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Youth are grieving. With the death of relatives, friends — and above all, expectations — teens are feeling the loss brought by the pandemic. Without appropriate support systems, our youth are perpetually remaining in crisis. I have experienced first-hand the strain on our community’s mental health. Ranging from addiction to suicide attempts to eating disorders, my peers at Cherry Creek High School are in a crucial state of flux. My counselors are overwhelmed, and my teachers are in tears. (Aimee Resnick, 3/30)

While the COVID-19 pandemic has consumed the lion’s share of health coverage, a breakthrough in treating another troublesome disease missed receiving some attention.  As our region saw a nearly 20% increase in new cases of HIV during 2020-21, Hamilton County cases actually declined. Even more interesting, cases declined among people who inject drugs, one of the highest risk groups for contracting HIV. (Greg Kesterman, 3/30)

Twenty years ago, a board of atmospheric experts published a report that revolutionized the meteorology industry with a single phrase: research to operations (R2O). This term was coined to describe the challenge of transitioning satellite data into operational use, or as it was described, bypassing the “Valley of Death” that swallowed up research before it could see the light of day. The report asked an important question: What if the industry could build a bridge between research and operations? (Vivian Neilley, 3/31)

Loretta Copeland, an 81-year-old who lives in Harlem, uses a wheelchair and depends on an aide to help her with daily tasks like cooking and bathing. But New York’s home care labor shortage, currently the worst in the nation, has made it hard for her to get help. While she understands why people won’t work for such low wages, she is afraid she will end up in a nursing home. “I worked all my life and now I can’t even get help. That bothers me,” Ms. Copeland said in a recent interview. “I want to be able to enjoy what time I have left.” (Ai-jen Poo and Ilana Berger, 3/30)