MP Chinni Seeks Specialised Skill Centres in Vijayawada
Well, well, well. If it isn’t Nissan’s variable-compression turbo engine , an enemy I haven’t looked in the eye in many years. This time around, it’s in the new 2025 Nissan Murano , but my first experience with this powerplant came back when I still worked at MotorTrend and ended up with the Infiniti QX50 as my long-term tester . To say I was not a fan of the fancy new engine would be a serious understatement, and considering how hard I was on the car, it’s a miracle anyone at Nissan or Infiniti still talks to me. Although, I’m pretty sure my reporting also led directly to an infotainment system recall, so really, they should be thanking me. The good news is, Nissan’s engineers had the sense to avoid pairing the variable-compression engine in the Murano with a continuously variable transmission. One engineer I spoke with said the new nine-speed auto was just a better choice in part because people had previously complained there was too much going on when the engine was paired with a CVT, likely not knowing that it was me. I am people. I’m sure plenty of other owners complained, too, but I was one of the first. But is the engine any better with a conventional automatic? And if not, is the 2025 Nissan Murano good enough to make up for it? Full Disclosure: Nissan wanted me to drive the new Murano so badly, it included a Murano drive on the Armada trip I was already on. Food, drinks, and accommodations were provided, as well, and Nissan would have paid for my flight if I hadn’t decided to drive myself instead. Arguably, the Murano doesn’t need to exist. If you want a two-row crossover with a Nissan badge, you can just buy the slightly smaller Rogue, and it’ll be fine. But back in the early 2000s, Nissan wanted a stylish, premium crossover that empty nesters would love, and while the interior design of that first-generation Murano may not have held up, the exterior absolutely has. The second-gen Murano was more questionable, but then Nissan returned to form for the third generation that’s been on sale since 2015. In the time since Nissan designed the third-gen Murano, though, the mainstream crossover market has also changed significantly, in large part thanks to Hyundai and Kia really pushing the limits of what’s possible with mainstream car designs. If you’re going to introduce a design-forward crossover for 2025 you have to take some chances, and I get the feeling it’ll probably be at least a few years before we really figure out what we think of the new Murano. I’ve heard it looks both great and awful, whereas I tend to fall sort of in the middle with the opinion that it’s forgettably good-looking. Like one of those actors who simultaneously manages to be conventionally attractive but in a way that doesn’t really leave an impression. Then again, I also thought Glen Powell was forgettable, and now he’s everywhere. While I’m not sold on the new Murano’s exterior design, the interior definitely delivers on the promise of a near-luxury experience. Physical controls are in short supply unless you count the push-button shifter, and there’s some piano black plastic in the center console. You do, however, get a capacitive touch panel for climate controls, and while it may look like wood from a distance, touching it dispels any notion you might have that it’s real wood. That’s probably better for durability and keeping the cost somewhat reasonable, but it’s also a constant reminder that you didn’t actually buy a luxury vehicle. The rest of the materials, including the semi-aniline quilted leather, feel appropriately high-end, though, and Nissan’s designers did a good job of adding contrast and little details that owners will probably appreciate as they get used to their new car. Not everyone is going to be a fan of the two-spoke steering wheel, either, but I actually liked it. It felt good in my hand, and the flat bottom made highway cruising comfortable even without a third spoke to rest my hand on. However, despite all the steering wheel controls, the button to activate the surround-view camera system is still located in the center console instead of on the steering wheel where it would be more convenient. This is a complaint I have about basically every car with a surround-view camera system except for Mitsubishi, but Nissan and Mitsubishi part of the same corporation now, so you’d think at least Nissan would copy that idea. Under the hood, you get Nissan’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 with variable compression cranking out 241 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, in place of the old model’s 3.5-liter V6 with 260 hp and 240 lb-ft. It didn’t feel slow, and the nine-speed automatic felt more natural than I remember the QX50's CVT did, but it’s still just not a great engine. Despite the promise of six-cylinder power and four-cylinder fuel economy, it sure didn’t feel like the former, and as far as the latter went, I think the best computer-estimated gas mileage I saw was 24 mpg. That generally tracks with Nissan’s claim that the new Murano gets 21/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined, and while it’s not bad, it certainly isn’t great, either. Then again, the Murano isn’t really about driving or maximizing fuel economy. Instead, it’s about comfort and luxury. Initially, I thought the Murano might actually be fun to drive, but then I realized I’d just gotten out of the Armada , and the sporty character I was enjoying was just its comparatively smaller size and lower weight. If you try to take a corner too fast in the new Murano, it’s going to lean. A lot. It didn’t feel unsafe at any point, but I also learned pretty quickly to just relax and enjoy the drive. If you don’t push it too hard and just let the Murano be the near-luxury crossover that it wants to be, you’ll be much happier. Aside from the body roll in the corners that can be unpleasant, it’s an incredibly comfortable car. Forget hustling or making up time. Just enjoy the seats and the comfortable suspension tuning. You can even get ventilated front seats with a massage function that will make long drives more enjoyable, and as usual with Nissan, the seats are pretty dang comfortable even if they aren’t doing their best to get the knots out of your back. Nissan also gave the Murano dual 12.3-inch displays, support for both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a