All Entries in the "Health" Category
Medicaid cuts rippling through rural America could bring hospital closures, job losses
WASHINGTON — Americans living in rural communities throughout the country could see their access to health care diminish if Congress changes eligibility for Medicaid or significantly reduces its federal funding. While rural residents who depend on the state-federal program for lower income people would experience the most substantial impacts, those who have private health insurance or have […]
Conflict brewing in Prowers County over where to store dead bodies
On Feb. 28, the attorney for a rural county in southeastern Colorado sent its coroner an odd message: Stop storing dead bodies in a county administration building. That letter, part of a string of correspondence Coroner Thomas Dunagan has since shared on his office’s Facebook page, touched off a bizarre dispute between Prowers County commissioners and […]
This doctor flies himself to some of the most remote hospitals in Colorado
SPRINGFIELD, Colo. — Dr. Charles Frankum said he is “just a physician like any other,” aside from the fact that his daily four-hour commute includes piloting himself between some of Colorado and Kansas’ most remote hospitals. “I have patients that I’ve seen for 20 years, and we used to go to 4H auctions together and […]
Prowers County has second highest colon cancer rate in Colorado – Free screenings offered
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of articles regarding cancer risks in our county. The articles are courtesy of the Colorado University Cancer Center – Authors: Daniel Pacheco, MBA, Lauren Zimmaro, PhD Prowers County has the second highest rate of colon cancer in Colorado, with about seven residents diagnosed each year—twice the […]
CU Cancer Center says Prowers County has radon risks – free kits available
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of articles from CU Cancer Center regarding cancer risks to people living in Prowers County. Each article will include county-level data, information about the disease or risk factor, and resource information. Radon Risks in Prowers County: Over 46% of Homes Exceed Safe Levels Did you know […]
USDA December 2024 Chicken and Eggs report shows further decrease in egg production
MONTHLY CHICKENS AND EGGS – DECEMBER 2024 COLORADO Colorado egg production during December 2024 totaled 42.0 million eggs, down 5 percent from November 2024 and down 66 percent from December 2023 production, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. The average number of layers on hand in December […]
Colorado’s new paid family leave program helps more than 135,000 hardworking Coloradans in its first year
Colorado’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Division helped successfully provide and process more than 135,000 paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) claims in its first year of full operation. The FAMLI Division, part of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, announced Friday that the voter approved program distributed roughly $687 million in 2024 […]
Lamar Area Hospice receives donation from proceeds of Backyard Bash, Angel Open
Front row, left to right: Christa Melgoza; Deb Pelley, Executive Director of Lamar Area Hospice and Rose Ann Yates Back row, left to right: Cheryl Preisser, Jane Gardiner Dykes, Robbie Sue Young, Patti Emick, Melonee Marcum, Janine Reed and Collette Widener The Lamar Area Hospice was recently the recipient of a very generous donation. […]
Rural Colorado communities still lack adequate behavioral health services. A new state-sponsored group will help.
Maddy Butcher with her gelding “Table”. Butcher started Buck the Trend, a therapist-led workshop for ranchers, farmers and horse people to dig into mental health struggles (photo by Beau Gaughran) Legislators approved Senate Bill 55 to bridge state services and agriculture communities struggling with “a cluster of different potential roadblocks” to mental health care […]
Prowers Medical Center now able to perform exams on sexual assault victims – Zonta club donates “Beloved Bundles” to be used for victims
Pictured from left to right: Amanda Vasquez of Prowers Medical Center; Tammy Delarosa of Domestic Safety Resource Center; Jenny Navarette, Domestic Safety Resource Center Director; Connie Jacobsen, President of Zonta Club of Prowers County and Tammy Benabides, Zonta Club of Prowers County Service Chair The Zonta Club of Prowers County recently presented “Beloved Bundles” […]
USDA launches national testing of milk from dairy farms to track bird flu outbreak
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday it will require dairy farms to share samples of unpasteurized milk when requested, in an effort to gather more information about the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Public health officials have tracked the spread of bird flu or H5N1 in domestic poultry flocks for years before the […]
Service Line letters sent to city water customers
New state and federal laws now require the City of Lamar to inventory all water service lines in our service area. A service line is an underground pipe that carries water from the main, likely in the street, into the customer’s home or building. The City must notify consumers annually if their service line material […]
2025 Colorado health Insurance premiums rising at three times the rate of inflation
With open enrollment for health insurance set to begin in two weeks, Colorado’s Division of Insurance has finalized rates for premiums in the individual and small group markets. Premium increases in both markets for 2025 are set to rise at more than three times the rate of inflation forecast for next year. Individual premium increases […]
Domestic violence deaths account for 11% of all homicides despite reduction in numbers in 2023
Domestic violence-related fatalities declined in 2023 and accounted for approximately 11% of all homicides in Colorado, according to a comprehensive report from the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board released today by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. The report revealed that 58 individuals lost their lives in domestic violence incidents last year. While this marked a decrease […]
