Lauren Lindstrom
The Toledo Blade
Toledo, OH, United States
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Past articles by Lauren:
UT pediatrics literacy program launches book donation drive
In addition to the standard routine of vaccines and reflex checks, for the last 20 years pediatricians in northwest Ohio have shared the importance of literacy through the gift of a book to their littlest patients. Reach Out and Read of Northwest Ohio, an offshoot of a national program started in Boston, provides books during pediatric appointments. Children up to 5 years old are able to get a… → Read More
UT continues to withhold records related to lost flash drive with personal information
Nearly nine months after University of Toledo officials learned a faculty member lost a flash drive with Social Security numbers of an undisclosed number of people, and more than four months after alerting those affected, officials continue to withhold records related to the incident, repeatedly citing an ongoing investigation. But those whose data was lost and potentially compromised express… → Read More
Clean up your act: Officials tout correct recycling practices
A message to those throwing soiled pizza boxes, yard waste, and propane tanks into their curbside blue bins: It’s time to reduce, reuse, and rethink what should end up in recycling. City and county officials offered a gentle public chastisement Friday during a news conference to kick off a county-wide education campaign to highlight the importance of proper recycling, help the environment, and… → Read More
Overdose data shows slight dip in Lucas County, 20 percent increase statewide
In a bleak tally of last year’s fatal drug overdoses for Ohio — showing a 20 percent increase in deaths over 2016 — there is small, local bright spot: a slight decrease of deaths in Lucas County. Potent and deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl again contributed to a majority of fatalities locally and statewide, while heroin and prescription opioid deaths declined, according to a report… → Read More
ProMedica seeks up to $870M in bonds
ProMedica is seeking up to $870 million in revenue bonds for construction and facilities projects. → Read More
ProMedica opens cancer center on St. Luke's Hospital campus
ProMedica has opened a cancer center in Maumee to provide oncology and related services on the St. Luke’s Hospital campus, but officials say that’s not a sign of a renewed relationship between the entities separated two years ago by federal order. First open to patients Monday, ProMedica Maumee Cancer Center offers medical and radiation oncology, as well as dietary and genetic counseling, and… → Read More
East Toledo addiction treatment provider eyes expansion
When someone overdoses in front of the Talbot Center one day and the next shows up at the door for treatment, Randall LaFond sees great need in his East Toledo neighborhood. Mr. LaFond, director at the Talbot Clinical Services of Ohio, is looking to establish an inpatient treatment center primarily for opioid addiction, located behind the center’s building at 732 Main St. to add its outpatient… → Read More
Lucas County unveils health improvement plan
Lucas County will focus on mental health; addiction; maternal and child health, and chronic disease during the next three years in its strategic plan to improve individual and community well-being. Health officials unveiled the 2018-21 Community Health Improvement Plan on Wednesday, which showcases efforts to decrease premature death and health disparities for low-income and minority residents.… → Read More
Son of drive-by shooting victim remembers mother
Craig Ward sees his mother’s last moments when he closes his eyes or tries to sleep. The 29-year-old was sitting next to Monica Myers in the back seat of a vehicle at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday near Detroit Avenue and Alexis Road when what he describes as a road-rage incident escalated to a shooting that killed his mother. Monica Myers was killed in a drive-by shooting early Saturday morning.… → Read More
Runners, walkers set off on 24-hour race at Olander Park
Stacey Kozel wasn’t the fastest racer at the Olander 24-Hour Endurance Challenge, but she had a different prize in mind. The 44-year-old set off on a steady pace Sunday morning on her quest to nab the world record for longest distance walked on crutches in a 24-hour period. To do so, she’d have to best the current record of 20 kilometers, or about 12.4 miles, in a day. Her personal goal was 50… → Read More
Ohio Medicaid director visits Toledo to tout program expansion
Ohio Medicaid Director Barbara Sears visited Toledo on Wednesday to tout the success of the state's Medicaid expansion, calling the program that insures just under 700,000 adults “affordable and manageable.” At the event at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, she highlighted the decreasing number of uninsured adults in the state and shared stories of local residents who gained coverage through the… → Read More
County officials progress on new jail plans; opposition group's measure dismissed
At nearly the same time Lucas County commissioners approved seeking an interim construction management contract with Lathrop Co. regarding a new jail, the county board of elections removed from the November ballot a proposal to restrict that jail’s location to Toledo’s downtown. Commissioners voted Tuesday to enter into an interim contract with Lathrop for construction management services. The… → Read More
Board of Elections rejects downtown jail, Lake Erie bill of rights petitions
Accusing Lucas County Board of Elections of thwarting democracy, supporters of two petitions excluded from the November ballot by board vote said they plan to sue for their inclusion. The two petitions — one seeking to keep the Lucas County jail in downtown Toledo and another seeking to establish a Lake Erie bill of rights — were rejected by the board and will not go before Toledo voters in… → Read More
Police shoot, kill gunman in Perrysburg Township
One person is dead and two are in custody following a police pursuit that ended in officers shooting a gunman on Neiderhouse Road in Perrysburg Township, officials said Monday. An unidentified man shot at Perrysburg Township police with a handgun before officers shot and killed him Monday afternoon, township administrator Walter Celley said. “The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene and no… → Read More
ProMedica lays off about 100 employees
About 100 ProMedica employees were laid off this week to “improve efficiencies and reduce costs,” the health system confirmed Thursday. An additional 60 vacant “nondirect patient care positions” will not be filled, according to the statement from Chief Human Resources Officer Karen Strauss. ProMedica declined to make officials available for interviews Thursday. “The healthcare industry continues… → Read More
New health center opens in East Toledo
The East Toledo Community Health Center opened its doors to patients on Monday, with the goal of providing comprehensive primary care services to those who need them most. It’s the 14th location for Health Partners of Western Ohio, which runs community health centers across the region, including in Lima, Defiance, Bryan, and Tiffin. Janis Sunderhaus, chief executive officer of Health Partners of… → Read More
High-tech treadmill like 'walking on the moon'
Mercy Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine on Thursday debuted the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill, which allows patients to walk and run with reduced pressure on their legs. Using technology originally developed by NASA, the treadmill helps patients who are recovering from injuries or surgeries return to normal movement faster. Runners and walkers wear shorts made of a wetsuit-like material… → Read More
Forest Cemetery damage escalates after vandals break into mausoleum
Vandals escalated weeks-long destruction at Forest Cemetery with an incident reported last week that disrupted two coffins in a mausoleum, Toledo police said. The cemetery, one of five run by the city, has been struck repeatedly in recent months by vandals who have knocked over more than 100 headstones and caused thousands of dollars in damage. A Toledo police report from July 30 states the… → Read More
Forest Cemetery damage escalates after vandals break into mausoleum
Vandals escalated weeks-long destruction at Forest Cemetery with an incident reported last week that disrupted two coffins in a mausoleum, Toledo police said. The cemetery, one of five run by the city, has been struck repeatedly in recent months by vandals who have knocked over more than 100 headstones and caused thousands of dollars in damage. A Toledo police report from July 30 states the… → Read More
Training, protocol help hospitals prepare for hazmat situations
When exposure to potentially dangerous substances twice sent multiple people to the hospital in a span of a week, the staff at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center was trained to be ready. The Toledo hospital became the treatment epicenter after two recent hazardous material incidents events sent more than 20 people there, including several police officers. Hospital staff declined to discuss… → Read More