News Above the Noise—Week of October 18, 2026
1. This World Menopause Day, Medicine Is Still Failing Women
There’s no shared curriculum across schools, says sexual medicine specialist Rachel Rubin, and no reliable way to know what any one student has learned. In this Sunday Paper guest op-ed, her mentee Grace Hauer explains why patients can end up stranded between specialties, with no one owning the problem. Read more here.
2. A Grieving Oregon Town Waits for Answers
Bend’s police chief thanked those who put themselves in danger, saying the community owes them a debt of gratitude. Two other people, a school assistant and a 7-year-old girl, were hospitalized with injuries, and investigators have since searched the suspect’s home and begun interviews. Read more here.
3. Inflation Rose Faster Than Expected Last Month, Hitting 3.7%
If your car repair, doctor’s visit, or plane ticket has felt pricier lately, you’re not imagining it. Wages are up about 3%, leaving many households a step behind, and toys even saw their steepest monthly climb on record. Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, expects prices to stay elevated through the rest of the year, which will keep chipping away at how far Americans’ money goes. Read more here.
4. Could your Arthritic Knee Rebuild Itself?
Knee replacements have gotten many people back on their feet, but they don’t last forever. A federally funded effort is asking a bigger question: What if the body could be encouraged to repair itself? Early experiments have researchers optimistic, though specialists say the road from the lab to the doctor’s office is a long one. Read more here.
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