Latest news with #JamesGray
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Hampshire lawmakers move to make ivermectin an over-the-counter medication
Ivermectin gained notoriety during the pandemic when people began using it as a treatment for COVID-19. Research was conducted on whether the drug could be repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. However, that research was never able to prove ivermectin was effective at treating the virus. (Getty Images) State lawmakers are pushing to allow ivermectin — an antiparasitic drug that became notorious during the COVID-19 pandemic — to be purchased without a prescription in New Hampshire. And they're doing it by tacking on a provision to a Medicaid cost-efficiency program. Senate Bill 119 was introduced in the New Hampshire Senate earlier this year with the goal of making the state Medicaid program more cost-efficient. The bill seeks to allow Medicaid to purchase name-brand drugs when they are cheaper than generics. Medicaid has long been prevented from buying name brands because historically they are more expensive. However, recent market developments have made some name-brand drugs cheaper than their generic counterparts, so lawmakers have worked to alter that rule this year. This has been a priority in Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte's budget agenda amid a difficult fiscal environment this year. 'My wife loves to shop at Hannaford, and nine times out of 10, if there's a Hannaford brand, I pick the Hannaford brand up,' Sen. James Gray, a Rochester Republican and the bill's sponsor, said during a hearing on the bill last month. 'But you know what? Sometimes that national brand has a coupon. Sometimes that national brand has a discount. Sometimes it's just on sale. And that's exactly what this bill does. It says, 'Hey, you don't have to buy generic if the national brand is cheaper.'' The Senate approved SB 119 through a voice vote in March. However, when it got to House lawmakers, Rep. Yury Polozov, a Hooksett Republican, proposed an amendment that added a provision allowing ivermectin to be purchased at New Hampshire pharmacies without a prescription from a doctor. The House passed the amended version of SB 119 on Thursday, sending the bill back to the Senate for another vote. House Democrats criticized the change. 'It is very bad legislative policy to attach unlike things together in the hopes of forcing somebody else to do something that they would not otherwise do,' Rep. Lucy Weber, a Walpole Democrat, said on the House floor Thursday. 'Anything that is good legislative policy stands on its own and should not be attached to anything else.' Ivermectin was discovered in Japan in the 1970s and subsequently used to develop a veterinary drug to treat parasitic infections in horses, cattle, dogs, and other animals, according to the American Chemical Society. Years later, researchers from Merck Pharmaceuticals and the Kitasato Institute began experimenting on uses of the drug for humans. They were able to use the drug to treat river blindness and saw so much success they won a 2015 Nobel Prize. The medicine is now used to treat several kinds of worm and lice infections in humans. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions that high doses of ivermectin can cause seizures, coma, or even death. The Mayo Clinic also warns that the drug could interact poorly with other medications and that it hasn't been tested for safety and efficacy among small children, geriatric patients, and breastfeeding babies. Ivermectin gained notoriety during the pandemic when people began using it as a treatment for COVID-19. Research was conducted on whether the drug could be repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. However, that research was never able to prove ivermectin was effective at treating the virus. Still, online misinformation and faulty studies drove people to seek the drug anyway. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a sharp increase in the number of people calling into poison control centers due to ivermectin overdoses. It also said it received reports of people who, unable to get a prescription for the drug, had resorted to buying and taking formulations made for animals from veterinary suppliers unsafe for humans. Some online posts have claimed ivermectin could be used to treat cancer, a claim that is unsubstantiated, though there's early-stage research investigating its use for cancer treatment in combination with other drugs. A few other states have turned ivermectin into an over-the-counter medication. Legislatures in Arkansas, Idaho, and Tennessee have done so already. North Carolina, Louisiana, and several other states are considering following suit. This state-by-state approval marks a departure from the typical process for approving an over-the counter medicine. Typically, federal health authorities with the FDA have weighed scientific evidence and determined whether a drug can be sold safely over-the-counter. In these states, lawmakers have superseded that process and made the determination themselves. This isn't the first effort to make ivermectin over-the-counter in New Hampshire. In 2022, the Legislature passed similar legislation, but then-Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, vetoed it, arguing that, 'Patients should always consult their doctor before taking medications