Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kathleen Bachynski

@bachynski.bsky.social

19K followers 4K following 6.1K posts

Associate Professor of public health at Muhlenberg College. History, ethics, epidemiology, sports, injury prevention.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · Mar 8

I love this photo that @melissabender.bsky.social captured of me at the #standupforscience rally yesterday in NYC. I wonder if I could make this my official faculty photo lol @jackiantonovich.bsky.social @kimberlywheiman.bsky.social @archaeoscape.bsky.social @sarahruncie.bsky.social

71 830 5.4K

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1h

“The practice, known as solar grazing, places flocks of sheep in large fields of solar panels to keep vegetation in check. According to Canary Media, it's a win-win: Farmers earn income from both the clean energy projects and the sheep, while solar companies save money on mowing and maintenance.”

Shepherd @neolithicsheep.bsky.social · 1h

Support clean energy by eating American lamb:
www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Farmers urge Americans to embrace previously overlooked type of meat: 'There's really a huge, huge potential'

"Great way to support those family farmers."

www.yahoo.com

2 8

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 2h

The Department of Education reportedly fired nearly everyone in the office that focuses on the nation’s children with disabilities in a wave of new layoffs

Special education staff decimated after Trump administration shutdown firings: Sources

The nation’s special education services have been significantly damaged after Fridays’s mass layoffs within the Department of Education, sources told ABC News.

abcnews.go.com

17 260 380

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1h

Fantastic! I was able to get my Covid vaccine a couple days ago without any difficulty (in Pennsylvania) and I am so happy to have this extra protection going into this fall/winter respiratory season.

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 3d

I got my updated COVID-19 vaccine today! So grateful to all the state and local health officials, pharmacists, and everyday people working against even tougher currents this year to keep making these vaccines as accessible as possible #getvaxxed

Vaccine selfie of a woman with a Band-Aid on her arm

1 4

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 1h

Finally scheduled an appointment for COVID vaccine next week. Prescription is no longer required in GA to get the booster.
I get vaccinated to:
- Protect myself
- Protect others
- Model what I preach
georgiarecorder.com/2025/10/08/g...

Georgians can now get updated Covid shots at pharmacies without a prescription • Georgia Recorder

This story was originally published by Healthbeat. Sign up for their public health newsletters at healthbeat.org/newsletters” Georgians should now be able to get the updated Covid vaccines at pharmaci...

georgiarecorder.com

7 21 110

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1h

a painting of a scream by edvard munch is shown

Alt: a painting of a scream by edvard munch is shown

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 16h

It’s pronounced cyclist.

390 3.2K 19K

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 3h

“Who was president in 2020?” remains one of the most pertinent questions in American politics—absurd, yes, but here we are—and that extends to “who was president January 1 - 19, 2021?”

Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 3h

That’s a nice trick, since Biden wasn’t the president on Jan 6.

53 630 3.2K

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 3h

“There’s the historic lack of scientific research into, and education around, menstrual health and its influence on sporting success; bygone or unrealistic ideals of elite sporting physiques; a dearth of education among coaches and athletes; and the historic taboo of discussing sexual health openly”

In women’s sports, athletes losing their periods was long considered normal. Not anymore

A byproduct of wider issues, periods continue to be missed, ignored or misunderstood in elite sports

www.nytimes.com

1 4 10

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 13h

Thankfully, rabies is very rare in people the United States. But “7 out of 10 Americans who die from rabies in the US were infected by bats.” It is preventable if people know to seek medical attention and get PEP after exposure.

Rabies: Deadly but Preventable

People can be exposed to rabies through animal bites or scratches.

www.cdc.gov

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 13h

“One person was bitten by the bat and is now seeking medical care, the county said… Any direct contact with a bat should be treated as a potential exposure, even if there is no visible bite or scratch, according to the county’s news release.”

Rabid bat bites person in southeast Michigan

The rabid bat found in St. Clair County has triggered warnings from health officials who say even minor contact with bats can be dangerous.

www.mlive.com

2 19 41

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 13h

“Obamacare coverage has become especially widespread in south Florida, where there is a large concentration of low-wage workers and early retirees.
Most of the congressional districts with the highest enrollments are in states that Trump won in the presidential election”

Obamacare Enrollment by State: Most Enrollees Live in Republican Areas

Millions of Americans depend on Obamacare. Here's where they live.

www.nytimes.com

3 21

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 15h

“Members of the M.M.W.R. team were laid off “in error because of a misclassification” of job codes and would be brought back, as would anyone working to contain measles and the Ebola outbreak in Congo… The timing of their rehiring was unclear.” I can’t keep up with what is happening at the CDC.

