Lesley McClurg
KQED Public Media
San Francisco, CA, United States
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Past articles by Lesley:
California Becomes First Sanctuary State for Transgender Youth Seeking Medical Care
Against a wave of nationwide bills that limit or criminalize gender-affirming care, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 107, which ensures transgender youth who live elsewhere can access medical care in the state. But the law continues to face fierce opposition from conservatives and faith-based groups. → Read More
Prop. 31: Should California Ban Flavored Tobacco Products?
In 2020, California lawmakers passed SB 793, which banned the retail sale of flavored tobacco products that can be smoked, vaped, or eaten statewide. But shortly after that, tobacco companies worked to put Prop. 31 on the ballot, taking the issue directly to the voters. It asks California voters whether to uphold that 2020 ban, → Read More
California debates opening supervised sites for people to use drugs
Advocates of the proposal say it would prevent overdoses, slow the spread of HIV and inspire drug users to seek help, while proponents say safe injection sites would create an "open drug scene." → Read More
Some kids are happy to ditch the mask at school, others struggle with the transition
Children's mental health experts have advice for how to help kids deal with masking uncertainty – and deal with peer pressure if their mask choice isn't popular at school. → Read More
An experimental depression treatment uses electric currents to bring relief
The remedy is a new type of transcranial magnetic stimulation that's showing good results in just five days of treatment. For some patients, it's life-changing. → Read More
There's one population that gets overlooked by an 'everyone will get COVID' mentality
The roughly 7 million Americans who are immunocompromised — including many people with disabilities — live with much higher risk of COVID-19, and near-constant vigilance. → Read More
COVID hit 13 members of their family the first time. A year later it struck again
The second time Vanessa Quintero's family caught the virus, probably from her 8-year-old daughter, fewer people got sick. They and their doctors credit the protection of vaccination. → Read More
Breakthrough COVID Infections Add Even More Chaos To School's Start In 2021
Some kids are getting sick or passing the coronavirus to vaccinated family and friends. It's all unnerving to many parents. "It felt like a terrible head cold," one dad says. "My brain was foggy." → Read More
COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Underway For Kids 5 And Younger
Parents who have enrolled their children in these studies say the risk is worth it for the greater good. → Read More
Some Question Whether Hospital Visitation Bans During Pandemic Were Too Strict
For more than a year, people couldn't sit with loved ones as they died in hospitals. Those lonely deaths took a toll on families. Now some doctors are questioning whether the rules were too strict. → Read More
COVID-19 Vaccination Has Been Conjuring Up Emotions And Memories
Some who have received the vaccine say it was an emotional experience. The feeling is similar for others who've survived previous epidemics ended by medical advancement. → Read More
Pandemic Takes Toll On Children's Mental Health
Youth depression, anxiety and suicide attempts have been on the rise during the pandemic. School shutdowns keep kids from friends and therapists, leaving social growth up to parents in many cases. → Read More
There's No Stopping These Seniors; Even A Pandemic Can't Bring Them Down
Older people are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19. But recent research reveals older populations are less consumed by pandemic depression than those that are younger. → Read More
Yes, We All Want a COVID Vaccine to Fix Everything. But That's Unlikely
Since the beginning of the pandemic, hopes have hinged on the development of a vaccine. But the reality is the complexities of vaccine manufacturing, distribution and human response and behavior make it unlikely it will be a magic bullet. → Read More
As Pandemic Persists, Health Care Heroes Beginning To Crack Under The Strain
Many doctors are suffering burnout five months into the pandemic. But the toll is compounded for Latino doctors serving heavily affected Latino communities. Some are now beginning to seek help. → Read More
Doctors and Nurses Are Not Doing Okay
After months of fighting the pandemic, health care workers are breaking under heavy emotional and physical strain. → Read More
'They Know What A Pandemic Is': HIV Survivors See Similarities To AIDS Epidemic
The coronavirus pandemic feels eerily familiar to people who faced the AIDS crisis. It triggers memories of confusion over how the disease is transmitted and huge numbers of people dying quickly. → Read More
Leaving Town to Escape the Coronavirus Is a Really Bad Idea. Here's Why
Thinking of heading up to Tahoe to hole up in a cabin for a week? Sun Valley? Your favorite small-town getaway? ER docs ask you to think again. Please. → Read More
Vaping May Increase COVID-19 Risk, Even for the Young & Healthy
“I felt like I was melting, like my brain was like trying to force its way out of my skull.” -- 21-year-old Colin Finnerty, on falling ill with COVID-19. → Read More
I’m Sick: How Do I Know If It’s the Coronavirus?
Most people who contract COVID-19 either do not have symptoms or experience mild symptoms like shortness of breath, dry cough and fever. → Read More