News & Politics Archives - Page 690 of 776

Feral Hogs in Texas: Good Eatin’? Maybe

Dawn Allen - February 27, 2017

Texas has a problem with feral hogs. Pigs, originally imported by the Spanish, escaped from farms or allowed to roam freely by settlers, have now gone wild. This plague of swine causes considerable damage to property, including agricultural fields and domestic livestock. They breed quickly. Difficult to eradicate, invasive pigs cause headaches not only for farmers, but for state officials. Charged with controlling the feral hogs, Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller turned to a controversial remedy: warfarin. But is this really the best answer to an intractable problem?

Arkansas LGBT Anti-Discrimination Law Trashed

Ryan J. Farrick - February 27, 2017

On Thursday, Supreme Court justices struck down an Arkansas LGBT anti-discrimination law. The city had created an ordinance banning discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Several other liberal communities in northwest Arkansas followed suit after a controversial bill was signed into law two years ago. The legislation had made it illegal

Florida Rehab CEO Arrested for Patient Brokering

Ryan J. Farrick - February 27, 2017

The CEO of a Delray Beach rehab center which was raided in 2016 has been arrested on counts of patient brokering. Law enforcement officials say that Daniel Kandler of Chapters Recovery had paid four employees almost $325,000 in illegal kickbacks to bring patients in for treatment. Arrested on Thursday, Kandler faces 94 charges of patient

Think Car Seats Don’t Have Expiration Dates? Think Again.

Brianna Smith - February 27, 2017

Any family with kids has a car seat or two…or three. From infant car seats and convertible seats to booster seats, there are many types of car seats on the market to keep children safe as they grow. But did you know they can expire? I didn’t, until now. Turns out car seats, like many other things, are only good for so long. I suppose this shouldn’t really come as a surprise considering the fact that car seats are made from plastic, and depending on the climate you live in, things like varying temperature changes and every day wear and tear and degrade a car seat over time. That’s why it’s important to check expiration dates on car seats and replace them as needed for your child’s safety.

Texas Reinstates Law Against Harboring Illegal Immigrants

Ryan J. Farrick - February 27, 2017

An appeals court in Texas reinstated a law which criminalized harboring illegal immigrants. The law had been pending since 2015, when it was passed by the state senate. A federal judge had issued an injunction against the law after two San Antonio landlords and their counsel filed a suit. The two men, backed by the

4 Years After Patient Death, VA Employee Finally Suspended

Brianna Smith - February 26, 2017

Fredrick Harris, an employee of the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Health Care System, has finally been suspended indefinitely after being charged in a patient death four years ago. What has Harris been doing for the last four years? Well, he was allowed to continue working.

New Mexico Lawmakers Take on Payday Loan Lenders

Ryan J. Farrick - February 26, 2017

On Friday, New Mexico lawmakers began drawing up a plan to rein in payday loan lenders. Payday loans have faced much criticism across the country. Lenders usually profit big by charging exorbitant interest rates. Borrowers are usually victimized by short payment windows coupled with unrealistically large installments. The proposed legislation seeks to cap interest rates

Recall Issued for Little Tikes Pink Swings

Brianna Smith - February 24, 2017

Warmer weather is right around the corner, which means families will soon be spending a lot of time outside. Unfortunately, a popular toddler swing has recently been recalled due to safety concerns by Little Tikes and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Exactly what swing has been recalled, and how many? The swing in question is the Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug ‘n Secure pink swings, and an estimated 540,000 have been recalled so far.

Poorly Designed Hospitals Are Making Us Sicker

Brianna Smith - February 24, 2017

From poorly designed rooms that increase the chance of patients falling, to loud noises and a lack of privacy, some suggest that hospitals and how they’re designed might be making patients sicker. According to a New York Times article, “hospitals are among the most expensive facilities to build, with complex infrastructures, technologies, regulations and safety codes,” but new evidence has found that we have been building them wrong. The way hospitals are currently built leads to high numbers of hospital-acquired infections, little to no privacy for patients, falling risks, loud noises, and an overall poor patient experience.

Lawsuit Filed Against Major Insulin Manufacturers Accused of Fixing Prices

Brianna Smith - February 24, 2017

Insulin is one of those medications that is absolutely necessary for the continued health of millions of Americans. In fact, about six million of the 29 million Americans who live with diabetes require insulin just to stay alive. Unfortunately, the price for this precious medication has shot up in price over recent years. Between 2002 and 2013 alone, insulin prices “more than tripled, to more than $700 per patient.” Fortunately for consumers, we may see an end to these dramatic price hikes because a federal lawsuit has been filed against the three big insulin manufacturers, accusing them of “conspiring to raise their prices.”

News & Politics

Trending