2006

From Baltimore, doctor leads fight against HIV: San Francisco Examiner - December 26, 2006; Karl B. Hille, khille@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - Baltimore s Dr. Robert Gallo oversees more than the Institute for Human Virology. As one of the world s foremost thinkers in the field of AIDS/HIV research, Gallo has organized an annual retreat drawing infectious disease researchers worldwide to Baltimore City for 10 years to share information and strategi
Some kids stuck with needle in the clear: San Francisco Examiner - December 12, 2006; Tara Ramroop, tramroop@examiner.com; REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Initial test results for blood-borne pathogens show at least some local middle school students are in the clear after a November science experiment went wrong, San Mateo County Health Department officials announced Monday. A substitute science teacher on Nov. 16 pricked the fingers of approximate
Health officials ask parents to test kids: San Francisco Examiner - December 8, 2006; Tara Ramroop, tramroop@examiner.com; REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - San Mateo County Health Department officials next week will be meeting individually with some John F. Kennedy Middle School parents, now that a round of testing for any blood-borne disease is complete. Kennedy Principal Warren Sedar contacted every student’s family individually to let them know a
Ryan White's mom visits The City on World AIDS Day: San Francisco Examiner - December 2, 2006; Joshua Sabatini, jsabatini@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - Facing a community that shunned him for having AIDs, Ryan White became a prominent advocate of those suffering from the deadly disease, educating the world and inspiring compassion. Because of the misunderstood disease called AIDS my life changed overnight, said Jeanne White-Ginder, White s mother. She
AIDS walk today to help raise awareness: San Francisco Examiner - December 1, 2006; Stephanie Tracy,stracy@baltimoreexaminer.com; Annapolis - Community activists and people living with HIV/AIDS will gather tonight at City Dock in Annapolis to add their candles to the glow of the holiday decorations. The 18th annual candlelight Walk for HIV/AIDS Awareness to honor World AIDS Day will begin at 6:15 p.m. and proceed through downtown, around State Ci
Middle schoolers meet HIV-positive woman to discuss AIDS: San Francisco Examiner - December 1, 2006; Ron Cassie, rcassie@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - Fit, gray-haired and lively in a light-blue hooded sweatshirt, Tema Martin looks like anyone s mom. Twenty years ago, however, she never thought she would see her 54th birthday, which is two weeks away. In 1986, Martin was diagnosed with AIDS. Single then, Martin acquired the disease from a state trooper w
A city that lives with AIDS: San Francisco Examiner - November 30, 2006; Courtney Mabeus, cmabeus@dcexaminer.com; WASHINGTON - Of the 16,000 District residents who stepped forward for free HIV testing under a city campaign that began in late June, 3 percent tested positive for the virus, three times the national average, city health officials said. When World AIDS Day dawns Friday, the number of people living with HIV or AIDS in t
Teacher pricks 30 students with needle: San Francisco Examiner - November 21, 2006; Tara Ramroop, tramroop@examiner.com; REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - County health officials will be testing some students for HIV and hepatitis B and C after a substitute science teacher, who has since been fired, used the same needle-like instrument to draw blood from several different students during a lab experiment at John F. Kennedy Middle School. The teache
Church boots bingo fundraiser: San Francisco Examiner - November 4, 2006; April Dembosky; SAN FRANCISCO - Cross-dressing nun deemed affront to Jesus Christ by Castro church s official A couple hundred gay men planning to play bingo with a band of cross-dressing nuns Thursday night had to find something else to do. On Tuesday, just two days before the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were to host their monthl
Funding for AIDS services in question: San Francisco Examiner - November 1, 2006; Jessica Novak; BALTIMORE - Baltimore and surrounding counties in Maryland could lose more than $10 million in federal funding for AIDS services if Congress does not re-authorize the Ryan White bill. Members of Congress are debating the funding formula that directs how funds are distributed between areas with relatively recent AIDS pr
Chase Brexton opens its doors to wider community: San Francisco Examiner - October 3, 2006; Karl B. Hille,khille@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - The Chase Brexton clinic in downtown Baltimore developed a reputation for caring for AIDS patients for nearly 30 years, even before they had the understanding or sympathy of the nation. Not so many people know they now offer community clinic services to anyone, regardless of AIDS status or ability to pay.