legitimately useful head-up display that can display turn-by-turn directions if you’re using CarPlay or Android Auto, and 64 choices of colors for the interior ambient lighting. It’s hard to imagine many people regularly playing with the color of their car’s ambient lighting, but it’s there if you want it. Nissan also includes the cameras necessary for the Invisible Hood View feature it added to the Armada, even though it’s hard to imagine anyone taking a Murano off-road. At best, they might park it on some grass, and it’s not like the Murano pretends to be an off-roader. But again, that feature is there if you ever need it. One feature that’s notably absent is ProPilot Assist 2.1, the version of Nissan’s advanced driving assistance software that allows for hands-free cruising on mapped highways. Including it probably would have required Nissan to charge more for the Murano, but at the same time, it feels like the wrong decision. If you’ve got a luxury-focused crossover in your lineup, wouldn’t you want to fit it with the latest technology that you have? It’s not like the Armada, which does have ProPilot Assist 2.1, and the Murano compete directly. Hands-free driving would be a great selling point and really drive home Nissan’s focus on its premium position in the market. You still get the more basic version of ProPilot, but it’s not like we’re talking about the Rogue here. It’s the pricier Murano. Speaking of price, the base front-wheel-drive Murano starts at $40,470, up slightly from the $38,740 that Nissan charges for the 2024 version. With all-wheel drive only costing an extra $1,000, though, it’s hard to imagine you’ll see many, if any, front-wheel-drive Muranos on the road. The mid-range SL, on the other hand, includes AWD as standard and will cost you $46,560, while the top-of-the-line Platinum will run you $49,600. There also aren’t really any options to choose from other than color, so it’s nice that Nissan decided to offer two blues and a red. Will Nissan’s decision to stick with a more luxury-focused crossover resonate with the buying public, or will they prefer other SUVs that look a little more ready to go camping? I honestly have no idea. There has to at least be a certain level of demand that exists, or else we probably wouldn’t have seen Nissan bring back the Xterra first. On the other hand, the Murano didn’t really leave much of an impression beyond just being generally nice and a pleasant place to spend some time. Still, if the exterior design really does it for you, you probably won’t find much to complain about, and I can only assume you’ll be happy with the ownership experience. Unless you care about the engine. I’m still not sold on the variable-compression turbo, and I don’t know if I ever will be, even when paired with a conventional automatic.In its recently released blueprint, Info-Tech Research Group is providing insurers with a comprehensive framework to tackle the growing challenges of data privacy in the age of AI. In the resource, the global research and advisory firm recommends AI training, strong data governance, and proactive risk management to help insurers safeguard personally identifiable information (PII) while using AI for underwriting, claims processing, and customer engagement. TORONTO , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As AI adoption continues to accelerate, the insurance industry is under increasing pressure to safeguard personally identifiable information (PII) against sophisticated data privacy risks. Global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group explains in a newly published industry resource that traditional system safeguards and outdated legacy systems are proving insufficient to address the complexities of modern AI-driven processes, leaving insurers exposed to regulatory and technological vulnerabilities. To help insurers tackle these pressing challenges, Info-Tech Research Group's blueprint, Safeguard Your Data When Deploying AI in Your Insurance Systems , offers a strategic framework for integrating privacy-preserving AI solutions. The firm's resource features research insights and tools that will equip IT leaders in the insurance sector to strengthen compliance, mitigate risks, and protect PII while maintaining system performance. "Insurers handle vast amounts of data, from health records to financial histories, fed into AI systems that promise accuracy and efficiency but pose privacy concerns," says Arzoo Wadhvaniya , research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group . "A single breach could compromise thousands of customers' personal information, causing severe reputational and financial damage. It is not just about what AI can do; it is about ensuring it is done securely and ethically." In the blueprint, Info-Tech explains that traditional data safeguarding methods in the insurance industry are increasingly ineffective, as legacy systems often lack the flexibility to meet modern demands. The firm's research findings suggest that unfamiliarity with integrated AI technologies can lead to confusion among employees when assessing risks and determining appropriate applications. Complex regulatory requirements, which may not align with AI-driven processes, further heighten compliance challenges. To address these issues, Info-Tech recommends AI training programs to help employees understand associated risks and foster a culture of security and compliance. "Regulatory frameworks demand strict compliance, yet AI introduces complexities that make this harder. Insurers must ensure AI respects customer consent, limits data usage, and mitigates bias. Otherwise, the consequences could be costly in terms of both fines and lost trust," explains Wadhvaniya . Info-Tech's new resource provides IT leaders in the insurance industry with actionable strategies to address critical risks associated with generative AI. The firm emphasizes the importance of identifying insurance-specific risks and adopting a continuous improvement approach supported by metrics and a risk-based strategy aligned with a privacy framework tailored to organizational needs. The research highlights three key risks tied to generative AI: The firm advises the industry to take a proactive stance, implementing robust data governance practices, ensuring transparency, and fostering customer trust in the responsible use of AI. By leveraging