Every day, Americans put about 50 million health questions to Microsoft’s Copilot and Bing. More than eight in 10 physicians say they already use AI in their work and believe that proof of safety for these tools is essential. According to a new NAACP report, the emerging technology has quietly become part of how healthcare gets delivered in this country. But the nation’s largest civil rights organization is warning that Black communities may be at risk of being left behind or even harmed by it.

The NAACP and the pharmaceutical company Sanofi released “AI Fluency is a Challenge on Both Sides of the Exam Room” during the AfroTech Conference 2026 in Houston. It is the third installment of the groups’ ACE Your Health StoryMap series, an interactive, data-driven look at how AI, internet access and long-standing healthcare inequities are shaping the future of health in Black America.

The report warns that new technology does not instantly erase old gaps on its own.

“Too many Black communities continue to face healthcare deserts, provider shortages, clinic closures, inadequate internet access, and concerns about racial bias,” said Dr. Chris T. Pernell, Director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity. “If these gaps remain unaddressed, AI could inadvertently widen existing healthcare disparities instead of helping close them. Equity and fairness must be intentionally designed into the future of healthcare AI from the very beginning, not as patchwork fixes.”

The numbers show why. Nineteen percent of people who use AI for health information say they turned to it because they could not afford to see a provider, according to the report. Black adults are significantly more likely than White adults to use AI for mental health advice.

Meanwhile, the report finds, the health system many Black Americans rely on remains hard to reach. One in three Americans lives in a healthcare desert. In the Mississippi Delta, all 154,000 Black residents live more than 25 miles from a hospital rated four or five stars. About 3.8 million Black Americans live in homes without a broadband subscription, which limits their access to digital health tools and AI-enabled resources. Safety-net providers are likewise concerned about having access to these tools due to limited funding and training in their systems.

Trust may be the toughest barrier, says the NAACP. Nearly two-thirds of Black adults believe racial bias remains a major problem in healthcare, the report found, and one-third expect AI to make that bias worse.

The findings draw on the ACE Your Health initiative, national datasets and input from nearly 23,000 community members across 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The initiative launched in 2024 as a collaboration between the NAACP and Sanofi, which describes itself as an R&D driven, AI-powered biopharma company. The StoryMap follows the NAACP’s AI White Paper on designing AI for health equity and its Policy Framework for Equitable Health AI.

“Scientific innovation is transforming healthcare in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago, but innovation must be matched by intentional efforts to expand access, build trust, and address barriers that prevent communities from fully benefiting from these advances,” said Tanisha M. Sullivan, Head of External Engagement & Health Equity Strategy at Sanofi.

She added that pharmaceutical companies should do more than develop breakthrough medicines and technologies. “Pharmaceutical companies have an important role to play, not only in developing breakthrough medicines and technologies, but also in partnering with community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure those innovations reach the people who need them most, ensuring no community gets left behind.”

The report also lays out steps communities can take, including expanding broadband adoption, building AI fluency and digital skills, strengthening community-based health education and advocating for equitable technology policies. It also invites community members to add their voices to the StoryMap.

The full report and other ACE Your Health resources are available at naacp.org.

Cloudy tub water after weekend gatherings often comes from body oils, very weak sanitizer levels, or overworked filters. Make sure to test the water, correct its chemistry, clean the filter, and use a suitable treatment before welcoming anyone back. Keep the hot tub closed until the water is very clear and safe test results are confirmed.

Weekend gatherings bring along very good food, easy conversation, and so many reasons to relax outdoors. Your hot tub may get much more attention than usual, especially when friends and family stay late. Come Monday, however, the water may have a very milky color instead of being inviting.

A super quick splash of chemicals might seem like the answer, yet guessing can make matters much worse. Clear water depends on balanced chemistry, working equipment, and very steady care. Knowing what to check first can help you restore your spa and avoid the same problem next weekend.

Now, let’s look a little bit closer at questions many may ask.

