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milyon88 live member login BALTIMORE (AP) — Nendah Tarke's 24 points helped Towson defeat Morgan State 64-60 on Sunday night. Tarke added seven rebounds for the Tigers (4-2). Tomiwa Sulaiman scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Christian May scored nine.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins were ready to deal veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline until Mike McDaniel stepped in. “I may or may not have thrown an adult temper tantrum,” Miami's coach said, confirming the news first reported by NFL Network Sunday morning. The Dolphins were 2-6 and had lost three straight at that point. They'd played four uninspired games without their starting quarterback, going 1-3 after Tua Tagovailoa went on injured reserve on Sept. 17 with a concussion. Campbell would have had a chance to rejoin the contending Ravens, and Miami would have received a 2026 fifth-round pick in return, NFL Network reported. McDaniel argued that Campbell was too valuable to lose. “I was happy that they brought me into the conversations," Campbell said after Miami's 34-15 win over the New England Patriots . “They didn't have to say anything to me at all. We had a really good conversation about what we think about this team, where we are. We felt like we had a good shot to get back into the fight.” Added McDaniel: “I think it wasn’t like it was (GM) Chris (Grier) versus me. ... That’s the tricky thing about Chris’ job is he has to look long-term and short-term at the same time, what’s the best for the organization.” Campbell, a 17-year veteran, signed with the Dolphins after playing for Atlanta last season. Players and coaches have praised the 38-year-old's contributions on the field and in the locker room. “There’s no one’s game I’ve come to respect more than Calais up front on the D-line,” defensive tackle Zach Sieler said, “being with him this year and just the energy, the attitude and the mindset he brings every week. It can’t be matched, and that’s the reason why he is who he is today and doing what he’s doing at 17 years.” Campbell leads the team with four sacks. With back-to-back sacks in Weeks 10 and 11, he became the eighth player 38 or older to record sacks in consecutive games since the 1970 merger. He also has nine tackles for loss, giving him at least five tackles for loss in 15 of his 17 seasons. He played for Baltimore from 2020-2022, totaling 11 sacks and 113 tackles. “I think he means a great deal to not only the defensive line room, but the entire defense as well as the entire team,” McDaniel said earlier this week. “It’s rare for a guy to get here when he did, and then be voted, with such conviction, captain. I think the way that he operates to be a pro, I think has had a substantial impact on a lot of players that hadn’t been fortunate enough to be around someone with sustained success like he’s had.” The Dolphins have won three straight games since the deadline. Miami's defense held the Patriots scoreless until the fourth quarter on Sunday. Campbell broke down the team's pregame huddle as he has done before most games this season. He was also seen coaching up rookie linebacker Chop Robinson, who is always seeking pointers from the six-time Pro Bowler. “My job is to speak on behalf of what’s the best thing for the 2024 Dolphins,” McDaniel said. “I’m just fortunate to work in an organization where myself and the GM can be transparent and work together. “And he didn’t want to see any more adult temper tantrums.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLSrinagar, Nov 22: The second edition of the Mulfaq winter T-12 Cosco Cup Cricket tournament began Friday at Chandpora Sports Stadium. Organised by the Mulfaq Sports Club, the tournament features 12 teams from the Phaag area. Hashim Makhdoomi, Chief Organizer, highlighted the tournament’s significance, stating, “Such tournaments inspire youth to showcase their talent. Kashmir is full of sporting potential, and we are grateful to the players for this opportunity.” Peer Bilal, a socio-political activist and chief guest, praised the sporting talent in the Phaag area and encouraged players to give their best in every sport. The inaugural match, played between Shoperbag Lions and Burzhama Sports Club, was witnessed by notable local figures including Shabir Gulshion, G M Bhat (Gulam Kak), Gh Mohidin (Nik Maam), and hundreds of sports enthusiasts.Aspac III Holdings reports stock transactions with no salesMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins were ready to deal veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline until Mike McDaniel stepped in. “I may or may not have thrown an adult temper tantrum,” Miami's coach said, confirming the news first reported by NFL Network Sunday morning. The Dolphins were 2-6 and had lost three straight at that point. They'd played four uninspired games without their starting quarterback, going 1-3 after Tua Tagovailoa went on injured reserve on Sept. 17 with a concussion. Campbell would have had a chance to rejoin the contending Ravens, and Miami would have received a 2026 fifth-round pick in return, NFL Network reported. McDaniel argued that Campbell was too valuable to lose. “I was happy that they brought me into the conversations," Campbell said after Miami's 34-15 win over the New England Patriots . “They didn't have to say anything to me at all. We had a really good conversation about what we think about this team, where we are. We felt like we had a good shot to