Stories of the Week: May 11 through May 17
More than 100 employees who were laid off from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health facility in Morgantown are expected to have their jobs restored.
The Randolph County Board of Education notified the state it will be unable to balance its budget this year.
A Monongalia County teacher who died earlier this year chose to give a portion of her estate to help with preservation efforts at the Metropolitan Theatre.
Former West Virginia University women's basketball guard J.J. Quinerly has made the Dallas Wings official roster.
Salem University won its first USCAA Small College World Series Baseball title in school history.
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3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Something Inside Your Gut Could Be Like a Natural Ozempic
Ozempic and drugs like it have done wonders for weight loss by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which helps control blood sugar and appetite. Now a new study shows how gut microbe byproducts could have the same effect. Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) in the gut are responsible for producing natural GLP-1, and recent research has suggested a reduced number of EECs and lower GLP-1 production could be helping to drive obesity. Using tests on rats and mini-guts grown in the lab (known as organoids), researchers from Marshall University in the US have now confirmed a link between fewer EECs and obesity – and found a way to get the gut to make up the shortfall. Related: "This points to a potential therapeutic strategy that leverages the gut microbes to improve metabolic outcomes in obesity," says biochemist Alip Borthakur of the Department of Clinical & Translational Sciences at Marshall University. The researchers turned to supplements of the amino acid tryptophan to fix the EEC problem. Tryptophan was already known to promote good gut health, in part through a metabolite (or biological byproduct) called indole. What the team was able to show in their work was that tryptophan and indole could form a production line to generate new EECs, and from there, more GLP-1. In other words, it promoted a more natural way of getting the same effect as a dose of Ozempic. Tryptophan is found in foods such as poultry, eggs, cheese, and certain seeds, and the thinking is that dietary supplements or probiotics of some kind could be used to drop the amino acid into the gut and start the necessary chemical chain reaction. "Our findings suggest that microbial metabolites derived from dietary tryptophan can reverse obesity-associated reductions in hormone-secreting gut cells," says Borthakur. The researchers were also able to identify a specific cell receptor, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), through which this process occurs. That gives researchers a particular target to aim at. Actual treatments are still a long way off, but these initial findings are promising. Ozempic is one of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor antagonists, used to treat type 2 diabetes as well as obesity. However, these treatments do come with side effects, and it would be preferable for our bodies to produce GLP-1 more naturally. That's part of the motivation for studies like this. In recent years, other teams of scientists have identified ways to tweak gut bacteria and adapt our diets to try and boost GLP-1 production in the body. One of the next steps will be to move these experiments out of rats and organoids and into actual human beings. While the lab tests carried out here do of course provide useful pointers for researchers, the processes and reactions inside people could vary in certain ways – which further studies can look into. "The molecular players and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of EEC differentiation could be different in the normal and obese conditions," write the researchers in their published paper. The research has been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Related News New Vaccine For Two Deadly Cancers Shows Promise in Clinical Trial Scientists Identify How Young Blood Reverses Aging in Human Skin Cells Vegetarian Diets Can Slash Cancer Risk by Up to 45%, Large Study Finds Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
New SNAP Restrictions Will Limit Soda and Candy Purchases in These 6 States
Six states have now banned soda from SNAP purchases. Six more states are changing the rules around what foods you can and can't purchase using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed this week. According to the announcement, SNAP waivers for West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas were signed on August 3, amending the "statutory definition of food for purchase" and ending the "subsidization of popular types of junk food beginning in 2026." These states join six others that signed waivers enacting SNAP reform earlier this year. Here's what these changes mean for the millions of Americans that rely on this vital program for food purchases. What is SNAP? SNAP is a federally funded program that acts similarly to cash for those who need assistance with purchasing food. As Feeding America explains, "SNAP provides monthly funds to buy groceries. It is the largest anti-hunger program in America, helping over 41 million people in 2022." That number equates to about 12.5% of the United States population. The program, run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, provides people with a card they can swipe or tap like a credit card to pay for food. "You can use it at local stores or farmers' markets for groceries. The amount depends on your income and family size," Feeding America adds. Who is eligible for the program is determined on a state-by-state basis. However, the USDA notes that in most cases, your household must meet both the gross and net income limits it sets for each household size, with gross monthly income falling at or below 130% of the poverty line and 100% of net income at or below the poverty line. Related: The FDA Just Axed 52 Food Standards – Here's What It Means for Your Groceries If a household is eligible, it will receive an "allotment" of total food benefits each month. The USDA details, "Because SNAP households are expected to spend about 30% of their own resources on food, your allotment is calculated by multiplying your household's net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size." Historically, waivers have also been used for supporting participants and expanding eligibility during times of low employment in the U.S., the Center for Science in the Public Interest explains. That included during the pandemic, as waivers gave "states flexibility to adapt the program and deliver services virtually." Which foods are being banned? The new waivers, which go into effect in 2026, mean families will no longer be able to purchase products like soda or candy using their SNAP benefits. Some argue that this means families can no longer buy goods that may be used in celebrations like birthday parties or gatherings. However, the reforms differ state by state. Newsweek reported that in Texas, the changes will ban soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts from SNAP benefits, while in Colorado and West Virginia, only soft drinks will be off the table. Nevertheless, the changes align with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement. 