SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —A Sacramento woman that touched lives across the world as an advocate for people with disabilities drowned Monday night in the Sacramento River.

Laurie Hoirup was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy. But, the progressive degenerative disorder didn’t limit the 60-year-old. Hoirup was a disability awareness advocate, author, as well as an appointee by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Read more and see the book she published, I Can Dance: My Life with a Disability here.

At first glance, a POLST is just a bright pink form — but it is soon discovered to be a lifeline for patients and their families.

A physician orders for life sustaining treatment — or POLST — form specifies the types of medical treatment that a patient wishes to receive toward the end of their life. It is the only physician order that is signed by both doctor and patient, intended to prevent unwanted or medically ineffective treatment, reduce patient and family suffering, and help ensure that patients’ wishes are honored. Read more.

Even when mosquitoes are not carrying viruses or other diseases, they appear to be on a mission to ruin summer fun.

No one wants to pay for cookouts and pool parties with itchy bites. Here are five ways to keep the pesky insects away, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District’s public information officer, Levy Sun: Read more.