Credit: iStockWater lead levels in Troy, N.Y., surpass Flint’s at height of crisisTroy, New York, is facing a severe water crisis, with lead levels in its aging pipes exceeding 35.4 parts per billion (ppb) — higher than the peak levels seen in Flint, Michigan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that water utility owners take action to reduce lead levels to 15 ppb, but Troy’s water has consistently tested above this threshold for years, according to EPA documents. 

The water crisis poses significant health risks, particularly for children, who can develop issues such as delayed speech and language development, difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, and impaired cognitive function. Approximately 12%, or 28,820, of the children born in New York in 2019 are predicted to have high blood lead levels based on current exposure data, as reported by Prism last year, detailing the prevalence of lead poisoning as a crisis in the state and its effects on families.

While the city has begun replacing lead service lines, progress has been slow, with only 290 of the 1,354 identified lines replaced. With nearly $13 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the city is navigating complex discussions about how to use the funds effectively.More about Troy’s water lead crisis via Prism →

Credit: iStock‘Ghost guns,’ Black communities and the case that could alter a crisisIf you didn’t know, a ghost gun is an untraceable firearm that can be quickly assembled at home using a relatively cheap weapon parts kit, obtained without a background check. It’s so accessible that “you can just get a prepaid debit card at a 7-Eleven and anonymously buy a ghost gun,” says Madiba K. Dennie, deputy editor and senior contributor at the legal commentary website Balls & Strikes, in an interview with Capital B. The ease of access has made ghost guns a growing threat, with more than 19,000 seized by agencies in 2021 alone, the outlet reports.

This week, ghost guns take center stage in the Supreme Court case Garland v. VanDerStok. A yearslong battle between the U.S. Department of Justice and gun sellers has culminated in the case, addressing a crucial question: Should ghost guns be regulated like any other firearm? 

The outcome could have significant implications for gun control and public safety, particularly for Black and Brown communities, which experience gun homicides at a rate 12 times higher than white Americans. Ghost guns, with their untraceable nature, exacerbate this crisis by flooding neighborhoods with firearms that are nearly impossible to track.

“We respond quickly when it’s police violence — rightfully so. But we should be just as concerned when it comes to community gun violence, because this impacts us the most,” said Bishop Cornelius Bowser, founder and president of Shaphat Outreach, a gun violence prevention nonprofit, during a forum in May discussing the rise of ghost guns. 

Read more about ‘ghost guns’ at Capital B →

Credit: Black Voice NewsGet your flu and Covid-19 vaccines to protect yourself this winterHealth officials in California are urging people to consult their doctors about whether and when they should get a flu shot and the latest version of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the newest Covid vaccine in August. This new version is designed to protect against KP.3.1, the latest variant of the virus, which is also now the predominant version nationwide, Breanna Reeves writes for Black Voice News. 

Studies show that people of color sometimes lag in vaccine uptake because of transportation issues, limited access to health facilities, language problems and more.

It’s especially important for people who haven’t gotten updated vaccines to look into receiving this one. “The amount of time that these vaccines actually protect against new infection is only a little less than six months, and usually more like four months,” said Dr. Benjamin Neuman, professor of biology at Texas A&M University.Black Voice News has more →

Plus: Group tries unconventional approach to deal with trauma (AsAmNews)

Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities

After a career in civil engineering, Haitian-American artist Lori Saint Rome decided to turn her eye to the art world, with a higher purpose in mind. The South Florida-based artist wants her work to inspire women to prioritize love, inner peace and joy in their lives, notes the Haitian Times →Credit: Lori Saint Rome via Haitian Times