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☆ Georgia county said it was too costly to spend $10,000 a year on health cover for trans employees. It spent $1.2 million fighting it, lost, and has to pay anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Georgia county refused to change a health plan to cover a trans employee's surgeries, citing the cost. The county spent nearly $1.2 million in legal fees fighting it in court, and lost. Lange came out as a transgender woman to her colleagues in 2017, after working for the Houston County Sheriff's Office for more than a decade, legal documents show. Houston County spent $57,135 on a budget expert to make the case, per ProPublica. Houston County did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ A Georgia employee requested their county include gender-affirming care as part of their health coverage. Instead, the county spent $1.2 million fighting the effort: report.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Sarah Al-Arshani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Georgia county was accused of refusing to include gender-affirming care as part of their health coverage. The county spent $1.2 million fighting it, ProPublica found — significantly more than the cost to cover care. Anna Lange, a sheriff's deputy in Georgia's Houston County requested her county expand its healthcare coverage to cover her gender-affirming care, according to court documents reviewed by Insider. "You knew right then and there that no matter what I said, that it wouldn't matter," she told ProPublica. "It was a slap in the face, really, to find out how much they had spent," Lange told ProPublica.

☆ Watch live: Biden announces new plans to curb gun violence, months after Lunar New Year mass shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden is in Monterey Park, California, to announce plans for a new executive order to combat gun violence, less than two months after a mass shooting during Lunar New Year celebrations rocked that community. Biden's executive order will include increasing the use of background checks for gun buyers and promoting safe storage of firearms. But the White House says the number of mass shootings in 2023 alone shows it did not go far enough. There have been at least 110 mass shootings in the United States in the two and a half months of 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. More than 8,300 Americans have died due to gun violence since the beginning of the year alone, the organization's data says.

[1/3] A truck drives through a flooded road after an atmospheric river storm system in Hayward, California, U.S. March 10, 2023. As much as 5 inches (13 cm) of rain has already fallen in some spots across the county, with some seeing as much as 7 inches. U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday declared an emergency in California, ordering federal assistance to help local, tribal and state officials respond to the severe weather. The heavy rains in northern and central California raised concerns that melting snow from a spate of blizzards in mid-elevation mountains could add to runoff and cause flooding downstream. Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

“This is a major life decision that should involve the parents,” Circuit Judge Paul Niemeyer said as the panel heard arguments in the case before it makes a decision. Steven Fitschen, the group's president, said in an email that he anticipates filing more lawsuits challenging school policies barring the disclosure of students' gender identity. At least 168 U.S. school districts with more than 3.2 million students have such policies, according to conservative group Parents Defending Education. Parents have filed lawsuits challenging similar policies adopted by school districts in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Virginia and Iowa, among other states. Quattlebaum and Circuit Judge Allison Rushing, who rounded out the panel, are appointees of Republican former President Donald Trump.

☆ Another Norfolk Southern train derails in Ohio, railroad says no toxins aboard
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Norfolk Southern said the train that derailed near Springfield was not carrying any hazardous materials and that no one was hurt. The accident follows the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, 180 miles (290 km)northeast of Springfield. Norfolk Southern said in an emailed statement that Saturday's derailment of about 20 cars of a 212-car train happened as it was traveling southbound near Springfield. "No hazardous materials are involved and there have been no reported injuries," Norfolk Southern said. "We don't believe hazardous materials were involved," he said.

☆ George Santos' mysterious new treasurer is unknown to local politicians but lists his address as the apartment where Santos' sister used to live
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. George Santos' federal political committees listed a mysterious new treasurer, CNN reported. Curiously, the treasurer's address is listed as the apartment where Santos' sister used to live. The address has also previously been listed by Santos himself as his address on campaign documents. Employees at three businesses in the building told CNN that Andrew Olson was not a name they recognized. CNN's Manu Raju approached Santos on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to ask about Olson, but Santos did not answer any questions.

Feb 27 - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to Los Angeles County's ban on sales of flavored tobacco products brought by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which had argued that only the federal government - not state or local governments - has the legal authority to regulate tobacco products. The Supreme Court in December allowed a California statewide ban on flavored tobacco products, also challenged by R.J. Reynolds, to go into effect. California became the second state to ban all flavored tobacco product sales, after Massachusetts in 2019. Flavored tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, have come under scrutiny in recent years as critics have said they appeal to youth. Circuit Court of Appeals last year upheld the Los Angeles ban on a 2-1 vote.

