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Biden takes aim at ‘junk’ insurance, vowing to save money for consumers being played as ‘suckers’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

By JOSH BOAK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday rolled out a new set of initiatives to reduce health care costs: a crackdown on what he called “junk” insurance plans that play consumers as ‘suckers,’ new guidance to prevent surprise medical bills and an effort to reduce medical debt tied to credit cards.Biden is building on previous initiatives to limit health care costs, with the Department of Health and Human Services releasing new estimates showing 18.7 million older adults and other Medicare beneficiaries will save an estimated $400 per year in prescription drug costs in 2025 because of the president placing a cap on out-of-pocket spending as part of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.Gearing up for his 2024 reelection campaign as inflation remains a dominant concern for voters, the Democratic president has emphasized his policies to help families manage their expenses, as well as a spate of government incentive...

Man swept into Omaha manhole during heavy rain was washed down pipes for a mile before rescue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Firefighters rescued two men who fell into a manhole during heavy rain in downtown Omaha on Friday, including one who was washed about a mile through sewer pipes before getting trapped behind a metal grate.The men, who were workers for a private contractor, Ace Pipe Cleaning, were swept into a manhole near the Old Market just after 9 a.m., the Omaha World-Herald quoted Lt. Neal Bonacci of the Omaha Police Department as saying. One of the men, who was tethered to a safety system, was quickly pulled out. A large-scale rescue effort ensued for the other, who was apparently not tethered. He was found around 10:20 a.m. The 41-year-old man had extricated himself from the water, but was found behind a metal grate covering a culvert. An Omaha Fire Department crew cut the grate to free him, Assistant Fire Chief Jason Bradley told the newspaper.He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center. His name and condition were not immediately released.The Associated Press

Dutch premier resigns because of deadlock on thorny issue of migration, paving way for new elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government collapsed Friday because of irreconcilable differences within the four-party coalition about how to rein in migration, a divisive issue that has split nations across Europe.The resignation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the longest-serving premier of the nation, means the country will face a general election later this year. Rutte and his government will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new ruling coalition is chosen.“It is no secret that the coalition partners have very different views on migration policy,” Rutte told reporters in The Hague. “And today, unfortunately, we have to draw the conclusion that those differences are irreconcilable. That is why I will immediately … offer the resignation of the entire Cabinet to the king in writing”Opposition lawmakers wasted no time in calling for fresh elections even before Rutte formally confirmed his resignation.Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Party for Freed...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds brief meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

CALGARY — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed carbon emissions and the strike by B.C. port workers during a brief meeting Friday with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.Both leaders were in town for the first day of the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day celebration of western culture that features a parade, rodeo events, pancake breakfasts and concerts. The meeting with Smith was his first stop on a two-day visit.The two shook hands and then sat down, briefly outlining their concerns to the media before meeting privately.“We do have some serious things that we need to discuss,” Smith said.“We’d like to bring our emissions reduction and energy development plan with a targeted carbon neutrality by 2050 and line up with some of the objectives of the federal government. That will require us to have some conversations.”Smith also flagged the federal government’s goal of having a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, saying it isn’t realistic for Alberta wi...

Francophonie ministers stress collaboration on official languages action plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

VANCOUVER — Ministers have wrapped up a meeting in Vancouver with the hope of increasing francophone immigration and addressing the decline of French across Canada.The Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie representing francophone and Acadian communities had been meeting for the past two days, involving representatives of all three levels of government.Federal Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor says the ministers discussed immigration, supporting the vitality of francophone communities and opportunities connected to the recently modernized Official Languages Act and the Action Plan for Official Languages.The council says in a statement that it’s pleased the 4.4 per cent target for francophone immigration outside Quebec was achieved in 2022.Adrian Dix, B.C.’s minister responsible for francophone affairs, says many federal-provincial-territorial meetings are often combative, but the Francophonie gathering was highly co-operative.Next year&#...

