Stories That Caught Our Attention: Even with full vaccination, former secretary of state Colin Powell's immune system — weakened by a blood cancer — couldn't fend off a coronavirus infection.

Public health leaders have been encouraged by increased acceptance of COVID-19 shots in communities that were lagging state and national vaccination rates.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Nationally, investment in health data infrastructure has been woefully lacking for years, with significant consequences for public health reporting.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Holdouts push employers to the limit.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: The percentage of Americans with health insurance remained stable during 2020 despite a hobbled economy.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Insurance companies across the country have been reinstating cost sharing for people being treated for the disease, and it isn't cheap.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Health care workers and public health agencies are overwhelmed.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Hospitals in California counties with low vaccination rates are flooded with COVID-19 patients.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: For renters with low incomes facing the threat of eviction, assistance has been slow in coming.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Without treatment, postpartum depression can prevent parent-child bonding and increase the risk of maternal suicide.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Loneliness is strongly associated with behavioral health problems and physical maladies — and with COVID-19.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Few hospitals in California and nationwide are complying with a federal rule requiring disclosure of prices.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Brain shrinkage, inflammation, genetic changes, and impaired circuitry are likely causes of the mysterious "brain fog" experienced by many COVID-19 patients and contributing to the expected surge in demand for mental health care.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Experts say total Affordable Care plan signups were probably undercounted because of data-gathering limitations.

Stories That Caught Our Attention: Months into the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in California, groups of people who seem to have little in common continue to lag in getting their shots.