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Helen Chickering
Morning Edition Host, ReporterHelen Chickering is a host and reporter on Blue Ridge Public Radio. She joined the station in November 2014.
Helen grew up in Texas. Her broadcast career began in television news in 1985 at WLBT, the NBC affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi. There she did everything from news to weather and found her niche in medical reporting. Over the next 20 years she covered health and science news on both local and national levels, including 5 years in Charlotte at the CBS affiliate, WBTV. In 1998, Helen helped launch the health and science desk at NBC News Channel, the network's affiliate news service. She became the first journalist to serve as president of the National Association of Medical Communicators and was on the founding board of the Science Communicators of North Carolina.
In 2012, Helen and her family moved to Asheville from Chapel Hill and she started working as a freelance producer and as a Montessori teaching assistant. A longtime NPR listener, she was thrilled to land a job at Blue Ridge Public Radio. Helen is an active member of the Asheville Science Tavern and a guest lecturer and an advisory board member at the University of North Carolina's Medical and Science Journalism Program.
Email: hchickering@bpr.org
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The embattled company running Mission Hospital faces nurse union complaints, a lawsuit in North Carolina, and continued scrutiny amid community concerns.
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Five Western North Carolina counties now have confirmed pertussis, or whooping cough, cases. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccines and vigilance during summer vacation.
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All the news you need to know from the BPR News Team on May 27, 2024.
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The much-loved Charlotte the Stingray, who became internationally known for her unique pregnancy, diagnosed with a rare reproductive disease, according to the aquarium.
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Whooping cough, or pertussis, cases may have peaked in an outbreak in Henderson and Transylvania counties in Western North Carolina counties. Health officials are concerned gatherings such as summer camps could further the spread.
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Transylvania becomes second Western North Carolina county hit by whooping cough outbreak while pertussis cases in Henderson surge.
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With the whooping cough outbreak entering its second month, Henderson County remains vigilant in combating the spread of the infection.
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Desde la semana pasada, se han reportado nueve casos adicionales, lo que eleva el total a 36. Los líderes de salud instan a todos a verificar su estado de vacunación.
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Since last week, an additional nine cases have been reported, bringing the total to 36. Health leaders urge everyone to check their vaccination status.
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Vaccines for children and adults are widely available to help contain the spread of whooping cough or pertussis, which is up to 27 cases in Henderson County.