Dominique Browning, founder of Moms’ Clean Air Force, joined Caroline and Debra to show the connection between clean environmental policy pushes and maternal / familial health concerns. The ladies share an enlightening conversation that shows how mothers and women leaders are uniquely positioned to drive climate action and protect children’s health at the local, state and federal level.
Category: Health
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Kroger to close all 18 Little Clinic locations in Georgia by early April
Kroger to close all 18 Little Clinic locations in Georgia by early April
Kroger announced last week that it will be closing all 18 locations of The Little Clinic in Georgia.
The Little Clinic provides easy, affordable healthcare inside the grocery store that includes vaccinations, common illness treatment and even weight loss advice.
A Kroger spokesperson told The Telegraph that the closures will be effective April 4.
“We have enjoyed serving the Georgia community for the last several years through our clinics,” the spokesperson said in an email to The Telegraph. “We invite our valued patients to continue using the pharmacies conveniently located in Kroger stores.”
The company provided no explanation for the closures.
The Little Clinic has locations in Athens, Atlanta, Bonaire, Carrollton, Cartersville, Cumming, Dacula, Dallas, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Jefferson, Macon, Newnan, Peachtree City, Stone Mountain, Sugar Hill and Suwanee.
Call 877-852-2677 to inquire about medical records at The Little Clinic.
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Advocates urge state leaders address PFAS risks to Georgia water supplies
Advocates urge state leaders address PFAS risks to Georgia water supplies
Advocacy groups across Georgia are raising concerns about PFAS — commonly known as “forever chemicals” — as evidence continues to show their presence in drinking water supplies, particularly in parts of northwest Georgia near industrial operations.
PFAS are a large group of manmade chemicals that have been used for decades in manufacturing and consumer products. Once released, they can persist in the environment and move through water systems in ways that are difficult to stop. Rachel Rodgers, managing toxicologist at Gradient, said that mobility makes exposure hard to control.
“People can be exposed to PFAS when they use consumer products that contain PFAS or when they consume food that was grown or raised in PFAS-contaminated areas,” she said.
Researchers are still working to fully understand the health effects of PFAS exposure, Rodgers said, but studies to date have linked some of the chemicals to a range of possible outcomes. Research suggests certain PFAS may affect the immune system, pregnancy outcomes and cholesterol levels, while other studies have found potential links to some cancers. With more than 9,000 PFAS compounds identified, she said only a limited number have been closely examined.
In Northwest Georgia, the impacts are already being felt. Jesse Doemonbreun-Chapman, executive director of the Coosa River Basin Initiative, said communities near Dalton and Calhoun have faced contamination connected to carpet and textile manufacturing. He said some companies used pre-treatment permits to send PFAS-containing wastewater to public treatment facilities that were not designed to remove the chemicals, allowing them to circulate through soil, surface water and groundwater.
Those concerns are driving support for House Bill 611.
“So basically,” he said, “it requires companies to disclose to the locally owned treatment works that have a pre-treatment program if they are intentionally using PFAS or they suspect that they are passing PFAS on to the public sewer through their wastewater.”
Under Georgia law, companies are not currently required to provide that information. Environmental advocates say people can reduce exposure by avoiding nonstick cookware, limiting stain-resistant products and using certified water filters.
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Few Georgia schools opt in to EPA-funded lead testing for water pipes
Few Georgia schools opt in to EPA-funded lead testing for water pipes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has offered to pay for schools and childcare facilities to test for lead in their pipes, but many schools in Georgia have been slow to accept the offer.
Around 17% of public schools in Georgia have opted in for testing and about 3% of childcare facilities, according to RTI International. Compare that to North Carolina, which has had 78% of schools and 74% of childcare centers tested for lead.
The difference: State law requires the testing in North Carolina.
Despite low percentages of schools willing to complete lead tests, some districts in Georgia have jumped on board.
Gwinnett County Public Schools, the largest school system in Georgia with nearly 180,000 students, decided to test every school with more than 14,000 individual fixtures, according to WABE.
Patrick Burke, interim chief operations officer at the district, told WABE that the testing was logistically challenging, but they achieved the goal.
“We had people coming in two, three in the morning sometimes, because we had to be here before our cafeteria started doing their work,” Burke said. “And it took quite a while to test a building, as you might imagine.”