Why Does Hot Tub Water Get Very Cloudy After People Use It?

Every guest brings sweat, sunscreen, oils, or detergent residue into the water, reducing water clarity. Jets spread all of these contaminants throughout the spa.

Heavy use consumes sanitizer much faster. Clogged filters allow particles to keep circulating.

Dirty filters, organic matter, poor sanitation, and aging water are very common causes. Cloudiness deserves a great deal of attention before anyone else soaks again.

How Can You Clear Cloudy Hot Tub Water Very Fast?

Keep everyone out while you check the cause. Cloudiness may hide a sanitation problem.

Make sure to follow a simple recovery order:

1. Test: Check sanitizer, pH, and total alkalinity.
2. Balance: Make small chemical adjustments based on test results.
3. Clean: Rinse or deep-clean the filter as directed.
4. Treat: Apply a compatible shock treatment when needed.
5. Circulate: Run the filtration cycle and test again.

Also, follow product labels for dosing and safe reentry. Never mix chemicals. Clear-looking water does not always mean it’s sanitary.

Check Sanitizer Levels Before Adding More Products

Good spa sanitization starts with reliable measurements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 3 parts per million (ppm) of free chlorine in hot tubs, or 4-8 ppm bromine. Its recommended pH range is 7.0-7.8.

High pH reduces chlorine’s effectiveness. Test with fresh strips or a liquid kit, then adjust as directed.

Chlorine shock can restore sanitizer. Non-chlorine oxidizing shock breaks down waste but does not replace sanitizer. More chemicals are not automatically better.

Make sure to retest before reopening the tub.

A white, chalky haze may also indicate mineral buildup. Consider checking calcium hardness if standard water treatments fail. Mineral imbalances can require different corrective steps.

Give Spa Filtration the Attention It Needs

Poor spa filtration leaves debris and oils suspended in the water. Crowded weekends clog filter cartridges faster.

Switch off equipment as directed. Rinse the cartridge pleats, use approved cleaner for oils, and replace damaged filters.

Check whether the pump moves water normally. Weak flow, unusual noises, or repeated error messages may point to a circulation problem. Homeowners sourcing hot tub parts in Edmonton should match replacement components to their spa’s model number.

Treat Foam Without Hiding the Cause

Foam is different from cloudiness. Detergents, lotions, and oils create lingering bubbles.

Effective foam removal begins with limiting those residues. Remove visible surface debris and clean the filter. A spa-safe defoamer may reduce bubbles temporarily, but it cannot correct poor water chemistry.

Persistent foam may call for a partial or complete water change. Consider addressing detergent residue and heavily loaded filters.

Make Weekend Entertaining Easier on Your Spa

Preparing your hot tub before guests arrive can help prevent contamination and reduce the need for extra cleaning afterward. A few pre-party habits reduce sanitizer demand:

• Ask guests to shower briefly before entering.
• Rinse swimwear to reduce laundry detergent residue.
• Respect the spa’s stated seating capacity.
• Test water before and after heavy use.
• Keep the cover clean and secure between gatherings.

Base filter care on actual use. Record test results to spot patterns after each gathering.

Know When Fresh Water Is the Better Choice

Water that stays cloudy despite proper care may contain too much accumulated waste.

Strong odors, slippery surfaces, or repeated sanitizer loss call for action. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions or seek professional help. Draining and refilling may be safer than repeated dosing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does Cloudy Hot Tub Water Take to Clear?

Recovery depends on the cause, filter condition, and sanitizer levels. Mild cloudiness may improve after several filtration cycles. Heavy contamination can require deeper cleaning or a refill.

Water temperature and the amount of suspended debris may also affect recovery time. Fine particles can remain visible longer when water circulation is weak.

Elapsed time does not prove safety. Check clarity, pH, and sanitizer before reentry. If haze persists after following the owner’s manual, seek professional guidance instead of adding chemicals without testing.

