What a medieval 12 Days of Christmas looks like, from porpoises to bloody Herod gamesMariah Carey sparks romance rumors with Anderson .Paak as they hold hands entering Aspen restaurant Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By CHRISTINE RENDON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:10, 23 December 2024 | Updated: 23:22, 23 December 2024 e-mail View comments Mariah Carey and Anderson .Paak raised eyebrows as they were seen enjoying dinner together in Aspen. In photos obtained by TMZ , the Leave The Door open singer, 38, sweetly held her hand as they entered Catch Steak restaurant on Sunday evening. He even gently had his hand wrapped her around her waist as they ducked into the eatery and, ever the gentleman, appeared to hold the door open for her. While the duo's display may have suggested they were an item, sources insisted to TMZ the two are not dating, and the musicians were even observed leaving the restaurant separately. Mariah, 55, and Anderson are currently collaborating on a new musical project, and the duo have been hitting up a recording studio in Aspen as of late, according to insiders. On Thursday, the duo were reportedly enjoying a dinner break from all their hard work at Catch. Mariah Carey raised eyebrows as she was seen entering an Aspen restaurant hand in hand with fellow musician Anderson .Paak Anderson has been giving social media followers a sneak peak of their musical collaboration, and over the summer shared video of him and Mariah at the legendary Electric Lady music studios in the Big Apple. Narrating the video, Anderson told fans: 'Oh my God Mariah Carey. Listen, you ever be star-struck, like when a star strikes you? That's what it was. But I couldn't just freeze up. We had to get into the studio and just make something.' Read More Anderson .Paak files for divorce from wife Jae Lin Anderson linked up with Mariah again this past Halloween - he shared a snap of himself dressed as a member of Daft Punk as he celebrated the holiday alongside Carey. Mariah was last in a long-term relationship with back-up dancer Bryan Tanaka however they went their separate ways last year, while in January Anderson filed for divorce from Jae Lin after more than 10 years of marriage. Anderson shares two sons with Jae, his second wife - Soul and Shine. The singer recently released his directorial debut, K-Pops!, which starred himself and his eldest son. The feature was inspired by what the singer, who is of mixed Black and Korean heritage, described as 'funnier aspects of the experience' of growing up biracial. The performer previously spoke to Hypebeast about why he chose to cast Soul in the feature. Anderson has been giving social media followers a sneak peak of their musical collaboration, and over the summer shared video of him and Mariah at the legendary Electric Lady music studios in the Big Apple Anderson linked up with Mariah again this past Halloween - he shared a snap of himself dressed as Daft Punk as he celebrated the holiday alongside Carey 'I wanted to write a movie that would explore that dynamic and those familial relationships. And also, I get to sneak in quality time with my son while shooting,' he said. Meanwhile, the 'Queen of Christmas' has been spending the last few days in snowy Aspen after wrapping her Christmas Time Tour. The tour was announced in August and it celebrated the 30th anniversary of her timeless holiday hit, All I Want For Christmas Is You. The first show was on November 6 in Highland, California, and the closing concert was December 17 in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the 'Queen of Christmas' has been spending the last few days in snowy Aspen after wrapping her Christmas Time Tour Mariah's setlist was rounded out with 26 songs and the concert was around 90 minutes-long. Audiences enjoyed renditions of the superstar's biggest, most recognizable songs as well as holiday classics. It's become customary for Carey to promote her mid-90s Christmas album during the last two months of the year. The lead single is ubiquitous around the holiday season as fans annually push it back to the top of the music charts. Mariah Carey Share or comment on this article: Mariah Carey sparks romance rumors with Anderson .Paak as they hold hands entering Aspen restaurant e-mail Add comment
It Takes Two Dev Confirms Next Game to Be Revealed at The Game Awards
washington — President Joe Biden on Monday announced that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump , an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. The move spares the lives of people convicted in killings , including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities. The decision leaves three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. “I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden said in a statement . “Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.” Reaction was strong, both for and against. A Trump spokesperson called the decision “abhorrent.” “These are among the worst killers in the world and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones.” said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung. “President Trump stands for the rule of law, which will return when he is back in the White House after he was elected with a massive mandate from