Latest news with #Stoner
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Local doctor pushes back on federal statement about COVID-19 vaccine guidelines
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A recent announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, is drawing reaction from local public health experts. On Tuesday, Kennedy said the department would no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for those groups. Experts here say there is a rigorous process to examine who should get a vaccine and when which is undertaken by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That process, they say, is still in the works and no official, science-driven recommendation has been released, said Dr. Gregg Stoner, medical director of the Peoria City/County Health Department, 'There is a committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It's a 19-member panel made up of scientists, public health officials, and doctors,' Stoner said. 'They make a recommendation based on the science that exists at the time about what immunizations are recommended. That then goes to the director of the CDC, who would sign off on it. 'Then it's forwarded to health departments—so the Illinois Department of Public Health—and that would come down to us. We would then change our standing orders to follow those guidelines,' he said. As of now, the CDC has not issued any new guidance removing COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for healthy children or pregnant women. Dr. Robert Healy, the associate chief medical officer for Carle Health, said there is 'uccessful evidence of taking all mitigation efforts available to reduce the spread of infection in our communities.' 'We continue to monitor the CDC and state recommendations for vaccine scheduling, supporting the individual needs of our patients,' he said. 'Talk with your care provider about your medical history and risk level when considering any immunization.' Stoner emphasized the ongoing impact of COVID-19, particularly among at-risk populations. 'Well, it's become a regular part of our society now,' said Stoner. 'COVID is still killing hundreds of people and hospitalizing thousands every week in the United States. It is here, and it's here to stay.' He noted a concerning drop in vaccination rates as public concern has waned. 'People have become a little less concerned about it, and so vaccination rates have somewhat declined—and they really shouldn't,' he added. Stoner also addressed Kennedy's comments specifically, warning of their implications for maternal and child health. 'So the recommendations were that pregnant women did not need to receive a vaccine and that healthy children did not need to receive the vaccine,' he said. 'The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology issued a statement three days ago expressing their extreme displeasure with this recommendation. 'They said all pregnant women should be vaccinated for COVID, and that if they develop COVID during pregnancy, it is catastrophic for them and their families,' Stoner said. 'Maternal antibodies are passed to the child, and so a child born to an unvaccinated mother has no protection for the first six months of their life.' Stoner recommends high-risk individuals continue to get a COVID-19 vaccine twice a year and encourages anyone with concerns about immunization guidelines to consult their healthcare provider. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Mayor
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
From Facebook to Festivals: Foodies of Lafayette Surpasses 100K Members
LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) – The Foodies of Lafayette Facebook group started out as an online gathering place for fans of the local food scene, but what it's become is nothing short of phenomenal. In recent months, the group has established a solid presence at Festival International, held multiple member events, taken over the Lafayette Community Fridge project, and reached a milestone 100,000 members in the group. From a Facebook group that was built to promote the Lafayette food scene to a massive digital community, Foodies of Lafayette has become one of the most recognizable Foodies of Lafayette: A Community Built on Good Taste and Good Vibes In a town where food is more than just sustenance—it's a way of life—Foodies of Lafayette has carved out a flavorful niche. Founded in December 2019 by Heidi McDonald, the group began as a Facebook community aimed at spotlighting local eateries that often flew under the radar. Inspired by a standout experience at Fuji Sushi, McDonald envisioned a space where Lafayette's culinary gems could shine without the noise of negativity or unsolicited critiques. Moderated by a dedicated team, including Jason Stoner, who joined in January 2020, the group maintains its focus on positivity. As the group has grown, so has the moderator team, all of whom work diligently to foster a caring and uplifting community of foodies. Beyond online interactions, Foodies of Lafayette extends its impact through initiatives like the FOL Culinary Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding local restaurants, and by supporting future chefs through culinary scholarships. Their website, offers a hub for restaurant spotlights, member recipes, and information on upcoming foodie events. Foodies Hits 100,000 Members on Facebook In their biggest milestone yet, the group reached 100,000 members, a fact that has the team behind it both celebrating and in awe of what they've accomplished. McDonald and Stoner both expressed their gratitude not just for the membership milestone, but for what the community has meant to them. 'We truly appreciate each and every member of the group,' Stoner told KPEL News. 