get back into the fight.” Added McDaniel: “I think it wasn’t like it was (GM) Chris (Grier) versus me. ... That’s the tricky thing about Chris’ job is he has to look long-term and short-term at the same time, what’s the best for the organization.” Campbell, a 17-year veteran, signed with the Dolphins after playing for Atlanta last season. Players and coaches have praised the 38-year-old's contributions on the field and in the locker room. “There’s no one’s game I’ve come to respect more than Calais up front on the D-line,” defensive tackle Zach Sieler said, “being with him this year and just the energy, the attitude and the mindset he brings every week. It can’t be matched, and that’s the reason why he is who he is today and doing what he’s doing at 17 years.” Campbell leads the team with four sacks. With back-to-back sacks in Weeks 10 and 11, he became the eighth player 38 or older to record sacks in consecutive games since the 1970 merger. He also has nine tackles for loss, giving him at least five tackles for loss in 15 of his 17 seasons. He played for Baltimore from 2020-2022, totaling 11 sacks and 113 tackles. “I think he means a great deal to not only the defensive line room, but the entire defense as well as the entire team,” McDaniel said earlier this week. “It’s rare for a guy to get here when he did, and then be voted, with such conviction, captain. I think the way that he operates to be a pro, I think has had a substantial impact on a lot of players that hadn’t been fortunate enough to be around someone with sustained success like he’s had.” The Dolphins have won three straight games since the deadline. Miami's defense held the Patriots scoreless until the fourth quarter on Sunday. Campbell broke down the team's pregame huddle as he has done before most games this season. He was also seen coaching up rookie linebacker Chop Robinson, who is always seeking pointers from the six-time Pro Bowler. “My job is to speak on behalf of what’s the best thing for the 2024 Dolphins,” McDaniel said. “I’m just fortunate to work in an organization where myself and the GM can be transparent and work together. “And he didn’t want to see any more adult temper tantrums.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

El Salvador's president is triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes true

'Fight to the death': Taiwan faces unchartered path

OTTAWA — Cowessess First Nation Chief Erica Beaudin says she is “disappointed’ that Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer used clean drinking water legislation as a political “tactic.” Bill C-61 recognizes First Nations have an inherent right to clean drinking water and commits the government to providing “adequate and sustainable” funding for water services in First Nations. It remains stalled at third reading in the House of Commons because of an ongoing privilege debate that has prevented the consideration of bills since late September. Today Liberal MP Jaime Battiste asked for unanimous consent to forward the First Nations Clean Drinking Water Act to the Senate but several MPs said no. Scheer, who’s riding includes Cowessess, rose immediately afterward for a similar motion that also condemned the Liberal government for inaction but it was also defeated. While Cowessess doesn’t currently have a boil water advisory, Beaudin says people in her community rely on bottled water because they don’t trust what comes from their taps.SAN CARLOS, Ariz. — After missing 40 days of school last year, Tommy Betom, 10, is on track this year for much better attendance. The importance of showing up has been stressed repeatedly at school — and at home. When he went to school last year, he often came home saying the teacher was picking on him and other kids were making fun of his clothes. But Tommy’s grandmother Ethel Marie Betom, who became one of his caregivers after his parents split, said she told him to choose his friends carefully and to behave in class. He needs to go to school for the sake of his future, she told him. “I didn’t have everything,” said Betom, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache tribe. Tommy attends school on the tribe’s reservation in southeastern Arizona. “You have everything. You have running water in the house, bathrooms and a running car.” A teacher and a truancy officer also reached out to Tommy’s family to address his attendance. He was one of many. Across the San Carlos Unified School District, 76% of students were chronically absent during the 2022-2023 school year, meaning they missed 10% or more of the school year. Years after COVID-19 disrupted American schools, nearly every state is still struggling with attendance. But attendance has been worse for Native American students — a disparity that existed before the pandemic and has since grown, according to data collected by The Associated Press. Out of 34 states with data available for the 2022-2023 school year, half had absenteeism rates for Native American and Alaska Native students that were at least 9 percentage points higher than the state average. Many schools serving Native students have been working to strengthen connections with families, who often struggle with higher rates of illness and poverty. Schools also must navigate distrust dating back to the U.S. government’s campaign to break up Native American culture, language and identity by forcing children into abusive boarding schools. History “may cause them to not see the investment in a public school education as a good use of their time,” said Dallas