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MILWAUKEE — The Aurora Health Care Mobile Medical Clinic team waited patiently at a table in the main hallway of the Milwaukee Public Library’s sprawling downtown branch, a blood pressure cuff and mental health questionnaire at the ready as they called out to patrons who paused: “Do you have any questions about your health?” On this Tuesday afternoon, one man did. His joints were bothering him, he told Carolyn McCarthy, the team’s nurse practitioner. He knew his bones need calcium to stay strong, so he stopped taking his blood pressure medication, a calcium channel blocker. McCarthy talked with him at length in simple and specific terms about how the medication worked on his cells, why it was important to take and how it doesn’t affect calcium storage in his bones. “Hopefully, he walked away a little bit more informed,” McCarthy said. The mobile clinic is among several health programs offered by libraries across the U.S. — from tiny rural town libraries to large urban systems. They offer fitness classes, food pantries, cooking classes, conversations about loneliness and mental health, and even blood pressure monitors that can be checked out just like books. The public health programs leverage libraries’ reputation as sources of reliable information and their ability to reach people beyond formal health care settings. No money, insurance, language skills or ID required, no limits on age. All are welcome. Libraries are “the last true public institution,” said Jaime Placht, a health and well-being specialist at the Kansas City Public Library system in Kansas City, Missouri. The system has a full-time social work team. “The library is a public health space.” The Kansas City Public Library, along with Milwaukee and several others, is part of the American Heart Association’s Libraries with Heart program. Several Kansas City branches have blood pressure stations — which Placht said have been used 13,000 times — as well as a take-home blood pressure kits that have been checked out nearly 100 times. The program started there about a year ago. “We have patrons that say, ‘Because I used the blood pressure monitor at the library, I went and saw my physician for the first time in a long time,’” Placht said. There is no local public health office in Jarrell, Texas, a small town between Austin and Waco. But there is a nonprofit library that can connect patrons to mental health help. It’s one of nine rural libraries in central Texas that receives money from the St. David’s Foundation, the philanthropic arm of one of the state’s largest health systems. Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center is a place for brave conversations. When a senior card game group turned to a discussion of the best crematorium in town, the library brought in local experts to teach about end-of-life planning, library Director Susan Gregurek said. Last year, seven women came to the library for information on how to file restraining orders against their husbands. “This is mental health, but it’s obviously larger than mental health,” Gregurek said. The public library in Smithville, Texas, which also gets money from the Libraries for Health program, stocks boxes of surplus food from area farmers and built out programs that help teens, older adults and parents address isolation. The library’s peer support specialist went from working with four to five people a month to nearly 60 in the community southeast of Austin. St. David’s Foundation invested more than $3 million in the program over three years, which Smithville library Director Judy Bergeron said is key when she hears comments like, “Why are we funding the library so much? Nobody reads anymore.” A year and a half into being in Milwaukee’s libraries, mobile health clinic reaches eight patrons on average per visit. It has had some people come back to say they went to the hospital and got a life-saving treatment, McCarthy said. It also has patients who did not seek help and later died. “What we do is a Band-Aid on a broken (health care) system,” McCarthy said of the clinic. Another library effort in Milwaukee teaches kids about healthy nutrition habits at the Mitchell Street branch — a weekly after-school program run by chef Sharrie Agee since 2022. “Certain areas of Milwaukee don’t have the same opportunities to (access) healthy ingredients, healthy sources of food, the knowledge behind how to use those ingredients,” said Agee, whose class members learn how to make snacks from different continents. Four junior chefs helped her cut cheese and tomatoes for a pizza this month while she quizzed the rest of the attendees: What country is pizza from? What ingredients are listed on the recipe? Ruby Herrera, 40, brought her children to help them learn to cook something healthy and try different foods. Her older kids cook everything in an air fryer. Yareni Orduna-Herrera, 7, ran over to her mom, smiling, her task of slicing tomatoes complete. She said she’ll try the recipe at home again and also wants to learn to make rice and beans. But first, she needed to taste the pizza. “The one that I made,” she said, with pride. Get local news delivered to your inbox!wow888 login 。

After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is garble that can't be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won't be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here's a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you're an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there's a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption to all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal's encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp, so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger, which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels" but contrary to popular perception, it doesn't turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in France. Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding an IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!None

