State water regulators set manganese notification at 0.05 mg/L and response at 0.20 mg/L, citing infant health concerns. Public water systems must report exceedances and may need to act quickly.

A new CMS proposal would cap Medicaid ambulance add‑ons at Medicare rates, threatening millions in reimbursements for Sonoma County fire‑based EMS. Local chiefs are recalculating budgets as the comment period opens.

MarinHealth has opened a Women’s Lifelong Health & Wellness Clinic in Greenbrae offering longer, team-based care for menopause and midlife health. The clinic is led by Dr. Lizellen La Follette and is accepting patients.

A new Common Sense Media assessment finds safety gaps in AI mental-health apps for teens; two consumer apps vanished and Wysa earned an "unacceptable" rating.

Livingood Daily agreed to a $50,000 Prop 65 settlement after tests found lead and PFOA in several supplements; the deal imposes warnings, testing and sales limits for California customers.

Alameda County Vector Control confirmed a bat found near Palo Verde Common tested positive for rabies; officials say there are no known exposures.

A Utah clinic advertising $399 MRIs highlights why hospital outpatient charges can run into the thousands. Here’s what drives the gap and how patients can shop smarter.

A 19‑year study of more than 20,000 people found reading, puzzles or desk work while seated was linked with a modestly lower dementia risk compared with watching TV. The results suggest small swaps — an hour of TV for a book — could add up over decades.

Nine Californians — including children — were sickened in an E. coli outbreak tied to The Kebab Shop's beef kofta; the chain paused kofta sales and investigators are testing samples.

State health officials say tests found elevated thallium in Brad’s kale and salad snacks; consumers are being told to discard or return affected packages.

A wearable-data study found that just a few minutes of vigorous activity each day — about 15–20 minutes a week — were tied to large drops in several chronic diseases. Experts say intensity matters, but ramp up safely.

A new UC Irvine working paper finds leaving employment before traditional retirement age — especially after layoffs — can be tied to modestly faster cognitive decline. Experts say exercise, learning and social engagement can help protect the brain.

Stanford Blood Center says reserves are critically low and type‑O units are especially scarce. The center and local partners are asking area donors to schedule appointments or visit nearby drives.