Dec 30 McKinsey and Co. agrees to $78 million settlement over claims it helped fuel opioid crisis By Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press Consulting firm McKinsey and Co. has agreed to pay $78 million to settle claims from insurers and health care funds that its work with drug companies helped fuel an opioid addiction crisis. Under the agreement, McKinsey would establish a fund… Continue reading
Dec 30 Google settles $5 billion lawsuit alleging it tracked 'incognito mode' activity By Associated Press Google has agreed to settle a $5 billion privacy lawsuit alleging that it spied on people who used the “incognito” mode in its Chrome browser — along with similar “private” modes in other browsers — to track their internet use. Continue reading
Dec 29 Maine secretary of state who opted to keep Trump off primary ballot is facing threat of impeachment By David Sharp, Associated Press At least one Republican lawmaker has vowed to pursue an impeachment against Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows despite long odds in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Continue reading
Dec 29 Judge blocks most of an Iowa law banning some school library books and discussion of LGBTQ+ issues By Associated Press The judge said the ban on books is "incredibly broad" and has resulted in the removal of history volumes, classics, award-winning novels and "even books designed to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault."… Continue reading
Dec 29 Watch 7:22 Why reports of a surge in retail theft may be overblown By Paul Solman, Sam Lane Most Americans think there’s more crime in the U.S. than there was a year ago, according to a recent Gallup poll. That’s despite clear data showing violent crime has actually dropped sharply in 2023. So why the misperception? Economics correspondent… Continue watching
Dec 29 Watch 5:56 How the economy upended expectations of a recession in 2023 By Geoff Bennett, Shoshana Dubnow It was a year in which many experts got a lot of things wrong about the economy. Many economists believed the Fed's battle to tame inflation with interest rate hikes would trigger high unemployment and a recession. Instead, inflation was… Continue watching
Dec 29 Watch 10:14 Research uncovers link between hormone and severe morning sickness during pregnancy By Amna Nawaz, Courtney Norris, Karina Cuevas The extent to which women experience morning sickness can vary, and those with extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy often face stigma when trying to receive care. While the condition is notoriously understudied, new research is giving hope for better… Continue watching
Dec 29 Michael Cohen says he unwittingly sent AI-generated fake legal cases to his attorney By Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Cohen made the admission in a court filing unsealed Friday in Manhattan federal court as a judge decides whether to punish one of Cohen's lawyers, who cited the fake cases in a submission to the judge. Continue reading
Dec 29 North Dakota governor declares emergency for ice storm that left thousands without power By Associated Press The ice storm that struck this week also shut down segments of interstate highways, including from Grand Forks to the Canadian border. Roads were so slick in North Dakota's capital city of Bismarck that people donned ice skates in some… Continue reading
Dec 29 Ohio governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care for minors, trans athletes By Samantha Hendrickson, Associated Press/Report For America The GOP-dominated Legislature has enough power to override DeWine’s veto, but if or when they would do so is not yet clear. Roughly 20 states have measures in place like the proposed legislation in Ohio. Continue reading