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Fraudsters are duping homeless people into signing up for ACA plans they can’t afford

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

Daniel Chang | (TNS) KFF Health NewsMIAMI — Mary Zhelyazkova was surprised when pharmacists at Florida’s largest safety net hospital said they could not fill her prescription.Zhelyazkova, 40, was living at a homeless shelter and needed Suboxone, a medication to manage the symptoms of opioid withdrawal.She said she had been getting Suboxone at the Jackson Memorial Hospital pharmacy for free through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provides medical care at little or no cost to people with HIV.But at the end of 2021, she said, a stranger approached her on the street and offered her $5 to sign up for a “free” health insurance plan with Florida Blue. The person instructed her to use a false address and falsify her income so she could be seen as eligible for coverage, she said.When the plan took effect the following year, Zhelyazkova learned the downsides.Mary Zhelyazkova, 40, of Miami said she accepted $5 from a stranger to sign up for a zero-premium health plan through the Afforda...

Shooting victim struggles in ICU after downtown Denver street violence that marred Nuggets NBA Finals celebration

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

One of the shooting victims from this week’s violence in downtown Denver has had multiple surgeries and was facing more as he lay in an intensive-care-unit bed Friday with a tube draining fluids from his body, an example of how wanton gunfire in crowded streets spreads pain.A May graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Keith Sablan, 24, had been hoping to become a financial advisor and work his way up in the banking and investing industry — an optimistic and resilient young man with ambitions, according to friends. Sablan went downtown Monday night to celebrate the Denver Nuggets’ NBA championship victory. He’s one of at least 10 people wounded — he was hit directly with three bullets, one shattering his lower leg — when a gunfight broke out with at least 20 shots fired amid a crowd of revelers shortly after midnight near 20th and Market streets. Police who chased down two suspects have said they believe the shooting was related to a fent...

CU Boulder researchers discover new direction for treating ALS

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

Alexandra Whiteley is the senior author of a study about ALS and assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry (Courtesy photo / CU Boulder)A University of Colorado Boulder study has discovered a new protein believed to play a role in causing ALS, giving researchers a new direction for potential treatments.The research suggests that the protein, known as PEG10, changes cell behavior in ways that lead to ALS when it’s present at high levels in nerve tissue.The protein is ancient and virus-like, known for its role in aiding the development of the placenta and preventing cancer progression. However, when it’s overly abundant in the wrong places, it may also cause disease.“The fact that PEG10 is likely contributing to this disease means we may have a new target for treating ALS,” said Alexandra Whiteley, senior author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, in a news release. “For a terrible disease in which there are no effective therapeutics tha...

Boulder City Council approves drafting partial moratorium on Police Oversight Panel’s work

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

Boulder City Council unanimously voted Thursday evening to approve the drafting of a partial moratorium on the work of the city’s Police Oversight Panel.“I know it’s been a difficult time for the POP in recent months with some of the challenges they’ve been experiencing. It’s been challenging for the community as well,” said Mayor Aaron Brockett. “I would like for us to formalize a partial moratorium so that they can focus on making those changes to the city ordinance.”Last month, the panel voted to suspend most of its operations after former panelist Lisa Sweeney-Miran was removed by City Council over allegations of bias. Panelists agreed that their priority was to make changes to the Police Oversight Ordinance, which governs the POP, and that they would stop considering new police oversight cases and other panel work not related to the ordinance for the time being. However, the panel has continued to review police oversight cases it had already committed to reviewing.A partial mor...

Southern California couple found dead at Mexican resort: What we know

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

Prosecutors in Mexico's Baja California Sur state said Thursday that autopsies on two Americans found dead in their luxury hotel room suggest they died of “intoxication by an undetermined substance.”Local police initially said gas inhalation was suspected as the cause of death.The state prosecutor's office said the bodies bore no signs of violence. The office did not say what further steps were being taken to determine the exact cause of death.Friends have identified the victims as Abby Lutz, 28, and John Heathco, 41, or Orange County. The nutritional supplements company LES Labs, based in Covina, California, lists Heathco as its founder. According to her Facebook profile, Lutz was originally from Utah and was working as a Nanny in Orange County.Abby Lutz and John Heathco were found dead at a resort in Baja California Sur. June 2023. (Facebook)“While on a beautiful trip in Mexico, Abby and her boyfriend thought they had food poisoning and went to the hospital to get treatment,”...

