Statehouse Reporter for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Previously with the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Proud SBU grad and cat mom. #GoBonnies 🐺
Whitney Downard
In a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy nations, Black women are two-to-three times more likely to die in childbirth than their peers.
Dozens of state Capitol advocates this week were clear-eyed about how they’d change those numbers.
From @wdownard.bsky.social
With hundreds of millions of federal dollars flowing into the commonwealth’s coffers for rural health, a coalition of stakeholders considered the potential funding opportunities Wednesday for nearly three hours in Harrisburg.
From @wdownard.bsky.social
With summer nearly here and hot weather ahead, Pennsylvanians working outdoors or in high-temperature settings will be at an increased risk for heat-related illnesses, injuries and even death.
From @wdownard.bsky.social
Black women die in childbirth at the twice the rate of white women. But Black Maternal Health Week wasn't only about justice, but also joy.
The commission has only had seven of its 11 members since Shapiro took office, but the administration didn't respond to questions about why no one has been nominated in that time.
The state has $193 million to spend for rural health initiatives in the first round of a five-year program.
Climate change will increase the number of high-heat days, potentially endangering those working without heat protections.
penncapital-star.com
They did respond to a question about the underlying investigation, but I didn't include it because it's the same as what's been shared before and didn't answer new questions.
PHRC is now telling me that it's always been a quorum of "seated" commissioners?? Which seems to contradict their own release ...
While reading the new chair's bio, I noticed that another commissioner has disappeared from the PHRC's page ... potentially bringing their number down to four?
penncapital-star.com/briefs/gov-s...
