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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Thanks to those who won't keep their mouths shut
(Photo by Prostock-Studio/Getty Images) Our admiration goes to the Davids of the world: those who stand up, speak out and fight back, refusing to let the Goliaths intimidate or silence them. A recent example is a story by Clark Kauffman, reporter at the Iowa Capital Dispatch. He detailed the allegations in a lawsuit filed by a former certified nurse aide at a nursing home in Fonda, Iowa. The suit was filed against the Fonda Specialty Care nursing home, its parent company, Care Initiatives, and a licensed practical nurse working at the facility. You can read the April 30 story here. The suit alleges that a certified nurse aide observed an 87-year-old resident with a tracheostomy struggling to breathe. The aide sought help from the on-duty nurse to suction the resident's airway. The nurse refused to intervene despite multiple requests from staff members. The aide attempted to contact off-site management but could reach no one. She asked for permission to call 911 and was rebuffed. The resident ultimately died in a manner the lawsuit describes as 'agonizing and painful.' The suit also claims that after the certified nurse aide finished her shift, she received multiple text messages from the facility's administrator to 'keep your mouth shut and keep your opinions to yourself.' She was also instructed not to communicate with the family of the resident who died. The next day, the aide was fired. The facility cited 'resident complaints' as the reason. The nurse aide said she was fired for reporting the incident to the state. KTIV television in Sioux City posted Kauffman's article on their Facebook page, drawing nearly 600 reactions and 200 comments. Responses were candid and often angry. A small sample includes: 'I would never put my parents or anybody I know in a nursing home.' 'The fact that the nursing home tried to cover it up is just as horrible' (as the death). 'My heart breaks for the family and the aides that witnessed it.' 'This makes me sick.' This makes us sick, too. How about you? Imagine being in the shoes of the staff member who allegedly tried to do the right thing, witnessed a horrible death, was fired by her employer, and then had to decide 'what's next?' This nurse's aide chose not 'to keep her mouth shut' but instead to challenge a powerful corporation in court. Some would say that's a fool's errand. We view it as an admirable act of courage. Put this in a larger context. We live in a time where many people, including elected officials, organizations and businesses, find themselves in situations similar to the nurse aide where they are expected to do what they are told and avoid speaking out or acting on what they believe is right. Here are recent examples: Legislators who don't vote the way a governor or president demands. The student on campus who speaks up for Palestinians. The university president or corporate head who doesn't comply with diversity, equity and inclusion directives. National news organizations that write an editorial or airs programs the powers that be don't like. Foreign leaders who disagree publicly with a U.S. government representative. Law firms that challenge governmental actions. Entertainers who bring attention to social injustices. The list could go on and on. It's not a good time to be an independent thinker, to swim against the tide, or to tell the emperor that they have no clothes. The message to all the rulebreakers out there is this: Toe the line. Do what you're told. There will be hell to pay if you disobey. The fact that it's not a good time to speak out is why we need people to speak out. We applaud the certified nurse aide and all those like her who are courageously standing up for what they believe. They are making what John Lewis called 'good trouble.' Davids can and do defeat the Goliaths. Not all the time, not without great difficulty. But is the fight worth fighting? Indeed, it is. John and Terri Hale own The Hale Group, an Ankeny-based advocacy firm focused on older Iowans, Iowans with disabilities and the caregivers who support them. Contact them at terriandjohnhale@
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Movie Buff' Woman Naming Unborn Baby After Favorite TV Show Dragged Online
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 mom-to-be has been dragged online for her questionable baby name choice. Posted by Reddit user u/POPPACRAK on r/tragedeigh—the subreddit dedicated to unique and misspelled names—the sibling shared their disbelief and concern over her sister's unconventional baby-naming plans. Newsweek reached out to u/POPPACRAK via Reddit for comment. A stock image of two sisters screaming at each other, sitting on a couch. A stock image of two sisters screaming at each other, sitting on a couch. Prostock-Studio The 30-year-old is reportedly a "movie buff" and fan of shows like Naruto, Game of Thrones and the YA sci-fi series I Am Number Four, and has landed on a unique name for her unborn child: Hinata Daenerys Six. In the attached screenshot of a text conversation, the expecting mother explained the mashup name and even mentions considering "Aziraphale"—a character from Good Omens—as an additional middle name. The original poster (OP), 15 years younger than her sister, has turned to the internet for help: "I genuinely wish I was joking. This kid will be bullied." She laments that her sister dismisses her concerns, writing her off as "just being a judgmental teenager." "I am frankly APPALLED by my sister and her choice of name for her future daughter," the OP wrote. "My parents are currently trying to talk her out of it." At the time of writing, the post has received 10,000 upvotes and over 1,800 comments. Reddit users have slammed the mom-to-be for her "asinine" choice. "Your sister is clearly not mature enough to have a child. He KNOWS the kid will be bullied, she's just putting her own selfish larping b******* above that because she has no respect or consideration for the child," one user wrote. "This is the problem with people viewing a baby as an extension of their personality and not a living human being. I don't know if it's 'main character syndrome' or delusions of grandeur or what, but people naming their babies after weird sci fi or fantasy book characters is just cringey as hell to me," another wrote. One user suggested her sister to try out using the name for a week or two in real-life situations. For example, if she goes into a coffee shop, use that name for the order. If she meets a stranger, tell them Hinata Daenerys Six is her name. "Have her try to make a dinner reservation as good old HD6. Make her live with the name until she realizes how impractical it is, and how horribly people will treat her kid," they wrote. The OP provided more context in the comments and explained that she confronted her sister armed with the Reddit thread. She reportedly called her manipulative, selfish and egotistical. Her husband is also aware of the name and "doing nothing" about it. As it stands, the OP's parents are trying to talk her out of the name, but whether they'll succeed is yet to be seen.