Pettigrew, director of Oklahoma University’s Center for Tribal Social Work and a member of the Cherokee Nation. The San Carlos school system recently introduced care centers that partner with hospitals, dentists and food banks to provide services to students at multiple schools. The work is guided by cultural success coaches — school employees who help families address challenges that keep students from coming to school. Nearly 100% of students in the district are Native and more than half of families have incomes below the federal poverty level. Many students come from homes that deal with alcoholism and drug abuse, Superintendent Deborah Dennison said. Students miss school for reasons ranging from anxiety to unstable living conditions, said Jason Jones, a cultural success coach at San Carlos High School and an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache tribe. Acknowledging their fears, grief and trauma helps him connect with students, he said. “You feel better, you do better,” Jones said. “That’s our job here in the care center is to help the students feel better.” In the 2023-2024 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate in the district fell from 76% to 59% — an improvement Dennison attributes partly to efforts to address their communities’ needs. “All these connections with the community and the tribe are what’s making a difference for us and making the school a system that fits them rather than something that has been forced upon them, like it has been for over a century of education in Indian Country,” said Dennison, a member of the Navajo Nation. In three states — Alaska, Nebraska, and South Dakota — the majority of Native American and Alaska Native students were chronically absent. In some states, it has continued to worsen, even while improving slightly for other students, as in Arizona, where chronic absenteeism for Native students rose from 22% in 2018-2019 to 45% in 2022-2023. AP’s analysis does not include data on schools managed by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education, which are not run by traditional districts. Less than 10% of Native American students attend BIE schools. At Algodones Elementary School, which serves a handful of Native American pueblos along New Mexico’s Upper Rio Grande, about two-thirds of students are chronically absent. The communities were hit hard by COVID-19, with devastating effects on elders. Since schools reopened, students have been slow to return. Excused absences for sick days are still piling up — in some cases, Principal Rosangela Montoya suspects, students are stressed about falling behind academically. Staff and tribal liaisons have been analyzing every absence and emphasizing connections with parents. By 10 a.m., telephone calls go out to the homes of absent students. Next steps include in-person meetings with those students’ parents. “There’s illness. There’s trauma,” Montoya said. “A lot of our grandparents are the ones raising the children so that the parents can be working.” About 95% of Algodones’ students are Native American, and the school strives to affirm their identity. It doesn’t open on four days set aside for Native American ceremonial gatherings, and students are excused for absences on other cultural days as designated by the nearby pueblos. For Jennifer Tenorio, it makes a difference that the school offers classes in the family’s native language of Keres. She speaks Keres at home, but says that’s not always enough to instill fluency. Tenorio said her two oldest children, now in their 20s, were discouraged from speaking Keres when enrolled in the federal Head Start educational program — a system that now promotes native language preservation — and they struggled academically. “It was sad to see with my own eyes,” said Tenorio, a single parent and administrative assistant who has used the school’s food bank. “In Algodones, I saw a big difference to where the teachers were really there for the students, and for all the kids, to help them learn.” Over a lunch of strawberry milk and enchiladas on a recent school day, her 8-year-old son Cameron Tenorio said he likes math and wants to be a policeman. “He’s inspired,” Tenorio said. “He tells me every day what he learns.” In Arizona, Rice Intermediate School Principal Nicholas Ferro said better communication with families, including Tommy Betom’s, has helped improve attendance. Since many parents are without working phones, he said, that often means home visits. Lillian Curtis said she has been impressed by Rice Intermediate’s student activities on family night. Her granddaughter, Brylee Lupe, 10, missed 10 days of school by mid-October last year but had missed just two days by the same time this year. “The kids always want to go — they are anxious to go to school now. And Brylee is much more excited,” said Curtis, who takes care of her grandchildren. Curtis said she tells Brylee that skipping school is not an option. “I just told her that you need to be in school, because who is going to be supporting you?” Curtis said. “You’ve got to do it on your own. You got to make something of yourself.” The district has made gains because it is changing the perception of school and what it can offer, said Dennison, the superintendent. Its efforts have helped not just with attendance but also morale, especially at the high school, she said. “Education was a weapon for the U.S. government back in the past,” she said. “We work to decolonize our school system.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!

