While many states are cutting back on reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, Massachusetts now has a new state bill that "will expand and add protections to reproductive and transgender healthcare."
According to a news item on Feminist Majority Foundation's site ("Massachusetts Expands Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care"), Governor Maura Healey signed a "groundbreaking new act" that will "safeguard patients, providers, insurers, tech companies, and others from federal investigations related to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare."
The bill, S.2538, "adds reproductive and gender-affirming care providers’ personal information to the list of protected non-public information under the public records law."
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Musk Likely Violated Constitution, Federal Judge Rules
Elon Musk "likely violated the Constitution 'in multiple ways'" in his effort to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Judge Theodore D. Chuang of U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland also found that Musk "robbed Congress of its authority to oversee the dissolution of an agency it created."
According to The New York Times' article ("Musk’s Role in Dismantling Aid Agency Likely Violated Constitution, Judge Finds"), Judge Chuang ruled that Musk had not been properly appointed by President Donald J. Trump. The article goes on to state that unnamed aid workers had filed a lawsuit to block the dismantling of the U.S.A.I.D., and that they had a good chance of succeeding in their suit.
To read the article in its entirety, go to "Musk’s Role in Dismantling Aid Agency Likely Violated Constitution, Judge Finds".
According to The New York Times' article ("Musk’s Role in Dismantling Aid Agency Likely Violated Constitution, Judge Finds"), Judge Chuang ruled that Musk had not been properly appointed by President Donald J. Trump. The article goes on to state that unnamed aid workers had filed a lawsuit to block the dismantling of the U.S.A.I.D., and that they had a good chance of succeeding in their suit.
To read the article in its entirety, go to "Musk’s Role in Dismantling Aid Agency Likely Violated Constitution, Judge Finds".
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Feds: FL Officials Bilked FEMA of Millions
Several former Lynn Haven, Fla. officials have been charged with conspiring to bilk billions of hurricane cleanup money from the federal government, according to the U.S. attorney's office Tuesday.
Former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael White and former community services director David Horton were arrested, as well as Erosion Control Specialists owner David White and Greenleaf Lawn Care owner Joshua Anderson, according to NBC Miami. U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe said that the former Lynn Haven officials "approved false invoices for the two companies...for work they never performed," using $5 million in Hurricane Michael cleanup money.
According to NBC Miami, "The officials approved payments to the companies and then sought reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency."
However, according to Panama City News Herald article, other Lynn Haven city officials were also linked to corruption in the case ("Four more Lynn Haven city officials linked to public corruption case"). According to the article, "indictment records obtained by The News Herald make mention of the mayor, city attorney, community services director, and one commissioner in the unfolding public corruption case."
To read the NBC Miami story, go to https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Florida-Officials-Bilked-FEMA-Out-of-Hurricane-Money-Feds-565187772.html. To read the Panama City News Herald article, go to https://www.newsherald.com/news/20191119/four-more-lynn-haven-city-officials-linked-to-public-corruption-case.
Former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael White and former community services director David Horton were arrested, as well as Erosion Control Specialists owner David White and Greenleaf Lawn Care owner Joshua Anderson, according to NBC Miami. U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe said that the former Lynn Haven officials "approved false invoices for the two companies...for work they never performed," using $5 million in Hurricane Michael cleanup money.
According to NBC Miami, "The officials approved payments to the companies and then sought reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency."
However, according to Panama City News Herald article, other Lynn Haven city officials were also linked to corruption in the case ("Four more Lynn Haven city officials linked to public corruption case"). According to the article, "indictment records obtained by The News Herald make mention of the mayor, city attorney, community services director, and one commissioner in the unfolding public corruption case."
To read the NBC Miami story, go to https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Florida-Officials-Bilked-FEMA-Out-of-Hurricane-Money-Feds-565187772.html. To read the Panama City News Herald article, go to https://www.newsherald.com/news/20191119/four-more-lynn-haven-city-officials-linked-to-public-corruption-case.
