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This Week
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Gov. Hobbs delivers State of the State speech BY JORDAN ROGERS Foothills Focus Staff Writer
I BUSINESS.......... 11
‘Gridiron Greats’ to light up Anthem
FEATURES......... 14
n front of a few hundred listeners at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, newly elected Gov. Katie Hobbs delivered her State of the State speech at a luncheon co-hosted by Phoenix Raceway and WESTMARC. Among those in attendance were officials from Glendale, Peoria, Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Litchfield Park and Phoenix. Hobbs, a Democrat, is Arizona’s fifth female governor and 24th overall. She is heading into a situation in which tackling her agenda items may be difficult as Republicans hold a slight majority. Her speech on Jan. 11, however, revealed her plans to be largely bipartisan. Hobbs, regard-
see HOBBS page 4
Michael Kaeshammer comes to the MIM
YOUTH.............. 19
Girl Scouts unveil cookie season dates
OPINION.......................8 BUSINESS.................. 11 FEATURES................. 13 YOUTH....................... 19 CLASSIFIEDS............. 22 Zone I
Governor Katie Hobbs delivered her State of the State speech in front of a few hundred listeners at Phoenix Raceway on Jan. 11. (Matt Young/Contributor)
Questions remain about hyperbaric oxygen therapy BY SOPHIE OPPFELT Cronkite News
G
ordon Brown used to be a licensed psychologist and U.S. Navy petty officer 1st class. But a severe blow to the head caused bleeding on the brain and led to surgery in 2002 that left him struggling to read and speak. Brown said he’s now mostly recovered, and
he credits hyperbaric oxygen therapy, known as HBOT, which most commonly is used in hospitals to treat burn victims and severe skin and bone infections. Patients are placed in pressurized chambers and breathe pure oxygen. “I couldn’t have done this interview prior to the dives (therapy sessions),” said Brown, now 68. HBOT of Arizona uses the therapy to treat thousands of brain injury patients – roughly
2,000 this year – although the Food and Drug Administration has not approved hyperbaric oxygen for that purpose. However, “off-label prescribing” is allowed for all drugs or treatments the FDA has approved for any condition. “The risks and benefits of HBOT when used for off-label have not been established,” an
see HYPERBARIC page 7
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