Georgia governor doubles down on Medicaid program with work requirement despite slow start

Georgia governor doubles down on Medicaid program with work requirement despite slow start

ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Monday defended and doubled down on his signature Medicaid program — the only one in the nation with a work requirement — further dimming chances the state could adopt a broader expansion of the taxpayer-funded low-income health plan without a work mandate any time soon. Georgia Pathways requires all … Read more

Harris aims to blunt Trump’s economic attacks by proposing new tax breaks in a bid to lower costs

Harris aims to blunt Trump’s economic attacks by proposing new tax breaks in a bid to lower costs

RALEIGH, N.C. — RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is promoting a broad set of economic proposals that would offer new tax breaks and lower the cost of living for Americans, aiming to address the financial concerns that are at the top of the mind for voters and that Republican Donald Trump is … Read more

White House says prescription drug deals will produce billions in savings for taxpayers, seniors

White House says prescription drug deals will produce billions in savings for taxpayers, seniors

WASHINGTON — Taxpayers are expected to save billions after the Biden administration inked deals with pharmaceutical companies to knock down the lists prices for 10 of Medicare’s costliest drugs. But how much older Americans can expect to save when they fill a prescription at their local pharmacy remains unclear, since the list cost isn’t the … Read more

15 states sue to block Biden’s effort to help migrants in US illegally get health coverage

15 states sue to block Biden’s effort to help migrants in US illegally get health coverage

TOPEKA, Kan. — Fifteen states filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Biden administration over a rule that is expected to allow 100,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children to enroll next year in the federal Affordable Care Act’s health insurance. The states are seeking to block the rule from taking effect Nov. … Read more

What to know about the controversy over a cancelled grain terminal in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley

What to know about the controversy over a cancelled grain terminal in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley

NEW ORLEANS — An agricultural company made the surprise decision Tuesday to cancel a project to build a massive grain terminal in a historic Black town in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley,” a heavily industrialized stretch of land along the Mississippi River. The company, Greenfield Louisiana LLC, and its supporters — including Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry — … Read more

In Louisiana’s Cancer Alley, company cancels plans for grain export facility in historic Black town

In Louisiana’s Cancer Alley, company cancels plans for grain export facility in historic Black town

WALLACE, La. — Residents of a historic Black community in Louisiana who’ve spent years fighting against a massive grain export facility set to be built on the grounds where their enslaved ancestors once lived appear to have finally halted the project. A representative from the company, Greenfield Louisiana LLC, announced during a public hearing on … Read more

FDA warns about more ground cinnamon tainted with lead. Here’s what you need to know

FDA warns about more ground cinnamon tainted with lead. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. health officials are warning that several types of ground cinnamon sold at certain discount and specialty grocery stores are contaminated with high levels of lead and should be discarded. The Food and Drug Administration has issued its third alert this year, adding at least 10 types of packaged ground cinnamon sold at popular outlets … Read more

North Carolina Medicaid recipients can obtain OTC birth control pills at pharmacies at no cost

North Carolina Medicaid recipients can obtain OTC birth control pills at pharmacies at no cost

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina Medicaid recipients can begin receiving over-the-counter birth control pills at no cost this week through hundreds of participating pharmacies. The oral conceptive Opill will be covered and available without a prescription to Medicaid enrollees starting Thursday at more than 300 retail and commercial pharmacies in 92 of the state’s … Read more

Families face food insecurity in Republican-led states that turned down federal aid this summer

Families face food insecurity in Republican-led states that turned down federal aid this summer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Crystal Ripolio had tears in her eyes as she walked the produce line at the Good News Outreach food bank in Tallahassee. It was the bags of ripe peaches that did her in. “We don’t have anything in our fridge,” Ripolio said. Ripolio and her 8-year-old daughter, Isabella, walked away with paper … Read more

Heat deaths of people without air conditioning, often in mobile homes, underscore energy inequity

Heat deaths of people without air conditioning, often in mobile homes, underscore energy inequity

PHOENIX — Mexican farm worker Avelino Vazquez Navarro didn’t have air conditioning in the motor home where he died last month in Washington state as temperatures surged into the triple digits. For the last dozen years, the 61-year-old spent much of the year working near Pasco, Washington, sending money to his wife and daughters in … Read more