Mayor Lori Lightfoot has nominated Dr. Allison Arwady to become the next commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Arwady has been serving as acting commissioner since June.
Stories by Kristen Thometz
Lightfoot Proposes Citywide Ban on Flavored E-Cigarette Products
As underage vaping and hospitalizations linked to vaping continue to rise, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is calling for a citywide ban on flavored e-cigarette products. “The dangers are manifesting themselves literally every day. We must act and we will,” she said.
2019 Chicago Summer Festival Guide
Up next: Goose Island Block Party, Garfield Park Harvest Day, Lakeview Taco Fest, Andersonville Arts Fest, Englewood Jazz Fest, Taste of Clark Street, Oaktoberfest, Long Grove Apple Fest, Lisle Ale Fest and more.
Suburban Teen With Severe Lung Damage Files Lawsuit Against E-Cigarette Maker Juul
Adam Hergenreder, 18, looks like a typical teenager, but his lungs tell a different story. “I’ve been told by medical professionals that my lungs are that of a 70-year-old,” the Gurnee resident said Friday at a press conference.
Health Officials: Hospitalizations in Illinois Linked to Vaping Climbs to 52
The number of people hospitalized with a severe respiratory illness linked to vaping continues to grow in Illinois, with 52 confirmed cases since May, according to new figures released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Report: Obesity Rates Rising in Illinois, Across the Country
Nearly a third of adults in Illinois were obese in 2017, compared to roughly 28% seven years ago, according to a new report that offers recommendations to curb the trend – including a sugar-sweetened beverage tax.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Sept. 12-15
Art fairs, rock bands, sweet treats and an early Thanksgiving celebration usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Illinois Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Opioid Distributors, Manufacturers
Opioid manufacturers carried out unfair and deceptive marketing campaigns while distributors flooded Illinois with opioids, according to a lawsuit filed this week by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Sen. Durbin Calls on FDA Commissioner to Act on Vaping Epidemic or Resign
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is calling on Food and Drug Administration Acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless to take “decisive action” against the vaping epidemic that has claimed five lives or resign.
Broadband Access Key to Expanding Telehealth in Illinois Communities
Telehealth, or the virtual delivery of health-related services, is on the rise. State and federal officials gave an update on investments supporting expansion of such services at an annual conference, including a $420 million expansion of broadband services in Illinois.
Parents Sound Alarm on Vaping After Daughter’s Near-Death Experience
“We hope that our daughter’s life-threatening ordeal can serve as a warning to parents and teens alike. Vaping is dangerous and can kill you,” said Ruby Johnson, whose daughter, Piper, was hospitalized for a week after vaping.
Cook County Maps Story of Opioid Epidemic with New Website
A newly launched website seeks to convey the seriousness of the opioid epidemic locally while providing resources and honoring those who have died, says Dr. Kiran Joshi of the Cook County Department of Public Health.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Sept. 5-8
Street festivals, retro tunes, cultural celebrations, opera under the stars and a jump in the river usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Police: Shootings, Murders Fall in August
More than 40 people were shot in Chicago, eight fatally, over Labor Day weekend. Despite that, police say the total number of shootings and murders for August are at their lowest point since 2011.
‘Voices of the City’ Project Captures Chicagoans’ Favorite Spots
From iconic Chicago landmarks to neighborhood parks, 350 Chicago-area residents share their favorite local places in the “Voices of the City” art project. Add your voice to the mix.
Study: Doctors ‘Losing Ground in Battle’ Against Heart Disease
For years, the U.S. saw a steep decline in the number of deaths from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension – known collectively as cardiometabolic disease. But that downturn has mostly leveled off since 2011, according to researchers.
Health Officials Report 5 More Cases of Hospitalizations Linked to Vaping
Nearly a week after an Illinois resident died following hospitalization for a severe respiratory illness linked to vaping, health officials are reporting an additional five cases in the state.
12 Things to Do This Labor Day Weekend: Aug. 29-Sept. 2
Street festivals, live jazz, handmade gifts, global foods and a football season preview usher in the long weekend. Here are a dozen things to do in and around Chicago.
Illinois Resident Who Was Hospitalized After Vaping Dies
An Illinois resident who was hospitalized with a severe respiratory illness after vaping has died, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. It may be the first death in the country linked to vaping.
City Reaches Settlements with 16 E-Cigarette Retailers for Selling to Minors
The settlement requires the retailers to pay more than $540,000 in fines for illegally selling and marketing e-cigarette products to minors, according to city officials.
Lightfoot Launches Task Force to Combat Sexually Transmitted Infections
In 2018, Chicago saw an uptick in the number of cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. A new task force will work to develop strategies to curb STIs across the city, starting with syphilis.
Illinois Attorney General Expands Lawsuit Against Purdue Pharma
For years, OxyContin maker Purdue engaged in deceptive marketing practices, according to a lawsuit filed in April by Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Now, Raoul’s office is seeking to add members of the company’s founding family as defendants.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 22-25
Fancy footwork, street festivals, witty women, sideshow acts and odd flea market finds usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in Chicago.
Pritzker Signs Bill Legalizing Syringe Exchanges Statewide
A new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker legalizes syringe exchange programs in Illinois, opening the door to an increase in operations aiming to serve a community at risk of overdoses and infection from unsafe supplies.
Patient Sues Rush Oak Park Hospital After Contracting Legionnaires’
A woman who contracted Legionnaires’ disease in July is suing the hospital where she contracted the illness, alleging it didn’t take proper precautions following a previous outbreak of legionella bacteria, according to the lawsuit.