Monday, December 11, 2017
UnitedHealth to Buy Patient Care Group; Group Not to See Patients with UnitedHealth
UnitedHealth Group Inc. announced Wednesday December 4 that it is spending $5 billion to purchase "hundreds of clinics," many of which are disallowing patients covered by UnitedHealth to be seen in the coming year. The announcement came days "rival Aetna announced a tie up with CVS Health Corp."
The Minnesota-based UnitedHealth's Optum segment is expected to close the deal to purchase DaVita Medical Group from DaVita Inc. next year, according to an AP article in the Tampa Bay Times ("UnitedHealth ventures deeper into patient care with $5B deal").
DaVita "runs nearly 300 primary and specialty care clinics in several states," including Florida, while Optum currently operates more than 1,100 primary, urgent care and surgery centers.
However, patients in at least one Florida county are finding it increasingly impossible to continue to see their primary care physicians employed by DaVita Medical Group while insured by UnitedHealth.
Disclaimer: This writer, along with at least one family member, were insured through UnitedHealth through December 2016; I write this from experience.
During the 2016 open enrollment period for Medicare, DaVita Medical (then called JSA Medical) contacted patients covered by UnitedHealth, informing patients that they needed to change from UnitedHealth to another Medicare Advantage Plan or find another primary care physician. A contract between UnitedHealth and DaVita was not signed until shortly after the open enrollment period ended. Those patients who opted to stay with UnitedHealth found themselves in the position of then staying with both their insurance of choice and retaining their primary care physicians in DaVita. Those who changed insurance plans to stay with DaVita were at least able to find comfort in staying with their primary care doctors.
However, not all plans are the same. Some patients (again, this writer and my family member(s)) would that many of their specialists were not covered with new advantage plans. When the 2017 open enrollment began, patients who had fled UnitedHealth (UHC) the previous year found that if they switched back to UHC, they could either see their DaVita physicians as an out-of-network doctor, or not be allowed to see their physicians, even as out-of-network, depending on who one spoke with. (Out-of-network refers to doctors who are not technically part of one's insurance plan, but who can still be seen, usually at a slightly higher co-pay.)
As of December 7, the last day of open enrollment for the 2018 coverage year, only those patients who remained with UHC in 2016 were allowed to see their DaVita doctors, being "grandfathered" in. Those patients who changed to UHC during open enrollment - including those who switched out of UHC last year due to too-late contract negotiations - would have to change doctors.
According to a customer satisfaction representative at the St. Petersburg (Fla.) corporate office, while UnitedHealth Group is poised to close the deal to buy DaVita Inc. in 2018, Medicare patients wanting to switch back to UHC can not do so and stay with DaVita.
"That might change next year, if everything falls into place in time," the representative stated. "If not, it might be during the 2019 open enrollment before a patient could change back."
The Minnesota-based UnitedHealth's Optum segment is expected to close the deal to purchase DaVita Medical Group from DaVita Inc. next year, according to an AP article in the Tampa Bay Times ("UnitedHealth ventures deeper into patient care with $5B deal").
DaVita "runs nearly 300 primary and specialty care clinics in several states," including Florida, while Optum currently operates more than 1,100 primary, urgent care and surgery centers.
However, patients in at least one Florida county are finding it increasingly impossible to continue to see their primary care physicians employed by DaVita Medical Group while insured by UnitedHealth.
Disclaimer: This writer, along with at least one family member, were insured through UnitedHealth through December 2016; I write this from experience.
During the 2016 open enrollment period for Medicare, DaVita Medical (then called JSA Medical) contacted patients covered by UnitedHealth, informing patients that they needed to change from UnitedHealth to another Medicare Advantage Plan or find another primary care physician. A contract between UnitedHealth and DaVita was not signed until shortly after the open enrollment period ended. Those patients who opted to stay with UnitedHealth found themselves in the position of then staying with both their insurance of choice and retaining their primary care physicians in DaVita. Those who changed insurance plans to stay with DaVita were at least able to find comfort in staying with their primary care doctors.
