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☆ Should the SAT still matter after all these years? Why some colleges are bringing it back
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

The longest-enduring standardized college admissions test in the nation, the SAT has faced decades of controversy over bias and criticism for reducing aspiring college students to a test score. Discrepancies with standardized testing appear to be symptomatic of the inequality endemic to the education system. In 2005, the College Board added an 800-point writing section to the exam alongside its math and verbal reasoning sections. In this Jan. 17, 2016 file photo, a sign is seen at the entrance to a hall for a college test preparation class in Bethesda, Md. Alex Brandon/APThe College Board told CNN it has also done away with its esoteric vocabulary in the past decade.

Persons: ”, Carl Brigham, Brigham, classism —, Daaiyah Bilal, Harry Feder, Barnes, Noble, Mario Tama, haven’t, Daniel Koretz, Koretz, Scott Eisen, Brown, ” Dartmouth, Ethan Hutt, Horace Mann, Warren K, Leffler, Alex Brandon, It’s, Rachel Rubin, Jack Schneider, ” Schneider, David Coleman, “, ” Coleman, it’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Center for Fair, Princeton, College Board, CNN, National Education Association, ACT, Ivy League, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, Harvard’s, Dartmouth College, Yale, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Florida, University of Texas, ” UT Austin, College Board's, University of North, Chapel Hill’s School of Education, Massachusetts, of, Phillips Exeter Academy, of Congress, Census, Board, UMass Amherst’s Center for Education, Holton Arms, The College Board, Khan Academy, The Locations: New York, New York City, United States, Guatemala, Hanover , New Hampshire, Georgetown, Austin, Dartmouth, University of North Carolina, Hutt, “, Boston, Harvard, Bethesda, Md, Iowa, Northeast

☆ Qatar re-evaluates key mediator role in Middle East conflict on concerns of ‘political exploitation’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is greeted by Qatari officials upon his arrival in Doha, Qatar, Friday Oct. 13, 2023. Qatar is reconsidering its role as cease-fire broker between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Gulf state's prime minister said, expressing concerns that Doha's mediation has been subject to "political exploitation." In a late-Wednesday statement, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani "lamented the political exploitation by some politicians with narrow interests, marketing their electoral campaigns through the defamation of Qatar's role." Since October, the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip has been ravaged by a retaliatory war campaign carried out by Israel. "Hamas has also sought to use its intermediary Qatar – which has long helped finance, back, and house the terrorist organization – to exact greater concessions from Israel.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Steny Hoyer, Hoyer Organizations: Hamas, Gulf state's Locations: Doha, Qatar, Israel, Palestinian, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Maryland, Hamas, Gaza

☆ Toni Braxton says she was told to hide her lupus diagnosis because 'people get scared around sick celebrities'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewToni Braxton, 56, is speaking up about how her lupus diagnosis has impacted her life and career. "I was told to hide I had lupus," Braxton said, adding that it was her management's idea. AdvertisementBraxton, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2008, added that being upfront about her illness hurt her career. "You would not get work, because the second I told I had it, I didn't get work at first. In April 2023, Braxton told Today that lupus "attacked" her heart and that she had narrowly avoided a deadly heart attack because she decided not to skip her doctor's appointment.

Persons: —, Toni Braxton, Braxton —, Daniel Wallace —, Mary Alice Haney, Thaïs Aliabadi, Braxton, I'm, Braxton isn't, Selena Gomez, I've, could've, Gomez, Seal, lupus, traumatizing, Lupus Organizations: Service, OB, Business, Billboard, Yahoo, Lupus Foundation of America

☆ ‘Save Democracy’ Democrats Look to Win Primaries on Anti-Trump Sentiment
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer whose pitched battles with former President Donald J. Trump’s supporters on and after Jan. 6, 2021, vaulted him to political stardom, was greeted Tuesday evening in Annapolis, Md., like a celebrity. But there was also an undercurrent of skepticism among attendees at the Beacon Waterfront Restaurant, where he appeared at a campaign event to bolster his candidacy for the U.S. House. “We have a person here with a proven legislative record,” Jessica Sunshine, an Annapolis Democrat, told Mr. Dunn, referring to State Senator Sarah Elfreth, his main opponent in next month’s Democratic primary. But, she added, “You have heart.”But Mr. Dunn, an imposing former offensive lineman who stands 6-foot-7-inches and 325 pounds, didn’t shy away from the reason he is running: to save what he sees as democracy on the edge. It calls for a fighter,” he said.

