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President Joe Biden's State of the Union address as prepared for delivery:Good evening. A former American president actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. And it’s because of you that tonight we can proudly say the State of our Union is strong and getting stronger. Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel and the only American president to visit Israel in wartime.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Franklin Roosevelt, “, Hitler, Roosevelt’s, Lincoln, Putin, Ronald Reagan, thundered, Mr, Gorbachev, we’ve, Insurrectionists, ., Jan, I’ve, Latorya Beasley, Roe, Wade, Harris, Kate Cox, Kate, – that's, won’t, Hope, Shawn Fain, Dawn Simms, Dawn, That’s, Jill, I’m, Keenan Jones –, Sen, Bob Casey’s, It’s, It’d, Edmund Pettus, John Lewis, Betty May Fikes, ”, Banning, Jasmine, Jackie, we’re, Evan, Paul, Israel, –, We’ve, aren’t, They’ve, We’re, King, Bobby Kennedy, you’ve, Let’s Organizations: Madame, Union, Overseas, Republican, NATO, Alliance, National Security, America, That's, Act, Infrastructure Law, UAW, Big Pharma, Medicare, Affordable, White, Initiative, Women’s Health Research, Grants, Child, Big Oil, Social Security, Border Patrol Union, Dreamers, Peace Corps, Ameri Corps, Corps, American, House, NRA, Hamas, United, U.S, ARPA, Star Locations: Joe Biden's State, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, American, Russian, America, Finland, Sweden, United States, Birmingham , Alabama, Alabama, Dallas, Texas, COVID, That's America, Belvidere , Illinois, Belvidere, it’s, Shawn, HBCUs, Minnesota, Ireland, Selma , Alabama, Selma, Uvalde , Texas, Uvalde, Iowa, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Red, China, Taiwan Strait, I’ve, Scranton , Pennsylvania, Claymont , Delaware, United States of America

☆ Department of Justice opens probe of Globe Life, American Income Life
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Susan Antilla | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed Globe Life Inc. and its subsidiary American Income Life seeking documents related to one of its top life insurance agencies — the Pittsburgh-based Arias Organization. Globe Life executives made no mention of the DOJ probe during a quarterly earnings call on February 8. In October, insurance regulators in Pennsylvania fined American Income Life $130,000 for engaging in deceptive consumer practices. "We do not believe the litigation will be material to Globe Life's overall results or American Income Life's agency operations," he said. Darden told the analysts that "as soon as American Income became aware of" the allegations, AIL hired an outside investigator to look into the matter.

Persons: Arias, Renee Zinsky, Michael Russin, Joel Scarborough, Globe's, Trina Orlando, Cathy Seifert, Seifert, Scarborough, Simon Arias, Natalie Price, AIL, Warren Buffett's Berkshire, James Darden, Darden, Zinsky, Janet Hendrick, Phillips Murrah, Kathryn D, Terry, Liz Rita, Susan Antilla Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, Inc, Organization, News, Business, BI, CFRA Research, Securities and Exchange Commission, Globe, DOJ, Scarborough, US, Office, Western, Western District of Pennsylvania, Arias Agencies, The, Justice, Warren, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Commission, Department of Justice, AIL, Income, Zinsky, Law Locations: Pittsburgh, Scarborough, Western District, Pennsylvania, Dallas, Globe, Denver, AIL, susan.antilla1@gmail.com

Millions of voters from California to Vermont go to the polls to choose a nominee for president and other races. View all 17 PhotosDavid Goldman|APMarch 5, 2024 | Town Clerk Sandra Lacasse places a sign outside the town office as polls open in Elmore, Vermont. Super Tuesday elections are being held in 15 states and one territory. Hundreds of delegates are at stake, the biggest haul for either party on a single day.

Persons: David Goldman, Sandra Lacasse Organizations: AP Locations: California, Vermont, Elmore , Vermont

The Biden administration is relaxing its COVID-19 protocols and resources as the winter wave of the coronavirus appears past its peak and fading. Political Cartoons on Women’s Issues View All 53 ImagesThe developments altogether highlight the dwindling bandwidth the Biden administration lends to COVID-19 as the U.S. enters its fifth year dealing with the coronavirus. Several COVID-19 factors are decreasing in the U.S. – a likely indicator that the winter wave of coronavirus is behind us. Data shows the latest increase in COVID-19 activity was significantly less dangerous than the COVID-19 surges the U.S. saw early in the pandemic. “Despite the high levels of wastewater viral activity, COVID-19 is causing severe disease less frequently than earlier in the pandemic,” the CDC said in a recent update.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, – Organizations: Administration, Strategic Preparedness, ., Centers for Disease Control, CDC Locations: U.S, –, COVID

☆ 7 budget-friendly places to retire abroad and live comfortably on as little as $1,000/month
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The cost of retirement in the U.S. varies from state to state, but can cost as much as $73,140 a year in a place like New York. It's one of the reasons many Americans consider retiring abroad where they can live on a lower income without sacrificing their quality of life. In November 2023, the average monthly Social Security check was $1,710.78, according to the Social Security Administration. With that kind of budget, retiring aboard could allow your money to go further, according to U.S. News and World Report. The analysis also factored in travel costs like flights, taxes, and visas.