Newsweek
14-05-2025
- Newsweek
Family Member Threatening to 'Ruin' Vacation Over Sleeping Arrangements Backed
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 woman who refused to sleep on a couch with her boyfriend during a family vacation is winning overwhelming support online, despite accusations from her mother that she is "ruining" the trip by opting for more private lodging. In a post that has garnered more than 3,300 comments within a day on Reddit, the 24-year-old woman explained, as user TweakinC4t, that her extended family planned a large summer vacation in a rental house organized by her aunt, who initially believed the property had six bedrooms. However, the booking turned out to include only five. Those were assigned to her parents, two sets of cousins and their spouses, and one for the cousins' children—leaving the woman and her boyfriend without a room. The original poster's family suggested they sleep on a pullout couch in the living room, a public area she said would deprive them of privacy, quiet and basic comfort. Stock image: Woman looking annoyed at phone. Stock image: Woman looking annoyed at phone. Prostock-Studio/iStock/Getty Images Plus "I would rather not sleep on a couch even if it does pull out," the woman told sympathetic Redditors. "I also don't want to make my boyfriend sleep on the couch with me either for his own privacy." The OP added that she would feel uncomfortable changing in front of others, storing her belongings in another person's bedroom, or disrupting others by using shared spaces as makeshift living quarters. 'I want my privacy' Rather than decline the trip outright, she offered two compromises: either skip the vacation entirely, or book a nearby Airbnb for her and her boyfriend, while still participating in all group activities and covering her share of the main house rental. "My mom refused both options as I will 'ruin' the trip if I don't stay under the same roof," the OP said. "If I get my own place to stay it would SOLELY be to sleep. I plan to be with my family at all other times and events. "I don't care about the price of only getting an Airbnb just to sleep. I want my privacy." Reddit contributors flooded the thread with support and had questions for the OP. A user asked, "Isn't it some universal law that kids are the first to be kicked out of beds and onto couches/floors? They should pack sleeping bags and tell the kids it'll be a grand fun sleepover party." Another person agreed that the woman's own personal space is important, adding, "If anyone should be in the living room it's the kids." Others shared similar experiences with relatives who insist on group lodging arrangements. "My mom is like this," lamented a commentator. "She got mad I wanted to get a hotel room. She even got mad when I chose to stay at my cousin's house which was 20 minutes away. I don't listen to her and sleep where I want." 'Gentle ways' to set limits Melanie McCabe, a licensed psychologist and founder of RDU Therapy in North Carolina, told Newsweek that traveling with family can be a special time—especially when everyone agrees on the plans, "But as children grow into adults, family roles and routines can shift. This can be a time of growth, but it can also feel confusing or even painful." McCabe said that when personal "limits" change, it may cause some tension in a family. Saying "no" to family—even kindly—can feel uncomfortable, she continued. "You might worry that others will think you're being selfish, or that you're acting differently. But setting a limit is often a healthy, respectful choice for yourself and your relationships. "Setting limits and holding them can help you maintain self-respect and will help you avoid holding on to animosity that can come up from going out of your comfort zone for the sake of others." McCabe offered some "gentle ways" to set a limit: "I know this trip means a lot to you. I'd love to join if we can meet some of my needs too—like having a private room and bathroom. I'm happy to pay my part." "I'd love to be there with you. I can't make the week you suggested because of work, but I'd be glad to come the week before, or after if that works for you." The psychologist told Newsweek that sometimes, when someone sets a limit, a family member may react negatively, such as by blaming or name-calling. "If that happens, take a break," McCabe said. "You can leave the conversation, take time to calm down and then decide what you want to do next. That might mean continuing the conversation later, choosing not to go on the trip, or—if the situation is very harmful—deciding to limit or stop contact." 'The last thing you need' Travel expert Wendy Perrin has advised that private space is essential to a functional group vacation. "The last thing you need is a bed configuration that means one family member... can't sleep," Perrin wrote in a column on family travel. "A house rental provides more space and beds," she added, but when it lacks hotel-style privacy or infrastructure, "One parent spends way too much time doing household chores." 'Life lessons' Back on Reddit, users generally praised the woman's approach: "You're being mature and respectful," one summed up on behalf of many. "If they don't see that, that's on them." The OP replied to a comment in thread that she was learning to stand up for herself more and more over the years. "I grew up with strict parents and had to sneak around a bunch. Learning lots of new life lessons and setting my boundaries." Newsweek has contacted TweakinC4t for comment via Reddit. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek. To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.
