circus train NoneBy Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies

PUERTO PRÍNCIPE, Haití (AP) — Presuntos miembros de pandillas comenzaron a disparar contra periodistas en la capital de Haití el martes mientras cubrían el intento de reapertura del hospital más grande del país, según una estación de radio local. Radio Télé Métronome informó que siete periodistas y dos agentes de la policía resultaron heridos. La policía no respondió de inmediato a las llamadas. Las pandillas callejeras han tomado el control de aproximadamente el 80% de Puerto Príncipe. Provocaron el cierre del Hospital General a principios de este año durante la ola de violencia que también afectó al principal aeropuerto internacional y las dos mayores prisiones de Haití. Las autoridades habían prometido reabrir la instalación el martes. Pero mientras los periodistas se reunían para cubrir el evento, presuntos miembros de pandillas comenzaron a disparar. Un video publicado en internet mostró a reporteros dentro del edificio y por lo menos a tres de ellos tirados en el suelo, aparentemente heridos. El video no pudo ser verificado de inmediato. Johnson “Izo” André, considerado el líder de pandillas más poderoso de Haití y parte de una coalición de pandillas conocida como Viv Ansanm que ha tomado control de gran parte de Puerto Príncipe, publicó un video en redes sociales reclamando responsabilidad por el ataque. RELATED COVERAGE Marineros impulsan el comercio global, ministerios les llevan alegría navideña Israel expulsa pacientes de un hospital en Gaza Irán restablece acceso a WhatsApp y Google Play tras prohibición por protestas El video indicaba que la coalición de bandas no había autorizado la reapertura del hospital. El ex primer ministro Garry Conille visitó el Hospital de la Universidad Estatal de Haití, mejor conocido como el Hospital General, en julio después de que las autoridades recuperaron el control del mismo. El hospital estaba destruido y lleno de escombros. Las paredes y los edificios cercanos estaban llenos de agujeros de bala, señal de enfrentamientos entre la policía y las pandillas. El hospital está ubicado frente al palacio nacional, escenario de varios enfrentamientos en los últimos meses. Los ataques a manos de las pandillas han llevado al sistema de salud de Haití al borde del colapso, saqueando, quemando y destruyendo instituciones médicas y farmacias en la capital. La violencia ha generado un aumento en el número de pacientes y una escasez de recursos para tratarlos. El sistema de salud enfrenta desafíos adicionales debido a la temporada de lluvias, que probablemente empeorará las condiciones e incrementará el riesgo de enfermedades transmitidas por el agua. Las condiciones de higiene deficientes en campamentos y asentamientos improvisados han aumentado el riesgo de enfermedades como el cólera, en un momento en el que hay más de 84.000 casos sospechosos en el país, según UNICEF. ___ Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.Yin avoids penalty to keep lead as Korda charges at LPGA Tour Championship

is celebrating his daughter Audrey's 23rd birthday, teasing that his youngest has "great things in store". " !!! Your Mom, your sisters and I are so proud of the sweet, strong and hard working young lady you have become," he wrote on social media, alongside a gorgeous picture of Audrey in black and white. "You have such great things in store for you in this beautiful life. Live it! Love it! Stay just as grateful for everyday as we are for having you in our lives everyday. You are beauty and grace in every way. We love you so much!" "Awwww dad!! Love you so much," Audrey commented on the post. Audrey is and was born on December 6, 2001; she is named after her mom, whose full name is Audrey Faith Perry. Audrey is the older sister of Maggie, who earned a Master's degree in Sustainability Science and Practice from Stanford, and , an aspiring Broadway star. "Happy birthday to this hot lounger," Gracie captioned a story celebrating her elder sister's birthday, and which showed Audrey lounging in a pool float. A second snap was of the pair as children, with Gracie writing: "I love you so much and I am so proud to be your older sister." Maggie also shared a sweet selfie the pair took, writing: "Happy bday to my hottie honey buns". You may also like Audrey graduated from high school in 2020, and was reportedly attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which has campuses in both New York City and Los Angeles. She has a passion for singing and photography, and shares pictures and videos on social media with fans. She has been in a relationship with who is 20 years her senior, with the couple have been going from