Organizations: Social Security, Social Security Administration, U.S . News Locations: U.S, New York

☆ Panera is exempt from California's fast-food wage increase. A billionaire franchisee previously donated to Gov. Newsom.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Ana Altchek | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewCalifornia's minimum wage increase from $16 to $20 an hour for fast-food restaurant workers, set to go into effect in April, caused a stir among fast-food chains — but not Panera. He owns 12 Panera locations in California. When asked last year about the bread exemption that baffled many, Newsom said, "That's part of the sausage-making," declining to elaborate further. Flynn, in a conversation with Bloomberg, denied having a hand in the bread exemption. A few smaller brands appear to benefit from the carve-out, including Paris Baguette and Great Harvest Bread Co, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, Greg Flynn —, Flynn, Taco Bell, Flynn Group's, Newsom, Panera, Paris Baguette Organizations: Service, Flynn Group, Business, Bloomberg, San Francisco Chronicle, Flynn Properties Inc, US Food and Drug Administration, Co Locations: California, Paris

☆ Opinion: Mitch McConnell’s unconditional surrender
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Mitch McConnell has bowed to political reality and announced that he is relinquishing his role as leader of Senate Republicans. (Chao served as transportation secretary under former President Donald Trump, before quitting the post following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.) The anti-Trump coalition within the Republican Party is small and hanging on by a thread, and there is little chance of that changing in the short term. Now, one of Haley’s most generous benefactors, the conservative political action committee Americans for Prosperity, funded by the Koch network, has withdrawn its funds. And now, like other Trump opponents, Romney finds himself heading for the exit at the end of his current term.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Elaine Chao, Chao, Donald Trump, ”, It’s, he’s, invectives, MAGA, Trump, Merrick Garland, Barack Obama’s, — McConnell, SCOTUS, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, Lindsey Graham, Sen, Dick Durbin, —, that’s, Gingrich’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, couldn’t, Koch, Mitt Romney, Romney, convicting Trump, Trump’s, Romney’s Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, The New York Times, America, Republicans, Julian Zelizer CNN, Trump, Ukraine, GOP, Republican Party, Republican, NATO, Tea Party, MAGA, UN, Prosperity, Old Party Locations: Washington, life’s, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Kentucky, South Carolina, Utah

☆ News outlets are collapsing as advertisers flock to social media platforms, with major implications for society
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Social media companies are soaking up the billions in advertising dollars that once flowed to legacy media companies — a trend that continues to accelerate despite an ever-growing mountain of evidence indicating the Silicon Valley titans govern their ballooning kingdoms with little regard for how their products negatively impact society. Time and time again, companies like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and others have been caught allowing harmful content to exist on their platforms. The committee heard testimony from the heads of the largest tech firms on the dangers of child sexual exploitation on social media. To be fair, brands would likely prefer to advertise on the platforms of responsible media actors versus the risky world of social media. But Big Tech offers these brands much more effective targeting, while boasting a larger and younger audience than legacy news organizations.

Persons: BuzzFeed, You’re, It’s, Meta, ”, Jeff Horowitz, Katherine Blunt, Mark Zuckerberg, Anna Moneymaker Organizations: New York CNN, Social, Media, New York Times, CNN, YouTube, Times, Meta, Dirksen, Facebook, Big, Big Tech, News Locations: New York, Snapchat, Washington ,

Supporters of the state laws say they foster free speech, giving the public access to all points of view. One contrarian brief, from liberal professors, urged the justices to uphold the key provision of the Texas law despite the harm they said it would cause. “Social media platforms exercise editorial judgment that is inherently expressive,” Judge Kevin C. Newsom wrote for the panel. To the surprise of many, some prominent liberal professors filed a brief urging the justices to uphold a key provision of the Texas law. In the second case, Miami Herald v. Tornillo, the Supreme Court in 1974 struck down a Florida law that would have allowed politicians a “right to reply” to newspaper articles critical of them.