A 10-year-old Calgary girl is wowing the skateboarding world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

Skateboarding is more than just a way of life for Reese Nelson, it’s all she’s ever known.The 10-year-old from Calgary can’t remember when she first started skating or when she first dropped into a halfpipe, it’s just been omnipresent in her life.Given that, it’s no surprise she has caught the attention of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.Nelson will be competing in the women’s vert and the best trick events at the upcoming X-Games. Skating in the women’s vert is especially important for Nelson, since that event hasn’t been held at the X-Games since 2010, three years before she was born.“It’s really exciting,” Nelson from Carlsbad, California, told The Canadian Press. “I’m excited for everybody to see what women can do on vert.”Hawk, who has become a mentor and coach for Nelson, created his Vert Alert event in 2021 to try and promote the sport that made him an internationally renowned star. He made sure his tour has men’s and women’s events to help re-establish vert skateboardin...

Searching landfill for remains of Indigenous women too complex for police: RCMP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

OTTAWA — The former head of the RCMP said in December that police were not equipped to handle the complexities of searching a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of slain Indigenous women — an effort the Manitoba government also now calls too dangerous.Brenda Lucki, who resigned her post as commissioner in March, was involved in discussions about searching the privately-owned Prairie Green Landfill north of Winnipeg late last year.In documents obtained by The Canadian Press through a request under the Access to Information Act, Lucki warned federal officials that the landfill site contained asbestos and other toxic gases, including ammonia. “As you see this is a complex matter that police are not equipped to deal with, ” she wrote in a Dec. 14 email to the deputy ministers of Public Safety Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.The federal government was looking at how it could respond to pleas for help from relatives of the women who were dismayed...

Jury rules against civil suit over deadly 2018 Chicago police shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

CHICAGO -- After a short deliberation, a jury has ruled against a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Harith Augustus.Closing arguments wrapped up Friday afternoon and the jury deliberated for just a few hours before sharing their verdict.37-year-old Harith Augustus was shot and killed by Chicago police in the South Shore neighborhood in July of 2018. CPD officers under investigation for sexual relationship with migrants living at station Security footage released showed the well-known barber was walking home from work when he was stopped by police officers. The interaction turned hostile and Augustus was seen reaching for a gun on his waistband when he was shot by a Chicago police officer.The deadly shooting resulted in immediate outcry from the South Shore community and several days of marches in support of Augustus and his family.A wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family claimed that the shooting was unprovoked and unlawful. The suit charged several Chicago Police...

Skilling: Showers overnight before sunshine returns Saturday evening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

A beautiful end to a sporadically stormy week here. Temps Friday will likely top out at 81 at O'Hare---but have held to 70 on the Lake Michigan shoreline at Waukegan Harbor and at the Wilmette buoy.The day has logged 77% of its normal sunshine and temps have reached the mid 80s at the warmest inland locations.Rains with some embedded thunder are crossing the Mississippi River late afternoon—only 160 miles west of Chicago--and they are eastbound. They're due to reach the Chicago area between 7 and 9pm and waves of showers with some embedded t-storms are expected to sweep the area into mid Saturday morning when they'll thin out to more scattered showers. Occasional cloud breaks should allow spell of mixed sun to develop as Saturday proceeds.It's rained 8 of the past 13 days here--with July rainfall only 7 days into the month at the official O'Hare rain gauge running 5.5 times normal and more than 3.5" above normal. The site has recorded 4.28" thus far for July--a month that typically ...

Another Cubs player won't be in Tuesday's All-Star Game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:41:55 GMT

NEW YORK — Within the span of a day, the number of Cubs who will play in the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game has been cut from three to one. The team's shortstop has become the second player in the last 24 hours to pull out, this time due to injury.Dansby Swanson told reporters in New York ahead of the start of the Cubs' three-game series with the Yankees that he won't play in the All-Star game due to a bruised heel. He was forced to leave Thursday's loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee due to the injury.Swanson is not in the lineup for tonight's game at Yankee Stadium, with Nico Hoerner in at shortstop and Christopher Morel at second base.It isn't clear if he will travel to Seattle to take part in the All-Star festivities on both Monday and Tuesday. This comes after pitcher Marcus Stroman, who was selected to his second All-Star Game in his career, announced that he wouldn't pitch in the "Midsummer Classic." He cited the need for both physical and mental rest after taking part...