AP Photo/ Virginia Mayo-
The Houma Police Department is looking for the owner of a pony that was found wandering in the area of Maple Street Park Monday morningmore>> The Houma Police Department is looking for the owner of a pony that was found wandering in the area of Maple Street Park Monday morningmore>> Tornadoes ravaged portions of central Oklahoma on Sunday, reducing portions of a mobile home park to rubble and killing a 79-year-old man whose body was found out in the open.more>> Tornadoes ravaged portions of central Oklahoma on Sunday, reducing portions of a mobile home park to rubble and killing a 79-year-old man whose body was found out in the open.more>> Hundreds gathered for a second line honoring the victim's of last Sunday's Mother's Day shooting. Participants say last weekend's violence won't keep them from doing what they love. more>> Hundreds gathered for a second line honoring the victim's of last Sunday's Mother's Day shooting. Participants say last weekend's violence won't keep them from doing what they love. more>> In just a matter of weeks uptown residents who live near the Arabella Fire Station will lose a special piece of firefighting equipment.more>> In just a matter of weeks uptown residents who live near the Arabella Fire Station will lose a special piece of firefighting equipment.more>> One of several tornadoes that touched down Sunday in Oklahoma turned homes in a trailer park near Oklahoma City into splinters and rubble and sent frightened residents along a 100-mile corridor scurrying for shelter.more>> One of several tornadoes that touched down Sunday in Oklahoma turned homes in a trailer park near Oklahoma City into splinters and rubble and sent frightened residents along a 100-mile corridor scurrying for shelter.more>> Amtrak officials say a train departing from New Orleans derailed not far from Chicago's Union Station.more>> Amtrak officials say a train departing from New Orleans derailed not far from Chicago's Union Station.more>> A government report says construction of a new Veterans Affairs hospital in New Orleans is $370 million over budget and 14 months behind schedule.more>> A government report says construction of a new Veterans Affairs hospital in New Orleans is $370 million over budget and 14 months behind schedule.more>> The State Fire Marshal's Office is asking for assistance in the investigation of a series of fires in St. Charles Parish.more>> The State Fire Marshal's Office is asking for assistance in the investigation of a series of fires in St. Charles Parish.more>> Authorities say a 12-year-old boy accidentally shot his 8-year-old brother with a gun he found in a closet at his grandparents' Baton Rouge home.more>> Authorities say a 12-year-old boy accidentally shot his 8-year-old brother with a gun he found in a closet at his grandparents' Baton Rouge home.more>> The Tangipahoa Parish School Board will use rededicated sales tax revenue, cuts to transportation services, elimination of a perfect-attendance salary bonus and a one-time reduction in the board-mandated minimum fund balance.more>> The Tangipahoa Parish School Board will use rededicated sales tax revenue, cuts to transportation services, elimination of a perfect-attendance salary bonus and a one-time reduction in the board-mandated minimum fund balance.more>>
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco is preparing to become the first U.S. city to provide and cover the cost of sex reassignment surgeries for uninsured transgender residents.
The city's Health Commission voted Tuesday to create a comprehensive program for treating transgender people experiencing mental distress because of the mismatch between their bodies and their gender identities. The vote was announced Thursday.
The idea came out of conversations between public health officials and transgender rights advocates who wanted mastectomies, genital reconstructions and other surgeries covered under San Francisco's universal health care program.
Public Health Director Barbara Garcia says the new transgender health initiative probably won't be running until late next year.
Her department needs to study how many people it would serve, how much it would cost and who would perform the surgeries.
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