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Sen. Jon Ossoff wants a second term in Georgia. He plans to work with Donald TrumpGoogle has launched Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date. The release indicates parent company Alphabet are pushing forward as they await antitrust action from the Department of Justice , accused of leaving American consumers "beholden to an unlawful monopolist." Gemini 2.0 introduces capabilities such as interpreting images, generating audio, and engaging in multimodal interactions, marking a substantial advancement from its predecessor 1.0, released this time last year. Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai wrote that this version will "understand more about the world around you, think multiple steps ahead and take action on your behalf, with your supervision." DOJ Proposes Breaking Up Google Assets Initially, Gemini 2.0 is available to select test groups and subscribers of Gemini Advanced at $20 per month. Google plans to integrate the technology into its free services, including Chrome, YouTube, and digital maps, starting next year. This strategy positions Google against competitors like OpenAI 's ChatGPT and Microsoft 's AI-enhanced Windows features. The launch coincides with Google's ongoing DOJ back and forth. In August, a federal judge ruled that Google's search engine practices violated antitrust laws, labeling the company an illegal monopoly. The DOJ has proposed remedies that could include the divestiture of key assets such as the Chrome browser and the Android operating system. Google has criticized these proposals as "overly broad" and plans to contest any breakup orders. Public Access to New AI Features Incoming DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said in April that over time the company will spend more than $100 billion developing artificial intelligence technology. British Nobel Prize winner Hassabis cofounded DeepMind before Alphabet purchased the research laboratory for between $400 million and $650 million a decade ago. Gemini 2.0 will power experimental ventures like "Project Astra," a universal AI agent designed for more meaningful user interactions, and "Project Mariner," a Chrome extension that automates web browsing tasks. Both projects are in early testing phases, with public access expected in the future. The company is also enhancing its AI Overviews feature in search results, aiming to provide more accurate and comprehensive information for the two billion people who use up to seven of their products annually. This move should address previous issues where AI-generated suggestions were inaccurate or misleading. One viral example to answer the question "How many feet does an elephant have" resulted in a Google AI overview answer that said, "Elephants have two feet, with five toes on the front feet and four on the back feet." Other examples include advising users to smoke while pregnant and put glue on pizza. The improvements will initially be available to a test audience, with a wider release planned for next year. When Will We Know the DOJ Outcome? If the U.S. Department of Justice gets its way, Google will be forced to sell or spin-off Chrome as part of its punishment for deploying its search engine in ways that allegedly stifle competition and potential innovation. The company plans to appeal any adverse rulings, which should arrive by mid-2025. Doing so will likely extend the legal battle for years to come. In the meantime, the California giant is pressing forward with its fast-paced movement through the AI arms race. "I can't wait to see what this next era brings," wrote CEO Sundar Pichai in his blog post. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
NC House overrides veto of disaster relief bill. Bill also curbs governor's powers
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Plans Required to Cover Treatment for SOD1-ALS ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a first-of-its-kind directive requiring Medicare Advantage plans to approve coverage for Qalsody, a treatment for people living with genetic SOD1-ALS. This decision reflects the ALS Association's commitment to ensuring that people living with ALS have access to promising ALS treatments without delay. "This is a victory for the entire ALS community," said Calaneet Balas, president and CEO of the ALS Association. "It's critical that FDA-approved treatments are made accessible rather than being labeled as 'experimental.' We are grateful to everyone in our community who helped make this day happen." Balas added: "We hope this sends a message to the entire rare disease community and pharmaceutical industry that new treatments can be developed and made accessible to those who will benefit from them. We need to ensure more ALS treatments are developed and approved that will help everyone living with ALS." The ALS Association played a key role in the historic CMS directive by participating and advocating for the research, approval, and accessibility of Qalsody for people living with ALS. In 2004, the ALS Association was the first to fund research into ALS-specific antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology, investing over $1.3 million in groundbreaking studies that laid the foundation for the development of Qalsody. This early commitment supported preclinical studies, safety trials, and the first-in-human phase 1 trial, which established SOD1 as a viable therapeutic target. In 2023, Qalsody became the first gene-based therapy approved for ALS , thanks in part to the ALS Association's efforts, including a united push from the ALS community for FDA accelerated approval. This new CMS directive provides precedent for state regulators to issue similar actions for other private insurers. According to the Valor study published in 2022 , Qalsody, which was developed specifically to target the RNA produced by mutated SOD1 genes, has demonstrated significant promise in clinical trials and real-world studies. In the phase 3 VALOR trial, Qalsody reduced levels of mutated SOD1 proteins