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TexasTowelie's JournalBlue Cross warns of higher exchange premiums if politicians change Obamacare rules
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has not decided whether it will continue to offer plans on the Obamacare exchange next year, but if it does, exchange plan prices could rise "significantly" depending on political leaders' actions, according to the company.
Jill Wolowitz, the insurer's vice president of government and community relations, said Tuesday the insurer hopes to continue to offer plans on the exchange next year, but several proposed changes "would have an impact on rates and also our decision."
Insurers have until June 21 to file proposed rates if they plan to stay on the Illinois exchange in 2018.
Some insurers already have bowed out of exchanges in other parts of the country, amid uncertainty over the future of the Affordable Care Act. If Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois were to pull out, it would be a big deal: The insurer is the only one that offers individual PPO plans, not just HMO plans, on the exchange this year.
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-blue-cross-premiums-0426-biz-20170425-story.html
Illinois soda tax could cut health costs, raise $561 million in revenue annually
A penny-per-ounce state tax on sugar-sweetened beverages could raise $561 million a year in new revenue for Illinois, while also saving millions in health care costs associated with obesity and diabetes, according to a new study released Tuesday by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Such a tax would likely would face tremendous opposition from Big Soda, particularly given the recently passed penny-per-ounce tax on both sugar- and artificially-sweetened beverages in Cook County that goes into effect July 1. The Harvard study's revenue projection factors in an expected drop-off in sales once the county's tax kicks in.
A proposal to tax sugary drinks in Illinois was included in a Senate budget plan earlier this year but was stripped out amid opposition from business groups. While the effort has stalled, it's possible the legislation could be revived as lawmakers turn their focus to the ongoing budget impasse over the next several weeks.
"If you're going to make a policy change, you want the best value for the money. And boy, a sugar-sweetened beverage tax is a really good value for the money," said Steven Gortmaker, lead researcher on the study and professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-illinois-soda-tax-study-0426-biz-20170425-story.html
Dems turn up heat on Rauner with bill to expand taxpayer-funded abortions
House Democrats on Tuesday approved a controversial bill that would expand the availability of taxpayer-funded abortions in Illinois, putting Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the politically difficult spot of following through on his pledge to veto it.
The 62-55 vote came amid the fanfare of a women's march and rally at the Capitol that had all the markings of the annual Democrat Day celebration at the State Fair, complete with the requisite sign-waving and Republican-bashing by legislative leaders and candidates seeking to defeat Rauner in next year's election.
Hundreds gathered in front of the Capitol, many wearing pink or sporting the pink hats made famous during the national women's marches in January. Protesters wrote "Gov, do your job" on the street facing Rauner's office, and marchers waved colorful signs saying "Her body, her choice" and "If uteri shot bullets, they wouldn't get regulated!"
Inside the House, lawmakers spent more than two hours debating the measure, which would allow women to use Medicaid coverage and state employee health insurance for abortions. Democrats said the plan also would help ensure abortion remains legal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court by removing a so-called "trigger provision" in current law.
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-abortion-law-rauner-democrats-met-0426-20170425-story.html
Texas Senate approves creating state music museum in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The state Senate has approved creating a Texas music museum slated to be built near the state Capitol.
The bill by Austin Democratic Sen. Kirk Watson passed Monday and creates a foundation overseeing the museum. It now heads to the House, where a similar measure by Fort Worth Republican Rep. Charlie Geren is awaiting a floor vote.
Watson said the museum won't cost Texas money and will actually bring in revenue since the foundation will rent space for it from the state.
A plan revamping the state Capitol grounds, and nearby downtown Austin areas, includes erecting a building for a Texas music museum.
Read more: https://www.guidelive.com/music/2017/04/24/texas-senate-approves-creating-state-music-museum-austin?_ga=1.231496151.971363648.1493128283
Turn in 'illegal aliens': Posters call on UT-Arlington campus to do so as 'civic duty'
Posters urging people at UT-Arlington to report those in the country illegally to immigration officials were spotted on campus Monday.
The fliers, which include the website of the white supremacist group Vanguard America, call on white Americans to turn in unauthorized immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"America is a white nation," the fliers read.
In addition to the one found on campus, the Vanguard America website contains anti-black and anti-Muslim posters. It is not clear whether members of the group were responsible for hanging the posters.
Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/higher-education/2017/04/24/turn-illegal-aliens-ut-arlington-students-urged-fliers-found-campus
No verdict after fourth day of jury deliberations in John Wiley Price corruption trial
The jury in the {Dallas County Commissioner} John Wiley Price federal corruption trial has ended its fourth day of deliberations on Monday without reaching a verdict.
The jury is considering bribery, mail fraud and tax evasion charges against the veteran commissioner.
Price turned 67 on Monday.
Jurors also are deciding the fate of Dapheny Fain, Price's chief of staff, who is accused of helping him avoid taxes and of lying to the FBI.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2017/04/24/verdict-fourth-day-jury-deliberations-john-wiley-price-corruption-trial
Victoria County DA faces employment lawsuit from applicant who spoke to university hate group
A scorned job seeker is suing Victoria County District Attorney Stephen Tyler.
Tyler offered Jason Lee Van Dyke a felony prosecutor job in his office.
But 12 days before he was to start, Tyler rescinded his offer.
Van Dyke had already closed his law firm in Plano, put down a $1,000 deposit on a house in Victoria, referred clients to other lawyers without charging a customary fee and ended a $50,000 contract to be general counsel for a collections agency.
Read more: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/apr/22/da-faces-employment-lawsuit/
'It's going to hit the poorest people': Zika outbreak feared on the Texas border
When Patricia Pena hosted a Zika awareness class near the Texas border with Mexico on Tuesday, only four people showed up.
“Even though there’s been a lot of announcements on TV about it and how to protect yourself, families are still very naive when it comes to the information on Zika,” said Pena, who works with La Frontera Ministries, a community nonprofit.
While Zika cases in south Florida drew most of the headlines last year, the mosquito-borne virus also struck in the Rio Grande valley. As mosquito season ramps up again, activists and health workers fear that the region is at risk of an outbreak.
More than 1.3 million people live in the Valley, many in deprived neighbourhoods known as colonias, where conditions are ripe for mosquitoes to breed: sprawling settlements limit the effectiveness of spraying, standing water is common, and many houses lack window screens or air-conditioning.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/23/zika-outbreak-rio-grande-valley-texas-border-health
Real estate developers excited about SpaceX building rockets in Rio Grande Valley
MCALLEN, RGV – The prospect of SpaceX building rockets in the Rio Grande Valley for its launch site at Boca Chica beach was discussed at a recent State of the RGV Real Estate and Construction Market forum.
The four speakers at the event were Ramiro Garza, principal at Noble Development, Mike Blum, partner in NAI Global, Oscar Garcia, principal at Jacobs Engineering Group, and Raudel Garza, CEO of Harlingen Economic Development Corporation. All four agreed that in order to attract new businesses, the Valley needs to have good schools, access to healthcare and better infrastructure.
The event was hosted by the newly-formed Rio Grande Valley Society for Marketing Professional Services and held at the offices of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.
Discussion about SpaceX and the commercial space industry began when Garcia said his company, Jacobs, works in the industry, not only with NASA but also companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and United Launch Alliance (ULA). Garcia said, “dynamic changes” are on the way.
Read more: http://riograndeguardian.com/real-estate-developers-excited-about-spacex-building-rockets-in-rgv/
Students protest to demand the UT end its contract with Nike over alleged human rights abuse
Students gathered on the steps of the UT Tower at noon Monday to protest the University’s contract with Nike, accusing the multinational footwear company of letting human rights abuses occur in their Hansae Vietnam factory.
United Students Against Sweatshops, Native American and Indigenous Collective and three other student organizations demanded an audience with President Gregory Fenves to insist the University end its contract with Nike.
The Hansae factory — located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — produces the University’s Nike-branded athletic apparel. Mass fainting of workers, unsafe spraying of toxic solvents and working conditions exceeding 90 degrees are some of the alleged human rights abuses at the factory, according to the Worker Rights Consortium.
USAS has met with university leadership for the past two years to discuss these issues. Fenves attended one out of approximately five total meetings, chief communications officer Gary Susswein said.
Read more: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2017/04/25/students-protest-to-demand-the-university-end-its-contract-with-nike-over-alleged-human
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
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