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Popular OTC medicines for colds and allergies don’t work, FDA panel says

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

(CNN) — Phenylephrine, a popular ingredient in many over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines, is ineffective in tablet form, an independent advisory committee to the US Food and Drug Administration unanimously agreed on Tuesday.Phenylephrine is the main ingredient used in products like Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion, Sudafed PE, Vicks Sinex and several others.These products generated nearly $1.8 billion in sales last year alone, according to data from the FDA that was presented to the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee on Monday during the committee’s two-day meeting.On Tuesday, the committee voted no on the specific question: “Do the current scientific data that were presented support that the monograph dosage of orally administered phenylephrine is effective as a nasal decongestant.”The vote was unanimous from its 16 members and the committee all agreed that the issue doesn’t need to be studied any further.“We really should not have products on the market...

When temps rise, so do medical risks. Should doctors and nurses talk more about heat?

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

Martha Bebinger, WBUR | (TNS) KFF Health NewsAn important email appeared in the inboxes of a small group of health care workers north of Boston as this summer started. It warned that local temperatures were rising into the 80s.An 80-plus-degree day is not sizzling by Phoenix standards. Even in Boston, it wasn’t high enough to trigger an official heat warning for the wider public.But research has shown that those temperatures, coming so early in June, would likely drive up the number of heat-related hospital visits and deaths across the Boston region.The targeted email alert the doctors and nurses at Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, Massachusetts, got that day is part of a pilot project run by the nonprofit Climate Central and Harvard University’s Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, known as C-CHANGE.Medical clinicians based at 12 community-based clinics in seven states — California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin...

Apple set to unveil the iPhone 15 as company tries to reverse a recent sales slump

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE (AP Technology Writer)CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple is expected to take the wraps off its next iPhone on Tuesday during what has become an annual late summer rite aimed at giving more people more reasons to buy the technology trendsetter’s marquee product.The showcase at Apple’s Cupertino California, headquarters comes as the company is mired in a mild slump that has seen its sales drop from last year in three consecutive quarters — with management signaling another downturn is likely during the current quarter that will be capped with the release of its iPhone 15 lineup. The malaise is a key reason Apple’s stock price has dipped by nearly 10% since mid-July, dropping the company’s market value below the $3 trillion threshold it reached for the first time earlier this summer.As has been case with Apple and other smartphone makers, the next model isn’t expected to make any major leaps in technology. The array of iPhone 15 ...

Quick Fix: Honey Lemon Snapper easy to make with microwave

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News Service (TNS)I let the microwave do most of the work for this easy dinner with fresh snapper. It saves time and energy and means fewer pots to wash. The sauce for the snapper and the roast potatoes and green beans are cooked in the microwave.The snapper takes only a few minutes to saute and then the sauce is spooned on top. After the potatoes and green beans are microwaved, they are finished in the same skillet used to cook the snapper. This gives them a crispy finish.There are many types of snappers; any will work for this recipe. Whole grain mustard is part of the honey sauce. It’s made with mustard seeds that are ground just enough to form a paste but doesn’t break down all of the seeds. It gives a thick coarse texture to this sauce.Helpful Hints:— You can use any type of white, flaky fish fillet such as sole or tilapia.— You can use any type of small or baby potato. They should be about 3 to 4 inches.— You can find roasted red peppers in jars in...

Speaker McCarthy directs a House panel to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday he is directing a House committee to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden over his family’s business dealings, launching historic proceedings ahead of the 2024 election.McCarthy said the House Oversight Committee’s investigation so far has found a “culture of corruption” around the Biden family as Republicans probe the business dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden, from before the Democratic president took office. “These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption, and they warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said outside the speaker’s office at the Capitol.“That’s why today I am directing our House committee to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden,” he said.The announcement comes as the Republic...

