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DOJ suing Rite Aid for missing 'red flags' in opioid epidemic

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

(The Hill) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing pharmacy giant Rite Aid for allegedly filling hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances that had “obvious red flags” amid the country’s opioid epidemic. The DOJ is arguing that Rite Aid violated the federal False Claims Act and the Controlled Substances Act, submitting false prescription claims to government health care programs and knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, according to a Tuesday release.“We allege that Rite Aid filled hundreds of thousands of prescriptions that did not meet legal standards," Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said. "According to our complaint, Rite Aid’s pharmacists repeatedly filled prescriptions for controlled substances with obvious red flags, and Rite Aid intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers."“These practices opened the floodgates for millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illega...

Pentagon report explores possibility of alien ship visits

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – A new government report is raising eyebrows across the country -- especially among anyone interested in extraterrestrial -- as physicist and Harvard professor Abraham “Avi” Loeb says there's a possibility humans aren't the only civilization in the universe.“Whether we live in such a reality or not is not a philosophical question, we just have to look out,” Loeb said.Loeb teamed up with the Pentagon office that investigates unidentified aerial phenomena, and they came up with a draft report that says it's possible alien ships have already visited our solar system. La Niña is over: Here’s what that means for Oregon Specifically, Loeb thinks the first interstellar object spotted passing through our solar system in 2017, given the name Oumuamua, could be an extraterrestrial mothership.Loeb says it didn't have the characteristics you'd find in meteors or other known objects.“We consider a possibility where an object as big as Oumuamua, which was a football f...

Part of mall roof in Minnesota collapses under heavy snow

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Part of the roof at a shopping mall in Duluth, Minnesota, collapsed early Tuesday as workers were removing several inches of snow that had fallen over the weekend, authorities said.No one was injured when the roof fell in at Miller Hill Mall about 9 a.m. Tuesday, when most of the mall's stores were still not open. Everyone in the building at the time has been accounted for, Duluth city spokeswoman Kelli Latuska said.The building was evacuated and is closed. La Niña is officially over, NOAA announces: What does that mean? Authorities did not say exactly what caused the collapse but it came after the Duluth area received about 12.5 inches of snow over the weekend. Duluth International Airport has recorded more than 116 inches of snow this season — more than 40 inches above normal.Barnes & Noble manager Scott Skar said he heard a loud noise, “like something rolling across the roof" before another employee said the roof had collapsed, MPR News reported. ...

Visitor finds 3.29-carat diamond at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

MURFREESBORO, Ark. (KARK) – An Arkansas Crater of Diamonds State Park visitor hit a sizable jackpot during a dig on March 4.Murfreesboro resident David Anderson, a regular park visitor, discovered a 3.29-carat brown diamond while sifting gravel. The site was in the West Drain of the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area. Gov. Sanders kicks off 100 years of Arkansas State Parks with event at Petit Jean State Park Anderson mistook the diamond initially.“At first I thought it was quartz but wondered why it was so shiny,” he said. “Once I picked it up, I realized it was a diamond!”Murfreesboro resident David Anderson is a regular to the park and said he has found more than 400 gems during his visits. (Courtesy: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism)A park spokesperson said Anderson has found more than 400 diamonds in the park over the past 16 years, adding that 15 of the diamonds he recovered have been more than one carat. Arkansas State Parks kicks off centennial celebr...

First Warning: Subfreezing wind chills, a few wet snowflakes for some

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A stretch of unseasonably cold temperatures is forecast to begin Friday and last through SXSW Music Festival weekend into early next week. Light precipitation is mainly expected to fall as cold rain Sunday and Monday, but a few wet snowflakes may mix with rain in the Hill Country.Temperatures Wednesday and Thursday will be on the rise as humidity returns ahead of a large storm system. That system is expected to bring the threat of severe thunderstorms late Thursday into early Friday. The cold front moves through Thursday night, kicking off a stretch of dramatically colder weather.Some storms could be severe Thursday nightAfter storms clear, howling north winds transport significantly colder air into our area by Friday morning. With air temperatures in the 40s and a Wind Advisory potentially in effect, wind chills fall below freezing in some communities.Wind chill temperature forecast early FridayAir temperatures remain cold through the weekend. Temperatures are expec...