☆ Democrats win control of Pennsylvania House, end GOP rule in competitive swing state
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Reading, PA - May 10: Pennsylvania State Rep and Democratic Leader Joanna E. McClinton speaks in front of Reading City Hall. Democrats won control of the Pennsylvania House in special elections Tuesday, wresting partial power from Republicans for the first time in a dozen years in the competitive swing state. Three of those Democratic seats quickly became vacant, casting uncertainty over who actually controlled the chamber. Democrats had been expected to win Tuesday's special elections, because they had easily won the same seats last fall. That's because Republican Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver won a special election Jan. 31 to fill a vacant state Senate seat.

☆ The biggest risks in procrastinating on iPhone, Android software updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Kaitlin Balasaygun | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

watch nowNot all software updates offer an array of new features, but when they do it can feel like you are getting a new phone without added cost. Yet, many users still do whatever they can to put off the 30 minutes that a software update can take. Discomfort often stems from the perception that software updates will require users to relearn how to use certain features on their device and threatens their current habits. When 30 days have passed, the system then prompts the user to install the system update. When a major security update comes out, everyone should act relatively fast.

☆ President of NATO member state says Crimea will 'never again' be part of Ukraine, argues against sending more weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Croatia's president said that Russian-annexed Crimea will never rejoin Ukraine, breaking from NATO. "It is clear that Crimea will never again be part of Ukraine," Zoran Milanovic said, according to Reuters. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in December that giving Ukraine better weaponry would help to end the war. In recent months Ukraine has pushed Russian forces back in the east, thwarting its efforts to conquer vast tracts of the country. Croatia's president has repeatedly criticized Western help for Ukraine, Reuters noted.

The stunning market selloff has cast a shadow over Adani Enterprises' secondary share sale that started on Friday. The share sale is being managed by Jefferies, India's SBI Capital Markets, Axis Capital, and ICICI Securities among others. Shares of other listed Adani firms also plummeted, with Adani Transmission Ltd (ADAI.NS), Adani Total Gas (ADAG.NS), Adani Green Energy (ADNA.NS) and Adani Ports (APSE.NS) sinking 20% each. Adani Ports, Adani Green Energy and Adani Transmission marked their worst intraday drop ever, with heavy volumes. Billionaire U.S. investor Bill Ackman said on Thursday that he found the Hindenburg report "highly credible and extremely well researched."

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — Hundreds of mourners gathered Wednesday night at a vigil outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, a typically quiet Los Angeles suburb now home to one of the worst tragedies in the county's history. "I'm honestly at a loss for words," said Andy Luu, who was born in Monterey Park. People participate in a community candlelight vigil at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Calif., on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris walks to lay flowers at the memorial outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, in Monterey Park, Calif., on Wednesday. Los Angeles artist Noah Reich helped build the altars for the Monterey Park victims.

☆ Live updates: Suspect in shooting at dance hall near Los Angeles is dead, sheriff says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Erick Mendoza | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Mirna-Alsharif-Byline-Jm.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +33 min

Share this -Link copiedAlhambra officials release statement on Monterey Park shooting Alhambra officials released a statement on the Monterey Park shooting early Sunday evening. Officials also acknowledged the shooting that occurred in the city after the Monterey Park shooting. Share this -Link copiedPolice release pictures to identify Monterey Park shooting suspect The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has released pictures seeking to identify the Monterey Park shooting suspect. Law enforcement has connected him to the Monterey Park shooting and a shooting minutes later in Alhambra. Patrons of the Alhambra dance hall wrestled a firearm away from a man about 20 minutes after the Monterey Park shooting.