insights from this blueprint, insurance companies can effectively address growing data privacy challenges while adopting advanced AI technologies for underwriting, claims processing, and customer engagement. For exclusive and timely commentary from Arzoo Wadhvaniya, an expert in IT strategies, and access to the complete Safeguard Your Data When Deploying AI in Your Insurance Systems blueprint , please contact pr@infotech.com . About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com . For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insurers-urged-to-safeguard-data-amid-rising-ai-adoption-and-privacy-risks-says-info-tech-research-group-302331530.html SOURCE Info-Tech Research GroupLAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lendmark Financial Services today announced Bret Hyler has been promoted to President & Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2025. Joe Burgamy, Chief Business Officer and Mark Lawrence, Chief Privacy and Information Security Officer, will be retiring from Lendmark January 15, 2025. Hyler will be responsible for leading comprehensive strategies to maximize the organization’s value and enrich the culture for its approximately 2,400 employees. By creating market differentiation, advancing expansion opportunities and driving operational excellence across 515+ branch locations, Hyler will ensure Lendmark’s diverse product offerings meet the needs of its ~500,000 customers, 3,700 retail sales finance dealers, and nearly 19,000 direct automobile dealer merchants. “Bret is a seasoned servant leader who has the breadth of consumer lending expertise required to carry Lendmark into the next phase of our unprecedented growth strategy,” said Bobby Aiken, founder and CEO. “Bret started his 20-year career on the front line, rising through the ranks and learning our business inside and out with each successive assignment. I am confident he’s ready to take on responsibility for leading business operations for the entire organization.” Hyler will continue demonstrating his business acumen and exceptional people leadership abilities in this new role, creating even more value for all of our employees, customers, partners and key stakeholders. Aiken will focus specifically on driving key strategic and administrative initiatives and fostering financial and investment growth opportunities. Hyler will continue reporting to Bobby Aiken, founder and CEO. Most recently, Hyler served as Chief Operating Officer and was instrumental in expanding the business to amplify the company’s annual operating and capital budgets. He led all branch operations, strategic growth and planning initiatives, and financial and credit management programming. Hyler holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Averett University. C-Suite Retirements “Joe Burgamy is one of the organization’s original employees of our 28-year-old company, and his fingerprints are on everything,” said Bobby Aiken, founder and CEO. “He has the highest level of integrity and commitment, and he has made an indelible mark on Lendmark. We will miss him tremendously.” “Mark Lawrence is one of the finest people I’ve ever worked with,” said Bobby Aiken, founder and CEO. “He has been instrumental in establishing and expanding our rock-solid technology practice and we wish him the very best as he embarks on his retirement.” About Lendmark Financial Services Lendmark Financial Services (Lendmark) provides personal and household credit and loan solutions to consumers. Founded in 1996, Lendmark strives to be the lender, employer, and partner of choice by protecting household wealth, offering stability and helping consumers meet both planned and unplanned life events through affordable loan offerings. Today, Lendmark operates more than 515 branches in 22 states across the country, providing personalized services to customers and retail business partners with every transaction. Lendmark is headquartered in Lawrenceville, Ga. For more information, visit www.lendmarkfinancial.com . Media Contacts Lisa Burby Vice President, Corporate Communications O: 678-913-1720 C: 407-921-7775 lburby@lendmarkfinancial.com Jeff Hamilton Senior Manager, Corporate Communications O: 678-625-3128 jhamilton@lendmarkfinancial.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a83c4a1-d43c-4870-b047-3b695f1a40f9
President-elect Donald Trump announced his nominations to lead key offices tasked with delivering his campaign promise of cutting fossil fuel regulations and increasing oil and natural gas production to lower energy prices and inflation. During his campaign, as we’ve detailed , Trump vowed to exit the “ horribly unfair ” and “ disastrous ” Paris Agreement, which he will be able to do more quickly the second time around. His agenda also includes reversing environmental rules limiting carbon emissions and other pollution from vehicles and power plants . > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are To achieve his promise to “drill, baby, drill,” Trump pla n s to expedite the approval of federal permits and leases, open new public land for drilling, approve natural gas pipeline projects and undo a temporary pause on approvals for new liquefied natural gas projects. He has also said he would claw back any unspent funds from President Joe Biden’s signature climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides billions to boost clean energy production, improve energy efficiency and encourage electric vehicle adoption. Reuters reported on Dec. 16 that Trump’s transition team recommends undoing many of the Biden administration’s plans to support EVs. This includes ending requirements that federal agencies purchase EVs, redirecting money away from building charging stations and terminating the IRA’s $7,500 EV tax credit. The team calls for rolling back fuel economy and vehicle emissions standards to 2019 levels, among other policy recommendations. Trump’s picks to accomplish many of these goals — Lee Zeldin for the Environmental Protection Agency, Doug Burgum for the Department of the Interior and Chris Wright for the Department of Energy — will need to go through confirmation hearings in the Senate, a process that can begin before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. We reviewed what each has said about climate change and the environment. Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world. Lee Zeldin, EPA On Nov. 11, Trump announced Lee Zeldin, an attorney, Army veteran and former congressman, as his choice to head the EPA , the agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment. If confirmed, he would be in a position to relax the agency’s vehicle emissions standards and rollback the Biden administration’s more stringent regulations on power plants, which particularly target coal-fired plants. A native of New York, Zeldin represented areas of Long Island, first as a state senator, from 2011 to 2014, and then as a House representative from 2015 to 2023. While he has supported some legislation that protects the environment, particularly for his home district, he has limited experience in environmental policy and his record on climate change issues has been described as mixed. While in Congress, Zeldin participated in bipartisan efforts to preserve and restore the Long Island Sound, an estuary between New York and Connecticut important for commercial fishing, tourism and other economic development. He also worked to prevent the sale and development of Plum Island, an 840-acre federal island in the Sound. In 2018, he opposed a proposal by Trump’s Interior Department to open up coastlines, including Long Island, to oil and gas drilling. Zeldin did not get involved in House committees working on environmental policy (he was part of the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services committees). Still, he participated in some related caucuses, including the Congressional Estuary Caucus , the Long Island Sound Caucus , the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and the Conservative Climate Caucus . The latter, created in 2021, acknowledges on its website that the “climate is changing” and that “decades of a global industrial era that has brought prosperity to the world has also contributed to that change.” The group further states that with innovation, “fossil fuels can and should be a major part of the global solution,” and aims to “fight against radical progressive climate proposals.” In 2014, Lee told the editorial board of Newsday, a Long Island newspaper, that he was “not sold yet” on climate change being a serious problem and that it “would be productive if we could get to what is real and what is not real.” Zeldin’s involvement in environmental issues in Congress was reportedly the result of efforts from his constituents following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Areas he represented in Long Island were hit hard by the storm. Long Island’s coastal communities, which include popular beaches on Fire Island, the Hamptons and Montauk, have and will continue to be impacted by sea level rise, coastal erosion, warmer temperatures and severe storms — all of which can affect local businesses and the economy. In a 2016 episode of a climate change docuseries — in which Zeldin verbally committed to joining the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus — he acknowledged that the threat of climate change was “very real” for his district. “I think that there is more of an awareness and a willingness to recognize that climate change is real,” Zeldin said , “and Congress is more and more open-minded toward identifying those solutions.” Zeldin’s involvement in these efforts didn’t necessarily translate into support for bills protecting the environment. In his eight years in Congress, he cast 203 “anti-environment” votes and 32 “pro-environment” votes, according to the environmental group League of Conservation Voters, which gave him a lifetime score of 14%. Among many other votes, Zeldin voted against the Inflation Reduction Act; against creating an office of climate resilience in the White House; in favor of cutting environmental funding, including to the EPA; and in favor of removing the U.S. from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Exiting the U.N. framework — which failed in 2022, but may resurface in a second Trump administration – goes beyond the act of withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and would make it much harder to rejoin the accord. The League of Conservation Voters’ scorecard included two of Zeldin’s votes in favor of actions designed to protect people from pollution caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS , so-called “forever” chemicals that break down very slowly in the environment. One of those bills would have required the EPA to set a drinking water standard for certain PFAS, although Zeldin did vote against an amendment to that bill that would have prohibited companies from releasing unlimited amounts of PFAS into bodies of water. (The Biden EPA has since taken additional action on PFAS, including finalizing a drinking water standard for six of the chemicals in April.) Zeldin got Trump’s attention by becoming one of his more loyal defenders during the president-elect’s 2019 impeachment. In 2022, backed by Trump , Zeldin ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York. During that campaign, he proposed to lower energy costs and create jobs by reversing a state ban on fracking and approving new pipelines. He also opposed a 2021 law that set a goal for all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2035. In a statement announcing the nomination, Trump praised Zeldin’s legal background and his loyalty to his “America First” policies. “He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump wrote . In response to Trump’s intention to nominate him, Zeldin pledged in a Nov. 11 post on X to “restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs,” adding, “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.” (It’s worth noting, however, that the number of motor vehicle and parts manufacturing jobs under Biden, as of November, were higher than at any point under Trump.) “Day 1 and the first 100 days, we have the opportunity to roll back regulations that are forcing businesses to be able to struggle,” Zeldin told Fox News later the same day. “There are regulations that the left wing of this country have been advocating through regulatory power that ends up causing businesses to go in the wrong direction.” Doug Burgum, Department of the Interior On Nov. 15, Trump announced former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who has close ties to fossil fuel industry executives, as his pick to lead the Interior Department , which is responsible for managing federal lands, minerals