Like many working Americans, Lisa Gray thought she had good health insurance.

That was until she was diagnosed with leukemia in mid-2013, and the self-employed businesswoman made a startling discovery: Her health plan didn't cover the chemotherapy she needed. "I thought I was going to die," Gray, 62, said recently, recalling her desperate scramble to get lifesaving drugs.

Through a mix of temporary measures, doctors and patient advocates managed to keep Gray stable for a few months.

But it was a new health plan through the Affordable Care Act that Gray credits with saving her life. The plan, which started Jan. 1, 2014, gave her access to the recommended chemotherapy. Her cancer went into remission in the fall.

It is now one year since the federal law began guaranteeing coverage to most Americans for the first time, even if they are sick.

Some consumers pay more for insurance. Some pay less. Doctors, hospitals and businesses are laboring to keep up with new requirements. And across the country, "Obamacare" remains a polarizing political issue.

For many Americans like Gray who were stuck in plans that didn't cover vital services or who couldn't get insurance because of a preexisting medical condition the law has had a personal, even life-changing impact.

"A couple years earlier, I think I would have been done," Gray said.

Even the law's supporters concede more must be done to control healthcare costs and ensure access to care.

But the insurance guarantee which includes billions of dollars in aid to low- and middle-income Americans has extended coverage to about 10 million people who previously had no insurance, surveys indicate. That cut the nation's uninsured rate more than 20% last year, the largest drop in half a century.

Originally posted here:
Obamacare's guaranteed health coverage changes lives in first year

A man was accidentally wounded by his hunting partner Friday on Pennsylvania Game Lands west of Colebrook near Elizabethtown and Colebrook roads, police said.

Township police, Lawn ambulance and Campbelltown Fire Co. were dispatched to the area at 3:55 p.m. for a man shot in the arm. He was taken to Hershey Medical Center for treatment. Police said did not release the names of the two hunters. Township police and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are continuing an investigation.

INVESTIGATION INSIDE >> Palmyra Citizens Fire Co. was dispatched at 8:32 a.m. Saturday to 83 Lantern Lane.

INVESTIGATION INSIDE >> Palmyra Citizens Fire Co. was dispatched at 9:03 a.m. Saturday to 1933 S. Forge Road.

INVESTIGATION INSIDE >> Campbelltown Fire Co., Life Lion EMS and Lawn ambulances and fire police were dispatched at 7:05 a.m. Saturday for a gas leak at 128 School House Road.

CRASH >> Palmyra Citizens Fire Co. was dispatched at 3:23 a.m. Saturday to clean up a spill at a traffic accident at 810 W. Main St. No injuries were reported.

CRASH >> Louise H. Nolt, 38, Myerstown, was charged with a vehicle turning left violation following a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Locust Street and West Lincoln Avenue (Route 422) at 6:28 p.m. Friday, state police at Lickdale said. Police said the accident happened when Nolt attempted to turn from Locust Street onto West Lincoln Avenue, and her car collided with a vehicle driven by Todd E. Eveler, 49, Myerstown. No injuries were reported.

SPILL CLEANUP >> Newmanstown Fire Co. and fire police were dispatched at 2:03 p.m. Saturday to 242 S. Fort Zellers Road.

CRASH >> Mt. Zion and Fredericksburg fire companies, First Aid and Safety Patrol and fire police were dispatched at 12:26 p.m. Saturday to 296 Freeport Road.

CRASH >> Ono, Fort Indiantown Gap and Jonestown's Perseverance fire companies and First Aid and Safety Patrol were dispatched at 2:15 p.m. Saturday to the Fort Indiantown Gap-Annville off-ramp of northbound I-81.

Original post:
Hunter accidentally shot in South Londonderry police log

Editor's Note:A young mother, nurse and solider, Stephanie Murdough Riley died this past week after inspiring so many people in New Hampshire with her will to live.We sat down with her in May 2014 for this story and are re-publishing this story in her honor.

Stephanie Murdough Riley of Concord will be lacing up her sneakers and participating with her young family and about 130 friends at the Rock 'N Race on May 8.

It benefits not only the hospital she works for, but where she is receiving treatment for stage four lung cancer.

Diagnosed in February, Steph is strong and this aggressive form of cancer has met its match.