However, not all plans are the same. Some patients (again, this writer and my family member(s)) would that many of their specialists were not covered with new advantage plans. When the 2017 open enrollment began, patients who had fled UnitedHealth (UHC) the previous year found that if they switched back to UHC, they could either see their DaVita physicians as an out-of-network doctor, or not be allowed to see their physicians, even as out-of-network, depending on who one spoke with. (Out-of-network refers to doctors who are not technically part of one's insurance plan, but who can still be seen, usually at a slightly higher co-pay.)
As of December 7, the last day of open enrollment for the 2018 coverage year, only those patients who remained with UHC in 2016 were allowed to see their DaVita doctors, being "grandfathered" in. Those patients who changed to UHC during open enrollment - including those who switched out of UHC last year due to too-late contract negotiations - would have to change doctors.
According to a customer satisfaction representative at the St. Petersburg (Fla.) corporate office, while UnitedHealth Group is poised to close the deal to buy DaVita Inc. in 2018, Medicare patients wanting to switch back to UHC can not do so and stay with DaVita.
"That might change next year, if everything falls into place in time," the representative stated. "If not, it might be during the 2019 open enrollment before a patient could change back."
Saturday, September 23, 2017
VA Evacuation Halted, Lack of Ambulances, Disagreement Sited
Up to 30 patients who were scheduled for evacuation from the C.W. Bill Young V.A. Medical Center prior to Hurricane Irma were not moved due to a disagreement between the medical center and Pinellas County officials.
While Young medical center officials claim that the county "promised ambulances that never arrived," county officials disagree, saying that while some patients were moved, patients could not be moved to facilities that the VA wanted the patients moved to, according to the Tampa Bay Times ("Hurricane Evacuations Halted for Lack of Ambulances at VA' Young Center"). County officials claim that Young officials requested patients be moved to facilities in Gainesville and Lake City.
In all, 110 patients and 56 staff members were moved to other locations, with 96 patients and 400 staff members remained behind.
Of the patients who needed to be evacuated, 30 were left behind due to a lack of ambulances, according to the article.
To read the article in its entirety, check out "Hurricane Evacuations Halted for Lack of Ambulances at VA' Young Center".
While Young medical center officials claim that the county "promised ambulances that never arrived," county officials disagree, saying that while some patients were moved, patients could not be moved to facilities that the VA wanted the patients moved to, according to the Tampa Bay Times ("Hurricane Evacuations Halted for Lack of Ambulances at VA' Young Center"). County officials claim that Young officials requested patients be moved to facilities in Gainesville and Lake City.
In all, 110 patients and 56 staff members were moved to other locations, with 96 patients and 400 staff members remained behind.
Of the patients who needed to be evacuated, 30 were left behind due to a lack of ambulances, according to the article.
To read the article in its entirety, check out "Hurricane Evacuations Halted for Lack of Ambulances at VA' Young Center".
Thursday, July 13, 2017
FDA Panel: "Living Drug" Approval Recommened For Leukemia Treatment
A Food and Drug Administration panel unanimously recommended approval for a treatment that "genetically alters a patient's own cells to fight leukemia," turning them into what is being called "a living drug" to help stop the disease, according to The New York Times ("F.D.A. Panel Recommends Approval for Gene-Altering Leukemia Treatment"). The recommendation came down Wednesday and is likely to be accepted by the F.D.A.
The treatment, which will be the "the first gene therapy ever to reach the market," is expected to be followed by other gene therapies. Novartis is expected to be the first to drug company to market a "living drug" with its treatment for a type of leukemia. Drug companies and researchers "have been engaged in intense competition for decades to reach this milestone."
To read the Times article in its entirety, click here.
The treatment, which will be the "the first gene therapy ever to reach the market," is expected to be followed by other gene therapies. Novartis is expected to be the first to drug company to market a "living drug" with its treatment for a type of leukemia. Drug companies and researchers "have been engaged in intense competition for decades to reach this milestone."
To read the Times article in its entirety, click here.
