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☆ With Great Salt Lake at rock bottom, lawmakers aim for rescue
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. He Can Be Reached At Evan.Bush Nbcuni.Com. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Water volume on the Great Salt Lake has dropped by more than two-thirds since pioneers once settled the Salt Lake Valley. Much of the lake surface is now exposed. Photographs of empty marinas and the cracking crust of the lake’s surface often illustrate the lake’s decline. The rivers and streams that feed The Great Salt Lake are overallocated, which means farmers and other water users collectively have rights to more water than what typically flows through each year. Spencer Cox last November closed the Great Salt Lake basin to appropriations for new water uses, effectively capping the line of water users wanting to use what flows into the lake.

☆ Top 25 roundup: No. 8 Gonzaga escapes BYU on late 3-pointer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

8 Gonzaga escaped with a 75-74 victory against BYU in a West Coast Conference game Thursday night in Provo, Utah. Johnson scored 18 points for the Cougars (13-7, 3-2) and Gideon George and Jaxson Robinson added 17 apiece. Adem Bona added 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and collected eight rebounds for the Bruins (15-2, 6-0 Pac-12), who won their 12th consecutive contest. Jaylen Clark added 11 points, five rebounds and three steals, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had eight points, 12 rebounds and six assists for UCLA. Rollie Worster scored 12 points to pace the Utes (12-6, 5-2), who lost their second straight game.

☆ If you're sitting all day, science shows how to undo the health risks. Take 'activity snacks' every 30 minutes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Laura Carroll | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“If we don’t use them, things don’t work right.”When it comes to blood pressure, moving around helps improve circulation, Diaz said. Blood pressure and blood sugar were measured during each phase of the study. The strategy that worked best was five minutes of walking for every 30 minutes of sitting. All walking strategies resulted in a significant reduction of 4 to 5 blood pressure points, compared to sitting all eight hours. "When you do it without breaks, your blood pressure goes up and there are elevations in blood sugar.”Do standing desks help?

☆ Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. hospitalized patients experience a harmful event, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kaitlin Sullivan | Kaitlin Sullivan Is A Contributor For Nbcnews.Com Who Has Worked With Nbc News Investigations. She Reports On Health | Science | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

The stark findings underscore that, despite decades of effort, hospitals in the United States still have a long way to go to improve patient safety, experts say. A total of 222 adverse events were considered preventable, meaning an error resulted in patient harm. Twenty-nine people, or 1% of the total of those admitted, experienced serious preventable adverse events that resulted in serious harm. The most common adverse events overall (nearly 40%) were related to medications given in the hospital. It used data from patients hospitalized in New York state in 1984, and found that only about 4% of hospitalized patients experienced harm.

☆ How health insurance may have made health care more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Charlotte Morabito | In Charlottemorabito | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Roughly 40% of U.S. adults have at least $250 in medical debt, according to a survey conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation. There are many complicated reasons for the rise in the cost of care such as not prioritizing preventive care or a lack of price transparency, but one of the biggest catalysts for inflation was the rise of health insurance. In the early 2000s, federal legislation led to a major restructuring of how insurance plans shared costs, with the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act spurring a boom in high-deductible health insurance plans. A deductible is the amount a policyholder has to pay upfront before their health insurance plan kicks in. Watch the video above to learn more about how medical debt became so common in the U.S. health care system and what we can do to change it.

☆ How 'Real Housewife' Jen Shah's fabulous life came crashing down
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Stephanie Clifford | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +43 min

The woman wrote to the judge overseeing Shah's case that she'd had to remortgage her house, almost divorced, and "thought about ending my own life." The couple decided that he should get his degree while Jen Shah dropped out of college to work. (Shah told a judge at her 2022 plea hearing that she had been treated for "alcohol and depression" two years prior. Koa Johnson, Jen Shah's former fashion designerWhen Sharrieff Shah did participate in filming, he quickly became a fan favorite, calm and sensible. Once the show aired and Jen Shah developed a fan base, her behavior became more dramatic, Johnson said.

☆ U.S. new drug price exceeds $200,000 median in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Deena Beasley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The median annual price of the 17 novel drugs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved since July 2022 is $193,900, down from $257,000 in the first half of 2022, Reuters found. For full year 2022, the median was $222,003. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsIn 2021, the median annual price was $180,000 for the 30 drugs first marketed through mid-July, according to a study published recently in JAMA. Health insurers and other payers often demand discounts and rebates for prescription drugs once competing treatments become available. As patents expire, lower-cost generics also mitigate prescription drug price inflation, which in the 12 months through November 2022 was 1.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

☆ Brigham Young University offensive lineman dies in construction accident
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

HONOLULU — Brigham Young University offensive lineman Sione Veikoso was killed in a construction accident in his hometown in Hawaii, family members said. Veikoso, 22, died Friday after a retaining wall he was helping repair during holiday break from school collapsed, his family confirmed. He was reliable and caring,” Veikoso’s cousin Joshua Kava said in a written statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Rescuers called them off because of the wall’s instability and manually removed rocks to free two of the men in about 15 minutes. After high school, Veikoso spent two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Manaus, Brazil, before enrolling in college.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow e-bikes are changing citiesE-bikes are growing in popularity around the world. In the U.S., they're even outselling electric and hybrid cars. However, many argue that infrastructure in America is not keeping up with the booming e-bike industry. CNBC explores whether electric bikes are still safe to use despite the lack of proper infrastructure.

