One of Ecuador’s most wanted drug lords, who faked his own death and moved to Spain, has been captured in Malaga, the Ecuadorian president has said.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Author: alaskaadmin
Drone footage has shown hundreds of tonnes of “revolting” illegal waste, fly-tipped in a field next to the River Cherwell near Kidlington in Oxfordshire.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, has been sentenced to death after being convicted of crimes against humanity.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Donald Trump has urged his fellow Republicans in Congress to vote for the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
The cobbled streets of Newport in Middlesbrough survive from the Victorian era.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans to impose Trump-style visa bans on three African countries if they fail to take back illegal migrants as part of “sweeping reforms” of the UK’s immigration system.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
By: Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
The University of Alaska is anticipating an increase of up to 10% for health care costs this fiscal year, on par with what employers are anticipating nationally, according to officials presenting to the Board of Regents at their meeting on Nov. 6.
Nikole Conley, chief of human resources for the university system, gave a presentation outlining the university system’s health care costs so far, and projections for the rest of this fiscal year, ending in July 2026. Her presentation included medical, dental and pharmacy care.
“We do see health care costs across the nation going up and increasing, and we’re not necessarily expecting this to decline anytime soon,” she said.
The university is projecting 8% to 10% overall cost increases across the system for this fiscal year. That means health coverage for 3,442 employees is estimated to cost $85.5 million.
“We are seeing trend increases of 8% for medical, 13% for pharmacy and 4% for dental. We’ll do another recast in January of 2026 and hopefully try to firm up that figure and what that’s going to look like,” Conley said.
Nationally, employers are expecting an 8.5% increase in medical costs and an 11% increase in pharmacy costs, she said, so the university’s costs and projections are mirroring that trend.
Health care costs in Alaska are among the highest in the nation, according to state data. Since 2023, the average cost of a health insurance marketplace plan in Alaska rose by more than 16% each year. In 2023 alone, the cost went up by an average of 18.4%.
The university has a cost split for health care with 18% paid by employees in premiums, and 82% paid by the universities. Conley presented total cost projections to the board.
Conley said the number of university employees isn’t growing, but more people are opting into the university’s health care plan. She said system-wide the largest cost increase is in pharmacy claims, but her department is expecting to renegotiate pharmacy costs, which could save the university about $3 million.
Last year, the university saw pharmacy spending increase 11.2% from the year before. Over the last five years, overall pharmacy costs more than doubled from $9.2 million to $19.2 million, she said.
Conley said that’s partly due to a rise in prescriptions for drugs used for weight loss and to treat diabetes, known as GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. They were the second highest pharmacy claim within the university’s plan, totaling $4.1 million last fiscal year.
“We’re also looking at the potential elimination of GLP-1s, because they are a major cost driver for us,” she added.
University of Alaska Regent Karen Perdue pushed back against that idea, pointing out that weight loss can also improve employees’ health outcomes and result in less health care costs. “It’s not just a plus, there can be a minus on the bottom line as well,” she said.
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney also pointed out other high pharmacy costs last year. The largest costs were on inflammatory diseases, with the highest cost at $4.3 million, and cancer treatments at $1.3 million.
The highest medical costs for the university last fiscal year were for muscle, joint and bone claims at $10.7 million, followed by cancer at $7 million, and behavioral health and disorder treatments at $5.3 million.
Last year, the university’s total costs came in at $80.1 million, which was $1.1 million over the university’s projection. Conley said next year’s premiums will go up to recover those costs.
Conley said her department is working to push more education and use of wellness programs and preventative health care.
“Not only are we seeing this growth of 8% to 10% in cost, but we’re also seeing less use, for some reason, of our preventative health care. And so we’re really trying to encourage folks to use preventative health care, because that will help minimize some of our costs in the future,” she said.
According to university data presented by Conley, only half of health care participants used preventative screenings, like annual physical exams or checkups; nearly 38% of emergency room visits could have been avoided with better primary care or urgent care use; and 38% of participants are categorized as pre-obese or obese.
The university is insured through Premera Blue Cross, and Conley said her department discusses health care plan changes with the university’s Joint Health Care Committee, an advisory committee made up of representatives from the faculty union, management and staff.
The university is also expecting a health care rebate, which is a benefit paid back to employees if they utilize the prevention programs throughout the year, like cancer screenings, dental care, and regular check ups.
“We’re estimating about a $1.5 million rebate,” Conley said, for this year, ending in July 2026. “We’re going to see up to a $2.5 million rebate increase in FY27 with new rates. So that’s a good positive.”
The debate around national health care, federal tax credits, and costs for Americans has been at the heart of bitter negotiations around ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The U.S Congress approved a stopgap spending bill ending the shutdown. Democrats have introduced a discharge petition to force a vote to extend tax credits for three years under the Affordable Care Act. White the Senate Majority leader has promised a vote by the end of the year, leaders of the Republican-majority House have remained opposed, and discussions on health care are ongoing.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Back in July, Bryan Kohberger pled guilty to the 2022 murders of four Idaho college students.
The families of the victims can hopefully take some solace in the fact that Kohberger will remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
But it seems that that’s the only consolation they’ll be receiving from the unrepentant mass murderer.
