RFK Jr.'s Moves Gut Vaccine Infrastructure, Fired Advisers Say
Last week, the health secretary dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, before appointing eight new members, several of whom are vocal vaccine critics. The abruptness of the terminations undermines the committee, the fired members say, in a rare public letter decrying the government's actions.
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Wealth tax for school funding initiative starts signature collection with opposition pouncing
A copy of the petition to be circulated by the Invest in MI Kids Ballot Proposal Coalition. July 31, 2025 | Photo By Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance The constitutional amendment to implement a new tax on wealthy Michiganders is still aiming for the 2026 ballot after facing some initial setbacks and new attacks, with its signature collection driving kicking off on Friday. Members of Invest in MI Kids said it started collecting signatures last week using the 100-word summary that was approved June 27 by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. That has opened up further complications for the effort, as the board on July 10 walked back the approval for the previous 100-word summary and then deadlocked on a revised summary at their July 31 meeting. Initiative officials said Friday that the effort which resulted in the board deadlocking was just one part of well-funded right-wing attacks against the proposal, which is estimated to generate nearly $1 billion annually. But those attacks keep coming. The Coalition to Stop the Business and Family Tax Hike, an organization opposed to the Invest in MI Kids initiative, issued a cease and desist motion to prevent the group from collecting its signatures. Jase Bolger, CEO of West Michigan Policy Forum and a former Republican Michigan House speaker, said in a statement that the amendment would hurt small businesses – even though the initiative was aimed at the wealthiest Michiganders. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'I applaud the move today by the Coalition to Stop the Business and Family Tax Hike,' Bolger said. 'They filed a cease and desist motion to stop the signature gathering for an unapproved ballot initiative. Because, the proponents of this devastating proposal are using language that is misleading. Voters should not be fooled.' In response, Imani Foster, a spokesperson for the Invest MI Kids initiative, told Michigan Advance that the coalition is focused on the task at hand. 'While we're busy engaging Michiganders, together with our thousands of volunteers, we won't be distracted by meaningless letters from big money Washington lawyers,' Foster said. The group also noted its belief that the board had no authority under Michigan law to rescind its prior approval of the petition summary language. 'The petitions currently being circulated by Invest in MI Kids include a petition summary that the director of elections has deemed compliant with the Michigan Election Law twice and that the Board of Canvassers has approved as compliant once,' Foster added. Solve the daily Crossword
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Vets and Pet-Owners See Gaps in Flea and Tick Prevention, Highlighting Need for Year-Round Care, New Merck Animal Health Global Survey Finds
Data show pet owners face difficulties with consistent compliance, while veterinarians worry about inconsistent or incorrect medication administration In the U.S. Two-thirds of veterinarians note that most pet owners do not follow year-round treatment plan, despite evidence that fleas and ticks are present during all seasons RAHWAY, N.J., August 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced results from a new global survey revealing significant gaps in pet owner adherence to flea and tick prevention and concerns among veterinarians, underscoring the need for year-round protection. According to Pet Owner & Vet Perspectives on Parasite Treatment and Prevention: A Global Survey, the majority of pet owners (83%) consider flea and tick treatment a crucial part of their pet's care, but experience challenges remembering to adhere to a care plan. To access the full report, click here: "More than ever, these findings underline the critical need for targeted education and awareness about the importance of year-round flea and tick prevention," said Rob Armstrong, DVM, DVSc, Global Companion Animal Parasiticides Marketing, Merck Animal Health. "Pet owners are encouraged to visit their veterinarian at least once a year and use that opportunity to discuss the most effective strategies for year-round flea and tick protection." The insights from 4072 pet owners and 582 veterinarians in 15 countries revealed a disconnect between perceptions of flea and tick treatment administration between pet owners and veterinarians. While 80% of pet owners around the world surveyed feel confident in administering flea and tick medication, 74% of veterinarians worry pet owners are not consistently administering flea and tick prevention medication (administering late or missing doses) or not at all (20%). Despite confidence in administering flea and tick medication, around half of pet owners (56%) admit that administering flea/tick solutions can be difficult. In addition to the difficulties of administration, 46% of dog owners and 51% of cat owners shared they have forgotten to administer flea and tick treatment in the past year. In the United States, veterinarians report significant non-compliance among pet owners, with two-thirds of veterinarians noting that most pet owners