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CNN —There is still no clear path to avert a partial government shutdown at the end of the week, with just four days until Congress runs into a key funding deadline. Lawmakers had hoped to release the text of a bipartisan spending deal Sunday evening, but the bill has yet to be unveiled. As the clock ticks down to the deadline, Senate Democrats expressed anger and frustration Monday at the growing risk of a shutdown as many criticized House Republicans over the impasse. “Right now, the Republicans can’t seem to get themselves organized just to sign off on the basic work they’re supposed to do. In the Senate, agreement would need to be reached with the consent of all 100 senators to swiftly move any legislation before the deadline to avert a partial shutdown.

Persons: Mike Johnson, ” Sen, Elizabeth Warren of, CNN’s Manu Raju, “, Republicans can’t, Jon Tester, ”, Raju, Joe Manchin, Chuck Schumer, Johnson, Schumer, ” Johnson, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, We’re, Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, It’s, Kevin McCarthy, Manu Raju, Sam Fossum, Melanie Zanona, Haley Talbot, Betsy Klein, Tami Luhby, Priscilla Alvarez Organizations: CNN, Lawmakers, Louisiana Republican, House Republicans, Republicans, Montana Democrat, West, West Virginia Democrat, House Republican, GOP, Senate, Capitol, White, Senators, Homeland, Schumer, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Urban, and Drug Administration, Justice, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, State, Education, Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency Locations: Louisiana, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Montana, West Virginia, New York, Ukraine, Washington, Housing

☆ Population and economy in South Carolina are booming
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Tami Luhby | Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“And, of course, South Carolina is in the heart of the Southeast.”Job seekers check-in to a job fair at a Schneider Electric manufacturing facility in Hopkins, South Carolina, in January 2023. “You can reach about twice as many people within an 8-hour drive from South Carolina as you can from Florida,” he said. “The housing market and the manufacturing industry, particularly in South Carolina, saw a major increase in demand,” Von Nessen said. South Carolina home sale activity fell by double-digits in 2022 but has since started to stabilize, he said. “We’re just treating so many more patients that we don’t have capacity,” said Thornton Kirby, CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association.

Persons: ” Joseph Von Nessen, Darla Moore, ” Von Nessen, ”, it’s, It’s, Sean Rayford, Barrie Kirk, “, Von Nessen, Micah Green, “ We’re, Thornton Kirby, Malcolm Isley, “ We’ve, ” Isley, Arnold Kamler, Inc . Kent, Kent, Kamler, Nikki Haley, —, Daniel Slim, Scott Huffmon, Donald Trump, Haley, they’d Organizations: CNN, Palmetto State, of Labor Statistics, University of South, of Business, North, SC Council, Competitiveness, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor, Midlands Technical College, Technical College Midlands Technical College, Schneider, Bloomberg, Getty, Census, US Federal Reserve, US News, South Carolina Hospital Association, “, Prisma, Health Prisma Health, Greenville Technical College, Health Center for Health, Life Sciences, Kent International, Walmart, Kent, Inc ., Winthrop University, —, Charleston City Market, Winthrop’s Center, Public, Research, Palmetto, Republican, Trump, CBS Locations: South Carolina, South, “, Carolina, Myrtle Beach , South Carolina, North America, University of South Carolina, West Columbia, United States, Hopkins , South Carolina, Florida, droves, Myrtle Beach, ’, Manning, New York City, Georgia, Charleston, AFP

☆ Ozempic, Mounjaro and hundreds of other drugs become even more expensive in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Novo Nordisk boosted the list price of Ozempic by 3.5% to $969 for a four-week supply. Eli Lilly last month raised the list price of Mounjaro by 4.5% to $1,069 for a four-week supply. However, they may have to pay the list price if they are uninsured or have not yet hit their annual deductible. Former President Donald Trump, who is running for election again, also unveiled several proposals and issued executive orders aimed at lowering drug costs during his administration. Another factor is the recent policies that penalize pharmaceutical manufacturers for raising list prices faster than inflation.