Some of the hesitation around conducting the testing comes from concerns about costs to replace infrastructure and potential outcry from the public if lead is found, according to WABE.
“Not knowing whether there’s lead in your drinking water or not does not mean that it’s not actually there,” said Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, who leads the environmental health and water quality team at RTI International. “I think our data have shown that it is pretty commonly found.”
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Metro Atlanta warming centers open as freezing temperatures grip region
Metro Atlanta warming centers open as freezing temperatures grip region
As temperatures fall below freezing across metro Atlanta, warming centers are opening to provide overnight shelter for people facing dangerous winter conditions.
One such center, operated by Tucker First United Methodist Church, began welcoming guests over the weekend ahead of the winter storm. By Monday evening, the facility had already reached capacity as more people sought relief from the cold.
For Kareem, a 65-year-old man who has been unhoused for the past two years, the warming center has become a critical lifeline.
“This warming center is a heaven-sent for everyone out here, including me,” he said.
Before arriving at the church, Kareem spent nights sleeping outside a nearby grocery store. Now, he has access to a warm bed, showers, clean laundry and hot meals — services the center provides to every guest.
“They let us have a shower, do our laundry, and have a nice hot meal,” he said.
The warming center opens whenever temperatures drop below 30 degrees, and Kareem says he plans to stay until conditions improve.
Operating the center is a round-the-clock community effort. Billy Bachman, a lead volunteer at the church, said volunteers work in three-person shifts to keep the center running.
“No one gets paid,” Bachman said, adding that all meals are donated by local supporters.
Even when the center reaches capacity, Bachman said no one is turned away on dangerously cold nights. Staff coordinate with Frontline, DeKalb County’s homeless services agency, to help locate additional shelter space when needed.
“We will never send someone out on the street on a super cold night,” Bachman said.
Advocates say warming centers can be lifesaving during extreme cold. Residents in need of shelter are encouraged to monitor local government updates and community resources for available locations as temperatures remain dangerously low.
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Environmental groups challenge Georgia PSC approval of new Georgia Power gas plants
Environmental groups challenge Georgia PSC approval of new Georgia Power gas plants
Environmental groups are urging state utility regulators to reconsider a recent decision they say could raise electric bills and lock Georgia into costly fossil fuel infrastructure for decades.
The Sierra Club, the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy have filed a motion asking the Georgia Public Service Commission to reopen a case approving Georgia Power’s plan to build new methane gas power plants.
The commission approved the expansion in December as part of Georgia Power’s long-term resource plan. Opponents argue the decision raises unresolved questions about cost, timing and whether the additional power is actually needed.
Isabella Ariza, a senior attorney with the Sierra Club, said the proposal comes at a risky moment for consumers.
“This is not a good time to stock up on gas resources that are extremely expensive at the moment, and ratepayers will see no benefit from doing that at this time,” Ariza said.
The groups point to analysis by the commission’s own staff estimating the projects could raise average monthly electric bills by about $20 — adding up to tens of billions of dollars over the lifetime of the plants. The motion also argues Georgia Power has not shown that all of the new capacity is necessary to serve existing customers by 2031.
One project drawing particular scrutiny is a proposed gas unit at Plant McIntosh. The groups say Georgia Power’s modeling shows the plant would produce more electricity than projected demand, potentially saddling customers with billions in unnecessary costs.
Ariza said communities across Georgia are raising concerns about long-term impacts on health, the environment and household budgets.
“Community members are saying they don’t want to pay for gas plants that will stay online for 40 years, pollute their air and primarily serve data centers,” she said, adding that large industrial users should bear those costs.
The groups are asking regulators to reopen the case, hold another hearing and limit approvals to power resources proven necessary for Georgia Power’s customers, while adding protections to prevent existing ratepayers from subsidizing speculative growth.
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New report shows Medicaid covers one in five Georgians, nearly half of children
New report shows Medicaid covers one in five Georgians, nearly half of children
The Georgia Health Initiative recently released its second annual report that provides insights into Medicaid in Georgia.
“As an organization comprised of experts in health policy, communications, community engagement, and philanthropy, the Initiative team is pleased to make available comprehensive resources like Insights in Medicaid in Georgia in service of working with multi-sector partners toward a healthier Georgia,” read the report.
The report includes the latest data and analyses on enrollment, financing, benefits and services, service delivery and state priorities based on conversations with state leadership.