Sen. Marco Rubio Supports Bare-Bones Health Care
A just-released GOP health care bill that would "allow insurers to sell bare-bones policies that do not meet standards of the Affordable Care Act" has the support of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
In a Facebook Live address, Rubio said that “People should have the right to buy the kind of insurance they want at a price they can afford. Not everyone wants or needs the same kind of insurance,” according to The Tampa Bay Times ("Rubio on board with plan to offer bare-bones health care policies"). Rubio added, “Why can’t you just insure against a serious illness or a bad accident but allow primary care or something else to either be covered by a separate but limited policy or through a health savings account or if you have enough money, out of pocket.”
Click here to read the Times blog post in its entirety.
In a Facebook Live address, Rubio said that “People should have the right to buy the kind of insurance they want at a price they can afford. Not everyone wants or needs the same kind of insurance,” according to The Tampa Bay Times ("Rubio on board with plan to offer bare-bones health care policies"). Rubio added, “Why can’t you just insure against a serious illness or a bad accident but allow primary care or something else to either be covered by a separate but limited policy or through a health savings account or if you have enough money, out of pocket.”
Click here to read the Times blog post in its entirety.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Medicaid Cuts to Adversely Affect Fla. Hospitals
In a decision that will adversely affect many of Florida's hospitals, state lawmakers decided Thursday "to cut $521 million from hospitals." Nearly one-fifth of those hospitals affected are in the Tampa Bay area.
According to Tampa Bay Times ("Lawmakers are cutting $92 million from Medicaid in Tampa Bay. Which hospitals are hardest hit?"), the cuts will "mostly impact the facilities that take on the largest number of Medicaid patients, including the state’s safety net hospitals." Under this plan, hospitals in the Tampa Bay area will lose $91.7 million.
This plan is expected to pass the state House and Senate today.
To read the article in its entirety, including the list of hospitals (which includes Tampa General, All Children's, Bayfront Health-St. Petersburg, and Moffitt Cancer Center), click here.
According to Tampa Bay Times ("Lawmakers are cutting $92 million from Medicaid in Tampa Bay. Which hospitals are hardest hit?"), the cuts will "mostly impact the facilities that take on the largest number of Medicaid patients, including the state’s safety net hospitals." Under this plan, hospitals in the Tampa Bay area will lose $91.7 million.
This plan is expected to pass the state House and Senate today.
To read the article in its entirety, including the list of hospitals (which includes Tampa General, All Children's, Bayfront Health-St. Petersburg, and Moffitt Cancer Center), click here.
Friday, March 31, 2017
NC 'Bathroom Bill' Reset Leads to Uncertainty
Negotiations to overturn North Carolina's "bathroom bill" Friday have given way to uncertainty. According to a report by the Associated Press, while House Bill 142, titled "An Act to Reset," was signed by Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday, critics say that this is not "a true repeal" of the law created by House Bill 2. Critics say that "it still exposes gay and transgender people to discrimination."
To read the AP article, which gives also gives background on the law, in its entirety, check "North Carolina Future Uncertain After 'Bathroom Bill' Reset."
To read the AP article, which gives also gives background on the law, in its entirety, check "North Carolina Future Uncertain After 'Bathroom Bill' Reset."
Trump U. Settlement: $25 Million
A judge has approved an agreement that would settle lawsuits over President Donald Trump's now-defunct Trump University to the tune of $25 million. The agreement ends "nearly seven years of legal battles with customers who claimed they were misled by failed promises" of learning real estate success, the Associated Press reports.
According to the AP, U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel's ruling on Friday will settle two class-action lawsuits, as well as a civil lawsuit. Under the settlement's terms, Trump admit no wrongdoing.
Curiel, an Indiana-born judge, was repeated assailed by Trump, who insinuated that the "judge's Mexican heritage exoposed a bias."
Two former students objected to the settlement.
To read the article in its entirety, check "Judge Approves $25 Million Trump University Settlement."
According to the AP, U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel's ruling on Friday will settle two class-action lawsuits, as well as a civil lawsuit. Under the settlement's terms, Trump admit no wrongdoing.
