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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 NEW YORK (AP) — The nation's top public health agency on Thursday relaxed its COVID-19 guidelines, dropping the recommendation that Americans quarantine themselves if they come into close contact with an infected person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said people no longer need to stay at least 6 feet away from others. The changes are driven by a recognition that — more than 2 1/2 years since the start of the pandemic — an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or infected, agency officials said. “The current conditions of this pandemic are very different from those of the last two years,” said the CDC's Greta Massetti, an author of the guidelines. The CDC recommendations apply to everyone in the U.S., but the changes could be particularly important for schools, which resume classes this month in … [Read more...] about CDC drops quarantine, screening recommendations for COVID-19

This month, the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival returns for 2021. As ever, the festival aims to celebrate and platform LGBTIQ+ stories and talent in cinema, from drama to comedy and documentaries. Due to begin on March 17 and conclude on March 28 in an entirely digital format, BFI Flare has compiled a selection of diverse films and has separated its features into three strands. The Hearts strand explores "films about love, romance and friendship", while the Bodies strand examines "stories of sex, identity and transformation", and finally, the Minds strand explores "reflections on art, politics and community". Here are some of the films set to be shown at the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, but do be sure to check out the full programme here. Boy Meets Boy Directed by Daniel Sánchez López, Boy Meets Boy is a romance focused on a brief relationship in Berlin following a revelatory night of clubbing. Boy Meets Boy stars Alexandros Koutsoulis and Matthew … [Read more...] about BFI Flare Festival 2021 preview: Exciting LGBTIQ+ stories and talent hitting our screens

A convicted murderer can have a sex-change operation while in prison, a top judge has ruled - and the state has to pick up the £67,000 bill. Michelle-Lael Norsworthy, born Jeffrey, 51 is currently serving 17-years to life for second degree murder in Mule Creek State Prison, California. But on Thursday, a federal judge said the state has to provide gender reassignment surgery for her because if it doesn't, her constitutional rights would be violated. In a 38-page ruling, US District Judge Jon Tigar wrote: "Norsworthy has presented compelling evidence suggesting that prison officials deliberately ignored her continuing symptoms of gender dysphoria and the recognized standards of care." Killer Change: Michelle-Lael Norsworthy is serving 17-years to life for murder at this US prison ( Image: www.cdcr.ca.gov) Gender dysphoria occurs when a person's gender at birth conflicts with the one they identify with, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Judge … [Read more...] about Convicted murderer can have £67,000 sex-change operation paid for by the state

NEW YORK (AP) — Gas prices have fallen from the record highs they reached earlier this summer, but they're still much higher than a year ago. And with inflation driving up the cost of pretty much everything else, finding the funds to cover your commute may be increasingly tricky. “Being able to get to work is so essential to people’s basic survival that other things have to go first,” said Abbie Langston, director of equitable economy at PolicyLink, a national research institute. “When we see these massive increases in gas prices, it’s really hurting people.” Whether you drive, take the bus or ride the subway, here's what you need to know about how commuters are affected by the cost of living in the United States. HOW ARE GAS PRICES AFFECTING COMMUTERS? More than 76% of Americans commute by car. In June, they saw gas prices spike beyond $5 per gallon. While prices have dropped significantly since, the national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.99 on … [Read more...] about EXPLAINER: How is inflation affecting commuting costs?

(CNN) A benchmark measure of inflation slowed in July after surging in the previous month, offering a glimmer of hope that the painful inflation Americans are facing could moderate in the coming months. The Producer Price Index, which captures prices paid to producers for their goods and services, was 9.8% higher in July, compared with a year earlier. That's a slowdown from a sharp 11.3% year-over-year spike in June, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a monthly basis, wholesale prices fell by 0.5%, down from a revised 1% month-over-month increase in June. Largely attributed to a cooling-off of record-high energy prices, these lower numbers are generally seen as a sign of progress in the fight against inflation. However, economists warn that yet another double-digit inflation reading sends a strong signal that the economy is not out of the inflationary woods yet. Producer prices are generally more … [Read more...] about This key inflation measure fell, but remains painfully high

