Employers across the U.S. are likely to face sharply higher health insurance costs next year, which could drive up how much workers pay for medical coverage, according to a recent survey. Health benefits consulting firm Marsh projects that the total health benefit cost per employee, which measures both employer and employee premium contributions, will rise…
The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously blocked the state from moving forward with a new House map that favors Republicans in this year’s midterm elections, ordering a statewide vote on whether to uphold or reject the new map. The decision Thursday marks a rare setback for Republicans in the national redistricting battle, as they fight…
Hillary Clinton on Thursday remembered activist Gloria Steinem as “one of the architects of the entire structure of women’s equality,” while encouraging young women to lift up others in the continued fight for the causes Steinem championed. “I’m hoping that young women realize that the fight is worth it. It is exhilarating,” said the former…
Beijing — On the outskirts of the Chinese port city of Ningbo, surrounded by lush green hills topped with giant wind turbines to harness the power of the gales off the East China Sea, is a factory where bosses believe they’re making the cars of the future. It’s where the Geely Auto Group, one of China’s…
Massachusetts is holding its 2026 primary election on Tuesday, with the ballot featuring a U.S. Senate contest between Democrats Ed Markey and Seth Moulton, as well as other key races. Polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. You can find your polling place on the secretary of state’s website. Here’s a look…
Josh Smith, a pardoned drug offender who served as the No. 2 official at the federal Bureau of Prisons, abruptly announced Monday he was leaving the agency without giving a reason for his departure. But he had a tense relationship with some of the BOP’s employees, some of whom have also raised questions about contracts…
Phoenix — Two Phoenix police officers were fired and arrested after an unreported traffic stop in which they assaulted a man and woman and shocked them with a Taser, the city’s police chief said. Officers Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez were arrested on charges including aggravated assault and kidnapping, Police Chief Matt Giordano said at…
In a special election, Bay Area voters have chosen state Sen. Aisha Wahab to carry out the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term, The Associated Press projects. Wahab will represent California’s 14th Congressional District until January 2027. New vote totals from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters indicate Wahab’s lead over Bay Area…
Washington — A woman told the House Ethics Committee that Rep. Jimmy Gomez sexually assaulted her, according to her attorneys, a claim that comes as the panel investigates sexual misconduct allegations against the California Democrat. The bipartisan committee said Monday that it’s looking into allegations against Gomez, including that he engaged “in inappropriate sexual contact…
The national debt topped $40 trillion, according to Treasury Department data released on Wednesday, representing a fiscal milestone that underscores the federal government’s mounting borrowing and interest costs. The Treasury Department’s daily financial report shows that the nation’s debt reached $40.05 trillion on August 18, more than double its level in 2017. The federal debt has…
