April is Earth Month, and North Carolina s climate justice groups are addressing the crucial roles of air, land, water and health in protecting the environment. CleanAIRE NC and Sol Nation are working together on an Earth Day event to raise awareness about the environmental challenges confronting communities across the state. Madison Fragnito, partnership manager for CleanAIRE NC, said they are taking a holistic approach and planning STEM activities, with a focus on vital areas like transportation, energy and land conservation. .
The alarming rise in rates of diabetes, obesity, depression, and other chronic health issues has put the spotlight on toxic stress. Lawson Wulsin, professor of psychiatry and family medicine at the University of Cincinnati, explained good stress such as a demand or challenge you readily cope with is good for your health. Toxic stress, on the other hand, wears down your stress response system with lasting effects. .
This week, groups fighting for health equity known as the Health4All campaign are asking the California Legislature to remove barriers to the "Covered C-A" health insurance marketplace based on immigration status. Assembly Bill 4 and a budget action would pave the way. Sen. .
As out-of-state, and sometimes disreputable companies offering solar installations crowd the market, a local effort called Solarize aims to connect residents and small businesses with pre-screened solar contractors, while also providing discounts on installation. Nick Hartnett, Pure Power Solar and Solarize partner, said residents considering solar should find local companies, read reviews, and talk to customers who ve had systems installed, adding the Solarize program is designed to do the legwork. "There s a lot of aggressive sales techniques. " .
April is Autism Acceptance Month and as rates grow, support organizations in South Dakota hope more children on the spectrum get the tools they need to succeed in school. Researchers with the Annie E Casey Foundation say nearly 9% of South Dakota students receive special education services due to an autism diagnosis, which is four percentage points higher than a decade ago. Carla Miller, executive director of South Dakota Parent Connection, which works with families of children with disabilities, encouraged parents of children with autism to be proactive with school officials and follow up as needed. .