so that they are fully aware of treatment options and potential unintended consequences of taking a medication that may limit other treatment options in the future.' Introducing the amendment, Rep. Kelley Potenza, a Rochester Republican and one of its supporters, said the proposal 'lies at the intersection of public health, personal freedom, and frankly common sense.' Potenza claimed the drug 'carries a much lower risk than over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol.' She also called claims that ivermectin is dangerous and ineffective in treating COVID-19 'propaganda' and 'lies.' Potenza said when she had COVID-19 during the pandemic, she got a prescription from a doctor in Arizona for ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. She attributes her recovery to it. She said the government's actions during the pandemic is what inspired her to run for office. The Mayo Clinic says that claims about ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, or chloroquine being effective at treating COVID-19 are false. The CDC and FDA both say current research has been unable to demonstrate that ivermectin is effective at treating COVID-19.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The week ahead: Committees start to finish 2025 agenda
Birdsell fights to block foreign ownership near N.H. military sites Senate Majority Leader Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, has led the call for the state to outlaw ownership of property near key military properties by a list of banned countries to include the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, Iran, Syria and North Korea In this shortened post-holiday week, the New Hampshire Legislature will refrain from holding business sessions to allow committees in the state Senate to wrap up work on a two-year state budget proposal. It will also give the House of Representatives time to finalize the thorniest bills sent to it from the other body. Senate Finance Committee Chairman James Gray, R-Rochester, told his six colleagues to enjoy the Memorial Day weekend and come back ready to slog through four straight days of intense committee work. 'We've quite a few details to finalize but I've delegated key senators to resolve each of the remaining issues in dispute,' Gray said at the end of last week. Reduction in layoffs At the end of last week, Senate budget writers checked off an important box, restoring many of the nearly 100 layoffs in Department of Corrections contained in the House-approved state budget. 'I think we met a good middle ground,' Senate Majority Leader Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, said during a radio interview Friday. Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, credited now-resigned Corrections Commissioner Helen Hanks for working with him to make the most improvements to the House budget for the least amount of money. The Senate changes reduce the $34 million in cuts the House made to about $20 million. This reduces the layoffs to about two dozen with the elimination of about 35 other vacant positions. 'She was really cooperative and constructive in restoring nearly all of the affected positions for the least hit on the budget, which we appreciate,' Lang said in an interview. Other big-ticket budget decisions the Senate panel needs to make include the amount of state aid for the university system, many programs in the Department of Health and Human Services along with the fate of the Office of Child Advocate, the Human Rights Commission, Housing Appeals Board and Board of Land and Tax Appeals. Pitch to 'fix' ban on teaching bias Gray said one change the Senate will make is to reject a House-proposed 5% fee on all dedicated funds to generate $30 million over the two-year cycle. He announced plans instead to direct Gov. Kelly Ayotte to identify a similar amount of budget savings as a section in the Senate spending plan. Several House committees will be holding long sessions to try and hammer out their final Senate bills to include: Cordelli says he has way to fix ban on 'divine concepts' Rep. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro, will ask a House panel he chairs to change a state law that bans the teaching of discrimination in public schools. The proposal is an attempt to fix a 2021 law a federal judge set aside because it was unconstitutionally vague. • Risk pools (SB 297): Secretary of State David Scanlan proposed reforms to set up tougher financial guardrails for the pools that sponsor health or property and casualty insurance for member cities and towns, schools and county government. House Commerce Committee Chairman John Hunt, R-Rindge, has a competing proposal to permit the four companies offering these lines to instead come under regulation of the Insurance Department. • Foreign ownership (SB 162): Birdsell has championed this one to prevent the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from acquiring property within 10 miles of an included list of state properties including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Pease Air National Guard Base, several other national guard sites and the New Boston Space Force Station. • Moving state primary (SB 222): This would move the state primary election from one of the latest in the nation in September up to June when more than a third of states hold theirs. The House Election Laws Committee will make the final recommendation on this one; they had endorsed the idea earlier this spring but wanted to put it off until after the 2026 election; as currently written the change would take effect next Jan. 1. • Education Freedom Accounts (SB 295): The House Finance Committee holds on Wednesday the last committee vote on the Senate-passed plan to eliminate any income eligibility so all parents could receive taxpayer-paid scholarships to send their children to private, religious, alternative public or home school programs (SB 295). • Ban on teaching discrimination (SB 100): Sen. