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Ann Lurie, a nurse who became a prominent philanthropist, dies at 79

The Ann & Robert H. Lurie Foundation and Lurie Investments gave away hundreds of millions of dollars, mainly to hospitals and universities.

Dengue fever cases in Mass. are on pace to break local records, according to CDC data
Massachusetts has had 50 cases this year, though they were likely in travelers who caught the disease elsewhere.

Mass. public health officials warn of possible measles exposure by international traveler
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Saturday warned of a potential exposure to measles by an infected international visitor who traveled by bus from Hanover, N.H., to Logan Airport in Boston for a flight to Amsterdam on June 22.

Fifteen cases of whooping cough reported in Brookline
A positive case was identified at Brookline High School on June 5, along with an additional case at the Runkle School, officials said.

Supreme Court strikes down opioid settlement that would have brought $110 million to Mass.
The 5-to-4 decision said the deal would have shielded members of the Sackler family from any personal liability for the crisis.

Optum walks away from its agreement to buy Steward’s doctors network
The decision is a major setback to Steward’s efforts to bolster its finances after filing for bankruptcy.

The Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho for now in a limited ruling
The decision cleared the way for Idaho hospitals to provide emergency abortions for now in a procedural ruling that left key questions unanswered and could mean the issue returns to the court again soon.

The Supreme Court rejects Purdue Pharma opioid settlement that would have shielded Sacklers
The justices blocked an agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims that would also have provided billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic.

Biotech

AbbVie to buy Cambridge biotech Celsius for $250 million

Privately held Celsius has developed an experimental drug for inflammatory bowel disease.

Moderna just opened its new headquarters in Cambridge. Take a look inside.

The company's COVID vaccine put it on the map, and it hopes bringing its work force together at the new site spurs further discoveries.

Ginkgo Bioworks plans to lay off more than a third of its workers

Based on the headcount reported by the company for the end of last year, at least 400 workers could lose their jobs.
Lifestyle

Fifteen cases of whooping cough reported in Brookline

A positive case was identified at Brookline High School on June 5, along with an additional case at the Runkle School, officials said.

US surgeon general declares gun violence a public health emergency

Dr. Vivek Murthy on Tuesday declared gun violence a public health crisis, driven by the fast-growing number of injuries and deaths involving firearms in the country.

Supreme Court will take up state bans on gender-affirming care for minors

The high court Monday jumped into the fight over transgender rights, agreeing to hear an appeal from the Biden administration seeking to block state bans on gender-affirming care.
Spotlight

How Brigham Health helped create a Chinese hospital for elites — and almost nobody came

In a deal worth millions with Chinese developer Evergrande, a Harvard teaching hospital risked its reputation on what would become a near-empty shell.

Boston’s hospital chiefs moonlight on corporate boards at rates far beyond the national level

Hospital chiefs and trustees defend this as boosting public-private partnerships, but critics say these board positions — some paying millions of dollars — raise troubling issues of conflict of interest and hospital priorities.

More biotech and health care stories

‘It’s devastating:’ Mass. residents react to Supreme Court decision in Purdue Pharma case

Bay State residents who have lost loved ones to addiction have mixed reactions to the ruling.

MassHealth membership declined 363,000 following massive post-pandemic review

The public insurance program’s rolls remain higher now than before the pandemic.

AbbVie to buy Cambridge biotech Celsius for $250 million

Privately held Celsius has developed an experimental drug for inflammatory bowel disease.

RI BUSINESS

R.I. attorney general defends strict conditions for sale of Prospect Medical Holdings’ two cash-strapped hospitals

Attorney General Peter Neronha calls the private equity firm “an owner that doesn’t want to own hospitals,” but the foundation seeking to buy Fatima hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center is “not investing money” into them

Moderna just opened its new headquarters in Cambridge. Take a look inside.

The company's COVID vaccine put it on the map, and it hopes bringing its work force together at the new site spurs further discoveries.

Last week’s heat wave brought a sharp spike in ER visits across New England

Last Wednesday and Thursday, New England had the highest rates of heat-related emergency-room visits in the country.

Ginkgo Bioworks plans to lay off more than a third of its workers

Based on the headcount reported by the company for the end of last year, at least 400 workers could lose their jobs.

US surgeon general declares gun violence a public health emergency

Dr. Vivek Murthy on Tuesday declared gun violence a public health crisis, driven by the fast-growing number of injuries and deaths involving firearms in the country.