Persons: Samuel A, Alito Jr, ”, Scott Wilkens, Ron DeSantis, John Tully, Donald J, Trump, Greg Abbott of, —, Ken Paxton, “, Andrew S, Oldham, Kevin C, Newsom, Lawrence Lessig, Tim Wu of, Teachout, Mandel Ngan, Richard L, “ Florida’s, Moody, Paxton, Robins, William H, Rehnquist, Pat L, Tornillo, Warren E, Burger Organizations: Facebook, YouTube, Columbia University, Big Tech, The New York Times, Gov, Republican, Computer & Communications Industry, New York Times, Fox News, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit, ISIS, Harvard, Tim Wu of Columbia, Zephyr, Fordham, Twitter, Manchester Union, Citizens United, Agence France, University of California, Miami Herald, Florida, Representatives, Constitution Locations: Florida, Texas, Greg Abbott of Texas, Ukraine, Los Angeles, Campbell , Calif

☆ These are the 10 U.S. cities with the best quality of life—none are in Florida
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. News and World Report recently released its annual ranking of U.S. cities with the best quality of life. Cities were ranked based on the following factors:Crime RatesQuality of EducationWell-beingCommuter IndexQuality and availability of healthcareAir quality indexFederal Emergency Management AgencyData from a March 2023 public survey was used to rank the cities, the report notes. While Florida is synonymous with retirement, not a single city in the Sunshine State ranked in the top 10, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

Organizations: . News, Emergency Management Agency, Sunshine State, U.S . News Locations: Florida

☆ Spending in Shenzhen: Chinese used to escape to this former British colony. Now Hongkongers are heading in the opposite direction
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Chris Lau | Veronica Lin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Hong Kong CNN —With Hong Kong’s sky-high cost of living, residents like Andy Tsui have been looking for alternative ways to have more fun and spend less. Rather than spending his cash in his hometown of Hong Kong, he’s been crossing the border into mainland China to splurge instead. Such trips are noteworthy because, for much of Hong Kong’s modern history, the traffic has been largely — conspicuously, even — in the other direction. Hong Kong used to be the place where Chinese would escape to, not from. In 2023, just 26 million mainlanders — about half of the 2018 crowd — visited Hong Kong.

Persons: Andy Tsui, he’s, boba, ” Tsui, Justin Robertson, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Hong Kong’s, Hong Kong —, misbehaving, —, ”, Steve Tsang, Hong, Shenzhen’s, Hongkongers, Gilles Sabrie, Hongkonger Eddy Lam, Lam, Cherrie Leung, Qilai Shen, Hugo Sin, “, Gary Ng, John Lee, Tsang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Shoppers, Yuen, Britain, Newspapers, Hong, Hong Kong Immigration Department, China Institute, SOAS University, Huawei, Tencent, Bloomberg, Getty, Sam’s Club, Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, Hong Kong, Shenzhen hasn’t, Xinhua, RTHK, SOAS University of London Locations: Hong Kong, China, splurge, Peking, Shenzhen, East, Hong, People’s Republic of China, British, Beijing, London, Bay Area, San Francisco , New York, Tokyo, Kowloon, Coco, Shanghai, “, Inner Mongolia, Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong’s, Britain, Canada, Australia, Bay, ”

☆ The men of 'Love Is Blind' keep getting 'exposed' on social media. The only problem is it's not always true.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

They slid into my DMs in Instagram," Rikkii told Business Insider over Zoom. Rumor: Trevor had a girlfriend during 'Love Is Blind' filmingThe accusations against Trevor Sova are the most jarring and extreme. But his ex-fiancée told me he moved out on November 20 — which was 10 days before casting reached out," Rikkii told BI. This isn't the first time TikTok exposed 'Love Is Blind' contestantsPerhaps most famously, the drama between Jackie Bonds, Josh Demas, and Marshall Glaze played out largely online while "Love Is Blind" season four aired last year. AdvertisementThe next two episodes of "Love Is Blind" season six will air on February 28.

Persons: Trevor, Jimmy, Jeramey, —, Rikkii, Raven Ross, Netflix didn't, Trevor Sova, they're, hasn't, Rikkii's, Trevor's, Natalia Marrero, Reality Ashley, Ashley, Natalia, Chelsea, Chelsea Blackwell, Jimmy Presnell, lied to Organizations: Service, SK, Business, Netflix, Chelsea, E!, DU Locations: Instagram, North Carolina, @storytimewithrikkii