Can You Use a Hot Tub When the Water Looks Clear But Smells Strong?

Strong chemical odors may indicate contaminants reacting with disinfectant. Clear water can still contain harmful germs.

A very strong chemical smell does not always mean the water contains too much sanitizer. Chloramines can develop when chlorine reacts with sweat and other organic waste.

Use a fresh test kit before entering. Check the waterline for residue and the surfaces for slippery buildup.

Should You Empty Your Hot Tub After Every Party?

A complete refill is not necessary after every gathering. Water age, guest count, test results, and filter condition all matter.

Your spa’s water capacity and average number of bathers can help determine a suitable replacement schedule. Clean the empty shell with a manufacturer-approved product whenever a full water change is needed.

Log water changes, filter cleaning, and treatments, especially after a crowded gathering. Heavy use may require an earlier refill. Follow the manufacturer’s schedule and local disposal rules to avoid damaging plants or draining treated water improperly.

Keep Tub Water Clear for the Next Gathering

Clean tub water starts with testing, careful maintenance, and prompt attention to warning signs. Protecting your hot tub also protects the comfort and well-being of everyone who uses it.

Check out our other guides and articles for more practical advice on caring for your home and outdoor spaces.

Content provided through ContentManagerIO.

Protecting your income after a workplace injury involves immediately seeking medical help and reporting the incident to your superiors or employer. You should also follow your organization’s workers’ compensation claim filing guide and keep detailed records relating to your injury and health.

Following all these steps is crucial to your claim’s success, the benefits of which include serving as a medical security and financial safety net for your treatment and recovery. You shouldn’t carry the burden of paying for these expenses, as they can reach thousands of dollars.

Indeed, the “price” of workplace injuries goes beyond treatment fees; they come with many other costs, from wage losses and administrative expenses to medical bills and employer losses. The National Safety Council even points out that in 2024, the cost per medically consulted workplace injury amounted to $48,000.

What Qualifies as a Workplace Injury?

Workplace injuries are not just injuries that arise during or from one’s course of work.

If a worker’s job role or work environment causes, significantly aggravates, or contributes to any physical or mental harm, illness, damage, or abnormal condition, then it usually qualifies as a workplace injury. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has guidelines for determining an injury’s or illness’s work-relatedness under OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1904.5.

The keyword to remember here is “work-relatedness.” Workers’ compensation coverage only applies to job injuries that satisfy this requirement.

Even if an employee sustains an injury at the workplace, if it occurred as a result of doing something not related to their work, then it likely won’t qualify for occupational loss recovery under workers’ comp.

What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries?

The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in 2024 alone, there were over 2.48 million recordable cases of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the private sector. It also provides other eye-opening statistics, including:

• 568,150 DAFW (Days Away From Work) cases involving sprains, strains, and tears (making these workplace injuries among the most common)
• 479,480 DAFW cases of slips, trips, and falls
• 248,180 cases of injuries to the exterior and musculoskeletal structures of the back

What Steps Should You Take to Protect Your Income After a Workplace Injury?

A workplace injury can put your income in jeopardy by forcing you to take time away from work to recover. If it’s a severe injury, it could even cause a long-term reduction in your earning capacity.

Considering the short- and long-term effects of work injuries, you’d want to do everything in your power to protect your personal and financial interests, which you can do by following these safety steps and injury documentation tips.

Seeking Authorized Professional Medical Care

In many states, injured workers need to seek medical care from a doctor, specialist, or healthcare facility approved and “authorized” by employers or their workers’ compensation insurance providers. If you’re in one of these states, adhere to the rules to ensure your employer’s policy will kick in and you won’t have to pay out of pocket.

An exception is if you’re in a “true emergency” scenario (e.g., you have a life-threatening injury). In this case, you can go to the nearest emergency department for life-saving care.