Fairfax replacing aging county lab: San Francisco Examiner - September 8, 2006; William C. Flook, wflook@dcexaminer.com; Fairfax County - Fairfax County plans to leave its decaying, leaking laboratory for a more modern facility to handle a wide array of health and environmental testing services. The county is set to award a $784,000 contract to Reston-based Architecture Inc. to design the new building off Old Lee Highway in Fairfax City,
OPINION: Punishing the sick wastes money: San Francisco Examiner - September 5, 2006; Doug Bandow and Michael Ostrolenk; SAN FRANCISCO - Much that the U.S. government does makes no sense. Jailing the sick and dying for using marijuana is one of the most senseless. The United States faces manifold challenges which consume much manpower and money: the Iraq war, terrorism, illicit immigration, transnationa
Health Department begins series on disease prevention: San Francisco Examiner - August 29, 2006; Karl B. Hille, khille@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - The Baltimore City Health Department works hard, often turning little or no public tax money into far-reaching health initiatives. The Prevention Wednesday program - focusing on just those sorts of low-cost moves to prevent all kinds of horrible diseases according to Health Commissioner Dr. Josh Sharfstein
Hopkins study calls for new HIV tests: San Francisco Examiner - August 16, 2006; Carolyn Peirce, cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - Public health strategies for combating the HIV pandemic may be thwarted by elite suppressors, people who have AIDS but do not test positive for it in some tests, according to scientists at Johns Hopkins. The current standard test for HIV - the serological testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion (STA
Emerging medicine targets AIDS virus in early stages: San Francisco Examiner - August 16, 2006; Carolyn Peirce, cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - Drug resistance is the main reason HIV patients have trouble with their medications failing, doctors say, but a local laboratory is breaking ground on a new class of therapeutics called fusion inhibitors, which may attack resistant HIV strains. Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc. - a Gaithersburg biotechnology com
Group provides meals to residents with AIDS: San Francisco Examiner - August 8, 2006; Bruce Miller, bmiller@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - For people living with HIV or AIDS, maintaining a healthy diet is essential. Through the help of Moveable Feast, more than 600 state residents are making sure this life-sustaining need is met. There is nothing out there that would fill this void, Moveable Feast Executive Director Vic Basile said. People wit
Associated Black Charities' mission remains consistent: San Francisco Examiner - August 4, 2006; Bruce Miller, bmiller@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - For the past 21 years, the mission of Baltimore-based Associated Black Charities has largely remained the same: Identifying and serving the needs of the Maryland black community. But it s a much different organization than when it got its start in 1985 with a $100,000 planning grant and rented offices.
Lantos tours local biotech firm, hears concerns: San Francisco Examiner - August 3, 2006; Beth Winegarner; South San Francisco, Calif. - Officials with Monogram Biosciences say a number of legislative pressures are hindering their ability to recoup costs and attract the top talent they need to survive. Monogram has spent the past seven years providing individualized drug combinations to HIV-positive patients, and hopes to e
Boaters float annual cruise for kids event: San Francisco Examiner - August 1, 2006; Anne Boone-Simanski, bsss@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - All hands were on deck Friday night on the eve of the 12th annual Cruise for Kids event. Hosting Chairman Richard Swirnow called upon Bay captains to donate their time and vessels for this pairing of boat owners and families who have special needs children for a boat ride and waterside picnic. To show his a
O'Malley health care ad gets GOP blood boiling: San Francisco Examiner - July 29, 2006; Len Lazarick, llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - A rather tame campaign ad in which gubernatorial candidate Martin O Malley talks about expanding health insurance coverage and lowering costs has drawn a sharp attack from state Republican Chairman John Kane, lambasting O Malley s terrible record on health care. In the television commercial, O Malley says:
Time to pay 'Rent' again: San Francisco Examiner - July 29, 2006; Tiffany Martini, The Examiner; Rent, with its vibrant characters and modern problems, has acquired a massive following among certain communities and playgoers. SAN FRANCISCO - The spectacle that unfolded Wednesday night at the Golden Gate Theatre could have been confused for a Tom Jones concert, had one not known better. Instead, all the hullabaloo
