Obamacare To Cost Far Less Than Estimated, Budget Office Says Reuters.... A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said insurance coverage would cost $964 billion from 2015 to 2024, $68 billion below its April 2014 projection
Posted: 01/27/2015 8:52 am EST
WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Obamacare will cost 7 percent less than expected over the next decade for federal subsidies to help lower-income people pay for private health insurance, congressional researchers said on Monday.
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| U.S. President Barack Obama smiles in the rain as he arrives for Republic Day in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 |
A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said insurance coverage would cost $964 billion from 2015 to 2024, $68 billion below its April 2014 projection, due to factors including lower than expected enrollment in federal and state insurance exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act.
Most of those subsidies, which help pay for insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs, could be in jeopardy from a U.S. Supreme Court case that seeks to prevent funds from going to consumers in 36 states who obtain coverage through the federal exchange. A ruling is expected by the end of June.
CBO expects 12 million people to enroll in private coverage this year and 21 million in 2016, vs. an earlier forecast of 13 million and 24 million, respectively.
CBO also expects private enrollment to fluctuate between 24 million and 25 million people each year beginning in 2017, fewer than the previous forecast that called for enrollment to stay steady at 25 million.
Even with slower enrollment in private insurance, CBO said higher-than-expected enrollment in the Medicaid program for the poor would help Obamacare reduce the number of uninsured Americans by 19 million this year and by 24 million to 27 million people each year from 2016 onwards. more
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Fidel Castro Issues Statement Apparently In Support Of U.S.-Cuba Diplomacy...."We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all the peoples of the world, among them our political adversaries."
Reuters | By Daniel Trotta Posted: 01/26/2015 11:58 pm EST
HAVANA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Monday appeared to lend his support to talks with the United States in his first comments about his longtime adversary since both countries agreed last month to restore diplomatic ties.
But Castro stopped short of an enthusiastic endorsement of the rapprochement, announced on Dec. 17 by his younger brother and Cuba's current president, Raul Castro, and U.S. President Barack Obama.
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| In this July 11, 2014 file photo, Cuba's Fidel Castro speaks during a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in Havana, Cuba. | ASSOCIATED PRESS |
"Any peaceful or negotiated solution to the problems between the United States and the peoples or any people of Latin America that doesn't imply force or the use of force should be treated in accordance with international norms and principles," Fidel Castro said.
"We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all the peoples of the world, among them our political adversaries." He took power in a 1959 revolution and spent much of his 49 years in power railing against the United States, which never succeeded in many attempts to oust him.
He was finally forced into retirement in 2008 by poor health and was succeeded by his brother Raul, who is now 83. more
ST MARY, Jamaica (UPDATE) : 14-year-old Tishauna Henry's body found after going to St Mary river to wash...Tishauna is the second child to be found dead in less than a week in the parish.
Monday, January 26, 2015 | 5:57 PM by Renae Dixon
ST MARY, Jamaica - The 14-year-old whose body was discovered in Enfield, Annotto Bay, here Monday had reportedly gone to Dry River to wash on Sunday, January 25.
When Tishauna Henry did not return home, family members went in search of her. After the Annotto Bay High School student was not found, a report was made to the Annotto Bay Police who also carried out a search. However, there was still no sign of Tishauna.?
On Monday morning, residents, along with the Annotto Bay Police, continued the search for the teen and her body was discovered face down among rocks in the river.
Observations of the body reportedly revealed that the body had a wound to the right side of the head.
The St Mary Police say they are awaiting a post-mortem to determine the cause of death. However, they told OBSERVER ONLINE that they are not ruling anything out at this time.
Tishauna is the second child to be found dead in less than a week in the parish. The St Mary Police are still awaiting the post-mortem to determine the cause of death of Crystal Coleman, whose body was found at her home in Frontier Heights, Port Maria, last Wednesday.?