Reporting the Incident to Your Superior or Employer

One of the most crucial workers’ comp claim and wage replacement steps to adhere to is filing an incident report as soon as possible. While the length of time you have to report your injury to your supervisor or employer depends on your state, the best practice is to do so immediately after the incident.

The sooner you do, the sooner your employer can file a claim with their workers’ comp provider, and the sooner the insurer can begin their investigation and the claims process.

Keeping Detailed Injury Records

Maintaining detailed, well-organized records of anything related to your injury is crucial to protecting your income because it provides you with supporting evidence. You can use your records and documentation to:

• Establish proof of all your lost wages
• Demonstrate how your injury has resulted in reduced earning capacity
• Have a more accurate calculation of your losses
• Protect yourself from bad faith insurance practices (e.g., denying, disputing, or undervaluing a claim)

Seeking Legal Injury Claim Assistance

Many workplace injuries arise from simple causes (e.g., improper lifting or repetitive strain). Some, however, aren’t as straightforward, such as in cases in which employers aren’t the only ones at fault. Unsafe general contractors and faulty equipment may also be to blame, as pointed out by Thompson Law Phoenix injury lawyers.

If you believe your workplace injury is a result of a combination of these factors and negligent parties, reach out to a personal injury lawyer. They can help ascertain all parties that could share the blame, allowing you to pursue compensation beyond your workers’ comp benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Lose Your Job Due to a Workplace Injury?

Yes. It’s possible to lose your job due to a workplace injury.

You can legally lose your job if your long-term injury is interfering with your job performance, and there isn’t any other position that your employer can transfer you to.

The same is true if your employer has already provided all reasonable accommodations (e.g., modifying your duties, reassigning you to a vacant position you qualify for, or giving you access to specialized equipment). If they’ve exhausted all these options and your injury still interferes with your ability to perform essential work functions, they can choose to let you go.

You should also know that workplace injuries resulting from a worker’s own negligence or recklessness can be grounds for termination.

Can Your Employer Fire You for Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim?

No. Your employer cannot fire you solely because you filed a workers’ compensation claim following an injury on the job. If they do this, they’re breaking the law, as it’s a form of retaliation.

Protect Your Interests After a Workplace Injury

A workplace injury can be devastating, forcing you to miss work, causing you pain and suffering, and draining your budget. Following all critical steps for filing a workers’ compensation claim is therefore crucial, as the benefits you receive can provide you with the medical and financial support you need to recover.

Stay connected and informed by exploring the rest of our news platform and reading our latest posts.

Content provided through ContentManagerIO.

By Tanya Dennis

A tangle of red tape and contradictions between health providers and Medicare rules have impeded an Oakland woman’s ability to recover from a stroke she had last year.

Her family – who are her caretakers – have reached out to various professionals and state and federal lawmakers for help to no avail.

At 67, Annette Henry needs inpatient stroke rehabilitation after a devastating stroke in May 2025. Since then, multiple Bay Area hospitals have denied it. She was accepted into a rehabilitation facility in June 2025 but discharged prematurely in July, in essentially the same condition.

Three hospitals where she was a patient pushed skilled nursing over inpatient rehabilitation. Two more declined referrals.

Now at home, Henry is caught in a system that measures her need for treatment against the limitations treatment should address.

Medical professionals have documented her need for a higher level of care.

In August 2025, a Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) overturned Henry’s discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF).

The QIO’s independent physician reviewer found she had not received the “intensive therapy program outlined on admission,” according to the Aug. 30, 2025, determination letter. Yet the decision did not secure her readmission or guarantee continued rehabilitation.

Henry has central post-stroke pain, a rare neuropathic pain syndrome that can make movement and touch intensely painful. Her pain specialist recommended inpatient rehabilitation alongside pain management.

Nevertheless, facilities have cited her inability to tolerate three hours of daily therapy as a reason to deny inpatient rehabilitation.

That practice raises questions about Medicare coverage policy. In Hooper v. Sullivan, No. H-80-99 (D. Conn. 1989), the court recorded the parties’ agreement that denials based on numerical utilization screens, diagnostic screens, treatment norms, the “three-hour rule,” or other “rules of thumb” were not appropriate.