Black America Web
23-04-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
Trump Floats $5,000 'Baby Bonus' for Expectant Mothers
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Prostock-Studio / Getty Declining birth rates in the US have got policymakers talking, and the Trump administration is floating a proposal that's turning heads and raising questions about just how far America is willing to go to invest in its future families. Here's what you need to know about the rumored '$5,000 baby bonus,' who could actually benefit, and how the conversation reflects the value (or lack thereof) America places on Black mothers and the communities they support. STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! According to reports, policy experts and advocates have recently met with officials from the Trump administration, bringing a bold idea to the table: American mothers could receive a $5,000 cash payment after giving birth. The aim? To reverse America's declining birth rate and, as some see it, promote 'conservative family values.' Other policy suggestions reportedly include reserving scholarships in government programs for married applicants or those with children, as well as government-backed reproductive health education. But the $5,000 baby bonus is by far getting the most buzz. The US birth rate has been declining since 2008, with 2023 recording the lowest rate on record at roughly 1.6 children per woman (the 'replacement rate' is 2.1). While 2024 saw a small uptick, experts don't expect this to reverse long-term trends. While no official plan has been advanced, the $5,000 baby bonus would likely require Congressional approval, much like the expansion of the Child Tax Credit during the pandemic. That program, which lifted millions of children out of poverty temporarily, was allowed to expire after one year. If the baby bonus follows a similar path, here's what it could mean: Immediate Relief: $5,000 could provide much-needed support with hospital bills, childcare costs, or household expenses for new mothers. $5,000 could provide much-needed support with hospital bills, childcare costs, or household expenses for new mothers. Access for Whom? Details about eligibility—including citizenship, marital status, or income caps—haven't been discussed publicly, but these factors would dramatically shape who benefits most. Details about eligibility—including citizenship, marital status, or income caps—haven't been discussed publicly, but these factors would dramatically shape who benefits most. Temporary or Lasting Solution? Critics point out that a one-time payment may offer a quick fix but can't substitute for policies like paid leave, affordable childcare, or ongoing financial support for parents. Black mothers have historically faced disparities in maternal healthcare, economic support, and family policy. With Black women making up a significant portion of America's essential workers and single-parent households, a cash bonus might help, but the deeper, systemic issues remain. Maternal Health Crisis: Black women are still two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Black women are still two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Economic Gaps: Black mothers often carry a disproportionate burden as sole providers, meaning any government bonus could be especially meaningful—but only if it's accessible and supplemented by broader support. Black mothers often carry a disproportionate burden as sole providers, meaning any government bonus could be especially meaningful—but only if it's accessible and supplemented by broader support. Community Impact: Investing in Black mothers means investing in the future of Black communities, cultural continuity, and wealth-building. If this policy is to make real change, it must be coupled with targeted action to erase historic inequities. READ MORE STORIES Don't expect to see a $5,000 check in your mailbox just yet. The Trump administration hasn't committed to any specific proposals, and Congress would need to act. However, the very fact that this is on the table signals a growing willingness in Washington to at least discuss real dollars for mothers. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK . FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER . SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE . STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! HEAD TO THE HOMEPAGE The article 'Trump Floats $5,000 'Baby Bonus' for Expectant Mothers' was created with the help of SEE ALSO
