tests and examinations. After 3 days in the animal hospital, thousands of dollars in testing and failed treatments, and with test results still days away from being available, the doctors began discussing euthanasia. This was all before the doctors even had a confirmed diagnosis of FIP. The doctor informed us at that point that they ruled our cancer, and that even if the tests came back positive for FIP, he would ultimately pass away from the illness. We could not simply give up on our baby, so we took the next few hours to research treatments or cures for FIP. We asked the doctor about Remdesivir after reading about its success online, and she admitted that while the veterinary community knows of its success, its not FDA approved and not something they had access to or could administer. "Chunks" Amarelo passed away a few hours after that conversation. We now know from our research that if the Remdesivir treatment was available immediately when we arrived at the hospital and if it was given to Chunks on his first day there with his symptoms, he most likely would still be with us today. The moment Chunks heart beat for the last time that night in our arms, we realized that The Amarelo Foundation needed to be formed in his memory to give cats around the world a fighting chance at beating this terrible disease. While we still to this day are not completely sure how Chunks contracted the virus, we now know that the most important work is to focus on prevention and successful treatment. This all starts with FDA approval of Remdesivir for cats with FIP, and this is our mission!

Los habitantes de las viviendas del Barrio La Granja corren graves riesgos para la salud y la seguridad con la acumulación de residuos y escombros. La cantidad de roedores portadores de enfermedades ha aumentado y representa una amenaza para todos, especialmente para los ancianos. Es fundamental que este problema se aborde de inmediato! Geneva, 24 de marzo de 2020 - "Dado que la pandemia de la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19) continúa propagándose y sus impactos en la salud humana y la economía se intensifican día a día, se insta a los gobiernos a que traten la gestión de desechos, incluidos los médicos, domésticos y otros residuos peligrosos, como servicio público urgente e imprescindible para minimizar los posibles impactos secundarios sobre la salud y el medio ambiente ". -UN Environment Programme- https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/waste-management-essential-public-service-fight-beat-covid-19

There is an IMMEDIATE need to obtain a Bay Bottom Lease for the Veterans Fish Camp Card Sound Road, in the Florida Keys. The below states an important factors to reduce suicides and the Bay Bottom Lease would help with these: According to the World Health Organization, having a safe, supportive environment plays a large role in suicide prevention. When people feel secure in their surroundings, they experience less anxiety and depression, improve their physical health, have fewer instances of substance abuse and experience an overall improved quality of life and life expectancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, “most often, suicidal thoughts are the result of feeling like you can’t cope when you’re faced with what seems to be an overwhelming life situation.” Immediate Action is needed

The people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding this store do not have many options for groceries or other necessities provided by this store. It previously was a locally owned Sunshine at least since 1995 serving this neighborhood. Having a community centered grocery is something valued in Sioux Falls as we see with stores like Sunshine, Franklin, and Andy's as well as Hyvee and other larger grocery chains. From a Sioux Falls resident Tray: "Creating food deserts is a part of systemic racism. The group of folks who were let go from Kmart apply to this Hy-Vee only to be moved farther from their homes. I grew up eating here when I was younger and it was Sunshine and now I shop here as an adult. This is disheartening." The people that surround this store will have less options that are accessible for healthy food. We as a community need to know how their needs will be met. Update 12/13/21 from community members: We feel this will be a LASTING impression on ALL the residents of Sioux Falls as to how a well known business as Hyvee responds to the pleas of the disadvantaged and handicapped in the community. Hyvee is removing access & affordability from those who truly need it. Almost 3 miles to travel to the nearest 26th Hyvee grocery will affect many who do not have transportation. Adding the rising cost of groceries and gas prices. Closing the store would place an extra burden on them. THE STORE IS PROFITABLE: Mayor TenHaken said:"Hy-Vee confirmed themselves they were running a profitable store; but it just doesn't fit into their portfolio services anymore. THOSE IMPACTED: THIS store important to the FIREFIGHTERS who need to cook for the first responders at their stations, as well as AIR NATIONAL GUARD troops who shop there. Hy-Vee closing creates a food desert and strains area NON PROFITS. MANY in the area WALK or bicycle, many have small CHILDREN, many are single mothers, elderly or disabled. APARTMENT OWNERS AND TENANTS An important must-have when apartment hunting often involves the presence of a grocery store within a few blocks. OWNERS AND TENANTS of the numerous apartment complexes which Kiwanis Hyvee serves would also feel the impact of this store closure. Those with no access to a vehichle, who walk to the store who WILL have NO way they can think of now to travel 3 miles to the closest grocery store if the Kiwanis store closes. Sioux Falls has 6 recognized food deserts by the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, where a grocery store is more than a mile away in a predominantly low-income neighborhood. Hy-Vee's store close will likely add another food desert in the nw-central neighborhoods based on high concentrations of low income rental properties. MICHELLE ERPENBACH Exec dir of Thrive, said: "..that neighborhood needs a reasonable grocery store and now they don't have it. It's ignoring them," "We're watching a gap open up in front of our eyes. What do we do about that as a community? Are we going to let that gap open and let people fall in? "There's absolutely going to be food inequity with this closure," Mayor Paul TenHaken said. "With this Hy-Vee closure, it leaves a very large gap.- question THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONFLICTING REASON FOR CLOSING THIS STORE , 2 PEOPLE QUOTED IN NEWS ARTICLES SAY 2 OPPOSING REASONS . I WONDER WHICH IS CORRECT: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/12/08/food-deserts-could-increase-in-sioux-falls-after-hyvee-closure-feeding-south-dakota/8836062002/ 1."We know there is demand, and Hy-Vee confirmed themselves they were running a profitable store; but it just doesn't fit into their portfolio services anymore. That need will get filled in due time," TenHaken said. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/sioux-falls-hy-vee-to-close-will-be-repurposed-as-non-retail-site/ar-AARm36k 2. Tina Potthoff, senior vice president of communications for Hy-Vee. Unfortunately, this location did not consistently meet our financial expectations.” The change is due to increased growth and demand for pharmacy and baking service in Sioux Falls, Potthoff added."We need the additional space to keep up with demand," Potthoff said in an emailed statement. "We want sales to reflect the quality of value we’re bringing to the store and the customer service we’re providing. Unfortunately, this location did not consistently meet our financial expectations.” Potthoff did acknowledge that closing the Kiwanis location would widen food deserts in the northwestern part of Sioux Falls. She said that Aisles Online accepts EBT payments and said that Hy-Vee will "look at ways to further address" the issue. ...Sounds kind of vague...I wonder what ways they are looking at and at what time on the future???