and waters, including leases for oil and gas drilling. Burgum is also slated to lead Trump’s National Energy Council, created to “oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape,” and regulations, according to Trump’s statement . The new council will work with all agencies and departments involved in energy permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump added. Burgum, a software investor and former Microsoft executive who had a short run as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2023, doesn’t deny that the planet is warming, but has downplayed the problem and argued that innovation alone will solve it. In an interview with CNN in July 2023 he acknowledged “the climate is changing” but avoided answering whether he believed it was caused by human activity or the burning of fossil fuels. (He also remained quiet when a similar question was asked during the first debate for the Republican primary.) “It’s not about climate change that we need be worried about,” he said during the second Republican presidential primary debate in September 2023. “It’s about the Biden climate policies that are actually the existential threat to America’s future.” North Dakota ranks third nationwide in crude oil reserves and production and relies on the industry for jobs and revenue. During his two terms as governor, which started in 2016, Burgum built alliances with oil and gas companies that supported him financially and politically. He has a longstanding relationship with Harold G. Hamm, the billionaire chairman of Continental Resources, a giant oil company and the largest leaseholder in the Bakken oil field in North Dakota and Montana. Hamm has contributed to Burgum’s campaigns for governor, his company donated to the super PAC that supported Burgum’s run for president and he invested $250 million in a pipeline project championed by Burgum. Burgum’s family also leases 200 acres of land to Continental for oil and gas extraction, which has resulted in up to $50,000 in royalties since late 2022, according to a CNBC report, based in part on Burgum’s financial disclosure statement . These ties have been useful for Trump. In April, Burgum, who endorsed Trump in January, helped put together a dinner with oil and gas executives at Mar-a-Lago. Based on anonymous sources, the Washington Post reported that during the dinner, Trump suggested the group should raise $1 billion for his campaign — a “deal” for helping the industry, including by reversing drilling restrictions in Alaska and offering more oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2017, Burgum created North Dakota’s first Department of Environmental Quality to protect the environment. “Preserving our natural resources for current and future generations is a top priority,” he said at the time. And in 2021, during a conference with the oil industry, he announced a goal for the state to be carbon-neutral, or to offset all CO2 emissions , by 2030. He often summarizes his approach to climate change with the phrase “innovation over regulation,” casting carbon neutrality as an economic opportunity that allows for the continued use of fossil fuels. He is particularly supportive of carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies , which trap carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into the atmosphere and either use the gas or store it deep underground. (Other technologies can remove CO2 directly from the air.) “We can reach carbon neutrality in the state of North Dakota by 2030 without a single mandate, without any additional regulation. We can get there just through the innovation and the different geology that we have,” Burgum said in an event with the secretary of energy in 2021, noting that his state has 252 billion tons of underground storage capacity. When the CO2 is stored, carbon capture technologies can reduce emissions and combat climate change. But the technology remains expensive and is not used yet at scale. According to a 2023 Congressional Budget Office report , only 15 carbon capture facilities existed in the U.S, as of September of that year, capable of capturing up to about 0.4% of the nation’s annual CO2 emissions, with nearly all of the captured CO2 pumped into oil wells to enhance oil recovery. Even if all of the 121 other facilities in development came to fruition, the report added, carbon capture would account for only about 3% of the country’s emissions. Scientists view carbon capture as an important tool for cutting emissions from the hardest-to-decarbonize industries, such as steel and cement. But given the high costs and other challenges , it’s not considered a very viable option for reducing the bulk of the world’s carbon emissions. The former governor championed an $8 billion pipeline project backed by Republican megadonors that include Hamm’s Continental. The pipeline would go through five states, capture CO2 from ethanol plants and bring it to North Dakota to be stored. This and two other underground pipeline projects have faced concerns from landowners , who resist having CO2 flowing under their property or fear losing their lands by eminent domain. Burgum says he supports an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that includes both fossil fuels and renewable sources, but he often criticizes funding for alternative fuels. He has said , for example, that funds for electric vehicles included in the IRA subsidize China, even though the investments are designed to build out American capacity. The IRA, notably, also provided significant support for carbon capture and storage. Burgum supports Trump’s idea of trying to lower energy prices by increasing oil and gas production. As we have explained , this is unlikely to be very effective, especially long term since prices are set in a global market and are subject to global supply and demand. Last year, he joined Republican governors urging Biden to “unleash American energy” and end regulations “restricting domestic production.” “Our economy is being crushed by Biden’s energy policies, which are raising the cost of every product you buy, not just the gasoline at the pump,” he said during the first Republican presidential primary debate in August 2023. “Our future is unlimited, but we’ve got to focus on innovation, not regulation. We’ve got to cut the red tape.” As we’ve written , the U.S. has been producing crude oil at record levels for