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You’ve covered your copayment; now brace yourself for the ‘facility fee’
Even if you have health insurance, you might expect to be charged a copayment for some routine care, like office-based exams and consultations. But you probably don’t expect to receive a bill a few weeks later charging you an extra $100 or more. That’s the situation an increasing number...
Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies
Read more Stateline coverage of how states are protecting and curbing access to abortion. U.S. Supreme Court justices spent two hours Wednesday morning debating whether a federal law about emergency treatment encompasses abortion care even in states with strict abortion bans, with no clear indication of how they may ultimately rule. A decision could come by the […] The post Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies appeared first on Stateline.
More public colleges admit high schoolers even before they’ve applied
For some ninth graders near Fresno, California, the invitation — years before they’ll don a cap and gown — comes out of the blue: You’ve been accepted to Fresno State, the letter says. Public universities across the country increasingly are sending such acceptance letters even before students apply to college. In more than a third of […] The post More public colleges admit high schoolers even before they’ve applied appeared first on Stateline.
Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies
Read more Stateline coverage of how states are protecting and curbing access to abortion. U.S. Supreme Court justices spent two hours Wednesday morning debating whether a federal law about emergency treatment encompasses abortion care even in states with strict abortion bans, with no clear indication of how they may ultimately rule. A decision could come by the […] The post Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies appeared first on Stateline.
Cash-strapped election offices have fewer resources after bans on private grants
This month, Wisconsin joined 27 other states that have banned or restricted local governments’ use of private donations to run cash-strapped election offices, buy voting equipment or hire poll workers for Election Day. All of the state laws came in the past four years, pushed by conservative lawmakers and activists who claim that Democratic voters […] The post Cash-strapped election offices have fewer resources after bans on private grants appeared first on Stateline.
US Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case
WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country. During oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, conservative […] The post US Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case appeared first on Stateline.
Holdout states consider expanding Medicaid — with work requirements
In Humphreys County, Mississippi — about 70 miles north of the state capital, in the heart of the fertile Delta region — a third of the residents live in poverty. In Belzoni, the county seat, there are just a handful of health care clinics. The town’s only major hospital closed more than a decade ago, […] The post Holdout states consider expanding Medicaid — with work requirements appeared first on Stateline.
Census change will lead to more data on health of Middle Eastern, North African people in US
Before the successful, healthy birth of her son, recalls Germine Awad — an Egyptian American who is a psychologist at the University of Michigan — clinicians told her that her hormone levels were too high and that her pregnancy was in danger. “They don’t know us,” her mother reassured her. Iyman Hamad, a Palestinian American […] The post Census change will lead to more data on health of Middle Eastern, North African people in US appeared first on Stateline.
Lawmakers hope to use this emerging climate science to charge oil companies for disasters
A fast-emerging field of climate research is helping scientists pinpoint just how many dollars from a natural disaster can be tied to the historic emissions of individual oil companies — analysis that is the centerpiece of new state efforts to make fossil fuel companies pay billions for floods, wildfires and heat waves. When a flood […] The post Lawmakers hope to use this emerging climate science to charge oil companies for disasters appeared first on Stateline.
Problems with Glen Canyon Dam could jeopardize water flowing to Western states
This story first appeared in the Utah News Dispatch. Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the West are grappling with drought that’s worsening because of climate change. A new memo from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is raising concern about the infrastructure at the Glen Canyon Dam and its ability to deliver water downstream should levels at […] The post Problems with Glen Canyon Dam could jeopardize water flowing to Western states appeared first on Stateline.
Too many cubicles, too few homes spur incentives to convert offices to housing
Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing. HERNDON, Va. — Juan Ramirez, watching his dog play in Chandon Park here in suburban Virginia on a Saturday morning, tries to imagine the massive office buildings next to the park becoming apartments and townhouses. “I guess it’s inevitable. People don’t […] The post Too many cubicles, too few homes spur incentives to convert offices to housing appeared first on Stateline.
Red states fight growing efforts to give ‘basic income’ cash to residents
South Dakota state Sen. John Wiik likes to think of himself as a lookout of sorts — keeping an eye on new laws, programs and ideas brewing across the states. “I don’t bring a ton of legislation,” said Wiik, a Republican. “The main thing I like to do is try and stay ahead of trends […] The post Red states fight growing efforts to give ‘basic income’ cash to residents appeared first on Stateline.
‘Panicked rush to gas’ could hike energy costs, report warns regulators
The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, which serves 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six neighboring states, has put forward plans for eight new natural gas plants since 2020. In South Carolina, Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper are pushing the state legislature to pave the way for a 2,000-megawatt […] The post ‘Panicked rush to gas’ could hike energy costs, report warns regulators appeared first on Stateline.
As consumers lose millions to gift card scams, lawmakers pressure businesses
When Denise Brown peruses the tightly packed gift card display at her local CVS in Harlem, New York, she sees the perfect present for her grandson: a Sony PlayStation gift card. Others, acting in bad faith, see these gift card displays as easy money in one of the country’s costliest and most common consumer scams: […] The post As consumers lose millions to gift card scams, lawmakers pressure businesses appeared first on Stateline.
Fatal anomaly exception didn’t spare Alabama mom who needed an abortion
Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, and the third is here.
In reversal, more areas allow high-speed police chases
During several years of efforts to refine policing tactics — ranging from mandating body-worn cameras to limiting or banning excessive use of force — many states and law enforcement agencies nationwide imposed more restrictive car chase policies to protect civilians and officers. Now, state legislators and some local...
‘Are nursing homes our only option?’ These centers offer older adults an alternative.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — George Raines, a white-haired man in a red track suit and matching University of Alabama ballcap, cracked jokes as physical therapist Brad Ellis led him through a series of exercises designed to strengthen his legs. Raines, who is 79, pretended to be in pain, but his grin belied his tone of mock […] The post ‘Are nursing homes our only option?’ These centers offer older adults an alternative. appeared first on Stateline.
States race to restrict deepfake porn as it becomes easier to create
After a 2014 leak of hundreds of celebrities’ intimate photos, Uldouz Wallace learned that she was among the public figures whose images had been stolen and disseminated online. Wallace, an actress, writer and social media influencer, found out the images were ones her ex had taken without her consent and had threatened to leak. Over […] The post States race to restrict deepfake porn as it becomes easier to create appeared first on Stateline.
Abortions are banned in Arizona after the state Supreme Court upholds an 1864 law
This story first appeared in the Arizona Mirror. Read more Stateline coverage of how states are protecting and curbing access to abortion. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled to make abortion largely illegal in the state, reinstating a 160-year-old law that forbids all procedures except those to save a woman’s life. Justice John R. Lopez IV, writing for […] The post Abortions are banned in Arizona after the state Supreme Court upholds an 1864 law appeared first on Stateline.
Medical debt affects much of America, but Colorado immigrants are hit especially hard
This story first appeared on KFF Health News. DENVER — In February, Norma Brambila’s teenage daughter wrote her a letter she now carries in her purse. It is a drawing of a rose, and a note encouraging Brambila to “keep fighting” her sickness and reminding her she’d someday join her family in heaven. Brambila, a […] The post Medical debt affects much of America, but Colorado immigrants are hit especially hard appeared first on Stateline.
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