Researchers try to gain ground on AIDS: San Francisco Examiner - July 27, 2006; Karl B. Hille, khille@baltimoreexaminer.com; GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Trying to stay one step ahead of the virus that causes AIDS, doctors and researchers are looking for ways to disable or disrupt the virus in as many stages of its life cycle as possible, particularly aiming at reproductive stages not being attacked by other drugs. Gaithersburg-based Panacos Pharmace
'Hip-Hop Forums' get teens talking: San Francisco Examiner - July 17, 2006; Katie Wilmeth, kwilmeth@dcexaminer.com; WASHINGTON - The Washington Mystics are banking on the promise of basketball and free food to get 1,500 teens talking about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington. The women s basketball team - which launched a foundation in November with Black Entertainment Television co-founder and Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson - will
Back on the dating scene: San Francisco Examiner - July 14, 2006; Jaime Malarkey, jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com; Baltimore County - Ernest Clinton was 27 the last time he walked into a drugstore and bought a box of condoms. Now, 40 years later, they come in neon colors, fruit flavors and even studded. I have a wife and I love her, said Clinton, 67. But if she passes before me, I ll do what I need to do for her - and I ll be looki
Pot club near wharf faces choppy seas: San Francisco Examiner - July 13, 2006; Sajid Farooq, sfarooq@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - A plan to open a medical marijuana club in one of The City s most popular tourist areas faces an uphill climb, as neighborhood residents and groups are lining up to defeat it. If approved, the Green Cross club, just blocks from Fisherman s Wharf at 2701 Leavenworth St., would be the first medical mariju
Woman, living with AIDS, mentors on treatment: San Francisco Examiner - July 13, 2006; Karl B. Hille, khille@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - Surviving AIDS means more than taking the right drugs at the right times. Sometimes it means realizing you don t have to die. When I first found out I had AIDS, I stayed in my room a year s time, waiting to die, because the only information I had about it was AIDS equals death, said Kathy Bennett, treatment
Better HIV test comes to Baltimore: San Francisco Examiner - July 12, 2006; Karl B. Hille, khille@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - Free RNA testing for HIV/AIDS will help city health officials quickly identify high-risk populations and activities as they develop and, officials hope, help stem the spread of the deadly disease, officials said. Baltimore City is one of the first cities in the country to begin this testing, said City Counc
Housing funds marked for HIV/AIDS patients in Montgomery Co.: San Francisco Examiner - July 6, 2006; Dena Levitz, dlevitz@dcexaminer.com; Montgomery County - Montgomery County Council members have given the go-ahead to use nearly $500,000 of federal funding on housing assistance for low-income HIV/AIDS patients. The $467,000 grant was awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a program it created in 1992 called HOPWA (Housing Opportu
AIDS Ruling: San Francisco Examiner - July 5, 2006; Melanie Carroll, mcarroll@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - This week s ruling by the California Supreme Court that paves the way for partners of unwittingly HIV-infected individuals to sue is getting mixed reviews in San Francisco. While some experts and activists say the ruling bodes well for those living with AIDS, others say it diminishes the role of individ
AIDS Walk S.F. marks 20th year: San Francisco Examiner - July 4, 2006; Melanie Carroll, mcarroll@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - When Nancy Turner did the first AIDS Walk San Francisco, then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein was chairwoman of the walkathon and Turner finished the 10 kilometers without the use of a cane. That was in 1987, just six years after the first AIDS cases were reported. Today, Turner, 53, is again preparing for the a
City's social services reap benefits of new revenue: San Francisco Examiner - June 30, 2006; Joshua Sabatini, jsabatini@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - About $28.6 million was sunk back into unmet service needs by a Board of Supervisors committee Thursday after it cut more than $13.1 million from Mayor Gavin Newsom s proposed $5.7 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The Budget and Finance Committee was able to fund a myria
City offers screening for National HIV Testing Day: San Francisco Examiner - June 28, 2006; Meghan Shapiro; BALTIMORE - The Baltimore City Health Department sponsored National HIV Testing Day throughout the city and surrounding area on Tuesday in order to stress the importance of testing all through the year. It is important for everyone to know their status so you don t affect others, said Kevin Coger, city Health Departmen
