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Maryland ranks 15th in financial hardship tied to COVID; study shows continued pressures on households

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

There’s surviving, and then there’s thriving — and a new national study sifted through the numbers to show the difference for many families struggling to cover their costs every month.According to the United Ways of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, data collected in 2021 showed 28% of the residents in each jurisdiction fall within what researchers refer to as the “ALICE” category.That is, they are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and earn more than the federal poverty level yet not enough to cover the cost of the basics, from rent, to transportation, to food and child care.Franklyn Baker with the United Way of Central Maryland explained, “These are people who are not below the federal poverty level; they’re working,” but he said, “they just can’t keep pace with their state’s high cost of living.” Baker said that while COVID-related aid helped many from falling further behind, as those benefits dry up, households face continued pressures from the cost of l...

Kansas abortion providers face new rule after veto overriden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health care providers could face criminal charges over accusations about their care of newborns delivered during certain abortion procedures after the Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of their legislation.The new law takes effect July 1 and will require that heath care providers “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care and diligence” to preserve the health of newborns delivered during an abortion procedure that a “reasonably diligent and conscientious” provider would with other live births. The newborns will have to be transported to a hospital, and violating the law will be a felony, punishable up to a year’s probation for a first-time offender.GOP lawmakers and anti-abortion groups pushed for the new rule and other anti-abortion measures even though a decisive statewide vote in August 2022 affirmed abortion rights. Abortion opponents argued that voters still left room for “reaso...

Kansas City’s Fermin knocks cover off baseball vs. D-backs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Kansas City’s Freddy Fermin knocked the cover off the ball during Wednesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He really did.The Royals catcher was facing Zac Gallen in the second inning when he swung early on an offspeed pitch. Fermin’s bat just knicked the baseball, sending it bouncing softly into foul ground close to the on-deck circle.As it came to a stop, it was clear that the cover had been partially torn from the ball. D-backs broadcaster Bob Brenly said during the game that he’s seen similar things happen a few times in his career. Brenly was a big league catcher in the 1980s and was also the D-backs manager from 2001-04.“You may ask yourself, how does that happen?” Brenly said. “This is what they call a cupped bat. They take some of the weight out of the end of the bat and when the hitter is out in front so far, it catches the back part of the cup and rips the cover off the baseball.”The Diamondbacks beat the Royals 2-0 on Wednes...

First pill for fecal transplants wins FDA approval

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials on Wednesday approved the first pill made from healthy bacteria found in human waste to fight dangerous gut infections — an easier way of performing so-called fecal transplants.The new treatment from Seres Therapeutics provides a simpler, rigorously tested version of stool-based procedures that some medical specialists have used for more than a decade to help hard-to-treat patients. The Food and Drug Administration cleared the capsules for adults who face risks of repeat infections with Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that can cause severe nausea, cramping and diarrhea. C. diff is particularly dangerous when it reoccurs, leading to between 15,000 and 30,000 deaths per year. It can be killed with antibiotics but they also destroy good bacteria that live in the gut, leaving it more susceptible to future infections. The new capsules are approved for patients who have already received antibiotic treatment.More than 10 years ago, some doctors beg...

Colorado sees 1st tornadoes of the 2023 season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A strong storm system moved through Colorado on Tuesday, bringing in reports of snow, heavy rain and even the first tornadoes of 2023.There were three different tornado touchdowns on Tuesday, which were the first tornadoes in Colorado this year. The National Weather Service has had time to look over radar data as well as pictures, videos and reports from trained spotters and has now given all three tornadoes an EF-0 rating. Two tornado touch downs were from the same cell in Keenesburg, reported at 2:20 p.m. and 2:37 p.m. A third touch down of an EF-0 tornado was reported at 2:50 p.m. from a separate right-moving cell in Prospect Valley. Since there was no damage reported, the National Weather Service in Boulder was able to label these as EF-0 without sending out a team to survey. These are the best cities for summer vacation in the US The Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to give tornadoes their ranking on a scale of EF-0 to EF-5 based on the tornado's wind speed. E...

