Head of HUD will hear concerns

ENGLISH WOODS - Alphonso Jackson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will tour English Woods July 22. Jackson will hear from residents worried about the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority's plan to raze the complex, said Marilyn Evans, executive director of Communities United for Action. Jackson also will host a public meeting, 7:30 to 9 p.m., at North Presbyterian Church, 4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Other topics include predatory lending, proposed cuts in the low-income housing voucher program and community development block grant funding, Evans said.

Where to go for specialty care

Four Greater Cincinnati hospitals are among the best in the nation for certain types of care, according to a ranking published today by U.S. News & World Report. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ranked seventh in pediatrics. Christ Hospital ranked 30th in geriatric care, 36th in respiratory disorders, 42nd in heart surgery, and 45th in digestive disorders and neurosurgery. University Hospital ranked 16th in ear, nose and throat care; 39th in respiratory disorders, and 45th in urology. St. Elizabeth Medical Center ranked 48th in respiratory disorders and 49th in neurosurgery. No Cincinnati hospital was ranked among the top 50 in cancer care or orthopedics. The magazine compared more than 6,000 hospitals in 17 medical specialties on several measures, including reputation among physicians, mortality rates, the ratio of nursing staff to patients and availability of key technology.

Hospital implants bladder controller

KENWOOD - Jewish Hospital is offering a new treatment for urinary incontinence called InterStim therapy. Much like a cardiac pacemaker, the InterStim device, made by Medtronic Inc. uses pulses of electrical stimulation to nerves that influence bladder control. According to the company, 85 percent of patients see at least a 50 percent reduction in incontinence problems. The stopwatch-size device is implanted under the skin of the upper buttocks.

TRAFFIC WATCH

Lane restrictions due to bridge replacement continue on eastbound U.S. 50/Columbia Parkway between Interstate 471 and Bains Avenue. The ramp from I-471 north to U.S. 50 east remains closed.