Catherine Sweeney
Catherine Sweeney was StateImpact Oklahoma's health reporter from July 2020 to May 2023.
She grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University. Catherine has covered local, state and federal government for outlets in Oklahoma, Colorado and Washington, D.C.
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The drug is the go-to treatment for syphilis and the only one recommended for pregnant people. But a shortage of the injectable drug has prompted some public health agencies to ration it. -
There's been an alarming surge nationwide in syphilis cases. As cases increase, providers are having to ration penicillin shots, which are in short supply.
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KOSU, StateImpact Oklahoma and Focus: Black Oklahoma won 25 awards from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists, Professional Chapter for stories that aired during 2021. -
Oklahoma lawmakers recently passed a bill that ensured fentanyl test strips wouldn’t be considered drug paraphernalia. The effort is meant to curtail the sudden spike in fentanyl-related deaths. -
Oklahoma ranks in the top five states for babies born with syphilis, but that could change soon, after the governor signed a bill that will require more frequent screenings for pregnant patients. -
The vote is the latest in a turf war between the Legislature and Gov. Kevin Stitt's office. -
Oklahoma state lawmakers unanimously passed two bills ensuring access to opioid antagonists for at-risk communities. But, they joined Gov. Kevin Stitt’s stack of vetoes. -
A bill banning gender-affirming care for minors and criminalizes care is nearing the finish line. -
Rose State College in Midwest City issued a campus-wide alert of an active shooter early Monday afternoon. Within a half hour the college announced the shooter was in custody. -
The state has been in a nursing shortage for years, and there haven't been enough slots for nursing students. Universities are working to change that.
