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Rural hospitals are closing maternity wards. People are seeking options to give birth closer to home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

Alisha Alderson placed everything she needed for the last month of her pregnancy in various suitcases as she prepared to leave the comfort of her home in rural eastern Oregon. The only maternity ward within 40 miles abruptly closed in August, so she would be staying at her brother’s house in Idaho to be closer to a hospital.“I was sitting in a hair salon a few days ago and some people started joking about me giving birth on the side of the road,” the 45-year-old said. “And in that moment, I just pictured all the things that could go wrong with my baby and broke down in tears in front of strangers.” Fewer than half of rural hospitals in the U.S. have maternity units, which forces pregnant women to travel longer distances for care or face giving birth in an emergency room. It’s also prompted government officials and families to scramble for answers. One solution gaining ground is freestanding midwife-led birth centers, but those also often rely on hospitals when seri...

Fatah gives deadline for handover of general’s killers amid fragile truce in Lebanon refugee camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A top official with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group said Sunday that Palestinian and Lebanese officials have given militant Islamist groups in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp until the end of the month to hand over the accused killers of a Fatah general.A fragile calm has largely prevailed in the Ein el-Hilweh camp since Thursday night after the warring sides reached the latest in a series of cease-fire agreements. It followed a week of intense fighting that killed at least 18 people and wounded and displaced hundreds. Top officials from rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas had traveled to Lebanon in an attempt to negotiate an end to the clashes.Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of Fatah’s central committee and of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday that he is “optimistic about reaching a solution” but that if the accused are not handed over by the end of the m...

Inflation likely gained pace in August, economists expect, reversing progress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

OTTAWA — Economists are forecasting inflation reaccelerated to around four per cent last month, reversing previous progress made as gasoline prices push inflation higher. Statistics Canada’s August consumer price index report set to be released Tuesday is expected to show the annual inflation rate rose for a second month in a row. Canada’s inflation rate tumbled to 2.8 per cent in June, entering the Bank of Canada’s target range of one to three per cent for the first time since March 2021. The celebrations on reaching that benchmark were short-lived, however, as inflation ticked up the next month.Desjardins’ managing director and head of macro strategy Royce Mendes said he expects headline inflation to come in at four per cent for August, up from 3.3 per cent in July. “We’re expecting that the CPI data will reveal that Canadians’ pocketbooks were hit by higher prices, again, largely the result of gasoline prices,” Mendes said. The pric...

Canadians showing more support for striking workers amid inflation, corporate profits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

It was Samantha Henry’s first time on strike, and one that made headlines across the country.“Some people thought the strike would only last a week, a couple of days. And we went into almost five weeks,” said Henry, one of some 3,700 Metro employees in the Toronto area who walked off the job this summer.In previous rounds of bargaining that didn’t lead to strikes, Henry says public feedback over workers’ demands was often negative. “It was all like … ‘What do you expect? She’s a retail worker.’”This summer felt different. People, including many regular Metro customers, joined workers on picket lines, promised to boycott Metro-owned stores, honked car horns as they drove past and brought gift cards, coffee and snacks.“I think I ate more doughnuts and Timbits than I ever have in my entire life,” joked Henry. She thinks the pandemic helped open people’s eyes to how essential retail workers are, noting that many regular customers were irate when grocery stores to...

These U.S. cities have been hot spots for inflation since last year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – While the latest numbers show an easing in some measures of inflation – despite a spike in gas prices – some cities have seen larger increases than others over the past year, according to Labor Department data released Wednesday.The consumer price index was up 3.7% in August over the previous year, an increase from the 3.2% annual pace in July. However, when adjusted to filter out more volatile categories such as food and energy, inflation growth actually slowed from 4.7% in July to 4.3% in August, year-over-year.This slowing of so-called "core" prices suggests that inflation is coming under control, but at a more gradual pace than the government had hoped as officials try to reach the Federal Reserve's target of 2%. Who shouldn’t get the new COVID booster? “We’re getting to the stage where we’ve basically had all the low-hanging fruit in terms of disinflation,” said Blerina Uruci, an economist at T. Rowe Price. “The progress on core inflation over the coming months is...

