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Holt-Baker teen sets sights on finish line
HOLT, Fla., Aug. 24, 2024—Most kids aren’t sure what they want to be when they grow up. If you ask them, they usually just shrug their shoulders and give you an “I dunno.”. But for Baker High School cheerleader Hayden Peak, she’s laser-focused on a checkered flag....
Agreement to cancel medical debt for 193,000 needy patients in Southern states
“A New Orleans-based system of hospitals and clinics serving Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama is working with a New York nonprofit to wipe out $366 million in medical debt for about 193,000 needy patients,” The Associated Press reported. “The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported Wednesday that the deal involving Ochsner Health was arranged by Undue Medical Debt, a donor-funded organization that negotiates with hospitals, doctors’ offices and ambulance services to purchase and erase the outstanding medical debt of those least able to afford it. Ochsner is the largest health system in Louisiana and has 46 hospitals and 370 clinics and urgent cares in the three states it serves. ‘Ochsner is proud to have worked with Undue Medical Debt to enable the organization to acquire and cancel past one-time debts for eligible residents,’ the company said in a statement. The deal followed a Monday announcement of an agreement between Ochsner, Undue Medical Debt and New Orleans to wipe out more than $59 million in medical debt for about 66,000 patients in that city. The city had agreed last year to provide Undue Medical Debt with $1.3 million in federal money from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, a pandemic program to acquire qualifying debt and erase it. Lempert said that in addition to the pandemic dollars, his organization used money it received from donations and grassroots fundraising both locally and nationwide to purchase the debt from Ochsner. He declined to say how much it paid, but based on what the organization has said it typically pays — about 1 cent for each dollar of debt — the amount would be around $3.6 million.” “Agreement to cancel medical debt for 193,000 needy patients in Southern states,”
Alabama prep QB Caden Tellier dies after suffering injuries in game
Tragic news out of Alabama in prep sports. AL.com reported Morgan Academy student-athlete Caden Tellier died overnight after sustaining an injury during his team’s game against Southern Academy in Selma. “At AISA, we are a close-knit family of schools, and our hearts are heavy as we send our deepest...
Orlando crime ring members sentenced for stealing from churches and schools
FLORIDA — Three members of a crime ring that operated out of Orlando have been sentenced to 40 years in prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from schools and churches across six states. According to Attorney General Ashley Moody, a Fort Myers jury found Panait Dumitru, Catalin...
Crestview hosts first-ever photo contest — winners get ‘limited-edition’ swag
CRESTVIEW, Fla. (WKRG) — Taking photos of Crestview could score you some exclusive swag. The city has kicked off its first-ever photo contest, “My Favorite View.” According to city officials, the contest, which was launched in celebration of World Photography Day, invites photographers of all skill levels and experiences to show their love of Crestview […]
DeSantis, CFO call for investigation into high spending under ex-UF president Ben Sasse
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A month after the University of Florida’s president abruptly resigned, state officials are now calling for an investigation into allegations of exorbitant spending. Nearly $17 million were spent in 17 months under former UF president Ben Sasse. This has prompted Governor Ron Desantis’ office to investigate the spending. Less than two […]
Walton County schools add Magma Math program to customize learning in real-time
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. (WMBB) — The Walton County School District added a new tool to their belt to help students succeed in mathematics. It’s called Magma Math and it lets the teacher see students solve a problem in real time. “Magma Math is a program that allows students to practice the math skill that they […]
Nick Saban Will Return To Be The Next Florida State Seminoles Head Coach in 2025
When you have a legacy such as Nick Saban does in college football, you will always find yourself around the game of football. It shocked the world when Saban decided to retire from coaching in January. While Saban is 72, his impact on college football remained consistent, and he was still coaching at a high level. With Saban still around the game, joining the College GameDay crew, he will end up finding the urge to coach again in 2025.
Week 1 Scoreboard: Choctaw and Freeport make statements in opener
GULF SHORES — You simply can't oversell Choctaw's marquee win Friday night. On the road at Gulf Shores. Against a reigning Alabama 5A champion that in 2023 finished 15-0 and outscored foes 576-138. And with a first-year starting quarterback and running back. Psh. Piece of cake. ...
St. Andrew Baptist Church Reopening
Friday, on NewsChannel 7 at 4 p.m., Dr, Corey Pitts, the pastor of St. Andrew Baptist Church, stopped by to spread the word about the church’s first services back in their worship center since Hurricane Michael destroyed their building in 2018.
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