Paraders mourn AIDS victims: San Francisco Examiner - June 26, 2006; Melanie Carroll, mcarroll@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - Despite the laughter, cheering and music that filled Market Street, there was a somber undertone to Sunday s 36th Annual Gay Pride Parade for those marking the 25th anniversary of the first reported AIDS case. G.W. Frederick said he moved to San Francisco from New York 26 years ago, before AIDS was a co
Number of HIV infections on slow rise: San Francisco Examiner - June 23, 2006; Kelsey Volkmann, kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com; Carroll County - Fifteen new cases of HIV infection were identified in Carroll County last year, a slight increase compared with the 13 new cases reported in 2004, according to a health report released this week. As with the whole country, there has been a very slow and gradual upward climb in the number of HIV patient
Verbal OKs for AIDS tests are for doctors only: San Francisco Examiner - June 6, 2006; Bonnie Eslinger, beslinger@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - With a new state law that requires health care providers to report cases of HIV infection by name to county health departments, confusion about whether patients need to provide written consent when screened for the virus has AIDS activists and others concerned about privacy risks. Two weeks ago, a city
San Francisco marks quarter-century of HIV/AIDS: San Francisco Examiner - June 2, 2006; Bonnie Eslinger, beslinger@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - In 1981, clinicians in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco began to see patients with an unknown illness that seemingly caused a breakdown of the body s immune system. On June 5 of that year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out their first report, officially documenting the new
Former AIDS leader quits over secret budget cuts: San Francisco Examiner - May 23, 2006; Jaime Malarkey, jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - The former acting director of the state s AIDS Administration told The Examiner she resigned after her superiors in the Health Department kept what she called substantial budget proposals from her and never made efforts to find a permanent director to lead the agency. Naomi Tomoyasu said she explained to de
Johns Hopkins launches Center for Global Health: San Francisco Examiner - May 15, 2006; Bruce Miller, bmiller@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - In what organizers are calling the only collaboration of its kind, where the international work of three top medical disciplines will come together to address global health issues through The Johns Hopkins University Center for Global Health. The center was created to coordinate and focus the university s e
Health officials dispute claims of AIDS watchdogs: San Francisco Examiner - May 11, 2006; Jaime Malarkey, jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - Officials of the state s Health Department disputed claims that the top leaders of its AIDS Administration are resigning out of frustration with their oversight. Members of the AIDS Legislative Committee, a nonprofit group advocating AIDS prevention policy, told The Examiner earlier this week they believe t
Two more AIDS officials quitting: San Francisco Examiner - May 5, 2006; Jaime Malarkey, jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com; BALTIMORE - The top two leaders of the state s AIDS Administration are resigning over frustration with strict oversight from the Health Department and the governor s funding decisions, which are restricting their ability to implement programs and comment publicly on legislative issues, members of a AIDS policy group sa
Fake doctor who gave tests, vaccines given seven years: San Francisco Examiner - April 26, 2006; Adam Martin, amartin@examiner.com; SAN FRANCISCO - A former doctor who pleaded guilty to giving fake vaccines to patients while practicing without a license will serve just over seven years in federal prison. Stephen Turner, 51, pleaded guilty to five felony counts and, in addition to his jail time, was ordered to pay $138,510 in fines and restitution t
County schools to go coed in most sixth-grade sex education classes: San Francisco Examiner - April 14, 2006; Matthew Santoni, msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com; Carroll County - The Carroll County School Board decided Wednesday to make some sixth-grade sex education classes in its Family Life curriculum coed, with the exception of some anatomy classes. The 4-1 vote gave teachers and administrators this option. Students at that level should be mature enough for coed discussions
Inmates get new health programs: San Francisco Examiner - April 6, 2006; Michael Neibauer, mneibauer@dcexaminer.com; WASHINGTON - The District is launching a new program to raise the standards of inmate care at the D.C. Jail, and city officials hope the effort will slash costs for the corrections department and reduce the number of people who circulate through the justice system. Unity Health Care, the city s largest provider of heal
