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Fact check: Do Republican spending cuts threaten federal HIV funding? For some programs, yes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

Grace Abels | KFF Health News (TNS)Republicans in Congress are “trying to wipe out federal funding to end the HIV epidemic.”President Joe Biden on Oct. 14, 2023, in remarks at the 2023 Human Rights Campaign National Dinner.____Are Republicans threatening to stop spending federal money to end one of the world’s most pressing public health epidemics? That’s what President Joe Biden said during a dinner hosted by an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.“In the United States Congress, extreme MAGA Republicans are trying to undo virtually every bit of progress we’ve made,” Biden said Oct. 14 at the Human Rights Campaign event. “They’re trying to wipe out federal funding to end the HIV epidemic.”Programs to treat HIV and fight its spread have enjoyed bipartisan funding support in recent years, experts said, so Biden’s portrayal signals a significant departure.When we asked the White House what Biden was referring to, it pointed us to reports of budget recommendations from House Republicans that call for...

Chicago Cubs add 3 minor leaguers to 40-man roster — and Craig Counsell is runner-up again for NL manager of the year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

The Chicago Cubs have added a trio of pitching prospects to the 40-man roster.Ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to protect eligible minor leaguers from the Rule 5 draft in December, Triple-A Iowa left-hander Bailey Horn, Double-A Tennessee right-hander Porter Hodge and High-A South Bend right-hander Michael Arias were put on the Cubs’ 40-man roster.The moves filled the remaining open spots as free agency gets underway.Horn spent six games at Double A to start the season before moving up to Triple A in April. He saw action in 39 games as a reliever for Iowa, posting a 4.58 ERA in 53 innings pitched. Horn, 25, was selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2020 draft out of Auburn. The Cubs acquired him from the Sox ahead of the 2021 trade deadline for reliever Ryan Tepera.Hodge spent the full 2023 season with Double A, earning a 5.13 ERA in 35 games, including 12 starts as he primarily pitched out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. Drafted by the Cubs in ...

US to cover HIV prevention drugs for older Americans to stem spread of the virus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

Michael Scaturro | (TNS) KFF Health NewsA proposed federal policy aims to protect older Americans from contracting HIV by offering free preventive medication, the latest effort to catch up to much of Europe and Africa in stemming the spread of the virus.Under the plan from the Biden administration, Medicare would cover patients’ full cost of preexposure prophylaxis drugs, which prevent HIV transmission. The drugs, known by the shorthand “PrEP,” would be free in pill form and — for the first time — as long-acting injectables through the government insurance program designed for those 65 and older. Those 50 and over make up half of all people in the U.S. already living with HIV.The proposed policy change represents a big shift because it means that even new long-acting injectable versions of PrEP drugs, which can cost more than $20,000 a year in the U.S., would be covered fully, without requiring patients to kick in copayments. It is not yet clear what the plan would mean for taxpayer...

It’s November and that means year-end financial planning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

While many of us were hoping that 2022’s market volatility and challenges for investors would be in the past, this year has reminded us that an unpredictable market is, actually, normal.The year so far has given us a stock market filled with highs and lows, a flat bond market, high mortgage rates, rising interest rates and the global effects of wars in Europe and the Middle East.Yet as with any year, a general financial review is necessary at year-end to stay focused on your financial goals and objectives. With that in mind, here are a few year-end topics that would be prudent to review:Tax-loss harvestingTax-loss harvesting is an investing approach used for taxable accounts. Retirement accounts do not qualify.To take advantage of tax-loss harvesting, consider selling select investments at a loss to help offset tax implications from other holdings that have generated taxable capital gains. Eligible investments aren’t limited to stocks or stock funds, which means losses from bonds an...

‘Friends’ share tributes to Matthew Perry after his death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Matthew Perry’s “Friends” co-stars are sharing more remembrances of the star in their first personal social media posts since the actor’s death last month.Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer posted heartfelt notes about Perry, who died Oct. 28, on Instagram. The posts on Tuesday and Wednesday were accompanied by photos from the “Friends” set.“In the last couple weeks, I’ve been pouring over our texts to one another. Laughing and crying then laughing again,” Aniston posted Wednesday, sharing a text message where Perry sent her photo of a script reading session where Perry made her laugh.“Oh boy this one has cut deep… Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I’ve never experienced before,” Aniston’s post read.The stars, including Lisa Kudrow, issued a joint statement a few days after Perry’s death, saying they were “all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are ...

