Erie County Launches “Detect to Protect” Awareness Campaign

County Executive Mark Poloncarz joins Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein to announce a marketing campaign to raise awareness around opioid poisoning and drug overdose deaths, and focus public attention on the need to test illicit drugs – especially cocaine – for fentanyl.

ECDOH partnered with Impact Marketing and Communications in Albany following a selective RFP process in late 2023. With guidance from the ECDOH Office of Harm Reduction, Impact Marketing used county-level data and trends, along with focus groups and interviews with community members, healthcare and behavioral health providers, people with lived experience, outreach staff, and others involved and impacted by this work.

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Internet erupts as Trump ousts Kristi Noem: ‘Don’t let the door hit you’



News that President Donald Trump had fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her job and demoted her to "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas" caused a wave of reactions online Thursday.

Following two tough days of grilling by congressional leaders who pressed Noem about her leadership and spending, including multiple luxury planes, a blanket incident, and a $220 million ad campaign that Trump confirmed with GOP lawmakers he did not authorize — the president announced Thursday that he was replacing her with former MMA fighter and MAGA Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

Noem has also faced increased questions over her long-rumored romantic relationship with Corey Lewandowski and his role at the agency. She was confronted directly about it Wednesday under oath, with her husband sitting behind her during the hearing.

The internet had strong responses to the updates.

"Kristi Noem is gone. Pam Bondi is next. Keep the pressure on these extremists," House minority leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) wrote on X.

"Kristi Noem has been fired and replaced by the dumbest US Senator," Ron Filipkowski, MeidasTouch editor in chief, wrote on X.

"Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Kristi Noem," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker wrote on X.

"Breaking: Kristi Noem is out. Minnesotans stood up for Alex and Renee and so many others. And if anyone ever asked why we have committee hearings and demand answers…" Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) wrote on X.

"Kristi Noem will go down as one of the most disgraceful cabinet members of all time," environmental attorney Mike Levin wrote on X.

"Kristi Noem has Sad Mar-A-Lago Face," author Tom Bradley Jr. wrote on Bluesky.

"Kristi Noem isn't being fired because she was a danger to US citizens and disruptive to communities. She's getting fired because Trump thought she made him look bad. And then he's going to put someone even stupider and worse in. Hence the rumors about Markwayne Mullin taking her place," TJ Denzer, Shacknews senior news editor, wrote on Bluesky.

Texas Latinos turned out in massive numbers for Democrats

In multiple Latino-majority counties, more people cast Democratic votes on Tuesday than voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.