FOX45: Concerns raised over gaps in Maryland school reporting of student criminal offensesNone

Italy's government has granted citizenship to Argentinian President Javier Milei on account of his Italian family roots, a source with knowledge of the matter said Friday, confirming earlier media reports. Milei is in Rome to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and to take part in her Brothers of Italy party's annual festival Saturday. The source declined to provide further details. The news on Italian media triggered an angry reaction from some politicians and on social media from people protesting at citizenship being given to Milei when it is hard to obtain for the children of migrants born in Italy. Italy's citizenship laws are based on blood ties, meaning that even distant descendants of an Italian national can obtain an Italian passport. Requirements for foreigners born in Italy or who migrate there, on the other hand, are much tougher. Pro-migrant groups have proposed a referendum to ease them, but Meloni's right-wing coalition is against any relaxation. Riccardo Magi, a lawmaker from the small opposition More Europa party, said granting citizenship to Milei was an act of "intolerable discrimination against so many young people who will only get it after many years." During a previous trip to Italy in February, Milei told a TV interview that he felt "75% Italian" since three of his grandparents had Italian origins, and that he has "an incredible passion for Italian Opera." Libertarian Milei and conservative Meloni have established a close relationship. When they met in Buenos Aires last month, the Argentine leader gave his Italian guest a statuette of himself wielding his trademark chainsaw.JAMAICA, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) today announced that Turkish Airlines will begin operations at the new terminal when it opens in 2026. Turkish Airlines will also unveil a brand new, state-of-the-art lounge for its premium customers, launching the next phase of the award-winning airline's growth at its top U.S. gateway. The New Terminal One, set to be the largest international terminal in the United States , will offer best-in-class amenities and innovative technology for a transformational and efficient travel experience. The New Terminal One is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport into a world-class gateway, which will include two new terminals, the modernization and expansion of two existing terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network. Turkish Airlines, which currently flies 19 times weekly from JFK Airport to its hub at Istanbul , providing seamless connections to its extensive global network, will continue to offer top-tier service from the new terminal. As part of its expansion in the JFK market, Turkish Airlines will open an 11,000-square-foot lounge in the New Terminal One – twice the size of the airline's lounge at the existing Terminal 1. The new lounge will feature premium amenities, expansive views of JFK Airport's airfield and provide direct boarding access to aircraft, offering unmatched convenience for Turkish Airlines' business class customers and top-tier frequent flyers. Recognized for its exceptional in-flight service, Turkish Airlines recently received the World Class Award from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) for the fourth consecutive year, placing it among just 10 airlines in the world to have received this prestigious recognition. Turkish Airlines was also chosen as the Best Airline in Europe nine times by Skytrax. Over the years Turkish Airlines also received accolades from Skytrax and other prestigious organizations numerous times for its Business and Economy Class offerings and Lounges. Turkish Airlines offers service to 351 destinations, including 25 in the Americas. Turkish is a member of the Star Alliance and will join other alliance members at the New Terminal One: LOT Polish Airlines, EVA Air and Air China. "We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to the New Terminal One at JFK, where their commitment to world-class customer service aligns perfectly with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience," said The New Terminal One Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Aument . "We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Turkish Airlines to elevate the travel experience for customers from 2026 and beyond." Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: "We are excited to bring Turkish Airlines' world-class service to the New Terminal One at JFK, further enhancing our passengers' travel experience with a state-of-the-art-lounge. This move underlines our commitment to continue our growth in the U.S market." In addition to Turkish Airlines, the New Terminal One has partnered with several other global carriers, including Air France, KLM, Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines, Korean Air, EVA Air, Air Serbia, SAS, Neos and Philippine Airlines. Air China is also partnering with the terminal on elevating the travel experience for Chinese customers visiting New York . The New Terminal One is focused on improving the customer experience by collaborating with potential airline partners. This includes working with airline teams across all customer journey touchpoints. Set to be JFK Airport's largest terminal when complete, the New Terminal One will offer a world-class customer experience and additional widebody aircraft gate capacity – providing international airlines a unique opportunity to grow their service at JFK, the top global gateway to the U.S. About The New Terminal One The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport is a bold and exciting project to develop a world-class international terminal that will serve as an anchor terminal in the Port Authority's $19 billion transformation