Deco’s Alex Miranda soars — and passes out twice — aboard Blue Angels jet ahead of Fort Lauderdale Air Show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

The thunder you heard today might have been Alex Miranda. Our Alex was tearing across the sky today, blasting along with the Blue Angels at about 700 miles per hour … and he stayed conscious, for almost all of it.Here we go, in three, two, one…Alex Miranda: “I’m here. So, where are we going?”Hold on. This doesn’t look like Delta.U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman: “The Navy Marines Corps in its nature is for deployed force so, out of sight, we didn’t want them to be out of mind, and that’s where we are as the Blue Angels.”But that does look like the U.S. Navy, who picked me to fly in an F/A-18 Super Hornet before their Blue angels headline the air show this weekend over Fort Lauderdale Beach.Chris Dirato: “You look at the Blue Angels, in particular how they fly so close together. I mean, they’re so skilled and so talented,Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman is Blue Angel #7, but they also chose someone who actually deserves this h...

Elser in downtown Miami believes in living life to the fullest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

If you like to go with the wind and do whatever floats your boat, we have a place for you. Miami’s the Elser Hotel and Residences just launched some cool offerings, snd they designed it for every taste, whether it’s on land or sea.The Elser in downtown Miami believes in living life to the fullest.Michael Stephens, Elser GM: “People are always looking for one of a kind experiences, memories. That’s what we’re really in, we’re in the memory business.”And giving you a memorable stay is the goal.Michael Stephens: “Elser is a hotel residence. We have 646 units. You have a great view in any direction from any unit… the Miami skyline, you can’t beat it.”On top of views, views, and more views, guests can also enjoy a workout, some eats and a swim.Michael Stephens: “On the pool deck we have an amazing Jumbotron. The pool is an experience all to itself. We also have a couple of very unique things that are very special about the...

Court ruling raises questions about tens of thousands of Mass. OUI cases 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

Tens of thousands of drivers involved in drunk driving cases in Massachusetts could get a second chance thanks to a decision from Massachusetts’ highest court this week that ruled nearly 30,000 cases are compromised due to issues with breathalyzers and alleged misconduct with the state Office of Alcohol Testing.The ruling centers around one woman who decided to appeal her case. The woman’s attorney, Murat Erkan, spoke with 7NEWS, saying his client took a breathalyzer test when she was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint in Beverly roughly 10 years ago. The test, Erkan said, returned a result three times over the legal blood alcohol limit in Massachusetts. “My view was that her case was not winnable with the breathalyzer test,” Erkan said.Erkan said he advised the woman to plead guilty.Years later, they tried to appeal after learning of alleged wrongdoing in the state Office of Alcohol Testing. A judge denied the appeal. So, the case went before the state Supreme Judicial...

Solve It 7: Post Predicament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

A truck driver crashed into a local family’s sign. They say the company stalled when it came time to pay for the damage. So they asked Solve It 7 to kick things into drive. Brandon Gunnoe has the story.Diana and Greg Hannoosh treasured their one-of-a-kind house marker.“We loved it,” Diana said.The couple spent thousands of dollars on the granite post, sign, and custom-made painting of their nearby beach.“We used to decorate it for every season. Everybody comments on our sign and how beautiful it is,” Diana said.So Diana was alarmed when she heard a commotion outside this past winter.“It sounded like a truck that was stuck. It was going backward and forward and backward and forward,” Diana said.Here’s the truck Diana heard —  running over their house marker!She rushed outside and found it like this!“The post was ripped out of the ground. I was shocked....

Knicks roll over Cavaliers, win first-round series in five games and advance in playoffs for first time in a decade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:27 GMT

CLEVELAND – In the end, it was domination. A lopsided series.The Knicks had the better point guard. The better center. The better depth. The better coach. The greater determination. The much better rebounding.They wiped the floor with the Cavaliers in the first round, closing out the series Wednesday with a 106-95 breeze in Game 5 despite Julius Randle missing the second half with a sprained ankle.The Knicks, who started the round as underdogs as the fifth seed, captured the franchise’s first postseason series in a decade. It also represented just the second series win since 2000, when Thibodeau was an assistant coach under Jeff Van Gundy and yelled instructions with a much fuller head of hair. Next up is the winner of the Heat and Bucks, with at least three days off before Game 1.And since the eighth-seeded Heat are currently up 3-1 against the No. 1 Bucks, the Knicks can see a realistic path to the conference finals through South Beach.Their five games against Clevelan...