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10 drugs targeted for Medicare price negotiations as Biden pitches cost reductions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

By CHRIS MEGERIAN, TOM MURPHY and AMANDA SEITZ (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, struggling to convince Americans that he’s improved their lives as he runs for reelection, hailed his administration’s Tuesday announcement that several drugs would be targeted for Medicare’s first-ever price negotiations.The drugs include the blood thinner Eliquis, diabetes treatment Jardiance and eight other medications. The negotiation process was authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed last year, capping decades of debate over whether the federal government should be allowed to haggle with pharmaceutical companies.Any lower prices won’t take effect for three years, and the path forward could be further complicated by litigation from drugmakers and heavy criticism from Republicans. But the effort is a centerpiece of Biden’s reelection pitch as the Democrat tries to show Americans he’s deserving of a second term ...

Supermoon could team up with Hurricane Idalia to raise tides higher just as the storm makes landfall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

By JEFF MARTIN (Associated Press)A rare blue supermoon could raise tides above normal just as Hurricane Idalia takes aim at Florida’s west coast, exacerbating flooding from the storm.The moon will be closest to the Earth on Wednesday night, the same day Idalia is expected to make landfall in Florida. While a supermoon can make for a spectacular backdrop in photos of landmarks around the world, its intensified gravitational pull also makes tides higher.“I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one,” said Brian Haines, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina.It’s expected to make tidal flooding worse not only in Florida, but in states such as Georgia and South Carolina, where Haines’ office has been warning residents that parts of Charleston could be under water by Wednesday night.When the moon is full, the sun and the moon are pulling in the same direction, which has the effect of increasing tides above normal ranges, said...

Moore officials express confidence in Orioles’ lease deal, but won’t offer details or status of negotiations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

Facing a fast-approaching deadline and mounting public pressure to secure the Orioles’ long-term commitment to Baltimore, three officials in Gov. Wes Moore’s administration said Tuesday they remain confident of reaching a deal to keep the team in the city “for decades to come,” but would not disclose any details about the status of the negotiations.The officials, who are close to the negotiations but insisted they not be named because the discussions are ongoing, said the Democratic governor’s priorities are: getting a sound return on investment for the significant taxpayer dollars that are scheduled to improve Oriole Park at Camden Yards, recruiting investors to develop the area around the stadium and keeping the Orioles in the city for the long run.They declined to reveal specifics around the talks and pushed back against questions about any “hang-ups” that could prevent what they described as a “particularly complex” deal from...

Orioles minor league report: From Cade Povich to Seth Johnson, a look at how pitching prospects are performing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

For much of Mike Elias’ tenure, the Orioles’ best two pitching prospects were drafted by the previous regime.Since taking over as Baltimore’s general manager in November 2018, Elias and his front office built the sport’s best farm system, but that was mostly because of elite position player prospects such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday. Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall, pitchers selected by the Orioles in the first round of the two drafts before Elias took over, have headlined Baltimore’s crop of pitching prospects for several years, including entering the 2023 season inside Baseball America’s top 100 list.Now, both Rodriguez and Hall are in the major leagues. Rodriguez has graduated from prospect status and emerged this summer as one of the Orioles’ best starters, while Hall has battled through an up-and-down 2023 to join Baltimore as a reliever for the stretch run.With the two talented arms both no longer in the minor leagues, the focus shifts to the rest o...

Israeli PM orders ministries to get his OK before secret talks, as drama over Libya meeting persists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an order Tuesday mandating that his office approve all secret diplomatic meetings in advance, his spokesperson said, as officials scrambled to contain the growing diplomatic firestorm over Israel’s disclosure that its top diplomat had met with his Libyan counterpart.The exposure of the first-ever known encounter between Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers ignited angry street protests in several Libyan cities and sent Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush fleeing to Turkey for fear of her safety. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who heads one of the country’s rival governments, said he was temporarily suspending Mangoush from her position over the reported meeting. Libya has a history of unremitting hostility toward Israel.Netanyahu sent the directive Tuesday to all government ministries, requesting they receive approval from his office before conducting any covert political talks. The order al...