the American people.” Heather Turner, whose mother was killed during the 2017 robbery of a Conway, South Carolina, bank, blasted the decision in a social media post, saying Biden didn’t consider the victims of these crimes. “The pain and trauma we have endured over the last 7 years has been indescribable,” Turner wrote on Facebook, describing weeks spent in court in search of justice as “now just a waste of time.” “Our judicial system is broken. Our government is a joke,” she said. “Joe Biden’s decision is a clear gross abuse of power. He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” Some of Roof’s victims supported Biden’s decision to leave him on death row. Michael Graham, whose sister Cynthia Hurd was killed by Roof, said Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the U.S. means Roof is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people who were doing something all Americans do on a Wednesday night — go to Bible study,” Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” The Biden administration in 2021 announced a moratorium on federal capital punishment to study the protocols used, which suspended executions during Biden’s term. But Biden actually had promised to go further on the issue in the past, pledging to end federal executions without the caveats for terrorism and hate-motivated, mass killings. While running for president in 2020, Biden’s campaign website said he would “work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level , and incentivize states to follow the federal government’s example.” Similar language didn’t appear on Biden’s reelection website before he left the presidential race in July. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden’s statement said. “But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” He took a political jab at Trump, saying, “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has spoken frequently of expanding executions. In a speech announcing his 2024 campaign , Trump called for those “caught selling drugs to receive the death penalty for their heinous acts.” He later promised to execute drug and human smugglers and even praised China’s harsher treatment of drug peddlers. During his first term as president, Trump also advocated for the death penalty for drug dealers . There were 13 federal executions during Trump’s first term, more than under any president in modern history, and some may have happened fast enough to have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus at the federal death row facility in Indiana. Those were the first federal executions since 2003. The final three occurred after Election Day in November 2020 but before Trump left office the following January, the first time federal prisoners were put to death by a lame-duck president since Grover Cleveland in 1889. Biden faced recent pressure from advocacy groups urging him to act to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The president’s announcement also comes less than two weeks after he commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and of 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes, the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The announcement also followed the post-election pardon that Biden granted his son Hunter on federal gun and tax charges after long saying he would not issue one, sparking an uproar in Washington. The pardon also raised questions about whether he would issue sweeping preemptive pardons for administration officials and other allies who the White House worries could be unjustly targeted by Trump’s second administration. Speculation that Biden could commute federal death sentences intensified last week after the White House announced he plans to visit Italy on the final foreign trip of his presidency next month. Biden, a practicing Catholic, will meet with Pope Francis, who recently called for prayers for U.S. death row inmates in hopes their sentences will be commuted. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has long called for an end to the death penalty, said Biden’s decision is a “significant step in advancing the cause of human dignity in our nation” and moves the country “a step closer to building a culture of life.” Martin Luther King III, who publicly urged Biden to change the death sentences, said in a statement shared by the White House that the president “has done what no president before him was willing to do: take meaningful and lasting action not just to acknowledge the death penalty’s racist roots but also to remedy its persistent unfairness.” Madeline Cohen, an attorney for Norris Holder, who faced death for the 1997 fatal shooting of a guard during a bank robbery in St. Louis, said his case “exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. Holder, who is Black, was sentenced by an all-white jury. Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, and Jim Salter in O’Fallon, Missouri, contributed to this report.No. 23 Texas A&M aims to hand Oregon first loss at Players Era