of JFK into a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and the United States . The New Terminal One will set a new standard for design and service, aspiring to obtain a Top 5 Skytrax ranking and be considered one of the finest airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One is being built on sites now occupied by Terminal 1 and the former Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, where it will anchor JFK's south side. Construction is taking place in phases. The first phase, including the new arrivals and departures halls and first set of 14 new gates, is expected to open in 2026. At completion, anticipated in 2030, the New Terminal One will be 2.6 million square feet, making it the largest terminal at JFK and nearly the same size as LaGuardia Airport's two new terminals combined. The New Terminal One will be a 23-gate, state-of-the-art, international-only terminal. Sustainably designed and future-focused, the terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit public spaces, cutting-edge technology, and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience and compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world. The New Terminal One consortium of labor, operating, and financial partners is led by Ferrovial, JLC Infrastructure, Ullico, and Carlyle. The New Terminal One is being built by union labor and is committed to local inclusion and labor participation, focusing on diversity and capacity-building opportunities, including ambitious participation goals of 30% for minority and women-owned enterprises, 10% for local business enterprises and 3% for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. To learn more about the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport, visit https://www.anewjfk.com/projects/the-new-terminal-one/ About Turkish Airlines Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 491 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 351 worldwide destinations in 130 countries (298 international destinations and 53 domestic destinations within Turkiye). More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turkish-airlines-to-begin-operations-at-the-new-terminal-one-at-jfk-and-unveil-world-class-lounge-302331710.html SOURCE The New Terminal One at JFK

Alexander: Dodgers’ signing of Blake Snell creates the traditional uproarThe Manning Family Let NFL Fans Know Where It Stands Politically

Former Vice-President Mphoko diesIf you're on chances are you've already been acquainted with the energetic dancing tree shaking his thang to . If this sentence so far makes no sense to you, then welcome and read on. Your week is only about to get better from here. They say never to skip a Tree of Wisdom clip and with good reason — if you're having an off day or perhaps want to get the party started, the Tree of Wisdom is here for you, with an absolutely unparalleled energy and moves that would make Shakira shake. "The whole idea in general is hilarious to me!" Dominic Field, the man who brought the tree to life told on his newfound viral fame. "The showbiz joke of being cast as the tree is usually associated with being hidden in the background and yet here I am front and centre giving it my all! Also whenever people ask me what I do for a living telling them, 'I’m a dancing tree'... I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that!" Dominic Field's energy and dancing as the Tree of Wisdom has now seen videos clock up millions of views across the internet, from completely viral TikTok snippets to one video on Facebook amassing 14.6 million views alone. While you wouldn't usually think a tree would steal the show, that's exactly what Dominic has done with his flamboyant dance moves taking centre stage, with Dominic telling it's really taken off in the last year or so. "Over the last few years, a video or two of me dancing would have a little moment on the internet and gain a little traction," he said. "However in the last year it has been wild to see how many videos get sent to me by my friends with hundreds of thousands of likes and millions of views. A friend of mine said to me the other day every second video he scrolls on social media is me!" Online fans have become completely taken with the tree. "I love all Wiggles but the tree of wisdom just has that extra 🌟 pizazz 🌟" one fan commented. "I laugh every time, this man gives nothing but vibes and serotonin," another said. "Now my toddler dances like the tree of wisdom and I love it," one mum said. "I love how confused and concerned the purple wiggle looks," another pointed out. "I feel like he didn’t tell anyone what dances he would be doing and that’s why purple looks so intrigued," someone guessed. On connecting with both the kids and parents alike, Dominic said, "The Wiggles have such great loyal fans and it’s been so fun to see them getting around the Tree of Wisdom! I think the parents connect with me because I remind them of that one guy at the wedding dancing all night and dancing like no one is watching!" The viral star also revealed his energetic moves just come naturally and he likes to spice things up a little to surprise the other band members. "I don’t drink coffee or energy drinks. Just being able to perform in front of the amazing crowds we have at our shows is the perfect energy shot I need," he said. "I don’t feel any pressure, but I always try throwing a few different dance moves in there to keep the Wiggles and Lachy on their toes." If the cheeky tree looks vaguely familiar, runs in his blood. He is the youngest child of former Wiggles manager Paul Field, who is the brother of original and current . Dominic appeared in many of The Wiggles videos as a child, and joined the organisation as a full-time employee in 2014 and has also performed as Wags the Dog and Santa Claus in the productions before taking on the Tree of Wisdom role.

