SEATTLE -- Accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine can be elusive, prompting the Washington State Labor Council to set up a website to answer people's questions.

David Groves, communications director for the Council, said there has been some hesitancy among union members, though not of the conspiracy-theory variety found on some corners of the internet.

He pointed out one of the main concerns was how quickly the vaccine was approved.

"We wanted to do some education about what the shots are, how they work, why they've been declared safe for emergency use," Groves explained. "And since then, we've just been building it out with more and more information as different issues come up."

Groves also noted there has been hesitancy in Black, Indigenous and other communities of color, mainly because of the unequal health outcomes for people in these groups. The Washington State Labor Council's website includes information resources for BIPOC members, as well as a vaccine locator and firsthand stories from union members who have received the vaccine.

As Washington state and employers mandate the vaccine, Groves believes it is important for unions to play a role in how mandates are implemented. He emphasized the process for exemptions, such as for medical reasons, is not yet clear, and others might need paid time off to get the shot.

"When unions are saying, 'No, you have to bargain over this,' we're not saying you have to bargain over whether a mandate exists," Groves stressed. "We're trying to bargain over the effects of the mandate and how it affects our members."

The American Federation of Teachers-Washington is among the unions reassuring its members it will be bargaining locally on the impacts of a vaccine mandate.

Groves added most of their members have already been vaccinated and feel strongly about working alongside people who also are protected.

"One of the key things that unions fight for is workplace safety; and this is absolutely a workplace safety issue, in addition to being a public safety issue," Groves asserted.

This month, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a vaccine mandate affecting about 60,000 state employees, 400,000 health-care providers and most education and child-care workers, many of whom are union members.

Groups that advocate for clean water are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on replacing lead pipes - but they warn that the drinking water in Wyoming schools remains at risk.

The agency has set a 10-year deadline for most utilities to replace lead service lines, but omitted requirements for schools to replace the water fountains or plumbing that have lead components.

John Rumpler, clean-water director for the Environment America Research and Policy Center, said it's up to school superintendents and legislators to ensure students' water is safe.

"This final rule now dispels the illusion that the federal government is going to come and do the clean-water homework for the state," he said.

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality in 2021 offered a voluntary program, funded by the EPA, to test drinking water in state schools and child-care facilities. According to results published in February, of more than 250 tests, a dozen led to the start of remediation projects. Only three were completed.

Several decades after the dangers of lead pipes were established, more than nine million remain in use. The toxic metal is particularly dangerous for children and can lead to brain or nervous-system damage, delayed development and behavioral problems.

Rumpler said the EPA missed an opportunity to better protect students, although a growing number of states and cities are now requiring lead filtration systems.

"If you're a school district," he said, "consider doing what Philadelphia, San Diego, Detroit, Milwaukee and so many other school districts are doing voluntarily to get the lead out and ensure safe drinking water for kids."

To help rural towns and cities comply with the new rule, the EPA is making an additional $3 billion available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The measure initially provided $15 billion to help cities replace their lead pipes, but government officials estimate the total cost will be several times higher.


get more stories like this via email

Clean water advocates in Maine are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on lead pipe removals but warned drinking water in schools remains at risk.

The EPA set a 10-year deadline for most utilities to replace lead service lines but omitted requirements for schools to replace any fountains or plumbing with lead components.

John Rumpler, clean water director for the Environment America Research and Policy Center, said it is up to school superintendents and legislators to ensure students' water is safe.

"This final rule now dispels the illusion that the federal government is going to come and do the clean water homework for the state of Maine," Rumpler pointed out.

Rumpler argued Maine should follow Michigan's lead in requiring all schools to install filters certified to remove lead on all taps used for drinking or cooking. A recent report gave Maine a grade of "D" for its efforts to reduce exposure to lead in K-12 schools.

Several decades after the dangers of lead pipes were established, more than nine million pipes remain in use. The toxic metal is particularly dangerous for children and can lead to brain or nervous system damage, delayed development and behavioral problems. Rumpler added the EPA missed an opportunity to better protect students but a growing number of states and cities are requiring lead filtration systems themselves.

"If you're a school district, consider doing what Philadelphia, San Diego, Detroit, Milwaukee and so many other school districts are doing voluntarily to get the lead out and ensure safe drinking water for kids," Rumpler urged.

To help rural towns and cities comply with the new rule, the EPA is making an additional $3 billion available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The measure initially provided $15 billion to help cities replace their lead pipes, but government officials estimate the total cost will be several times higher.


get more stories like this via email

When it comes to stroke care, experts say, "time is brain." Now, a program launching in South Dakota will coordinate and strengthen stroke care across the state.

Nearly 400 South Dakotans died due to stroke in 2022. A new program from the American Heart Association of South Dakota, "Mission: Lifeline Stroke Initiative," aims to integrate all components of stroke care into a smooth system serving all patients quickly and effectively, whether they live in a city or a rural area.

Michele Bolles, national executive vice president of quality outcomes research and analytics for the American Heart Association, said it starts with early stroke identification.

"Generally, it's an acronym, FAST," Bolles outlined. "You look at someone's face, their arms may droop, their speech may be slurred, and ultimately the T stands for time. So, time is of the essence."

The initiative will also refresh emergency medical service providers on signs of stroke to kick-start the correct chain reaction for care, including assembling a hospital's stroke team and connecting patients with high-quality post-acute care. The Lifeline Stroke program has already rolled out in neighboring states including North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska and Iowa.

More than 90% of stroke patients live with a form of disability following their initial stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

Walter Panzirer, trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, which provided a grant for the initiative, said patients will need different types of post-acute care, like physical therapy or speech pathology. The new program will provide certification for certain facilities.

"It's basically a gold seal of approval," Panzirer noted. "They can guarantee that every facility that meets it has the same standards."

Panzirer added while some people may have high-quality care nearby, others may need to travel.