A 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor collapsed Jan. 19, sending millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River and C&O Canal. DC Water has activated a temporary bypass system to reroute wastewater while repair work begins and is urging the public to avoid affected areas.
Category: Health
Posted inHBCU
Building trust, saving lives: HBCUs expand organ donation education in Georgia
LifeLink of Georgia’s Multicultural Donation Education Program has spent years partnering with historically Black institutions in Georgia to expand education around organ donation and transplantation. Program leaders say the effort builds trust, broadens medical career paths and increases donation awareness in underserved communities.
Posted inMaryland Government
Annual report reveals health insurance denials rarely challenged, but appeals often successful
Maryland Attorney General Brown is proud to announce that the Health Education and Advocacy Unit saved nearly $2.6 million for patients in FY 2025.
Posted inDMV News
DC, Maryland and Virginia officials warn of measles exposure
Maryland health officials say the public should be on alert after a recent measles exposure warning. Officials are urging the public to watch for symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious health complications, especially for younger children.
Posted inNational News
Poor communities threatened by aging sewers see crucial aid slashed under 47th president
Poor and mostly Black communities across the U.S. face serious health risks from failing sewer and wastewater systems, but federal aid meant to address these long-standing problems has been cut or eliminated under the 47th president. Advocates warn that slashing environmental justice and infrastructure funding leaves vulnerable residents exposed to sewage, flooding and disease, with few resources to fix systems they cannot afford on their own.
Posted inHealth
Dr. Janell Green Smith, Black maternal health advocate, dies in childbirth
Dr. Janell Green Smith, a respected midwife and maternal health expert, tragically died in childbirth at the age of 31, highlighting the issue of America’s maternal mortality crisis and the need for accountability in the healthcare system.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: What the NICU in Colombia taught me about Black fatherhood, preeclampsia and survival
In this deeply personal commentary, Jarvis Houston reflects on becoming a father under crisis when his son was born prematurely due to preeclampsia while the family was in Colombia. Through the experience of navigating a foreign health system, witnessing the fragility of life in the NICU, and advocating for his partner’s survival, Houston examines the realities of Black fatherhood, the dangers of maternal health inequities facing Black women, and the collective nature of survival, care and love.
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Maternal care deserts are no accident—they are disinvestment zones harming Black mothers
Despite recent declines in overall U.S. maternal mortality, Black women continue to face rising and disproportionately high death rates due to systemic racism, chronic disease and inequitable access to care. The author argues that so-called “maternal care deserts” are intentionally under-resourced areas and should be reframed as “maternal care disinvestment zones” to highlight structural neglect and drive accountability.
Posted inHealth
From survival to longevity: What aging with HIV looks like in 2025
Medical advances have allowed people with HIV to live longer, creating a growing population of older adults who now face age-related illnesses alongside the emotional and social legacy of the early epidemic. Experts and long-term survivors like Gregory Curtis say aging with HIV in 2025 requires holistic care, continued research, and stronger community support, especially as Black Americans remain disproportionately impacted.
Posted inFood
4 smart tips for budget-friendly holiday meals
Traditional Black holiday dishes carry memory, culture and meaning far beyond the dinner table. Rising grocery prices push families to find creative ways to honor tradition while stretching food budgets.
Posted inOPINION
Protect our gains: Why the Black community must fight to save ACA subsidies
By Rev. Stacy Swimp The enhanced health insurance subsidies, set to expire at the end of 2025, represent a direct threat to the financial and health stability of Black Americans. While the crisis affects all races, the consequences for the Black community will be disproportionate and severe, effectively rolling back historic progress in health equity. […]
Posted inHealth
As ACA enhanced subsidy expiration looms, families brace for higher costs and limited care
With the expiration of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced subsidies looming, families who rely on Medicaid coverage are facing uncertainty about how they will afford care. For parents like Hillary Harris in Missouri and Sam Gwesinie in Minnesota, higher costs and reduced access threaten both their own health and the care of their children.