do not follow year-round treatment and are more likely than global counterparts to feel they miss doses. Despite Nearly Half of their Pets Experiencing Flea and Tick Infestations, Pet Owners Globally Underestimate the Potential Threat Fleas and Ticks Pose to their Pets and Themselves – Worse in the United StatesAround the world, more than half (51%) of dog owners reported having a flea or tick issue at least once or twice, and 66% of outdoor cat owners reported the same. Forty-three percent of exclusively indoor cat owners reported they have experienced a flea and tick problem. Most pet owners are aware of flea and tick threats to their pet's health (82%), but only 40% strongly agree it is a threat to their personal health. In the U.S. these numbers are more jarring where half of pet owners see fleas and tick-borne illness as a potential risk to their pet or to themselves or their family. While most pet owners are aware of skin irritation, tapeworms and Lyme disease being a consequence of fleas and ticks, knowledge around other conditions vary, leaving many pet owners uninformed of the potential consequences of fleas/ticks infestations. It's important for pet owners to understand the potential harm fleas and ticks can cause to both animals and humans. "It's alarming to note that this survey found 67% of pet owners around the world are unaware of ehrlichiosis, a serious illness transmitted through tick bites," said Armstrong. "Nearly 60% of humans infected with this disease require hospitalization, and without prompt treatment, it can lead to life-threatening complications, particularly for those who are immunocompromised. There are other illnesses caused by flea and tick bites that are equally alarming." With the Flea and Tick Population Growing, Care Should Be Managed Year-RoundWhile many pet owners around the world (44%) emphasize flea and tick season is in the summer months, veterinarians are four times more likely (vets: 47%; pet owners: 10%) to define flea/tick season as year-round, and for good reason. This finding is especially true of veterinarians and pet owners in the United States. Changes in the weather attribute to the expansion of fleas and ticks in more geographic regions than ever before. Ticks have been expanding their geographic ranges in recent decades largely due to warming temperatures. Furthermore, tick populations in many areas of their past and even newly established localities have increased in abundance.i Therefore, one way climate change might affect human health is by increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases. A vector is any organism – such as fleas, ticks or mosquitoes – that can transmit a pathogen, or infectious agent, from one host to The Majority of Pet Owners and Veterinarians Globally and in the United States Open to Trying Long-Duration Prescription Medications to Protect Animals and Humans from Fleas and TicksBoth pet owners and veterinarians from around the world and in the United States agree that compliance in administering flea and tick preventatives remains difficult. Long-duration medications may be an option to help ensure year-round compliance. In fact, globally, two-thirds of vets (65%) would be likely to recommend an annual medication option, and three in four (75%) pet owners are likely to try a once-yearly medication. In the United States more than half of pet owners would prefer a less-frequent treatment and trust yearly treatments, although slightly less than their global peers. Globally, pet owners and veterinarians agree that prescription options are preferred with veterinarians viewing prescription options as more effective than over the counter (71% vs. 4%) and owners also placing greater trust in prescription options (79% vs. 47%). Study MethodologyThe Pet Owner & Vet Perspectives on Parasite Treatment and Prevention: A Global Survey was conducted by Savanta on behalf of Merck Animal Health among n=4,072 pet owners and n=582 veterinarians in 15 countries. Pet owners were adults 18+ who own a dog and/or cat. Pet owner sample size by country: Australia & New Zealand n=268, Brazil n=318, Canada n=277, China n=256, France n=257, Germany n=259, Italy n=283, Japan n=289, Mexico n=286, Peru n=286, Poland n=296, Spain n=294, United Kingdom (UK) n=276, United States (U.S.) n=427. Veterinarians worked at least 10 hours a week in practice and treat both dogs and cats. Veterinarian sample size by country: Australia & New Zealand n=40, Brazil n=43, Canada n=43, China n=52, France n=41, Germany n=41, Italy n=42, Japan n=24, Mexico n=52, Peru n=40, Poland n=38, Spain n=42, United Kingdom (UK) n=42, United States (U.S.) n=42. The research was conducted online between December 23, 2024, and January 28, 2025. About Merck Animal HealthAt Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we've been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world's most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USAThis news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site ( _____________________________________ i Krause, Paul J., et al. "Ticks Are the Major Vectors of Human Disease in the United States." PMC, National Institutes of Health, 2018, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Vector-Borne Diseases and Climate Change." CDC, 2021, View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Kim Gorode(973) Investor Inquiries:Peter Dannenbaum(908) Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
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His state banned phones in class. This Alabama teacher saw an instant change. 'It's magic.'