CMS subsequently cited Hooper in its Aug. 7, 2009, final rule (74 Fed. Reg. 39762, 39794). The policy is also addressed in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 1, Section 110, and CMS’s June 1 Review Choice Demonstration for IRF Services: Operational Guide.

These authorities underscore the need for individualized assessments rather than rigid numerical thresholds.

The central contradiction is stark: the pain and disability that make rehabilitation necessary have been cited as reasons to deny it. UCSF Stanyan’s April 7 discharge summary for Henry states that acute rehabilitation unit (ARU) placement was declined for “inability to tolerate three hours of therapy daily.” Without appropriate treatment, Henry risks further decline.

Her records document complications associated with prolonged immobility.

Orthopedics documented flexion contractures of the small and ring fingers on March 19.

Chest imaging on April 1 showed bibasilar dependent atelectasis, a condition involving reduced inflation of the lower portions of both lungs. These concerns can be examined through her medical records and photographs.

“What does a ‘not reasonable’ discharge look like?” her family asks. For them, it looks like an appeal decision recognizing a problem without ensuring a remedy: repeated referrals, denials and a patient still without the rehabilitation her treating professionals have recommended.

The family has sought help from the California Department of Public Health and the federal Office for Civil Rights to no avail. They contacted U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon in June 2025, while Henry was in rehabilitation; Senator Alex Padilla in May 2026; and Senator Adam Schiff in September 2026.

DeCuir says the family received no meaningful assistance and was redirected to the QIO or advised working with a social worker after Henry had already been discharged.

The consequences extend beyond rehabilitation. The family reports that Henry has struggled to attend in-person specialist or any appointments and needs in-person evaluation and treatment for complications, recommended evaluations, health screenings and preventive care.

Her mobility limitations have become barriers to broader medical care.  Every office tells her their office is not set up to accommodate her.  This has happened with specialty care, out-patient services, screenings and physical therapy.

Henry is a Black woman on Medicare, and her family believes her experience raises concerns about unequal access to intensive rehabilitation. Research has documented disparities in discharge to inpatient rehabilitation rather than skilled nursing, underscoring the importance of individualized review.

CMS, state regulators and healthcare providers should examine Henry’s records, assess her needs on their clinical merits and explain how the applicable coverage standards were applied, and whether they are being enforced.

Rehabilitation is not a reward for patients who can already tolerate treatment. It is care intended to help people recover function. Henry’s case asks whether a system designed to support recovery can leave a patient without a path to it.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

After the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 labor contract expired June 30 and talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration stalled, the union stepped up its efforts to secure a new agreement, saying its demands had gone unheeded. 

On Oct. 21, thousands of state employees represented by SEIU Local 1000 staged a one-day walkout to protest alleged unfair labor practices during negotiations with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. 

Although the strike has ended, SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls said further demonstrations or an expanded strike are highly likely if contract negotiations remain stalled. The union represents approximately 100,000 public employees statewide. 

“We are out here because our jobs matter,” Wells said. “If they continue to refuse to bargain with us in good faith, we are prepared to escalate.” 

Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) expressed support for SEIU Local 1000’s labor action in an Instagram post, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment for workers. 

“I stand in complete solidarity with SEIU Local 1000,” Smallwood-Cuevas stated. “More than 100,000 state workers they represent are on strike today fighting for good-faith bargaining, fair treatment, and a contract that reflects the value of the essential public services they provide every day—all things that should be a given for the workers our state relies on the most.” 

Smallwood-Cuevas, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) added, “When California’s workers hold the line, the whole nation pays attention.” 

According to union representatives, SEIU Local 1000 is seeking a contract that addresses rising living costs and provides greater workplace flexibility. The union is demanding a 20% wage increase over three years and an end to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s requirement that state employees work in person four days a week.

