IL House Approves Health Insurance Reform Bill: Senate Next

TL/DR - The Illinois House of Representatives has passed the “Healthcare Protection Act” that curbs some practices used by health insurance companies to control health care services costs. The bill bans the practice of step therapy in prescription drug plans, prohibits insurers from requiring prior authorization before covering in-patient…

Semi Bird Backers Thwart WA GOP’s Attempt to Block Endorsement Vote

TL/DR - At the Washington state GOP convention, delegates revolted against party officials after candidate Semi Bird was disqualified from the endorsement process due to past missteps, including a 1993 conviction for bank larceny. Supporters restored Bird's eligibility, prompting Dave Reichert, the best-known contender, to withdraw from the…

Troops to be Withdrawn from Niger by U.S. Military

TL/DR - The Biden administration has informed Niger's Prime Minister, Ali Lamine Zeine, that more than 1,000 US military personnel will leave Niger in coming months due to disagreements over the country's pivot towards Russia for security and Iran for uranium deals. This decision follows Niger's revocation of its military cooperation deal with…

Preserving Enslaved Burial Grounds: Knightdale Community’s Battle

TL/DR - The residents of the Widewaters community in Knightdale, North Carolina, have launched the enslaved cemetery restoration project, aimed at preserving a former burial ground for slaves dating back to the 1700s. The area, believed to be the first cemetery for enslaved plantation workers in Wake County, potentially holds over 180 bodies. The…