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A botched emergency response at a multi-vehicle crash scene on Norman Manley Boulevard in Negril, Westmoreland, has led to the disclosure by the Ministry of Health and Wellness that the ambulance and company involved have not been inspected for operation. Several people were injured, two seriously, after a Toyota Coaster bus, Corolla Fielder and Toyota Voxy collided on the busy thoroughfare in July. However, the transport of the injured was hampered because the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s (JFB’s) ambulance was down for repairs.

By the time the morning sun begins beating down on Kingston’s asphalt, Doreen Lillian Scarlett is already sweating. Still, the 35-year-old keeps walking. With a bundle of résumés tucked under her arm, she has been moving from office to office across the Corporate Area, pausing only when someone is willing to take one. The journey, which started in July, has taken her through Half-Way Tree, New Kingston, Hope Road, Trafalgar Road and downtown, covering streets in the hope that, somewhere along the way, an employer will give her the chance she desperately needs.

Nearly 140 adolescent mothers will return to school on Monday, a move executive director of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF), Novlette Howell, said reflects a shifting attitude towards the reintegration of teenage mothers into the classroom. “The notion where our girls are not getting into institutions, it’s a thing of the past,” she told The Gleaner.

WESTERN BUREAU: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is challenging Jamaica’s craft vendors and artisans to move away from imported souvenirs and seek to create authentic Jamaican products that showcase the island’s culture and creativity in their interactions with visitors. According to Bartlett, the planned physical transformation of the Old Fort Craft Market in Montego Bay, through a $53.5-million rehabilitation project, would mean little if vendors did not also seek to modernise what they produce and how they market it.

WESTERN BUREAU: Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says that the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) will soon activate funding to have water trucked to the parish’s drought-hit communities. In an interview with The Gleaner on Friday, Vernon said that the emergency measures are part of this year’s disaster-mitigation plans.

WESTERN BUREAU: Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang is calling for the development of a major craft centre along Jamaica’s north coast as the country seeks to expand its craft industry and create greater opportunities for small businesses. Chang said Jamaica needs a facility of a much larger scale than existing craft markets if the sector is to keep pace with the growth of tourism.

WESTERN BUREAU: The St James police seized two illegal high-powered rifles on Thursday, the third in recent weeks. The make and model of the two rifles, which were seized alongside a quantity of assorted ammunition in Birch Hill, were not disclosed. The area has had a long history of gang-related violence and has spawned many of the murders committed in St James over recent years.

Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) says it has invested about $22 million to help students, families and schools across Jamaica prepare for the 2026-2027 academic year. Through the JPS Foundation and partnerships with community organisations, the company has provided book vouchers, school supplies, uniform material, scholarships and grants, direct assistance to schools, and support for community back-to-school initiatives.

Hand grip strength. Balance tests. Standing up from a seated position on the floor. These physical challenges are often touted as measurements of healthy ageing and even predictors of longevity. They can provide valuable indications of your stamina and strength. They can estimate the risk of falls, which increase older adults’ risk of death. And they’re useful to doctors who work to address ageing or people with injuries. But they’re no crystal ball.

Leading US medical groups are urging people to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, banding together Wednesday to issue shot guidelines – and highlight the science behind them – saying they hope to ease confusion caused by the Trump administration’s changing advice. Flu vaccinations are beginning and COVID-19 shots are starting to arrive after the US Food and Drug Administration approved this year’s updated versions last week. Winter also brings another vaccine-preventable risk called RSV. Exactly who should get one or all of these vaccines, and when?

Jamaican News