☆ Live updates: Possible suspect in mass shooting at dance hall near Los Angeles is found dead, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Erick Mendoza | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Mirna-Alsharif-Byline-Jm.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +31 min

☆ GOP Rep. Greg Steube sustains 'several serious injuries' after falling 25 feet off a ladder, his office says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, listens during a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Rep. Greg Steube is "making progress" but remained hospitalized Thursday with "several serious injuries" he sustained after a 25-foot fall off a ladder at his Florida home, his office said. Steube's injuries "are still under assessment but not life threatening at this time," his office said. A third-term congressman from Florida's 17th Congressional District, Steube had recently been named to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. "Our family's prayers go out to Congressman Steube this morning," tweeted Joe Scarborough, a former Florida Republican congressman turned MSNBC morning host and frequent GOP critic.

☆ Guyana projects state oil revenue to hit $1.63 billion this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Neil Marks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The drilling results drove the nation's reserves to more than 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil. The country's oil production could reach some 810,000 barrels per day by 2025 with the startup of the third production vessel, he said. A consortium led by U.S. producer Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) is responsible for all the country's oil output. The nation's oil and gas sector is estimated to have expanded by 125% last year, with a total of 101.4 million barrels of oil produced, compared with 42.7 million in 2021. The county's Natural Resource Fund held $1.27 billion at the end of 2022 after withdrawing about $608 million to finance state development priorities, Singh said.

☆ Apple is reportedly talking with emergency call centers amid complaints that skiers' iPhones and Apple Watches keep triggering 911 calls
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple is reportedly talking with 911 call centers dealing with an increase in accidental calls. Some automated calls are coming from skiers with iPhone and Watches with the new crash-detection feature. The accidental automated 911 calls are coming from skiers who have newer Apple devices with its crash-detection feature. In Greene County in upstate New York, accidental 911 calls increased by 22% from December 2021 to last December, New York Post reported. Neither Greene County's 911 Center nor Carbon County's Communication Center immediately responded to Insider's request for comment.

☆ I'm a teacher who works at Starbucks for no salary just to cover my medical expenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Alicia Gonzalez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She had considered joining the Air Force, but returned to school instead to become a teacher. At Starbucks, her medical plan costs more than she makes, but she said it's worth it. I commuted for almost a year, then was finally able to transfer to the Starbucks three minutes from my house. My paychecks are $0.00My Starbucks income doesn't cover the full monthly cost of their premium insurance plan — but it's worth it. Starbucks won't make employees pay the remainder of a monthly premium even if their paycheck doesn't cover it.

☆ Spaceport locals say rocket launch by billionaire Richard Branson boosted their farming community and put the area on the map
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Virgin Orbit's rocket broke down, but residents said the launch will put Cornwall on the map. Kate Duffy/InsiderSue and Paul Nuttall, who were looking to retire soon, told Insider that Virgin Orbit's launch was needed to put Cornwall, a farming county, on the map. Hosting Virgin Orbit's launch will hopefully keep children like Seth who are interested in space in Cornwall, Emma said. Virgin Orbit's mission was set to be the UK's first orbital space launch from UK soil. In a press conference on Sunday, Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall, said she hopes residents feel proud of Cornwall "going to the stars."

☆ California storm forces thousands to flee their homes and leaves 1 dead in 'endless onslaught'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As of early Tuesday, more than 63,000 utility customers were without power across California, according to PowerOutage.us . The heavy rains are expected to worsen ongoing flooding and prolong the risk of flash flooding and mudslides across the state. The flooding came five years to the day after heavy rains hammered a Montecito "burn scar," killing nearly two dozen people. The severe weather also forced the Santa Barbara Airport to close due to flooding, the airport announced in a tweet Monday. The recent severe weather prompted Gov.

☆ Celebrity Cruise captain explains how her crew maneuvered their massive ship in rough conditions to rescue a boat of migrants in distress
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two cruise ships rescued over 20 migrants in distress off the coast of Florida earlier this week. "Because of the rough sea conditions, I needed to maneuver the ship in order to provide a lead so that we could bring the boat safely alongside the ship." A post shared by Captain Kate McCue (@captainkatemccue)Maritime law requires all vessel — including cruise ships — to provide assistance to passengers in distress regardless of circumstance. On Monday, a Carnival cruise ship similarly rescued a boat of five migrants 25 nautical miles northwest of Cuba. Steve Glassman, a Fort Lauderdale city commissioner, was one of the thousands of passengers onboard the Celebrity Cruise ship during Tuesday's rescue mission, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