Persons: Drugmakers, Eli Lilly, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, Ozempic, Eli Lily, Marlene Foss, Foss, “, ”, Mark Rapp, Rapp, ’ ”, Mark Rapp's, grandkids, ” Rapp, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, We’ve, Antonio Ciaccia, we’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, CNN, Food and Drug Administration, Nordisk’s, Mounjaro, Medicare, ”, White House Locations: New York, Portugal, Doylestown , Pennsylvania, Italy, Mansfield , Ohio, Ohio, Idaho

☆ Strong economic growth but high unemployment: A look at Nevada’s economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Alicia Wallace | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

In Las Vegas, the cacophony of voices, music, ringing slot machines and car horns that typically pulsed through the Las Vegas Strip was replaced by silence, the chirps of birds and the wails of sirens. In tourism-dependent Nevada, the unemployment rate rocketed even higher, topping out at 30.6% that month. “This is an unemployment rate that’s not driven by job losers, this is an unemployment rate driven by job seekers,” he said. Homes under construction in the Summerlin community, on July 31, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada. As of December 2023, the Reno metro area’s unemployment rate was just 0.2 percentage points above the nation’s 3.7% rate.

Persons: John Simpson, Steve, Sisolak, ” Simpson, It’s, ”, they’re, I’ve, Stephen M, Miller, Mario Tama, Bob Potts, there’s, There’s, Nevadans, Annie E, Casey Foundation’s, Jamelle Nance, Marty Elquist, ” Elquist, “, Andrew Woods, Nicholas Irwin, Start’s Simpson, Irwin, Ethan Miller, Maurice Page, Page, Tesla, ” Potts, Carolyn Cole, Potts, You’ve, you’ve Organizations: CNN, Las, Republican Party, of Labor Statistics, University of Nevada, Lee Business School’s Center for Business, Economic Research, New York, Nevada Governor’s, Economic, Las Vegas, New, Workforce, Children’s, Alliance of Nevada, Education, Development, Silver State, Center for Business, UNLV, Reno, ”, Homes, Nevada Housing Coalition, Harvard University’s, for Housing Studies, Silver, Means, Reno Industrial Park, Apple, Panasonic, Google, Reno Industrial, Los Angeles Times, NCAA, NFL, NFL Pro Bowl Locations: Nevada, Las Vegas, Reno, ” Nevada, State, New York, New, Las, New Mexico, Vegas, “ Nevada, Silver, UNLV . Nevada, California, Sparks, Las Vegas , Nevada, Florida, Hawaii, Clark County, Sparks , Nevada, New Orleans, Denver, Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada, Los Angeles

☆ Federal budget deficit expected to soar to $2.6 trillion in 2034, CBO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The federal budget deficit will balloon from $1.6 trillion this fiscal year to $2.6 trillion in fiscal year 2034, according to the latest Congressional Budget Office outlook released Wednesday. A major reason for the widening gap between revenue and spending: a spike in net interest payments on the federal debt due to higher interest rates. The nation’s debt held by the public is expected to rise to a record 116% of the economy by 2034. CBO’s deficit projection will likely add pressure to congressional lawmakers who have yet to agree on funding for federal agencies for fiscal year 2024. Budget experts called on Congress to take action to address the nation’s worsening fiscal situation.

Persons: MacGuineas, they’ve, Mike Johnson, ” Michael Peterson, Peter G Organizations: CNN, Congressional, Social Security, Medicare, CBO, GOP, Capitol, Federal, House Republicans, Peterson Foundation

☆ Medicare now negotiating price of drug that costs $7,100 in US vs. $900 in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The annual list price of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Eliquis, a blood thinner that reduces the risk of stroke, is $7,100 in the US. Johnson & Johnson’s arthritis drug Stelara carries an annual list price of $79,000 in the US. Johnson & Johnson declined to comment on Sanders’ report. Medicare launches drug price negotiationsOther nations typically pay far less for medications, in large part because their governments often determine the cost. Those who have yet to meet their deductible and the uninsured may have to pay the full list price.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Bernie Sanders, Bristol Myers, it’s, Johnson, Sanders, drugmakers, Biden, Donald Trump, Sanders ’, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Organizations: CNN, Bristol, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Medicare, Bristol Myers Locations: Japan, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Vermont

