Montana health centers hit by unexplained federal freeze
The sudden freeze of $2 million in Title X funding, initiated under the Trump administration, has left 20 health clinics across the state searching for answers and alternative sources of support.
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Trump Celebrates Pride by Defunding LGBTQ+ Support at Suicide Hotline
President Donald Trump is marking Pride Month by slashing specialized counseling services for young LGBTQ+ people who call the National Suicide Hotline. The Department of Health and Human Services' proposed 2026 budget cuts LGBTQ+ youth resources provided by the hotline, also known as 988. Although $520 million is still set aside to fund the organization, government support for LGBTQ-specific counseling will be eliminated. When Trump signed the suicide prevention line into law in 2020, the legislation put in place special counseling for high-risk populations like LGBTQ+ people under the age of 25. The hotline service was required to employ 'specially trained staff and partner organizations' because—the legislation states—queer and trans youth 'are more than 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide than their peers, with 1 in 5 LGBTQ youth and more than 1 in 3 transgender youth reporting attempting suicide.' Less than five years later, a senior administration official told NBC that the money has been reallocated so that it doesn't go to 'radical grooming contractors,' perpetuating a discriminatory stereotype that equates LGBTQ+ individuals or allies with sexual abusers. Rachel Cauley, a spokesperson for the White House's Office of Management and Budget, said that the proposed budget funds 988 but not 'radical gender ideology.' 'It does not... grant taxpayer money to a chat service where children are encouraged to embrace radical gender ideology by 'counselors' without consent or knowledge of their parents,' Cauley said. The contractors that partner with 988 are mental health organizations that typically provide care to the general population and LGBTQ+ people. This includes The Trevor Project, which has long advocated for LGBTQ+ youth. Jaymes Black, The Trevor Project's CEO, said in a statement to NBC: 'Attempts to discredit these life-saving services will not change the reality of what this administration is proposing: the elimination of a national suicide prevention program, run by seven leading crisis contact centers, that has supported over 1.3 million LGBTQ+ youth across the U.S. with best-practice crisis care.' Black, who urged Congress to rethink the proposal, said that 'every young life is worth saving.' The Trump administration chose to announce the move during Pride Month, a season meant to honor queer representation and commemorate the pioneers who paved the way toward equality. The first Pride marches were held in 1970 to honor the one-year anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. It took nearly 30 years for the U.S. government to officially recognize the significance of the month; in 1999 former president Bill Clinton issued a proclamation recognizing June as 'Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.' Its name was subsequently updated to include other identities, like bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, by former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. It formally became LGBTQ+ Pride Month in 2021. Trump had already signalled that he would officially spite Pride Month last week when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the president has no intention to formally recognize it. 'There are no plans for a proclamation for the month of June,' Leavitt said. 'But I can tell you this president is very proud to be a president for all Americans, regardless of race, religion, or creed.' Trump's critique of 'gender ideology' has been a cornerstone of his second term. He has declared that there are only two biological sexes; scrubbed agency websites of any mention of transgender or intersex people; stripped diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from the federal government; barred transgender women from women's sports; prevented federal funding from going to transition-related care for minors; and removed transgender people from the military.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
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Trump admin approves waivers for 3 states to ban soda, other junk food from public food programs
Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed waivers with three states on Tuesday, allowing them to prohibit participants of the government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from buying junk food, like soda and candy, through the social welfare program. Arkansas, Idaho and Utah became the latest states to obtain waivers from the federal government to begin banning junk food within the federally administered, but state-operated, public assistance program that provides food stamps to low-income individuals. The three states have become the latest to obtain waivers from the Trump administration that allow states to restrict what type of food SNAP funds are eligible to be used on. Other mostly GOP-led states, like Nebraska, Indiana and Iowa, have also obtained waivers to reform their SNAP programs. Last month, during a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) event at the White House, Rollins indicated that several states were lining up to get the waivers. Nebraska Becomes First State Approved To Ban Soda Purchases With Food Stamps "Since my confirmation, [the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)] has encouraged states to think differently and creatively about how to solve the many health issues facing Americans," Rollins said at a press conference announcing the new waivers Tuesday afternoon. "One way is disallowing taxpayer-funded benefits to purchase unhealthy items, like soda, candy and other junk food." Read On The Fox News App Tuesday's waivers bring the total number of states that have moved to ban junk food from their SNAP programs to six. Rollins indicated several other states, including Colorado, Kansas, West Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Florida and Louisiana, are also working through procedural steps in hopes of getting waivers approved. West Virginia Passes First-of-its-kind Law Banning Food Dyes And Preservatives; Gov Cites Maha Movement Texas, however, may not even need the waiver after its legislature passed Senate Bill 379 during the last week of its legislative session that ended on June 2. The new bill, which prohibits SNAP participants in the state from using the public assistance program to buy junk food, is expected to be signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, especially after he wrote a letter to Rollins in May seeking a USDA waiver. "The Trump Administration is unified in improving the health of our nation. America's governors have proudly answered the call to innovate by improving nutrition programs, ensuring better choices while respecting the generosity of the American taxpayer," Rollins added Tuesday. "Each waiver submitted by the states and signed is yet another step closer to fulfilling President [Donald] Trump's promise to Make America Healthy Again." On average, 42 million low-income Americans receive food-stamp assistance each month, according to the MAHA report released last month. It added that one-in-five American children under 17 receive SNAP article source: Trump admin approves waivers for 3 states to ban soda, other junk food from public food programs
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Four measles cases now reported in Arizona, first of this year
NAVAJO COUNTY, Arizona () — The Navajo County Public Health Services District (NCPHSD) and the Arizona Department of Health confirmed four cases of measles in Navajo County, the first reported cases in Arizona of 2025. Navajo County borders Utah. Arizona is now one of three neighboring states with reported cases, the others being Colorado and New Mexico. NCPHSD said in a press release that the infected individuals were not vaccinated against measles, and they had a recent history of international travel. They also confirmed that the individuals were exposed to measles through a single source. Public health officials are currently determining locations where other people could have been exposed and are working to contact anyone who may have been exposed to measles. RELATED: What health officials want you to know about the MMR vaccine Officials said that anyone who may have been exposed will be asked to monitor their symptoms for 21 days following their exposure period, which reportedly was May 17-28. They're also asking those individuals to consider avoiding public spaces or other high-risk environments during that time. The people who are most at risk are those who have not been vaccinated against measles, officials said, and therefore they are requesting those who are unvaccinated to be particularly vigilant in monitoring for early symptoms of measles. According to NCPHSD, symptoms usually appear a week to two weeks after exposure, and those symptoms include: high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and rash beginning at the head and spreading downward. RELATED: Health officials monitoring potential measles exposure in southwestern Utah Janelle Lynn, director of NCPHSD, urged anyone who believes they may have been exposed or is experiencing symptoms to contact their healthcare provider immediately. NCPHSD reminded that measles is a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease, and that the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get immunized. Utah health officials also and shared the same message: the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to protect yourself, and it is completely safe. 'We're living in the dumbest timeline' — Gov. Cox comments on SLC Sego pride flags Calif. governor asks court to block Trump administration from using troops in immigration raids Trump says he will rename seven military bases, 'liberate' Los Angeles in Army anniversary speech Fast work, real pay with All Trades Staffing Shop smart with and don't miss out on any epic discounts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