Suspect in Fairfax District arson spree arrested on 8 counts, may be linked to more fires 

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

A man suspected of setting several fires in the Fairfax District has been taken into custody, and authorities believe he could be linked to more blazes in other areas of Los Angeles. The suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Delano Thompson, authorities said at a news conference Friday morning. Thompson was pulled over by police for speeding in Sunland on Wednesday and was subsequently arrested. He was said to be living in his car at the time of his arrest. One of the arsons Thompson was arrested for includes an incident where a shed door was burned at Bais Chana Heritage School, LAPD Detective Roger Allen confirmed. “We have no evidence to show that that particular fire was a hate incident,” Allen said. “Our House of Worship Task Force investigates those, but whether we can determine [if the crime was motivated by] hate is the source of the investigation.” Multiple families were forced to evacuate their homes after an intense fire ripped through a par...

Over 100 pounds of illegal fireworks seized in Oxnard 

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

Authorities located and seized over 100 pounds of fireworks from a residence in Oxnard on Thursday. According to a statement from the Oxnard Police Department, officers served a search warrant in the 1600 block of Monet Court around 1:48 p.m. after receiving information regarding the sale of illegal fireworks at the residence. A subsequent search of the residence yielded 100.8 pounds of illegal fireworks, including numerous “mortar” style fireworks that explode midair. The suspect, who has not been identified, was arrested for possession of dangerous fireworks and was booked into the Oxnard Police Department Jail.  4 killed in fiery crash on 110 Freeway The Oxnard Police Department reminds residents that all fireworks, even those classified as “safe and sane” are illegal in Oxnard and that citations carry a fine of up to $1,000. A list of phone numbers and ways to report the use of illegal fireworks in Oxnard is listed below: Fireworks Cell Phone Line: 805-307-...

Timothy Aguilar Killed in Fiery Car Accident on McKinley Avenue [Fresno, CA]

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

32-Year-Old Man Pronounced Dead after Fiery Auto Collision near Helm AvenueFRESNO, CA (June 16, 2023) – Tuesday night, Timothy Aguilar was killed in a fiery car accident on McKinley Avenue.The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m., near Helm Avenue and the Fresno Yosemite International Airport on June 13th.For reasons under investigation, the driver of a pickup-truck rear-ended another vehicle and slammed into a tree.First responders arrived and located 32-year-old Aguilar inside the pickup-truck that was engulfed in flames. Emergency crews extricated him and rushed him to a local hospital where he later died.Meanwhile, paramedics transported the female driver of the vehicle that was rear-ended to a hospital for further treatment. Although, authorities have not yet released her identity.Following preliminary duties, officers do not believe that alcohol or drugs were a factor. However, an active investigation to determine further details is still currently underway.The team at Swe...

Jose Cortez Guzman Killed in Fiery Accident near Shields Avenue [Fresno, CA]

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

Two-Vehicle Collision near Academy Avenue Resulted in One FatalityFRESNO, CA (June 16, 2023) – Wednesday morning, a fiery car accident near Shields Avenue claimed the life of Jose Cortez Guzman.The incident happened on June 7th at around 10:30 a.m. near Shields and Academy Avenues.According to CHP, a commercial big rig and a Ford Ranger pick-up truck driven by 48-year-old Guzman were involved in the incident.Furthermore, the investigators stated that the commercial truck was pulling a bottom-load gravel trailer and was headed north on Academy Avenue, and Guzman was headed south on Shields Avenue.Consequently, Guzman failed to stop at a red light and collided with the trailer, and was dragged 200 feet.As a result, the impact of the collision caused the trailer to roll over. Unfortunately, Guzman was pronounced dead at the scene due to the extremity of his injuries.Meanwhile, the driver of the big rig did not suffer any injuries.The toxicology reports are still pending to determ...

Khalin Hershel Houston Died in Car Crash on US 95 [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:18:51 GMT

Las Vegas Man Pronounced Dead Following Two-Vehicle Accident near Decatur BoulevardLAS VEGAS, NV (June 16, 2023) – Monday evening, Khalin Hershel Houston lost his life after a car crash on US 95.The accident happened on May 1st, at around 10:00 p.m. near north of Decatur Boulevard on-ramp.According to reports, a passenger in a blue Dodge Avenger stopped in the far-right travel lane on US 95 northbound due to low gas. He was outside of his vehicle when a gray Chrysler 200 traveling northbound failed to slow down and hit the passenger and the Dodger.Following the collision, the Chrysler caught fire after rotating clockwise, coming to rest on the right-side shoulder. The Dodge also spun and came to a stop in the middle of the road.Responding officers arrived and declared the passenger, 28-year-old Khalin Hershel Houston dead at the scene.At this time, officials have not released further information about the crash, but an active investigation is underway.The Las Vegas Metropolita...