Important health topics being covered by reliable news sources:

 

Cigarette sales went up last year for the first time in 20 years – NPR

Memes about COVID-19 helped us cope with life in a pandemic, a new study finds – NPR

Sitting too much drags down your mental health. Here’s how to get moving – NPR

Diet soda may prompt food cravings, especially in women and people with obesity – NPR

 

Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Be Selfish: Mindfulness Teacher Shelly Tygielski On Generosity and Well-Being – TIME

Making Breast Cancer Care More Inclusive – TIME

The ‘Safe Supply’ Movement Aims to Curb Drug Deaths Linked to the Opioid Crisis – TIME

Climate Change Threatens to Spread Viruses Through an Unprepared World – TIME

How COVID-19 Opened the Door to a New Era in Psychedelic Medicine – TIME

Why, When and How to Test At-Home for COVID-19 – TIME

Americans Overwhelmingly Back Funding Home Care for the Elderly. Will It Survive in Democrats’ Spending Bill? – TIME

 

Unvaccinated L.A. city workers will have more time to get COVID-19 shots – Los Angeles Times

Thousands of state workers are unvaccinated. California isn’t testing half of them for COVID as required – Los Angeles Times

What sways homeless people to get COVID-19 shots? It could be other homeless people – Los Angeles Times

What will it take to get out of the pandemic? California still has a long way to go – Los Angeles Times

For these young people in privileged parts of the world, the pandemic was an opportunity – Los Angeles Times

 

Illinois Senate votes to repeal law requiring parental notification for minors receiving abortions – Chicago Tribune

Chicago expecting nearly 100,000 kid-sized COVID-19 vaccine doses next week, pending federal approval of Pfizer for 5- to 11-year-olds – Chicago Tribune

Genealogy data helps authorities identify one of six unidentified victims of John Wayne Gacy – Chicago Tribune

 

Starting Monday, masks eased for Broward high schoolers, stay in place for younger students – Miami Herald

COVID cases are falling across the country — but there are signs of trouble ahead – Miami Herald

Florida’s governor wants a special session of the Legislature to pass new COVID laws – Miami Herald

State Board of Education isn’t swayed in hearing. More mask-mandate penalties coming – Miami Herald

Now that COVID vaccine boosters are here, will life go back to normal? What to expect – Miami Herald

 

Delta Surge of Covid-19 Recedes, Leaving Winter Challenge Ahead – The Wall Street Journal

Study of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients Shows Vaccination Is Better Guard Than Prior Infection – The Wall Street Journal

Merck’s Covid-19 Pill Licensed to U.N.-Backed Nonprofit to Increase Global Supplies – The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Covid-19 Battle Turns a Corner as Borders Open to Foreign Travelers – The Wall Street Journal

Supreme Court Agrees to Quick Consideration of Texas Abortion Law – The Wall Street Journal

Moderna and J&J Covid-19 Boosters, Mixing and Matching Authorized by the FDA – The Wall Street Journal

Some Workers Want Covid-19 Recovery Accepted as Evidence of Immunity – The Wall Street Journal

Covid-19 Precautions Prompt Backlash on College Campuses – The Wall Street Journal

Older Adults Shouldn’t Start Taking Aspirin in Effort to Prevent First Heart Attack, Panel Says – The Wall Street Journal

Return of Office Workers Reaches Pandemic High as Employees Trickle In – The Wall Street Journal

Fully Vaccinated and Had Covid-19? No Rush for a Booster Shot, Experts Say – The Wall Street Journal

AstraZeneca Submits Preventive Covid-19 Treatment for FDA Authorization – The Wall Street Journal

Covid-19 Charges at Hospitals Can Vary by Tens of Thousands of Dollars, a WSJ Analysis Finds – The Wall Street Journal

Merck Pill Intended to Treat Covid-19 Succeeds in Key Study – The Wall Street Journal

 

Mix-and-Match Covid Boosters: Why They Just Might Work – The New York Times

The Unvaccinated May Not Be Who You Think – The New York Times

 

Supreme Court won’t block vaccine mandate for Maine health-care workers with religious objections – The Washington Post

Vaccine eligibility for mood disorders underscores elevated covid risk – The Washington Post

FDA requires doctors, manufacturers to disclose breast implant risks to prospective patients – The Washington Post

FDA advisers back Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children 5 to 11, saying benefits outweigh risks – The Washington Post

Inaction on climate change imperils millions of lives, doctors say – The Washington Post

Hearing aids without a prescription or an exam? The FDA takes big step toward making that happen. – The Washington Post

Coronavirus numbers are dropping. More vaccinations can prevent a winter surge, Fauci says. – The Washington Post

FDA panel recommends a booster shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people 18 and older – The Washington Post

FDA panel recommends Moderna booster for people 65 and older and adults at high risk of exposure or severe illness – The Washington Post

WHO announces new expert group to investigate origins of the coronavirus and other outbreaks – The Washington Post

At least 85 percent of the world’s population has been affected by human-induced climate change, new study shows – The Washington Post

Amid drop in covid rates, Fauci encourages trick-or-treating and says ‘enjoy Halloween’ – The Washington Post

Pfizer, BioNTech ask FDA to authorize coronavirus vaccine for children 5 to 11 – The Washington Post

WHO endorses use of first malaria vaccine – The Washington Post

White House announces $1 billion purchase of rapid, at-home coronavirus tests – The Washington Post