This story was reported for Seaside Courier on Feb. 4, 2016. The days of Billy Blanks and his wildly popular Tae Bo classes were what drew Liberty Harper into the fitness world. Harper, an Encinitas resident, was 17 years old at the time. “I had already understood that fitness was important but once I started taking these cardio kickboxing classes,… Read more →
Category: Health
Collective Health Wants to Change Healthcare Coverage — and Lower Its Cost
This story was reported for NewCo on Jan. 22, 2016. We’ve all heard stories of health insurance companies that deny claims, but few of us start a company in response. That’s what Ali Diab did: he founded Collective Health, a Silicon Valley-based startup determined to reform the way Americans pay for health insurance. Diab and Rajaie Batniji, a doctor at… Read more →
Farm to prison project advancing
This story was reported for Seaside Courier on May 19, 2014. An Encinitas resident is overseeing a new effort to have inmates at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa grow their own food behind prison walls. The Farm And Rehabilitation Meals (FARM) program being developed at the prison will enable up to 20 inmates to grow fruits… Read more →
Out of control: Men have few reliable options for birth control
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 10, 2010. Fifty years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved the birth control pill for women — but why isn’t there one for men yet? Today, more than 100 million women worldwide and 12 million U.S. women may be asking themselves that question. Experts say there are… Read more →
Dueling health care rallies hit the streets of San Diego
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on March 16, 2010. As Democrats made a final push for President Barack Obama’s health care reform package, local supporters and opponents of the president’s plan rallied Tuesday at competing demonstrations. Conflict surrounding reform continues to escalate, despite the Dems promise to pass the package of bills this week. In… Read more →
Experts say health care reform may become a broken promise
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on February 24, 2010. Thursday’s meeting between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders may just be another addition to daytime television rather than a boost to health care reform legislation. With Obama’s health care reform package seeing major alterations in the past year and the 59 Democratic members of Congress… Read more →
Eight great local charities worth your time this holiday season
This story was reported for San Diego News Network on December 11, 2009. When I was eight, my mother took me to a jewelry store and let me choose out a charm. I chose an 18-karat heart with the Goddess of Compassion in the middle. The Goddess of Compassion was an emblem I was familiar having grown up in a… Read more →
Shortage of health care workers a growing concern
This story was reported for San Diego News Network on December 9, 2009. The public option, Medicare and insurance for undocumented residents are just some issues related to health care being debated in the U.S. Senate at the moment. But some Americans have other concerns surrounding health care legislation — like the depleted amount of workers in the industry. Does… Read more →
Single-payer health care advocates arrested in protest
This story was reported for San Diego News Network on November 2, 2009. Three single-payer health care supporters were arrested Monday after protesting outside the Mission Valley office of Blue Shield of California. The protest was a part of a nationwide campaign to dispute health care companies, who demonstrators claim have been raising premiums throughout the recession and have lobbied… Read more →
Religious groups take a stand on health care debate
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on August 11, 2009. Religious Americans ready for health care reform are turning up the pressure on lawmakers Tuesday with nationwide rallies asking for change by the end of 2009. The organizations, led by the faith-based PICO (Pacific Institute for Community Organizations) National Network, have planned a 40-day-long campaign that… Read more →