☆ Connecticut says it will become first state to cancel medical debt for many residents
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Connecticut will cancel roughly $650 million in medical debt for an estimated 250,000 residents this year, Gov. More than 1 in 10 Connecticut residents have medical debt in collections. New Jersey included $10 million in its most recent budget to fund a pilot program to cancel residents’ medical debt, and Gov. Medical debt is now the largest source of debt in collections, totaling more than credit cards, utilities and auto loans combined, according to the White House. And the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Biden administration are also considering ways to minimize the burden of medical debt.

Persons: Ned Lamont, Lamont, ” Lamont, “ It’s, Phil Murphy, ” Murphy, Jessica Hill, Allison Sesso, Biden Organizations: CNN, Gov, Connecticut Gov, New, New York City, Black, Third, Financial Protection Bureau Locations: Connecticut, Covid, New Jersey, New York

☆ 2023 income tax return: Here’s what you need to know before you file
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Come Monday, the IRS will start accepting and processing 2023 federal income tax returns. Pull out your return from last year: Your 2022 tax return will give you a good starting point for figuring out what documents you need to have handy to fill out this year’s return, said Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals. Here is a list of the most common and costly tax return mistakes the IRS has seen over the years. Lastly, the program cannot be used to file your state returns, so you’ll have to do that separately but your state may have its own free file program. (More details on the federal Direct File program are here.)

Persons: Tom O’Saben, you’ve, ” O’Saben, O’Saben, didn’t, you’re, filers, Katie Lobosco, Tami Luhby Organizations: New, New York CNN, IRS, Patriots, National Association of Tax, Social Security, Child, filers, Social Locations: New York, Maine and Massachusetts, brokerages, Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming

☆ It’s primary time in New Hampshire. Here’s a snapshot of the Granite State’s economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Alicia Wallace | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

New York CNN —New Hampshire, the “first-in-the-nation” primary state (which will hold those elections Tuesday), has been a relatively “better-off” state than most others nationally. Median income/povertyThe typical New Hampshire household has a higher income compared to the average in the United States, and a smaller share of state’s residents are in poverty. Southeastern New Hampshire — where three-quarters of the state’s residents live — benefits from being close to the Boston metropolitan area, said Phil Sletten, research director at the left-leaning New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. Some 42% of New Hampshire residents approved of Biden on the economy, with 55% disapproving, according to a November CNN/University of New Hampshire poll. But when it comes to their personal finances, New Hampshire residents are downbeat.

Persons: ’ ”, Charlie Dougherty, ”, ” Dougherty, “ You’ve, Patricia M, Anderson, Patrick Connelly, ” Connelly, that’s, Brian Gottlob, “, Spencer Platt, Lori Harnois, Gottlob, Phil Sletten, Sletten, Joe Biden, Biden, Gina Ferazzi Organizations: New, New York CNN —, United States, of Labor Statistics, Wells, Labor, Reserve, Dartmouth University, CNN, Housing, Tax Foundation, Tourism, Census, Granite State, Survey, New Hampshire —, University of New, Commerce Department, University of New Hampshire Survey Center, Patrons, Los Angeles Times, Independents Locations: New York, New York CNN — New Hampshire, Granite, New Hampshire, Boston, , New Hampshire, “ New Hampshire, “, Hampshire, Chester , New Hampshire, Manchester, Devon, Bartlett , New Hampshire, Ohio, Washington, New, Canada, Pennsylvania, United States, Granite State, University of New Hampshire, Colebrook , New Hampshire

