Neon Tommy: Faces of a Health Crisis Archives

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The Real Reason Behind California's H1N1 Racial Disparity

by Olga Khazan | January 21, 2010
Senior Editor

Swine flu has hit California Latinos and blacks hardest, but the reason is economic, not cultural. [...]

Juanita Juarez: Her Laughter Is Missed Most

by Madeleine Scinto | December 2, 2009
Staff Reporter

VIDEO: Juanita Juarez couldn't walk or talk, but she knew how to laugh and she happily laughed for much of her 15 years of life. [...]

An Open Letter To The L.A. County Board Of Supervisors

by Richie Duchon | November 16, 2009
Senior News Editor

Neon Tommy wants top elected officials to ask the L.A. County Department of Public Health some questions about its response to the H1N1 virus. [...]

An Open Letter To L.A. County's Director Of Public Health

by Callie Schweitzer | November 11, 2009
Staff Reporter

LISTEN: Reporter Callie Schweitzer requests an interview with Jonathan Fielding, L.A. County's Director of Public Health. [...]

Swine Flu In L.A. County: The Full Story

by Neon Tommy Staff

This special report on swine flu in Los Angeles County includes profiles of swine flu victims, research into the legality of withholding death certificates from the public, an interactive map, and an in-depth look at how health department officials in Los Angeles and across the country are responding to this crisis. [...]

Anthony Rosario: Employee Of The Month

by Jessica Flores and Madeleine Scinto | November 5, 2009

Anthony worked at a Toyota dealership before he died of swine flu. The week he went into the hospital, he was named "Employee of the Month." [...]

Cristian Torres Rodriguez: A Loyal Fan

by John Guenther and Amanda Tran | November 5, 2009
Staff Reporters

More than 100 members of the Rodriguez family packed the stands of Dodger stadium on July 18. They gathered not only to cheer their favorite team to victory but also to celebrate the life of a lost loved one. [...]

Olivia Cater: A Big Kid

by Catherine Cloutier | November 5, 2009
Staff Reporter

Olivia Cater loved having company flood her home and loved laughing. She loved holidays, including Halloween when she would climb on chairs to hang spider webs and fill the house with pumpkins. [...]

Alexis Maestaz: 'Happiest Little Girl In The World'

by Olga Khazan | November 5, 2009
Senior Editor

Alexis Maestaz had a happy social life, attending birthday parties and visiting school friends. Her mother says Alexis was always ready to make a new friend. [...]

Secrecy About Swine Flu Deaths Breaks State Law, Experts Say

by Holly Butcher, Bethany Firnhaber and Julia James | November 5, 2009
Staff Reporters

Who is dying of the swine flu? It's a simple question, but the answer has been hard to come by: Many counties across California and the nation are refusing to grant public records requests for death certificates of H1N1 victims. [...]

Karen Wright: Nowhere To Go

by Catherine Cloutier | November 5, 2009
Staff Reporter

Bipolar and homeless, Karen Wright's life ended when she contracted swine flu. [...]

L.A. County's Swine Flu Victims: Death Certificates Tell the Stories Of A Ravaging Virus

by Callie Schweitzer | November 5, 2009
Staff Reporter

EXCLUSIVE: Neon Tommy reporters analyzed 44 death records of swine flu victims and interviewed family members, public health officials and doctors to see what the dozens of deaths suggest about the patterns of the illness and who remains most at risk. [...]

The Human Side Of The Swine Flu Epidemic

by Neon Tommy Staff | November 6, 2009

WATCH: This project aims to tell the stories of victims of swine flu in Los Angeles County, from the first death in May to whenever the crisis ends. Our goal is to put a human face on the epidemic and help the public evaluate the performance of health officials in addressing it. [...]

Jennifer Martinez: A Sparkling Spirit

by Olga Khazan | November 5, 2009
Senior Editor

Jennifer Martinez was slowly working toward a degree in nursing at Citrus College. She also lovingly fulfilled her roles as a mother, daughter and sister. [...]

Daniel Hernandez: 'He Inspired Us'

by Hillel Aron | November 5, 2009
Senior Editor

Daniel Hernandez was highly active, and enjoyed playing soccer and basketball at school. His Down Syndrome made it difficult for him to speak in complete sentences, but his family learned to talk with him through a mix of words and sign language. [...]

Swine Flu Victim Death Certificates From Across Calif.

by Neon Tommy Staff | November 5, 2009

Neon Tommy reporters requested death certificates from 12 counties in California. Included are the documents we received from Los Angeles, Fresno and Sacramento counties. [...]

Map Of L.A. County Swine Flu Fatalities

by Kim Nowacki | November 5, 2009
Staff Reporter

[...]

Faces Of A Health Crisis: Series Overview

by Neon Tommy Staff | November 5, 2009

This special report on swine flu in Los Angeles County includes profiles of some swine flu victims, research into the legality of withholding death certificates from the public, copies of the certificates provided to Neon Tommy, an interactive map detailing where swine flu has struck in L.A. County, and an in-depth look at how health department officials in Los Angeles and across the country are responding to this crisis. [...]