What's messing with our health and well-being in Miami? Take a look
These articles highlight various health challenges people face in Miami.
One discussion focuses on how disrupted sleep can affect brain health. Another article addresses women's healthcare issues in Florida, ranking the state poorly due to healthcare cost and accessibility problems. In the aftermath of hurricanes, there's a concern for PTSD among survivors.
See stories below.
NO. 1: WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR BRAIN? IT COULD COME DOWN TO WHAT YOU NEED MORE OF EACH NIGHT
Here is some expert medical advice. | Published June 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante
Florida's healthcare system has 'worse-than-average performance' for women, according to a 2024 report. By Carl Juste
NO. 2: WHY IS WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IN A 'PERILOUS PLACE'? TAKE A LOOK AT THE FLORIDA RANKINGS
Women in the state are struggling with health issues and access. | Published July 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Adlai Coleman
Juan Jose Muñoz (left) and Elvin Antonio Urbina walk with her belongings through the flooded N 15th St in North Tampa, Thursday, October 10, 2024, a day after Hurricane Milton crossed Florida's Gulf Coast. By Pedro Portal
NO. 3: FLORIDIAN HURRICANE SURVIVORS COULD BE SUFFERING FROM PTSD—BUT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE
After a tumultuous hurricane season, an expert says Floridians should look out for symptoms of PTSD. | Published November 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
FedEx-Funded Training Is Helping Heart to Heart International Reach More People in Crisis
When disasters strike, timing is everything. The faster Heart to Heart International (HHI) can respond, the more lives we can touch. But speed and impact don't happen without training and preparation. Thanks to the generous support of FedEx, 2024–2025 has transformed HHI's training and readiness programs. With expanded virtual courses, hands-on simulations, and role-specific learning, our staff and volunteers are more prepared than ever to meet the demands of real-world disaster response. That readiness means we're able to reach more people, faster, and with better care. The value of this investment was clearly seen during hurricanes Helene and Milton, which devastated communities across seven states in the fall of 2024. These dual disasters tested our team and systems, but thanks to focused training, our team rose to the challenge. Volunteers who had completed advanced courses stepped into key leadership roles. One volunteer, trained in our new Power and Communications module, managed all field technology for a 15-person team. This allowed staff to focus on delivering $2.2 million in medical aid and reaching more than 400 patients with care, including administering 239 lifesaving vaccines. This kind of capability is the new standard thanks to our evolving training strategy. In April 2025, HHI hosted its most comprehensive Emergency Medical Team (EMT) simulation yet. Volunteers and staff worked side-by-side to set up mobile clinics, coordinate logistics, and triage patients in a controlled but realistic environment. The goal? Ensure that when a disaster hits, no one is figuring things out for the first time. Before the training, only a few volunteers rated themselves as 'very prepared' to deploy. Afterward, that number more than doubled, with 100% of participants saying they felt more confident and equipped to respond. The training didn't just build skills, it built trust, strengthened relationships, and empowered people to lead. One volunteer shared, 'Acting out a deployment, from communications to patient care, really demonstrated what it's like. The amount of preparation that goes into this shows how much HHI cares. That's why I choose to be a part of it.' Through the LearnUpon Learning Management System, HHI has scaled training access even further. Now, staff and volunteers can learn anytime, anywhere, with courses in disaster medicine, logistics, cultural sensitivity, and more. Already, 91 users have completed 20 courses, with many more in development. These tools are preparing responders before they ever set foot in the field. So when the time comes, responders are ready to serve. Every hour of training is an investment in someone else's survival. Thanks to FedEx's support, HHI is prepared to reach more people, provide better care, and show up stronger in every emergency. Thank you, FedEx, for making this possible. Together, we're proving that with the right training, we can respond wherever we're needed most. Written by Amy Lafferty, Senior Manager, Communications, Heart to Heart International Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from FedEx
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Mom Launches Raw Milk Lawsuit After Losing Unborn Son
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Florida mother has filed a lawsuit against a dairy farm, alleging that raw milk sold at a market caused severe illness in her toddler and led to the loss of her 20-week pregnancy. The complaint, filed August 13 in Seminole County Circuit Court, names Keely Farms Dairy, LLC, and Nature's Natural Foods, LLC, which operates Wild Hare Natural Market, as defendants. Plaintiff Rachel Maddox is suing both individually and on behalf of her minor child, who has required repeated hospitalization since consuming the milk. An attorney representing Maddox told Newsweek that the labeling did not warn consumers about the "extreme dangers" of the products. Keely Farms Dairy, based in New Smyrna Beach, declined to comment beyond a published statement. Wild Hare Natural Market, in Longwood, has not issued a response. Why It Matters Raw milk is a national flashpoint. The CDC and FDA warn it can carry pathogens and stress pasteurization as a key safeguard. Supporters cite taste and possible health benefits. