Trump Team Weighs Pulling Funding for Moderna Bird Flu Vaccine
US health officials are reevaluating a $590 million contract for bird flu shots that the Biden administration awarded to Moderna Inc., people familiar with the matter said.
The review is part of a government push to examine spending on messenger RNA-based vaccines, the technology that powered Moderna's Covid vaccine. The bird flu shot contract was awarded to Moderna in the Biden administration's final days, sending the company's stock up 13% in the two days following the Jan. 17 announcement.
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Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
A boomer quit nursing to live on $2,972 monthly in Social Security in an RV in America's parks: 'I literally live in heaven'
When Marian Barry's mother died in 2014, the Arizona nurse knew she needed a change. For years, her life had revolved around taking care of her aging parents and working as a cardiac nurse just outside Phoenix. A colleague suggested travel nursing — well-paid work that would let her explore the country. After three months in Alaska, Barry knew it was the life for her. She sold her house of 16 years in Mesa, bought an RV she named Myrna, and roamed the Western US, working in a slew of hospitals and meeting all sorts of people along the way. She "absolutely loved" being a nurse and thought she'd work well into her golden years. But when the pandemic hit, that changed. Watching countless patients suffer and die without family at their bedside was agonizing. "It was hell. It was horrible being in the hospital," Barry said. After 30 years of nursing, she started thinking about retirement. She'd stayed in some national and state parks while travel nursing and noticed that the park employees and volunteers she'd met seemed remarkably happy. So, she applied for a seasonal volunteer gig at Diamond Lake in Oregon. "After coming out of working the first 15 months of COVID in hospitals, it was like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm in nature. This is amazing. No mask, no PPE,'" she said. Now, she's a full-time so-called "work-camper," living and volunteering in parks with other itinerant folks like her, many of them also retirees. She spends her days kayaking, biking, and orienting visitors in the parks. She's letting her nursing license expire next year. "I just cannot imagine going back to any kind of stressful job," Barry, now 71, added. Barry is part of a much bigger trend. Work-camping in America's parks is a long-established lifestyle, particularly for older people in need of low-cost living or adventure, or both. But as Americans live longer and face rising housing costs on fixed or low incomes, it's only becoming more attractive. Living off Social Security Barry made good money as a nurse, but she doesn't have much in savings. So she lives off her monthly $2,972 Social Security checks. She's managing for now and is even splurging on a rental car for the summer. Living in an RV is pretty cheap. At the campgrounds, she gets a free full hook-up — including water, electricity, and sewer — in exchange for her work. She says it's been easy for her to live in a tiny space because she's "never been a things kind of person." And she spends much of her time outside. For the past four years, Barry has spent October through April at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, 90 miles north of Vegas, and May through August at Beaver Creek State Natural Area on the coast of central Oregon. She takes September off for vacation. She loves the dramatic landscapes and has become a wildlife enthusiast. "I literally live in heaven," Barry said. "I absolutely love my life." She says she doesn't get lonely because she's made friends with her fellow volunteers and employees. And she spends her days chatting up visitors. "I like to talk to everybody," she said. Barry has become particularly popular in Oregon, where a beloved breed of blackberry, the marionberry, is grown. Locals and park visitors get a kick out of her name. "Every day when I say what my name is, they're like, 'Oh, I'll never forget that,'" she said. "I'm like a celebrity here." One group of fans brought her a marionberry pie. Barry, who never married or had kids, hopes to keep living in the parks in Oregon and Nevada for the rest of her life. Her siblings and other family members are scattered across the country. She jokes with one of her nieces, who lives on a farm in Indiana, that if she ever loses the ability to live independently, she'll park her RV in a field on her property and live out her days there. "Honestly, I have no long-term plan, that's just a fun thing to think about," she said.
Business Upturn
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Covid-19 India Cases 2025 Live Updates: Active cases cross 7,000-mark — not Delhi, West Bengal or Maharashtra but this state has most cases
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 12, 2025, 10:07 IST India has seen a fresh rise in Covid-19 infections with active cases crossing the 7,000 mark as of June 12, 2025. The country now has a total of 7,154 active cases, as per data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Importantly, six new Covid-related deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours — two from Maharashtra, one from Madhya Pradesh, and three others under review. Kerala leads the chart as worst-hit state Despite no recent headlines from major metros like Delhi, Kolkata, or Mumbai, it is Kerala that continues to top the active caseload in India with 2,165 active cases, accounting for over 30% of the national burden. Gujarat (1,281), West Bengal (747), Delhi (731), and Maharashtra (615) are also witnessing relatively high numbers. New Omicron variants fuelling mild surges Health experts attribute the recent rise to highly transmissible but less severe Omicron sub-variants such as JN.1, NB.1.8.1, LF.7, and XFC. These strains have been classified by the WHO as 'Variants Under Monitoring,' meaning they are not currently considered dangerous but are being tracked closely. Covid becoming part of seasonal cycles While SARS-CoV-2 has not disappeared, its pattern of recurrence has now become more predictable, similar to influenza. The ongoing infections mostly result in milder symptoms, but vulnerable populations are advised to remain cautious and follow preventive protocols. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tourism is up in Joplin, how does it impact the local economy?
JOPLIN, Mo. — Business is booming when it comes to tourism in the Joplin area. 'This is our first stop, so we're really looking forward to seeing some of the street painting,' said Sararae Womack, St. Louis Tourist. Just one of the many points of interest tied to Route 66 that Sararae Womack is visiting during her stop in Joplin. 'We passed a few of the beautiful murals on our way in here. We're looking forward to exploring everything Joplin has to offer,' said Womack. Sararae is just one of many, many travelers highlighted in a new report detailing the impact of tourism on the Joplin metro area. There are big numbers, including more than 1.1 million visitors to the metro region in the 12 months leading up to March. It cites 27 hundred jobs connected to tourism spending. 'Jobs that support tourism, from the hotels to the restaurants to the attractions, and that generated another $408 million that were impacted across the board, of salaries, supplies, all kinds of activities,' said Patrick Tuttle, Joplin CVB Dir. Joplin's CVB director points to a five-year comparison, which includes a couple of devastating COVID years. Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce searching for new president Joplin named one of the best places to live in Missouri, according to report Joplin firefighters tackle 11th-floor fire alarm at Messenger Towers Missouri prepares for sports betting rollout 2024-2025 Golden Lion Award winners honored at MSSU 'We took quite a dive during the COVID years, and a lot of communities are getting back this year, being the fifth year after we got back on our feet two years ago. So we recovered pretty quickly,' said Tuttle. He says there are a variety of reasons tourists come to the area, but adds the Mother Road is one of the biggest factors, and specifically how travelers are choosing to enjoy that blast from the past. 'Pre-COVID. I would say the international traveler would see all of Missouri Route 66 in probably two days. And you and I would probably do it one day. Now we're seeing three to five days. People are slowing down. They're taking their time,' said Tuttle. A state-by-state breakdown shows that the biggest number of travelers comes from other parts of Missouri and Kansas… while there are also significant totals from Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Including Charlie Weddle, who's in town for a few days. He's been here before and says he'll be back again. 'It's a really great town. I love it here,' said Charlie Weddle, Wichita Traveler. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
