Photos: Raiders 2025 OTAs | Day 8 Las Vegas Raiders
source
Photos: Raiders 2025 OTAs | Day 8 – Las Vegas Raiders
Can technology shoulder some of the cognitive burden that medical students face? – psychologytoday.com
The brightest way to shine is by being fully, imperfectly yourself.
Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
Posted October 22, 2024 Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
Medical school is difficult. But there might be a cognitive light at the end of the long corridors of academia.
A recent study at the University of Florida College of Medicine revealed some interesting insights into how medical students are incorporating large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT into their education. With 67.7% of students using LLMs and 55.9% finding them accurate for general medical topics, the study seems to indicate a growing confidence in AI‘s role in medical education.
While the study highlights medical students’ positive perceptions of LLMs, it’s important to consider the potential for LLMs to go beyond just answering questions. They could provide personalized learning experiences by adapting to each student’s style, pace, and language needs. This would allow students to tailor their learning based on time constraints or proficiency levels—a feature that could be a game-changer for time-strapped medical students.
However, the study also reveals that 73.5% of students cross-check LLM responses, reflecting a cautious but necessary approach to ensure accuracy. Although cross-checking might introduce additional effort, it also underscores the evolving relationship between students and AI. As these tools become more trusted and accurate, students may increasingly rely on them, reducing the cognitive load of verification and allowing LLMs to act as more seamless partners in education.
Beyond personalizing education, LLMs offer another transformative opportunity—reducing the cognitive burden placed on students. Medical education today requires an immense mental effort to memorize, integrate, and apply vast amounts of information, much of which is increasing at a pace beyond human capacity to fully assimilate. This heavy cognitive load leaves little room for critical thinking and problem-solving. However, AI can alleviate this by handling more mechanical aspects of learning, allowing students to focus on the art of medicine—the humanistic and intuitive side of patient care.
The study suggests that this shift is already underway. With 22.5% of students using LLMs in clinical settings, it’s clear that LLMs are finding practical applications beyond just learning. AI’s role could evolve into a clinical collaborator—sorting through complex data sets, making real-time inferences, and providing decision-making support—allowing future physicians to exercise judgment and empathy without being bogged down by the sheer volume of information. This collaborative dynamic would redefine the relationship between students and AI, transforming it from a tool to a cognitive partner.
Another crucial insight from the study is that 100% of students surveyed believe AI should be formally taught in the medical curriculum. This points to a shift in the educational paradigm—future physicians must not only understand medicine but also the AI tools that will increasingly shape its practice.
By incorporating AI into the foundational elements of medical education, schools can prepare students to utilize LLMs effectively and ethically, maximizing their potential in both learning and patient care. This isn’t just about technological proficiency; it’s about empowering future doctors to work synergistically with AI to enhance healthcare outcomes. As 65.7% of students already report some exposure to AI in medicine or research, this integration is more a matter of formalizing what’s already happening organically.
This current study shows that the integration of LLMs into medical education is not just a trend—it’s a signal of the future. With students embracing LLMs for their versatility, accuracy, and ability to reduce cognitive strain, AI is reshaping what it means to learn and practice medicine. The implications are important: future doctors will work hand-in-hand with AI, using it to personalize their education, streamline their workload, and ultimately provide better patient care. As AI continues to evolve, medical education will need to keep pace, teaching not just medical knowledge but also how to best leverage these powerful tools.
By embracing LLMs now, medical students are laying the groundwork for a healthcare system where AI is not just an assistant, but a full-fledged collaborator in both education and practice. This transformation marks a new chapter in medicine, one where the art of healing is empowered by the science of AI.
John Nosta is an innovation theorist and founder of NostaLab.
Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
Psychology Today © 2025 Sussex Publishers, LLC
The brightest way to shine is by being fully, imperfectly yourself.
Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
Leave a Comment
New Arizona law prevents AI from making health insurance denials – AZFamily
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Artificial intelligence won’t have the final say in your health care.
On Wednesday, Gov. Katie Hobbs held a private signing ceremony for a new state law that will require a person to oversee medical insurance denials.