Residents that live in Greenburgh Housing Authority and Greenburgh Heights, LLC complexes have a right to health protection during this pandemic.

Right now, more than 2 million Californians are living and breathing the toxic health impacts of oil and gas drilling sites in their neighborhoods. An end to chronic asthma and cancer in our neighborhoods is in sight. Just last month, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a draft regulation to stop new drilling within 3,200 feet of homes, hospitals, schools, and other sensitive receptors. Now, a 60 day comment period allows the public to raise our voices to: 1) SUPPORT the 3,200-foot setback for new wells 2) DEMAND that the setback rule applies to existing wells, not just new wells 3) URGE the Governor's administration and CalGEM to take emergency action to ban all new permits within the setback until the final rule is in effect.

I would ask everyone in Florida and around the nation to join me in sending a message to the Governor of Florida that the people of Florida deserve a qualified, level-headed surgeon general that will be an advocate for the health and well-being of all Floridians.

There exists unreasonably high luxury taxes on menstrual products. Luxury taxes are taxes placed on items that are considered non-essential. People who menstruate do not have control over their periods, and therefore pads, tampons, panty-liners, and diva cups are absolutely essential. They are not luxuries. The price increase in these products has created a phenomenon of menstrual inequity among homeless and low-income women, we call this “period poverty”. In California, women pay $20 million in taxes on menstrual products annually. USA Today estimates that women have to spend anywhere between $150 to $300 annually on period products.This is a detrimental price for low income and homeless women, who often have to choose between essentials like food and clothes, or having menstrual products. Period poverty is especially relevant to Los Angeles, where 20,671 women are currently experiencing homeless, a disproportionate amount being women of color. To put this into perspective, a box of tampons cost $7 at a common retailer; this often means homeless menstruators are forced to choose between their next meal or these products. Additionally, many homeless shelters in Los Angeles are constantly in need of sufficient menstrual products to distribute to the people there. This is due to the stigma around periods that makes people potentially uncomfortable when donating these products, which just proves the need for greater financial accessibility to period products.

Working in veterinary medicine is an incredibly stressful and often thankless job. For credentialed Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, Customer Service Representatives, and all veterinary support staff there are added issues of low wages and substandard benefits. When these stresses are paired with incompetent and/or uncaring leadership, the result is both tragic and unsurprising. From a study published in 2019 by Dr. Witte, et al. (https://tinyurl.com/vetstaffsuicide) we know that veterinary support staff members have a 2.3 - 5 times higher risk of suicide when compared to the general population. Vanessa’s situation will occur again and again until something in the veterinary industry changes, and the importance of mental health is paid more than lip service for PR purposes.

Unsafe situation for pets in Santa Fe, New Mexico

It's estimated that 47% of ALL U.S. homes have visible dampness and mold. People spend 90% of their time indoors, yet a lack of emphasis is put on indoor air quality and how that affects our health every day. The recent peer-reviewed medical journal “A Comprehensive Review of Mold Research Literature From 2011 – 2018” published in Internal Medicine Review concluded that 112 of 114 (98.2%) of epidemiological articles published between 2011 and 2018 supported the proposition that inhaled mold, mold fragments, toxins and various pathogenic inflammagen, or other components of the air in water-damaged buildings (WDB), cause single and multi-system illness in humans. Symptoms include chronic and daily manifestations of fatigue, pain, nonrestorative sleep, cognitive deficits, neuropathic pains, gastrointestinal issues, musculoskeletal compromise, post-exertional malaise, dermatological, ophthalmic, endocrine, and other chronic multisystem symptoms for those suffering. These studies included 273,000 subjects from over 30 countries and 5 continents! The time for adequate funding for research and awareness on this overlooked public health issue is long overdue.