Insurance company denies covering medication for condition that ‘could kill’ med student, she says
Malik JacksonUpdated: Dec 13, 2024 / 10:11 AM CST KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City denied coverage of a medicine that a Missouri woman says could save her life, leaving her with a monthly bill of over $8,000. “I was at risk for spontaneous internal bleeding that could kill me,” Kaitlyn Sy said. Sy, a University of Kansas medical student, said she’s fighting back just weeks after a near-death experience. She’s been forced to pause her medical studies while waiting for this medicine to be approved, compromising her already weak immune system. Sy conducted her interview with Nexstar’s WDAF over Zoom, unable to do it in person because of her condition. Sy has dreamed of becoming a doctor since middle school, “whether that be bringing hope and healing to fellow humans, intellectual stimulating work of diagnosing and treating diseases, being involved in medical research.”Luigi Mangione was reported missing 2 weeks before CEO slain: police But three years ago, doctors diagnosed her with an autoimmune disease that mistakenly attacks the platelets in her blood cells. When she bleeds, there’s nothing to clot those cells. Sy says that could cause life-threatening bleeding. For years, no treatment worked well for her. Just weeks ago, that scenario happened: Sy was forced to go to the ER to treat internal bleeding. Her hematologist had one more option, a pill called Promacta that could stabilize this issue. Things changed when Sy got to the pharmacy. “The pharmacy tech — her…
Chicago mayor boots public from rowdy city meeting as residents object to migrant ‘invasion’
While Johnson’s 2025 budget narrowly passed on Monday, it was only after the mayor ordered a temporary recess to allow police to clear residents from the hall to allow council members to vote. It took six weeks of debate for Johnson to secure the 26 votes necessary to pass the budget plan, with the opposition succeeding in removing a proposed $300 million property tax. The plan also adopts a $40 million short-term loan that allows the city to delay paying off its debt, a major point of criticism for many of the protesters. “You caused all this money to go to illegal immigrants,” one resident told Johnson during the public comment period. “Anything that you all pass is not genuine.” Another resident accused Johnson of failing to “protect the people of Chicago from invasion.” “He wants to pull a $40 million line of credit and put the city in even more debt,” another resident said. “It’s your fault, because you gave half of the money to illegals.” STUART VARNEY: THE ‘SANCTUARY MOVEMENT’ IS ON ITS LAST LEGS Johnson also faced criticism over hiring too many staffers and paying them too much. Chicago reporter William Kelly told Fox News that Johnson has enlisted more than 100 staffers and each of them has a six-figure salary. He also argued many of the positions appear frivolous. Read More At FOX News! Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
Congress to Vote on New Restrictions on China Investment
Congress is set to vote in the coming days on legislation restricting U.S. investments in China as part of a bill to fund government operations through mid-March, lawmakers said late on Tuesday. In October, the Treasury finalized rules effective Jan. 2 that will limit U.S. investments in artificial intelligence and other technology sectors in China that could threaten U.S. national security. The bill expands on those restrictions and also includes other provisions aimed at concerns about China, including a requirement to study national security risks posed by Chinese-made consumer routers and modems. Read More At Newsmax!
Iran’s Nuclear Program Alarms World Powers: No ‘Civilian Justification’
The United Kingdom, France, and Germany on Tuesday called on Iran to “reverse its nuclear escalation,” claiming that there is no “credible civilian justification” for the amount of highly enriched uranium it is stockpiling, AFP reported. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran has already become the only non-nuclear state to have uranium enriched to 60%, just a short step from military-grade level. In a joint statement ahead of a U.N. Security Council meeting, the three countries warned that “Iran’s stockpile of High Enriched Uranium has … reached unprecedented levels, again without any credible civilian justification. It gives Iran the capability to rapidly produce sufficient fissile material for multiple nuclear weapons.” The trio added: “Iran has ramped up its installation of advanced centrifuges, which is yet another damaging step in Iran’s efforts to undermine the nuclear deal that they claim to support.” London, Paris, and Berlin on Dec. 6 informed the Security Council of their willingness to reimpose “snap back” sanctions on Iran over its illicit nuclear program. “Iran must de-escalate its nuclear program to create the political environment conducive to meaningful progress and a negotiated solution,” the U.N. ambassadors of the so-called E3 countries wrote in letter to the Security Council. “We reiterate our determination to use all diplomatic tools to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, including using snap back if necessary,” they added. The threat comes after IAEA head Rafael Grossi confirmed that Tehran has in recent weeks sharply increased its uranium enrichment. “Today,…
Elon Predicts One Million Humans Will Be Augmented By Neuralink By 2030
Tech investor Apoorv Agrawal has described Neuralink as the “most important company of the decade.” The bold claim on X has sparked widespread attention, but it was Elon Musk’s repost that elevated the conversation to a new level: “Bit rate and patient number will increase hyperexponentially over the next 5+ years. My guess is combined I/O bit rate > 1Mbs and augmented humans >1M by 2030.” This statement is a vision for a future where the boundary between humans and machines dissolves at a scale that could redefine humanity itself. Are education systems ready for what’s coming and how might they need to adapt? The Promise of Neuralink Neuralink’s work in 2024 has already reshaped what we think is possible. The company moved its technology out of the lab and into the real world, successfully implanting its N1 device in human patients. For people with severe disabilities, this implant represents independence. By translating neural signals into digital commands, the N1 enables users to interact with computers and other devices using only their thoughts. Thanks to the N1, Neuralink’s first patient, Noland Arbaugh, can now use his computer, play video games, and connect with friends, all without physical movement. Using a Star Wars reference, he likened using the Neuralink to using the force on a cursor. The second participant is designing intricate 3D objects using CAD software through thought alone. These stories are inspiring, but they’re only the beginning. Neuralink’s technology is poised to augment human potential. Musk’s comments emphasize the potential of Neuralink in breathtaking terms. A…
Mayor Brandon Johnson abandoning $68.5 million property tax hike in latest bid for budget deal!