(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .A rescue golden retriever with an unusual birthmark has taken the internet by storm, but his owner has told Newsweek that it actually has a very sentimental meaning that helped them form an instant connection. Dog owner Shannon Eschman, 37, often posts on social media (@peeta_the_golden) about her rescue dog, Peeta, and the unusual black birthmark that covers part of his chest. The adorable pup looks like a purebred golden retriever, apart from the patch, which truly makes him stand out. Whenever she's out walking Peeta, Eschman gets stopped by people who are fascinated by the birthmark, as they've never seen anything like it. But for Eschman, of Massillon, Ohio, it's no ordinary birthmark, and she told Newsweek that as soon as she saw him, she "knew he was made just for [her]." Prior to adopting Peeta, Eschman had Brinkley the golden retriever, and Millie Mae, a rescue who was a mix of chow chow, husky and German shepherd. She sadly had to say goodbye to Brinkley in February 2021 at the age of 14, and her grief was unfathomable. She still had Millie Mae, but she couldn't imagine getting another dog at the time. That was, until she saw Peeta, who seemed to carry a part of Brinkley and Millie Mae within him. Eschman said: "I was still grieving the loss of Brinkley, and I felt this hole in my heart that I didn't think I would ever get back. When Peeta was posted on Facebook through a rescue, I cried because I knew his purpose. "I felt an instant connection because of his birthmark. It was so special to me. I always look for signs that the pets we lose are still with us, and I couldn't have asked for a bigger sign. It was no coincidence, so I filled out the application for Peeta within seconds," she continued. Peeta was rescued in June 2021, and Eschman was told by the rescue that he was being rehomed because he'd recently lost his brother and seemed lost without him. As she herself was also grieving, Eschman knew this made the bond with Peeta even stronger and that they could help each other. After finding his forever home , Peeta got to spend his first three years alongside Millie Mae, until she sadly passed away in August 2024. She was 15 years old, and Eschman said she "stayed as long as she could." Just like Brinkley, she brought so much happiness into her life. "Brinkley and Millie were my first two soul dogs. I knew that, when I was ready, I would get another golden retriever, but now I had the best of both worlds. I have my Brinkley and my Millie," Eschman told Newsweek . "I have endless pictures of Brinkley's and Millie's gold and black fur touching, and now I have it all in Peeta. I felt like I got a piece of my heart back. It's inevitable that they can't be with us forever, but they did their best to make sure I always have a piece of them." Peeta has helped Eschman heal so much, and she is so grateful for the unconditional love he provides. Although Peeta likely has no idea of the impact he's had, he can't help but love all the attention he gets for his birthmark . "He knows he's special and he flaunts it," Eschman joked. Since posting about his sentimental birthmark on Instagram , the post went viral with more than 1.6 million views and 460,000 likes at the time of writing. Alongside the heartbreaking pictures, the caption says that it "means more than a birthmark," as Peeta has brought back a part of her late dogs. The online reaction has been unlike anything she was expecting, and Eschman hopes that it will encourage others to look for invaluable signs that their beloved pets are still with them in some way. She said: "I know all our pets are put in our lives for a reason, and no matter how long they are here, it's never long enough. Our time with them goes way too fast, but never give up hope that they are always with you. If we gave at least one person hope that their baby is still with them, we've done our job." The viral TikTok post has amassed over 3,100 comments already, and many social media users thanked Eschman for giving them hope, and some even shared stories of the signs they looked for. One comment reads: "This is extremely rare and 100% heaven sent." Another person wrote: "literally just got chills through my whole body." While one TikToker added: "As someone who lost her two soul dogs, this made my jaw drop. This baby was meant for you." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. The Liberal-Democratic Party, which was part of the left-led coalition that ruled the country from 2016 to earlier in 2024, issued a press statement Saturday strongly condemning “the irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok 'challenge' known as ‘Superman,’ which has injured six children across (the country) in the past 24 hours.” “The lack of adequate control over the content of social media allows such ‘games’ to reach the most vulnerable users,” the party statement said. It demanded the “immediate introduction of measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behavior, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends.” North Macedonia’s education minister Vesna Janevska said students should focus on education, not TikTok challenges. “The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will be available to children in their homes, neighborhoods and other environments,” she said. Psychologists have warned that the desire to be “in” with the trends on social networks, combined with excessive use of mobile phones, is the main reason for the rise in risky behaviors among children. They urged parents and schools to talk with students.