In fact, "Steph Strong" is the name of her huge team which has raised more than $9,000 for Concord Hospital's Payson Center for Cancer Care.

She will fire the starting pistol on the lawn of the State House at 6 p.m. and will be asked to say a few words to inspire the more than 6,000 participants in the popular annual fundraiser. The course weaves through the downtown comes through the former State School grounds and ends where it begins at the state's Capitol.

Sharon E. Sweet, events manager for the Concord Hospital Trust, said over the years, the race has raised $3.2 million.

"Last year, 6,543 people participated, we hope to match those numbers again this year," Sharon said.

Steph is no stranger to the event.

"I have always walked the Rock 'n Race with the kids' school team," she said. "This year, I am moving to Rock Star status," by becoming one of the largest fund raisers for the event.

Continued here:
Mother, nurse, soldier who inspired 'Steph Strong' running team dies

Seven people, including a 14-year-old girl, were injured in separate shootings since New Year's Day, police said.

In the latest shooting, a male, whose age was not immediately available, was shot in the leg during a possible robbery around 3:45 a.m. Friday in the Galewood neighborhood on the Northwest Side,said Chicago police Officer Amina Greer.

The male was in the 2200 block of North Narragansett Avenue when he was shot. He was taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital, Greer said.

No other information was immediately available.

Thursday night, around 10:50 p.m., two men were shot in the Belmont Central neighborhood on the Northwest Side, Greer said.

A 42-year-old man and a 25-year-old man were standing outside in the 5600 block of West Fullerton Avenue when an offender came out of the passenger side of a dark-colored sedan and fired shots, striking them. The offender then fled northbound in the vehicle.

Both men were shot in the back and were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where their conditions stabilized, Greer said.

No one is in custody.

Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday a man was shot in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side, said Chicago police spokesman Hector Alfaro.

The victim, a 22-year-old man, was standing in the 5000 block of West Fulton Street when a dark-colored sedan drove by and someone from inside fired, Alfaro said.

Here is the original post:
7 hurt in separate shootings since New Year's Day

One resident was burned in a fire in an North Spokane apartment building that has been plagued by false alarms in the last month. Firefighters arrived at the home converted into apartments at 903 W. Augusta at 2:45 p.m. to find a column of smoke rising into the air and flames visible through a front window. Most residents, however, were still inside. Weve had a problem with this structure for a while with false alarms and people are reluctant to leave, said Spokane Fire Department Battalion Chief Joel Fielder. Our crews have come here several times over

You have viewed 20 free articles or blogs allowed within a 30-day period. FREE registration is now required for uninterrupted access.

S-R Media, The Spokesman-Review and Spokesman.com are happy to assist you. Contact Customer Service by email or call 800-338-8801

Spokane Fire Department firefighters mop up after a house converted into apartments at 903 W. Augusta Avenue caught fire Friday afternoon. One person suffered burns in theblaze. (Full-size photo)(All photos)

One resident was burned in a fire in an North Spokane apartment building that has been plagued by false alarms in the last month.

Firefighters arrived at the home converted into apartments at 903 W. Augusta at 2:45 p.m. to find a column of smoke rising into the air and flames visible through a front window. Most residents, however, were still inside.

Weve had a problem with this structure for a while with false alarms and people are reluctant to leave, said Spokane Fire Department Battalion Chief Joel Fielder. Our crews have come here several times over the last month. People think its just another false alarm.

Firefighters rescued several people from inside the eight apartments. One resident was taken to a local hospital for treatment for burns and smoke inhalation.

Another resident just had time to grab his two cats before escaping out into the snow with bare feet. Resident Steve Zimmerman sat in a lawn chair bundled in blankets as he waited for the Red Cross to arrive. A neighbor brought him a cup of hot coffee and a cigarette as he waited.

I heard the alarm and came out, Zimmerman said. I live on the second floor, or did.

View post:
One injured in apartment fire - Fri, 02 Jan 2015 PST

By Donna Vickroy dvickroy@southtownstar.com December 31, 2014 3:58PM

Dr. Kristopher McDonough, a pulmonologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital. | Supplied photo

storyidforme: 76594820 tmspicid: 26464691 fileheaderid: 13761555

New technology similar to the science behind video games and GPS is enabling doctors to better navigate the lungs and test small, hard to reach nodules without surgery.

