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Inside Canada’s Ozempic craze

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

In today’s Big Story podcast, if you’ve watched TV or attended a sporting event recently, chances are you’ve seen an ad for Ozempic.Originally created to treat Type-2 Diabetes, the drug is now most commonly used for weight loss, and it’s become so popular that some places in Canada have had to ban Americans from crossing the border to get it. And that isn’t the only controversy associated with the medication, which has intensified an age old debate about obesity, how it’s defined, and how doctors should treat it.Carly Weeks is a health reporter at The Globe and Mail, she joins us to explain some of the controversy surrounding Ozempic, and who can currently get access to the drug in Canada.“If we were talking about a medication that helped lower people’s blood pressure, I don’t think we’d see as much interest in the salacious coverage, as we’re seeing with Ozempic,” she said.So should insurance companies cover obesity and weight loss drugs? Should ...

China warns of rocket debris in area northeast of Taiwan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China’s local maritime authorities have issued a warning for possible rocket debris in waters northeast of Taiwan, saying ships would be banned from entering the area on April 16.Southern Fujian province’s Maritime Safety Administration said that vessels would be prohibited from entering the waters from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on that day, according to a press release on Thursday.The announcement comes after China held large-scale military drills that formally ended Monday in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s transit visit last week to the United States, where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Tensions remain high and China sent warplanes flying toward Taiwan more than 200 times over the weekend, while its navy ships circled the self-ruled island.The announcement designates a rectangular area northeast of Taiwan in the East China Sea. The notice sheds more light on the no-fly zone that China had warned it was setti...

Wall Street quiet ahead of another inflation report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

BEIJING — Trading was muted on Wall Street early Thursday, one day after a report showed that inflation in the U.S. eased and Federal Reserve officials said they expect fewer interest rate hikes this year.Futures for the Dow were mostly unchanged and futures for the S&P 500 inched up 0.1% before the bell Thursday.Government data Wednesday showed U.S. inflation declined to 5% in March from the previous month’s 6%. That encouraged traders who hope signs of weaker economic growth might prompt the Fed and other central banks to postpone or scale down plans for more rate hikes.Also Wednesday, notes from the Fed’s March 21-22 meeting showed officials agreed the next increase in its benchmark lending rate would be one-quarter percentage point instead of half a point. The notes showed Fed economists expect a “mild recession” but said that might be avoided.“If inflation is indeed moderating, and growth is no longer ‘too strong,’ the Fed can pause with confidence,” said Stephe...

Victims robbed at gunpoint in attempted Facebook Marketplace purchases on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Multiple victims were robbed at gunpoint during an attempted Facebook Marketplace purchase on the city's South Side. The separate incidents took place in the 5300 block of South Calumet Avenue around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday and again in the 300 block of West 42nd Place at 5:45 p.m.Police say the victim inquired about a car for sale on the social media platform and arranged to meet with the seller. When the victim arrived at the agreed location, they were met by a woman when then three men approached, displaying handguns and demanded the victim's property. 3 shot, 1 fatally, in off-campus shooting near Northwestern University: police The offenders took the victim's money and fled in the vehicle. Police say the woman offender is described as being between the ages of 25-30 and using the name "Diamond." She was accompanied by a group of men. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident. If any information is recovered on the incident, contact ...

65-year-old man reported missing in Skokie

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — Authorities are looking for a 65-year-old Skokie man last seen Wednesday morning.Daniel Radloff was last seen in the 1000 block of Frontage Road at around 9 a.m.He is 5'7", 167 lbs. with gray hair and hazel eyes. He walks with a cane and may be in need of medical attention.Radloff was last seen wearing a black jacket, maroon flannel shirt with a white t-shirt underneath, blue jeans and dark blue "Crocs."Anyone who sees him is asked to call 911.