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro, will promote his amendment to alter the 2021 law aimed at blocking teachers from such 'divisive concepts' as Critical Race Theory. A federal court struck down the law as unconstitutionally vague and this seeks to add a mental state factor for the violating teacher that Cordelli maintains would fix the law's legal defect. Opponents insisted the set aside law was beyond saving. klandrigan@
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Former Edinburgh Gray's department store to become a new restaurant after George Street plans approved
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now A former landmark department store in Edinburgh city centre is to be transformed into a new restaurant after plans were approved by the council. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The proposal by Learmonth Property Investment to turn the former White Stuff shop at 89 George Street into a new restaurant at basement, ground, and first floors, with nine serviced apartments at the rear and upper floors, was accepted by the local authority on May 9. The application site is the former Gray's retail store that was purpose-built for James Gray and Sons around 1902 in the category B-listed building by Harry Ramsay Taylor. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The main frontage areas of the building will remain largely intact and enhanced under the approved plans, with a separate entrance formed to the rear. The former White Stuff and Grays store at 89 George Street is currently empty. | Google Maps The main alterations include removing the existing two sets of non-original timber-lined doors and panelled doors to Hill Street South Lane and installing replacement black/grey finished, timber-lined doors; installing a new conservation type rooflight on the front roof pitch; the removal of the redundant fire escape stair and mechanical/electrical plant within the central section; and the installation of a raised deck with planters on top of the existing roof. Granting approval for the changes to this landmark city centre building, the council's chief planning officer David Givan said: 'The proposed development will result in the re-use of a vacant category B-listed building in a sustainable, longer-term use, with appropriate levels of adaptation and intervention. Also, enabling the whole building to be occupied will encourage regular maintenance. 'The associated alterations for use of the upper floors as service apartments are suited to the plain internal detailing of these levels and the proposed interventions elsewhere have been sensitively devised and detailed to ensure that they will preserve any features of special architectural or historic interest. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The proposed works will respect and reinvigorate this listed building through sensitive adaptation in appropriate uses, and are acceptable. 'Overall, the development is in accordance with the development plan. The revised scheme will deliver a sustainable and well-designed development with activation at street level.' The proposed new rear entrance to the George Street property. | City of Edinburgh Council In the planning documents, the applicant stated: 'It is considered that the proposed new uses will ensure that the whole building can be refurbished and significantly enhanced which will be of benefit to the building but also to the city centre as the uses will help to support the wider city centre economy.' The building has been altered significantly from the mid-20th century, notably the removal of the second floor atrium and addition of a storey on the central section, and installation of various new shopfront infills. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A major reconfiguration took place in 2010 when the building was sold and occupied by the retailer, White Stuff, in the front and central sections of the basement to first floors, and many of the internal decorative features date from this period. The remainder of the building is either vacant or used for storage. White Stuff recently vacated the premises and moved along the road to 49 George Street and the shop unit at 89 George Street is currently empty.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Netflix adds 'criminally underrated' movie starring Brad Pitt with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score that's been hailed as a 'genuine masterwork'