'I have been able to make so many great friends through Foodies of Lafayette. It's countless, honestly. And so I am so grateful that we have the community.' McDonald, almost through tears, was likewise gracious for this online family. 'Our area is so unique,' she said. 'I never in a million years would have envisioned any of this. But all of the people who are part of this community make me a believer every single day. And the power that we have by coming together, I think, is limitless.' Mass Gatherings, Sunday Dinners, and More With events like the upcoming Cake Fête, as well as the regular Sunday dinners and more gatherings planned, FOL has become a lot more than an online community. These are people who meet up in real life to discuss one of the great cultural moments that brings us together—food. READ MORE: Foodies of Lafayette Hosting First Community Cake Fête 'The friendships are real,' McDonald said. 'The relationships are real. The networking is real. Y'all help us make it better. Foodies do it better.' Stoner agreed. 'Every day I'm thankful that we have a place like this and to make friends and be positive, do events and have fun.,' he said. 'And I couldn't be happier with that.' Foodies of Lafayette is planning to celebrate the 100,000-member milestone on Sunday, June 1, at Prejean's Broussard. The social event begins at 12:30 p.m.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Which author does Patrick Galbraith think is 'cold and detached'
What book... ... are you reading now? I AM just coming to the end of Lamorna Ash's Don't Forget We're Here Forever: A New Generation's Search For Religion. Her first book, on the Cornish fishing community, written with wide-eyed wonder when she was in her early 20s, was excellent, and her second is even better. She has that great skill of writing narrative non-fiction in a nuanced way, subtly revealing the complexities of humanity. One stand-out moment is her presentation of a young guy who hears voices – the doctors want to prescribe antidepressants, his church tells him it's the Devil and they'll pray for him. Neither is presented as being better because, after all, which of these approaches will actually help him the most: faith or pills with myriad side effects? ... would you take to a desert island? I WOULD have to take John Williams's Stoner or Frederick Exley's A Fan's Notes. In both instances I would pore over their prose style and try to understand how they write so brilliantly. I did once spend eight days in a cave on an uninhibited Scottish island – I took Alexander Trocchi's Cain's Book ('one of the early junky books', in the words of William S Burroughs) and it was the most intense reading experience of my life. It was March and it was very cold. Having no phone reception is a great way to truly read. ...first gave you the reading bug? THE first book I really remember having a big impact on me was Gerald Durrell's My Family And Other Animals. It made me feel very acutely how great writing can conjure up a long-lost world and I loved Margot, of course, Gerald's sister. Some years later I went to Corfu and was intensely disappointed. Bad food, no Margot, no Spiro. I also have a very clear memory of staying off school and pretending I was sick so I could read Jane Eyre – Bertha Mason is a character I think of often. Growing up is realising Bertha was a victim. ...left you cold? A YEAR or so ago, it seemed as though everybody was going mad for Joan Didion. Sadly I've never really got the hype. She's got that sort of cold, detached, clever girl-in-the-year-above thing going on. I like writers who are excited by life.
Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
How to deal with a midlife crisis — get in a car and keep driving
The Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show has an unimprovably bleak line on the letdowns of ageing: 'Your expectations get ground down and down until finally you settle for a life that would have mortified you 20 years ago, but now seems like a blessed relief.' The literary exemplar of such stoical suffering is poor Stoner, the perpetually thwarted Midwestern academic in John Williams's 1965 novel of the same name. But what if Stoner escaped his failed marriage and professional disappointments and embarked on a road trip to California? That's more or less the setup of The Rest of Our Lives. Ben Markovits's 12th novel is a slim study of middle-aged ennui set on the US highway, scattered with its English-American author's familiar interests such
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
YSU police department welcomes new K-9 officer
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Youngstown State University is adding a new four-legged officer to its police force. Barkley began patrol this week as the department's newest K-9 officer. He continues the department's K-9 program following the retirement of K-9 Gino last May. Barkley is a one-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd and joins the force as an explosive and firearm detection dog. His handler, officer Hope Stoner, is excited to get to work with her new partner. 'When I was choosing K-9s, once I saw him come out, I just instantly knew that he was going to be my partner,' Stoner said. 'He's very friendly, sociable. He's just a great dog, truly. I feel like I had that instant connection when I met him.' Barkley and Officer Stoner recently completed a five-week training course in they're ready to hit the road and explore campus. 'I've always loved dogs. When the position opened I knew it was going to be a great experience for me to advance in my career, do something different: get involved with the community, more involved with the dog, work with other departments,' Stoner said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