The union is also seeking increased state contributions toward employee health care benefits to reduce workers’ out-of-pocket costs. 

On Sept. 18, Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1729, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose), which sought to expand telework opportunities for state employees. 

The bill would have required state agencies to offer telework options or provide written justifications for requiring employees to work in person. Supporters argued that telework could save taxpayers approximately $225 million annually by reducing office space and parking costs while lowering vehicle emissions and improving employee retention. 

Newsom said the legislation would limit state departments’ flexibility to manage their workforces and evaluate telework exemptions individually. He has also emphasized the benefits of in-person collaboration. 

“I want people to come back to work, reengage, rediscover, collaborate, coordinate, develop relationships, friendships, and fall in love,” Newsom said in July. “You get three-day weekends. Four years ago, that would’ve been a triumph. Now it’s a burden.” 

Union organizers described the Oct. 21 walkout as a one-day unfair labor practice strike, rather than an indefinite work stoppage. The action was intended to demonstrate solidarity and increase pressure on the state during negotiations. 

SEIU Local 1000 has been without a contract since its previous three-year agreement expired June 30. Negotiations are expected to resume.

Responding to the statewide walkout, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) said it “remains focused on achieving a fair and responsible agreement with SEIU Local 1000 and continues to be available at the bargaining table.” 

By Tanya Dennis

Mike Jenkins is a serial entrepreneur with a vision to make a lasting impact in Oakland.

Raised in a military family in the Pinole area, Jenkins played basketball at Merritt College before continuing his athletic career at Sacramento State.

His lifelong interest in health and wellness led him to consider a troubling reality: as members of the Black community age, health challenges often increase. Jenkins believes investing in health is an investment in wealth, and he has made it his mission to give Oakland’s youth a stronger foundation for life.

Years ago, Jenkins invested in young people by building Speed Power Strength, a world-class strength-training facility in the Fruitvale neighborhood. For 10 years, the facility served hundreds of children, providing training entirely free of charge. Displaced by gentrification, the program eventually found a new home in Jack London Square.

That move inspired a new name: Oakland Strong, reflecting both the program’s mission and its pride in the city it represents.

“When we found the new home, I needed to put a spotlight on what we were doing– producing the strongest kids in Oakland – so I named our new location Oakland Strong,” Jenkins explained. “We are known nationally and internationally, so when we compete, our city’s name is on our chest.”

Through Olympic weightlifting, governed nationally by USA Weightlifting, the program has developed an extraordinary record. Its athletes have earned 10 national championships, a team national championship, and international titles. Today, two Oakland Strong athletes are Olympic hopefuls.

This past summer, Oakland had three athletes at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs at the same time. One was Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu. The other two were Oakland Strong’s Robert Whitlock and Rucker Johnson, there for a weightlifting camp for Olympic hopefuls.

Whitlock, an Oakland Technical High School student, began training at age 10. Now a three-time consecutive national champion, two-time Pan American champion, and Team USA representative, Whitlock also holds an American record while maintaining straight A’s in school.

“If Oakland can’t support these kinds of kids, then what are we doing?” Jenkins asks.

Oakland Strong continues offering free training in Jack London Square to young people ages 8-18. The program welcomes girls as well as boys, with approximately 12 kids currently participating with room for 20.

With limited city support for free youth programs, Jenkins must find other ways to sustain the work.

When Carlyle Chicken Wings opened nearby, he approached the owner with an idea connecting nutrition and community investment. Because Oakland Strong teaches healthy eating alongside athletic training, they developed the Oakland Strong Bowl, a protein-focused meal. Carlyle will contribute $2 from each bowl sold to support the program.

For Jenkins, the mission extends far beyond medals and records. He wants to create generational health by teaching young people habits they can carry into adulthood and share with their families.

The strongest legacy, he believes, is not simply producing champions, but building healthier generations who understand their worth, their potential, and the importance of investing in themselves.