Netflix has added a 'criminally underrated' movie starring Brad Pitt with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score to the streaming service. Ad Astra, written by James Gray and Ethan Ross, has been hailed as a 'genuine masterwork'. The science fiction film, which is distributed by 20th Century Fox, hit our screens in 2019. Now, six years on, fans can rewatch it on Netflix. The movie's Rotten Tomatoes synopsis reads: 'Thirty years ago, Clifford McBride led a voyage into deep space, but the ship and crew were never heard from again. 'Now his son - a fearless astronaut - must embark on a daring mission to Neptune to uncover the truth about his missing father and a mysterious power surge that threatens the stability of the universe.' Ad Astra also boasts a star-studded cast which includes Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland. It has received pretty impressive reviews online, with various fans rushing to review site Rotten Tomatoes to share their thoughts. Ad Astra managed to bag a whopping 83 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. Others shared their positive thoughts, with one saying: '[Director James] Gray's Ad Astra, as a reflection upon loss and masculinity is as illuminating as the sun, personal in its careful inspection, and a repressed masterpiece.' 'This is an EXCELLENT film! It is one to watch multiple times to keep picking up little details. It may not appeal to folks with low attention spans who are afraid to think or commit to a film. For those who want to take a journey for a night, it's a 5/5!' 'Words can't describe how much I love this movie. I really wish it caught a better audience because most of the people writing reviews either didn't watch it or didn't experience it for the movie I see it as. 'Also a lot of people were really mad at the physics in this movie which I think is really, really stupid.' 'Requires focus and patience as it powers up but it is well worth the ride once it flies. Psychologically compelling, visually astute and thought-provoking. Many have rushed to review site Rotten Tomatoes to share their positive reviews on the 2019 film 'For one, it captures enough of the emotional impact of extended space travel as to convince even those who love the idea of doing so to reconsider.' 'Wow... Astonishing! Probably one of the best films I've ever seen. 'Fantastic photography, excellent acting by Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones, and a captivating script. 'I felt immersed, exploring the space while the film masterfully guided me.' 'A great gripping movie, a fresh story, Brad Pitt solo performance definitely carried this space adventure.' Hollywood legend Brad took on the role of Roy Richard McBride. Tommy Lee Jones plays Roy's dad H. Clifford McBride, while Ruth Negga plays Helen Lantos. Liv Tyler has taken on the role of Roy's wife Eve McBride, Donald Sutherland plays Colonel Thomas Pruitt and John Ortiz plays Lieutenant General Rivas. It comes after Netflix fans raved over a gangster film with the 'greatest fight scenes ever' and a whopping 92 per cent Rotten Tomatoes scare. They ended up hailing it as a 'no-holds-barred bloodbath'. The Night Comes For Us, made and released by the streamer in 2018, follows a gangster named Ito, whose job as a crime enforcer is to use violence to ensure the syndicate's rules are followed and its business is protected. It stars Indonesian actors Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais respectively as the hero and a gangster who hunts him down, with the latter known in Hollywood for co-starring with Mark Wahlberg in 2018 espionage action film Mile 22.
Geek Tyrant
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller Join Adam Driver in James Gray's New Crime Drama PAPER TIGER — GeekTyrant
Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller have officially signed on to co-star opposite Adam Driver in Paper Tiger , director James Gray's next feature film, which begins shooting next month in New Jersey. The project has already gone through a few casting changes, with Johansson and Teller stepping in for Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, who had to exit due to scheduling conflicts. Gray, best known for The Lost City of Z , Ad Astra , and Armageddon Time , is both writing and directing Paper Tiger . The film is described as 'a tense and gritty story revolving around two brothers who pursue the American Dream—only to become entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true. 'As they try to navigate their way through an ever-more dangerous world of corruption and violence, they find themselves and their family brutally terrorized by the Russian 'Mafiya.' Their bond begins to fray, and betrayal—once utterly unthinkable—now becomes all too possible.' With Gray's eye for grounded storytelling and emotionally complex characters, there's a good chance Paper Tiger could end up being a strong film the packs a punch. This marks another high-profile role for Johansson, a two-time Oscar nominee with a long list of memorable performances in Marriage Story , Jojo Rabbit , Her , Lost in Translation , and several MCU films. Up next, she stars in Jurassic World Rebirth , and Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme . She's also making her directorial debut with Eleanor the Great . Teller, meanwhile, continues his hot streak with films like Top Gun: Maverick , Whiplash , and The Gorge . He also wrapped production on Michael , the Michael Jackson biopic for Lionsgate. He also stars in A24's upcoming Eternity alongside Elizabeth Olsen. On the horizon he has Possum Song , a fantastical comedy from Greg Kwedar, and Winter Games from Paul Downs Colaizzo at Paramount.