AP News Summary at 4:48 p.m. ESTEfforts to reduce the nation’s persistently high maternal mortality rates involve state panels of experts that investigate and learn from each mother’s death. The panels — called maternal mortality review committees — usually work quietly out of the public eye, but that’s not been the case recently in three states with strict abortion laws. Georgia dismissed all members of its committee in November after information about deaths being reviewed leaked to the news organization ProPublica. Days later, The Washington Post reported that Texas’ committee won’t review cases from 2022 and 2023, the first two years after the state banned nearly all abortions. In Idaho, the state let its panel disband in 2023 only to reinstate it this year. “They’ve become more of a lightning rod than they were before,” said epidemiologist Michael Kramer, director of the Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities at Mercer University in Georgia. Here’s what these committees do and what might happen next: “Maternal mortality review committees are important because they are the most comprehensive source of information about maternal mortality that we have,” said David Goodman, who leads the maternal mortality prevention team at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The panels review deaths that occur during pregnancy or within a year after it ends, whether related to the pregnancy or not. Causes of death can range from hemorrhage during childbirth to drug overdoses to traffic accidents. The goal, Kramer said, is to examine maternal deaths and help “decide what we can do about them.” All states, a few cities and Puerto Rico have these committees. Their membership varies and may include OB-GYNs, maternal-fetal medicine doctors, nurses, midwives, mental and public health experts and members of patient advocacy groups. Most have representatives from several areas of expertise, which the CDC recommends. How members are selected also varies; people may apply, submit letters of interest or be invited to serve. The selection shouldn’t be politically motivated, Kramer said, because “if there’s a systematic exclusion of certain data or certain perspectives” it’s difficult to truly understand what’s happening. The panels work with state vital statistics offices and epidemiologists to identify deaths associated with pregnancy by examining death certificates and looking for a pregnancy checkbox or a related cause of death. They also may search for links to birth and fetal death records, or delve into hospital discharge data, media reports and obituaries. Once they identify cases, they collect as much information as possible, such as prenatal care records, hospital and social service records, autopsy reports and interviews with family members. Professional “abstractors” distill all this into case narratives, which committee members pore over. Most use a standardized review process developed by the CDC — and all panels can get help and guidance from the agency. They consider questions such as: Was the death pregnancy- related? What was the underlying cause? Was it preventable? What factors contributed? States generally have privacy rules that protect committee members and people who provide information on the deaths. The groups then issue public reports that don’t name mothers or hospitals but include overall findings, trends and recommendations. Some come out a couple of years or more after the deaths. Across the nation in 2023, Goodman said, 151 recommendations from those reports were implemented by communities, hospitals, medical professionals and policymakers. Georgia will rebuild its committee through a new application process, the state public health commissioner said. Texas’ committee has been reviewing 2021 deaths and will start on 2024 cases at its next meeting, Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Lara Anton said. “Reviewing cases is a lengthy process and legislators have asked for more recent data. Starting the next review cycle with 2024 cases will allow us to provide that in the next report,” Anton said, adding that maternal and child health epidemiologists will continue to analyze and publish data for 2022 and 2023. In Idaho, the reconstituted review committee now falls under the state board of medicine, which licenses doctors, instead of the state’s health and welfare department. It will operate like it always has, said Bob McLaughlin, spokesperson for the medical board. Members met for the first time in November and plan to issue a report by Jan. 31. Because the legislature wanted the most up-to-date information, McLaughlin said the first report will cover only 2023 cases, and the group will review 2022 deaths next. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