☆ Top Iranian Sunni cleric says torture of protesters un-Islamic
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DUBAI, Jan 6 (Reuters) - A top dissident Iranian Sunni cleric on Friday denounced as un-Islamic Iran's alleged use of forced confessions to convict detained protesters, as weekly demonstrations continued in the county's southeast. Meanwhile, the authorities' crackdown following nationwide protests continued with arrests, including that of a celebrity chef and a prominent journalist. "If someone does not accept the accusation, they torture him to accept it. After the sermon, demonstrators marched in Zahedan, chanting "Death to the Islamic Republic", according to videos posted on social media. Officials are yet to announce the reasons for the detention of Beik, who had interviewed relatives of arrested protesters.

Mortgage borrowing limits are the same in all Alabama counties. Mortgage borrowing limits in Alabama are the same in every county in 2022: $726,200 for conforming mortgages and $472,030 for FHA mortgages. How do mortgage borrowing limits work? If you want to buy a home that costs more than the conforming mortgage limit in your county, you'll need to get a jumbo mortgage. Alabama borrowing limits in 2023 by countyCounty Conforming mortgage limit (single-family home) FHA mortgage limit (single-family home) Autauga $726,200 $472,030 Baldwin $726,200 $472,030 Barbour $726,200 $472,030 Bibb $726,200 $472,030 Blount $726,200 $472,030 Bullock $726,200 $472,030 Butler $726,200 $472,030 Calhoun $726,200 $472,030 Chambers $726,200 $472,030 Cherokee $726,200 $472,030 Chilton $726,200 $472,030 Choctaw $726,200 $472,030 Clarke $726,200 $472,030 Clay $726,200 $472,030 Cleburne $726,200 $472,030 Coffee $726,200 $472,030 Colbert $726,200 $472,030 Conecuh $726,200 $472,030 Coosa $726,200 $472,030 Covington $726,200 $472,030 Crenshaw $726,200 $472,030 Cullman $726,200 $472,030 Dale $726,200 $472,030 Dallas $726,200 $472,030 DeKalb $726,200 $472,030 Elmore $726,200 $472,030 Escambia $726,200 $472,030 Etowah $726,200 $472,030 Fayette $726,200 $472,030 Franklin $726,200 $472,030 Geneva $726,200 $472,030 Greene $726,200 $472,030 Hale $726,200 $472,030 Henry $726,200 $472,030 Houston $726,200 $472,030 Jackson $726,200 $472,030 Jefferson $726,200 $472,030 Lamar $726,200 $472,030 Lauderdale $726,200 $472,030 Lawrence $726,200 $472,030 Lee $726,200 $472,030 Limeston $726,200 $472,030 Lowndes $726,200 $472,030 Macon $726,200 $472,030 Madison $726,200 $472,030 Marengo $726,200 $472,030 Marion $726,200 $472,030 Marshall $726,200 $472,030 Mobile $726,200 $472,030 Monroe $726,200 $472,030 Montgomery $726,200 $472,030 Morgan $726,200 $472,030 Perry $726,200 $472,030 Pickens $726,200 $472,030 Pike $726,200 $472,030 Randolph $726,200 $472,030 Russell $726,200 $472,030 St. Clair $726,200 $472,030 Shelby $726,200 $472,030 Sumter $726,200 $472,030 Talladega $726,200 $472,030 Tallapoosa $726,200 $472,030 Tuscaloosa $726,200 $472,030 Walker $726,200 $472,030 Washington $726,200 $472,030 Wilcox $726,200 $472,030 Winston $726,200 $472,030Note: In every county in Alabama, if you want to borrow more than the baseline loan limit of $726,200, you'll need to get a jumbo mortgage.

Poloncarz updated the death toll from the blizzard on Wednesday, reporting 37 deaths in Erie County, with one other storm-related fatality in neighboring Niagara County. The goal was to get at least one lane of traffic open on each street by Wednesday night, Poloncarz said. The mercury climbed above freezing on Wednesday, and forecasts called for the thaw to continue with spring-like temperatures and showers likely by week's end. "We're actually expecting a rapid melt over the next two days, because we're going to hit 50 degrees (Fahrenheit)," Poloncarz said. Showers and thunderstorms are expected in the Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi Valley, the weather service said.

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