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The Texas ObamaCare ruling: 5 things to know

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

(The Hill) – An ObamaCare requirement that health insurance must cover preventive services for free is at risk of ending, after a federal judge in Texas — who previously held that the entire Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional — invalidated it. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor wasn't entirely unexpected, but his decision to impose a nationwide injunction still sent shockwaves through the health system. The preventive services mandate is extremely popular and ending it could impact more than 100 million Americans.  Here are five things to know about the ruling.The immediate impacts are unclear The ruling is effective immediately, but it’s not likely to have an immediate impact.“I think this will play out over time. I don't think it will result in precipitous changes in coverage in most cases,” said Larry Levitt, vice president of health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.Health insurers price their plans on a yearly basis and are required to notify bene...

'Wheel of Fortune': What's the most (and least) a contestant can win?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A couple of contestants on “Wheel of Fortune” have made headlines for their astonishing gameplay in recent weeks, including the Iowa man who won $86,165 in cash and prizes and the wrestling enthusiast who solved every single puzzle (including the bonus round) to achieve a “perfect game.”Both of these contestants displayed an admirable ability to identify the many “Things” or “Food & Drink” answers in each day’s puzzles. But they’re far from the most successful contestants the show has ever seen.In fact, they’re about $1 million short. Pat Sajak briefly stunned by ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestant’s ‘leak’ remark Throughout the broadcast history of “Wheel of Fortune,” only four contestants (including one celebrity) have managed to win million-dollar prizes during the game’s bonus rounds. Each of these instances occurred after the show added a $1 million “wedge” to the wheel, which needs to be earned during previous gameplay and allows contestants the possibility of winn...

Toronto, Are You Ready for Another Mayoral Candidate Circus?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

Family still searching for answers in 2020 murder of a 51-year-old woman

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Pflugerville Police department is still searching for answers in a 2020 murder of a 51-year-old woman. Sharon Selman was found with multiple gunshot wounds at the Century Stone Hill South Apartments near Stone Hill Town Center on March 31, 2020. She was pronounced dead on the scene. MORE: Pflugerville police identify woman killed in deadly March shooting Friday marked the third anniversary of the incident, but PPD and Selman’s family remain steadfast in finding the person responsible. PPD is requesting that anyone who recognizes the sketch or has any information related to the case call Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS (8477) or email [email protected]. PPD said all tips will be kept confidential.  MORE: 3 months after Pflugerville woman’s murder, police still search for leads Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to a suspect’s arrest, and Selman's family has also put together a $25,000 reward.Crime Stopper...

367 acres of 'vital' land donated for conservancy in Hill Country

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Central Texas nonprofit announced Thursday it received a 367-acre land donation in Hill Country to be saved and protected from development. Scott Shannon of Scott Shannon Ranch donated a conservation easement, roughly the size of Zilker Park, along U.S. Highway 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg, which will be permanently protected, the Hill Country Conservancy said. "This is an important milestone for the Hill Country region, where unincorporated growth is rapidly encroaching upon open spaces and sensitive natural areas," Carolyn Stephens, Marketing & Outreach Manager for HCC, said.   Scott Shannon Ranch contains 1.4 miles of Towhead Creek, which drains into Flat Creek nearly a mile above its confluence with the Pedernales River. The City of Austin gets approximately 23% of its water from the Pedernales River, so the area is in vital need of conservation, according to the HCC.  The Conservancy also said the Scott Shannon Ranch contains ...

White Bear Lake: Ice is still thick, but ice-out contest is underway

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

It’s been a long winter.But there is one sure sign of spring: The White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake Ice-Out Contest for 2023 is open for entries.Rules are simple: one entry per person. Entries must include date of prediction for one or both lakes. Entries must be submitted by midnight April 7.This year’s prize pool includes more than $3,000 in gifts and gift certificates from 35 different White Bear Lake businesses; the prizes will be divided among those who guess either correct date, said Alan Haskins, the organizer of the contest.The earliest ice-out date officially recorded for White Bear Lake was April 2, 1928; the latest is May 4 in both 2018 and 1950. For Bald Eagle Lake, the earliest ice-out date recorded was March 16, 2016; the latest was May 2, 2018.Haskins, the owner of Nimble Impressions, a marketing agency in White Bear Lake, recommends guessing a date toward the end of April this year.“The ice is still really thick,” he said. “It’s the equivalent of mid-January right ...