Coleman's father is being questioned in relation to her death. more
Miss Kaci Fennell has won our hearts....Miss Fennell, we believe, was an excellent ambassador for her country throughout this contest and she deserves our congratulations for holding Jamaica's flag high. She highlighted Usain Bolt and Bob Marley in the interview section of the contest.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
NATURALLY, Jamaicans are feeling some amount of disappointment at the results of the 63rd Miss Universe pageant held in Florida, Sunday night.
The country had obviously got the sense that in Miss Kaci Fennell we had found the first Jamaican winner for this crown, coming after Miss Yendi Phillipps did us proud by placing second in 2010.
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| Kaci Fennell...Placed 5th in Miss Universe contest 2015 |
Already, many views have been advanced in the post-pageant analysis, and a lot of those opinions are being informed by raw emotion, including some who felt that her fifth placing did not adequately reflect the quality of her brilliance.
Amidst the passionate discussion, though, is a fact that we all know, and accept, that people enter competitions with the knowledge that they will either win or lose.
Miss Fennell herself may well be feeling a sense of underachievement. However, if she is, we would encourage her, and the many Jamaicans who supported her, not to, but instead to take pride in the fact that she did well -- extremely well.
Placing in the top five of a competition with 88 contestants is no easy feat. Add to that the fact that it takes considerable bravery and self-confidence to appear on and master a stage in an arena with hundreds of people in the audience, plus millions more watching on television across the world.
Miss Fennell, we believe, was an excellent ambassador for her country throughout this contest and she deserves our congratulations for holding Jamaica's flag high. She used the interview section to further expose our country's enormous achievements in sports and music, proudly trumpeting the fastest man alive in Usain Bolt and the indomitable reggae megastar Bob Marley. more
The White House yesterday announced that the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) : US Energy Boost - Jamaica To Benefit From US$90m Clean-Power Project
Published: Tuesday | January 27, 2015
The White House yesterday announced that the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) would intensify its focus on developing green-energy projects in the Caribbean and thatJamaica is to be the largest benefactor.
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| Philip Paulwell |
The US Department of the Interior and the Department of State are working with Jamaica to facilitate commercial renewable energy on public lands.
OPIC, the White House said, will disburse the first tranche of approximately US$43 million in financing for Blue Mountain Renewables' 34-megawatt wind project.
As part of its push to fostering a cleaner and more sustainable energy future in the Caribbean, the Department of State has identified a team with specific responsibility for identifying and arranging financing for Caribbean projects.
When construction begins in June, the Blue Mountain Renewables project will be a tangible example of public and private sectors in both countries working in harmony - and nearly US$90 million of investment in Jamaica's economy, which also will ease Jamaica's dependence on fossil fuels, the White House said.
Three bidders have been selected by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to provide a total of 78MW renewable capacity to the national grid.
Blue Mountain Renewables LLC is to supply 34MW of capacity from wind power at Munro, St Elizabeth; Wigton Windfarm Limited is to supply 24MW of capacity from wind power at Rose Hill, Manchester; and WRB Enterprises Inc to supply 20MW of capacity from solar PV from facilities in Content Village, Clarendon. more
BLIZZARD of 2015: East Coast Snow Storm Shuts Down New York City, Snarls Travel Plans.... Blizzard Warning For 250-Mile Swath... Region Could Be Shut Down All Week... NY, NJ, MA, CT Declare State Of Emergency... Over 7,700 Flights Canceled... Trains, Ferries Suspended… Nonessential Travel On Roads Restricted… De Blasio: 'This Is An Emergency'... TRACK STORM... CRISIS MAP... RADAR... HAZARDS...
AP Posted: 01/27/2015 12:54 am EST
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| Where is my car |
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| What's next |
Bruce Sullivan of the National Weather Service said Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, could get the most snow, about 2 feet. New York could see 10 inches to 20 inches, Hartford, Connecticut, 1 to 2 feet, and Philadelphia and central New Jersey about 6 inches.
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| Car stuck |
"When you wake up in the morning, it is going to look like a blizzard," said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, echoing the concern of many government leaders. more
All teachers' colleges to get tablets Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said yesterday....However, while the Tablets in Schools project has been having positive effects, the minister admitted that there was also a negative side.... DO YOU THINK THIS IS MONEY WELL SPENT?
