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Medicaid coverage restored to about a half-million people after glitch in Minnesota, other states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

About 500,000 people who recently lost Medicaid coverage are regaining their health insurance while states scramble fix computer systems that didn’t properly evaluate people’s eligibility after the end of the coronavirus pandemic, federal officials said Thursday.The computer issues affected people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, 27 other states and the District of Columbia and likely included a significant number of children who should have been eligible for Medicaid at higher income levels even if their parents or caregivers were not, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.All states are undertaking a massive review of their Medicaid rolls after a three-year, pandemic-era prohibition on ending coverage expired this spring. While the freeze was in effect, Medicaid enrollment swelled by nearly one-third, from 71 million people in February 2020 to 94 million in April 2023.States often use computer programs as a first step in determining whether people...

Kyle Rudolph gave a lot to Minnesota. It’s only right he retired as a member of the Vikings.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

Kyle Rudolph reminisced on his career with the Vikings, both on and off the field, during a heartfelt retirement speech Thursday morning at TCO Performance Center.A longtime tight end for the Vikings for the better part of a decade, Rudolph became a fan favorite over the years, and still considers the organization a family for him.That’s why he takes so much pride in being able to retire as a member of the Vikings. In his opening remarks Thursday, Rudolph expressed gratitude, thanking teammates, coaches, trainers, equipment staff and the fans for the role each played in helping him become the best possible version of himself throughout his career.“From the moment I put on the purple and gold,” Rudolph said, “I knew I was a part of something special.”The 33-year-old retires as one of the best players to ever play tight end for the Vikings. His tenure with Minnesota resulted in 453 receptions, 4,488 yards and 48 touchdowns, to go along with a couple of Pro Bowl appearances. He p...

North Oaks’ Frankie Capan fires first-round 66, in early contention in Korn Ferry playoff event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

North Oaks’ Frankie Capan III likely needs a win, either at this week’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship or at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in early October, to earn his PGA Tour card for 2023.He’s off to a good start.The first-year professional fired a five-under 66 on Thursday in Ohio, putting himself near the top of the leader board after the first round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s penultimate event.Capan carded six birdies and a bogey. He is in a tie for second after Round 1, just one shot off the lead.It was a welcomed strong start after a stretch of struggles. In five Korn Ferry Tour starts since competing in the 3M Open, Minnesota’s PGA Tour event, on a sponsor’s exemption in mud-July, Capan hasn’t logged a finish inside the top 40 on the Korn Ferry Tour.He entered this week 49th in the tour’s season-long standings. The top 30 at season’s end earn spots on the PGA Tour. A win this week would move Capan in...

Karl W. Smith: Bidenomics? Good on the economy. Good on tax revenue. Bad on the deficit.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

Economists are playing a game of “can-you-top-this,” seeing who can ramp up their U.S. economic growth forecasts the most. (Those at JPMorgan now predict a 3.5% annualized rate for the current quarter, up from the measly 0.5% they expected at the end of July). Many are saying that the recession most all of them predicted was imminent at the start of the year isn’t happening anytime soon.The White House says these are the fruits of “Bidenomics.” In reality, it’s more like a sugar high.The hot economy may be getting all the attention, but the massive expansion in the federal budget deficit can’t be ignored. Back in May of 2022, the bi-partisan Congressional Budget Office projected a shortfall for fiscal 2023 ending Sept. 30 equaling 3.8% of gross domestic product. It revised that to 5.4% in February. With two weeks left in the fiscal year, the actual deficit is 7.9%.This isn’t the way President Joe Biden’s Rescue and Recovery Plan ...

Lara Williams: Farming can work so much better for the planet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

Feeding 8 billion people is a big task, and we’re not excelling at it. Our global food systems have become incredibly dysfunctional, failing on multiple fronts including human health, carbon emissions and pollution. A new research paper hints at something better but only if we pull every lever available to us.Imagine a vast American cornfield. You might imagine it all ends up as cobs piled high at farmers markets or stacks of tin cans at the grocery store, but the truth is far less quaint. Just under 10% of the crop is eaten by humans — and half of that is as high-fructose corn syrup, which isn’t exactly nutritious. A whopping 39% is used to feed livestock and 37% to produce ethanol for fuel. The remaining 14% is exported — some of that might get eaten, but a large chunk will be used for more animal feed or ethanol. Before we even get to pesticide use, water demand and the monocultures also associated with modern agriculture, we can see how much healthy produ...