☆ Premarket stocks: The rich and powerful are meeting in Davos. Here’s what they’re talking about
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Climate catastrophes: Climate change is a hot topic as leaders meet to discuss balancing economic growth with sustainability. Davos comes just days after scientists around the globe reported that the average temperatures last year reached a new record high. The report also said that cooperation among global leaders on the issue is scarce. So while leaders will likely discuss the use of fossil fuels and green development, there may not be much agreement. Leaders gathered in Davos Sunday to discuss Ukrainian President Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan to end Russia’s war with his country.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron, Li Qiang, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, John Kerry, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, Jamie Dimon, Brian Moynihan, Larry Fink, Donald Trump, ”, Philipp Hildebrand, CNN’s Richard Quest, ” “, ” Nicolai Tangen, CNN’s, “, Kristalina Georgieva, OpenAI’s Altman, Microsoft’s, Zelensky’s, JPMorgan’s Dimon, Herzog, Klaus Schwab, Tami Luhby, Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett, Nabil Ahmed, ” Ahmed, Jordan Valinsky, Comité Organizations: New, New York CNN, World Economic, National, Business, Microsoft, JPMorgan, Bank of America, BlackRock, Republican, GOP, ” BlackRock, Bank, Norges Bank, International Monetary Fund, IMF, State, Amazon, Oracle, Berkshire Hathaway, Oxfam, Workers Locations: New York, Davos, United States, Iowa, Europe, Taiwan, India, Mexico, China, Covid, Champagne, France

☆ The wealth of the world’s five richest men more than doubled since 2020
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

His wealth soared to $245.5 billion at the end of November, up 737% from March 2020, after accounting for inflation. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had a fortune of $167.4 billion, up 24%; while Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s wealth totaled $145.5 billion, up 107%. US billionaires, many of whom derive their wealth from the equity in the companies they lead, are $1.6 trillion richer. Seven out of 10 of the world’s largest public companies have either a billionaire CEO or a billionaire as its principal shareholder. What’s more, the top 1% holds 43% of the world’s financial assets, according to Oxfam, drawing on data from Wealth X.

Persons: Nabil Ahmed, ” Ahmed, Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault, Jeff Bezos, Larry, Warren Buffett, Amitabh Behar Organizations: CNN, Forbes, Oxfam, Workers, Tesla, SpaceX, Amazon, Oracle, Berkshire Hathaway, Wealth, Oxfam International’s Locations: Davos, Switzerland, United States, Asia, Europe, “

☆ CVS will change the way it prices drugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Tami Luhby | Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —CVS is revamping the way it reimburses its pharmacies for prescription medications, a move that could make prescription drug pricing simpler and change how much consumers pay for their medicines. It’s a similar model to the one entrepreneur Mark Cuban is pushing with his Cost Plus Drugs company. This shift in payment models could change the cost of prescription drugs for some patients, although it will not necessarily make all medicine cost less. Some drugs may cost less, while others might rise in price, CVS executives said. Americans spend around $1,200 a year on average for prescription drugs — more than any other country — according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Persons: Mark Cuban, ”, Prem Shah, Nick Fabrizio, Fabrizio, they’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, Plus, CVS Pharmacy, CVS Health, Cornell University, Organization for Economic Co, Kaiser Family Foundation, Amazon Pharmacy, Cuban, Plus Drug, Blue Locations: New York, California

☆ The wealth of middle class and lower-income Americans grew at faster rate than high earners early in the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The median wealth of lower-income households shot up 101% between December 2019 and December 2021, while the middle class enjoyed a 29% increase. High earners had a median net worth of $803,400 in December 2021, while the middle class and lower-income households had nest eggs of $204,100 and $24,500, respectively, Pew found. Half of these households had a net worth of $500 or less in December 2021, compared to a net worth of $0 two years earlier. Poorer Hispanic households had a median net worth of $0, compared to a negative net worth of $1,100 at the end of 2019. Other government reports show that lower-income Americans lost ground in 2022.

Persons: Pew, ”, Rakesh Kochhar Organizations: CNN, Pew Research Center, Pew, Census Bureau Locations: White

☆ Here’s why Social Security and Medicare advocates fear Mike Johnson’s speakership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Here’s what’s not up for debate: Social Security and Medicare are in financial trouble, and the nation’s debt is on an unsustainable trajectory. Spending on Social Security and Medicare is projected to soar as the nation ages, putting more pressure on Congress to address the programs. Advocates’ concernsAdvocates, however, argue that lawmakers can hide behind the debt commission and avoid taking individual blame for agreeing to benefit cuts. “The new speaker has made it clear he’s not a friend to seniors, Social Security or Medicare,” said Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. “So if you want to keep Social Security solid, you have to do all that stuff and a lot more.”This story has been updated with additional information.