Its very exciting, Dr. Kristopher McDonough, a pulmonologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital, said. The New Lenox healthcare facility is one of a handful of medical centers in the Chicago area that offers electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB). Others include University of Chicago and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

But, McDonough said, patients can expect to see more of this kind of technology in the near future.

The new method enables doctors to more easily navigate the maze of tubes inside the lungs, reaching suspicious masses inside those traditionally hard to access tiny bronchiole tubes in a minimally invasive way. McDonough said ENB provides a comprehensive program for the minimally invasive diagnosis of lung cancer.

The process begins with a virtual bronchography, which is a three-dimensional map of the inside of a patients airways.

Its like a road map, McDonough said.

During the procedure, the patient is put on top of a magnetic board. Markers are placed on the patients chest. A camera is inserted via a catheter through the patients mouth.

Read more from the original source:
GPS, video game science help doctors detect, treat lung cancer

Make this your preferred store

Founded in 2000, the Sears store at Westfield Connecticut Post Mall serves about 300,000 customers annually. Enjoy a friendly smile and helpful information from our store associates. Our customers enjoy services like Sears Auto Center and Sears Optical while they shop for the high-quality products they need.

Homeowners know that keeping up your lawn and garden is an important part of maintaining your house. Sears has all the lawn and garden equipment you need to get the job done quickly and easily. Find lawn mowers, snow blowers, trimmers and more must-haves to help you keep your yard tidy and have curb appeal.

Give your home the best of the best with appliances from Sears. Choose from the brands you trust, like Kenmore, to find washers, dryers, refrigerators and other appliances to update your home. Whether you're all about stainless steel, prefer the sleek-black look or want to brighten up your space with white equipment, you'll find the look you want and the appliances you need to make daily chores easier.

Stop in and experience the unbeatable customer service and products at the Sears Westfield Connecticut Post Mall. We have everything you need to keep your home in working order in stock. Whether you're looking for a new washer and dryer or outfits for your kids' first day of school, you can shop your way at Sears.

view full description

1201 Boston Post Rd Sp 2095 Milford, CT 06460

203-876-3200

41.237,-73.034

Read the original here:
Sears Post Mall Milford CT Lawn and Garden ...

Some air hazards can be difficult to identify. But one obvious hazard is cigarette smoking. Quitting smoking does not have to be the very first removal of unhealthy exposure, but it is good to consider it an eventual goal. When you feel ready to quit smoking, you can work closely with your Holistic Healthcare practitioner (e.g., Oriental Medicine practitioner) and/or use the Ideas presented on the Smokefree Home Page. The main area of the Smokefree Home Page contains tools for clearing up problems with second-hand smoke exposures at work, school, home, and restaurants.

Since exposure to low levels of toxic chemicals at work can contribute significantly to chronic illness, it is important to learn about what chemical hazards might exist for you at work and then eliminate or protect yourself from those hazards. The goal should be to breath fresh, clean air most of the day. Some of the things at work which can create air hazards include carpeting, copy machines and laser printer toner fumes, office furniture (especially particle board ) and upholstered chairs which can outgass formaldehyde, adhesives (glue, cement, etc.), chemicals used in making a product, chemicals produced and given off into the air from the process of making a product, exhaust fumes, etc. It is important to learn about what chemicals you may be exposed to. For example, if you work in a photography lab or make pottery, or work as an undertaker, or in a lab making circuit boards, or .... you may be exposing yourself to significant levels of toxic chemicals and are not aware of it.

"Sick schools" -- schools where students are exposed to hazardous or unehealthy air are becoming more common. In fact, several Massachusetts schools have recently closed because of asbestos hazards (information that was kept from parents, by the way). Asbestos is definately not the only hazard at schools. To learn more about air hazards at schools, please see the proceedings from the 1996 Allergy and Environmental Health Association of Canada (AEHA) Conference. Some school districts in the U.S. will be getting grants from the Federal government for building new schools, but they may end up building more "sick schools" unless they are closely supervised by Environmental Medicine specialists.

