Canadians face air quality, heat warnings as some stuck indoors from both

A troubling investigation reveals that for-profit rehab hospitals—where many patients go for physical therapy—often have serious safety issues and high readmission rates, yet Medicare keeps these problems hidden from the public. Even when inspections uncover grave errors, these facilities rarely face penalties, leaving patients in the dark about potential risks.

Editor’s Note: If you or a loved one has ever needed rehab care, this should give you pause. Patients trust these facilities to help them recover, but the lack of transparency means they can’t make informed choices. It’s another example of how weak oversight in healthcare puts people at risk—without consequences for the institutions responsible.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (H.H.S.) is moving forward with massive layoffs—impacting thousands of employees—following a recent Supreme Court ruling. The decision, which likely limited the agency's authority or funding, has forced deep cuts. Workers are bracing for the fallout, and critics warn it could disrupt critical health programs.

Editor’s Note: Layoffs of this scale don’t just affect employees—they ripple out to the services people rely on, from Medicare to disease prevention. If H.H.S. can’t operate at full capacity, it could mean slower responses to health crises or reduced support for vulnerable communities. This isn’t just bureaucratic shuffling; it’s a real-world cut with real-world consequences.

A Trump administration official falsely claimed that PEPFAR—the U.S. global HIV/AIDS program—was funding abortions in Russia. Investigations found no evidence to support the accusation, which critics say was likely an attempt to undermine the program’s reputation.

Editor’s Note: Misinformation about PEPFAR isn’t just a bureaucratic spat—it risks damaging a decades-old program that’s saved millions of lives. False claims like this could fuel political attacks on global health initiatives, even when they’re based on zero facts. That’s dangerous when real progress is at stake.

The Trump administration is moving to cap how much Medicare will pay for expensive wound care bandages, aiming to rein in costs. These specialized dressings can be pricey, and the new rule would limit reimbursement to a set rate unless doctors can justify the higher expense. Critics argue this might restrict access to advanced treatments, while supporters say it’s a needed check on overspending.

Editor’s Note: Medicare spending is a perennial hot-button issue, and this move reflects the ongoing tug-of-war between cost control and patient care. If you or a loved one relies on these high-end bandages—say, for chronic wounds or post-surgery recovery—this could mean more paperwork or fewer options down the line. But it’s also part of a bigger debate: How do we balance cutting waste without squeezing patients or providers too hard?

A local wellbeing charity, Simply Limitless, is scrambling to find a new home after being told to vacate its current base in Kidderminster within weeks. The landlord has secured new tenants, leaving the organization in a tight spot as it tries to relocate its operations without disrupting the community it serves.

Editor’s Note: Charities like Simply Limitless often rely on affordable or donated spaces to keep their services running—so sudden evictions can have a real impact on their work and the people who depend on them. This isn’t just about moving boxes; it’s about whether vital support, like mental health or outreach programs, might face interruptions. It also highlights the broader struggle of nonprofits dealing with unstable housing in a tough rental market.