2 dead, 42 hurt after bus carrying students to band camp crashed in New York: officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11) ---- Two people died and 42 others were hurt when a charter bus carrying students from Long Island to a band camp overturned down an embankment on a New York highway Thursday afternoon, officials said. The bus crashed on Interstate 84 just outside of Middletown in Orange County at 1:12 p.m., police said. It was one of six buses carrying students from Farmingdale High School to a band camp in Greeley, in northeastern Pennsylvania, according to the school district.Five students were hospitalized in critical condition after the crash, officials said. Gina Pellettiere, 43, and Beatrice Ferrari, 77, were identified by officials as the two people who died in the crash.Gov. Kathy Hochul said a faulty front tire may have contributed to the crash, according to the preliminary investigation. Video taken from news helicopters showed the bus lying on its side in trees and shrubs yards off the road in the median between the westbound and...

Harbour Point tenants share experience since moving back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – City council held its third investigative public hearing on Thursday on the unsafe conditions at the Harbour Point Gardens apartment complex. Ahead of the hearing NEWS10 stopped by the complex to talk to residents about their experience since moving back.Logan Gonsalvez and his mother invited NEWS10 into their apartment to show the repairs that were done. As they walked us to their apartment we were stopped. Gonsalvez explained, to who he believed was a maintenance man, that we were invited in. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “I don’t know him but on the way here he started shouting about you guys weren’t allowed in here, even though we were inviting you into the place that we live in and pay for,” said Gonsalvez.We were finally allowed in to see the work that was done.Gonsalvez said they moved back in early August and described the damage that was repaired. “Her window was broken open a little bit and the...

Search for missing Hudson man intensifies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS 10) — Where is Robert Coons? Columbia County search crews combed Hudson today to get an answer to that question.Chopper blades spun high above Hudson, searching for any signs of the missing man.From land to water to woods, a multi agency effort spanned from New York State Forest Rangers, to the Columbia County Sheriff’s department, to Hudson Police and even Amtrak, looking for Robert Coons. Last seen in the city of Hudson on July 6th, he’s described as a 63 year old white man, standing at 5 foot 9 with a weight of 210 pounds. He’s got blue eyes and brown hair. According to investigators, Coons was last seen at 325 Columbia Street which houses the county’s Mental Health Services Center.According to police, Mr.Coons is believed to be bi-polar and has a criminal history including stalking, assault, and criminal mischief. Hudson Chief of Police Mishanda Franklin however says the missing man is not a threat to the public. “...

Police: 7-year-old taken by noncustodial parent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

FERGUSON, Mo. – The Ferguson Police Department issued an endangered person advisory for a missing 7-year-old girl.The incident happened on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., at a home in the 300 block of Lamotte Street.According to police, Zyla Niece was allowed to go to the store with her mother, Tyricka Turner, by Zyla’s grandmother, who has custody of the child. However, Turner never returned with Niece.Zyla Niece is 4'5” tall, weighs 85 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a lime yellow outfit with a unicorn on the shirt. Tyricka Turner, 28, stands 5’3”, weighs approximately 165 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information on the Zyla’s or Tyricka’s whereabouts is asked to contact their nearest law enforcement agency or call the Ferguson Police Department at 314-522-3100.

St. Louis County man facing multiple sex offense charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:12:00 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. – A St. Louis County man is accused of using his job as an umpire at youth athletic organizations to meet underage children for the purposes of engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior.According to a report filed by the Crestwood Police Department, investigators claim Zachary Barebo had sexual contact with a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old in June 2023. The Affton Athletic Association was employing Barebo at the time.Barebo is accused of using Snapchat to communicate with both teenagers, which led to in-person physical contact. Those incidents took place inside Barebo’s vehicle in parking lots in Crestwood and unincorporated St. Louis County. Prisoner escapes Mercy South Hospital, police investigating The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Barebo with first-degree sodomy/attempted sodomy, three counts of fourth-degree child molestation – victim under 17, two counts of second-degree statutory rape, and five counts of second-degree statutory sodomy.Ba...