Podcast: Living with long COVID
It's been five years since the pandemic hit.
Most of us have moved on and left that in the rearview mirror. We might remember it, but we don't focus on it.
But what about those who can't because they're suffering what's called long COVID? What about those who continue to have symptoms that persist after the initial virus passes — symptoms that few seem to understand, even within the medical community?
One of those people explains what life is like while dealing with it.
This podcast explores issues about the city and stories of interest to those who call it home. Every week, Spectator columnist Scott Radley will dive into hot-button topics with newsmakers, explore stories with the reporters covering them, and chat with those who add to the fabric of this community. Whether it's serious or lighthearted, Placeline Hamilton will keep you informed and engaged.
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Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Another ‘summer of stink?' Resident odour complaints spike around Stoney Creek landfill
Not everyone living within sniffing distance of the GFL-run landfill in Stoney Creek describes the recent olfactory onslaught in the same way. Some describe an intense odour of cat pee or dead fish. Another associates it strongly with the rotting stench that wafts out of a wet garbage can. A sulphurous 'rotten egg smell' is cited repeatedly. The descriptions differ, but the conclusion remains the same for frustrated residents who have filed more than 400 landfill odour complaints to the province this year — even before summer begins. 'They have not fixed the problem and I'm afraid we're heading for another summer of stink,' said Louise Thompson, who lives more than two kilometres away — 'but apparently not far enough' — from the Green Mountain Road landfill. The retired teacher is also worried about a proposal to build a new elementary school within view of the former Taro dump . 'I just want it to shut down. The odours are persisting, summer is coming and no one can be in their backyard … We can't continue like this.' The landfill, which has switched owners and names periodically since the late 1990s, suffered an infamous stinky stretch in 2023 — dubbed by residents the ' Summer of Stink. ' Current operator GFL was charged last month with 10 provincial offences linked primarily to that time frame and separately fined $15,000 — although the company has since appealed those penalties. GFL, which did not respond to Spectator requests for comment for this story, has previously said it made changes to help lessen the odour issues that dominated 2023. Independent air monitoring done the next year by the city showed no exceedances for sulphurous gases commonly associated with the rotten egg smell. But residents in residential neighbourhoods around the landfill — and some of those housing developments are a literal stone's throw away from the operation — say odour problems never went away entirely and have worsened again this spring. As of the first week of June, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks said it had logged 440 odour complaints linked to the landfill in 2025. That was before last weekend, when an apparent spate of intense odours spurred a furious reporting spree by outraged residents who have started posting screenshots of their submitted complaints to a Facebook group devoted to shuttering the former Taro dump. The Spectator counted at least 20 photos of posted complaint reports between June 6 and 10. 'It seems to be getting worse and worse and everyone is nervous about what that means for the summer,' said Kathie Farraway, who helped organize protests against the landfill operations at the height of the 2023 odour woes. She described the odour issue in recent weeks as 'intermittent,' with a low-level 'musty smell' often noticeable — but with occasional bouts of 'cat box mixed with rotten eggs.' 'I won't go out on my bike when it's like that because I don't want to be gulping in big breaths of whatever is in that air,' she said. 'It may not be unhealthy, but it feels like it's unhealthy.' Nelson Faria, who has lived in a suburb off Green Mountain Road for eight years, has filed multiple complaints in the past two weeks. It only gets worse when the weather gets hotter,' he said in a recent interview. 'I think the only solution is to shut it down … That was what we were told was supposed to happen when we bought here in the first place.' Ironically, the latest round of odour woes may be due in part to the province's own order to GFL to reduce the height of its piled waste, which is beyond the allowed limit. Ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler said via email the occasional odours are 'likely linked' to the waste relocation ordered last year. That worries residents, who say they've been told by GFL that relocation could continue throughout the summer and fall. Wheeler said the ministry is conducting 'regular site visits' to do odour surveys and will 'take any necessary measures to address issues of noncompliance.' He added the province is also requiring GFL to put into place a 'supplemental odour control plan' and extra air monitoring during trash relocation. GFL did not respond to requests for comment on that work, recent odour complaints or its plan to build a treatment plant for leachate, the garbage juice created by rainfall filtering through trash. But the company held a virtual community liaison committee meeting last week that provided some updates on the work, including 'daily' waste relocation activities at the landfill, which is bordered by Green Mountain Road, Mud Street, First Road West and Centennial Parkway. The minutes of that meeting reflect 128 complaints to the company between March and May, with the largest monthly number — 66 — in April. That month, a 'hose-fitting failure' resulted in a spill of leachate that prompted odour complaints and sulphurous gas 'exceedances' on that date, reads the minutes report. The minutes also include an update from GFL site general manager Lorenzo Alfano, who said the company is 'close to finalizing' site approval from the city for a new leachate treatment facility. A discussion on a potential 'health study' for the area surrounding the landfill was put off until the next CLC meeting in September. But residents are hopeful they'll get more news, sooner, as a result of motions from ward councillor Brad Clark passed by city council early in 2025. Those motions asked city staff to examine the prospect of tax relief for odour-affected residents — and whether the city could apply through the courts for a temporary shutdown of the landfill if the chronic stink cannot be resolved. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Business Journals
a day ago
- Business Journals
Trump's drug order and the future of employer health care (Holmes Murphy podcast)
Never miss an episode of Healthy Politics. Subscribe now on Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Both the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are working to shake up the status quo when it comes to health care costs. In this episode of the Healthy Politics podcast, Holmes Murphy Compliance Director Nick Karls and Senior Advisor Den Bishop discuss President Donald Trump's recent executive order aimed at lowering U.S. drug prices along with several proposals included in The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA) that could change employers' health care costs. 'I'm spending a lot of time right now talking to our clients about ways to control their pharmacy spend, and they can get to be pretty difficult conversations,' Karls said. 'You're making some tough choices.' Tune in to this episode to hear about: The executive order on brand name prescription drug pricing Proposed work requirements for Medicaid Proposed changes to Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements Political movements to shift away from employer-sponsored health care New HSA provisions in The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act 'All of these are things that I think are on point and consistent with what President Trump did in his first term,' Bishop said. '… They're pretty aggressively going at the existing system and trying to figure out how to lower cost.' Sign up today to receive updates on each new release and stay ahead with expert analysis and commentary. As one of the largest independent insurance brokerages in the nation, Holmes Murphy believes fully in serving the unique risk and benefits challenges of clients in every industry and of almost every size. For more information, visit or follow the company on X (@holmesmurphyins), Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Business Journals
a day ago
- Business Journals
Lower drug prices and new insurance rules? What Trump's exec order and 'big, beautiful bill' mean for employers
Never miss an episode of Healthy Politics. Subscribe now on Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Both the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are working to shake up the status quo when it comes to health care costs. In this episode of the Healthy Politics podcast, Holmes Murphy Compliance Director Nick Karls and Senior Advisor Den Bishop discuss President Donald Trump's recent executive order aimed at lowering U.S. drug prices along with several proposals included in The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA) that could change employers' health care costs. 'I'm spending a lot of time right now talking to our clients about ways to control their pharmacy spend, and they can get to be pretty difficult conversations,' Karls said. 'You're making some tough choices.' Tune in to this episode to hear about: 'All of these are things that I think are on point and consistent with what President Trump did in his first term,' Bishop said. '… They're pretty aggressively going at the existing system and trying to figure out how to lower cost.' As one of the largest independent insurance brokerages in the nation, Holmes Murphy believes fully in serving the unique risk and benefits challenges of clients in every industry and of almost every size. For more information, visit