Persons: Harry Dunn, Donald J, Trump’s, “, ” Jessica Sunshine, Dunn, Sarah Elfreth, ” Organizations: Capitol Police, Beacon, U.S . House, Annapolis Democrat, Democratic Locations: Annapolis, Md

☆ These plane crash survivors and victims’ loved ones are becoming scared to fly again after years of travel. They’re not alone
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Others, however, said they are still confident in flight safety, pointing out that commercial air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation. Cara and Erin Ashcraft survived the crash of American Airlines Flight 1420, operated on a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, during a landing at Little Rock National Airport on June 1, 1999. “I’ve never had concerns (about air travel safety) before. This is the hole left behind when the plug door of an Alaska Airlines flight blew off midflight on January 5, 2024. Pierson is wary of attitudes around the apparent safety of American air travel, he said.

Persons: Barb Handley, –, ” Handley, Handley, ”, ‘, Mary Handley, Alice, Barb Handley Miller, Pat Gabrielse, Dan Handley, Beth Handley McMall, Kathleen Handley Salemi, Cara, Erin Ashcraft, “, I’m, ” Cara, ” Cara Ashcraft, ’, McDonnell Douglas, Andy Scott, “ I’m, ” Erin Ashcraft, ” ‘ I’ve, Trey Smith, “ I’ve, ” Smith, Smith, Scott Kirby, United, Boeing Aubrey, Max, Aubrey, they’re, ” Anthony Brickhouse, Florida’s Embry, Brickhouse, Ed Pierson, Pierson, That’s, ” CNN’s Chris Isidore, Jacopo Prisco Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines Boeing, Boeing, –, National Transportation, NTSB, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, American Airlines, McDonnell, Little Rock National Airport, Dallas Morning News, International Air Transport, United, Reuters United, Airbus, “ Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Florida’s, Riddle Aeronautical University, Alaska Airlines Max, US Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Foundation for Aviation Safety, Air Canada, San Francisco International Airport Locations: Alaska, Little Rock , Arkansas, United States, Virginia, Los Angeles, East, Southwest

☆ This new 'blended-wing' plane looks like a military stealth bomber and just got the green light to fly after decades of development
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

California aerospace startup JetZero got the green light to fly its new "Pathfinder" aircraft. The composite technology makes this new load bearing possible, Bragg told BI. "The product is essentially a new airframe and flight controls married to existing systems already certified for commercial flight," JetZero told BI. And most of those 200+ passengers would be in the middle section without a window, which Bragg told BI could put off travelers. Later, American aircraft industrialist and designer Jack Northrop built his famous "Flying Wing" aircraft in the 1940s, laying the framework for the eventual B-2 bomber.

Persons: JetZero, —, Tom O'Leary, Bailey Miles, AviationValues, Michael Bragg, Bragg, Douglas, it's, Jack Northrop, McDonnell Douglas, BWBs Organizations: Service, Aerospace, Federal Aviation Administration, CNN, Business, FAA, Boeing, US Air Force, Pathfinder, University of Illinois, Douglas DC, Airbus, Engineers, USAF, Getty Images Development, MD's, NASA Locations: California

But the rattling shook buildings in New York City and drove startled residents into the streets. Image The command room of New York City Emergency Management. Today’s earthquake Magnitude 4.8 Conn. Pa. 1964 4.5 1994 4.6 250-mile radius from New York City Md. 250-mile radius from New York City Del. While earthquakes in New York City are surprises to most, seismologists say the ground is not as stable as New Yorkers might believe.