How do the Cardinals decide on their bobblehead giveaways?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Tens of thousands of St. Louis Cardinals fans will take home a one-of-a-kind mystery bobblehead Saturday, either of Albert Pujols or Yadier Molina from their unexpected pitching appearances last season.The Pujols-Molina mystery collectible is the first of eight bobblehead giveaways at Busch Stadium this year. Bobbleheads are among the top promotions each year for baseball fans in St. Louis and beyond. Some fans will wait several hours at the gate to score the special item. Others hope to build upon their collections of tens, hundreds, or maybe even thousands. Or maybe there are a select few who just want one of their favorite present or past player. Top Stories: Courts connect four St. Louis infant exposure deaths to one woman How do the bobbleheads get decided each season? It's part of a long-term process that begins throughout the preceding baseball campaign. "We've studied the bobbleheads all year long," said Megan Eberhart, director of promotions for the St. Louis...

Saunders: Rockies’ 17 hits and 17 strikeouts — “That’s baseball”

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

SAN DIEGO — “That’s baseball.”Manager manager Bud Black said it Thursday night after the Rockies hammered the Padres, 7-2, in the season-opener.Referring to Elehuris Montero’s inconsequential doink single to right field to lead off the ninth inning, Black said, “In the box score, another hit is going to show up, but hey, that’s baseball.”Black will likely utter “that’s baseball” another 161 times this season. I’ve had friends and family — casual baseball fans — ask me what the heck Black is talking about.I’ve tried to explain that baseball is a quirky, lucky, maddening, heartbreaking, ironic, unpredictable, and endlessly fascinating game. Weird things happen all of the time. A daily parade of numbers verifies that.“That’s baseball.”Pitchers love the phrase. If they give up a couple of cheap singles that lead to a bad inning, they’ll shrug their shoulders and say, “Man, nothing...

On Democracy, the People Have the Best Say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

Over the years, the United States has claimed to be a "beacon of democracy". But even at best as a "lamp", it has become increasingly dim and could barely shed light on itself. Taking its electoral system as an example, more than US$16.7 billion was spent by both parties in the 2022 midterm elections, dwarfing the 2021 GDPs of more than 70 countries. The top 21 families making political donations contributed at least a million each, totalling US$783 million. Over 90% of those elected as lawmakers won by splurging funds. The so-called American democracy is merely a “game of the rich” founded on capital. Americans’ pride in their democracy has dropped sharply, from 90% in 2002 to 54% in 2022, according to a joint Washington Post-University of Maryland survey.Despite mounting problems at home, the United States continued to behave with a sense of superiority, usurp the role of a “lecturer of democracy”, and organized another edition of the so-called “Summit for Democracy”. The purpose ...

Late-night visit to Van Nuys home results in shooting that leaves 1 dead, 1 wounded

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:35:35 GMT

Two men were shot, one of them fatally, by a late-night visitor to a Van Nuys home early Saturday morning, according to officials. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a man approached at home in the 15100 block of Gilmore Street at about 1:40 a.m. and knocked on the door of a home containing two Armenian men.When one man inside the house opened the door, the visitor spoke to that man and another inside the home in Armenian, then opened fire, striking both men, police said. One victim, believed to be about 50 years old, was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The other victim, 44, was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.The shooter, who is also Armenian, remains at large, police said. His identity and age remain unknown, though he was last seen wearing a dark sweatshirt and black baseball cap.Investigators said they are unsure of the relationship between the shooter and victims, but the attack was not gang-related."Both victims, they're rela...