Indoor air pollution in homes is common. This can happen from building materials, carpeting, and furniture outgassing chemicals, poor ventilation, cleaning products, pesticides, biological pollutants (e.g., mold, bacteria), radon, smoking, and a numer of other situations. One of the best resources for building a healthy home or fixing current (and sometimes undetected) air quality problems in a home is the Healthy House Institute.

Sometimes working with the medical office or the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) office in your place of work or school can help identify potential hazards. Keep in mind that IAQ and medical offices may rely on government standards for hazardous chemicals. Such standards are often useless because industry lobbying changes the levels said to be "safe". But these offices can at least help you identify chemicals you (or your children in schools) are being exposed to.

Cleaning up air hazards can involve:

An excellent article on various chemical pregnancy hazards is entitled, Learning Disabilities Attention Deficit Disorder - A.D.D. and Hyperactivity on the Chem-tox.Com web page. Other pregnency hazards include physical trauma which may contribute to future health disorders including increased risk of suicide in men. However, it is ideal to take a relaxed approach to eliminating hazards during pregnancy. That means to avoid putting yourself through "guilt trips" about inadvertant exposures. Fortunately, most of the hazards are obvious and relatively easy to avoid.

Smoking, use of hard drugs such as cocaine, and excessive alcohol consumption are well known pregnancy hazards. One simply should avoid these hazards to the extent possible during pregnancy.

Common food substances that should be avoided include artificial sweeteners, MSG (including hydrolyzed proteins, autolyzed yeast, yeast extract), fake foods such as olestra/olean, foods with alot of additives or preservatives, and non-organic dairy foods. To the extent possible, shop for organic foods even if it costs a little bit more. Fluoridated water and fluoridated toothpaste should definately be avoided since low-level fluoride exposure has been shown to increase perinatal deaths and hyperactivity in young animals. It is best to stick with spring water for cooking and drinking.

Avoid getting work on mercury amalgam fillings or placement of composite fillings (or sealants) while pregnant. If a filling must be placed, use the composite filling, not the mercury filling. If work on a mercury filling must be done, it is crucial to use the IAOMT protocol to prevent significant exposure to mercury.

Read this article:
Avoidance of Toxic & Unhealthy Exposures - Holistic Med

Make this your preferred store

As a featured store at the Boise Square Mall, Sears on North Milwaukee has been providing attractive deals on yard equipment, kitchen appliances and apparel for the whole family since 1988.

Keeping your yard looking sharp isnt that tough when youve got the right equipment. Homeowners can depend on our lawn and garden department for the latest models of lawnmowers, riding mowers and tractors. We also carry everything you need for fencing projects as well as hoses and sprinklers when battling the hottest weather. During the winter months, well be your source for snow shovels and salt spreaders for sidewalks and driveways.

Sears in Boise is also your destination to get the entire family outfitted with the latest styles for casual and formal occasions. When shopping for clothing, shoes and jewelry, youll find mens suits and sport coats, womens skirts and jeans, and activewear for everyone. Colorful, stylish choices are available for everyone in the family ranging from babies to teens.

Located at the Boise Square Mall, take 1-84 to West Franklin and take a right on North Milwaukee. Youll find the Sears at the back of the mall. Be sure to call us at 208-323-5700 for the latest specials and holiday hours.

view full description

460N Milwaukee St Boise, ID 83704

208-323-5700

43.609,-116.279

Here is the original post:
Sears Town Square Mall - Boise, ID - Kitchen Appliances ...

A traffic collision that occurred Sunday evening resulted in a four-hour power outage in Garden City.

The accident happened around 8:38 p.m. near Riverside Drive when police were dispatched to check on a disoriented driver near Navaho Street and Strawberry Glen Road. A witness said a red Ford truck struck an Idaho Power transformer box and then drive off toward Riverside Drive, said Garden City Police Sgt. Abe Blount.

The truck stopped in the front lawn of a residence in the 9300 block of Riverside Drive and the the driver, a 53-year-old Garden City man, was suffering from a medical ailment. He was transported to St. Alphonsus Hospital for treatment and then was released last night.

Damages were estimated between $8,000 and $10,000, said Blount, and the case remains under investigation. No citations will likely be issued.

See the article here:
Traffic collision results in power outage