Feds say prime minister’s residence at 24 Sussex may be replaced rather than restored

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

OTTAWA — The prime minister’s problem-plagued official residence could be replaced instead of restored, though the government says its plans are not complete. A spokesperson for Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said building a new residence is among the options being considered as the department comes up with a plan for the future of 24 Sussex, but any conversations about that are at very early stages.The minister’s office said it is working with the National Capital Commission to develop a plan that it aims to release soon. The historic house overlooking the Ottawa River is in dire need of repairs for everything from electrical work to windows, doors and the roof. A 2021 report estimated it would cost at least $36.6 million just to complete the deferred maintenance on the main residence, which was built in 1868. Bringing it up to code would likely cost millions more.A report last summer found the walls, attic and basement of the 34-room mansion were full of rodent ...

93 areas of interest found at site of former Saskatchewan residential school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

SASKATOON — Ground-penetrating radar has located 93 areas of interest at the site of a former residential school in Saskatchewan.English River First Nation Chief Jenny Wolverine says it’s believed 79 areas at the Beauval Indian Residential School could be the size of possible children’s graves and 14 could be the size of infants.Earlier this month 83 areas of interest were located at the site and the additional 10 were confirmed as archeological flags were being placed in the area.Wolverine says the community is saddened at the discovery of more possible graves and it’s clear their work is not over yet.The First Nation began searching the site two years ago.The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has a record of 52 children’s deaths at the school.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2023. The Canadian Press

B.C. on pace for deadliest year in drug crisis as July brings another 198 deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

VANCOUVER — British Columbia is on pace for the deadliest year in its unregulated toxic-drug crisis, with the BC Coroners Service saying another 198 deaths were reported in July.It says there have been at least 1,455 deaths in the first seven months of 2023, the most ever recorded.Fifty-six per cent of deaths this year have occurred in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health authorities, but the coroners service says Northern Health continues to have the highest per-capita toxic-drug death rate at 59.8 per 100,000 residents.Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says in a statement that the unregistered illicit drug market is “highly unpredictable,” and the lack of access to stable, lower-risk alternatives continues to put lives at risk.Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says in a statement the new numbers are “a stark reminder” of the ongoing drug crisis, and the province is continuing to expand access to treatment options and co...

Biden discussing immigration and trade with Costa Rican President Chaves at the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hosting his Costa Rican counterpart, Rodrigo Chaves, at the White House on Tuesday, discussing ways to strengthen an agreement between the two countries on possible legal pathways for the increasing numbers of Central American migrants arriving to the U.S. southern border.The two plan to talk about strengthening U.S.-Costa Rica trade tries, creating new jobs, advancing democracy and promoting a more orderly immigration process. Chaves’ nation has emerged as an immigration hotspot, as migrants increasingly travel through the dangerous Darien Gap from Colombia into Central America and north into Costa Rica. In June, Costa Rica and the U.S. agreed to open potential legal pathways to the United States for some of the Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants who are among the 240,000 asylum seekers in the Central American nation. Last year, Nicaraguans accounted for nine out of 10 applicants.Chaves said in December the policies were being abused by peop...

A look at British Columbia’s 12 wildfires of note

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:47:00 GMT

Twelve of the 400 or so blazes burning in British Columbia are described by the province’s wildfire service as “wildfires of note,” meaning they are highly visible or pose a threat to public safety. A look at the 12 fires, with information provided by the BC Wildfire Service as of Tuesday at noon, Pacific time:Name: Bush Creek East wildfireLocation: West and east of Adams Lake, north of Shuswap and Little Shuswap lakes, south of Highway 1 between Chase and SorrentoSize: 431 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: Casper Creek wildfireLocation: 24 kilometres west of LillooetSize: 110 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: Kookipi Creek wildfireLocation: 50 kilometres south of LyttonSize: 170 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: Stein Mountain wildfireLocation: 15 kilometres northwest of Lytton, west of Fraser RiverSize: 34 square kilometresSuspected cause: Lightning–Name: McDougall Creek wildfireLocation: Nea...