“Governor Hobbs was proud to sign HB 2175, which will require healthcare claims denied on the basis of medical necessity to be reviewed by a licensed professional. When Arizona doctors and health professionals prescribe specific treatment for their patients, insurance companies should cover them, not stand in the way,” her office told Arizona’s Family.
The new law, HB 2175, does not explicitly mention artificial intelligence, but it does require a medical director to review denials.
“The medical director shall exercise independent medical judgment and may not rely solely on recommendations from any other source,” the law reads in part.
AI’s role in medical insurance has become an increasing concern among doctors. A recent survey by the American Medical Association shows 61% of physicians are concerned that health plans’ use of AI is increasing prior authorization denials and ‘exacerbating avoidable patient harm.’
“When it is in patient care, something that may delay people getting life prolonging or lifesaving tests or treatments, we need to still have that human touch, because not everything fits into an algorithm,” said Dr. Sarah Lee-Davisson, a physician leader with the Arizona Medical Association, which championed the new law.
“I have plenty of doctors who say, ‘For sure. This was a no-brainer. This should have gotten done for this patient,’ and it’s just a ridiculous burden on us and the patient to have it delayed because now we just have to fight it.”
The new law, which Hobbs officially signed last month, goes into effect at the end of June. There was only one ‘no’ vote in the state’s House of Representatives.
AHIP, which represents the medical insurance industry, said it does not have a comment on Arizona’s new law.
“Health plans are leading the way to further improve this vital patient protection tool, and we welcome the opportunity to work with policymakers to ensure patients receive safe, evidence-based care while reducing low-value and inappropriate services so that coverage is as affordable as possible,” a spokesperson for the organization wrote in a statement about the issue of prior authorization.
If you have a claim or prior authorization that’s denied, whether by AI or a human, you can appeal it. First, ask for the reason it was denied. File an appeal directly with your insurance company. If you hit a roadblock, you can also file an appeal through the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. It’s important to gather as much information as you can. Your doctor can be helpful with this.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
Leave a Comment
Weight stigma—not BMI—has the biggest effect on mental health after weight-loss surgery, research indicates – Medical Xpress
Sign in with
Forget Password?
Learn more
share this!
Share
Tweet
Share
Email
June 5, 2025
by University of Utah Health Sciences
edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan
scientific editor
associate editor
This article has been reviewed according to Science X’s editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content’s credibility:
fact-checked
peer-reviewed publication
trusted source
proofread
New research shows that weight stigma—and not weight itself—has the biggest impact on mental health and healthy behaviors in the years after weight-loss surgery.
Researchers found that patients who had gone through weight-loss surgery tended to experience much less weight stigma, and that this reduction in weight stigma—but not lower BMI—was associated with healthier eating habits and better mental health. On the other hand, continuing to experience stigma after surgery was associated with higher risks of depression, anxiety, and disordered eating.
“We think of a lot of health issues for these patients as being a given,” says Larissa McGarrity, Ph.D., the first author on the study and a clinical psychologist in physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of Utah Health.
“But the cumulative effect of stigma and discrimination actually contributes to a large part of the physical and mental health problems that we disproportionately see for patients with obesity compared to the general population.”
The results are published in Health Psychology.
Metabolic bariatric surgery, commonly called weight-loss surgery, is the most effective evidence-based treatment for severe obesity. It reduces many health risks that are more common in people with obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and all-cause mortality risk.
But many people expect weight-loss surgery to be a panacea for quality of life, and that’s not true. Some aspects of life, like social support and satisfaction with romantic relationships, tend to get worse.
People tend to experience significantly lower levels of weight stigma—shame, blame, and guilt around their body weight or shape—in the years following surgery, the researchers found in a survey of nearly 150 people.
McGarrity, who is also an associate professor in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, says that the change in experienced weight stigma was striking.
“The degree of change far exceeded clinically established norms in terms of what’s meaningful for a patient’s life and the impact they would notice,” she says.
This reduction in weight stigma was linked to notable improvements in both mental and physical health. Previous research has established that the chronic stress of weight stigma directly contributes to many of the health risks associated with obesity, and sure enough, people who experienced less stigma in the years following surgery had lower levels of anxiety and depression.