TAHLEQUAH — Teen pregnancy is linked to critical social issues, but the number of teen births in Oklahoma has declined 9% over the past five years, with the state making the list of the top five with falling numbers. The Oklahoma Department of Health website states that teen pregnancy is closely linked to a number of critical social issues such as poverty, educational attainment, and increased health care costs. “Moreover, teen births affect the entire community, not just the teen parents; therefore, community-wide solutions are needed,” states the site. The American Indian Resource Center in Tahlequah has offered two programs to students for the past three years to address this issue, and staff have interacted with 400 students. The program’s mission is to help students understand the need for boundaries, communication, and how teen pregnancy impacts a person’s future. Desiree Amos is director of the two programs: Cherokee Teen to Adult Program, and Sexual Risk Avoidance Education. The Cherokee Teen to Adult Program is for grades 7-8, and SRAE is geared toward grades 9-10, Amos said. “We teach kids how to establish boundaries, how to communicate – how to communicate with their parents,” Amos said. “We also work with parents because we like to bring the families together and talk about sensitive subjects and topics.” The programs teach students financial literacy, and what it looks like to have a family; who may or may not have a community to support them; and what their lives could look like if the students remained abstinent until adulthood, Amos said. “They could go to college, get a career, and do many, many things,” Amos said. “If they have a child at 15 or 16, 14, 12 – it happens! – that is going to impact the rest of their lives with that commitment.” By age 22, only around 50% of teen mothers have received a high school diploma, and only 30% have earned a General Education Development certificate, whereas 90% of women who did not give birth during adolescence receive a high school diploma. This information is presented in an article titled, “The Adverse Affects of Teen Pregnancy,” published on www.youth.gov , a U.S. government website that helps “create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs.” “Only about 10% of teen mothers complete a two- or four-year college program,” states the article. “Teen fathers have a 25%-30% lower probability of graduating from high school than teenage boys who are not fathers.” The programs through AIRC empower kids’ voices, and lets them know what healthy decisions are – not only for their body, mind and spirit, but for their future, Amos said. “[This means] making important decisions for themselves, not trying to make other people happy,” Amos said. “Boys and girls both are pressured; they are looking for love, for relationships – maybe something they aren’t getting at home.” Many kids are “couch-surfers” and don’t have a permanent home, and they need that emotional support in their lives, Amos said. The program is much more than sex education; it’s teaching kids how to be healthy adults, Amos said. “I’ve heard so many things about the pandemic, and I don’t think it’s just a pandemic problem,” Amos said. “I think it’s been with the introduction of social media.” Social media – especially Instagram – is one of the biggest facilitators of human trafficking, Amos said. She said it is important for parents to be educated about people who are taking advantage of children through the various social media sites. Negative talk puts negative thoughts in people’s minds, and it beats kids down, Amos said. She said kids need to know it’s OK to say no, that there are boundaries they can put in place, and that they can take control of their lives and future. “Not that we haven’t done that for years, but I think we’ve lost contact with the ease of social media, ease of the internet, the cell phones,” Amos said. “We [at AIRC] teach kids how to play. We take them out on the stick ball field and play stick ball, and that teaches them how to communicate, play together, how to have a good time without the phones, etc.” The programs are culturally relevant, but all children are included. President George W. Bush pushed the philosophy of “No Child Left Behind,” Amos said. “What a great philosophy, because it doesn’t matter your skin color or religious preference,” Amos said. “We go into schools and everybody’s treated the same. Our programs are abstinent-based; we teach culturally relevant material and we support them.” Cards with information on whom to go to, and where to get help if needed or if there is a crisis, are handed out to children at the beginning of the school year, Amos said. “We have little cards we give them with emergency numbers for each county,” Amos said. “We are in Delaware, Adair, Cherokee and Sequoyah counties.” The card includes the suicide hotline and health department numbers, and other resources that might not be known by the students or parents, Amos said. “Kids are kids, and I don’t care if they are a kid from the ‘40s, or a kid from the ‘90s, or today, they are all just children,” Amos said. “We are here to support and love them, and give them a lot of healthy information that shows them all sides of life.” The program is abstinent-based, but not religious-based. It is not part of the school’s curriculum but the schools allow the programs to be taught on a regular basis for 13 weeks during school hours and to hold after-hours classes. The testimonies from parents indicate