When Alabama enacted a new law keeping phones out of classrooms for the 2025-2026 school year, one teacher saw an instant change. 'Today, all of my students, 100% of them, took notes in my class, did their assignment, asked for help when they got stuck and turned it in, and then when they were done, they talked to each other,' Jonathan Buchwalter, a Tuscaloosa County High School 11th grade history teacher, said in an Aug. 8 TikTok that reached nearly 2 million views. 'I have been pulling my hair out for like, eight years. Has it been this easy of a solution the whole time?' Buchwalter asks in the video. Thirty-three states have enacted legislation regarding school cellphone usage amid a growing push to restrict students' smartphone access in schools, primarily due to mental health and concerns about academic attentiveness. As the policies begin to roll out for the 2025–2026 school year, educators and parents alike are closely watching the on students and their mental health. These kids are swearing off smartphones: It's sparking a movement How smartphones impact the young brain Nearly half of teens say they're online constantly, according to 2024 data from the Pew Research Center, and 72% of teens say they sometimes or frequently check their notifications as soon as they wake up. 'They're chemically addicted to their phones,' Buchwalter says. 'They cannot experience anything that isn't constant stimulation.' Child psychiatrist and Yale School of Medicine professor Yann Poncin says smartphones affect the brain in three key ways: impacting productivity and prioritization, depleting the brain's cognitive patience and threshold for tolerating frustration, and rewiring the brain's pleasure pathways and dopamine release. 'Your dopamine system, over time, over multiple events, is getting set in a way that to trigger a dopamine release and a feel good release, you actually now need this phone, because nothing else in life is regularly going to give you that level of satisfaction,' Poncin says. Smartphone addiction is heavily tied to social media algorithms that feed curated content to users, but can also be impacted by color saturation, notifications and refresh screens. Over time, technology addiction rewires the brain to expect instant gratification, depleting the brain's cognitive patience and threshold for tolerating frustration in the process. 'If we over expose ourselves to these sort of easy dopamine hits, cheap dopamine hits when we're younger, then we're resetting our homeostasis where we can only feel good by having access to these items,' Poncin says. The result is that teaching today requires more 'gamification' in the form of Kahoots, Quizlet or Jeopardy-style games to learn subject content. Buchwalter says he feels more pressure now than when he started teaching to be a 'stand up comedian' and 'game show host' in order to keep students engaged. 'We don't prepare our kids well for the adult world when we say, 'everything has to be fun,'' Buchwalter says. 'The kids need to take education seriously, even if it's boring." Efforts to ban phones in schools gains traction When Buchwalter started teaching in 2017, he said phones were still an issue, but it didn't feel like a fight the way it does following the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in Buchwalter's best-behaved classes, phones became a near-daily problem. More and more, he found himself interrupting lessons to police phone usage. He felt 'completely helpless.' Should cellphones be banned from school? What students, teachers say 'By that time, because the kids had been so wired for so long, had been so tuned into the internet for so long, during COVID and quarantine, they had lost a lot of their ability to self-regulate,' Buchwalter says. For many students, this year is the first time they've navigated a school setting without constant access to devices. 'She had to actually socialize ALL DAY,' one Alabama mom captioned a TikTok of her teenage daughter reuniting with her phone after going without it all day. The post racked up 1.9M views. Buchwalter says that up until this year, cell phone policies were largely decided on a class-by-class basis, making it a challenge for teachers to enforce policies that weren't standardized. Last year, he and other teachers experienced situations where students swore and acted out if asked to put their phones away in class. 'It was absolutely exhausting," he added. In Alabama, students are required to leave any wireless communication devices, including tablets, pagers, personal computers and gamers, in lockers or personal vehicles during school hours. Opponents of the policy argue bans make it harder for parents to get in touch with their kids during emergency situations. Buchwalter, however, says his classroom saw an immediate change. 'It's magic,' Buchwalter says, adding that he won't be able to make a final evaluation of the legislation's impact until the end of the school year. 'I expected there to be a lot more friction.' It's a campaign experts like 'The Anxious Generation' author Jonathan Haidt have pushed for on the basis that phone-free academic settings provide kids with better opportunities for academic growth and socialization. Groups like Wait Until 8th and Smartphone Free Childhood encourage parents to sign pacts promising to delay giving kids devices until the end of the 8th grade, or even 16 years old. Last year, if Buchwalter's classes finished a few minutes early, the room would go dead silent as kids reached for their phones. Now, the conversations happening in class are so vibrant that he has to ask students to quiet down. 'One of my favorite parts is when they're finished with their classwork, or they're in the lunchroom, they talk to each other,' Buchwalter says. 'It was like, 'oh my God, this is how it's supposed to be.'' Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and @rachelleighhale on X. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This Alabama teacher was stunned by kids' reaction to phone rule Solve the daily Crossword
