

Organizers in upstate New York tackle lead poisoning
Prism reports that the lead poisoning crisis in upstate New York is disproportionately affecting children in neighborhoods of color — and those effects can be devastating. One advocacy group, Lead Free Kids New York, claims that children from these neighborhoods are 12 times more likely than children in white neighborhoods to have elevated levels of lead in their blood. The main cause? Aging lead pipes in both older and newer homes.

New hope for patients with early Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer's Association reported last year that approximately 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older had the disease. Yet nearly 20% of Alzheimer's patients are Black, with many citing barriers to healthcare access and support, reports Black Voice News. Now patients have hope in part to a new treatment. Last week, the Federal Drug Administration approved Leqembi — the first Alzheimer’s drug with evidence supporting its ability to delay the progression of the disease. Read more to learn how Leqembi performed in clinical trials and how companies plan to market it →


The Farm Bill could address climate change and structural racism
The Farm Bill is a significant piece of legislation that has impacted farming livelihoods and how food is grown and accessed in the U.S. for nearly a century. The last Farm Bill, known as the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, allocated $800 billion over its five-year term, which expires later this year.
Taking a critical look at the Farm Bill since its inception, Prism reports that, over time, the legislation has created a privately-financed food system that "traps many farm growers in a cycle of debt and prohibits new [farmers] from entering the field." The outlet spoke to advocates and farming stakeholders about the next iteration of the Farm Bill and what needs to be included to serve marginalized communities who have historically been left out of the decision-making process.

Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities
Dr. Craig Waleed is a program manager for Disability Rights North Carolina’s “Unlock the Box” campaign, which aims to change how correctional facilities conduct solitary confinement. Waleed’s advocacy is fueled by his own experience with confinement decades ago
+: Have you watched our URWell video series?
Interested in more nuanced and fresh health journalism from URL Media and our network of independent Black and Brown publishers? Visit our Instagram feed to hear health experts and community leaders discuss health inequities and give practical advice on living a healthier life. Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay tuned for more bite-sized video reports on Wednesdays across our social media feeds.