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California on Tuesday became one of the first states to ban a class of harmful chemicals, known as PFAS, from food packaging and from infant and children’s products after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills. PFAS have been linked to reproductive problems, cancer and other health issues, and consumer and environmental groups say the new laws will protect Californians from what are known as “forever chemicals” because they stay in the body and environment for years. (Duggan, 10/5)

Since California legalized assisted death more than five years ago, potentially thousands of terminally ill patients seeking the lethal medication have died before obtaining a prescription that would have allowed them to end their lives on their own terms. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Tuesday to reduce that barrier, shortening a mandatory waiting period for the life-ending drugs during which advocates say many patients become too sick to continue the process. (Koseff, 10/5)

When Greta Christina fell into a deep depression five years ago, she called up her therapist — someone she’d had a great connection with when she needed therapy in the past. And she was delighted to find out that he was now on staff at Kaiser Permanente, her insurer, meaning she wouldn’t have to pay out of pocket anymore to see him. But the excitement was short-lived. Over time, her appointments went from every two weeks to every four and then to every five or six. “To tell somebody with serious, chronic, disabling depression that they can only see their therapist every five or six weeks is like telling somebody with a broken leg that they can only see their physical therapist every five or six weeks,” she said. “It’s not enough. It’s not even close to enough.” (Dembosky, 10/5)

Faced with criticism from many Californians thrown out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday gave his approval to a package of bills aimed at reducing delays and fraud in the state’s beleaguered unemployment benefits system. The legislation was signed into law less than a month after after Newsom beat back a recall attempt in which those seeking to remove him from office cited problems that included long waits for unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousands of jobless Californians. (McGreevy, 10/5)

The comeback of Kentucky’s state-run health insurance exchange will be completed Nov. 1, when consumers can start using it to apply for health coverage for the coming year. Retaining its original kynect name, the state-run web portal will enable Kentuckians to apply for coverage and complete their enrollment. Starting Oct. 15, consumers can log in to the portal to compare state-managed health insurance plans ahead of enrollment. (10/6)

Members of the Anchorage Assembly and the administration of Mayor Dave Bronson debuted a new compromise plan to tackle homelessness in Anchorage that would create multiple, smaller shelter and housing options targeted to subsets of the population of unhoused people. “Frankly, it’s a better plan than we presented a few months ago,” said John Morris, the city’s homeless coordinator, during a homelessness work group meeting held at the Anchorage Assembly chambers Tuesday afternoon. “I think it’s a great path forward.” (Theriault Boots, 10/5)

Florida's first lady Casey DeSantis, at age 41, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, according to her husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis. Dr. Danielle Henry, a breast surgical oncologist with the Orlando Health system, says breast cancer in younger women happens, but it’s very rare. Henry adds that early detection and treatment improves outcomes for women and men diagnosed with breast cancer at any age. Henry says that’s why it’s crucial that women, especially Black women who are at risk of being diagnosed with more aggressive breast cancers, get mammograms starting at 40. (Prieur, 10/5)

In an annual final update on domestically acquired Cyclospora cases, which typically increase in warm weather months, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 1,020 cases from 36 states were reported, with 170 linked to two large multistate outbreaks associated with restaurants or events. One multistate outbreak involved 40 illnesses and the other resulted in 130 infections. For both, traceback investigations suggested leafy greens, but no specific grower or type of greens were identified. In the past, Cyclospora outbreaks were tied to various produce items, including basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, and snow peas. In 2020, multiple outbreaks were reported and involved various produce items, including bagged salad mix. (10/5)

Over the past six years, Tony Waterhouse-Leal has found ways to navigate his small apartment — and the Kansas City neighborhoods surrounding it. It’s been trial and error. Cooking, cleaning and getting to the pharmacy near his Northland home all present challenges for the 42-year-old with cerebral palsy who relies on a motorized wheelchair to get around. He sometimes has to dodge traffic in the street when he runs out of sidewalk. At home, his upper cabinets are uselessly out of reach, the walls marked up and dented where he struggles to get through narrow passages. (Lukitsch, 10/6)

“The vast majority of nondisabled people don’t see — and certainly don’t feel — the experiences of disabled folks. ”That line from Kansas City author Rebekah Taussig’s memoir “Sitting Pretty” succinctly sums up her experience living in the metro area as a disabled person who uses a wheelchair. Taussig, who grew up in Overland Park, lives in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, with her husband, Micah, and young son, Otto. She spoke to The Star about her experience navigating the city with a disability and how citizens, business owners and city leaders can make Kansas City a more accessible place for all. (Wise, 10/6)