Raquel Villatoro covers health challenges in northeast Texas for Tyler Morning Telegraph. Villatoro previously interned at The Acadiana Advocate in Lafayette, Louisiana covering various beats from arts and culture to health, while focusing on the Latinx community. Villatoro wrote for the news and arts and life sections at the student newspaper while attending the University of North Texas. They have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and history.
Beat: Health challenges in Northeast Texas
A recently released study found that Northeast Texas residents experience more health challenges and higher mortality rates compared to Texas overall and to the U.S. Additionally, in Northeast Texas, nearly one-quarter of 19- to 64-year-olds are uninsured, a proportion nearly double that of the U.S. Compared to Texas overall, Northeast Texas has fewer primary care and mental health providers per capita. This reporter digs into the factors that are responsible for the relative unhealthiness of our population.