BY ANIKA RICHARDS Online/health co-ordinator richardsai@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
ALL teachers' colleges will this year receive tablets under the Tablets in Schools project, which began last year with a pilot in 38 educational institutions, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said yesterday.
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| Education Minister Ronald Thwaites |
"In the pilot, the Ministry of Education didn't choose the schools, but Sam Sharpe was one of the teachers' colleges that got tablets," said Thwaites. "This year, all of the teachers' colleges will, because you can't have the students getting it and the teachers are not," he added.
In fact, the education ministry is moving to have all the needed books, starting at the primary level and including the basic texts at the secondary level, uploaded to tablets.
The minister made the disclosure yesterday while speaking to reporters and editors at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue headquarters in Kingston.
"The ministry's decision to make more textbooks available in e-book format is to facilitate the widespread use of computer tablets in schools. In addition to students who receive tablets as part of the e-Learning project, the ministry is encouraging parents to acquire these devices and we will place the e-books on them," Thwaites said. more
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth: Residents stage roadblock in The Burnt Savannah to Mountainside main road, which links Santa Cruz to the south-coast resort of Treasure Beach, was blocked late Monday as residents protested the state of the thoroughfare.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — The Burnt Savannah to Mountainside main road, which links Santa Cruz to the south-coast resort of Treasure Beach, was blocked late Monday as residents protested the state of the thoroughfare.
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| residents block road in protest |
The St Elizabeth police confirmed late Monday that the protest started about midday with people using boulders and other debris to block the roads.
It has forced travellers from Santa Cruz to Treasure Beach, or vice versa, and points in between to use alternate routes through Black River, Malvern and Junction.
A police spokesman told the Jamaica Observer that help was needed, possibly from the National Works Agency to clear the blockages.
Eyewitness reports late yesterday said many students were among a "pile up" of stranded travellers being forced to walk miles to get home.
This is the latest of several major protests regarding the badly damaged five-mile stretch of roadway between Lacovia and Mountainside. Rain-scoured surfaces, potholes and broken drains have made driving a nightmarish experience.
Member of parliament for southwest St Elizabeth, Hugh Buchanan told the Observer late last year that he has been making repeated representations to have the stretch of main road repaired.
A major water project, which made road renovation unfeasible for sometime was completed last year. more
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KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Pinchers injured, two killed in shooting incident
Sunday, January 25, 2015 | 9:41 AM
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Dancehall singer Pinchers was shot and injured during an incident in the Queensborough area of Kingston Saturday night.
The Corporate Communications Unit, media arm of the police, said two men were killed in the shooting while another man was also injured.
Pinchers was shot in the right arm. His injury and that of the other man, are not considered life-threatening.
One of the deceased has been identified as 37-year-old Ralston Daley. The other man has not yet been identified.
The CCU reports that the shooting took place at 11:20 when armed men opened fire on a group that included Pinchers. Daley and the other man died instantly. No arrests have been made.
The 49-year-old Pinchers (real name Delroy Thompson) had a number of hit songs during the 1980s including his 1987 breakthrough, Agony. Lift it up Again, Got to be Me, Return of The Don and Bandelero are among his other hits.
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| Pinchers |
The Corporate Communications Unit, media arm of the police, said two men were killed in the shooting while another man was also injured.
Pinchers was shot in the right arm. His injury and that of the other man, are not considered life-threatening.
One of the deceased has been identified as 37-year-old Ralston Daley. The other man has not yet been identified.
The CCU reports that the shooting took place at 11:20 when armed men opened fire on a group that included Pinchers. Daley and the other man died instantly. No arrests have been made.
The 49-year-old Pinchers (real name Delroy Thompson) had a number of hit songs during the 1980s including his 1987 breakthrough, Agony. Lift it up Again, Got to be Me, Return of The Don and Bandelero are among his other hits.
Sarah Palin's Bizarre Iowa Speech Gets Thanks -- From The Democrats Sarah Palin in Iowa: "The man" (?) is doing some dirty things to...the middle class? The GOP?
