Health

Cristina Nichole Iglesias, who received gender affirming surgery in March 2023 while she was serving her prison sentence, sits among the flowers at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Garfield Park, Friday, April 5, 2024. Iglesias said that going through gender dysphoria was “traumatic” and “torture.” The surgery was made possible by a settlement she reached with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

LGBTQIA+

After fighting to have gender-affirming care, a former prisoner adjusts to life in Chicago as a woman

Cristina Nichole Iglesias sued the federal Bureau of Prisons for the right to have the surgery and get the agency to pay for it and won.

By Stefano Esposito

Clouds of dust spread across the Little Village neighborhood after a smokestack was imploded April 11.

Environment

Judge OKs $12.25 million class-action settlement over Hilco's Little Village dust storm

Developer Hilco and its contractors agreed to pay the money to neighborhood residents for the 2020 botched smokestack implosion. Mayor Brandon Johnson was urged to release a report on the city’s “negligent” oversight.

By Brett Chase

Other Views

Better health care for Black moms, babies takes commitment and compassion

Not that many decades ago, it was common for a midwife and close female family members to come together in the home to provide support for Black women during childbirth. We need that same partnership today, the director of West Side United writes.

By Ayesha Jaco

A child with dirty hands hands lemonade to a buyer.

Someone in Chicago

Someone in Chicago wants to support lemonade stands but shuns germs

Young entrepreneurs and supportive patrons can meet each other halfway on this. Here are some thoughts on how to do that.

By Ismael Pérez

The HeartMate 3 is a mechanical pump designed for patients with end-stage heart failure and manufactured by Thoratec Corp., a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories of North Chicago. Known as a left ventricular assist device, the HeartMate 3 helps the main pumping chamber of the heart pump blood to the rest of the body. The device can be used by patients awaiting a heart transplant or for long-term therapy. The device is powered by a cable that is attached to the pump and exits the body through a surgical opening and connects to a controller and batteries or other power source, according to the manufacturer’s instruction manual.

Health

FDA recalls Abbott heart pumps linked to deaths, injuries

The recall affects the only medical option for many patients with end-stage heart failure who do not qualify for a transplant.

By Daniel Chang | KFF Health News and Holly Hacker | KFF Health News

Crime

Joliet mother charged in death of girl, 12, who ingested heroin, fentanyl

Mya King, 12, was found unresponsive Sunday morning and died Wednesday. Her mother, Colette Bancroft, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

By Sun-Times Wire

Health

Measles case count reaches 63 in Chicago, but pace of new cases is subsiding

Another exposure location was reported at the Sam’s Club at 9400 S. Western Ave. in Evergreen Park, Cook County health officials said Thursday.

By Kade Heather

Health

Howard Brown, union reach tentative agreement after 17 months of negotiations

The contract would include raises across the union body — including annual wage increases — a new minimum wage of $19.23, insurance for part-time employees, two weeks of paid leave for gender-affirming care, a union rights clause and protections against layoffs, among other things.

By Violet Miller

Politics

Pritzker pushes plan to erase $1 billion in medical debt for Illinoisans

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his proposal will provide nearly $1 billion in medical debt relief for an initial batch of 340,000 Illinois residents in the first year of a multi-year plan.

By Tina Sfondeles

Prisoners' rights advocates demonstrate at a press conference outside 77 W. Jackson Blvd on Monday, April 15, 2024. Advocates delivered a legal petition asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address unsafe drinking water in Illinois prisons. | Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Environment

Rancid, unsafe water at Illinois prisons threatens health, violates human rights, groups allege

Advocates for the incarcerated filed a petition with the U.S. EPA, asking the environmental agency to step in and fix a crisis they say Gov. Pritzker is not addressing.

By Brett Chase

Health

Cicero measles case marks 2nd infection reported in suburban Cook County

The case has no known connection to the Chicago measles outbreak at a migrant shelter, according to health officials.

By Mary Norkol

Israel-Hamas War

Chicago health workers protest American Medical Association's differing response to Gaza and Ukraine

Speakers at a River North protest say the AMA exhibits a ‘double standard’ in calling for a cease-fire in Ukraine but not for one in Gaza. They also question $100,000 in aid sent to Ukraine.

By Violet Miller

Other Views

Investing in Black maternal health is the right move for Illinois

From 2018 to 2020, Black women in Illinois were three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white women. This initiative aims to make improvements.

By Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton

Health

Measles outbreak slowing in Chicago

Three cases were detected in the last week after the city recorded more than 50 in less than a month.

By Kade Heather

Pamela Davis, the family paws parent educator and senior/lead trainer at Urban Pooch, walks with Soba to help train Murphy (not pictured here) to be comfortable around other dogs and strangers at Urban Pooch’s training and fitness center in Lincoln Square, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Davis was teaching Murphy, who is owned by Rebekah Reynolds, an agility sports trainer at Urban Pooch, to be more comfortable around other dogs and strangers. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Chicago

Dog trainers stress importance of 'recognizing yellow lights' to prevent aggressive behavior and dog bites

Last year, Illinois ranked eighth in the country in dog bite claims. Insurance companies paid more than $61.8 million for 837 dog-related injury claims, with an average payout of $73,797.

By Mohammad Samra

Greek yogurt in a ceramic bowl with almonds and honey, oatmeal next to a spoon on a brown wooden background. healthy food. natural yoghurt. breakfast.

Eat Well

What are the healthiest types of yogurt?

Plain Greek yogurt and Icelandic skyr are among the best options. But look out for sugar content in all types of yogurt.

By Clare Mulroy | USA Today

The Watchdogs

FDA panel reviewing Abbott heart device included 10 doctors with financial ties to the north suburban health giant

The FDA said nothing about the payments from the North Chicago company when the panel met to assess new technology, a “breakthrough device” for which the agency “may be willing to accept greater uncertainty” when considering risks and benefits.

By David Hilzenrath | KFF Health News and Holly Hacker | KFF Health News

Springfield

Pritzker pitches grants to open new stores in food deserts

The governor announced the second phase of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, which includes a round of grant funding for new grocers in food deserts.

By Mariah Rush

Well

Sleep positions may matter when it comes to back, neck pain and overall good night's rest

There’s not much research to indicate one “best” position for sleeping, one expert says. You should leave it up to your sleeping body to decide.

By Clare Mulroy | USA Today

A medical scan of Lisa Schmidt, who has been treated for TMJ disorders for decades, shows how both of her jaw joints were replaced with artificial implants. Additional implants near her chin were part of her overall treatment.

TMJ horrors include chronic pain, metal jaws, futile treatments

By Brett Kelman | KFF Health News and Anna Werner | CBS News