two consecutive years. U.S. presidents, we’ve explained, have little control over the price people pay for gasoline. Gasoline prices increased after the pandemic as global demand for oil increased and as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chris Wright, Energy Department Trump announced on Nov. 18 that he had selected Chris Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy, a fracking and oilfield services company based in Denver, to lead the Energy Department. As energy secretary, Wright would be responsible for the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, oversee energy conservation programs, make decisions about liquified natural gas export permits and lead research at the department’s 17 national laboratories . Wright, who describes himself as a shale gas pioneer and “tech nerd turned entrepreneur,” trained as an engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley and has been in the fracking business since the early 1990s, which is the source of his fortune. Similar to Burgum, Wright is close to Hamm, the billionaire founder of Continental Resources, and serves as a director of a lobbying group Hamm founded. Wright accepts that climate change is occurring, but argues that its effects are being exaggerated and that the world has a moral imperative to continue using fossil fuels to lift people out of poverty. “Climate change is a real and global challenge that we should and can address,” he wrote in an introductory letter to a report his company published this year. “However, representing it as the most urgent threat to humanity today displaces concerns about more pressing threats of malnutrition, access to clean water, air pollution, endemic diseases, and human rights, among others.” “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition, either,” he said in a video he posted on LinkedIn in 2023. The “term carbon pollution is outrageous,” he added. In making his case that people are overly concerned about climate change, Wright has sometimes trafficked in common climate myths and misled about the science. When talking about the increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, for example, his company’s report calls CO2 “plant food” and focuses on its benefits — “increased agricultural productivity and a significant increase in global plant matter, grasses, trees, and plankton.” As we’ve written , the notion that CO2 is “plant food” is commonly spread by those who deny the reality of climate change or minimize its impact. More CO2 is not good for all plants and some changes that come with it, like drought and heat, are frequently harmful to plants. The argument is also a form of cherry-picking, as it ignores many profoundly negative consequences of climate change. “Fortunately, to date,” the Liberty Energy report also reads, “there is no observed increase in the key extreme weather events: hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and weather-related drought.” Wright recently claimed the same in a LinkedIn post, citing a table from chapter 12 of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Jim Kossin , a climate scientist and an author of the cited chapter in the IPCC report, told us in an email that focusing on the single table, which describes whether detectable climate change trends have emerged, is “very misleading.” “The requirements for formal detection are very strict and can only provide a yes or no answer. But the effects of climate change are not described by a binary yes or no answer,” he explained. Detection and emergence can depend more on available data than on actual physical processes, Kossin added. “This is a data problem and does NOT indicate a lack of trend. It merely states that the data aren’t good enough to pass the strict requirements for formal detection,” he wrote. Indeed, elsewhere in the IPCC report, the overall message about climate change and its effects on extreme weather is very different from what Wright conveys. “It is an established fact that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have led to an increased frequency and/or intensity of some weather and climate extremes since pre-industrial time,” a summary finding in the chapter on extreme weather reads , adding that observed changes and their attribution to human activity has strengthened since the last report in 2014, “in particular for extreme precipitation, droughts, tropical cyclones and compound extremes (including dry/hot events and fire weather).” Kossin said that the IPCC reports are “massive” and “can be complicated to navigate,” which “makes it easier to cherry pick from them to suit an agenda.” “The use of the table without providing any other context is cherry picking in its purest sense,” he wrote. In written testimony before Congress in April and in his LinkedIn post, Wright again emphasized the perks of global warming, citing a 2021 Lancet Planetary Health paper to argue that increases in heat-related deaths are “more than offset” by a reduction in cold-related deaths. The paper itself, however, cautions that while “global warming might slightly reduce net temperature-related deaths in the short term ... in the long run, climate change is expected to increase the mortality burden.” The senior author of the study told us her work was “commonly misinterpreted by climate deniers.” Wright’s foundation, Bettering Human Lives , preaches that access to fossil fuels, which the website describes as “low-impact, affordable” energy, can provide “a pathway out of poverty.” It’s true that cheap energy is important and a social good. But as we explained when addressing similar arguments from former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, it’s misleading to suggest fossil fuels are the only or best option, especially now that there are alternatives in wind and solar that are cost effective and have much smaller carbon footprints. “We know that fossil fuels have all of these other problems that renewable energy doesn’t have. And so for the future, there’s really no reason to continue burning fossil fuels,” Texas A&M climate scientist Andrew Dessler told us. That includes not only the heat-trapping carbon emissions that will further warm the planet, but also things such as particle air pollution, which in 2018 accounted for as much as 18% of all global deaths in 2018. Wright describes renewable energy sources such as wind and solar