Dear Readers: Every year I step away from my column briefly to work on other creative projects. (Anyone interested in my personal essays and photographs can subscribe to my free newsletter: amydickinson.substack.com).
Dear Dr. Roach: I was wondering if you could explain why some vaccinations seem to completely protect against a disease, while others do not. For example, smallpox was completely eradicated by vaccination, and the hepatitis B vaccine is good for life and 98% to 100% effective, according to the World Health Organization. Yet we need to have the flu vaccine each year. I understand that is partly due to different strains of flu that come through, and of course we have the coronavirus vaccine, which ... I hope you can see where this question is going. I think an understanding of the vaccines we have and how they work would be extremely beneficial to all. -- M.S.
Q: My father is slated to have robotic surgery to fix a leaky mitral valve in his heart. They say it’s going to be minimally invasive. What does that mean? And is it really safe to have a robot poking around inside a person’s heart? -- Gerry F., Franklin, Tennessee
Today is Sunday, March 27, the 86th day of 2022. There are 279 days left in the year.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Efforts to propel Kansas’ renewable energy future are at a standstill, mired in legislative stalemate. At its center is a former TV weather personality who is using his chairmanship of a key committee to promote questionable claims about green energy and to spotlight complaints from opponents of wind and solar energy projects.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Remy Martin hadn’t led Kansas in scoring all season coming into the NCAA Tournament. The fifth-year senior transfer from Arizona State is 2 for 2 on the big stage.
CANTON – Being a small school with small numbers did not stop the Canton/Galva track and field teams from making some waves and finding success in 2021 that included seven league medalists, as well as a first-place gold at the state meet in the 200 meters.
LITTLE RIVER – One thing is obvious, the Little River track/field team is young, athletic, and motivated for much success in 2022. Why the optimism? Eight Little River athletes qualified for the 2021 state track meet and all eight of them will return for the 2022 season under the guidance of coach Betsy Lafferty as she begins her fifth season in charge of the Redskin track/field program.
INMAN – If you look on paper the Inman track/field teams look loaded for the 2022 season as second-year coach Lance Sawyer returns 10 individuals that participated and scored team points at the 2021 state track meet, including seven Teuton boys and three Lady Teutons.
LITTLE RIVER – Last spring the Little River baseball and softball programs went separate directions as the softball team suffered a winless spring while the baseball team finished 20-4 on the season before losing in the state regionals.