Democrat Biberaj concedes in hard-fought northern Virginia prosecutor race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A high-profile Democratic prosecutor in northern Virginia who pursued progressive reforms and drew criticism from Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin conceded defeat Wednesday in her reelection bid.Buta Biberaj’s narrow loss to Republican Bob Anderson in the race for Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney gave the Virginia GOP one of its most significant wins this election in an otherwise poor performance that saw Democrats win control of both houses of the state Legislature.Biberaj conceded a day after the Loudoun County Board of Elections finished counting all ballots. Late absentee and provisional ballots narrowed Biberaj’s deficit from roughly 1,000 votes to just 300 votes out of more than 135,000 ballots cast.Biberaj could have requested a recount under state law, but she said at a news conference Wednesday in Leesburg that she thought it was better to use the next two months to ensure a smooth transition.She said she was proud of her offic...

Netflix signs first-look film project deal with Montreal’s Attraction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

Netflix plans to build up its library of Québécois programming under a new agreement with Montreal-based production house Attraction.The U.S. streaming giant says it’s struck a first-look deal for French-language film projects that will be developed and produced by the Canadian company.Attraction is a major film and TV producer in the Quebec market, creating numerous French-language TV series including “Mégantic,” a 2023 dramatization of the deadly Lac-Mégantic, Que., runaway train disaster which killed 47 people.Attraction’s president Richard Speer says the partnership with Netflix elevates Quebec content to the global stage and demonstrates the streaming company’s commitment to promoting local francophone talent.The announcement comes a day after the Liberal government released its final policy direction for the Online Streaming Act, setting the stage for new Canadian content requirements for digital entertainment giants such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple.The Cana...

Toronto couple charged in massive cross-border drug smuggling probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

A massive drug seizure at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing has led investigators to a Toronto couple accused of being the organizers of the illicit operation.A release by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP said a semi-truck coming into Canada at the border was pulled over for a secondary examination on March 4, 2023.During the inspection, border officers allegedly found around 300 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine.“The driver was arrested, handed over to the RCMP, and was subsequently released,” officials said.Windsor RCMP and CSBA officers then launched an investigation into where the drugs came from and who was ultimately behind the smuggling attempt.Police identified Marvin Watson, 31, of Toronto as the suspected organizer of the initial shipment.His partner, Maria Kguru, 33, of Toronto, was also suspected of being involved.“Since the incident, investigators gathered evidence that led them to believe that Watson and Kiguru were responsib...

Amtrak service north of NYC will resume after repairs to a parking garage over the tracks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Amtrak service north of New York City will be restored starting Thursday after it was disrupted for several days by structural issues with a parking garage over the tracks on Manhattan’s west side, the railroad announced Wednesday.Service between New York City and the Croton-Harmon station in Westchester County was halted Monday after cracks and deteriorated steel were discovered in the parking structure on West 51st Street that sits directly over Amtrak tracks. Officials with the city’s Department of Buildings said they worked with the parking structure’s owner, Lineage Ventures LLC, to develop a repair plan.Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said railroad officials have been assured the repairs will be completed Wednesday night.Abrams said riders can expect minor delays until both tracks are restored on Saturday. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers who were inconvenienced by the structural issue at the non-Amtrak-owned par...

Sweden opens state-of-the-art plant for sorting plastics for recycling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:50 GMT

MOTALA, Sweden (AP) — A new plastics sorting facility inaugurated in Sweden on Wednesday is being billed as the largest of its kind, and one designed to double the amount of plastic packaging materials being recycled in the Nordic country.Thanks to cutting-edge technology, the Site Zero plant in the central city of Motala can sort up to 200,000 tons of plastic packaging a year, according to Sweden Plastic Recycling, a non-profit company co-owned by Swedish plastics, food and trade industry groups. The company says that’s more than any other sorting facility in the world.A unique feature of Site Zero is that it can separate up to 12 different types of plastic.An old plant at the same location could only sort 5 types of plastic, which meant that only 47% of the material was sent on for recycling and the rest was incinerated, said Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Sweden Plastic Recycling.The new plant will be able to send up to 95% of the packaging for recycling, minimizing the amount that i...