strength-to-strength, having been together for over a year. on their latest projects, having been linked since June 2023. Audrey supported her partner in November when his latest venture, the movie , dropped on Netflix. Sharing one of his Instagram Posts on Stories, she posted: "On the bright side, this beautiful beautiful film is out on Netflix today. Go watch!"MADRID (AP) — Getafe scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to beat struggling Valladolid 2-0 and record only its second win in La Liga on Friday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MADRID (AP) — Getafe scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to beat struggling Valladolid 2-0 and record only its second win in La Liga on Friday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MADRID (AP) — Getafe scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half to beat struggling Valladolid 2-0 and record only its second win in La Liga on Friday. The victory ended Getafe’s five-game winless run and lifted it into 15th place in the 20-team standings. Valladolid remained second to last. In the buildup to the match, Getafe sporting director Rubén Reyes described the game as a final but his team was lucky not to go behind as Valladolid created more of the early chances. However, the home side took control in the 69th minute when substitute Álvaro Rodríguez got the opener. Three minutes later, man of the match Allan Nyom made it 2-0. “There’s been a lot of games where we’ve run and fought but lost or drawn,” Nyom, the veteran Cameroon full back, said. “A game that reflects the effort we’ve put in in training is very welcome.” Adding to Valladolid’s woes, coach Paulo Pezzolano was sent off before halftime. The Uruguayan has the league’s worst disciplinary record, with seven yellow cards before Friday’s red. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer AdvertisementArkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong said Tuesday that he is entering the NFL Draft. Later in the day, a school spokesman told reporters that Armstrong will skip the Razorbacks' bowl game. The destination isn't yet known. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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Tributes have poured in for legendary Ibiza DJ Alfredo Fiorito amid reports that he has died, aged 71. Known as the 'Father of the Balearic beat', Alfredo is best known for his work as a DJ on the island of Ibiza, reports the Mirror . It was previously announced that had experienced a stroke back in 2021 and a fundraiser to support him was later launched. This week, amid reports that he has died, there has been an outpouring of tributes. The club that launched his career , Amnesia, paid tribute to Alfredo with a statement about him on Instagram. It read: "Dear Alfredo, Thank you for the nights and beats we shared together. Your music and vision shaped the sound of Balearic Beat and the soul of Amnesia." The post shared on the platform on Tuesday continued: "So many memories were made through your energy, your legacy will live on our dancefloor forever. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Alfredo. The Amnesia Family." There have also been tributes to Alfredo on X, formerly known as Twitter. Sister Bliss wrote: "Very sad to hear the news about DJ Alfredo - my first trip to Ibiza in 92 was to play for him at Amnesia ... safe to say he changed the world of music for the better. Fly high to the great gig in the sky." Whilst Rowetta - who was previously a member of the Happy Mondays - wrote: "So so sad to hear that our friend, Ibiza pioneer DJ Alfredo has left us. He was a legend when I first played KU in 1990 & he always will be. RIP Alfredo." Dave Pearce, a fellow DJ, said: "Sad to learn Ibiza dance music legend Dj Alfredo has passed away - he was a true pioneer of the Ibiza Balearic Sound through his creativity and diversity in the music he mixed creating a wonderful musical journey - Thoughts with his family and friends RIP." They weren't alone in paying tribute to Alfredo, with another post reading: "This is sad to hear. Legendary DJ Alfredo, one of the pioneers of the Balearic sound, has passed away." Someone else wrote: "The legend will be missed." "Will never forget your incredible music selection & DJ sets across the decades. A true inspiration," another person wrote in a post on social media this week. Whilst one fan wrote in a tribute post to Alfredo: "A true pioneer." He moved to mainland Spain in his twenties after growing up in Argentina. He later ended up on the island of Ibiza - which is now well known for its music club scene - where he ventured into DJing . Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter .

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KUWAIT: The tenth humanitarian flight from Kuwait’s air bridge to Lebanon has successfully arrived in Beirut on Thursday, marking another significant step in Kuwait’s ongoing support to the Lebanese people amid their current hardships. The flight, which carried nine tons of various food aid, is part of the Kuwait is by Your Side campaign, organized by Al-Rahma International Association in coordination with the Ministries of Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Defense, with the support of the Kuwaiti Air Force. Dr Adnan Al-Haddad, Deputy Director General for Communications, Marketing, and Information Technology at Al-Rahma International, highlighted that this shipment is an essential part of Kuwait’s continuous humanitarian efforts to assist Lebanon, particularly during the difficult conditions faced by the Lebanese people due to Zionist aggression. The aid includes critical food items such as rice, beans, oils, baby milk, and other basic necessities needed by displaced families and those affected by the conflict. Upon the arrival of the flight at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, it was received by Abdullah Al-Diyin, First Secretary of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Lebanon, who emphasized that this shipment underscores Kuwait’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian work. Al-Diyin said the airlift “reaffirms Kuwait’s leadership role in charity and humanitarian efforts, exemplified by the establishment of the humanitarian airlift to Lebanon as part of the Kuwait Stands by You campaign.” The food aid will be delivered to the Lebanese Higher Relief Committee, which is responsible for coordinating the distribution of these essential supplies. General Ahmed Ibrahim, a representative of the Lebanese Higher Relief Committee, expressed gratitude for the timely assistance, emphasizing the importance of these food supplies for Lebanese families, particularly those displaced by the ongoing conflict. He noted that the aid would help sustain displaced families unable to return to their homes, as well as those who have returned to their towns but still face significant challenges. Since the launch of the air bridge, Kuwait has sent dozens of tons of medical, food, and shelter-related supplies to Lebanon. These shipments have been coordinated with several Lebanese entities, including the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the Lebanese Red Cross, and the Lebanese Higher Relief Committee, ensuring that the assistance reaches the most vulnerable communities across the country. Dr Al-Haddad reaffirmed Kuwait’s dedication to providing ongoing humanitarian aid, noting that the airlift was initiated under the guidance of Kuwait’s leadership and with full cooperation from the relevant governmental and charitable organizations. He stressed that Al-Rahma International would continue its efforts to deliver assistance whenever needed to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis in Lebanon. — KUNATMSL: Multi-Factor ETF Off To A Good StartNone

Universal Pictures has announced on X that Christopher Nolan’s next film is The Odyssey , based on the classic Greek mythic story and will be filmed with “new IMAX film technology”. What exactly this is has not been officially confirmed but most are speculating that this refers to the new film cameras that IMAX has publicly said it’s been working on for the last few years. Details of these new cameras were first revealed as far back as March 2024, in a live panel session at the NAB 2024 conference, which is freely available to watch on YouTube . In the video, Bruce Markoe, the head of post-production at IMAX, revealed that the cameras are essentially a 21 st -century update of the eight IMAX film cameras, which are now 25 years old. Lighter and Quieter The headline feature is that the cameras will be 30% quieter and will be lighter thanks to a carbon fiber construction. This is primarily good news for the shoulders of Hoyte van Hoytema, Nolan’s cinematographer since 2014’s Interstellar , who is often seen balancing the larger IMAX camera on this back. Lighter, quieter IMAX film cameras will enable directors to increase the number of shots they can use them for. Last summer’s blockbuster Oppenheimer had about 75 minutes of its three-hour runtime in the full-frame IMAX film 1.43:1 format, around the same as his previous film, Tenet , so there’s every chance that The Odyssey will see that increased. The quieter operation could also help with the widespread complaints from some that certain scenes in Nolan’s films are inaudible. This has been explained to be due to the noisiness of the current IMAX cameras combined with Nolan’s reluctance to use automatic dialogue