Rare strain of STD causing concern: San Francisco Examiner - March 27, 2006; Michael Neibauer, mneibauer@dcexaminer.com; WASHINGTON - A rare strain of chlamydia is showing up among the District s gay population, and the Whitman-Walker Clinic warns that the serious - but easily treatable - sexually transmitted disease is difficult to diagnose. Although rarely seen in the United States , four Washington-area residents have been diagnosed w
Scam doctor gets seven-year sentence: San Francisco Examiner - March 24, 2006; Marisa Lagos; SAN FRANCISCO - An unlicensed doctor who gave more than 1,400 immigrants - including seniors and children - fake vaccine shots and false HIV test results will spend more than seven years behind bars under the terms of a plea deal reached Thursday. Stephen Brian Turner, 51, pleaded guilty to five felony counts he was ch
D.C. gets mixed grades in AIDS battle: San Francisco Examiner - March 23, 2006; Mike Rupert, mrupert@dcexaminer.com; WASHINGTON - D.C. Appleseed gave the District mixed grades today for its efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the first report card since last year s groundbreaking study that shook up the city s beleaguered HIV/AIDS Administration. The report is the first since an August report from the powerful advocacy group l
Top HIV/AIDS official: Progress has been made: San Francisco Examiner - March 23, 2006; Mike Rupert, mrupert@dcexaminer.com; WASHINGTON - The chairman of the D.C. Council s Health Committee said Wednesday the city will do whatever it takes to retain federal HIV/AIDS grant dollars - even using names to track residents newly diagnosed with the disease. The District is one of nearly a dozen jurisdictions across the country that stand to lose mi
Critics say Prop. D would force Laguna Honda to oust very ill: San Francisco Examiner - March 21, 2006; Justin Jouvenal; SAN FRANCISCO - Laguna Honda Hospital could be forced to discharge hundreds of AIDS, Alzheimer s and Parkinson s patients who need urgent care because of a ballot measure that goes before voters in June, the administrator of the hospital and city health officials said Monday. Proposition D aims at restricting the patie
DCPS to unveil HIV/AIDS policy: San Francisco Examiner - March 20, 2006; Mike Rupert, mrupert@dcexaminer.com; WASHINGTON - D.C. Public Schools is expected to release a sweeping health policy next week that will create a Cabinet-level school health administrator and implement an HIV/AIDS awareness program in classrooms. The D.C. Board of Education is pushing school administrators to reinvigorate the system s health education pr
DA offers plea deal to man who faked immigrants' medical exams, vaccines: San Francisco Examiner - March 17, 2006; Marisa Lagos; SAN FRANCISCO - The unlicensed doctor accused of giving 1,400 immigrants fake medical exams and vaccine shots was offered a criminal plea deal by the San Francisco District Attorney s Office on Thursday. However, the attorney for Stephen Brian Turner asked for a week to review what he characterized as a stiff offer.
Brady's wife urges ban on assault weapons: San Francisco Examiner - March 8, 2006; Anna Bailey, abailey@dcexaminer.com; Annapolis - The woman whose husband was shot in the head during an assassination attempt on President Reagan wrote to Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich on Tuesday in support of several health initiatives and a ban on assault weapons like the Bushmaster used in the 2002 sniper shootings. These are weapons of war, Sarah Brady
Not guilty plea by ex-doctor: Lawyer: 'He wants to cooperate and make amends': San Francisco Examiner - February 22, 2006; Marisa Lagos, Staff Writer; The unlicensed doctor accused of giving hundreds of unsuspecting California immigrants fake vaccines and medical tests is very sorry for the crimes, his lawyer said Wednesday. Stephen Brian Turner, 51, realizes he is now public enemy No. 1, but did not know at the time of his alleged crimes that he was doing anything w
A New DVD: San Francisco Examiner - February 21, 2006; Peter Brown; It s not nearly as hilarious as Lease in Team America: World Police, but fans of musicals will enjoy Rent, now out on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film is based on the play of the same name about a group of starving artists in New York (but the movie was filmed in San Francisco!) trying to pay the ren
City switches to state-issued marijuana IDs: San Francisco Examiner - January 8, 2006; Marisa Lagos, mlagos@examiner.com; As San Francisco s health department makes the switch today to state-issued medical marijuana cards, some advocates remain wary of the new IDs, which allow Sacramento to keep a photo of patients on file. California voters passed Proposition 215, legalizing medicinal marijuana, in 1996, and in 2003 the state Legislature

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©1980, 2006. AEGiS.