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo in an August 12 post on X wrote that Floridians "have the freedom to make informed health choices" but should "know the risks." U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced support for expanding dairy's role in dietary guidelines and has expressed openness to raw milk's benefits, though interstate sales remain prohibited. Florida law prohibits the sale of raw milk for human consumption, but the product remains available in retail outlets under "animal feed" labeling. With the state health department linking more than 20 illnesses to the dairy's products, the lawsuit raises questions about whether current laws and labeling practices adequately protect families from the risks of unpasteurized milk. Keely Farms Dairy Raw Milk showing labeling that states: 'Feed for Calves - Not for Human Consumption' Keely Farms Dairy Raw Milk showing labeling that states: 'Feed for Calves - Not for Human Consumption' Ron Simon & Associates | Food Poisoning Lawyers What To Know Plaintiff's Allegations According to the complaint, Maddox purchased raw milk in June from Wild Hare Natural Market. The milk was labeled "for consumption by animals," which Maddox said she was told was a technical requirement for selling "farm milk." On June 8, 2025, her toddler developed diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and dehydration. He was hospitalized from June 9 to June 12, underwent surgery for intussusception—a condition in which part of the intestine slides into another—and tested positive for E. coli and Campylobacter. His treatment is ongoing. Maddox herself tested positive for Campylobacter after caring for her child, telling WKMG News 6: "I became very ill, and I mean the sickest I've ever been in my life. I came really close to dying and our (unborn) son did die. The doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive." By June 18, she miscarried and was diagnosed with sepsis. She was hospitalized repeatedly in subsequent weeks. Her attorneys argue that labeling on Keely Farms products did not adequately warn consumers. "The labeling on Keely Farms' raw milk products is wholly insufficient to warn a buyer of the extreme dangers of consuming these products," Ron Simon, a food safety attorney representing the plaintiffs, told Newsweek in an August 19 email. Simon added that the labels fail to disclose the products are unpasteurized, do not explain why they are marketed as "Feed for calves – not for human consumption," and were displayed alongside groceries intended for people. "Any reasonable consumer would naturally assume that the Keely Farms products—like the others in the freezer— were safe to consume," he said. Health Department Findings The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has linked at least 21 illnesses since January 2025 to raw milk from Keely Farms Dairy. Six cases involved children under 10, seven required hospitalization, and two developed severe complications. In an advisory, FDOH said sanitation practices at the dairy were "of concern" and urged Floridians to be aware of the risks of consuming raw dairy. The commissioner of agriculture also encouraged residents to choose pasteurized products. Products marketed by Keely Farms Dairy, including Raw Milk, Greek Yogurt and Raw Kefir, all labeled 'Feed for Calves - Not for Human Consumption" Products marketed by Keely Farms Dairy, including Raw Milk, Greek Yogurt and Raw Kefir, all labeled 'Feed for Calves - Not for Human Consumption" Ron Simon & Associates | Food Poisoning Lawyers Legal Framework Florida law bans the retail sale of raw milk for human consumption. Section 502.091 of the Florida Statutes permits only pasteurized milk and certain aged cheeses to be sold for drinking. Raw milk products may be sold if labeled for animal feed. Keely Farms acknowledges this requirement on its website: "As required by the Federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and Florida Statute 502.091, which forbid the sale of unpasteurized milk products for human consumption, our products are labeled: 'Not for Human Consumption' and sold as 'Feed for Calves.'" The complaint argues that such labeling was inadequate, saying: "Any reasonable consumer would naturally assume that the Keely Farms products—like the others in the freezer—were safe to consume." What People Are Saying Ron Simon, attorney for Rachel Maddox said in an email to Newsweek, August 18, 2025: "My client is seeking compensation for her medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering for her illness, her son's illness, and the loss of her unborn child. But most importantly, she filed this lawsuit so that we could determine exactly HOW the products became so contaminated, in order to fix the problems so that this never happens to anyone else again." Alexia Kulwiec, executive director of Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, in a statement on August 15: "The Florida Department of Health's actions are unusual, confusing, and frankly troubling. "Here at FTCLDF, we have experience with many local departments of health. If the Department had evidence that Keely Farms Dairy sold contaminated raw milk for livestock feed, it would be taking serious action against the farm." What Happens Next The lawsuit seeks damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, including claims related to the loss of Maddox's pregnancy. Attorneys emphasize that the case also aims to clarify how the contamination occurred. No trial date has been set, and further proceedings will depend on the court's scheduling. The Florida Department of Health has stated it will continue working with Keely Farms Dairy to improve sanitation practices while maintaining its advisory that Floridians should be aware of the risks of consuming raw dairy products.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Associated Press
