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UConn head coach Dan Hurley insists he's not overvaluing Wednesday night's game between his 25th-ranked Huskies and No. 15 Baylor in Storrs, Conn. Sure, it comes on the heels of the two-time reigning national champion Huskies (5-3) responding to losing all three games during the Maui Invitational with a blowout victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday.
Maintaining Medicaid expansion is set to be one of the most consuming issues of the 2025 legislative session and Democrats are projecting confidence that it will get across the finish line. In a press briefing Monday, Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula, said there "is a clear path to getting this done" when talking about renewing Medicaid expansion. Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, echoed Howell's faith. "Continuing our current Medicaid program is the most important job we have," Howell said, adding that Democrats would like to see "continuous eligibility" to the health care program so that brief changes in income or who is living in one's household would not trigger coverage to immediately end. That said, there is already a to roll back Medicaid expansion as a whole, with those against it often arguing that the state resources put toward the health care program do not improve overall health outcomes. The program is slated to sunset in June of 2025 if the Legislature does not intervene. As of , just over 78,000 Montanans were covered by Medicaid expansion. In 2014 the federal government allowed states to extend Medicaid coverage to people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level, which is about $21,000 a year. Across the U.S., 41 states have implemented Medicaid expansion. Montana has already renewed Medicaid expansion once since it first implemented the program in 2015. Some Democrats, like Representative-elect Jane Weber, D-Great Falls, wants to see the sunset date done away with entirely. The Republican appetite for that is likely minimal, and Democrats will need their colleagues across the aisle to get any legislation passed this session. There were some key legislative wins for Medicaid expansion backers, including two Republican state senators who won their elections in tight races who have previously said they plan to vote in favor of the program. What's more, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte's initial budget proposal includes funding for Medicaid expansion to continue as is, which Democrats took as a positive sign. That said, the governor is also in favor of work requirements being tied to the federal-state health care program. Likewise, Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, previously told the Montana State News Bureau that the real debate on Medicaid expansion will likely come down to work requirements as opposed to the program as a whole. "I think it makes sense for any social benefit program," Hertz said of the work requirements Monday. "We want them to get back into the workforce so they don't have to depend on the government." In 2019, when lawmakers in Helena last re-upped Medicaid expansion, there were work requirements tied to the bill that were never implemented. Democrats vehemently oppose work requirements being a part of Medicaid expansion eligibility, as they say and they point to the federal government's previous rejection of work requirements being a part of the health care program in Montana. "[Work requirements] are not necessary," Caferro said Monday. "They're code clutter." That said, with the new presidential administration there is renewed confidence — and Hertz — that work requirements may be easier to implement.Kwara restates commitment to food safety, securityEdmonton Elks hire longtime Stampeders assistant Mark Kilam as head coach
Johns Hopkins Marty Makary, Trump’s choice for FDA, a ‘brilliant surgeon’ with some ‘worrisome’ viewsDUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s transformation, showcased by world-class entertainment events, AI and green energy investments, and giga-projects, continues to redefine its global image and influence, but according to Middle East expert Norman Roule, more can be done to explain the Kingdom’s ambitions to the world. On the diplomatic front, the former senior American intelligence officer believes Saudi-US relations will continue to thrive regardless of the administration in Washington and despite the temporary pause caused by the Gaza war. “Truth be told, I see so much that is extraordinary in Saudi Arabia that the extraordinary has become the ordinary,” he said on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” referring to the star-studded “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab” fashion show on Nov. 14 as part of Riyadh Season 2024, which has drawn over 6 million visitors and turned the Saudi capital into a cultural and entertainment hub. “Saudi Arabia must have what it needs to achieve its vision as a global node of progress, stability, interfaith relationships,” Roule said, noting that the Kingdom “is located in the center of so many pathways of global commerce and social exchange between India and Africa, between Europe and Asia.” Calling for a more robust narrative strategy to dispel misconceptions and showcase Saudi Arabia’s impact, he underscored the importance of investing in media programs similar to “Frankly Speaking” to communicate the Kingdom’s vision “in English to the international community.” “The world needs more of it, not just to understand what the Kingdom is doing in and of itself, but how those ambitions will shape the global society and the global economy. Understanding Saudi Arabia’s investments in green energy, along with those of the United Arab Emirates. It’s critical to the future of the planet for developing countries — for the Global North and the Global South,” Roule told Katie Jensen, the host of “Frankly Speaking.” “Understanding how entertainment connects Europe to Asia, how it’s going to shape how people move in the world. That can only be done with more information being put out.” Roule spoke of Saudi Arabia’s influence on critical issues, such as women’s empowerment and cultural exchange, stating that it can reach well beyond its borders, shaping developments across the region and even other continents. “The role of protecting women’s rights is not just a Saudi issue,” he said, “but I’d like to see Saudi Arabia’s influence touch Afghanistan and Africa.” Roule also offered an enthusiastic assessment of NEOM — a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy beyond oil — describing it as a game-changer for Saudi Arabia’s future. The $500 billion futuristic city on the Red Sea is designed to address challenges like population growth and sustainability while leveraging the Kingdom’s strategic location near the Red Sea. “NEOM is 90 minutes from Athens and about 60 kilometers from the Suez Canal,” he said, and noted that its vision includes carbon-neutral technologies, transformative trade hubs like Oxagon, and revolutionary urban designs such as The Line. “So much of this has never been done before anywhere in the world. It will be amazing,” Roule said. “When people talk about The Line, which is often how NEOM is described in the West, I tell them, first, NEOM is the size of Belgium or Massachusetts,” he said. “Only 5 percent of the territory can be developed. And I think they’ve mapped that about 4 percent.” Looking ahead, he said: “I have no doubt it’s going to succeed — it will be amazing — but it may not succeed on the schedule that some might hope.” Roule lauded the work done by the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and the US in their respective capitals to strengthen bilateral relations. “Michael Ratney is not only experienced, a superb Arabist, but he’s someone who has a deep knowledge and understanding and respect for the region,” he said. “He’s exactly the sort of ambassador the United States would hope to have in a position as consequential as this. “At the same time, you have Saudi Ambassador Reema bint Bandar in Washington, who is extremely capable. She is a national treasure for both of our countries as we look to understand and work together.” Roule praised the two ambassadors for encouraging American executives to visit Saudi Arabia, saying: “I have been with such executives at some of these meetings. If they’re fresh to the Kingdom, they’re delighted and amazed; if they don’t come often, they’re delighted and amazed.” Ultimately, he said, “the success that we all hope to achieve is not a business deal; it’s a partnership on the broader ambitions of the Kingdom and the United States for regional stability and progress.”
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Political speculation about the future of Sen. Laphonza Butler — the short-term replacement appointed to the chamber after the death of Dianne Feinstein — has run rampant in political circles. Would she return to California and run for office? Become the next leader of the Democratic National Committee? Asked last weekend whether she sees herself pursuing such prospects, Butler, 45, was unusually clear for a politician. “I don’t,” she said in an interview after a send-off celebration at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. “We have an incredibly deep talent of great thinkers and strategists who are going to be able to take that work on.” Butler was appointed to the Senate seat 13 months ago by Gov. Gavin Newsom, after garnering national acclaim as an influential labor chief in Los Angeles and president of Emily’s List, a national political organization that focuses on raising money to elect pro-choice Democratic women. The posting would have been a springboard to a strong run to retain the seat in the November election had Butler chosen to pursue that route. But she ruled that option out early, leading to Rep. Adam Schiff winning the seat. He is expected to be sworn in by mid-December. Butler has embarked on a farewell tour of California, and last weekend met with Los Angeles-area supporters. The event featured a warm, revealing conversation on stage with Mayor Karen Bass, a longtime ally. Butler described the Senate as a “foreign land” and recounted the unexpected challenges that marked her tenure, including Hamas’ stealth attack on Israel in October 2023 and the bloody war that has resulted; the Senate’s rejection of House Republicans’ impeachment of the nation’s Democratic homeland security secretary; and being asked to vote four times to stop a government shutdown. “Nevertheless, when I knew 14 months ago that I would accept the appointment, what I knew I was saying yes to was paying all of you back for everything you have given me,” she told the audience, which included local elected officials, labor activists and other Democratic constituencies. Butler spoke of working with Republicans to find areas of collaboration on shared goals, such as the issue of maternal health care with Alabama Sen. Katie Britt and agricultural issues with Iowa Sen. Charles E. Grassley. Butler and Bass spoke about their shared experience of being among the few Black women to serve in Congress. Butler said some fellow senators seemed surprised as they admired how articulate she was, and recounted hearing “blatant Aunt Jemima” jokes. Bass recalled her House colleagues regularly confusing her with Congresswomen Marsha Fudge of Ohio and Barbara Lee of Oakland, who are also Black. Butler, who served as a co-chair of Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful White House bid, later spoke to reporters about the role of race and gender in the presidential race. She said that although stereotypes and barriers still exist in electing women of color, it would be “intellectually dishonest” to blame Harris’ loss solely on racism or misogyny. “I don’t discount that it was something that people thought about, a barrier that we’ve yet as a country to break through relative to women at the top office,” Butler said. But “when you have, you know, more than 70 percent of the American people feel like the country is on the wrong track, it ain’t just about race and gender.” She said the Democratic Party needs to figure out why the many policies it’s embraced that are actually helping Americans are somehow not resonating with voters. “The election results tell us that there is a problem with messaging,” Butler said. “There is a problem with connecting to what is being said, and what people are feeling and hope for their government and for their own lives and communities.” Butler is less certain about what’s next for her. “I don’t know. I’m gonna be a mom to a 10-year-old who has picked up this new habit of competitive cheer,” she said, adding that she’s not planning to move back to California from Washington, D.C., anytime soon — certainly not before her daughter finishes the school year. “She just started fourth grade. I’m not going to snatch her out of fourth grade, that’s for sure,” she said. “We’ll figure it out after that. But, you know, the whims of my life shouldn’t interrupt hers.”'It was a hidden gem in the county': St. Thomas patients look for alternate solutions as STEGH therapy pool remains closed