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In the news today: The Senate approves funds to pay TSA agents as airport security troubles intensify; how Trump pulled back from more Iran attacks after stock markets dropped; and why some people put their relatives into poverty to pay for nursing homes. Also, researchers capture one of the most detailed observations of a sperm whale birth ever recorded in the wild. |
Travelers line up at a TSA checkpoint at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Thursday. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi) |
Senate approves funding for TSA and most of Homeland Security, but not immigration enforcement |
The Senate early Friday morning approved Homeland Security funds to pay Transportation Security Administration agents and most other agencies, but not the immigration enforcement operations at the heart of the budget impasse that has jammed airports, disrupted travel and imposed financial hardship on workers. Read more. |
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- The funding shutdown has resulted in travel delays and even warnings of airport closures as TSA workers missing paychecks stop coming to work. Multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates of TSA workers and nearly 500 of its almost 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown.
The deal, which the Senate approved unanimously early Friday morning without a roll call, would fund much of the DHS, except the immigration enforcement operations. It did not include any of the restraints Democrats demanded as they sought to rein in President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda. It next goes to the House, which is expected to consider it Friday.
- Trump said Thursday he would sign an order to immediately pay the TSA agents, saying he wanted to quickly stop the "Chaos at the Airports."
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With markets rattled, Trump again delays threat against Iran power plants |
Facing a convulsing stock market, President Donald Trump on Thursday moved to buy himself more time and hold off, once again, on carrying out a threat to obliterate Iran's energy plants over the Islamic Republic's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Read more. |
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Trump said he was delaying taking potential action because talks aimed at ending the conflict are going "very well," despite the fact that Iran continues to publicly insist it is not negotiating with the White House on a 15-point proposal — delivered by Pakistani intermediaries — to end the war. He said Iran had asked for the grace period. "They asked for seven (days)," Trump said in an appearance on Fox News Channel's "The Five" shortly after he announced on social media he would give Iran until April 6 to reopen the strait. "And I said, 'I'm going to give you 10.'" Iran had effectively dared Trump to follow through on the threat, warning it would retaliate against the region's vital infrastructure.
Trump publicized his decision shortly after Wall Street closed Thursday, when U.S. stocks recorded their biggest loss since the war with Iran started. The S&P 500 dropped 1.7%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 469 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.4% to fall more than 10% below its all-time high set early this year.
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Why some people put relatives into poverty to pay for nursing homes |
Eldercare experts say an approach to consider, especially if the person needing care is middle-class or of modest means, is to deliberately, but systematically, put yourself or a relative into poverty so Medicaid picks up the costs of a nursing home or assisted living services sooner than later. This is known as a Medicaid "spend down" strategy. Read more. |
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than half of people over age 65 will need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or eating at some point, either for an extended period or the rest of their lives. Yet relatively few older Americans have private long-term care coverage. AHIP, a trade association representing the U.S. health insurance industry, estimates that only 3% to 4% of Americans over 50 have an active policy that covers extended care. Medicare, the main health insurance program for older Americans, generally does not pay for continuing support services in a nursing home or assisted-living community.
Deliberately reducing a person's income and savings to qualify for Medicaid can sound daunting. But without planning, the high cost of long-term care can quickly drain savings anyway. Assisted living and nursing home care can cost thousands of dollars a month, often forcing families to exhaust their resources before qualifying for assistance. Due to the complicated nature of Medicaid eligibility, experts say it's best to work with eldercare specialists to make sure an individual's assets are used appropriately and you don't inadvertently disqualify the person who needs assistance from accessing Medicaid.
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A variety of sake on display at Mr. Wright's wine store in New York this month. (Katie Workman via AP) |
It's all in the rice. Basics about sake and how to pair it with food
Do your weekend plans include going out for sushi? Drink menus with sake often feel a little confusing to me. I mean, I assume the bottles that cost more are better. But I don't know enough to understand how or why. I remember a James Bond movie where 007 impressed a Japanese ally with his sake knowledge. I have no such confidence. If you're in a similar spot, check out our short article on types of sake and what foods to try alongside. As a sake expert puts it, the variety of flavors is "quite incredible," so give it a read if you want to try something new on your next Japanese restaurant visit. Kanpai! |
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