Curiel, an Indiana-born judge, was repeated assailed by Trump, who insinuated that the "judge's Mexican heritage exoposed a bias."
Two former students objected to the settlement.
To read the article in its entirety, check "Judge Approves $25 Million Trump University Settlement."
Thursday, January 26, 2017
FL DCF Under-Performing in Foster Kids' Help
The Florida Department of Children and Families has been given 90 days to figure out how to improve care for foster kids after a study by a federal agency found it "underperforming in critical areas."
The Tampa Bay Times reported that a study "compiled by the Children's Bureau", titled "Children and Family Service Review", found in more than half of the 80 foster care cases handled by DCF from April 1 to September 30, children were removed "from homes without first providing appropriate services and were lax in following safety plans."
The Children's Bureau, which rated DCF's performance as "needing improvement in 11 of 14 categories," is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that a study "compiled by the Children's Bureau", titled "Children and Family Service Review", found in more than half of the 80 foster care cases handled by DCF from April 1 to September 30, children were removed "from homes without first providing appropriate services and were lax in following safety plans."
The Children's Bureau, which rated DCF's performance as "needing improvement in 11 of 14 categories," is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Florida Polytechnic Has First Grad Class
Florida Polytechnic University held its first commencement Tuesday afternoon for fifteen students. The school, which has yet to achieve accreditation, splintered off from the University of South Florida in 2012.
The school is "Florida's first university dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math," according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The students were offered free tuition, while others saw a "chance to shape a new school."
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was expected to decide on Florida Polytech's accreditation last year, but couldn't get all the information it needed. While a SACS campus visit is scheduled for February, "a final decision likely won't be made until December 2017." However, accreditation would cover Tuesday's group.
To view the article ("Florida Polytechnic celebrates an early milestone as first grads turn their tassels") in its entirety, click here.
The school is "Florida's first university dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math," according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The students were offered free tuition, while others saw a "chance to shape a new school."
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was expected to decide on Florida Polytech's accreditation last year, but couldn't get all the information it needed. While a SACS campus visit is scheduled for February, "a final decision likely won't be made until December 2017." However, accreditation would cover Tuesday's group.
To view the article ("Florida Polytechnic celebrates an early milestone as first grads turn their tassels") in its entirety, click here.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Trump To Be 45th President
Donald Trump has become the United States' president-elect. After an especially contentious election, which became closer than many had anticipated, Trump reached the necessary 240 electoral votes needed to pull off a surprise victory.
According to an Associated Press article, while Hilary Clinton spent month warning that "Trump was unfit and unqualified to be president," she was unable to sell many voters on her candidacy, while facing "questions about her honesty and trustworthiness."
Exit polls showed that while women supported Clinton over Trump by a double digit margin, men were "significantly more likely" to vote for Trump. The discrepancy between white, black and Hispanic voters was also significant: Trump was backed by more than half the white voters, while two-thirds of the Hispanic voters and 90 percent of black voters cast their ballots for Clinton.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press also reported that amendments for marijuana use, gun control, and minimum wage hikes were winners in the polls. Massachusetts, Nevada and California voters approved legalizing recreational use of marijuana, while Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas "voted to allow pot for medical purposes." Arizona voters rejected recreational use of marijuana.
Gun control was also on the ballot in California, Maine, Nevada and Washington state. In Maine, Colorado and Arizona, a minimum wage of $12 and hour was approved, to be implemented in phases by 2020. In Washington state, where the current minimum wage stands at $9.47 an hour, the new minimum wage of $13.50 an hour was approved. That also would be phased in by 2020. The current federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 an hour.
To read the two AP stories in their entirety, click here and here.
According to an Associated Press article, while Hilary Clinton spent month warning that "Trump was unfit and unqualified to be president," she was unable to sell many voters on her candidacy, while facing "questions about her honesty and trustworthiness."