Persons: Mike Johnson, shivers, Johnson, Here’s what’s, ”, That’ll, it’s, Max Richtman, “, Joe Biden, Biden, Charles Blahous, ” Blahous Organizations: CNN, Social Security, Republican, Medicare, Congressional, Office, American Enterprise Institute, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, George Mason University, Committee, RSC

☆ Black entrepreneurs, business leaders say conservative legal challenges could hinder progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Nicquel Terry Ellis Cnn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Trigg-Jones said she applied for funding from grant groups, venture capital funds and investors, but most of them denied her. Late last month, a federal appeals court granted the Alliance’s motion to temporarily block the Fearless Fund from awarding grants exclusively to Black women entrepreneurs. Black business leaders told CNN the lawsuits, if successful, could stand to undo decades of progress toward leveling the playing field for Black and brown people in the workplace and small business sector. According to a 2019 report from American Express, Black women are the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs in the country. Black business owners are turned down for loans at a rate three times higher than White business owners, according to a 2020 analysis of small businesses by Goldman Sachs.

Persons: Cathleen Trigg, Jones, –, you’re, ” Trigg, Edward Blum, Blum, Fearless, ” Blum, “, Goldman Sachs, Arian Simone, ”, AAER “, Rashae Barnes, Barnes, ” Barnes, Kaycea Campbell, ” Campbell, Lenwood Long, —, Long, CNN’s Jaide Timm, Garcia, Isabel Rosales, Tami Luhby Organizations: CNN, Trigg, American Alliance for Equal Rights, Civil, American Express, “, Evals Equity, Pierce College Los Angeles, Federal, Consumer Finances, African American Alliance of Community Development Financial, Black Locations: New York, PitchBook, White

☆ US aid to Israel and Ukraine: Here’s what’s in the $105 billion national security package Biden requested
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration on Friday laid out the details of a $105 billion national security package that includes military and humanitarian assistance for the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. House Republicans are still struggling to unite behind a speaker to lead their conference, and until one is elected, the national security package will remain in limbo. The Biden administration’s prior request for $24 billion in Ukraine aid was not included in a stopgap government funding measure Congress approved in late September. Here’s what’s in the package, according to the White House:$61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine$30 billion for the Defense Department for equipment for Ukraine and the replenishment of US stocks. $10 billion for humanitarian assistance$9.15 billion for aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other humanitarian needs.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Here’s Organizations: CNN, House Republicans, Ukraine, White, Defense Department, National Nuclear Security Administration, Israel, Iron, State Department, West Bank, Treasury Department, World Bank Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Mexico, Taiwan, Congress, Europe, assertiveness, China

☆ Premiums for family health insurance at work jump to nearly $24,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Workers and their employers are paying a lot more for job-based health insurance this year. The annual cost of family health insurance coverage at work soared to an average of nearly $24,000 this year, according to KFF’s Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Wednesday. The tight job market has prompted companies to avoid watering down their health insurance coverage since it can be a recruiting and retention tool. Nearly a quarter of companies said they will increase employees’ premium contributions in the next two years, KFF found. Some 7% of large employers -— and 19% of companies with at least 5,000 workers — provide or plan to provide such reimbursement.

Persons: There’s, ”, Matthew Rae, Deductibles, KFF, Rae, Still, Bindery, Steve Van Loon, Van Loon, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN — Workers, Survey, Employees, Workers, “ Employers, KDC Locations: New York, Tempe , Arizona

☆ US economy added 336,000 jobs last month, almost twice what was expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The US economy added an estimated 336,000 jobs last month, blowing expectations out of the water, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday. In September, leisure and hospitality helped drive job growth higher, with 96,000 jobs added. Today’s headline jobs number — that surprising 336,000 net job gain — is an initial estimate that will be revised twice more. The surprising September jobs report, however, didn’t continue that streak. August’s second look has job growth now at 227,000 for the month, an increase of 40,000.