They were also less at risk for disordered eating, such as binge eating. And people who experienced less weight stigma were more likely to lose more weight and maintain the loss.
Importantly, McGarrity notes, weight loss itself wasn’t associated with these positive changes to health. Change in BMI did not correlate with depression, anxiety, or dysregulated eating—implying that social factors, rather than innate biological ones, make a huge contribution to the mental and physical health of people with obesity.
And not every patient who went through weight loss surgery experienced a decrease in bias and stigma. For about 40% of patients, weight stigma continued to impact their quality of life, leading to increased risk of mental health concerns, disordered eating, and weight recurrence.
Since the survey targeted patients who were treated at U of U Health, future research will be needed to test whether the results hold true in broader populations.
The researchers say their work emphasizes the critical need to reduce weight stigma, both within health care settings and without. “The wide-ranging effects of weight stigma are one of the most important things I’m thinking about from both a research and clinical perspective,” McGarrity says.
“Weight loss is helpful for a whole lot of things, but that change in weight stigma may actually be the more powerful thing for mental health and quality of life over time.”
More information: Weight Stigma and Bariatric Surgery: Prospective Improvements, Psychological Health, and Weight, Health Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1037/hea0001517
Journal information: Health Psychology
Explore further
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Feedback to editors
22 hours ago
0
23 hours ago
0
Jun 4, 2025
0
Jun 3, 2025
0
Jun 3, 2025
0
16 minutes ago
1 hour ago
14 hours ago
14 hours ago
14 hours ago
16 hours ago
16 hours ago
16 hours ago
16 hours ago
16 hours ago
Mar 11, 2025
Aug 7, 2024
Jul 30, 2019
May 1, 2025
Oct 21, 2021
Mar 21, 2025
21 hours ago
20 hours ago
20 hours ago
16 hours ago
19 hours ago
21 hours ago
Reduction in weight stigma after weight-loss surgery, rather than changes in BMI, is most strongly linked to improvements in mental health, healthier eating, and sustained weight loss. Persistent weight stigma is associated with higher risks of depression, anxiety, and disordered eating, highlighting the significant impact of social factors on post-surgical outcomes.
This summary was automatically generated using LLM. Full disclaimer
Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines).
Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request
Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.
Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.
Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient’s address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Medical Xpress in any form.
Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we’ll never share your details to third parties.
More information Privacy policy
We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X’s mission by getting a premium account.
Daily science news on research developments and the latest scientific innovations
The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances
The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web
Leave a Comment
Canadian steel industry warns of 'unrecoverable consequences' to U.S. double-tariff threat – Windsor Star
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
President Donald Trump’s latest trade threat — this time to double already punishing 25 per cent tariffs on all U.S. steel and aluminum imports — would trigger ‘unrecoverable consequences,’ according to Canada’s steel industry.
But such a 50-per-cent added-on tax, announced to begin as soon as Wednesday, would also have dire repercussions for U.S. businesses and U.S. consumer prices, according to a Michigan business expert on global supply chain management.
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
“The impacts of these tariffs will create a huge ripple effect,” said Wayne State University assistant professor Jeffrey Rightmer, who has decades of industry experience in operations/supply chain management.
“The U.S. doesn’t have the capacity to meet the demand. The (U.S. domestic) companies will also raise the prices because they can,” he told the Star. “Steel consumers don’t have any choice but to buy more expensive imported steel and aluminum.”
Rightmer said American companies will still have to buy the more expensive metals, creating big tariff bills that could threaten the stability of smaller manufacturers in the supply chain. The United States imports about 25 per cent of its steel needs annually while it only produces 50 per cent of the aluminum it requires. Canada is the largest supplier of both imported metals to the U.S. and a 50 per cent tariff would be devastating for those industries.
Rightmer’s prediction of rising prices was immediately validated, with market prices for aluminum, hot rolled coil steel and copper rising on Monday following Trump’s end-of-week announcement.
The cashflow problems that would likely develop from longer-term tariffs, he added, would be reminiscent of the financial crash that required government bailouts for GM and Chrysler and several U.S. banks.