as “ unreliable and costly ,” although he has invested in newer forms of geothermal and nuclear energy. In a commentary piece published before the election, Wright said Republicans should respond to net-zero pledges — which he called “economic suicide” and “unachievable” — with the concept of “zero energy poverty.” This, he explained, “can be realized by unleashing our vast natural resources” to “deliver a future in which no one would struggle to afford their utility bills.” Echoing arguments used by Trump during the campaign, Wright went on to claim that net-zero “requires curtailing freedom and massively growing government, as evidenced by bans on gas-powered cars, natural gas appliances, and the forced closure of reliable electricity plants – all of which are driving widespread economic pain.” As we’ve written , while the Biden administration issued new energy efficiency standards for gas stoves and regulations reducing carbon emissions and other pollutants from cars and trucks, there are no bans on gas-powered vehicles or on gas cooking stoves. In terms of closing existing power plants, the Biden administration’s power plant rule only applies to coal-fired plants intending to operate long-term, as we’ve written . Under the regulation, those plants would need to use technology such as carbon capture to cut 90% of their carbon emissions by 2032 to continue running. Editor’s note: FactCheck.org does not accept advertising. We rely on grants and individual donations from people like you. Please consider a donation. Credit card donations may be made through our “Donate” page . If you prefer to give by check, send to: FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 202 S. 36th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.
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Martin Madaus Elected to Hologic Board of DirectorsSAN DIEGO, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPI) securities between October 30, 2024 and November 26, 2024. ASP Isotopes is a development stage advanced materials company focused on the production, enrichment, and sale of isotopes. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that ASP Isotopes Inc. (ASPI) Misled Investors Regarding its Uranium Enrichment Technology and Facility According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that the Company: (1) overstated the potential effectiveness of its enrichment technology; (2) overstated the development potential of its high assay low-enriched uranium facility; and (3) overstated the Company’s nuclear fuels operating segment results. Plaintiff alleges that on November 26, 2024, market research firm Fuzzy Panda Research published a report that alleged the Company is “using old, disregarded laser enrichment technology to masquerade as a new, cutting-edge Uranium enrichment.” The report revealed a series of experts interviewed stated the Company’s reported cost estimates and timeline for building its HALEU uranium facilities was misleading to the point of being “delusional.” The report further alleged the Company had significantly overstated the significance of its agreement with TerraPower, which was only a “non-binding” memorandum of understanding entered into to “put pressure on [TerraPower’s] real suppliers.” The report quoted a former TerraPower executives as stating that ASP Isotopes was “missing the manufacturing; They are missing the processes as well; They still have to develop the HALEU...the most important part.” On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $1.80 or 23.53%, to close at $5.85 per share on November 26, 2024, and continued to fall on the subsequent trading date, falling $0.83 or 14.19%, to close at $5.02 per share on November 27, 2024. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against ASP Isotopes Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by February 3, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against ASP Isotopes Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af960bd5-1ae2-4ed3-afe3-591b09ab920bMARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Hologic, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOLX) announced today that Martin Madaus has been elected to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective December 6, 2024. Dr. Madaus was also appointed to the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee effective December 6, 2024. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209400549/en/ Dr. Martin Madaus (Photo: Business Wire) Dr. Madaus, who has more than 30 years of diagnostics and life sciences industry experience, currently serves as an Operating Executive at the Carlyle Group, a global investment firm, which he joined in February 2019. Prior to joining the Carlyle Group, Dr. Madaus held the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., a diagnostics company that makes products and diagnostic testing equipment for blood testing. Dr. Madaus previously served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Milipore Corporation, a life sciences company serving the bioscience research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry, until its acquisition by Merck KGaA in 2010. “We’re delighted to welcome Martin to Hologic’s Board of Directors,” said Steve MacMillan, Hologic’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “With his deep industry, technical, business and international experiences, Martin represents yet another strong addition to our deep and experienced Board.” Dr. Madaus received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Munich in Germany and a Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from the Veterinary School of Hanover in Germany. About Hologic, Inc. Hologic, Inc. is an innovative medical technology company primarily focused on improving women's health and well-being through early detection and treatment. For more information on Hologic, visit www.hologic.com . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, including statements about the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and statements regarding the Company's Board of Directors. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by the Company as of this date and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company may not be able to attract and retain qualified Board members or executives. These risks are not exhaustive. Other factors that could adversely affect the Company's business and prospects are described in the filings made by the Company with the SEC. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements presented here to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. SOURCE: Hologic, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209400549/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Ryan Simon +1 858.410.8514 ryan.simon@hologic.comMedia Contact: Bridget Perry +1 508.263.8654 bridget.perry@hologic.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MASSACHUSETTS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HEALTH MEDICAL DEVICES CONSUMER WOMEN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY GENERAL HEALTH BIOTECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Hologic, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 04:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209400549/en