☆ The chaotic history of how we elect presidential candidates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It is worth remembering that there are no constitutional provisions regarding presidential primaries and very few details about the election of the president itself. AdvertisementWhat were early presidential elections like? In the wake of the violence, Democrats launched a massive overhaul of their presidential primary process. According to some officials who worked on the commission, their changes had the unintended effect of popularizing state presidential primary elections. In short, party officials’ hands are initially tied, even if they want to cast the deciding votes.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, hasn’t, Here's, George Washington, framers hadn’t, John Adam, Thomas Jefferson’s, Mason, Jill Lepore, Andrew Jackson’s, enshrine, Jackson, Daniel Feller, Andrew Jackson, FDR, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Roosevelt, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Robert A, Taft's, Sen, John F, Richard Pildes, Lyndon B, Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr, Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, McGovern, superdelegates, Bernie Sanders ’, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Service, LBJ, Masonic Party, Democratic Party, The, Democratic, GOP, Bull Moose Party, Hampshire GOP, Republican, Kennedy’s, West Virginia, New York University School of Law, Convention, Chicago, Democrats, Republican Party, New Hampshire Democrats, Democratic National Committee, Biden Locations: U.S, Hampshire, West, Vietnam, Chicago, Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina

☆ Belarus' Lukashenko Says 'Saboteurs' Detained on Border With Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Health News Bulletin Stay informed on the latest news on health and COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Sign Up Sign in to manage your newsletters »Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

A New York judge on Friday ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $364 million in damages for fraud he committed by inflating his net worth to obtain favorable treatment from banks and insurers. The blistering 92-page ruling from Judge Arthur Engoron was replete with references to the brazen nature of the misdeeds of Trump, his adult sons and his business organization. Here are nine key quotes from Engoron’s ruling. The frauds found here leap off the page and shock the conscience.”On the reaction of Trump and his adult sons:“Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. Donald Trump is not Bernard Madoff.

Persons: Donald Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron, Trump, Justice Potter Stewart, ”, “, Bernard Madoff, ’, “ Donald Trump, Trump’s, Ivanka Trump, Rosemary, ” Ivanka Trump, fraudsters, Eli Bartov’s, Bartov, “ John Shubin, Mr, Shubin, Robert Unell, Unell, Birney, Donald Trump’s, Whitley Penn, Donald Bender, Mazars, Allen Weisselberg doesn’t, Allen, Weisselberg Organizations: United States Supreme, Trump Organization, ”, Trump, Deutsche, OAG, trifles, Allen Weisselberg’s Locations: York, ”, New York, ’

☆ I'm a working mom, and I'm also taking care of my dad. I live with guilt.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Michele Gorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

My mom died of cancer when I was 14, and now my dad has been diagnosed with it. When I'm with my daughter I feel guilty that I'm not with my dad, and vice versa. But when I'm with my dad, I feel guilty I'm not with Ellie. And when I'm with Ellie, I feel guilty I'm not with my dad. It's really, really hard.

Persons: —, I've, texted, Ellie, I'm, Will, it's, isn't, Ellie — Organizations: Service Locations: New York City, Massachusetts, Queens

☆ VP Harris Says US Working to Confirm Navalny Death, Sign of Putin's Brutality
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

☆ Ukraine Needs $486 Billion to Recover, Rebuild After Nearly Two Years of War - World Bank
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

That 10-year cost estimate is up from $411 billion last March, with housing needs topping the list at $80 billion or 17%, followed by transport needs of $74 billion or 15%, and commerce and industry at $67.5 billion, or 14%. The new estimate excludes reconstruction needs already met through the Ukraine state budget or through partners and international support. He said the Ukrainian economy had proven remarkably resilient in the face of the war. Four of five firms continued to operate in Ukraine, despite the war, with many relying on digital operations or moving sites to stay in business, he added. The number of internally displaced persons had also gone down to around 3.7 million, compared with 5.4 million in spring 2023.

Persons: Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Arup Banerji, Banerji, Andrea Shalal, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: World Bank, United, European Commission Locations: United Nations, Eastern Europe, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Yemen's Houthis Fire Missiles at British Ship in Gulf of Aden, Spokesman Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

☆ India's Supreme Court Scraps Opaque Election Funding System
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

The small, primarily digital newsrooms are members of the Institute for Nonprofit News. On primary nights and the general election, AP will give these outlets ready-to-publish graphics with national and local results, along with information gleaned from talking to voters from AP's VoteCast survey. AP plays a central role tabulating results across the country on election nights, using them to declare winners of contested races, along with seeking an in-depth view of what is on voters' minds. Some larger and national organizations offer consumers detailed election information, but usually don’t have the capacity to cover local races of interest to readers of INN publications, he said. The organization's members have a median of four staffers and $271,000 in revenue, he said.

Persons: David Scott, Jonathan Kealing, ” Kealing, Newsrooms, ” Scott Organizations: Associated, Google News Initiative, Institute for Nonprofit News, AP, Mississippi Free Press, San Antonio, Iowa, New Locations: AP's, Texas, Charlottesville Tomorrow, Virginia, Fresnoland, California, New Hampshire

☆ Canada to Donate $44 Million to Ukraine for Defence
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

☆ Peru's President Replaces Economy, Energy Ministers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

☆ Japan PM Kishida Plans South Korea Visit on March 20, Fuji TV Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

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