Indiana

Local school board members are on the frontline of what is a health crisis at its core. Some school board members and superintendents across the state speak of a tough spot they’re put in. Some convey a message of confidence that things will be under control soon but others question why public health officials are not making these decisions in the middle of a resurging global pandemic.

These attacks can lead to significant delays in care for already overburdened or rural hospitals.

Transferring critically ill patients is becoming increasingly difficult, according to hospital leaders, government officials and industry advocates. Patients are spending hours — or sometimes days — in rural hospital emergency rooms waiting for an ambulance.

Members of the Indiana Two-Way and the Midwest Checkup asked us about the delta variant and its future effect on Indiana. To join the Indiana Two-Way, text “Indiana” to 73224. To join the Midwest Check-up, text “health” to 73224.

Sheila Muhammad tested positive for HIV more than 30 years ago and her life quickly changed. But as the years passed, attitudes and treatments of HIV changed. Muhammad spoke with Side Effects Public Media about the power in education and understanding of the virus.

The ACLU of Indiana has filed three new lawsuits in federal court on behalf of prisoners at the Miami Correctional Facility alleging cruel and unusual punishment. The filings follow six other federal lawsuits from earlier this year.

Indiana drew national attention for an HIV outbreak in 2015 — mostly tied to drug use. But there’s a hidden HIV epidemic among another group of people — Black women, who are being diagnosed with HIV at disproportionately high rates.

There is a shortage in African American blood and stem cell donors. This leaves many African American patients with blood cancers and sickle cell disease scrambling to find matches. The need is huge, but the barriers also run deep.

The ACLU of Indiana has filed several federal lawsuits on behalf of prisoners at the Miami Correctional Facility who say they were held under conditions that amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.

This community garden is offering Indianapolis high schoolers much-needed space to belong, innovate and "change their world".