Trump Administration Will Rehire Scores of Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

2 10 22

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 16h

BREAKING: Some of the layoffs at CDC are being REVERSED.
Here is my updated story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

More than 1,000 CDC staff receive layoff notices during government shutdown

Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.

www.washingtonpost.com

35 270 700

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 16h

Perhaps this is too niche, but might I also recommend Ghostwriter

Ghostwriter image with actors from the show

1 19

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

Sarah J. Jackson @sjjphd.bsky.social · 17h

I’m not trying to give @pbs.org ideas for raising money—but I am. I would buy women’s fit T-shirts of all my favorite childhood shows. Reading rainbow, 321 contact, square one, zoobiliee zoo. I feel like two generations will run to donate even more money for shirts with Levar Burton on them…

140 580 2.9K

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 16h

Today we saw The Other Americans starring John Leguizamo and Luna Lauren Velez at the Public Theater, followed by eating a big plate of pierogies at Veselka. A great way to spend a gray Saturday in NYC.

A picture of the stage at the public theater

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

Ian Weissman, DO @drianweissman.bsky.social · 1d

First responders detail the deadly cost of rural hospital closures. Rural hospitals are vanishing, and Medicaid cuts could accelerate the collapse.
abcnews.go.com/US/loss-life...

'It can be a loss of life': First responders detail the deadly cost of rural hospital closures

Across the country, hospitals are vanishing, and a new wave of Medicaid cuts could accelerate the collapse.

abcnews.go.com

3 55 98

Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 1d

We will NOT stand for Trump and Vought decimating our health sciences with RFK Jr's permission.

JOIN US FOR A RALLY AT HHS ON FRIDAY 10/17!

WE ARE TAKING BACK SCIENCE.

#ImpeachTheQuack
#GetOutTheVought
#TakeBackScience

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 4d

FIGHT FOR SCIENCE RALLY ✊🌏
⏰ WHEN: October 17th, 2025
📍WHERE: 200 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC!
RSVP to JOIN THE FIGHT IRL: zurl.co/LayiM ‼️

📲 Join us Virtually!: zurl.co/Um47l

5 79 190

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“In a world where we know many investors don’t read prospectuses, we need to put a lot of thought behind the data points like expense ratios that investors should care about… Important statistics like expenses should rightfully be calculated in the same way across different types of funds”

1 5

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“Under the pending legislation… The fee table of a mutual fund or similar portfolio—for example, a target-date fund for 401(k) plans that invests in a basket of other funds—would no longer have to include the expenses of business-development companies, or BDCs, that it invests in.”

1 1 7

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“Asset managers and financial advisers have concocted a zillion ways to disguise their fees. Congress wants to give them yet another.
A bill passed by the House and pending in the Senate would authorize portfolios often used in retirement accounts to skip reporting the expenses of certain funds”

Congress Thinks Hiding Fund Fees Is Good for You

Even if fund expenses seem to disappear, they’re still the biggest drag on your returns.

www.wsj.com

1 7 18

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“Should I go with the unicorn?” he mused before selecting a range of animals, including a lobster, a shark and a bear.

“I already ordered a squirrel,” Wilson confessed with a grin.”

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“People sometimes wonder, ‘What can I do’” to protest, Wilson said. “This makes it so accessible.”

Wilson’s husband, Kevin, who was wearing regular clothes, stood nearby, carefully picking out more costumes to order online for demonstrators.”

1 1 13

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“Dressed as Tigger from “Winnie the Pooh,” Portland resident Joy Wilson marveled at the masked agents staring down at her. She said she usually reads a book during demonstrations to highlight the peace and calm… and Thursday night marked her first time attending a protest in costume.”

1 1 9

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“Brown said he grew up learning about the deadly Kent State shooting in 1970, when four unarmed students were killed and another nine wounded by members of the Ohio National Guard. Operation Inflation is his attempt to de-escalate tensions between protesters and federal officers.”

1 2 10