Persons: ”, Sung, Soh, Joe Biden, “, it’s, ” Biden, Andrew Patterson, ” Patterson, they’ve, Jim McCoy, we’re, ” Daniel Zhao, Glassdoor’s, ” Julia Pollak, didn’t, ” Diane Swonk, — CNN’s Tami Luhby Organizations: Minneapolis CNN, of Labor Statistics, Loyola Marymount University, SS Economics, BLS, Federal Reserve, Dow, Nasdaq, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Vanguard, Fed, Administration, Children, Families, Nationwide, Century, CNN Locations: Minneapolis, United States

☆ Gold is losing its dazzle as bond yields and the dollar surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Investors tend to prefer government bonds over gold when yields are high, because they offer regular coupon payments. Why nursing schools are turning away thousands of applicantsAt a time when registered nurses are going on strike to protest staffing shortages, thousands of applicants who want to enter or advance in the profession are being turned away from nursing schools, reports CNN’s Tami Luhby. Staffing shortages are the main reason why nursing schools are not able to accept more students who want to become registered nurses. The Girl Scouts are discontinuing a cult-favorite cookieThe Girl Scouts are discontinuing a popular cookie just a year after its debut sparked a frenzy, reports my colleague Jordan Valinsky. Raspberry Rally won’t be sold this upcoming cookie-sales season, which runs January to April 2024, Girl Scouts of the USA has announced.

Persons: Richard Galanti, they’re restocked, Matt Dmytryszyn, “ There’s, ”, CNN’s Tami Luhby, preceptors, Preceptors, Judith Jarosinski, Read, Jordan Valinsky Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, Federal Reserve, Barrick Gold, Kinross Gold, Northam, Costco, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Salisbury University’s School of Nursing, Girl Scouts, Scouts, USA, Girl Scouts ’, eBay Locations: Salisbury, Maryland

☆ Why nursing schools are turning away applicants amid a major staffing shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —At a time when registered nurses are going on strike to protest staffing shortages, thousands of applicants who want to enter or advance in the profession are being turned away from nursing schools. Nearly 78,200 qualified applications were not offered spots at nursing schools last year, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which represents schools with baccalaureate and advanced degree programs. Staffing shortages are the main reason why nursing schools are not able to accept more students who want to become registered nurses. Staffing shortages are also a major factor in the current strike by more than 75,000 unionized employees, including registered nurses, at Kaiser Permanente. The national median salary for nursing school professors with master’s degrees is just under $89,000, according to the nursing college association.

Persons: preceptors, Preceptors, ”, Judith Jarosinski, Rick Garcia, David Auerbach, Cynthia McCurren, McCurren, Jarosinski, ” McCurren, Marie Ann Marino, Thomas, “, Marino, ” Marino Organizations: CNN, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Salisbury University’s School of Nursing, Community, Organization, Nursing, Brandeis University, Kaiser Permanente, Bureau of Labor Statistics, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Nurse.com, Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, US Department of Health, Human Services, Loan, Salisbury School of Nursing, Faculty Academy, Maryland Higher Education Commission, Jefferson College of Nursing, Jefferson Health, Jefferson Locations: Salisbury, Maryland, Kaiser, Flint, Philadelphia

☆ What happens if the government shuts down: An illustrated guide
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Amy O'Kruk | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A government shutdown happens when Congress doesn’t approve funding for the federal government by the time the new fiscal year starts on October 1. What it means for youBecause many federal workers are off the job during a government shutdown, many services are stopped or slowed, disturbing the day-to-day life for many Americans. What it means for government workersWhen a shutdown occurs, millions of federal employees and military service members do not get paid until it ends. During the last government shutdown in 2018-19, an estimated 420,000 federal employees worked without pay and another 380,000 were furloughed. Unlike federal workers, contractors have no guarantee of getting back pay once the government reopens.