Bryan Kohberger claims he’s incapable of covering victims’ funeral expenses
On Thursday, a judge ordered Kohberger to shell out $3,007.79 to pay for the urns of 2 of his victims — Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen.
He was also ordered to pay $31,964.67 in restitution to the families of his other 2 victims — Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
According to TMZ, defense lawyers argued that their client should be exempt from those payments as “Kohberger has no way to make money.”
That might sound like a strong argument, but we live in bizarre times, and a surprising number of people are obsessed with serial killers.
And so, the judge pointed that Kohberger has “received nearly enough through donations to cover the amount of restitution already ordered.”
The judge also noted that Kohberger’s donations are still rolling in.
Yes, hundreds of people have sent money to Bryan Kohberger. Like we said, strande times.
Anyway, there are also legitimate methods for Kohberger to earn money, but apparently he’s not interested in those.
The judge pointed out that Kohberger is eligible to get a job at the prison and gradually pay his restitution that way.
Of course, Kohberger was a PhD candidate before he got arrested, and he might consider mopping floors or washing dishes to be beneath him — but maybe he should’ve thought about that before he brutally murdered four college kids.
Kohberger’s crime remain some of the most horrific in recent years
Sadly, mass murder has become a fact of life in America.
But usually, the violence takes the form of shootings in public places.
The four victims in Kohberger’s case were found stabbed to death in their off-campus rental house.
Investigators later pieced together a chilling sequence: Kohberger allegedly entered via a sliding glass door, made his way through the home, and carried out the killings one by one.
In the months since he pled guilty, Kohberger has complained of sexual harassment and other forms of mistreatment behind bars.
But for obvious reasons, he hasn’t received a whole lot of sympathy.
The victims’ families will be haunted by the horrors of Kohberger’s crimes for the rest of their days — but at least the “donations” he’s inexplicably receiving will now be funneled to a much more worthy cause.
Bryan Kohberger Ordered to Pay For Urns For Murder Victims’ Remains, Tells Judge He … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Reading Time: 3 minutes
We have an update on the passing of Cleto Escobedo.
As previously reported, the musician — best known as the band leader on Jimmy Kimmel Live — died this month at the age of 59.
The news was confirmed via a social media message related by Cleto’s family, which led to a heartfelt and tear-filled monologue by Kimmel in response to losing his close friend.
Now, meanwhile, we can confirm that Cleto died of cardiogenic shock, according to his death certificate, limiting the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to keep him alive.
Vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver are listed as underlying causes.
Other conditions that contributed to the musician’s death were sepsis… graft versus host disease… immunosuppressed… chronic kidney disease… and pneumonia, according to this same document.
After missing an episode last week of his ABC talk show over a “personal matter” several days ago, Kimmel dedicated over 20 minutes in his return to talking about Cleto, someone he had known since he was nine years old.
“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” Kimmel announced on Instagram.
“To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”
Escobedo has worked on Jimmy Kimmel Live! since it premiered in 2003 and was the leader of Cleto and the Cletones, the late-night show’s in-house band.
During the November 11 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian broke down in his monologue as he paid tribute to Escobedo.
Kimmel noted he’s “had to do some hard monologues” over the past two decades but explained, “this one’s the hardest, because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young to go.”
“It’s just not fair,” he said. “He was the nicest, most humble, kind and always funny person… Cherish your friends. We’re not here forever.”
Before working for Kimmel, Escobedo had his own record deal.
He formed Cleto and the Cletones in 1995 with guitarist Toshi Yangagi, bassist Jimmy Earl, keyboard player Jeff Babko and drummer Jonathan Dresel.
His father, Cleto Escobedo Jr., later joined the group after playing saxophone in a 1960s rock and soul band.
Cleto Escobedo Cause of Death REVEALED, So Very Tragic was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Reading Time: 3 minutes
We have tragic news to report from the world of country music:
Todd Snider — the beloved singer-songwriter who developed a massive cult following during his decades in the industry — has passed away unexpectedly.
News of Snider’s death comes courtesy of a statement from Aimless, Inc., the record label he helped to co-found:
Todd Snider’s record label announces his death
“Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, our Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world,” reads a statement on the company’s website.
“Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases?” the statement continues.
“He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens. He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly. Guy Clark, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker.”
An Oregon native, Snider moved to Nashville in the 1990s, where he studied under songwriting idols of his, like Jimmy Buffett and Billy Joe Shaver.
His 2004 album, East Nashville Skyline, made him a key figure in the alt-country scene.
Snider’s death follows a tumultuous period in his life
On November 3, Snider was arrested in Salt Lake City and booked on charges of disorderly conduct, threat of violence, and trespassing.
Snider was hospitalized after being taken into police custody.
The nature of the incident remains unclear, but Snider sustained injuries serious enough that he was forced to postpone the remainder of his tour.
“Todd will be unable to perform for an underdetermined amount of time,” a statement from his label read.
“We deeply apologize for the cancellation and any inconvenience it causes. We appreciate your understanding as Todd receives needed medical treatment. We hope to have more information on new dates soon.”
We’ll have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Our thoughts go out to Todd Snider’s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
Todd Snider Cause of Death: Country Music Star Passes Away Following Violent Incident was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip