Damage from the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl highlighted the lax oversight of independent living facilities for low-income and disabled seniors.
Michael Murney
Michael Murney is the health care reporter for Houston Landing. He comes to the Landing after three-plus years covering Texas health care, politics, courts and jails for Chron and the Dallas Observer. Michael also investigates mental health crises in local Texas jails as a fellow with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. A Minnesota native, Michael holds a master's degree from Northwestern University, where he covered Chicago PD's covert expansion of its surveillance camera system and COVID-19 outbreaks in Chicago's residential addiction treatment centers. Michael can be found running and playing drums in his free time.
Posted inHealth
Baylor College of Medicine, UH announce $44 million community-focused health care hub
A new Baylor College of Medicine and University of Houston hub aims to boost local health care by helping convert research into clinical treatments.
Posted inHealth
New strain of monkeypox declared a global health concern, sparking misinfo on social media
Meta description (max 150): The World Health Organization issued a global alert about a new strain of monkeypox spreading outside the United States. Misinformation has followed.
Posted inImmigration
‘A major chilling effect’: How Abbott’s order could impact immigrants, medical community
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas hospitals to track patients’ immigration status and the costs of providing care to those in the country illegally.
Posted inPolitics & Government
The city said it would hold damaged senior homes accountable after derecho. Then Beryl hit.
After May’s derecho damaged some senior living facilities, city officials promised accountability. Little had changed when Beryl hit two months later.
Posted inAround the Region
Houston health officials worry about West Nile as mosquito population explodes after Beryl
Seven humans and nearly 500 mosquito samples have tested positive for the West Nile virus this year, according to Harris County Public Health figures.
Posted inAround the Region
Stranded after Beryl: How some Houston neighborhoods suffer after hurricanes
Beryl flooded and damaged one Houston neighborhood, leaving residents without power, and in need of help.
Posted inHealth
Baylor St. Luke’s, affiliates to pay $15M for allegedly billing Medicare for risky surgeries
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine and the medical practice group Surgical Associates of Texas P.A. have agreed to pay a record $15 million to resolve allegations they violated Medicare regulations by running multiple “complicated and risky” heart surgeries at the same time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday. The alleged violations […]
Posted inHealth
A mosquito sample just tested positive for West Nile virus in Houston. Here’s what to know.
The first positive case of West Nile virus in a mosquito has been found near Houston. Here’s what you need to know.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Officials target landlords who ‘abandoned’ disabled seniors during Houston power outage
Residents at senior living facilities faced dismal conditions during the Houston power outage, prompting outraged responses from city officials.