More aftershocks hit NZ city; fears worse to come (AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Big aftershocks are still shaking the earthquake-weary city of Christchurch, New Zealand, and raising fears of worse to come.

A pair of aftershocks woke many residents about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, with the larger measuring magnitude-5.0. A smaller cluster hit in the afternoon.

The temblors follow Monday's 6.0 quake that collapsed more buildings in the city where a devestating magnitude-6.3 quake in February killed 181 people. Thousands of aftershocks have followed that quake.

Scientists say this week's series of quakes have increased to about 30 percent the likelihood that Christchurch will suffer another devestating quake within the next year.

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Minorities get worse health care, but government aims for change

or steps that federal health officials can take.

"It's also a product of where people live, labor, learn, play and pray," Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, told The Associated Press. "We really need a full commitment from the country to achieve these goals."

HHS wouldn't put a dollar figure on its own pending projects, but said it plans to pay for them with money already in hand and not subject to Congress' ongoing budget battle.

The tight economy casts doubt on how much states and other groups may be able to chip in, said Dr. Paul Jarris, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

But "we'll never be a healthy nation unless we address these inequities," Jarris said. "There's a lot of momentum finally building" to do so.

Recent years have brought some improvements in health disparities, although racial and ethnic minorities still lag in many areas

View the Original article

Minorities get worse health care, but government aims for change

or steps that federal health officials can take.

"It's also a product of where people live, labor, learn, play and pray," Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, told The Associated Press. "We really need a full commitment from the country to achieve these goals."

HHS wouldn't put a dollar figure on its own pending projects, but said it plans to pay for them with money already in hand and not subject to Congress' ongoing budget battle.

The tight economy casts doubt on how much states and other groups may be able to chip in, said Dr. Paul Jarris, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

But "we'll never be a healthy nation unless we address these inequities," Jarris said. "There's a lot of momentum finally building" to do so.

Recent years have brought some improvements in health disparities, although racial and ethnic minorities still lag in many areas

View the Original article