Kevin Johnson MD

Former News 9 meteorologist Gary England – the Severe Weather God of Oklahoma – has passed away at the age of 85. He was a pioneer in his field, and guided untold numbers of Oklahomans – this one included – through countless weather emergencies over the decades. RIP to a legend.

Where Work and Life Meet: Advocating for Our Parents in a Healthcare System That’s Lost Its Way These past weeks have been a wake-up call. My mom was rushed to the hospital, and as I fought to ensure her safety, it was like hitting wall after wall. And it hit me — so much of healthcare has become about monetizing illness rather than healing people. It’s built around processes, protocols, and discharge quotas, but somewhere along the way, it’s lost the heart of what care is supposed to be. My dad, who has his own health struggles, can’t care for her alone. But instead of finding reassurance in a system that’s meant to help, I found myself struggling to get answers, to find someone who could explain how my mom’s needs would be met. After hours on the phone with insurance and hospital staff, asking, pleading for clarity, one question kept coming up: What are you doing to help the patient? It’s not a complicated question. But in a system driven by policies and profit, it was met with silence, deflection, or “someone else will call you.” Watching my mom’s needs get lost in the shuffle brought a harsh reality to light: we, as family members, have to be our loved ones’ advocates. We have to cut through the red tape, the financial bottom lines, and the endless procedures to make sure our parents aren’t just another box to check off. This isn’t about pointing fingers — it’s about a call to action for all of us. If you have parents or loved ones in the healthcare system, don’t wait to advocate. Ask the hard questions, stay with them through the uncomfortable moments, and keep bringing it back to what matters: How are you helping the person in front of you? Our parents raised us, supported us, and took care of us through every hard moment in our lives. Now it’s our turn. Let’s make sure that when they need help, we’re ready to cut through the noise and demand the care they deserve.

I can't comprehend what has happened in western North Carolina. This is Asheville. National Weather Service has said this is one of the region's most significant weather events of the modern era.