(July 24, 2023) Every so often, local officials do something that is so plainly useful to the public conversation that it deserves to be highlighted. The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner did just that with their data dashboards on deaths. ****We now have a shared set of up-to-date, essential facts about fentanyl, firearms, the border, law enforcement shootings, and other issues that go to the heart of who we want to be as a community and a country. (Tucson Agenda)

(August 4, 2023) Heed those “excessive heat” warnings: Southern Arizona has seen a rising number of heat-related deaths amidst record-breaking summer temperatures, *KVOA’*s Lupita Murillo reports. Pima County has had 46 heat-related deaths this year, through the end of July. Pima County Medical Examiner Greg Hess said the death toll has increased since June 14, with 48 days this summer of 100-plus degree temperatures.

(September 1, 2023) Health info at risk: The company that Pima County contracted with to gather health information during the COVID-19 pandemic had a data breach that exposed the data of about 110,000 county residents, the Star’s Jamie Donnelly reported. Maximus Health Services, Inc. told county officials the data included health information, but not Social Security numbers. The county set up a website with more information about the breach.

(September 5, 2023) In the past, the Pima County Health Department had a comprehensive database of inspections, searchable by name, address, facility type and rating or grade. That made it easy to find restaurants and food service facilities that received bad ratings. Caitlin covered health inspections back in the day, and she would check the database once a month, file a public records request for inspection reports for the restaurants that received a “provisional” or “fail” rating and make those dreaded calls for comment. But when the county health department switched to a new application and website provider, Hedgehog Environmental Health, in November of 2019, it meant reporters and diners could no longer simply filter for restaurants with failing grades. (Tucson Agenda)

(September 21, 2023) Celebrating health: The Pima County Health Department and the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona are kicking off their art and wellness series, SaludArte, this Sunday in Green Valley. The free, family-friendly events bring together public art and public health and includes community-inspired art, live performances, food trucks, raffles and health resources. Attendees will be invited to paint community murals and the health department will be providing free health screenings and resources. The events will take place over the next five Sundays in all five supervisory districts.

(April 16) The Pima County supervisors are set to weigh in on the 1864 abortion ban at their meeting today. Supervisor Matt Heinz wants the board to approve a resolution that condemns the “archaic” ban and affirms that access to abortion is “critical to protecting and supporting the public’s health.” The resolution also would back up County Attorney Laura Conover’s promise not to prosecute anyone on abortion-related charges. The board would recognize that Gov. Katie Hobbs declared those prosecutions will go through the office of Attorney General Kris Mayes. Like Conover, Mayes said she has no intention whatsoever of prosecuting anyone under the 1864 ban. (Tucson Agenda)

(May 9) For sale?: Pima County supervisors discussed Tuesday selling the county-owned Banner-UMC South, a 45-year-old facility on the city’s south side, Arizona Public Media’s Steve Jess reports. The board approved a five-year extension of Banner Health’s contract to run the facility (to the tune of $15 million a year) but said they were open to other arrangements, including selling the hospital to Banner. Banner’s CEO, Bob Evani, says he’s open to a potential sale.

(June 6) Taking it to the streets: Pima County supervisors unanimously approved Tuesday more than $300,000 in funding for a new mobile health clinic that will serve all parts of the county, including Green Valley, Amado and Arivaca, the Green Valley News reports. The new mobile clinic will replace one of the county’s four existing units, with Deputy County Administrator Dr. Francisco Garcia saying the upgrade is needed because the aging fleet is no longer reliable. The clinics provide a range of services, including oral health, vaccinations, family planning and testing for sexually transmitted infections.