Healthy Schools Program Manager News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The benefit payments miners sick with black lung disease receive are not keeping pace with the cost of living, a new analysis showed. Current monthly benefits for a miner and one dependent in 2024 are around $1,100, more than $3,000 lower than the average cost of living for a two-person household. Quenton King, federal legislative specialist for Appalachian Voices, said lagging benefits are especially troubling when miners are increasingly developing black lung at younger ages, largely due to exposure to toxic silica dust. ...

A North Carolina nonprofit focused on climate justice wants to help people advocate for their views about Duke Energy's proposed Carbon Plan. The North Carolina Utilities Commission is seeking input from residents across the state on the plan, starting on April 9. Brittany Griffin, advocacy manager for CleanAIRE NC, said public feedback will be crucial to help determine the effects of climate change, the transition to clean energy and its effects on public health, air quality and environmental protection. ...

Urban heat islands, made worse by climate change, can push up temperatures and bring on more air pollution in larger cities. Now, a Milwaukee project is giving public schools resources to remove a key source of the heat-trapping effect. Dozens of public schools in Milwaukee are working with the nonprofit Reflo on swapping out playground asphalt for green infrastructure, including more trees and native plants. ...

“Thriving Schools is our all-in engagement to improve health for students, staff and teachers,” says Kaiser Permanente Program Manager Jill Patnode.