Persons: “, Kathy Hochul, ” Gov, Philip D, Murphy, Con Edison, Eric Adams, ”, Adams, Zach Iscol, Dave Sanders, Ron Hamburger, Valorie Brennan, Ada Carrasco, The New York Times “ I’ve, Kristina Feeley, Feeley, Folarin, “ There’s, Kolawole, Lazaro Gamio, Riyad H, Mansour, Janti, Hamburger, Michael Kemper, Clara Dossetter, David Dossetter, Dossetter, ’ ”, Lola Fadulu, Gaya Gupta, Hurubie Meko, Michael Wilson, William J . Broad, Kenneth Chang, Emma Fitzsimmons, Sarah Maslin Nir, Erin Nolan, Mihir Zaveri, Maria Cramer, Grace Ashford, Camille Baker, Liset Cruz, Michael Paulson, Patrick McGeehan, Troy Closson Organizations: ”, United States Geological Survey, Police Department, Fire Department, Con, Gracie Mansion, The New York Times, Whitehouse, New York City Emergency Management, Credit, Lamont, Columbia University, Maine CANADA, New York City Del, Lincoln Center, New York Philharmonic, United Nations, Children U.S, Security, New York Police, United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport Locations: Newark, New Jersey, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, New York, Rockland County, Murphy of New Jersey, Whitehouse, N.J, California, Japan, Zach Iscol , New York, New, Northridge, Los Angeles, Califon, Marble, Ramapo, New York , New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Palisades, N.Y, N.H, Pa, New York City Md, Del, Va, Maine, R.I, Md, Palestinian, Gaza, East Coast, “, York, San Francisco, Gaya

Map: 4.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes New JerseyShake intensity The New York TimesA light, 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck in New Jersey on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake was felt across the New York City metropolitan area, and from Philadelphia to Boston. Earthquakes Magnitude 4.5+ Others 1983 5.1 CANADA 1982 4.5 Vt. N.H. N.Y. Mass. Today’s earthquake Magnitude 4.8 Conn. Pa. 1964 4.5 1994 4.6 250-mile radius from New York City Md. Today’s earthquake Magnitude 4.8 Conn. R.I. Pa. 1964 4.5 1994 4.6 N.J. Md.

Persons: Lazaro Gamio Organizations: New York Times, United States Geological Survey, New, Maine CANADA, New York City Del Locations: New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Whitehouse, N.J, N.H, N.Y, Pa, New York City Md, Del, Va, Maine, R.I, Md

☆ As the world ages, cancer cases are projected to rise, hitting some countries like ‘a tidal wave’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now, a report from the American Cancer Society projects that by 2050, the number of people with cancer could rise 77%. Overall, the top 10 cancer types in both men and women accounted for more than 60% of newly diagnosed cancer cases and cancer deaths, according to the report. Lung cancer was also the leading cause of cancer deaths, followed by colorectal, liver, breast in women, stomach, pancreatic, esophagus, prostate, cervical and leukemia. “While we do see lung cancers that are not related to smoking, the number one cause of lung cancer is smoking. “Interestingly, pollution and other airborne environmental exposures probably increase the risk of lung cancer in many parts of the world.

Persons: ”, William Dahut, ” Dahut, “ We’re, Lung, Ahmedin Jemal, Dr, Bilal Siddiqui, there’s, Harold Burstein, ” Burstein, “, Sanjay Gupta, Burstein Organizations: CNN, American Cancer Society, Cancer, Global Cancer, Health, University of Texas, Anderson Cancer Center, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, CNN Health Locations: Saharan Africa, South America, Asia, China

☆ These US restaurants and chefs are 2024 James Beard Award finalists
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —A New Orleans restaurant featuring a modern Senegalese tasting menu and an Ethiopia-born chef who studied psychology before turning to a culinary career are among the restaurants and chefs named as finalists for the coveted James Beard Awards. The finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards were announced Wednesday in Washington, DC. In the Emerging Chef category, Fariyal Abdullahi, executive chef at Hav & Mar in New York, is among the five finalists. Masako Morishita moved to Washington, DC to be a cheerleader for the Washington Commanders. Fariyal Abdullahi, executive chef at Hav & Mar in New York, is among the five finalists in the Emerging Chef category.