Vice President of Policy Cindy Zelfin told Georgia Public Broadcasting the funding cuts to Medicaid and healthcare delivery systems will cause Georgians to lose access to coverage.
“So there will be much for our state policy makers to think through as they reflect on our health, the state of our health care system and helping to make sure that people in Georgia have the coverage that they need to access healthcare services and live healthy lives,” she said.
The report states that 20.8% of Georgians are covered by Medicaid with 48% of Georgia’s children receiving coverage from the service.
“Medicaid serves as a cornerstone of the health care system in Georgia, providing access to essential services for individuals and families and making health care affordable for Georgians,” read the report.
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Health advocates spotlight free nicotine-quitting program during MLK Day observances
Health advocates spotlight free nicotine-quitting program during MLK Day observances
As communities across Georgia observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, health advocates used the moment to spotlight long-term support for people trying to quit nicotine, including the free, evidence-based EX Program.
The program is operated by Truth Initiative, a nonprofit focused on ending tobacco and nicotine addiction, and has helped people quit since 2008. Developed in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, the EX Program offers teens and adults personalized quit plans, interactive text messages and online peer support. Research shows people who use the program can increase their chances of quitting by up to 40%.
Kendric Dartis, vice president for outreach and engagement at Truth Initiative, said promoting access to quitting resources aligns closely with the purpose of the holiday.
“Martin Luther King Jr. Day is really a call to action and not just a reflection. Truth Initiative is showing up during the King Holiday Observance Week to really frame quitting nicotine as an act of liberation and understanding — one that protects health and strengthens community.”
Truth Initiative participated in Atlanta’s Beloved Community Global Summit as part of King Holiday Observance Week, which brings together leaders and advocates to advance Dr. King’s vision of collective care and equity. Public health experts say the work is especially urgent in Black communities, which have long been targeted by tobacco companies and continue to face uneven access to cessation resources.
Dartis said the consequences of those disparities are profound.
“We also know that 45,000 Black Americans die each and every year from smoking-related disease and illnesses, so we know that we must do something differently.”
He said meeting people with accessible, trusted, and proven tools is key to closing those gaps and strengthening community health.
The EX Program is available at no cost at EXprogram.com or by texting EXPROGRAM to 88709.
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Georgia flu cases surge during winter season
Flu cases surge across Georgia as state sees spike in hospitalizations
Georgia has seen a massive surge in flu cases this winter along with roughly 20 other states.
The surge has been attributed to a so-called “super flu,” according to Axios Atlanta.
Metro areas in Georgia have seen more than 2,100 hospitalizations due to flu since early October 2025, and 46 people have died from influenza-associated deaths in that time frame, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 15 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths from the flu so far this season.
“If you have not gotten a flu shot yet and have no medical conditions preventing you from doing so, the Department of Public Health strongly urges you to take advantage of the health benefits the flu vaccine provides as soon as possible,” read a news release from DPH.
The flu vaccine is available at public health departments, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics and pharmacies.
DPH listed the following methods to reduce the spread of the flu.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently and thoroughly.
- Cover your nose and mouth with the crook of your elbow while coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Do not go to school or work if you are sick.
- People who are sick should try to quarantine as much as possible.
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Chatham County nonprofits receive nearly $1M for preventive healthcare
Chatham County nonprofits receive nearly $1M for preventive healthcare
Four nonprofit organizations in Chatham County will receive nearly $1 million in grants to provide preventative healthcare in the area.
The Chatham County Hospital Authority Trust announced Wednesday that it will grant $964,000 to four organizations.
The money for the trust came from the 2017 sale of Savannah’s nonprofit Memorial Health University Medical Center. It was sold to the largest for-profit healthcare system, HCA, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting.
The trust partnered with United Way of the Coastal Empire to administer and facilitate the grant process, according to the announcement.
Joyce Roche, chair of the trust, told GPB that this is only the second time the trust has given funds.
“It is for the most vulnerable of our citizen population here in Chatham County,” she said.
Roche said the trust will make more awards when it has the earnings, which rely on a $25 million initial investment.
Here are the recipients:
- Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc. – $250,000
- Hospice Savannah, Inc. – $214,000
- J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center, Inc. – $250,000
- MedBank Foundation, Inc. – $250,000