Author: potus
WASHINGTON (AP) — Though patients don’t rush through the doors of this emergency room anymore, an empty hospital in Williamston, North Carolina, offers an evocative illustration of why Republican Sen. Thom Tillis would buck his party leaders to vote down President Donald Trump’s signature domestic policy package. Martin General is one of a dozen hospitals that have closed in North Carolina over the last two decades. This is a problem that hospital systems and health experts warn may only worsen if the legislation passes with its $1 trillion cuts to the Medicaid program and new restrictions on enrollment in the…
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop provides the latest in the case challenging Illinois’ prohibition of carrying concealed carry on mass transit and shares a conversation with Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson about an appeals court setting Sept. 22 for oral arguments in the case challenging the state’s gun and magazine ban. Bishop also provides some of the reaction from Illinois to the so-called “big, beautiful bill” working through the U.S. Congress. In particular, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the bill will hurt Illinoisans health care,…
(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s Supreme Court overturned the state’s 1849 abortion law with a Wednesday ruling, stating that legislation since then should supersede and replace the law in a 4-3 decision.The ruling was written by Rebecca Dallet with concurrence by Jill Karofsky, Ann Walsh Bradley and Janet Protasiewicz. In dissent were Annette Ziegler, Rebecca Bradley and Brian Hagedorn.“We conclude that comprehensive legislation enacted over the last 50 years regulating in detail the ‘who, what, where, when, and how’ of abortion so thoroughly covers the entire subject of abortion that it was meant as a substitute for the 19th century…
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Republicans in Congress rushed forward with a massive tax and spending cut bill, a North Carolina renewable energy executive wrote to his 190 employees with a warning: Deep cuts to clean energy tax credits were going to hurt.“(The changes) would almost certainly include the loss of jobs on our team,” wrote Will Etheridge, CEO of Southern Energy Management in Raleigh. “I’m telling you that because you deserve transparency and the truth — even if that truth is uncomfortable.”The bill now in the House takes an ax to clean energy incentives, including killing a 30% tax credit…
(The Center Square) – Most U.S. voters oppose having data centers built in their community and even more oppose the data centers if tax incentives are awarded to have them built, according to a poll released Wednesday morning by Libertas Network.Overton Insights asked 1,200 registered voters the questions between June 23-26 on behalf of Libertas, which says it focuses on family education and policy reform as it looks to “change hearts, minds and laws to create a freer future.”Libertas had Overton Insights ask the data center questions upon suggestion from The Center Square.The poll asked voters specifically if they supported…
New behavioral health division createdGov. J.B. Pritzker has announced a new division of the Illinois Department of Human Services.The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery integrates the former Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery and Division of Mental Health.The change follows Pritzker’s executive order in February and legislation during this year’s spring session.Bill gives solar project control back to countiesState Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, has introduced legislation to return control over solar energy projects to county governments.Niemerg said his constituents are frustrated that they have no say in solar developments in their backyard.House Bill 4078 would return solar regulation…
Tesla reported around 384,000 vehicle deliveries in the second quarter, a 14% decline from a year ago, and the second straight quarterly drop. The stock rose about 4% on Wednesday.The electric vehicle maker reported 443,956 deliveries and production of 410,831 vehicles during the same period last year.Here are the key numbers:Total deliveries Q2 2025: 384,122 vehiclesTotal production Q2 2025: 410,244 vehiclesWall Street analysts were expecting Tesla to report deliveries of around 387,000 according to FactSet.Deliveries in the first quarter of 2025 dropped 13% from a year earlier to 336,681. Deliveries are the closest approximation of vehicle sales reported by Tesla but…
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at Microsoft Build AI Day in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 30, 2024.Adek Berry | AFP | Getty ImagesMicrosoft said Wednesday that it will lay off about 9,000 employees. The move will affect less than 4% of its global workforce across different teams, geographies and levels of experience, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.The announcement comes on the second day of Microsoft’s 2026 fiscal year. Executives at the Redmond, Washington-based company typically unveil reorganizations at the time of the new fiscal year.”We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and…
Honor launched the Honor Magic V5 on Wednesday July 2, as it looks to challenge Samsung in the foldable space.HonorHonor on Wednesday touted the slimness and battery capacity of its newly launched thin foldable phone, as it lays down a fresh challenge to market leader Samsung.The Honor Magic V5 goes will initially go on sale in China, but the Chinese tech firm will likely bring the device to international markets later this year.The company, which spun off from Chinese tech giant Huawei in 2020, is looking to stand out from rivals with key features of the Magic V5, like artificial…
One of the most popular gaming YouTubers is named Bloo, and has bright blue wavy hair and dark blue eyes. But he isn’t a human — he’s a fully virtual personality powered by artificial intelligence.”I’m here to keep my millions of viewers worldwide entertained and coming back for more,” said Bloo in an interview with CNBC. “I’m all about good vibes and engaging content. I’m built by humans, but boosted by AI.”Bloo is a virtual YouTuber, or VTuber, who has built a massive following of 2.5 million subscribers and more than 700 million views through videos of him playing popular…