Exit polls showed that while women supported Clinton over Trump by a double digit margin, men were "significantly more likely" to vote for Trump. The discrepancy between white, black and Hispanic voters was also significant: Trump was backed by more than half the white voters, while two-thirds of the Hispanic voters and 90 percent of black voters cast their ballots for Clinton.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press also reported that amendments for marijuana use, gun control, and minimum wage hikes were winners in the polls. Massachusetts, Nevada and California voters approved legalizing recreational use of marijuana, while Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas "voted to allow pot for medical purposes." Arizona voters rejected recreational use of marijuana.
Gun control was also on the ballot in California, Maine, Nevada and Washington state. In Maine, Colorado and Arizona, a minimum wage of $12 and hour was approved, to be implemented in phases by 2020. In Washington state, where the current minimum wage stands at $9.47 an hour, the new minimum wage of $13.50 an hour was approved. That also would be phased in by 2020. The current federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 an hour.
To read the two AP stories in their entirety, click here and here.
Monday, September 5, 2016
USPS 'Boldly Launches' ‘Star Trek™’ Stamps
The United States Postal Service (USPS) dedicated the new Star Trek Forever stamps, "nearly 50 years to the day" of Star Trek's original airing. The September 2 first-day-of-issue ceremony of the three-day celebration was "expected to draw thousands of Star Trek fans," according to the USPS press release.
The stamps are sold in sheets of 20 stamps, and have four digital illustrations inspired by the iconic show. These include:
"The Starship Enterprise inside the outline of a Starfleet insignia against a gold background;
"The silhouette of a crewman in a transporter against a red background;
"The silhouette of the Enterprise from above against a green background; and,
"The Enterprise inside the outline of the Vulcan salute (Spock’s iconic hand gesture) against a blue background."
The words "Space...the Final Frontier" appears at the bottom of the stamp sheet.
To view the press release, click here.
The stamps are sold in sheets of 20 stamps, and have four digital illustrations inspired by the iconic show. These include:
"The Starship Enterprise inside the outline of a Starfleet insignia against a gold background;
"The silhouette of a crewman in a transporter against a red background;
"The silhouette of the Enterprise from above against a green background; and,
"The Enterprise inside the outline of the Vulcan salute (Spock’s iconic hand gesture) against a blue background."
The words "Space...the Final Frontier" appears at the bottom of the stamp sheet.
To view the press release, click here.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Fluoride Potentially Harmful To Thyroid, Body and Brain
Many of us think of fluoride as something occasionally put into water to protect our teeth. But there are potential risks from drinking fluoridated water, according an article in The Diabetic News.
In an article titled "Fluoride Risks to Diabetics, Kidney Patients and Thyroid Function", Dr. Mark Hyman stated, “[W]ater fluoridation can potentially harm thyroid function, the body and the brain.” He goes on to say that he supports "federal investigative hearings looking into why our cities and towns are allowed to continue to add fluoride to public water sources…”
The article goes on to state that “key national figures such as Erin Brockovich, Lois Gibbs, and Alveda King have called for Fluoridegate scandal hearings...”
Erin Brockovich is known for her fight against PG&E, as shown in the Julia Roberts movie titled Erin Brockovich. Lois Gibbs was instrumental in warning people living in Love Canal about the pollutants in the ground that was poisoning them. Alveda King is an activist, former Georgia state representative, and niece of the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
The article states that fluoridated water can be potentially harmful to certain groups, such as diabetics and patients with kidney disease.”
Daniel G. Stockin, MPH, who has worked to end fluoridation, said, “The National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences says that kidney patients, diabetics, seniors, and other groups are ‘susceptible subpopulations’ especially vulnerable to harm from ingested fluorides.”
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
In an article titled "Fluoride Risks to Diabetics, Kidney Patients and Thyroid Function", Dr. Mark Hyman stated, “[W]ater fluoridation can potentially harm thyroid function, the body and the brain.” He goes on to say that he supports "federal investigative hearings looking into why our cities and towns are allowed to continue to add fluoride to public water sources…”
The article goes on to state that “key national figures such as Erin Brockovich, Lois Gibbs, and Alveda King have called for Fluoridegate scandal hearings...”