☆ Elon Musk has warned in the past that Twitter could go bankrupt. Here's what would happen if it did.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Elon Musk has floated bankruptcy as a possibility for Twitter, but said this week costs are "under control." Twitter reportedly has roughly $13 billion in debt from a group of banks, with $1 billion annual interest payments. Musk has been in intense cost-cutting mode since his Twitter takeover became official on Oct. 27. That can create pressure on lenders to work with Musk to reorganize the debt, whether in court, or privately, experts said. Twitter, whose purchase was facilitated by elite backers including top venture capital firms and foreign investors, could face pressure from secured lenders to figure out a solution.

☆ Here's the 'most overlooked' skill young people need to be successful, says millennial therapist
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Tess Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As a psychotherapist who works primarily with millennials and Gen Z, I've found that the most overlooked skill young people need to be successful today is knowing how to tune out all that excess noise. For the next three days, keep a record of your social media habits. responding to a DM, saying hi to a friend, boredom) How you feel before you open the app (e.g., like you're missing out, anxious) What you're doing (e.g. Don't forget to be mindful about when social media has helped you. The key is to be more aware of when social media lifts you up, and when it starts to cloud your thinking.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow cloud seeding can help alleviate droughtStates and utility companies are investing in "cloud seeding" — a way to artificially increase precipitation in the drought-ridden American West and worldwide. By seeding storm clouds with a substance called silver iodide, it's possible to increase the efficiency of storms by 5% to15%. It's no cure for drought, but it can be a valuable water management tool. As winter gets underway, cloud seeding operations are ramping up across the country.

☆ How states across the West are using cloud seeding to make it rain
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Cloud seeding has been around since the 1940s. Experts say cloud seeding generally yields a 5% to 15% increase in precipitation. How cloud seeding worksWhen done aerially, cloud seeding involves loading up a plane with silver iodide. Pilot Joel Zimmer, who works for Weather Modification International, affixes silver iodide flares to the bottom of a cloud seeding plane. While Texas uses cloud seeding to help irrigate fields for farmers, it's more common in the West, where states like Idaho, California, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming use it to help fill up their rivers and reservoirs.

☆ Financial executives and Texas Republicans spar over climate actions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 15 (Reuters) - Financial executives and Texas state senators clashed over company concerns for climate change at a hearing on Thursday, a rare in-person confrontation as Republicans ramp up attacks on the use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investing. Texas Republicans at the hearing, which was webcast, questioned whether the participation of BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) and State Street Corp (STT.N) in industry efforts to cut emissions put too much pressure on portfolio companies. Even as they take heat from energy-producing U.S. states, asset managers have faced pressure from climate activists and Democrats to take more environmental action. With some $8 trillion under management, BlackRock has been singled out by Texas for alleged over-pressuring of its important energy sector. A number of State Street funds were also designated.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America doesn’t support same-sex marriage. It demonstrates that the American model of representative democracy — though riddled with divisions — can still address complex contemporary issues. This victory was achieved because the Respect for Marriage Act also includes important principles of religious freedom for those who don’t endorse same-sex marriage itself. On the right, criticism has largely centered on calling for even stronger religious freedom amendments or strenuously objecting to the inclusion of same-sex marriage in any federally codified definition of marriage. But over time, the model of political pluralism embodied in the Respect for Marriage Act can help renew national trust.

☆ Emerging from the COVID pandemic, again
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Michele Gershberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Dec 7 (Reuters) - For much of the world, 2022 marked the beginning of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging variations of the coronavirus so far remain closely related to Omicron, without radically altering its impact. "The pandemic is over," U.S. President Joe Biden said in September, referring to the changing behavior of Americans. The World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to declare an end to the COVID public health emergency introduced in January 2020. Data show that the pandemic has disrupted all kinds of healthcare, from childhood immunizations to cancer screenings read more read more .

☆ The most expensive drug in the world has a $3.5 million price tag. 2 potential patients share their hopes and fears for the one-time treatment.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Andrew Dunn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The FDA has approved a new gene therapy to treat hemophilia B, a genetic bleeding disorder. The drugmaker CSL Behring set a $3.5 million price for the one-time treatment. Lackey is learning to live with a severe case of hemophilia B, a rare genetic condition that keeps blood from clotting properly. But a critical unknown in judging CSL's $3.5 million price is the durability of the treatment. Lojewski said the $3.5 million price wasn't guided by other gene-therapy prices.

