Vt. Health Department WorkingTo Reduce Falls by Elderly

Burlington — Vermont health officials say community members can take steps to reduce the risks of falling for older adults.

Falls are the leading cause of injury for people 65 years of age and older in Vermont. But the state’s falls prevention coalition said most falls are avoidable.

Vermont Department of Health coordinator Steve DeVoe said balance becomes less steady as we age. Reduced bone density can lead to bone breaks from minor falls. Vermont saw 20,293 emergency department visits due to falls in 2014, and almost $62 million in hospitalizations.

The state said ways to reduce falls include considering vitamin D supplements, or checking for medications that may cause dizziness. Other tips include exercise, eye exams and adding handrails to one’s home.

Company to Pay $264K Fine For Exposing Vermonters’ Data

Montpelier — Vermont’s attorney general said a technology company will pay a $264,000 fine for a data breach that exposed the Social Security numbers of 660 Vermont Health Connect users.

SAManage USA, Inc. allowed a spreadsheet containing the hundreds of social security numbers to be publicly viewed in July 2016, without requiring authentication. Democratic Attorney General T.J. Donovan says a Vermonter discovered the breach and reported it to his office.

The North Carolina-based technology company provided support services for Vermont Health Connect.

SAManage USA said that the breach happened and that it complied with the attorney general’s investigation and enforcement actions.

Donovan said it appears the breach would have gone unreported without his office’s intervention. He said the company’s delay caused Vermont consumers to learn in September their Social Security numbers were exposed.

Transgender Teen Says He Was Kicked Out of Christian School

Somersworth, n.h.— A student claims the private, Christian school he’s attended since kindergarten has told him he’s no longer welcome because of his gender identity. Seacoast Media Group reported that Stiles Zuschlag transferred to a Maine public high school for his senior year after he was told he was no longer welcome at New Hampshire’s Tri-City Christian Academy. Zuschlag, a transgender teen, said he was told he should consider homeschooling or counseling.

Tri-City Christian Academy administrator Paul Edgar declined to speak about Zuschlag’s case citing privacy issues.

New Hampshire Department of Education spokeswoman Lori Kincaid said Tri-City Christian Academy doesn’t receive federal funds through the state office.

New Hampshire education attorney Andru Volinsky said a religious school can legally ask a student to leave regardless of whether it receives federal funding.

N.H. Officer Fatally Shoots Suspect Wanted on Warrant

Belmont, n.h. — New Hampshire officials said a police officer fatally shot a man who pulled out a firearm during a confrontation over a warrant outside a gas station. Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald said the Belmont Police Department officer recognized 46-year-old Joseph Mazzitelli as having outstanding warrants just before 3 p.m. Saturday. He said the officer confirmed it with his department and approached Mazzitelli, who displayed his weapon and was then shot.

MacDonald said the officer wasn’t wearing a body camera and his department’s cruisers don’t have video cameras.

— Wire reports