SUMMARY: Colorado’s new voter-approved gun initiative imposes a 6.5% tax on guns and ammunition, expected to generate $39 million annually to support victim services, particularly for domestic violence. The revenue aims to address the funding shortfall for victim support, which has dropped significantly over recent years. Experts question whether the tax will deter gun sales, with concerns raised by local firearm businesses about potential revenue losses from out-of-state purchasing. This “Pigouvian” tax seeks to offset the societal costs of gun-related harm, with supporter organizations hopeful it will enhance crucial services for crime victims across Colorado.

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SUMMARY: La promesa de deportaciones masivas y restricción migratoria por parte del presidente electo Donald Trump genera desconfianza en el sistema de salud entre los inmigrantes en California. Pese a ello, algunos inmigrantes en el sur del estado mantienen esperanza de mejoras económicas. El miedo a la deportación afecta la participación en Medi-Cal, el programa de Medicaid estatal, complicando los esfuerzos para reducir la tasa de personas sin seguro. Activistas temen que los nuevos recortes en Medicaid y cambios en políticas de carga pública puedan perjudicar a los inmigrantes elegibles, generando más incertidumbre en el acceso a la atención médica.

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SUMMARY: A database created in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Shatterproof details the use of opioid settlement funds by state and local governments in 2022 and 2023. Users can search by county or keyword to see how funds were allocated, such as purchasing Narcan or supporting local services. The database includes over 7,000 entries and allows users to access original reports. As settlement funds will continue for over a decade, individuals are encouraged to engage with local officials and organizations to influence spending decisions and seek support for addiction-related services. More information is available at kffhealthnews.org.

In the past few years, state and local governments across the U.S. have begun spending billions in opioid settlements paid by companies accused of fueling the overdose crisis. But where is that money going, who is getting it, and is it doing any good?

KFF Health News, partnering with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Shatterproof, a national nonprofit focused on addiction, undertook a yearlong investigation to find out. We built a database of answers, which you can find here: https://kffhealthnews.org/opioid-settlements/

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