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A Louisiana man was arrested on Tuesday and accused of providing the firearm that a gunman used to kill eight children and critically wound two adults over the weekend. The man, Charles Ford of Shreveport, La., where the mass shooting occurred, was charged with possessing a firearm as a felon and making a false statement to a federal agent when asked about a weapon used to commit the shootings. (Morales, 4/21)

Utah Valley University was thrilled that Sharon McMahon, a best-selling author, would speak at its graduation. And then her old posts resurfaced. (Peters, 4/22)

Until recently, the former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary had been mired in the single digits in polling to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom and lead the nation’s most populous state. Now, in addition to new endorsements, Becerra has jumped nine points in a recent state Democratic Party poll, tying with billionaire Tom Steyer at 13%. (Mehta, 4/21)

A woman died this month after being bitten by a snake three times as she was taking a walk on rural property in the unincorporated Mendocino County community of Redwood Valley, officials say. The 78-year-old Northern California woman is the third person to die in California during an erratic snake season. On average, five people die nationwide from venomous snakebites annually, according to federal health officials. (Garcia, 4/21)

The death of Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, 12, has led some, including her family, to question whether L.A. Unified could have — or should have — done more to protect her from campus bullies. (Harter, 4/21)

Michigan residents are increasingly at risk for acquiring Lyme disease, data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows. The latest Michigan Disease Surveillance System report, which includes data from the most recent four weeks in addition to previous annual data, states there were 21 Lyme disease cases in the most recently reported week, with a total of 72 in the most recent four weeks and 246 so far this year.  But winter is the off-season in Michigan for black-legged ticks, which are most active from March to November. (Wethington, 4/21)

One by one, stories shaped by hardship and resilience are taking the stage at the History Theatre in St. Paul. But for the people sharing them, this is not just a performance. "These are real stories," said Richard Whitman, a longtime member of Vail Communities. "I've been with Vail 19 years… In December, it'll be 20." (Lunemann, 4/21)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) advised the next Democratic president to focus on passing universal healthcare, a policy measure that has been hotly debated within the party in recent years. “We have to figure out, once we move in a progressive way, once we see a Barack Obama win, once we see a Congress win, it has to be about not holding power for the sake of holding power, it has to be about passing things,” Walz said on MS NOW’s “The Weeknight.” (Suter, 4/21)

Many veterans say an exodus of medical staff has resulted in longer waits for treatment and has forced them to go outside the VA for care. (Serres and Jung, 4/21)

Kristen Jarrell, an Alexander County resident and licensed foster parent in Wilkes County, has had a dickens of a time trying to find a dentist for children in her care. In North Carolina, one of the requirements for a child entering foster care is a health and emotional trauma screening that includes an oral health assessment. For any needs identified, the state Department of Health and Human Services requires follow-up care and monitoring. (Blythe, 4/22)

�������ýҕ�l Health News: Montana Moves Ahead With Doula Pay But Warns Medicaid Cuts Still May Come 

Montana officials said they are moving forward with plans to allow Medicaid to pay doulas, reversing a previous statement that budget problems had prompted them to pause the effort to reimburse the birth workers. But officials warned that all optional Medicaid services are still under review as the state health department looks for cuts to offset a shortfall driven by higher-than-expected Medicaid costs. (Houghton, 4/22)