replacement (ADR). Analogue Innards In A Digital Shell Other camera improvements include a new hi-res five-inch full-color display and brighter digital and optical viewfinders and for the first time the ability for output to be monitored on-set over Wi-Fi on external devices such as tablets. Markoe also revealed that the camera displays will also show frame lines for the native 1.43:1 IMAX film format and also IMAX 1.90:1 (used for all IMAX digital screens) and standard 2.40:1. Of course other aspect ratios are available and the display can be set up lines for whatever ratio is preferred. The new cameras promise even greater film exposure stability and greater reliability. Marko said that internally the film camera movement is unchanged from the original design. IMAX realized that there was nothing they could improve on, which is impressive since they were designed 25 years ago. High Demand For IMAX In the video, Markoe also reveals the fascinating statistic that despite only 1.5% of theatres worldwide showing Interstellar in IMAX, it brought in 20% of the film’s revenue. This would only have increased following the recent highly successful 10 th -anniversary re-release of Interstellar . As you’ll know if you tried to get a ticket to see the film in its IMAX 15/70 glory, the appetite for seeing films in full 1.43:1 aspect ratio is huge. However, there are only 30 theaters worldwide that can show IMAX 1.43 (as these require an IMAX 15/70 film camera or an IMAX dual-laser projection system combined with a 1.43:1 screen) and the IMAX presentation even boasts that people take flights just to be able to see movies in that format. So while the new cameras are great news it’s somewhat disappointing that there is no indication that IMAX is looking to increase this number. I also hold out hope that there will be more to this new technology than the cameras. In the presentation, there are hints that Kodak might be introducing some new type of film stock in 2025. As the large format film photographer Tyler Sheilds, says on the panel, the future of cinema needs to be “daring, bold and interesting.” In Oppenheimer Nolan broke new ground by getting Kodak to create black and white IMAX film for the first time which had not been done before, so with The Odyssey , I would expect to see him pushing technical boundaries once again.New coach Chris Holtmann has been tasked with rebuilding DePaul to the point where it can return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. Northern Illinois coach Rashon Burno knows what it takes to steer DePaul to the NCAAs because he was the starting point guard on the 2000 team that made the tournament -- the Blue Demons' only other NCAA appearance since 1992. Perhaps they can compare notes Saturday afternoon when Burno leads the Huskies (2-3) back to his alma mater as DePaul (5-0) hosts its sixth straight home game in Chicago. Last season, Burno's NIU squad helped accelerate DePaul's need for a new coach -- as the Huskies waltzed into Wintrust Arena and owned Tony Stubblefield's Blue Demons by an 89-79 score on Nov. 25. The Huskies built a 24-point second-half lead before coasting to the finish line. Can history repeat for NIU? There's just one problem with using last year's game as a potential barometer for Saturday's rematch: Almost no players on this year's teams were part of last year's squads. At DePaul, only assistant coach Paris Parham remains as Holtmann had the green light to bring in an all-new roster. UIC graduate transfer Isaiah Rivera (16.0 ppg, .485 3-point rate) and Coastal Carolina transfer Jacob Meyer (15.4 ppg, .406 on 3s) lead a balanced attack that focuses on getting half its shots from beyond the arc. At NIU, Burno retained only two players who competed against DePaul last year -- Ethan Butler and Oluwasegun Durosinmi -- and they combined for three points in 26 minutes in that game. The Huskies' main players used the transfer portal to join such programs as Kansas, Wisconsin, Penn State, Colorado State, James Madison, Georgia State and Niagara. With every starting job open, Butler has jumped into the lineup and produced 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Transfers Quentin Jones (Cal Poly) and James Dent (Western Illinois) pace the Huskies with 14.4 and 14.0 points per game. NIU is on a two-game losing streak, most recently a 75-48 home defeat at the hands of Elon on Wednesday. Holtmann hopes to have Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker for Saturday's game. Blocker missed Tuesday's 78-69 win over Eastern Illinois with a quad injury. With the combo guard unavailable, point guard Conor Enright handed out a career-high 11 assists in a season-high 38 minutes. "We need (Blocker)," Holtmann said. "I don't want to play Conor 38 minutes." --Field Level Media