“It’ll be 2007-2008 all over again,” Rightmer said. “Companies got cash-strapped and couldn’t survive.
“Companies have to import some stuff because they can’t get it here. They have seven to 10 days to pay their tariff bill.
“Lots of smaller companies have profit margins of just one or two per cent at best. The terms with their customers can be 30 to 90 days for payment, so they develop cash flow problems.”
Rightmer said the Tier I suppliers will likely be able to handle things for a bit, but he expects to see bankruptcies among the Tier II and III suppliers.
“Some little companies won’t even declare bankruptcy, they’ll just go out of business,” Rightmer said.
“Bigger companies won’t know that until the industry ramps up again and suddenly you can’t get something from them you need.”
Rightmer said companies are being hamstrung by the uncertainty created by Trump’s tariff policies.
The timeline to move an automotive assembly plant to the U.S. is three to five years and is even longer to build new steel mills and aluminum smelting plants.
“Executives making these decisions are asking, ‘Can I just wait three to five years and we’ll have a new president, a new Congress and maybe a new Senate and there could be a lot of change?’” Rightmer said. “It’s really a roll of the dice right now.”
Rightner said the likely outcome of the doubling of tariffs will be net job losses in both Canada and the U.S.
A 2020 study by Princeton and Columbia universities and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York looked at the impact of Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on steel in 2018 during his first administration. For every job created in the U.S. steel industry there was a loss of 75 downstream jobs in steel-consuming industries.
However, there’s no escaping the fact a much higher 50 per cent tariff would be more devastating to Canadian shipments to the U.S. than the 38 per cent decline experienced in June 2018. Aluminum exports dropped 19 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017.
A 50 per cent tariff would essentially close the U.S. market to Canadian firms, the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) said in a statement. The Canadian steel industry directly employs 23,000 Canadians, with the U.S. accounting for 50 per cent of its market.
“Steel tariffs at this level will create mass disruption and negative consequences for our highly integrated steel supply chains and customers on both sides of the border,” said CSPA president and CEO Catherine Cobden.
“It is vital that the government of Canada responds immediately to fully reinstate retaliatory steel tariffs to match the American tariffs and to implement as quickly as possible new tariffs at our own borders to stop unfairly traded steel from entering Canada.
“This latest announcement from the Trump administration is a further blow to Canadian steel that will have unrecoverable consequences.”
Laval International president Jonathon Azzopardi said a targeted response is required. He noted a reciprocal 50 per cent tariff on U.S. steel would only heap more misery on Canadian manufacturers.
“I do not support matching reciprocal tariffs,” said Azzopardi, a former chair of the Canadian Association of Mold Makers whose Oldcastle-based firm ships the bulk of its production to the U.S.
“It’s not the way to solve this problem. Get to Washington and get a deal done, nothing short of that is even worth talking about.”
One alternative the federal government has announced is requiring the use of Canadian steel and aluminum in any domestic infrastructure or defence project.
That policy was greeted enthusiastically by the United Steelworkers Canada.
“The United Steelworkers (USW) welcomes the federal government’s decision to require Canadian steel and aluminum in national infrastructure and defence projects,” USW national director Marty Warren said in a statement.
“This is a commitment Steelworkers have championed for many years. USW has consistently called for strong Buy Canadian policies to protect good jobs and rebuild domestic supply chains, especially in the face of a worsening trade war and unfair global competition.”
Dwaddell@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/winstarwaddell
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4
© 2025 Windsor Star, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can manage saved articles in your account.
and save up to 100 articles!
You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.
Leave a Comment
Exploring sexual and romantic attraction when it's attached to technology. – psychologytoday.com
The brightest way to shine is by being fully, imperfectly yourself.
Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
Posted March 12, 2025 Reviewed by Gary Drevitch
In the modern world, humans and tech live together, and most of us now have a relationship with technology. Whether it is one of fear (the Terminator narrative), irritation (why woulnd’t my wifi work?), love (connecting with loved ones and like-minded people), entertainment (all the possibilities of games and play), or life improvement (remote working, etc.), our lives are intertwined with technology, and therefore we have a relationship and attachment with it. It is not new: Humans have always attached to objects like the comfort blanket, and now there is no denying that we are attached to our smartphones. We always know where it is, we take care of it, and we get upset if we lose it.