Severe storms possible Thursday, then a significant cold snap blows in

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A light disturbance passing overhead generated cloudy skies Tuesday afternoon with a few very isolated sprinkles. As that system exits overnight, clouds break up with cool, comfortable temperatures and light winds.As a powerful western storm approaches, south winds ramp up beginning Wednesday, bringing the return of heat and humidity. Highs rise into the 70s Wednesday, then the 80s Thursday in most areas. NEW BLOG: How a switch to El Niño could affect hurricane season First Warning: Severe weather threat, colder weatherSpringtime thunderstorms return to the area on Thursday, some of which may be severe with wind damage, hail and isolated tornadoes. The west Texas dryline -- a front bringing a drop in humidity instead of temperatures -- brings a low threat of an afternoon severe storm, though these storms may not fire at all.The more significant threat of storms comes late Thursday evening into Thursday night as a strong cold front plows through the area.Severe thu...

How diversity, equity and inclusion impacts businesses and why there's still a divide in Texas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— As the state takes aim at diversity equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI), data presented during South by Southwest shows how these efforts impact workplaces.Downtown Austin—one of the most diverse places in Texas— was a fitting backdrop for Dr. Tana Session's presentation: "Driving Diversity Forward with Data." Session is an HR, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant."There's still a lot of skepticism out there," Session said, opening her chat with a crowd. She admitted many people and companies do not fully grasp DEI initiatives.Session talked about data and research showing how DEI initiatives help recruit and retain employees and creates a two times higher cash flow for workers.According to data and research compiled by Session's team, greater diversity in management teams helps companies earn 19% more in revenue, and companies with board seat members who are not white or are women have a higher year-over-year revenue.Still, just more than 30% percent of exec...

UT Austin hosts roundtable to discuss semiconductor industry during SXSW

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)-- As part of South by Southwest, the University of Texas Austin hosted a roundtable Monday to discuss maximizing growth of the semiconductor industry.Congressmen Michael McCaul and Lloyd Doggett, along with other leaders, were part of the discussion.The Austin Metro has recently seen a boom in computer chip makers, such as Samsung, investing to build manufacturing.Leaders said they want to make sure the U.S. is ready to fill the void in supply chain issues exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.One of those ways is to make learning opportunities more available to students.UT Austin President Jay Hartzell said the university was working to find new, innovative ways to get students in Kindergarten through 12th grade excited about the industry.

East Metro girls basketball Player of the Year: Minnehaha Academy’s Addi Mack

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

Minnehaha Academy coach Matt Pryor was going over an opponent’s scouting report last season when then-freshman guard Addi Mack’s hand shot up.“Actually,” Mack said, “that girl is left-handed.”“She was like 14 years old at the time,” Pryor said. “To have a 14-year-old that’s a student of the game at the level she’s at, it’s clear how she’s able to translate that to being successful out there on the floor.”Mack said she’s always trying to “win the mind game.” She thinks she holds a big advantage in that department. She prepares for games like a coach, constantly scouting her opponents and discussing game plans with her coaches. The Redhawks are already a scout-heavy team, and Mack piles onto that.Pair that knowledge with a deep, diverse skill set, and the result is a sophomore who’s averaging 30 points per game this season and is already north of the 2,000-point total in her varsity career. Mack is the 2023 Pioneer Press girls basketball Player of the Year.“She’s as consistent a playe...

Minnesota’s legalized marijuana legislation rewritten to cover the new hemp market

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:49:52 GMT

Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Minnesota underwent a major rewrite Tuesday with the addition of new language to regulate and protect the state’s burgeoning industry in low-potency edibles and drinkables.Low-potency products containing THC derived from industrial hemp instead of full-strength cannabis have been legal in Minnesota since last year. But the law that legalized them, which quietly slipped through with many lawmakers apparently unaware of what it did, lacks much of a framework for regulating products such as gummies and seltzers with dosages capped at 5 milligrams of THC.The hemp provisions were added to the version traveling through the Senate when it stopped in the State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday. A similar amendment will be added to the House version of the bill next week when it returns to the Commerce Committee, said the lead House author and committee chairman, Democratic Rep. Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids.“The prohibiti...