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Tata Group-owned Air India said on Thursday it has ordered 34 trainer aircraft for a pilot training school it is building at Amravati in Maharashtra. The order comprises 31 single-engine aircraft from US planemaker Piper Aircraft and three twin-engine aircraft from Austria-based Diamond Aircraft. The airline is planning to open the school in the second half of 2025 after getting regulatory approvals. Aspiring pilots will get the opportunity to enrol in a full-time aircraft flying course at the academy and earn a direct pathway to Air India's cockpit on successful completion of training. ET reported on 18 June about the airline's plans to start a pilot training school. Air India's initiative marks a major shift in strategy on how Indian carriers trained pilots. Till now, major carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet have set up branded training programmes affiliated with independent flight schools in India and abroad. For instance, IndiGo has a tie-up with seven flight schools. "The new flying training organisation is a strategic move to exponentially expand our training infrastructure and our commitment to building a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots for both Air India and the Indian aviation industry," said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India. "With this order of 34 trainer aircraft to support South Asia's largest Flying Training Organisation, we are delighted to be playing a part in building the aviation infrastructure India needs as one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets." 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Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 15, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )The Autotransfusion Systems Market: Trends, Growth, and Future Outlook to 2030
Discussions have resurfaced about the possibility of a tie-up between Sharad Pawar’s NCP and the BJP in the wake of the Mahayuti’s success in the assembly election. Pawar, Sr celebrated his birthday on Thursday, and his nephew Ajit Pawar was at his residence in New Delhi to greet him. About 10 days ago, Praful Patel, a leader of the Ajit Pawar faction, also reportedly met Sharad Pawar. Additionally, it is being reported that on Thursday afternoon, a prominent leader from Sharad Pawar’s faction and a senior BJP leader met in Delhi. This has fuelled discussions about the possibility of Sharad Pawar aligning with the BJP. The speculation strengthened after Sunanda Pawar, mother of MLA Rohit Pawar, made a statement that it was the wish of workers from both parties that Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar should come together. A united family is strength, she said in Pune, adding that generations of the Pawar household have stayed together through thick and thin. Following the election, there is a sense of unease among the MLAs and MPs of the Sharad Pawar faction. On December 4, an important meeting was held in Delhi with the MPs, where there was a strong sentiment that they should join the government. However, it has been reported that this issue has led to a division within the faction. One group believes that they should maintain their independent identity and join the BJP-led government, while the other group is in favour of joining Ajit Pawar’s NCP. However, most of the NCP’s MLAs and MPs are now inclined towards joining the government. If this happens, it could lead to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in the state. According to sources, a central BJP leader reportedly sought information from Sharad Pawar’s faction leaders regarding the upcoming local body elections and the faction’s future role. The two leaders engaged in lengthy discussions. If Sharad Pawar decides to align with the BJP, the reactions of the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena would be crucial. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday claimed that the BJP has tasked NCP leaders Praful Patel and Ajit Pawar with “breaking” the NCP (SP). Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut said Sharad Pawar toils hard even at the age of 84, but efforts were being made to engineer a split in his party. Anyone leaving the opposition party should be ashamed of their action, the Rajya Sabha member said. “The NCP does not have a position in the Union Cabinet because the quota for [NDA allies] to become a minister at the Centre is six MPs. Praful Patel and Ajit Pawar have been told [by the BJP] to break five MPs from the NCP (SP) so the can complete the quota of six MPs,” Raut claimed. The NCP (SP) has eight MPs in the Lok Sabha, while the NCP (Ajit Pawar) has one member in the lower house.Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing charged with murder in New York, court records showIn promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own
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Elderglade Mobile Game Is About To Open Mini Dapp On LINERenuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Health | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health | Veteran use of psychedelics for mental health care still up in the air in Virginia Health | Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Health | Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims Health | Boar’s Head listeria outbreak is over with 10 dead and dozens sickened by tainted deli meat Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.