Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Two Measles Cases Emerge In South Carolina After Outbreak Ends
Two cases of the measles have been reported in Saluda County, South Carolina, about a week after the state's outbreak was declared over. The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) said the first case was the result of international travel, and the second case was a known exposure of that case, who had been in quarantine since April 17. (Moore, 5/4)
Wyoming is reporting its first measles case of 2026. A news release from the Wyoming Department of Health on Friday reported a confirmed case of measles in an adult from Fremont County with an unconfirmed vaccination status. (Erickson, 5/4)
More health news from across the U.S. 鈥
The past couple years have been challenging for Minnesota farmers, prompting many to seek help navigating their mental health. When Denise Reeser isn't surrounded by horses at her New Prague farm, she's surrounded by numbers and finances. That's because so much of what she does these days involves helping farmers with cash flow problems. (Lauritsen, 5/4)
A former pharmacy technician working in Metro Detroit pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a $5.6 million scheme to defraud health care insurance programs. Ali Naserdean, 32, of Dearborn Heights, entered his plea on Thursday to one charge each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and possession with intent to illegally distribute oxycodone, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Michigan.聽He will be sentenced on Sept. 1 and faces up to 20 years in prison. (Wethington, 5/4)
In Guilford County, having an orange card means an uninsured dad who breaks his hand working around the house can get medical care. It means a self-employed mom who no longer qualifies for Medicaid and can鈥檛 afford other insurance can get a mammogram. Having one of those orange cards means that someone who鈥檚 living in a tent can see a dentist about an abscessed tooth. (Fernandez, 5/5)
Mount Airy officials are moving forward with an estimated $8 million plan to remove 鈥渇orever chemicals,鈥 known as PFAS, from the town鈥檚 drinking water system after several wells exceeded federal and state limits. (Yelenik, 5/4)
Local school districts say it鈥檚 not 鈥渇inancially feasible鈥 to install three-point seat belts on all school buses, even though the state expects them to by the 2029-30 school year. (Garcia, 5/4)
Health news from California 鈥
Scientists, doctors, students and patients from across California rallied in Sacramento Monday, calling on state lawmakers to support a $23 billion bond聽鈥 the largest ever of its kind聽鈥 to fund life-saving research facing insurmountable instability during the Trump administration. The $23 billion general obligation bond introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco has a long road to approval: It must be OK鈥檇 by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in order to appear on the ballot this November, where it would then need a majority of voters鈥 support. (DiNatale, 5/4)
Democrat Xavier Becerra is getting serious about tech policy after catapulting into the upper echelon of California鈥檚 gubernatorial field. The former Health and Human Services secretary on Monday unveiled an 11-point plan, shared first with POLITICO, that calls for harnessing artificial intelligence in education and government, while implementing guardrails for workers and kids. (Katzenberger and Mui, 5/4)
Coronado was "heaven on earth." Then as much as 30 million gallons a day of Tijuana waste turned its legendary beaches into a no-go zone. (Carlton, 5/4)
The man accused of starting the Palisades fire, one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history, was motivated by a resentment for the rich and viewed Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare鈥檚 chief executive, as a Robin Hood-like figure, according to court documents detailing evidence gathered by federal prosecutors. (Winton, 5/4)