- California: In the journal Pediatrics, a married couple of practicing doctors in California shared how they successfully bypassed diapers for their newborn baby and instead used a method of toilet-training called elimination communication to be more environmentally friendly. The toilet-training method, according to Rosemary She and her husband Jeffrey Bender, requires a baby's caregivers to monitor the infant's cues and rhythms to discern when he or she needs to be brought to the toilet. According to Bender, not only is elimination communication friendly to the environment, it may also prevent urinary tract infections and Staphylococcus aureus skin infections, thanks to the lack of diapers (Cohen, Washington Post, 6/24).
- Illinois: Cook County is scheduled to begin setting a new, penny-per-ounce tax on a variety of surgery and artificially sweetened beverages on July 1. The tax will apply to bottled and canned beverages as well as fountain drinks, and covers regular sodas, sweetened coffees and teas, sports and energy drinks, and juices that aren't 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. The tax, which aims to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, is expected to bring in an additional $200 million per year for the county. The tax does not apply to those who receive benefits from the federal food stamp program (AP/Sacramento Bee, 6/26).
- New Mexico: University of New Mexico Medical Group has named Jill Klar as its permanent CEO and COO. Klar previously served as the medical group's interim CEO and COO after former CEO Anthony Masciotra left to join Oregon Health & Sciences University to serve as CEO of the university's Faculty Practice Plan and as senior associate dean for clinical practice for the OHSU School of Medicine. Klar has previously served as COO of ABQ Health Partners and interim COO for the Lovelace Health Plan (Ortega, Albuquerque Business First, 6/23).
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