NEW YORK – President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Recommended Videos Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's he's preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” ___ Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.Yuri Williams and Pico Baseball Boys Join Forces to Bring Holiday Joy to Pico Rivera with Toys for Tots Giveaway 12-24-2024 12:08 AM CET | Leisure, Entertainment, Miscellaneous Press release from: ABNewswire California nonprofit A Future Superhero And Friends holds December 24 event for kids. Pico Rivera, CA - Yuri Williams, founder of the nonprofit organization A Future Superhero And Friends, has returned from his remarkable "Hope for the Holidays" 50 States Tour just in time to spread holiday cheer in his local community. On December 24, 2024, dressed as his beloved superhero alter ego, "Deadpool", Yuri will team up with the Pico Baseball Boys to distribute toys across four parks in Pico Rivera. The event aims to ensure that local children and families experience the joy and magic of the holidays. Event Schedule - December 24, 2024: - Streamland Park: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM 3539 Durfee Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 - Pio Pico Playground: 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM 6003 Pioneer Blvd, Whittier, CA 90606 - Rio Hondo Park: 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM 8421 San Luis Potosi Pl, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 - Pico Park: 2:15 PM - 2:45 PM 9528 Beverly Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 This toy giveaway marks the culmination of Yuri's sixth national tour. Starting on December 2nd, he traveled to all 50 states to bring hope and smiles to children with disabilities, special needs, and those battling life-threatening illnesses. Dressed as Deadpool, Yuri visited hospitals, homes, and Ronald McDonald's Houses, embodying his mission to ensure no child feels forgotten during the holidays. "Returning home to Los Angeles and getting to bless the city of Pico Rivera for Deadpool's final ride this year is incredibly special to me," said Yuri Williams. "This community helped me on my 50 states tour in 2022, and now I get to give back to them. Teaming up with the Pico Baseball Boys to give back during the holidays is a true honor." The toy giveaway will be a festive event filled with joy, superhero energy, and community spirit. Families are encouraged to join the festivities at the park nearest to them to meet Deadpool and pick up some holiday gifts for their children. For more information about the toy giveaway or to support A Future Superhero And Friends, please visit www.AFutureSuperHero.org [ http://www.AFutureSuperHero.org/ ] or follow @AFutureSuperhero on social media. About A Future Superhero And Friends Founded by Yuri Williams in honor of his late mother, A Future Superhero And Friends is a nonprofit organization committed to uplifting communities across the nation. By serving animals, children, veterans, the elderly, and the housless, this organization has impacted over 18,000 individuals through acts of kindness, superhero-inspired visits, and community service projects. Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/13f0000f364f4b26e91dabd41b61ea7b.jpg Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/78f54364e0ab45fa16887cc994a6825a.png Media Contact Company Name: A Future Superhero And Friends Contact Person: Yuri Williams Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=yuri-williams-and-pico-baseball-boys-join-forces-to-bring-holiday-joy-to-pico-rivera-with-toys-for-tots-giveaway ] Phone: 310-877-5340 Country: United States Website: https://afuturesuperhero.com/ This release was published on openPR.
Sam Darnold sensed the backside pressure as soon as he dropped back with Minnesota trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter in Seattle, so he moved into a safe space in the pocket and did precisely what the Vikings would prefer him to do with the game on the line. He threw the ball down the field to Justin Jefferson. The perfectly placed throw near the sideline beat double coverage for a 39-yard touchdown that put the Vikings back in front with 3:51 remaining in a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday. “It was a great call,” said Jefferson, who had 10 receptions for 144 yards and two scores, all season highs. “I’m not going to say too much about that play, but something went on where me and Sam were on the same page, and he found me and we went up.” The Vikings were understandably coy about the context around the go-ahead touchdown , when Darnold made a difficult on-the-run pass just over cornerback Tariq Woolen that Jefferson deftly twisted to catch next to his backside hip so he could shield the ball from late-breaking safety Julian Love. Darnold saw Love's shoulders initially shaded inside just enough to believe he couldn't retreat fast enough to prevent Jefferson from getting the ball. Jefferson also applied some improvisation to his route that Darnold clearly and properly read during the play. “I want those guys to have some freedom in those moments,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “We do a lot of things with Justin and Sam, seeing the coverage and then with some route opportunities to get to at the line of scrimmage, and I think those guys have just gotten so comfortable with that stuff.” Darnold's long-delayed breakout performance under O'Connell has been one of the stories of the NFL this season, one that wouldn't have unfolded as neatly for the third