Erin Brockovich is known for her fight against PG&E, as shown in the Julia Roberts movie titled Erin Brockovich. Lois Gibbs was instrumental in warning people living in Love Canal about the pollutants in the ground that was poisoning them. Alveda King is an activist, former Georgia state representative, and niece of the late Martin Luther King, Jr.
The article states that fluoridated water can be potentially harmful to certain groups, such as diabetics and patients with kidney disease.”
Daniel G. Stockin, MPH, who has worked to end fluoridation, said, “The National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences says that kidney patients, diabetics, seniors, and other groups are ‘susceptible subpopulations’ especially vulnerable to harm from ingested fluorides.”
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Monday, May 23, 2016
New Overtime Rules To Affect Florida Workplace
New overtimes rules unveiled by the U.S. Department of Labor will impact an estimated 331,000 Florida workers, according to an article in the Tampa Bay Times. That number is out of 4.2 million workers nationwide affected by the new ruling.
The rule "doubles the eligible salary threshold for overtime from $23,660 per year to $47,476." The article ("New Labor Department overtime rule expected to jolt Florida workplace") states that businesses will have until December to comply with the Department of Labor's ruling. Employees who have made $23,660 or less a year have qualified for time-and-a-half when working more than 40 hours a week. The ruling now makes it that employees making the higher amount or less will qualify.
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
The rule "doubles the eligible salary threshold for overtime from $23,660 per year to $47,476." The article ("New Labor Department overtime rule expected to jolt Florida workplace") states that businesses will have until December to comply with the Department of Labor's ruling. Employees who have made $23,660 or less a year have qualified for time-and-a-half when working more than 40 hours a week. The ruling now makes it that employees making the higher amount or less will qualify.
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Philip Scheffler, 'Guiding Force Behind 60 Minutes,' Dies at 85
Philip Scheffler, who began as a copy boy for "Douglas Edwards with the News" and later became CBS New's first television street reporter, died Thursday. He was 85.
Scheffler later became the executive editor of 60 Minutes, guiding it "for more than two decades," according to Jeff Fager, 60 Minutes' executive producer, TVNewser reports.
The New York Times article ("Longtime CBS News Executive Scheffler Dies") stated that Scheffler died at a Manhattan hospital. CBS News did not have a cause of death.
To read more, click here for the New York Times article, or here for TV Newser's article.
Scheffler later became the executive editor of 60 Minutes, guiding it "for more than two decades," according to Jeff Fager, 60 Minutes' executive producer, TVNewser reports.
The New York Times article ("Longtime CBS News Executive Scheffler Dies") stated that Scheffler died at a Manhattan hospital. CBS News did not have a cause of death.
To read more, click here for the New York Times article, or here for TV Newser's article.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
FP&L Nuclear Plant Leak Threatening So. FL Drinking Water
A leak in Florida Power & Light's reactors at the Turkey Point nuclear plant has allowed polluted water to enter Biscayne Bay, according to a recent article in The New York Time.
The article ("Nuclear Plant Leak Threatens Drinking Water Wells in Florida"), published March 22, states, "A recent study commissioned by the county concluded that Turkey Point’s old cooling canal system was leaking polluted water into Biscayne Bay," thereby polluting surface water, along with the bay's "fragile ecosystem." It is also allowing "a large saltwater plume" to move towards wells supplying "drinking water to millions of residents in Miami and the Florida Keys."
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
The article ("Nuclear Plant Leak Threatens Drinking Water Wells in Florida"), published March 22, states, "A recent study commissioned by the county concluded that Turkey Point’s old cooling canal system was leaking polluted water into Biscayne Bay," thereby polluting surface water, along with the bay's "fragile ecosystem." It is also allowing "a large saltwater plume" to move towards wells supplying "drinking water to millions of residents in Miami and the Florida Keys."
To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Tampa Bay Gas Prices May Drop Below $2 A Gallon
With falling gas prices, it is possible that the Tampa Bay area will see gas prices fall below the $2 a gallon mark, according to the Tampa Bay Times. In Thursday's Times, business columnist Robert Trigaux writes that this is a distinct possibility ("Are Tampa Bay gas prices heading back below $2 a gallon?").
