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Ticker: White House threatens patents of high-priced drugs developed with taxpayer dollars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

The Biden administration is putting pharmaceutical companies on notice. Washington is warning them that if the price of certain drugs is too high, the government might cancel their patent protection and allow rivals to make their own versions.“Today, we’re taking a very important step toward ending price gouging so you don’t have to pay more for the medicine you need,” President Biden said in a YouTube video.Under a new plan announced, the government would consider overriding the patent for high-priced drugs that have been developed with the help of taxpayer money and letting competitors make them in hopes of driving down the cost.The administration did not immediately release details about how the process will work and how it will deem a drug costly enough to act. If the plan is enacted, drugmakers are almost certain to sue.Wall Street hit 2023 highWall Street climbed back to its best level in 20 months on Friday following a stronger-than-expected report on the U.S. job...

Shohei Ohtani signs historic deal with Los Angeles Dodgers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

Putting to rest weeks of increasingly feverish speculation, Shohei Ohtani announced Saturday that he has signed a historic deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, one that ranks among the largest in the history of professional sports.According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and others, Ohtani’s deal with the Dodgers is for 10 years, $700 million, obliterating the previous MLB record of $426.5 million set by Ohtani’s former Angels teammate Mike Trout. Passan also reported the contract has significant deferrals, which will reduce his luxury tax hit and free up more money for the Dodgers to build a contender around him.Ohtani broke the news himself on his Instagram, thanking fans and everyone in the baseball world for their patience while expressing gratitude to the Los Angeles Angels for their six-year partnership and to the Dodgers for allowing him the opportunity to finish his career in blue.“To all Dodgers fans, I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and alw...

Derrick White’s MVP night shows why he’s Celtics’ most consistent player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

As Derrick White stepped to the free throw line with 21.3 seconds remaining on Friday night – with a Celtics win already sealed – the chants at TD Garden were heard faintly.But as he made his second free throw for his 30th point of the night, the chants were much more clear.“M-V-P! M-V-P!”As humble as he is, White couldn’t help but hear it. The Celtics guard cracked a smile postgame as he recalled the moment.“It’s crazy,” White said. “We’ve got the best fans in the league so I’m always thankful and grateful for them. I know I’m not the MVP but it’s always cool to hear.”It wasn’t the first time he’s heard it. Last spring, during his big performance in the Celtics’ Game 2 victory over the Hawks when he scored 26 points, White was also showered with MVP chants.White is right, for the most part. He’ll likely never be considered a serious MVP candidate, especially when he shares the court with Jayson Tatum. But his value to the Celtics, at this point, is unquestionable. After Friday’s wi...

Green Line Extension to celebrate its one-year anniversary with service disruptions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

The Medford-Tufts branch of the Green Line Extension opened with great fanfare on Dec. 12, 2022, a milestone decades in the making that officials promised would bring reliable transit service to suburbs just north of Boston.The project that cost the state $2.3 billion has not brought a smooth ride for commuters relying on the line’s five stops in Medford and Somerville.Riders will continue to feel disruptions on Tuesday, one year to the day that the GLX opened.Work to regauge the track, which MBTA officials knew as far back as April 2021 was defective and too narrow, will not be completed by Monday, as initially anticipated under a plan presented by project contractor, GLX Constructors.That means riders will be forced to forgo train service, and, instead, hop on shuttle buses beginning each night at 8:45 for at least the next week, with the MBTA granting the contractor an additional seven nights to continue the work, General Manager Phillip Eng announced Friday.The highly-publicized...

New York’s governor calls on colleges to address antisemitism on campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s governor has called on the state’s colleges and universities to swiftly address cases of antisemitism and what she described as any “calls for genocide” on campus after Ivy League presidents faced backlash for not adequately condemning threats of violence against Jewish students during congressional testimony earlier this week.In a letter to college and university presidents on Saturday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said her administration would enforce violations of the state’s Human Rights Law and refer any violations of federal civil rights law to U.S. officials. “As Governor of New York I want to reinforce that colleges and universities not in compliance with federal and state laws protecting students against discrimination can be deemed ineligible to receive state and federal funds,” she wrote.Hochul said she has spoken to chancellors of the State University of New York and City University of New York public college systems who she said confirm...

1 person stabbed after reports of ‘numerous teens’ with knives at TTC station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

Police are searching for a number of suspects after someone was stabbed at a TTC station in the east end.Police say they received reports just before 3:30 p.m. of “numerous” teens with knives at Don Mills subway station.When they arrived they located an individual suffering from a stab wound. Paramedics transported the individual to a trauma centre via emergency run. There was no immediate word on their conditionPolice say the suspects have fled the scene.More to come

Consumer product agency issues warning on small magnetic balls linked to deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning about the danger of high-powered, pea-sized magnets found in toys, announcing one company’s recall of a set containing them and saying it was aware of seven deaths linked to their ingestion.The federal agency estimated that ingestion of the magnets led to 2,400 hospital emergency room visits from 2017-2021 in addition to the deaths, two of which it said occurred outside the United States. “Consumers should stop using the recalled magnetic balls immediately, (and) take them away from children,” the commission said in an online notice. Made from rare-earth metals, each ball measures five millimeters.The safety commission said the magnets were stronger than permitted by federal toy regulations and could kill children if two or more are swallowed as they can attract each other in the stomach, perforating intestinal walls, twisting and/or blocking intestines — which could lead to infection and blood poisoning.The Neodymium Magn...

RCMP in Surrey, B.C., issue Amber Alert for two-month-old girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

SURREY, B.C. — Mounties in Surrey, B.C., have issued an Amber Alert for two-month-old Ari Jenna Rose McCauley.Police say the suspect is the girl’s father, 27-year-old Skylar William McCauley.They say the man is about five foot eight inches tall and 250 pounds with short dirty blond hair and facial stubble. He was last seen wearing a beige canvas jacket with a hood and blue jeans.RCMP is asking for the public’s help in finding the girl and her father, saying the two are possibly travelling in a four-door 2002 White Chevrolet Suburban with the license plate RD862E.Anyone with information or who sees the vehicle is asked to contact police.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2023.The Canadian Press

Shohei Ohtani agrees to record $700 million, 10-year contract with Dodgers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani agreed Saturday to a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.The deal was announced after days of speculation over where the unique, two-way star would continue his career after six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.“This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player,” Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, said in a statement. “He is excited to begin this partnership, and he structured his contract to reflect a true commitment from both sides to long-term success.”Ohtani’s total was 64% higher than baseball’s previous record, a $426.5 million, 12-year deal for Angels outfielder Mike Trout that began in 2019.His $70 million average salary is 62% above the previous high of $43,333,333, shared by pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with deals they struck when signing with the New York Mets. Ohtani’s average salary nearly doubles the roughly $42.3 million he earned with the...

Dozens of animals taken from Virginia roadside zoo as part of investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:57 GMT

NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (AP) — Over 100 animals –- both living and dead -– have been taken from a roadside zoo in western Virginia, according to court documents, as part of what state authorities are calling a criminal investigation.One search warrant executed Wednesday at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County shows that 89 living animals were seized, while another 28 deceased animals were removed, The Roanoke Times reported.The office of Attorney General Jason Miyares is conducting the investigation, with help from the Virginia State Police. The warrant said that it had been issued in relation to the care of and cruelty to animals.The attorney general’s “Animal Law Unit offers support and prosecution of animal cruelty cases upon request of a local Commonwealth’s Attorney or law enforcement agency,” Miyares spokesperson Victoria LaCivita said in an email Friday. “Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we cannot comment further.”LaCivita did confirm that one of the dead...