Persons: James Beard, Fariyal Abdullahi, Abdullahi, Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s, Masako Morishita, Andy Thomas Lee, Chef Serigne Mbaye’s, Sarah Minnick, Dean Neff, foodie, James Beard’s, “, ” Beard, Mamba, Nadia Nijimbere, Yenvy Pham, Phở, Chris Viaud, Hollis Wells Silverman, Erika Whitaker, Kelly Whitaker, Michael Rafidi, Renee Touponce, David Uygur, Dallas , TX, Scott Suchman, Justin Hamel, Janet Becerra, Ryan Fernandez, Baker, Susan Bae, Jesus Brazon, Manuel Brazon, Atsuko Fujimoto, Crystal Kass, Valentine, Anna Posey, Gemma, Lula Drake Wine, Morris, Vin, Geoff Davis, Rogelio Garcia, Auro, Maynard Llera, Kuya, Tara Monsod, Billy ” Ngo, Vinnie Cimino, Cordelia, OHJose Salazar, Sarkar, Hajime Sato, Sozai, Jenner, Tony Conte, Jesse Ito, Matt Kern, Harley Peet, Kevin Tien, Ann Ahmed, Rob Connoley, Dan Jacobs, Dan Van Rite, Christina Nguyen, Hai, Tim Nicholson, Brandon Cunningham, Ali Sabbah, Matt Vawter, Penelope Wong, Yuan Wonton, Nick Zocco, Atsushi Kono, Chris Mauricio, Charlie Mitchell, Clover, Jeremy Salamon, Conor Dennehy, Talulla, Maria Meza, David Standridge, Jake Stevens, Cara Tobin, Honey, Avery Adams, Matia, Kristi Brown, Josh Dorcak, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa Miranda, Jamie Davis, The, Rod Lassiter, Parnass Savang, James London, Chubby Fish, Robbie Robinson, Paul Smith, Valerie Chang, Hunter Evans, Jackson, Gabriel Hernandez, Carlos Portela, Rene Andrade, Jeff Chanchaleune, Ma Der, Steve, Steve Riley, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zacatlán, Emmanuel Chavez, Christopher Cullum, Cullum’s Attaboy, Tracy Malechek, Ezekiel, Birdie’s, Misti Norris, Petra, Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria Organizations: CNN, Lyric Opera, Hav, Culinary Institute of America, Noma, Mar, Washington Commanders, Dakar NOLA, Texas :, James Beard Foundation, The New York Times, D.C, Albi Restaurant, Washington Post, New York Times, Nikko, SC, Comfort, Dakar, Caracas Bakery, Lula, Woodford Food & Beverage, Beverages, Social Haus, UT, New, Pacific, PR Locations: New Orleans, Ethiopia, Washington ,, Chicago, New York, Copenhagen, Washington, Perry’s, Portland , Oregon, Wilmington , North Carolina, Texas, Texas : West Texas, Marfa, Mixtli, San Antonio, Detroit , MI, Seattle, WA, Greenleaf, Ansanm, Milford, Wolfeboro, NH, The Wells, Boulder, Portland, Wilmington , NC, Albi , Washington, The, Lucia, Dallas ,, Albi, Washington , DC, Santa Fe, Marfa , TX, San Antonio , TX, Springs, , New York, NY, Pancita, Kultura, Charleston, Southern Junction, Buffalo , NY, Waitsburg, Lockhart , TX, Carmel, CA, Dorchester, MA, Dakar NOLA , New Orleans, LA, Hayward, McMinnville, Orlando, FL, Nashville, TN, Nixta , Minneapolis, MN, Shan, Bozeman, Albuquerque, NM, Long Beach , CA, Hudson, Bakery, Caracas, Doral, Miami, Phoenix, AZ, Elske, IL, Son, Raleigh , NC, Dallas , TX, Columbia, San Francisco , CA, Anaheim , Anaheim , CA, , Washington, Buffalo, Montpelier, VT, Baltimore, , New Orleans, Brownsville , TX, San Francisco ,, California, Burdell, Oakland, Calistoga, Los Angeles , CA, San Diego , CA, Kru, Sacramento, Lakes, MI, Cleveland, Mita’s, Cincinnati, Indienne, Clawson , MI, Esmé, NJ, PA, Philadelphia, Fenwick, Bas Rouge, Easton, KS, MO, Khâluna, Minneapolis, St, Louis, EsterEv, Milwaukee , WI, Hai Hai , Minneapolis, Omaha, UT, Greenough, MT, Salt Lake City, Rootstalk, Breckenridge, Denver, Urban, Sofreh, Brooklyn, Kono , New York, Harana, Accord, Clover Hill, RI, Cambridge, Dolores, Providence , RI, Leeward, Burlington, Island, MÄS, Ashland, kann, Musang, KY, NC, The Hackney, Washington , NC, Talat, Atlanta, West Columbia, Maty’s, Elvie’s, Verde Mesa, San Juan, Saffron , New Orleans, Bacanora, Oklahoma City, Henderson, NV, Mesa, Tatemó, Houston , TX, Austin , TX, Mission