in cerebral spinal fluid by 35% within eight weeks and decreased bloodstream levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL)—a key biomarker of neurodegeneration—by 50% within 12-16 weeks. These biological changes translated into measurable clinical benefits, including slower disease progression, improved respiratory function, and enhanced quality of life after 52 weeks of treatment. Real-world data has since validated these findings, with some patients stabilizing or even experiencing improvements in motor function and quality of life. When insurance companies began denying access to Qalsody, labeling it as "experimental," the ALS Association took decisive action, working directly with CMS to launch an investigation into these unjust denials. By presenting evidence of widespread insurance rejections and demonstrating the critical need for immediate intervention. In addition to working with CMS, the ALS Association actively engaged policymakers, held strategic meetings with state and federal legislators, and served as a staunch advocate for patients, ensuring their voices were heard and their rights to life-changing treatment were upheld. The ALS Association urges anyone previously denied Qalsody by their Medicare Advantage plan to contact their ALS specialist immediately to begin the process of securing access to this critical treatment. For more information on the CMS directive visit als.org About the ALS Association The ALS Association is the largest ALS organization in the world. The ALS Association funds global research collaborations, assists people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of care and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association is working to make ALS a livable disease while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about the ALS Association, visit our website at www.als.org . About ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Over the course of the disease, people lose the ability to move, to speak, and eventually, to breathe. The disease is always fatal, usually within five years of diagnosis. Few treatment options exist, resulting in a high unmet need for new therapies to address functional deficits and disease progression. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/groundbreaking-directive-ensures-als-patients-on-medicare-advantage-gain-access-to-qalsody-302329525.html SOURCE The ALS AssociationRegina police release images of suspects following early morning armed robbery
Orion Energy stock hits 52-week low at $0.81 amid market shiftsLINCOLN — It was easier to take a charge back then, and Steven Ashworth tried as often as he could. Every day was a competition in practice for Utah State’s freshman point guards, Ashworth and Rollie Worster. They came from different backgrounds. Ashworth was a knockdown shooter. Worster, once a high school quarterback, was bigger and burlier. But the skinny Ashworth had timing and willingness to take a hit from Worster’s 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. It was a common sight and emblematic of their contrasting approaches challenging one another, forcing development. Worster and Ashworth were only teammates for one season, which ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Four years, three trips into the transfer portal and 188 games later, their paths again converge in Omaha on Friday, likely for the last time in their college careers as Worster’s Nebraska plays Ashworth’s Creighton at 7 p.m. inside CHI Health Center. “You always hear it’s a small world," Worster said, 'but especially in athletics it’s really small." Said Ashworth: “Obviously, we’ve followed each other’s careers, and we started off together in the same spot then went our separate ways. But a lot of respect for him and his game, and (I’m) excited to see him on Friday.” Worster came to Utah State as the two-time Montana Gatorade Player of the Year. Ashworth, originally from Lone Peak, Utah, had just finished a two-year mission in Indianapolis for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He progressed rapidly over the course of his freshman season, settling back in the daily grind of basketball. Rarely did they share the floor during games. Of Utah State’s 10 most used lineups that season, two of them included both, according to KenPom. The combinations added up to 6% of the Aggies’ total minutes. With Ashworth on the court, the Aggies often pushed the pace. Worster was slower, more methodical. But Worster got an up-close look at Ashworth from playing on opposite teams in practice and watching when Ashworth ran the offense. Worster tried to learn from his teammate’s shooting ability. He watched the way Ashworth moved when he had the ball, the high basketball IQ of someone who was small even by Mountain West point guard standards. “Some nights were my night, some nights were his, and I think just being able to grow from each other,” Worster said. “We both had freshman mistakes and a little bit different playing styles, but I think just to see how you watch everyone play and pick up on things or see things that maybe you do or don’t do that you can get better at.” The Aggies made the NCAA tournament as an 11 seed, falling to Texas Tech in Bloomington, Indiana, an hour from where Ashworth had completed his mission. Then they scattered. USU coach Craig Smith, a former Nebraska assistant, took a new job at the University of Utah. Worster joined Smith while Ashworth played at Utah State for another two years, leaving for Creighton after the 2022-23 season. Life, in Utah and Nebraska, has gone on for both. Worster transferred to Nebraska in April to finish his college career at his third school. Ashworth is now married and has a son. They’ve stayed in occasional contact in the four years since, sometimes running into each other in Utah airports. Friday will serve a full-circle moment, one more connection to their previous lives. “We’ve talked a little bit,” Worster said. “We’re rivals now so it’s a little different, but I just wish him the best success going forward.”