Central Massachusetts leaders picked to serve on POST Commission

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

A Worcester reverend and the head of YMCA Central Massachusetts will join the state’s police licensing and oversight commission, Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced Tuesday.Rev. Clyde Talley and Deborah Hall will join the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission as commissioners as the body faces some scrutiny in the wake of publishing a disciplinary records database last month and as staff continue to recertify thousands of officers whose last names start with the letters I through P.Talley thanked the governor and attorney general for the appointment.“It’s clear that over the past three years the commission has laid the foundations for strengthening accountability and trust in law enforcement, and I’m eager to continue building on that work,” said Talley, who is senior pastor of Belmont A.M.E Zion Church in Worcester.Talley also serves as president and CEO of Yes We Care, Inc. and is a member of both the governor’s ...

Patriots OC Bill O’Brien encouraged after ‘productive day’ of film review with Mac Jones

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

Mac Jones was deflated after the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Eagles, and pinned the defeat on himself. There was clear disappointment about missed opportunities that could have led to an upset victory.But as the Patriots move on to Week 2, they seem encouraged. They didn’t do enough offensively to win, but in their first game under Bill O’Brien, there was plenty to build on. And after a long summer of implementing a new system, O’Brien and Jones finally have a full game of film to review. According to the offensive coordinator, the first evaluation was a good one when they met on Monday.“That’s something that we really look forward to and obviously, losing is unacceptable and we have to change that and we have to get back to being on the right side of the score,” O’Brien said. “But at the end of the day when we all come together and watch the tape as a unit, that’s a really good process that’s always been the process here, and I think Monday was a really good day. We were a...

How to invest in your 20s: 7 tips to get started

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

Brian Baker, CFA | (TNS) Bankrate.comInvesting as a young adult is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for your future. You might think that you need a lot of money to start investing, but it’s easier than ever to get going with small amounts. Once you set up your investment accounts, you’ll be well on your way to saving for goals like retirement, purchasing a home or even future travel plans.But before you dive headfirst into the market, it’s important to prioritize paying off any high-interest debt that might be straining your finances and then build up an emergency fund with savings that could meet at least three to six months of expenses.Once that is handled you can get a jump on investing, even if you’re starting small. Developing a consistent approach to saving and investing will help you stick to your plan over time.How to start investing in your 20sMoney invested in your 20s could compound for decades, making it a great time to invest for long-term goals. ...

Death rates for people under 40 have skyrocketed. Blame fentanyl

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

Tim Henderson | Stateline.org (TNS)A new Stateline analysis shows that U.S. residents under 40 were relatively unscathed by COVID-19 in the pandemic but fell victim to another killer: accidental drug overdose deaths.Death rates in the age group were up by nearly a third in 2021 over 2018, and last year were still 21% higher.COVID-19 was a small part of the increase, causing about 23,000 deaths total between 2018 and 2022 in the age group, which includes the millennial generation (born starting in the early 1980s), Generation Z (born starting in the late ’90s) and children. Vehicle accidents and suicide (about 96,000 each) and gun homicide (about 65,000) all took a cumulative toll from 2018 to 2022, according to a Stateline analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.Overdose deaths, however, took almost 177,000 lives in that time.Accidental overdose became the No. 1 cause of death in 13 states for people under 40, overtaking suicide in nine states and vehicle...

How to budget with a fluctuating income

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:07:58 GMT

By Chanelle Bessette | NerdWalletIf you’ve ever lived off of tips or commissions, you may be familiar with the up-and-down paychecks common in certain industries. Service jobs, sales jobs, creative careers and project-based work can all have fluctuating income, where seasonality, events or the general economy might affect your earnings.When you can’t depend on a regular paycheck amount or paycheck timing, it can be hard to know how you’ll make ends meet when money isn’t as abundant. With some planning, budgeting and creativity, however, it can become easier to weather a varying income.Create a budgeting planLawrence Sprung, a certified financial planner and author of the book “Financial Planning Made Personal,” works with several financial clients who are romance novelists. These authors live off of book deals and royalties and often have to budget differently depending on their publication cycle. Sprung and his firm help these clients determine their expenses so they can figure out...