'For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy — products that fuel America's diabetes and chronic disease epidemics,' Kennedy shared in the announcement. 'These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health. I thank these governors who have stepped up to request waivers, and I encourage others to follow their lead. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.' Related: Experts Warn of Public Health Risks as the Trump Administration Eliminates 2 Critical Food Safety Committees Unfortunately, this interpretation of how households use SNAP is likely an oversimplification of how many Americans access food. "The issue isn't about individuals misusing their benefits but their limited choices. In many rural areas and food deserts, convenience stores and fast-food chains are often the only available options," Kavelle Christie, a health policy and advocacy expert and director at the Center for Regulatory Policy and Health Innovation, told Newsweek. "For many families, fresh produce and healthy meals are luxuries that are unattainable, not because they do not want these foods, but because they are unavailable or too expensive." Related: Can the Government Tell SNAP Users What to Eat? The Center for Science in the Public Interest notes that while there are no results available from previous waivers restricting specific purchases — as this is the first time restrictive waivers have been allowed in practice — systematic models and reviews indicate that restrictions could lead to a decrease in purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). It explains, "Modeling studies find that restrictions could reduce consumption among children and could reduce diet-related chronic disease prevalence among adults. But randomized controlled trials conducted in 2016 and 2024 found no significant differences in diet quality among study participants who received an SSB restriction versus the control group." It also cites the USDA's study, which showed that SNAP participants struggle with healthy eating not because they lack an understanding of what is healthy, but rather because healthy food is simply unaffordable, an issue that is only worsening in the U.S. Have other states passed SNAP waivers? SNAP restriction waivers for Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah were signed in early 2025, though government officials say they are hoping more states will follow suit. Although the precise restrictions may vary from state to state, all of them have banned soda or soft drinks, and several have banned candy. 'I hope to see all 50 states join this bold common sense approach. For too long, the root cause of our chronic disease epidemic has been addressed with lip service only. It's time for powerful changes to our nation's SNAP program,' FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary noted in the HHS's announcement. 'The goal is simple — reduce mass suffering from diabetes, obesity, and other long-term medical conditions. I applaud the leadership of Secretaries Rollins and Kennedy and President Trump in going bold.' Read the original article on Food & Wine Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
The importance of readiness: AED brings lifesaving access to Miracle Field
Aug. 8—MORGANTOWN — A new automated external defibrillator is now on-site at Miracle Field in Mylan Park thanks to a collaboration between SteppingStones, WVU Medicine Children's Heart Center and Project ADAM. This new addition will bring faster response times in the event of cardiac emergencies at the field, which hosts adaptive baseball games for children and adults with disabilities through the Miracle League. "This is about being prepared for the moment you hope never happens, " said Monica Marietta, executive director of SteppingStones. "We have always had an AED at our facility, but that is across the parking lot. Now, if something happens to an athlete, a coach, a parent or anyone, this AED is right here." The device was contributed through Project AED 365 and coordinated locally through Heartbeats of Hope, the West Virginia affiliate of Project ADAM, located at WVU Medicine Children's. Project ADAM was founded after a teenage athlete named Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old high-schooler from Wisconsin, collapsed and died during a basketball game due to sudden cardiac arrest. His parents later learned he might have survived had an AED been available. Since then, Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory) has helped place AEDs in schools and communities across the country. "The chance of survival goes up dramatically when an AED is used within three minutes, " said Tracy Coup, nurse practitioner and co-coordinator for Project ADAM at WVU Medicine Children's. "You do not know when or where someone might go down. That is why access and training matter." While the initiative does not provide AEDs directly, Project ADAM affiliates like WVU Medicine Children's help connect the community to donors and to guide them through the goal of becoming "Heart Safe." Becoming heart safe does not mean to just have a device on-site, but have trained staff, emergency plans and annual drills. "It is not just about having an AED on the wall, " said Ashley Watson, also a Project ADAM co-coordinator. "People have to know what sudden cardiac arrest looks like, where the AED is, how to use it, and how to respond fast. We work with schools and community sites across West Virginia to build that system." Coup said the team has received 12 "save " reports this school year across the country. This means there are instances where an AED placed through Project ADAM was used and helped save a life during a cardiac emergency. This reflects the importance of readiness, she added. West Virginia law does require that AEDs be present at all school athletic events, and Project ADAM's initiative helps make the process more precise and structured. Going back to Mylan Park, the new AED is part of the border mission of SteppingStones to ensure safety and inclusion. The organization also recently opened an all inclusive playground right next to Miracle Field. "Whether it is a kid with autism or a grandparent cheering from the stands, we want everyone to feel safe and welcome, " she said. Thanks to this project, we are more prepared than ever." For more information about Heartbeats of Hope and Project ADAM training or designation, visit and navigate to the Heartsbeats of Hope page. Solve the daily Crossword