the teaching is making a difference in their children’s attitude and understanding, Amos said. “We teach them about contraceptives, HIV and STV education, and financial literacy – all the things that can happen ‘that quick’ if they make that decision, and it’s eye-opening for them,” Amos said.The Latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York CityBALTIMORE (AP) — Nendah Tarke's 24 points helped Towson defeat Morgan State 64-60 on Sunday night. Tarke added seven rebounds for the Tigers (4-2). Tomiwa Sulaiman scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Christian May scored nine. The Bears (3-5) were led in scoring by Wynston Tabbs with 19 points. Kameron Hobbs had 13 points and Ahmarie Simpkins finished with nine points, three steals and two blocks. Towson went into halftime leading Morgan State 35-26. Tarke scored 14 points in the half. Towson used a 7-0 run in the second half to build an 11-point lead at 58-47 with 5:51 left in the half before finishing off the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Realty Income Corp. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitorsHARRISONBURG — One of the bigger drivers of Medicaid’ s rising costs in Virginia is the ballooning expense of covering weight loss drugs , a state Senate Finance Committee review found. That cost climbed to $267.8 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30, more than three times the bill from when Virginia Medicaid began covering the increasingly commonly prescribed medicationsfor obesity and diabetes two years earlier, senior legislative analyst Mike Tweedy told the committee at its annual retreat at the Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg. Virginia Medicaid program faces $632 million hole But when the state Department of Medical Assistance Services added coverage of the new weight loss drugs in November 2022, decision makers had no information about the fiscal impact, he said. About 13 states cover the medications. With the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s view that obesity has become a major public health issue and as regulators consider authorizing use of the drugs for other conditions, the new medications look set to put still more upward pressure on Medicaid costs, Tweedy said. The managed care plans that cover most of Virginia Medicaid’s patients began reporting significant price increases to Medicaid officials in late spring last year. The drugs are expensive, and Americans pay more for them than people in other countries do, according to a U.S. Senate Health Education and Pensions Committee study. Ozempic costs diabetic patients here $969 a month, more than six times the Canadian price, while Wegovy costs Americans using it to treat obesity $1,349 a month, or more than 14 times the price in Great Britain. Tweedy said the standards for when and how the department pays for the medications is one area where it needs to focus on cost effectiveness and controlling spending growth. Another is emergency room payments. Medicaid’s payments for ER care have increased 15% a year for the past two years, Tweedy said. The state last year lost a federal court case challenging a longstanding policy toward cutting Medicaid payments to emergency room physicians if a patient came to the ER with a nonemergency, paying instead as if the doctors performed more routine care. While the General Assembly approved a new program last year, Medicaid has not implemented the program, Tweedy said. Policymakers and insurers have long tried to rein in claims for unnecessary ER visits, arguing that they are one reason why U.S. health care costs are so much higher than in other nations. One reason why many Medicaid patients may be turning to emergency rooms for treatment is that Medicaid, unlike commercial insurance, does not require the people it covers — basically low-income families and adults as well as people with severe disabilities — to pay for part of the cost out of pocket, Tweedy said. They often don’t feel there are other available options for care, either. One approach some hospitals have started using — setting up urgent care clinics near their ERs in order to triage care — is less common in urban areas where many Medicaid recipients live, he said. Virginia Medicaid is facing an unusual need for additional funds this year and next than the current budget for those years set aside: some $632.4 million. One reason for that is a $160 million shortfall Medicaid saw at the June 30 end of the last fiscal year, mainly because the post-pandemic decline in enrollment happened more slowly than expected, Tweedy told the committee. Others include a projected $289.7 million increase in fee for service payments, a $36.2 million increase in managed care rates, a $61.7 million increase in supplemental payments to hospitals and $59.2 million for Indian Health Clinics to cover specified nontribal costs. In addition, increased payments to Medicare — the federal insurance program for people ages 65 or older and people with certain disabilities — and pharmacy rebates are pushing up Medicaid costs.Bitcoin breaks $100,000, outshining wavering stock markets