The Huffington Post | By Ed Mazza Email Posted: 01/25/2015 11:44 pm EST
Shortly after declaring that she's "seriously interested" in running for president in 2016, Sarah Palin delivered a confusing speech that was panned by many, even some on the right.
Shortly after declaring that she's "seriously interested" in running for president in 2016, Sarah Palin delivered a confusing speech that was panned by many, even some on the right.
Speaking at the Iowa Freedom Summit in Des Moines on Saturday, the former Alaska governor and one-time vice presidential candidate delivered a speech that John Fund of the National Review described as "meandering and often bizarre."
Here's an excerpt:
Cosby: 'Trust Me.' Wife Of Prominent Film Producer Says Bill Cosby Assaulted Her In 1969.... I was a 21-year-old single woman in the world's most exciting city.
Posted: 01/26/2015 8:26 am EST
In 1969 I met Bill Cosby while working in New York for the late film producer Ray Stark. I was a 21-year-old single woman in the world's most exciting city. He was a 32-year-old internationally known comedian and television star, one of the most likeable and popular entertainers in the business. He asked for my number and I gave it to him.
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| Bill Cosby |
We began hanging out, took in a movie, watched television and ate pizza and hot dogs in my apartment with my roommate. He was married to his current wife and he acted like a perfect gentleman who didn't come on to either of us, which, I have to admit, made me wonder what his objective was.
One night we were going out to a movie. We agreed to meet at an apartment that he said belonged to a friend of his. I had a terrible headache but didn't want to cancel the evening. He told me he had a miracle cure his doctor had given him that would get rid of the headache. He went into another room and came back with a capsule. I asked a couple of times what it was. Each time he reassured me, asking, "Don't you trust me?" Of course I did. This was Bill Cosby.
For more than 45 years I have tried to recall exactly what happened that night. To this day it remains a blur. I have a vague recollection of feeling like I was floating while walking through Times Square and watching some kind of Japanese samurai movie with him. I don't remember where the theater was nor very much of the evening. more
BRACE YOURSELVES 2 TO 3 FEET.Northeast Braces For Colossal Snowstorm....De Blasio: 'Biggest Snowstorm In The History Of This City'... 'Don't Underestimate'... 29 Million People Under Blizzard Warning... 7 States... Potential White-Out Conditions... Up To 36 Hours... 3,500 Flights Canceled... Track Winter Storm Juno... 'CRIPPLING AND POTENTIALLY HISTORIC'... 'Prepare For The Worst'... CRISIS MAP... RADAR... HAZARDS...
NEW YORK (AP) -- Northeast residents are girding for a "crippling and potentially historic" storm that could bury communities from northern New Jersey to southern Maine in up to 2 feet of snow.
The National Weather Service said the nor'easter would bring heavy snow, powerful winds and widespread coastal flooding starting Monday and through Tuesday. A blizzard warning was issued for a 250-mile stretch of the Northeast, including New York and Boston.Government officials began to activate emergency centers on Sunday as professional sports teams, schools and utilities hastily revised their schedules and made preparations.
"This could be a storm the likes of which we have never seen before," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference in a Manhattan sanitation garage where workers were preparing plows and salt for the massive cleanup on about 6,000 miles of city roadways.
In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker warned residents to prepare for roads that are "very hard, if not impossible, to navigate," power outages and possibly even a lack of public transportation.
Boston is expected to get 18 to 24 inches of snow, with up to 2 feet or more west of the city, and Philadelphia could see up to a foot, the weather service said. more
Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell places fifth in Miss Universe pageant which was won by Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega.
Monday, January 26, 2015
KACI Fennell last night placed fifth in the 63rd staging of the Miss Universe pageant which was won by Miss Colombia Paulina Vega.
Miss USA Nia Sanchez was named first runner-up in the pageant that Jamaicans watched with high anticipation that Fennell would have won.