Hogan's political ascendency resulted in large part from his criticism of tax increases that resonated with a tax-weary electorate in his upset victory in 2014. And Hogan, who was originally elected governor by railing against tax increases endorsed by the Maryland General Assembly, has already made the Maryland race unusually competitive in the heavily Democratic state. The Maryland Senate this month largely kept his budget plan intact, despite a drop in revenue estimates announced after the governor submitted his plan. The Senate has been mostly unreceptive to the House plan, with Ferguson ruling out the corporate tax component. He's also ruled out legalizing internet gambling this year, another part of the House plan.

Persons: Larry Hogan’s, Baltimore's, Francis Scott Key, Republican hasn’t, Hogan, Bill Ferguson, ” Hogan, Del, Ben Barnes, “ I’m, Larry Hogan, ” Barnes, “, ” Ferguson, David Trone, Angela Alsobrooks, Wes Moore, Ferguson, He's, Moore, haven't Organizations: Republican, Gov, U.S . Senate, Baltimore Democrat, Associated Press, Governor, Maryland General Assembly, Democratic, Washington Post, University of Maryland, Republicans, Maryland, Democratic U.S . Senate, U.S, Senate, Transportation Trust Fund, state's, ”, Maryland Democrats, GOP, Maryland Republican, U.S . Rep, Maryland Senate Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, Maryland, Baltimore, U.S, Senate, Prince George's

☆ Baltimore’s economy has been humming. Then a bridge collapsed
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Baltimore’s regional economy has a lot going for it such as low unemployment and low inflation. That’s well below the national rate of 3.9% in February and ranks 43rd out of 389 regions across the country with more than one million residents. Low inflationThe US economy is still dealing with high inflation, but that’s not much of a problem for the Baltimore metro. Inflation in Baltimore slowed dramatically last year from April to June, falling to a 2.8% annual rise from April’s 5.3%. Like across the country, rising energy prices have recently pushed up overall inflation in the Baltimore metro.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Prince, it’ll, Matt Rourke, Matt Jaffe, “, ” Jaffe, that’s, That’s, ” Christina DePasquale, Johns, Freddie Mac Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Towson, Labor Department, Washington D.C, U.S, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Fed Locations: Baltimore, Port, Baltimore County, Columbia, Boston, Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, Dundalk, Md

☆ Betty Cole Dukert, Top ‘Meet the Press’ Producer, Dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Richard Sandomir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Betty Cole Dukert, who began her career in Washington as a secretary in the 1950s and later became the top producer of the weekly NBC News public affairs program “Meet the Press,” died on March 16 at her home in Bethesda, Md. Her late husband’s niece Barbara Dukert Smith said the cause was complications of Alzheimer’s disease. “She was the main point of contact on Capitol Hill for the show,” said Betsy Fischer Martin, who started on “Meet the Press” as an intern and became the program’s executive producer in 2002. “She worked the phones constantly. It wasn’t an era when you could send off an email to book someone.”

Persons: Betty Cole Dukert, ”, Barbara Dukert Smith, Dukert, Betsy Fischer Martin, “ Organizations: NBC News, Press, “, NBC, Capitol Locations: Washington, Bethesda, Md

(AP) — Rebuilding Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge could take anywhere from 18 months to several years, experts say, while the cost could be at least $400 million — or more than twice that. Realistically, the project could take five to seven years, according to Ben Schafer, an engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University. “The lead time on air conditioning equipment right now for a home renovation is like 16 months, right?" But experts say it's better to look to more recent bridge disasters for a sense of how quickly reconstruction may happen. Hota GangaRao, a West Virginia University engineering professor, said the project could cost as little as $400 million.