In the past year, gas prices in the bay area have dropped "an average of 91 cents a gallon," with the average price close to $2.28 a gallon, a penny less than the previous day. Last month's average was $2.51 a gallon, Trigaux writes.
The price of crude oil down "by almost 60 percent" from its 2014 peak, according to the Wall Street Journal, with prices possibly remaining low for "months and maybe years to come."
To read more of the Tampa Bay Times' article, go to http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/are-gas-prices-heading-back-to-2-a-gallon-in-the-tampa-bay-area/2242212.
In the past year, gas prices in the bay area have dropped "an average of 91 cents a gallon," with the average price close to $2.28 a gallon, a penny less than the previous day. Last month's average was $2.51 a gallon, Trigaux writes.
The price of crude oil down "by almost 60 percent" from its 2014 peak, according to the Wall Street Journal, with prices possibly remaining low for "months and maybe years to come."
To read more of the Tampa Bay Times' article, go to http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/are-gas-prices-heading-back-to-2-a-gallon-in-the-tampa-bay-area/2242212.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
HCA To Gov. Scott: Increase Medicaid Payments
Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) has called on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to overhaul the way the state pays for low-income patients, stating that the Low Income Pool in "not a long-term solution and often yields inequitable results," according to The News Service of Florida. According to the article in the Orlando Business Journal, ("HCA asks for higher Medicaid payments to replace LIP"), HCA "recommended increasing base Medicaid payment rates for hospitals," as well as possibly increasing a hospital-provider tax, which would replace the Low Income Pool program.
LIP is scheduled to expire June 30 unless an agreement in reached between state and federal officials.
Money from LIP is part of an agreement between the state and federal governments under a Section 1115 Waiver. It was originally approved to help hospitals deal with the number of uninsured adults who could not pay their medical bills, according to PolitiFactFlorida ("Rick Scott says feds are 'walking away' from funding Florida's Low Income Pool Program"). LIP, which started in 2005, was renewed until 2013. However, when the time came to negotiate an extension beyond 2014, "Florida upped the funding request to a whopping $4.5 billion to expand the program..." after reusing $51 billion in federal money to expand Medicaid over 10 years.
In the HCA letter, the hospital company stated that "it receives a disproportionately small amount of money through the Low Income Pool..."
Incidentally, before becoming governor, Rick Scott was CEO of Columbia/HCA. According to another PolitiFactFlorida article, the Florida Democratic Party's claim that Scott "oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation's history" was "Mostly True" ("Rick Scott 'oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation’s history,' Florida Democratic Party says").
To read the articles referenced, click here for the Orlando Business Journal/News Service of Florida article, here for the first PolitiFactFlorida article, and here for the second PolitiFactFlorida article.
LIP is scheduled to expire June 30 unless an agreement in reached between state and federal officials.
Money from LIP is part of an agreement between the state and federal governments under a Section 1115 Waiver. It was originally approved to help hospitals deal with the number of uninsured adults who could not pay their medical bills, according to PolitiFactFlorida ("Rick Scott says feds are 'walking away' from funding Florida's Low Income Pool Program"). LIP, which started in 2005, was renewed until 2013. However, when the time came to negotiate an extension beyond 2014, "Florida upped the funding request to a whopping $4.5 billion to expand the program..." after reusing $51 billion in federal money to expand Medicaid over 10 years.
In the HCA letter, the hospital company stated that "it receives a disproportionately small amount of money through the Low Income Pool..."
Incidentally, before becoming governor, Rick Scott was CEO of Columbia/HCA. According to another PolitiFactFlorida article, the Florida Democratic Party's claim that Scott "oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation's history" was "Mostly True" ("Rick Scott 'oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation’s history,' Florida Democratic Party says").
To read the articles referenced, click here for the Orlando Business Journal/News Service of Florida article, here for the first PolitiFactFlorida article, and here for the second PolitiFactFlorida article.
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