Mayor Brandon Johnson on Sunday was briefing members of the Chicago City Council on his latest ideas to get his 2025 budget approved by year’s end. Local News Mayor Brandon Johnson abandoning $68.5 million property tax hike in latest bid for budget deal By Chris Tye, Todd Feurer Updated on: December 15, 2024 / 11:19 PM CST / CBS Chicago CHICAGO (CBS) — Seeking to get a budget deal done on Monday, Mayor Brandon Johnson has dropped plans to seek a $68.5 million property tax hike, sources have told CBS News Chicago, though it remains unclear if his latest proposal will win him enough votes from the City Council. The move comes as the mayor and aldermen have been spending the weekend working to negotiate a possible deal to end the budget impasse in time for a vote on Monday afternoon. The mayor’s team was holding briefings with alders on Sunday to discuss his latest plan. Sources said one new element of the effort to pass a budget deal on Monday includes the city cracking down on major sports teams and other venues in Chicago to reimburse the city for police overtime costs for special events. That would bring in an estimated $10 million for the city. The city spent $22.6 million on police overtime for special events this year but has only been reimbursed $2 million, leaving taxpayers to cover the remaining costs. City law requires special event producers to pay for police services beyond 12 shifts. However, an investigation by Block Club Chicago and CBS Chicago revealed…
The first water-powered car smashes all existing fuels: Unprecedented power and futuristic engine
Your car can be hydrogen-powered today: You don’t need a new engine with this invention America ready to unveil its first hydrogen car: This has never been seen before Goodbye hydrogen fuel cell, this one runs on a fuel never seen before – Experts are shocked The automotive industry is increasingly shifting towards hydrogen-powered vehicles as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. Alpine, a performance car brand traditionally known for its sports cars, is now embracing this trend by exploring hydrogen technology in its future models. By joining the movement towards hydrogen, Alpine aims to combine its commitment to innovation and high-performance engineering with eco-friendly solutions, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving automotive landscape. Alpine joins the hydrogen train As part of Renault’s (Alpine’s parent company) ongoing efforts to advance future mobility technologies, Alpine unveiled the Alpenglow concept car at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, proudly dubbing it the “mother of all future Alpines.” This innovative model highlighted the brand’s research into hydrogen-powered heat engines and their integration into sports cars, marking a significant step toward decarbonization in the automotive industry. The first opportunity to witness the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 in action came on May 11, 2024, at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. In front of an audience of over 70,000 motorsport fans, the event was intended to showcase how hydrogen-powered internal combustion technology can uphold the excitement and performance of a true racing car. Read more here!
Energy company claims its new fusion technology can power a major US city — using just ‘three soda cans’ worth of fuel
A San Francisco-based energy company is super focused on its task of providing clean, laser-based energy to Americans, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Focused Energy, a German-American company that arrived in the California Bay Area by way of Austin, Texas, has announced plans to build a $65 million facility. Inside the facility, the company will get to work on building lasers that can burn as hot as the sun in order to create power for people’s homes. Focused is one of the small number of companies working on laser fusion technology. Nuclear fission technology, which has existed for decades, is when energy is generated by splitting atoms apart. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, creates power by slamming atoms together. This mimics the same process that powers the sun. Scientists have long thought of nuclear fusion as the “holy grail” of clean energy, theorizing that if they get it to work right, it could supply virtually unlimited, clean, renewable energy. Unlike fission, fusion technology could also work without creating radioactive waste. Focused, for its part, said that once fully operational, its facility would be capable of powering the entire city of San Francisco on “three soda cans” worth of fusion fuel per day. Read More Here