Persons: Baltimore’s, Francis Scott Key, Ben Schafer, “, Schafer, they’re, Dali, Jim Tymon, ” Tymon, Tymon, Joe Biden, Minnesota Sen, Amy Klobuchar, ” Klobuchar, ” Badie, Badie, Hota, That’s, ” GangaRao, ” Norma Jean Mattei, ” Organizations: Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, Sunshine, American Association of State, Transportation, West Virginia University, The University of New Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Mississippi, Maryland, The University of New Orleans

☆ Walgreens' biggest healthcare bet is floundering as it shutters 160 primary-care clinics
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's exiting 160 VillageMD primary-care clinics, up from the previously planned 60. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Walgreens' healthcare business reported an operating loss of $1.7 billion in 2023, and VillageMD makes up the bulk of that business. The move to close so many clinics has some analysts questioning whether Walgreens plans to ditch its healthcare bets altogether. A Walgreens spokesperson said VillageMD has exited or plans to exit Florida, Indiana, Chicago, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Nevada.

Persons: VillageMD, —, Tim Wentworth, Roz Brewer, Mary Langowski, John Driscoll, they've, Jack Slevin, Jefferies, Allen Lutz, Slevin, Cigna Organizations: Walgreens, Service, Express, Health, Summit Health, WBA, BofA Securities, Shields Health Solutions, Healthcare Locations: VillageMD, Chicago, Florida , Indiana, Chicago , Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Nevada

☆ UnitedHealth Group has paid more than $3 billion to providers following cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

UnitedHealth Group has paid out an additional $1 billion to providers that have been impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack since last week, bringing the total amount of funds advanced to more than $3.3 billion, the company said on Wednesday. UnitedHealth, which owns Change Healthcare, discovered in February that a cyber threat actor had breached part of the unit's information technology network. The interruptions left many health-care providers temporarily unable to fill prescriptions or get reimbursed for their services by insurers. Many health-care providers rely on reimbursement cash flow to operate, so the fallout has been substantial. Federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have introduced additional options to ensure that states and other stakeholders can make interim payments to providers, according to a release.

Persons: UnitedHealth, it's, Mandiant, Jamie Raskin, Andrew, Raskin, Biden Organizations: UnitedHealth, Healthcare, SEC, CNBC, American Hospital Association, Medicare, Medicaid Services, U.S . Department of Justice, of State, Wednesday, United Health, Palo Alto Networks, Change Healthcare Locations: Palo

On Wednesday, divers worked through dangerous conditions searching for the bodies of the six missing men. Two were recovered from a submerged vehicle, and the other four are presumed dead, officials said. Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval, in his 30s, of Honduras, immigrated to the United States more than 17 years ago, according to Mr. Torres, and is married with two children. All but one of the eight men worked for Brawner Builders, a contractor based in Baltimore County, the company said. The men who went missing after the collapse were all immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, according to consular authorities and the nonprofit.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Miguel Luna, Gustavo Torres, Luna, Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval, Torres, Suazo’s, Carlos, ” Carlos Suazo, Kirsten Noyes Organizations: CASA, The Times, Mr, Brawner Builders Locations: Baltimore, Dundalk, Md, El Salvador, Maryland, Honduras, United States, Baltimore County, Guatemala, Mexico

☆ These are the 10 top-paying U.S. cities where women outearn men
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nationwide, women outearn men in just 42 U.S. cities out of an analysis of some 1,800 cities, according to a new GoBankingRates report using Census Bureau data. : Women earn a median $69,983 a year Oakland, Calif.: Women earn a median $68,260 a year Goleta, Calif.: Women earn a median $65,030 a year Laurel, Md. : Women earn a median $65,008 a year Monrovia, Calif.: Women earn a median $62,016 a year Hackensack, N.J.: Women earn a median $60,237 a year Newark, Del. : Women earn a median $58,769 a year Chamblee, Ga.: Women earn a median $58,590 a yearIn each of these cities, women outearn men by a share of .14% to 18.95% of what men earn. However, men outearn women in each of these cities by a rate of 60% to 70%.

