By Mike Stobbe AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) U.S. deaths from drug overdoses skyrocketed 21 percent last year, and for the second straight year dragged down how long Americans are expected to live. The government figures released Thursday put drug deaths at 63,600, up from about 52,000 in 2015. For the first time, the […]
By Matthew Perrone AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. health officials on Tuesday approved the nation’s first gene therapy for an inherited disease, a treatment that improves the sight of patients with a rare form of blindness. It marks another major advance for the emerging field of genetic medicine. The approval for Spark Therapeutics offers […]
By Danica Coto Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The sweeping federal tax rewrite approved Wednesday outraged officials in Puerto Rico, who said it threatens to crush the backbone of the island’s economy at a time when they need substantial help recovering from Hurricane Maria. The bill approved by the Republican-controlled House and Senate […]
NEW YORK (AP) Teen use of marijuana remains high and vaping appears to be one reason, a new U.S. survey shows. One in 10 high school seniors said they had vaped marijuana at least once in the past year. It was the first time the annual survey asked about marijuana vaping and “it’s much higher […]
By David Klepper Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Christmas came early for economic development officials across New York state Wednesday with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration announcing $755 million in funding for hundreds of local efforts to boost the state's business climate. The state's 10 economic regions will split the money, intended to support job training, […]
By David Klepper Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York state lawmakers trickled back into the state Capitol Wednesday to discuss plans for 2018, and they're already predicting a year of tough choices. Federal cuts to health care programs, the probability of big changes to the federal tax code and a projected $4 billion state […]
By Marilynn Marchione AP Chief Medical Writer Gene therapy has freed 10 men from nearly all symptoms of hemophilia for a year so far, in a study that fuels hopes that a one-time treatment can give long-lasting help and perhaps even cure the blood disease. Hemophilia almost always strikes males and is caused by lack […]
By Mark Sherman Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) Worried about the erosion of privacy amid technological advances, the Supreme Court signaled Wednesday it might restrain the government's ability to track Americans' movements through collection of their cellphone information. The justices heard a case in which the government obtained 127 days of cellphone tower information, without a […]
By Tali Arbel AP Economics Writer NEW YORK (AP) The Federal Communications Commission formally released a draft of its plan to kill netneutrality rules , which equalized access to the internet and prevented broadband providers from favoring their own apps and services. Now the question is: What comes next? “RADICAL DEPARTURE” The FCC’s move will allow companies […]
NEW YORK (AP) It was built to showcase the United States of America to the world, an airy, eye-catching pavilion with a facade of live plants and a walkway built with pieces of New York's famous Coney Island boardwalk. Now, after attracting more than 6 million visitors to become the most popular attraction at the […]
By Matthew Perrone AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) The Trump administration is moving ahead with Obama-era requirements to post calorie counts in restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and pizza delivery chains nationwide next year. Despite years of opposition by some food sellers, the Food and Drug Administration is offering only minor compromises to industry complaints about […]
WASHINGTON (AP) A first attempt at gene therapy for a disease that leaves babies unable to move, swallow and, eventually, breathe has extended the tots’ lives, and some began to roll over, sit and stand on their own, researchers reported Wednesday. Only 15 babies with spinal muscular atrophy received the experimental gene therapy, but researchers […]
By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) Stores are trying to step up their game online and in person for the critical holiday season, from dangling more discounts to livening up their stores. And Amazon, which is expanding into more areas, has opened its online store of Black Friday discounts. Department store chain […]
WASHINGTON (AP) Premiums for the most popular “Obamacare” plans are going up an average of 34 percent, according to a study that confirms dire predictions about the impact of political turmoil on consumers. Window-shopping on HealthCare.gov went live Wednesday, so across the country consumers going online can see the consequences themselves ahead of the Nov. […]
By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York has added electronic cigarettes to its indoor smoking ban, making it illegal to use the devices in bars, restaurants and most workplaces. While New York City and several other localities had already prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in areas covered by the smoking ban, the […]