☆ These are the best U.S. states to raise a family if you make over $70,000 a year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rocket Mortgage's November report ranked the best states to raise a family based on data from U.S. News and WalletHub. A new report from Rocket Mortgage used data from U.S. News and WalletHub to rank states according to several criteria: family funhealth and safety concernseducation and childcare possibilitiesoverall affordabilitysocial and economic factors Overall, the report found that the best states in the U.S. to raise a family are home to major cities that are continuing to grow in population size and emerging industries. 1 best state to raise a family if you make over $70,000 a year: MassachusettsTotal score: 65.21 Massachusetts is a state that offers everything from the Berkshire Mountains to the beaches of Cape Cod and a major city like Boston. Boston is home to two of the best hospitals in the country: Massachusetts General (rank: 5) and Brigham and Women's (rank: 14). 5 best U.S. states to raise a family if you make over $70,000/year

☆ The most expensive drug in the world just got approved at $3.5 million, and hemophilia patients are conflicted: 'Compared to what we pay, it doesn't seem too terrible.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Andrew Dunn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The FDA has approved a new gene therapy to treat hemophilia B, a genetic bleeding disorder. Hemophilia patients told Insider they're excited about the new drug but worried about the price. Lackey is learning to live with a severe case of hemophilia B, a rare genetic condition that keeps blood from clotting properly. While the treatment breaks ground as the first approved gene therapy for hemophilia, its price is also unprecedented. Lojewski said the $3.5 million price wasn't guided by other gene-therapy prices.

☆ Early research suggests promising use of AI to predict risk of heart attack or stroke using a single chest X-ray
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Early research suggests a promising use of artificial intelligence to predict the 10-year risk of death from a heart attack or stroke from a single chest X-ray. The AI model uses the same risk thresholds as the established risk calculator, and early findings suggest that it works just as well. Sometimes, the AI findings align with a traditional radiology reading, but other times, it picks up on things that may have been missed, he said. He was not involved in the new AI research but says it’s important to keep the field moving forward. “The risk calculator is one part of risk assessment, but it’s not the only part.

Of particular importance is information about how many seniors die, develop disabilities, can no longer live independently, or have a significantly worsened quality of life after major surgery. “What older patients want to know is, ‘What’s my life going to look like?’” Cooper said. Invasive procedures that take place in operating rooms with patients under general anesthesia were counted as major surgeries. Two years ago, Gill’s team conducted research that showed 1 in 3 older adults had not returned to their baseline level of functioning six months after major surgery. This includes assessing older patients three times a day for delirium (an acute change in mental status that often afflicts older hospital patients), getting patients moving as soon as possible, and using non-narcotic pain relievers.

☆ Sono, Aptera and Lightyear are making solar electric cars a reality
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSolar powered cars are here — but can they go mainstream? Sono Motors, Aptera Motors and Lightyear are all developing solar electric vehicles that are set to hit the market over the next few years. While these cars have lithium-based batteries that can be charged normally, they also contain integrated solar panels that can provide an additional 15 to 45 miles of range. As the tech improves, solar EVs could gain wider adoption as manufacturers and consumers seek greater efficiency and range alongside decreased dependence on grid infrastructure.

☆ Why solar electric vehicles might be the next generation of EVs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this article 57LA-FF Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTThe world's first commercial solar electric vehicles are hitting the U.S. and European markets in the next few years. German company Sono Motors , Southern California-based Aptera Motors, and Dutch company Lightyear are all producing electric vehicles with integrated solar panels, which can harness the sun's power to provide around 15-45 additional miles on a clear day. This is roughly 15 miles a day, which is perfect for commuters," said Sono Motors co-CEO and co-founder Laurin Hahn. Production of Aptera Motors' solar electric two-seater vehicle is set to begin next year in Carlsbad, California. Its lithium-ion battery gets 390 miles per charge, with an average of 20 or so additional miles from solar, up to nearly 45 miles.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow China came to dominate the U.S. in smartphone manufacturingChina has controlled the smartphone manufacturing market for years. While some industries, like the semiconductors, are scrambling to build new factories across the U.S., tech giants like Apple and Google are not making the same effort. CNBC explores why phones are built abroad and whether production should move to America. And CNBC visits a startup, Purism, at its Carlsbad, California factory to take a look inside its smartphone manufacturing facility.

In fact, Covid-related deaths and hospitalizations have fallen in recent months, despite the emergence of new omicron subvariants that evade immunity from previous infections and vaccination. Full coverage of the Covid-19 pandemicAccording to NBC News data, Covid deaths have fallen consistently since Aug. 31, when the seven-day average of daily Covid deaths was at 571. The average number of Covid hospitalizations per day has decreased by 27.9% since Aug. 28, according to NBC News data. While Covid-related hospitalizations are not currently increasing, Gupta warns that they could during the winter as immunity, especially from previous infection, diminishes. Now, he said, "Covid deaths don't all look the same."

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