Persons: Bowie, Andrew Murray, Murray, San Organizations: Washington D.C, CNBC, Research, Department of Defense, Calif Locations: U.S, Md, Clinton, Fort Washington, Oakland, Calif, Goleta, Laurel, Monrovia, Hackensack, N.J, Newark, Del, Washington, Jacksonville, N.C, Los Altos, Saratoga, McLean, Va, San Carlos, Wellesley, Mass

☆ The Dali, the ship that brought down the Baltimore bridge, ran into a problem with its propulsion system months before the crash
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The ship that struck a key bridge on Tuesday was reported to have an issue with its propulsion in June. The Dali lost propulsion on Tuesday, but it's unclear if this was related to the June issue. AdvertisementThe 984-foot container vessel that lost power and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday had issues with its propulsion system just months before, records show. AdvertisementClay Diamond, the executive director of the American Pilots' Association, told The Washington Post that the Dali lost power at around 1:20 a.m., around eight minutes before the crash. AdvertisementThe Francis Scott Key Bridge was Baltimore's biggest bridge, and the loss of such critical infrastructure will likely cause supply chain issues across multiple industries.

Persons: Dali, —, Francis Scott Key, Wes Moore, it's, Clay Diamond, Diamond, We've, BI's Dominic Reuter, BI's Erin Snodgrass Organizations: Service, Port Authority, Synergy Marine, American Pilots ' Association, Washington Post, USA, REUTERS Authorities, Business, Maryland Transport Authority, Port, Maersk Locations: Singapore, Patapsco, Baltimore, Maryland, Asia Pacific, San Antonio, Chile, Harford County, Antwerp, Port, Port of Baltimore, Danish, Copenhagen

☆ What we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Holly Yan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A massive cargo ship plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing the 1.6-mile bridge to crumble like a pile of toothpicks and plunge cars and people into the frigid water below. Here’s what we know about the catastrophe:Why did the bridge collapse? The Patapsco River is about 50 feet deep under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Wiedefeld said. The water temperature in Baltimore Harbor near the site of the bridge collapse was about 46 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday morning. The Francis Scott Key Bridge lies in shambles after a massive cargo ship crashed into one of its pillars overnight in Baltimore.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, DALI, Dali, Wes Moore, it’s, Paul J, Wiedefeld, “, ” Wiedefeld, James Wallace, ”, It’s, Andrew McCabe, ” McCabe, McCabe, we’ve, Akbarzai, Andy Rose, Derek van Dam, Monica Garrett, AnneClaire Stapleton, Louis Mian Organizations: CNN, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Maritime, Port Authority, Synergy Marine, Ltd, Maryland Gov, Maryland Transportation, Baltimore City Fire, Sonar, Synergy Group, National Weather Service, Reuters, University of Minnesota, FBI Locations: Singapore, Maryland, Patapsco, Baltimore, “, Baltimore Harbor, Harford County

Read previewA container ship crashed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing its collapse into the Patapsco River. Baltimore first responders called the situation a "developing mass casualty event" and a "dire emergency," per The Associated Press. pic.twitter.com/ipoTR2HljY — Harford Co., MD Fire & EMS (@HarforCoFireEMS) March 26, 2024The vessel is the Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship about 984 feet long, and 157 feet wide, per a listing on VesselFinder. The Dali's owner is listed as Grace Ocean, a Singapore-based firm, and its manager is listed as Synergy Marine, which is also headquartered in Singapore. AdvertisementStaff for Grace Ocean declined to comment on the crash when contacted by Business Insider.

Persons: —, Francis Scott Key, James Wallace, Wallace, Richard Worley, Wes Moore, Pete Buttigieg, Moore, Baltimore Francis Scott Key, ipoTR2HljY —, Dali, Grace Ocean, Barbara Rossi, Claudia Norrgren, it'll Organizations: Service, Baltimore, Associated Press, Business, Sonar, Biden Administration, Volunteer Firefighters, Volunteer Swift Water Team, Team, Unified Command, ipoTR2HljY — Harford Co, Synergy, Shipping, Staff, Grace, Maersk, Dali, University of Oxford, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Port Locations: Baltimore, Patapsco, Maryland, @jmvfc8, Singapore, Danish, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Port, South Korea, Antwerp

☆ White House urges Senate to 'move swiftly' on TikTok bill as lawmakers drag their heels
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

White House national security adviser John Kirby said Sunday that the Senate should swiftly advance a bill that would force Chinese technology company ByteDance to sell TikTok. The bill passed in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. The bill passed in a 352-65 House vote on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has made clear that he is in no rush on the TikTok bill. The TikTok bill has also sparked debate outside of Capitol Hill.