Our sexuality and sexual expressions also have a relationship with technology. Most couples now meet on dating or hookup apps. Some people’s primary income come from being a social-media influencer, or selling cybersex services through platforms such as Just For Fans. We can access all types of erotic and sexual contents through technology, via websites like Pornhub, but also through audio porn (which is booming).
In-between all of this, there is digisexuality, a term coined by Markie Twist and Neil McArthur. It is defined as “a sexual experience that depends on the use of an advanced technology.” According to McArthur and Twist, the first wave of digisexuality is when “technology mediates a connection with human partners” (including watching online pornography), and the second wave is the immersive experience when there is no human partner involved, or if there are humans, they are not essential to the experience.
Digisexuality, like any other sexuality that is outside of the heteronormative and mononormative constructs, and outside of what is deemed “normal”, can be unduly criticised as “weird” and/or pathologised as a disorder. This is called digisexualphobia—a dislike or prejudice against digisexual activities and, relatedly, digisexuals. People who prioritise using pornography over having partnered sex may be automatically pathologised as “porn addicts” or people who must have an avoidant attachment style. But, in fact, the notion that partnered sex should always be prioritised over solo sex or watching porn is a heteronormative assumption. Indeed, some of these people may be digisexuals.
Robot technology is still in its infancy. We are unlikely to see robots walking around any time soon. But there are already some good (non-walking) robots automated by AI that can offer good sexual and intimate connections to their users. Sexual and romantic interactions with AI is already possible, and sex with actual robots is likely part of the second wave of digisexuality. At the moment, the cost of sex/romantic robots is high, but as the technology improves and it becomes more affordable, we are likely to see more second-wave digisexuals. It will be important not to pathologise this population.
However, it is also important to consider the ethics of AI sexual and romantic companions and sex robots. The technology is advancing so fast that we do not have any scientific data on the effects of this technology on our well-being. It is obvious that AI companions can provide meaningful relationships to humans that can enhance their well-being. But some of these people could be victims of abuse. Technology and AI is governed by for-profit companies who can coerce their users in paying more money for more explicit content, without being clear about data privacy. When Twist, McArthur, and I interviewed AI company representatives at the AVN Expo in Las Vegas in January 2024, most addressed areas like pleasure, privacy, and honesty but only one company we spoke to seriously considered the areas of ongoing consent and protection from exploitation and harm. They had put in place a system that would protect customer’s psychological well-being if they couldn’t afford the services anymore, or if the product/service was cut off for any reason. More AI companies could improve in those areas.
As the technology moves fast, education on how to use these technologies is also behind. Twist and McArthur offer a definition of digihealth: “Digihealth is the result of engagement with digital technology in ways that promote physical, psychological, and social well-being. It requires a respectful and positive approach to technology and to online relationships. It results in the possibility of having pleasurable and safe technology-based experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence. For digihealth to be attained and maintained, the rights of persons online and offline must be respected”.
Twist and McArthur propose five core principles for maintaining digihealth:
These principles help identify problems in people’s digi-engagement if they notice deviations from them, and paths to re-establish digihealth.
Digisexuality is not a new phenomenon but it is changing as technology advances. The digi-attachment and engagements of the early 2000’s are very different from those of 2025. Digisexuality will continue to develop with technology. At some point, there will be more second-wave digisexuals, and nobody knows yet what this will look like (although we can have some imagination of robots doing our housework and being a perfect lover). It is crucial not to stigmatise and pathologise digisexual people because it can cause harm. Equally, we need to keep paying attention to ethical engagement with digi-relationships and being guided by the digihealth principles.