Persons: wasn’t Organizations: CNN —, Social, Postal Service, Employees, NASA, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, EY, of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Small Business Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC

The Office of Management and Budget reminded senior agency officials Friday to update and review shutdown plans. Those plans can vary from shutdown to shutdown. The nearly 4 million Americans who are federal employees will feel the effect immediately. Essential workers will remain on the job, but others will be furloughed until the shutdown is over. For many of them, a shutdown would strain their finances, as it did during the record 35-day funding lapse in 2018-2019.

Persons: “, ”, Doreen Greenwald, Everett Kelley, Pell, disbursing Pell, It’s, treasurers Organizations: CNN, Management, National Treasury Employees Union, American Federation of Government Employees, Transportation Security Administration, Social Security, TSA, of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Business Administration, Futures, US Centers for Disease Control, Drug Administration, Safety, Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, ”, Smithsonian, National, National Archives, National Park Service, of Education, Federal Student Aid, Federal, Department of, Assistance, SNAP, US Department of Agriculture, Women, of Housing, Urban Development, Commission, Research, NOAA, Oceanic, Administration, National Science Foundation, Peace Corps, State Department, Defense Department Locations: United States, America, Washington, DC, shutdowns

☆ Winter expected to be costlier for those who heat with oil. But natural gas heat users will finally get a break.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —After several years of skyrocketing winter heating costs, millions of Americans are expected to finally get a little relief this coming season — if they heat their homes with natural gas, that is. “This is the first year many families will get a break,” said Mark Wolfe, the association’s executive director, referring to the projected drop in natural gas heating costs. Electricity, which is the second most common source of heat, is projected to cost an average of $1,374, up 1.2%. The federal Energy Information Administration is expected to release its winter heating cost outlook next month. Home heating is still priceyAmericans are gearing up for the winter heating season just as rising gas prices have strained their finances.

Persons: walloped, ”, Mark Wolfe, ” Wolfe, Wolfe, “, Monette Ferguson, Ferguson Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Energy Assistance, Association, federal Energy Information Administration, “, Low Income, Energy Assistance, Senate, Alliance for Community Empowerment Locations: New York, Russia, Saudi Arabia, New England, Connecticut

Blue Shield of California will no longer use CVS Health’s Caremark as its pharmacy benefit manager and instead will partner with several companies, including Amazon Pharmacy and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. They have come under fire from other players in the health care industry and from Congress because of their opaque practices. Most adults take at least one prescription drug annually, while more than a third take at least three, Blue Shield said, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. CVS Caremark will continue to work with Blue Shield, providing specialty pharmacy services for members with complex conditions. The company bought online pharmacy PillPack in 2018, launched its own Amazon Pharmacy in 2020 and last year created a virtual health care clinic.

Persons: ” Paul Markovich, Mark Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, Amazon Pharmacy, Cuban, Plus Drug Company, Pharmacy, Blue, for Disease Control, ”, Mark Cuban, Plus, CVS Health, Amazon Locations: New York, California

☆ Taylor Swift is a hero to food banks from coast to coast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

From Georgia to Michigan to Texas to California and in between, food banks have benefited. “Taylor Swift’s donation certainly helped at a time when we’re seeing the need climb and climb and climb,” Shoemaker told CNN. Food banks around the country are contending with increased demand, higher costs and tighter supplies of donated food. Many food banks say need has increased in 2023, driven in part by the end of a pandemic enhancement to food stamps nationwide earlier this year. A flurry of other contributions followed over the next week, jumping 43% from the same period a year earlier, said Shobana Gubbi, the food bank’s chief philanthropy officer.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Terri Shoemaker, “ Taylor, ” Shoemaker, Swift, Mark Coleman, Coleman, Shobana Gubbi, Swift’s largesse, ”, Beth Martino Organizations: New, New York CNN, Arizona Food Bank Network, CNN, Lifeline, Food Bank Locations: New York, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona, Seattle, United States, Valley, Santa Clara , California, Las Vegas, Nevada

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