Maryland State

The Hill

There is a fairly straightforward reason why Americans are paying more for drugs compared to other countries. The problem is the Pharmacy Benefit Manager, commonly known as a PBM.

Opinion: The real reason drug costs are so high in America

The Federal Trade Commission released a critical report detailing how pharmacy benefit managers—like CVS Health’s Caremark, Cigna’s Express Scripts and UnitedHealth’s Group OptumRx, which manage 80% of American prescriptions—could be driving up the costs of some medications and favoring their own pharmacies at the expense of independent drug stores.

Pharmacy Middlemen Appear To Be Inflating Drug Prices, FTC Says

The Biden administration said on Wednesday that Medicare enrollees will pay less for 64 prescription drugs available through Medicare Part B. The savings are part of a program established with the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 and is meant to rein in drug price hikes — a key goal of the Biden Administration.

The Biden administration is lowering the price of 64 prescription drugs with inflation rebates

Colorado State

Legislation in the United States House of Representatives and Senate is sponsored by lawmakers from 31 different states. In the House, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act now has 92 sponsors, while the Senate’s Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) has 18 sponsors. The combined 110 sponsors represent 31 states, or 62% of the entire country.

Federal Legislation to Decriminalize Marijuana and Allow Expungements Sponsored by Lawmakers From 31 States

Rigby, ID

Alabama Reflector

This story originally appeared on Stateline. Four years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the police murder of George Floyd, many big-city law enforcement agencies are struggling to fill their ranks. Departments have tried offering hiring bonuses, expediting background checks and increasing salaries. Some have dropped bans on visible tattoos, lowered physical fitness […]
The post Some police officers leave big cities for smaller towns to avoid heightened scrutiny appeared first on Alabama Reflector.

Some police officers leave big cities for smaller towns to avoid heightened scrutiny

Chicago, IL

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Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

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NewSantaAna

The FBI has seen a rise in scams targeting timeshare owners. In this kind of scam, criminals con these part-time property owners into shelling out hefty sums of cash, all under false pretenses related to their timeshare properties.

FBI warns that Mexican cartels are targeting Americans with timeshare scams

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Times

The VA's practice of outsourcing construction on its West L.A. campus discriminates against disabled veterans whose compensation disqualifies them for the housing, a judge rules.

VA housing policy discriminates against disabled veterans, federal judge rules

New York City, NY

Cheryl E Preston

Yesterday was the third time this year that an ad stating Chelsea Clinton lives in a beautiful Virginia home popped up on my laptop. My computer did not warn me this was a dangerous site, so this time, I clicked on the link.

Chelsea Clinton is rumored to be living in Virginia but probably still in NYC

Booneville, MS

Prentiss County, MS

Mississippi News Group

Thrasher Community, Prentiss County, MS - In the early hours of Wednesday, June 26th, 2024, Deputy Cody Horn of the Prentiss County Sheriff's Department made a significant discovery during a routine traffic stop on County Road 1040.

Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Charge in Prentiss County

Bacon County, GA

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Daily Coffee Press

On Monday, a search at a Bacon County home by investigators resulted in the discovery of a large quantity of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine and cocaine. However, the suspects are currently not in custody.

Drug Bust Uncovers Methamphetamine and Cocaine in Bacon County Residence

TIME

Patients have saved thousands of dollars a year on crucial prescription drugs using these 6 strategies

What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Medications

“When we regulate a substance, we have the most control over its production, distribution and consumption.”. Should heroin and cocaine be legally available to people who need and want them? If we are serious about stopping the crisis of drug overdose deaths, that is exactly the kind of profound change we need. Yes, extensive regulations would be necessary. In fact, the whole point of regulating drug production and sales is that we can better control what is being sold and to whom.

Legalizing And Regulating Drugs Is The Only Way Out Of The Overdose Crisis (Op-Ed)

California State

Alameda Post

California regulators just stopped AT&T from pulling the plug. California’s Public Utilities Commission on June 20 rejected AT&T’s application to stop providing landlines and other services in areas where there is no other option.

Still Need Your Landline?

Nebraska State

National Weather Force

Severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of the Northern and Central Plains, with risks of damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. Check below for further details, timing and much more information.

Damaging Winds, Large Hail & Isolated Tornadoes Possible; Northern/Central Plains; July 3, 2024

Missouri State

Fulton, MO

CJ Coombs

Bringing them home: for 40 years, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has been helping to locate missing children. Since July 1, 2024, according to the NCMEC, 15 children have been reported missing in the U.S. Not included in that number are those who have been missing in Missouri since June 2024.

Seven teenagers have been missing in Missouri since June 2024

Kentucky State

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Kentucky’s Community Actions Partnerships have announced the starts date for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy, aimed at helping Kentucky households offset summer cooling costs.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help with summer cooling costs to begin enrollment July 16

New Jersey State

Morristown Minute

NEW JERSEY - Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced today that Walmart has agreed to pay $1.64 million to settle allegations of unlawful unit pricing practices across its 64 New Jersey retail stores. The settlement, which includes a $1.61 million civil penalty, marks the largest ever obtained by the Division’s Office of Weights and Measures (OWM).

Walmart Pays $1.64M Settlement for Unlawful Pricing in NJ

Child neglect is one of the most common forms of child mistreatment. It can affect a child’s physical and mental health and can lead to long-term adverse consequences. Child neglect springs from many complex issues, including parental mental health, poverty, and drug and alcohol use. According to the Children’s...

What To Know About Child Neglect

Axios

In Las Vegas Tuesday, President Biden is expected to call for legislative action to curb landlords' ability to raise rents, administration officials told reporters Monday afternoon. Why it matters: Rents have skyrocketed over the past few years, contributing to high inflation and putting enormous strain on renters. "Families deserve housing...

Biden to propose capping national rent increases at 5%

Stateline

NewsBreak

Angry patients spur new state watchdogs to bring down drug prices

Spurred by fed-up consumers, states are trying to curb spiraling prescription drug costs by assembling special public boards to investigate and regulate pricing. The idea is...

Angry patients spur new state watchdogs to bring down drug prices

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