References
Hertlein, K. M., & Twist, M. L. C. (2018). Attachment to technology: The missing link. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 17(1), 2-6. doi:10.1080/15332691.2017.1414530
McArthur, N., & Twist, M. L. C., (2017). The rise of digisexuality: Therapeutic challenges and possibilities. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 32(3/4), 334-344. doi:10.1080/14681994.2017.1397950
Neves, S., Twist, M. L. C., & McArthur, N. (2024). Editorial introduction and reflections from the 2024 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 39(4), 1063–1073. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2024.2439164
Twist, M.L.C., & McArthur, N. (2020). Introduction to special issue on digihealth and sexual health. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 35(2), 131-136. doi:10.1080/14681994.2020.1735176
Silva Neves is a COSRT-accredited and UKCP-registered psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist in London.
Get the help you need from a counsellor near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
Psychology Today © 2025 Sussex Publishers, LLC
The brightest way to shine is by being fully, imperfectly yourself.
Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
Leave a Comment
Leave a Comment
As Canada’s wildfires rage, where is the smoke drifting? – Global News
Instructions:
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.
If you get Global News from Instagram or Facebook – that will be changing. Find out how you can still connect with us.
With more than 200 active wildfires across Canada, the smoke from the blazes is spreading, even drifting south to cloud over multiple U.S. states.
Air quality alerts stretch from Alberta to parts of northern Ontario, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada, while Minnesota and Michigan are seeing air quality levels that can be classified as “hazardous” and others deemed “very unhealthy.”
According to weather alerts by Environment Canada, various Ontario communities are expected to see poor air quality and reduced visibility with wildfire smoke remaining in place for potentially several days in some areas.
Several warnings are in effect for northwest Alberta and central Saskatchewan and Manitoba, while air quality statements are in place for northeast B.C., east central Alberta and Saskatchewan, and small parts of Manitoba.
The upper U.S. Midwest has been seeing the majority of impacts from wildfire smoke, with Minnesota on Monday advising air quality would enter the unhealthy category in the east central, southeast and northeast parts of the state, with its alert in place until Wednesday.
“A band of very heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to move southeast across Minnesota and has reached south central and northeast Minnesota Tuesday morning,” a news release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency stated.
The agency warned east central, southeast and northeast Minnesota would see fine particle levels reach the red “unhealthy” air quality index category, with the Twin Cities among the communities being urged to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors.
Western, central and north-central parts would see the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
However, IQAir, which tracks the air quality index, shows communities like Ely, Minn. and Houghton, Mich. are already seeing levels in the “hazardous” threshold.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has also recommended people limit time outdoors until at least Tuesday, noting multiple air quality advisories have been put in place due to Canadian wildfire smoke.
The agency said smoke would be moving northwest to southeast throughout Tuesday, with its advisory expected to extend to the full state later in the day.
Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services issued a smoke advisory for the eastern part of the state, warning smoke associated with wildfires in Canada may affect air quality with parts of the state potentially seeing unhealthy air later in the day.
According to BlueSky’s forecast, the smoke from Canada’s wildfires is expected to continue to drift southeast and could reach Iowa and Nebraska.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
Leave a Comment
Sacramento County leaders debate impact of mental health diversion program at town hall meeting – ABC10
To stream ABC10 News on your phone, you need the ABC10 News app.
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a town hall Wednesday night to share insight into what they say are misconceptions about the mental health diversion program.
They say criminals and defense attorneys are taking advantage of the program and using it as a get out of jail free card. However, some say the program is working.
Sacramento County leaders like Sheriff Jim Cooper and District Attorney Thien Ho are expected to speak about their concerns with the program they say is allowing criminals to go free or reoffend.
“The cops are handcuffed, the DAs are handcuffed, the courts are handcuffed, and it’s because of this law,” said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
Sgt. Gandhi is talking about the Mental Health Diversion Program that became law in 2018. It allows defendants with mental health disorders to receive treatment instead of being sentenced to jail or prison.
Now, the sheriff’s office is making big efforts to inform the public about the system they say is greatly flawed.
Gandhi says people’s misconceptions are that if an offender has a mental health disorder, then they’re going to a mental health facility to be treated, but instead they’re being released into the public.
“Think about someone who’s beat a child, like a felony charge of beating a child to the point of death, but they can get to that point, and it’s completely wiped off. So, it means they can go apply to be a school teacher, and it won’t ever show up on their background,” said Gandhi.
Right now, the only charges that exempt a defendant from applying for the program are murder, rape and child sex crimes.