Fort Lauderdale Airport remains closed after heavy rain strands cars, causes flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — South Florida kept a wary eye on a forecast that called for rain Thursday, a day after nearly a foot (30 centimeters) fell in a matter of hours, causing widespread flooding, closing the Fort Lauderdale airport, and turning thoroughfares into rivers.Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Emergency crews had worked through the night to attend rescue calls, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.Stranded cars littered streets around eastern Broward County, where rains started Monday, with the heaviest downpours coming Wednesday afternoon and evening. Crews worked to clear drains and fire up pumps to clear standing water. People were told to stay off roads until it drained.The Red Cross arrived at 5 a.m. Thursday and set up a staging area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, officials said. The staging area also acted as a reunificati...

Parents accused of child cruelty claim to be immune Moorish sovereign citizens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) -- Two Georgia parents accused of child cruelty are claiming to be part of an extremist anti-government group that believes individuals can't be governed by state or federal authorities. Thirty-year-old Hassan Sahih Bey and 25-year-old Tinka El were arrested on April 6 after a deputy responded to the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Hospital of Georgia, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office said.After speaking with someone from the Department of Family and Children's Services, the deputy learned one of the children had to be put on a respirator and had been diagnosed with rickets disease, a rare disease that can cause problems for children's bone development. A lack of vitamin D or calcium is the most common cause of rickets. The child also had bone malformation due to malnutrition. Man found guilty of spitting at police gets 70 years in prison El told police she had two other children who were at home with their father, Bey.Once Bey arrived at the hosp...

5 issues that have drawn student protests in the past year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

(The Hill) -- High school protests are drawing increasing attention across the country as students walk out of classrooms — and sometimes into government buildings — to make their voices heard on a myriad of issues.Students have pushed back as some states have decided to take a heavier-handed approach to their public schools, gun reform demonstrations in Tennessee have made national headlines and, later this month, organizations including Equality Florida and other LGBTQ groups are helping high schoolers organize walk-outs in response to anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state. Here are five of the biggest issues that have drawn youth protests over the past year:Gun violenceStudents march from Hume Fogg High School to the state capitol for a March For Our Lives protest against gun violence in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, April 3. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)The U.S. has seen 14 school shootings in 2023 that have led to injury or death, according to a tracker by Education Week. ...

Push to get Narcan in Austin hotspots of opioid overdoses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A proposed resolution on Thursday’s city council agenda would get a life-saving medicine, along with training, into the hands of organizations and businesses located in hotspots of opioid overdoses.The proposal, placed on the agenda by council member Mackenzie Kelly, would provide funding for Austin Travis-County EMS to handout Narcan kits to businesses and organizations. The Narcan nasal spray reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, and it was just recently approved to be sold over the counter by the Food and Drug Administration.  Parking at bars, AFD response times: This week’s City Council items that impact you Where are the hotspots?The number of opioid overdoses has increased by 300% in the past five years, according to Blake Hardy, an ATCEMS commander. It's happening especially in certain areas.  Kelly’s office provided KXAN with data showing the number of overdoses that happened over a 14-month period in 2021 and 2022. The Sunset Valley and Riverside...

In Texas' school voucher standoff, school leaders weigh in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – In rural Guadalupe County — more than an hour from the Texas Capitol —Seguin Independent School District Superintendent Matthew Gutiérrez returned from visiting one of his campuses.He described one classroom where 10 small groups of students were working with paraprofessionals and intervention teachers. The entire set-up was possible, he said, because of federal dollars allocated to districts during the pandemic. It’s money that will be fully spent soon.“That’s what we need,” Gutiérrez said. “Our students have significant needs, especially in high-poverty school districts like Seguin ISD, and to think that it is possible that our funding could be reduced … that is going to be detrimental for us.” School choice center stage in Texas House Dr. Gutiérrez and other superintendents, like the head of Pflugerville Independent School District, have been very vocal leading up to critical votes in the Texas legislature.God bless this bipartisan group of #txlege Reps. wh...