Author: Rodrigo H

September is the month that marks the beginning of many things: fall, of course, fashion month, football, and cuffling season, when single people start looking for someone to hang out with during the cold winter months. Personally, while I wholeheartedly support all things fall, fashion, and football, cuffling season is one of the fall festivities that I don’t participate in very often. However, ear cuffing season is a more approachable, commitment-free version of fashion that I can confidently recommend.Ear cuffs are a low-risk, high-impact accessory that’s taken the jewelry world by storm. Designed to go around the ear and mimic…

Vanessa Saba for ProPublica If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or be in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Early one morning in February 2023, before the sun rose over Phoenix, Ravi Coutinho went on a walk and, for a brief moment, thought about hurling his body in front of a moving bus. He had been feeling increasingly alone and depressed; anxious and unlovable; no longer sure if he was built for this world. Several hours later, Ravi swiped open his iPhone and dialed the toll-free number on the back…

“Ghost networks” refers to when health insurance plans list providers in their network that are not actually available. The problem is widespread in mental health care, according to a ProPublica report. Stone RF/PM Images/Getty Images Hide caption Toggle caption Stone RF/PM Images/Getty Images It’s hard to know if your health insurance plan is as good as advertised. You pay a premium every month to have access to a network of providers, but when you call the numbers in the provider directory, you’re sure to find providers who can’t or don’t want to see you. These errors are at the root…

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to buy a snack only to end up grocery shopping, or gone to buy makeup remover only to end up buying three new beauty products.I’m also a big fan of Target’s clothes, shoes, and accessories, and while I try to keep most of my wardrobe thrifty, I still often turn to the department store when I want to buy a trendy pair of ballet flats but don’t want to spend $1,000 on designer shoes.I was inspired to return to Target this week after seeing a buzz on TikTok about the brand’s…

As the supply of physicians in Louisiana and across the nation fails to keep up with patient demand, nurses are working to fill the gap.As the gap between physician availability and demand widens, patients end up having to wait longer to see a doctor and physicians suffer from burnout.According to the Cicero Institute, the U.S. is projected to have a physician shortage of 120,000 by 2035, with Louisiana expected to have a shortage of 4,820 physicians. Louisiana already ranks in the bottom half of states in primary care and physician supply. In Louisiana, there are more than 3,500 patients for…

Dear Liz: My wife and I plan to withdraw a larger than normal amount from our IRA to make a 20% down payment on our new retirement home. Unfortunately, this withdrawal will put our modified adjusted gross income over the limit, which will result in an increase in Medicare premiums in 2026. Is there any way to avoid this increase?A: You have the right to challenge a premium increase, but in order for your challenge to be successful, you must have experienced a reduction in your income due to retirement, death of a spouse, divorce, etc. A temporary increase in…

Tara Bruckner has already started her holiday shopping.Bruckner usually starts her holiday shopping by October and finishes by Thanksgiving, but this year she started even earlier and bought several items for her two children and her mother.”I made a ‘note’ on some items when I was shopping for school in July, then ordered them online in August when they went on sale,” Bruckner, who lives in Chilton, Wisconsin, told USA Today.She is not alone.A new survey finds that more consumers are starting their holiday shopping early this year, but are still worried about rising costs and budgets.A new survey released…

A judge denied bail Saturday for a man accused of killing a woman at a Newnan gun shop.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has charged 38-year-old Brannon Owens with murder and aggravated assault.Investigators accuse Owens of shooting and killing Olivia Robinson, 28, inside Oz Cutlery (also known as Oz Tactical) on Friday just before 9:30 p.m.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]”She always lit up a room and had the best sense of humor,” Michael Chavez told Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco.Chavez said he and Robinson grew up in Newnan.She was a graduate of Kennesaw State University and helped…

Charities have warned that the introduction of electronic medical records in hospitals across England poses “significant safety risks” to patients.The Patient Safety Learning Centre says incidents linked to the new system are likely to be under-reported and should be brought to attention. It has called on the government to more effectively monitor adverse event reporting. One trust reported more than 900 incidents involving potential patient harm after implementing new software.Helen Hughes, chief executive of the Patient Safety Learning Association, said that while electronic patient record systems have great potential to improve people’s care and treatment, there have been cases where…

James Halicka announced his resignation as Greenwood girls basketball coach effective Friday afternoon, citing a “minor health issue” as the reason.Halicka, 38, takes over for former coach Clay Reeves, who led Greenwood to its eighth state title and Reeves’ 11th overall in the 2023-24 season, after he announced his retirement in May. Halicka will step down from the position just under two months before the Lady Bulldogs open their season on Nov. 14 with a home game against Fayetteville.Halicka said it was best to make the decision now, rather than being forced to do so once the season has started…