overall pick in the 2018 draft without such synergy between him and his superstar wide receiver. If the Vikings (13-2) win their last two games, they will not only be NFC North champions for the second time in three years but also get the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye in the NFC for the playoffs. “Every single game we’re finding different ways to overcome adversity, overcome the different stuff defenses have thrown towards us," Jefferson said. “Sam has done a great job being a leader.” The pass rush was strong, with Andrew Van Ginkel recording two sacks and pressure leading to both interceptions of Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. The Vikings were credited with eight hits on Smith. The Vikings converted only three of 12 third downs, their second-worst rate of the season. Theo Jackson, who saw significant playing time at safety with Harrison Smith out, had the game-sealing interception with 49 seconds left. Tight end Josh Oliver has played 47% of the snaps the last two games, his two lowest usage rates of the season. He dropped the only pass he was thrown on Sunday. The defense ought to get a big boost this week with the expected return of the 13-year veteran Smith from his first absence in two years when he was sidelined at Seattle with a foot injury. Linebacker Ivan Pace, who has missed four games on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, is also on track to be back with his return to practice. Backup defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, who didn't play against the Seahawks because of a concussion, has made progress through the protocol, O'Connell said. Backup cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was inactive at Seattle with a hip injury, will continue to be evaluated throughout the week. 13.6% — That's the third-down conversion allowance rate for the Vikings over the last two games, with Chicago and Seattle combining to go just 3 for 22. The Vikings rank second in the NFL in third-down defense at 33.7% for the season and also rank second on fourth down at 36.7%. The Vikings host Green Bay on Sunday, with the kickoff moved to the late afternoon showcase spot on Fox. If Minnesota loses to the Packers, the Lions will clinch the NFC North and the Vikings would open the playoffs on the road as the No. 5 seed at best. Even if the Lions were to lose at San Francisco on Monday night, the Vikings would need to win at Detroit on Jan. 5 to take the division title.Brewer's 20 lead Florida International over Stetson 81-72Stitch Fix Announces First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results
Brookside boys basketball: Transfer additions bolster Cardinals’ depth
The man who ended Nadal's career helps the Netherlands beat Germany to reach the Davis Cup final
From Caveat Emptor To Caveat Venditor: What Do Consumer Rights Mean Today?Middle East latest: Israel bombs hundreds of sites across Syria as army pushes into border zone
Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’ Health | California infant dead, 10 sick in listeria outbreak tied to Yu Shang Food products Health | More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit Health | Whooping cough cases in California six times higher than last year, report shows Health | At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.
'It's become uncomfortable for me': Jordan Peterson, the controversial psychologist, moves from Toronto to the U.S.Should You Donate Your Points and Miles to Charity?
NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the end of the settlement date of November 29, 2024, short interest in 3,065 Nasdaq Global Market SM securities totaled 11,857,580,215 shares compared with 11,973,515,318 shares in 3,070 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of November 15, 2024. The end-of-November short interest represents 2.36 days compared with 2.25 days for the prior reporting period. Short interest in 1,665 securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market SM totaled 2,052,759,872 shares at the end of the settlement date of November 29, 2024, compared with 2,044,997,906 shares in 1,668 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents a 1.00 day average daily volume; the previous reporting period’s figure was 1.00. In summary, short interest in all 4,730 Nasdaq ® securities totaled 13,910,340,087 shares at the November 29, 2024 settlement date, compared with 4,738 issues and 14,018,513,224 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 1.78 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 1.83 days for the prior reporting period. The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller. For more information on Nasdaq Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/short-interest.aspx or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp . About Nasdaq: Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions, and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn , on X @Nasdaq , or at www.nasdaq.com . Media Contact: Jennifer Lawson jennifer.lawson@nasdaq.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f4354fcd-38a7-4213-9609-bcd369b043be NDAQONone
Solar Alliance Shareholders Approve All Resolutions At Annual General MeetingMcDaniel puts up 22 in Lindenwood's 81-63 victory over IU Indianapolis