However, defense attorney Mark Reichel says in his experience, the program is working the way it should.
“If you have a mental health professional who gives you a diagnosis that you have one of the listed conditions, and if it is a motivating and contributing factor in your commission of the crime and if you agree to a treatment program that the court comes up with — it could be a very strict treatment program — then you qualify,” said Reichel.
He says five of his clients have utilized the program, and it has taken them down a path of success.
Reichel says no system is perfect, and he doesn’t dispute the sheriff’s office being upset when it doesn’t work.
“The way I see it is the guardrails are there. The lawyer can have the client apply for it. The judge is the one who grants it, so defense lawyers can use it all they want but the DA’s office can always oppose it. Probation doesn’t have to sign off on it, and the judge is the final one who bangs the gavel,” Reichel said.
The sheriff’s office supports AB46, which is a bill that would give judges the discretion to consider public safety when reviewing diversion requests. They say it’s a step forward, but they’re still hoping the town hall will lead to new possibilities.
“Really hoping this inspires some change within the legislature first. And if not, I mean maybe explore some other steps on some grassroots efforts or maybe some other avenues,” said Gandhi.
Wednesday night’s town hall at the Florin Community Center on 65th Street will start at 6:30p.m. with a small presentation. They will then highlight the law and share insights with the community, and people will then have a chance to ask questions.
WATCH ALSO:
Fix 50 project in Sacramento pushed back a year over deeper road issues
Leave a Comment
New tools may optimize mental health treatment. – psychologytoday.com
The brightest way to shine is by being fully, imperfectly yourself.
Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
Posted October 7, 2024 Reviewed by Michelle Quirk
Technologies and apps are helping to bridge the divide between mental and physical health. In 2024, the wearable technologies global market is estimated to be worth approximately USD 62.4 billion. The growth in this market is driven by increasing consumer interest in health and fitness, advancements in wearable technology, and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases that require continuous monitoring. As mental health professionals, it is important for us to have familiarity with these products when our patients are using them and to have them as an additional tool at our disposal.
The integration of the body into mental health is not a new concept, and it has gained increased traction in recent years thanks to the pioneering work of several leading therapists and researchers. These experts have demonstrated that addressing the body’s role in mental health can lead to profound healing and transformation:
The market is now flooded with innovative technologies designed to help individuals monitor and improve their physical and mental health. These tools offer real-time feedback and interventions, making it easier for people to stay in tune with their bodies and minds. Here’s a look at some of the leading tech options available today:
By providing real-time data on how a client’s body responds to stress, these devices can help therapists develop more holistic treatment plans. This approach can help clients become more aware of how their physical state influences their emotions and potentially improve therapeutic outcomes. By understanding how a client’s body reacts to different situations, therapists can recommend specific interventions—such as relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, or changes in daily habits—that are more likely to be effective. This data helps identify patterns, track improvements, and make necessary adjustments to treatment plans.
Mike Dannheim, founder and CEO of Sensie app and an expert in the consumer technology and wellness field, offers the following perspective: “These moments of anxiety or stress carry a gift, and when we learn to embrace them and to look at them, our lives take on a whole new meaning. These signals are coming from us, by us, to guide us. Technology is helping us identify these sources of stress early on so they don’t become ingrained patterns of behavior or disease and we can stay well. We are becoming increasingly aware of how much our whole body is part of mental health, and these tools are giving us new ways of looking at the mind-body connection.”
These technologies represent a new frontier in mental health care, allowing therapists to meet patients where they are—both physically and emotionally. By integrating these tools into their practice, therapists can offer more personalized, data-driven care that addresses the whole person, not just their mental health symptoms.
References
GlobeNewswire. (2024, July 29). Global wearable technology market size to worth USD 201.3 billion by 2033 | CAGR of 12.43%. GlobeNewswire.
Eva Ritvo, M.D., is an internationally-known speaker, best-selling author, vitality expert, and psychiatrist with a practice in Miami Beach.
Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
Psychology Today © 2025 Sussex Publishers, LLC
The brightest way to shine is by being fully, imperfectly yourself.
Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.