Mark Wolfe is an energy economist and serves as the executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), representing the state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Energy Programs Consortium. He specializes in energy, climate, housing and related consumer finance issues. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. The Inflation Reduction Act , the Democrats' tax, climate and health care bill that the Senate just passed, sets the nation on a path to meet its climate goals, and provides a set of practical initiatives that will help lower-income Americans who have fewer resources than other households to invest in reducing their energy use and adapt to rising temperatures. It will provide tax credits and rebates designed to help them afford electric vehicles and home retrofits and reduce their use of fossil fuels. But helping low-income families transition to clean energy is not a substitute for … [Read more...] about Opinion: The Democrats’ sweeping economic package doesn’t go far enough for low-income families

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 9 ROCK HILL, S.C. - The surface of a professional-grade cornhole board - two feet wide and four feet long, give or take a quarter-inch, and made of birch or oak with a polyurethane finish - can change texture with the temperature. On a hot day, even indoors, the clear varnish can get tacky, slowing bean bags down as they slide toward the 6-inch scoring hole. Near an air-conditioning vent, boards "play faster." Further away they get stickier. Which is why, here at last week's American Cornhole League world championships, held in a massive indoor sports facility in humid South Carolina, Corey Gilbert, 33, has opted for the "Sniper" set from his sponsor, Lucky Bags. It's a middle-of-the-spectrum, Goldilocks option - not the firmest or the floppiest, neither the silkiest nor the craggiest, but it will slide comfortably on the boards, which have been playing … [Read more...] about The world’s cornhole elite, chasing that one perfect toss

Berlin, a small city in New Hampshire's rural North Country, has a problem. Its seven feet of snow each winter plug up streets and sidewalks, making them treacherous for tourists and residents trying to make it downtown. Pedestrians fall. Cars crash. The costly process of plowing, dumping, salting and sanding leaves a mess. "After all this effort, streets and sidewalks are rarely free from snow and ice," the city told Transportation Department officials in a grant application. And once spring comes, "on windy days, remnant dust fills the downtown air." On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that Berlin's idea for solving these problems - a snow-melting system that will tap excess heat from a nearby biomass power plant by pumping condenser water through pipes under downtown roads and sidewalks - is one of 166 projects to receive funding under a popular but oversubscribed program that is receiving an infusion of $7.5 billion over five years under last … [Read more...] about 166 infrastructure projects awarded billions in federal funding

I live in the Orlando that tourists rarely see. Pocket-sized neighborhoods with quiet greenspaces nestled up against calm lakes. Unique pop-up art festivals, dive bars featuring underground bands and tons of grub that rivals the likes of Austin, Chicago and Denver. Not a roller coaster in sight and we like it that way. Welcome to the City Beautiful, a vibrant metropolis that shines with pride despite the looming shadow cast by the House of Mouse. Where to Stay You’ll be tempted to set up shop on International Drive, but I must implore you to steer clear of that congested artery unless chain restaurants, souvenir shops and tourist attractions are on your agenda. I-Drive is a fantastic base camp when you’re spending a week at the theme parks, but if you want the true Orlando experience, consider anything below SoDo less than optimal. The first-timer could do worse than to head from the airport straight to the Grand Bohemian . Smack dab at the end of the bar-lined … [Read more...] about What to Do in Orlando if You’re Not — We Repeat, Not — Going to Disney

It's an history-making time for Volkswagen of America.  The automaker is, for the first time, building electric vehicles in the USA. Specifically its flagship the ID.4 which recently started rolling down the production line at its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It means that VW won't have to import the ID.4 into America from overseas anymore. Photo Credit: VW. Pricing and Availability The first U.S.-built ID.4 deliveries are expected as soon as October. With that in mind, VW is sharing pricing details and announcing a new lower-priced ID.4 model to the lineup that will arrive late this year.  The ID.4 is available in three trim levels: Standard/Pro, S, and S Plus. The returning ID.4 Pro  features a larger 82 kWh battery and a preliminary manufacturer estimated range of 275 miles. (ID.4 AWD Pro models add an asynchronous motor to the front axle, resulting in a bump to 295 horsepower, and an EPA-estimated range of 255 miles.)  On the VW website, the base ID.4 … [Read more...] about VW Celebrates First U.S.-Built EVs, Announces 2023 ID.4 Pricing