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| (L-R) MIAMI, Florida — Miss Colombia Paulina Vega, who won the Miss Universe title last night, during the evening gown segment of the pageant. MIAMI, Florida — Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell poses during the Miss Universe pageant in Miami last night. (PHOTOS: AP) |
Jamaicans erupted with joy when the 22-year-old Fennell was named in the top 15 in the early stages of the pageant held at Florida International University Arena in Doral, Miami.
The celebrations grew louder when she was the first contestant placed in the top 10, followed by the contestants from Agrentina, Ukraine, The Philippines, Colombia, Spain, The Netherlands, Venezuela, Australia, and USA.
When Fennell appeared in the evening dress competition she was described as "immaculate" by one of the pageant's hosts.
Later, when she was named in the top five, along with the contestants from USA, The Netherlands, Ukraine, and Colombia, Jamaicans cheered even louder.
In the interview section, when each of the top five contestants was asked the following question submitted by viewers on Facebook: 'What is the greatest contribution of your country to the entire world?' Fennell pointed to reggae superstar Bob Marley and track legend Usain Bolt. Her answer elicited loud and sustained applause from her Jamaican supporters in the audience.
However, their hope turned to despair when Fennell was announced as the fourth runner-up.
Throughout her year-long reign, Miss Universe will wear a new crown designed by pageant sponsor DIC. more
IN JAMICA: 'Everything bun up' Fire leaves 9 homeless in Arnett Gardens
Monday, January 26, 2015
AT least nine people were left homeless yesterday when fire destroyed five board houses and a shop in a section of Arnett Gardens known as Hopeful Village.
A mother of three, who gave her name only as Camille, told the Jamaica Observer that she lost everything in the fire.
"Everything bun up. Di bag dem bun up, di book dem bun up, di shoes dem bun up. Everything bun up. Nothing, mi nuh save no clothes," she cried.
No one was injured in the blaze, as most of the victims were attending a funeral when it started just after 3:00 pm.
An irate resident blamed one of the victims for the fire. According to him, the person who is responsible lit a piece of sponge and left it unattended.
"Mi tell him seh fi out di fire, out di fire, out di fire," the resident shouted.
Two units from the York Town Fire Station and one from the Trench Town put out the blaze.
Montego Bay-born Shauna Chin lands role on the hit CBS series Criminal Minds (Airs Feb 4th)...Criminal Minds is her first US television credit. She has had small roles in films including The Necklace, Lunch Break and Choices...Chin is known by Jamaicans for her role in The Blackburns of Royal Palm Estate... Shauna will INTERVIEW WITH RULA BROWN Today on SULTRY SUNDAY SLOW JAMZ at 4:30pm ET
January 1, 2015 BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer (Repost)
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| Shauna Chin (Facebook) |
The Montego Bay-born Chin shot scenes for an upcoming episode of the popular television drama this week.
She told Splash how the part came about.
"Over the years I've developed a relationship with the casting department for Criminal Minds. When an actor goes in for an audition, it's important for them to not just focus on landing the role, but also to make an impression," she said. "I've auditioned for them twice before for different episodes and did not get the part. However, I made sure that I stood out to their team, so I got placed on their radar."
The part is a small one. Chin shares a scene with Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays Dr Spencer Reid, one of the lead characters.
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| Shauna Chin (Facebook) |
Chin is known by Jamaicans for her role in The Blackburns of Royal Palm Estate. She played Claudine Chambers, love interest of Richard Blackburn (Adam Hyde) and sister of the sinister Jennifer Chambers (Carol Williams).
The 35-year-old actress migrated to the United States in 1995. Growing up in Montego Bay, she attended Barracks Road Primary and Mount Alvernia High schools.
Chin later attended Davenport University in the US where she earned a degree in Health Care Business Administration. She holds a degree in nursing from Wayne State University.
Criminal Minds is her first US television credit. She has had small roles in films including The Necklace, Lunch Break and Choices.
Rihanna Just Dropped 'FourFiveSeconds,' A New Song With Kanye & Paul McCartney
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| McCartney, Rihanna, Kanye |
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| Rihanna |
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