Persons: John Kirby, We're, Kirby, Joe Biden, Mike, Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Bill Cassidy, Ben Cardin, Cardin, Donald Trump, Trump, Mike Pence, Pence Organizations: Foreign, Capitol, White House, Chinese Communist Party, Senate, U.S, Wisconsin Republican, CBS, Press, GOP, Facebook Locations: Washington , U.S, American, China, U.S, D, Capitol Hill, TikTok

☆ With an Orange-Tufted Spiderhunter, Birder Breaks Record for Sightings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Joe Trezza | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Feb. 9, Peter Kaestner stood in the shadow of majestic Tinuy-an Falls on the Philippine island of Mindanao, on the cusp of a record he’d spent seven decades chasing and worried that he’d arrived too late. For years, nobody alive had seen and identified more bird species than Mr. Kaestner. An obsessive birder since childhood, Mr. Kaestner woke up that morning in February with 9,997 birds on his personal “life list” — more than 90 percent of Earth’s scientifically recognized species and three away from a singular milestone. A few weeks earlier, in an essay for the American Birding Association, he had outlined his plans to become the first person to document 10,000 sightings; shortly after, new information forced him to expedite his plans. “I realized when I was writing it that I was putting a target on my back,” Mr. Kaestner said from his home in Cockeysville, Md.

Persons: Peter Kaestner, he’d, Kaestner, lister, ”, “, ” Mr Organizations: American Birding Association Locations: Philippine, Mindanao, American, Cockeysville, Md

☆ These 28 regional and community banks exceed regulators' threshold for high commercial real estate concentration risk: here's what's really at stake.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

But where banks' exposure to commercial real estate is concerned, locating that fire may be difficult. Rising interest rates quickly increased the cost of borrowing for investors in commercial real estate, including offices and multifamily homes. It doesn't reveal details such as borrowers' track records, said Mark Hillis, a former chief risk officer for commercial real estate at JPMorgan. There's also varying concentration risk: the largest banks with commercial real estate exposure are more diversified, meaning that any losses won't be as devastating, Baker said. "We think very few banks will run into issues just from their commercial real estate exposure," Reidy said.

Persons: Michael Barr, Jerome Powell, Todd Baker, Mark Hillis, Clifford Rossi, Robert H, Rossi, Baker, There's, Hillis, multifamily, haven't, You'll, Banks, you'll, Rebel Cole, NYCB, Matt Reidy, Reidy, Cole Organizations: Federal Reserve, Business, York Community Bank, SEC, Richman Center for Business, Law, Columbia University, JPMorgan, Smith, Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, Mortgage Banker's Association, Bank, Signature Bank, First, Countrywide Bank, Washington Mutual, Citigroup, multifamily, Florida Atlantic University, Federal, Regulators, TCRE, Equity RCRE, Community Bank, Provident Bank NJ, Merchants Bank of Indiana, Apple Bank for Savings, Oceanfirst Bank, Independent Bank, Lakeland Bank NJ, Ozk, Washington Federal Bank WA, Axos Bank, Sandy Spring Bank, Columbia Bank NJ, Farmers, Merchants Bank of CA, Popular Bank, Pacific Premier Bank, United Bank, Trust, Rockland Trust, Umpqua Bank, ServisFirst Bank, Bell Bank, Stellar Bank, National Bank of, National Bank of Florida FL, New York Community Bank Locations: multifamily, Basel, CRE, California, Rockland, National Bank of Florida

☆ How Did Biden Do at the State of the Union? Readers Weigh In. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( New York Times Opinion | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

We asked 10 Times columnists and contributors to watch the State of the Union address on Thursday and rate President Biden’s performance. (A rating of one meant that the night was a disaster, 10 that it was a triumph.) “Where has this Joe Biden been hiding these past three years?” Bret Stephens asked. While I support most of President Biden’s positions, the delivery came across as an old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. I wanted more calm and confidence to reinforce he is still up to the job.

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Bret Stephens, Michelle Goldberg, Joe, ”, Samuel Alito, Marguerite Dee, Biden’s, — Mike Wade Organizations: Republicans Locations: Tampa, Fla, Berlin, Md

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