Study: Storm-Driven Blackouts Left Thousands Without Care As Clinics Closed Across Southeast
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 18, 2025 /3BL/ - Power outages from Hurricanes Helene and Milton forced temporary closures at more than half of safety-net health care providers surveyed across Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina, according to a comprehensive new study released today by Direct Relief. Read the full report here. Among 80 community health centers and free and charitable clinics responding to the survey, 43 organizations (54%) said power loss forced the temporary closure of at least one site. The closures led to nearly 28,000 canceled or delayed patient visits — an outcome that researchers have tied to elevated longer-term mortality rates. The survey also found widespread financial losses and medicine spoilage that compounded the health impact. Key findings Bedrock providers left vulnerable 'Health centers and clinics are often the bedrock health care providers in their communities,' said Sara Rossi, managing director of the Health Resiliency Fund at Direct Relief. 'Without power, their ability to deliver critical, even life-saving services is compromised, leaving vulnerable patients at serious risk.' 'When power goes out, I'm in scramble mode to save vaccines. Without electricity, my X-ray, ultrasound and health records are down — and patient care stops,' said John Newman, executive director and chief medical officer at Volunteers in Medicine in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Widespread backup power gaps The survey revealed alarming gaps in backup power infrastructure at safety-net health care facilities. Unlike hospitals, which are legally required to maintain backup generators and fuel supplies, community health centers and free and charitable clinics face no such mandates. Severe financial and medical impacts The financial toll was significant. Twenty-three organizations reported revenue losses totaling $12.9 million while they were closed. Among FQHCs that lost revenue, the average loss was $803,000 per organization. Nearly one-fourth (19) of the providers were forced to discard temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines when their refrigerators lost power. One clinic reported losing $60,000 worth of vaccines alone. These losses not only carried financial costs but also reduced availability of critical treatments such as insulin for diabetics and Tdap vaccines needed to prevent tetanus after hurricane-related injuries. Twenty-five organizations suffered infrastructure damage totaling more than $3.1 million. Patients hit hardest The closures disproportionately affected vulnerable populations who rely on safety-net health care providers. FQHCs serve more than 32 million patients nationwide — nearly 1 in 10 U.S. residents — including 1 in 5 rural residents and 1 in 3 people living in poverty. Among patients at free and charitable clinics, 84% lack health insurance. These patients often have higher rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, making them especially vulnerable during and after disasters. Many also face barriers such as multiple jobs, language differences and transportation challenges that make rescheduling appointments difficult. Following the storms, 38% of surveyed organizations reported surges in patient demand, with some seeing increases of more than 50% as displaced residents sought care while other facilities remained closed. Link to rising hurricane-related deaths The study's findings take on added significance in light of research on hurricanes' long-term health effects. A 2024 study in Nature found that excess deaths attributable to hurricanes can be 300 or more times higher than immediate fatalities, with health care disruptions among the key drivers. The research tracked all 501 hurricanes hitting the continental United States between 1930 and 2015. While the average hurricane caused 24 immediate deaths, storms led to between 7,170 and 11,430 additional deaths in the 20 years after landfall. 'These outages don't just close clinics for a day — they ripple into long-term health risks,' Rossi said. Climate change amplifying threats Beyond hurricanes, the survey showed that power reliability is an ongoing challenge for safety-net clinics. More than 35% of organizations said unreliable power is a persistent concern in their area, with nearly 1 in 5 losing power at least once per quarter. 'It just adds to the uncertainty and the anxiety collectively around the state. The threat is very real and very widespread,' said Gianna Van Winkle, director of emergency management programs at the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, which helped conduct the survey. The 2024 tornado season was the second-worst on record, with 1,791 tornadoes striking the United States—many spawned by hurricane activity. About the survey Direct Relief surveyed 394 FQHCs and free and charitable clinics across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina — representing most FQHCs in the region and 84% of estimated free and charitable clinics. The 80 respondents included 25 FQHCs and 55 free and charitable clinics operating about 500 clinical sites combined. Note to editors: Read the full report. Additional data and interviews with health care providers are available upon request. About Direct Relief Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. Direct Relief provides medical assistance when and where it is needed most—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. Media Contact: Paul Sherer, [email protected]. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Direct Relief
