Month: September 2021

California Governor Signs Laws Aimed at Ensuring Access to Abortion

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed two laws that are meant to make sure women have access to abortion. California Assembly Bill 1356 boosts penalties for crimes established by the California Freedom of Access to Clinic Act, including posting the home address or home telephone number of abortion providers. The bill elevates the crimes from…


21-Year-Old Quadruplets in UK All Follow in Their Mother’s Footsteps by Becoming Nurses

Four sisters—who happen to be non-identical quadruplets—are making their family proud by following their mother into the medical profession. All four are trained nurses entering the UK’s government health service, each having their own unique specialty. Anjel, Aneetta, Aleena, and Aneesha Mathew, all 21, started their new roles in August. Anjel, Aneetta, and Aleena joined the ranks…


COVID-19 Exacerbates Teacher Shortages Across Public Schools, Forcing Some to Return to Remote Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated teacher shortages across public schools in the United States, forcing some to go back to remote learning. Teacher shortages and difficulties filling job openings have been reported in Tennessee, New Jersey, and South Dakota, which saw one district begin the school year with 120 teacher vacancies. Meanwhile in Texas, Houston, Waco, and…


Oil Prices Rise on Tight Supply, Renewed Risk Appetite

LONDON—Oil prices extended gains on Thursday, riding higher on growing fuel demand and a bigger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude inventories as production remains hampered in the Gulf of Mexico after two hurricanes. Brent crude rose 9 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $76.28 a barrel at 0856 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up…


How to Disagree With Your Doctor

When my daughter was 5 months old, she developed a rash on her face. I watched it for a couple of days and noticed it was worsening, so I took her to a family physician in Hadley, Massachusetts. “What do you think’s wrong?” Dr. Robert Weitzman asked. I cuddled the baby on my lap, a…


Chip Shortage to Cost Automakers $210 Billion in Sales: Analysis

The global semiconductor shortage will lead to 7.7 million fewer vehicles produced in 2021, costing automakers billions in lost sales, according to consulting firm AlixPartners. The forecast, released Sept. 23, estimates that the shortage will cost the auto industry globally $210 billion in lost revenues in 2021, up sharply from the May projections of $110…


Asian Shares Perk up but Evergrande Jitters Keep Investors on Edge

HONG KONG—Asian shares made cautious gains on Thursday, supported by some positive news from cash-strapped developer China Evergrande Group, while the dollar held near a one-month top after the U.S. Federal Reserve took a hawkish tilt overnight. However, nerves were still frayed about Evergrande’s future and the country’s property sector as a whole, with a…


Wall Street Ends Higher as Fed Signals Bond-Buying Taper Soon

NEW YORK—The three major U.S. stock indexes rose 1 percent on Wednesday as investors mostly took in stride the latest signals from the Federal Reserve, including clearing the way for the central bank to reduce its monthly bond purchases soon. The S&P 500 registered its biggest daily percentage gain since July 23. While trading was…


North Carolina Teachers Say School’s Testing Protocols Discriminate Against Unvaccinated

Two teachers in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School (CMS) district in North Carolina allege that the district’s new COVID-19 testing policy discriminates against the unvaccinated, and that the policy was decided on “behind closed doors.” In a memo sent out to all teachers and staff within the school system on Sept. 20, CMS stated that mandatory testing…


Thursday, September 23, 2021: Epoch Sudoku

Easy Some benefits of playing Sudoku may include reducing anxiety and stress, and improving concentration, problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and memory.