Here’s the latest health and safety news surrounding football and other sports:

* The Napa Valley (Calif.) Register reported on a push by the school district to make all St. Helena High athletes wear mouthguards. Those devices have been proven to take some of the shock out of blows to the head.

* In neighboring Santa Rosa, the Press Democrat detailed how area schools are concerned about the increasing number of concussions in high school athletics.

* The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle wrote about how local schools in the New York community are exceeding concussion standards set by the state.

* KNXV-TV in Phoenix looked at a study that says Arizona is leading the country in helping prevent students from becoming concussion victims.

* DecaturDaily.com reported on how concussions are becoming a growing concern in that community.

* CBS Boston wrote about Boston Children’s Hospital, which distributes prevention lists to help youth athletes avoid concussions.

* The New York Times profiled former NFL player Mike White. The ex-Saints and Buccaneers lineman said concussions have impaired his ability to move, talk and think.

* WXIN-TV in Indianapolis profiled a health center that’s using a hyperbaric chamber to help concussion patients.

* KION-TV in Salinas, Calif., wrote about how new state concussions laws are helping young athletes in schools along the Central Coast.

* The Oregonian wrote in an op-ed commentary that school districts must take the lead in helping to prevent concussions in student athletes.

* Speaking of commentaries, Augusta Chronicle sports columnist Scott Michaux puts the burden of player safety, especially in the football-crazy South, on the state’s lawmakers, whom he said are slow to pass safety legislation.

* And the Missoulian in Montana reported how Plains High School had to forfeit a football game this weekend because it was down to 14 players after three were out with concussions.