Drew Barrymore postpones show's new season until after strikes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Drew Barrymore, who drew criticism for taping new episodes of her daytime talk show despite the ongoing writers and actors strikes, now says she'll wait until the labor issues are resolved.“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore posted on Instagram on Sunday. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today.”Barrymore’s decision to return to the air — without her three union writers and with picketers outside her studio — was met with pushback on social media. Her show resumed taping in New York last week and was picketed by striking writers. Drew Barrymore dropped as ceremony host after her talk show resumes during strike Other daytime shows have resumed. “The View” has returned for its 27th season on ABC, while “Tamron Hall” and “Live With K...

FDA warns natural weight loss product could be dangerous after one person hospitalized

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

(NewsNation) — Federal regulators are out with a new warning about certain botanical weight loss products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning earlier this month that weight loss products titled Nuez da la India, often marketed as "diet seeds" or "India Nuts for Weight Loss" are highly toxic yellow oleander, which is a poisonous plant often found in Mexico and Central America.It cautions that ingesting yellow oleander could cause serious complications including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal change, cardiac changes or other problems. What is ‘nature’s Ozempic’? The trendy weight loss supplement Regulators said that as of now, at least one person in the state of Maryland has been hospitalized after taking Nut Diet Max brand Nuz de la India seeds.As of early September, the FDA is urging consumers to stop taking these products. Consumers who have taken any amount of these products should consult with a physician for an evaluation. This comes on the he...

Irish Grinstead, member of R&B group 702, dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Irish Grinstead of girl group 702 died Saturday evening, according to a statement made by her sister LeMisha Grinstead. She was 43.Lemisha made the announcement on Instagram, saying her sister had a "long battle" but is now at peace."That girl was as bright as the stars!" she wrote. "She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also within. Sharing the stage with her was a joy I will cherish for the rest of my life! We, the family ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we grieve an outstanding loss to our family." Former NFL receiver Mike Williams dies at 36 Both sisters were part of 702, a music group named after the Las Vegas area code that first released its debut album "No Doubt" in 1996. They were also known for their hit song, "Where My Girls At,” which was released with their second album.LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 05: (L-R) Kameela Williams, LeMisha Grinstead and Irish Grinstead of 702 attend the 2017 Soul Train Music Awards at the Orleans Are...

Spotted lanternfly: Should you be worried about them?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Depending on where you live, you may have come face to face (literally, they have flown into people’s faces) with the spotted lanternfly. The invasive species has been detected in more than a dozen states. If it hasn’t reached yours yet, do you need to be concerned? The short answer, as you may have guessed, is yes. But, you can’t exactly prepare for the lanternfly’s arrival either. The spotted lanternfly is native to China and was first reported in the U.S. in 2014. A Pennsylvania forester noticed the bug, pictured below, found one in the southeastern portion of his state. The bug has since spread to at least 13 other states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.This Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, photo shows a spotted lanternfly at a vineyard in Kutztown, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)New to that list are ...

Boebert calls backlash, vape incident 'difficult and humbling'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:56 GMT

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) reflected on the controversy after she was kicked out of a Denver theater on Sunday, saying the incident has been “humbling.”Boebert was kicked out of a theater during a production of the Beetlejuice musical for vaping and causing a disturbance. Her office initially denied the vaping claims, but video from the incident appears to prove them.The controversial congresswoman garnered widespread criticism for her behavior, mostly online.“The past few days have been difficult and humbling, and I'm truly sorry for the unwanted attention my Sunday evening in Denver has brought to the community,” Boebert said in a Facebook post Friday. “While none of my actions or words as a private citizen that night were intended to be malicious or meant to cause harm, the reality is they did and I regret that.”The footage also shows Boebert arguing with security and flipping them off as she was escorted out.A separate video emerged late Friday that also showed the congresswo...