JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1062

Washington — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday announced regulatory proposals that would restrict gender-affirming care for minors by cutting Medicare and Medicaid funding to hospitals providing puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgical interventions and by prohibiting federal Medicaid coverage for those procedures. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called such treatments 'malpractice' at a news conference. The measures would affect access in two dozen states and include a proposal to remove gender dysphoria from a disability definition. Major U.S. medical organizations criticized the actions as contrary to clinical guidance. Based on 11 articles reviewed and research.

MINNEAPOLIS — Federal and state officials announced new charges and detailed findings this week in a multi‑program fraud probe that has implicated assisted living, housing stabilization, autism and other social services programs. A federal prosecutor on Thursday charged six additional people and alleged more than $11.6 million was stolen from two programs; lawmakers said millions may have been improperly funneled into assisted living and that some indicted individuals continued receiving state payments. State hearings and a whistleblower portal generated hundreds of tips. Federal and state probes. Investigations continue and authorities expect more charges. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Statesville, N.C. — A Cessna C550 business jet crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning, erupting in flames and causing multiple fatalities, officials said. The FAA and NTSB opened investigations into the Dec. 18 accident, and the airport closed while crews cleared debris. Flight tracking showed the aircraft took off and then turned back to land; FAA records link the plane to GB Aviation Leasing, which is affiliated with former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Local fire and rescue units attended the scene. Authorities have not released passenger identities. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington. U.S. consumer prices rose 2.7% year over year in November, the Labor Department reported Thursday after a delayed data collection caused by a 43 day federal government shutdown. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, increased 2.6%. The report lacked October monthly detail because the BLS could not gather data during the shutdown, and analysts warned the timing of holiday discounts may have depressed late month prices. Energy prices rose, while housing costs showed little change in the period. Policymakers and markets will await December data for clearer inflation and policy trends. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The Labor Department reported Thursday that the Consumer Price Index rose 2.7% year‑over‑year in November, down from 3.0% in September. The release was delayed eight days by a 43‑day federal shutdown that prevented compiling October data and provided markets and policymakers an updated inflation gauge. Energy costs, including sharply higher fuel oil, pushed overall prices, while core inflation excluding food and energy slowed to about 2.6%, the weakest annual gain since March 2021. Economists cautioned the truncated data may distort trends even as inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Seattle, Washington. Gov. Bob Ferguson this week proposed a $244 million supplemental budget to expand affordable housing, create a state Department of Housing and fund preservation and flood repairs; Seattle Social Housing will receive $50 million disbursement from a voter-approved excess compensation tax, enabling property acquisitions for conversion. In Colorado, Fruita completed a state-mandated housing assessment to guide 2-, 5- and 10-year plans. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh awarded $8.4 million in Home4Good grants to homelessness programs in three states. These actions advance funding, planning and support for housing needs. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

STARKE, Fla. — Florida executed Frank Athen Walls on Thursday evening after courts denied appeals Thursday. Corrections officials pronounced Walls dead at 6:11 p.m. following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Walls had been convicted in 1988, retried and resentenced to death in 1992 for the 1987 home‑invasion slayings of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson and later linked to additional killings. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the warrant on Nov. 18; the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution earlier Thursday. Officials said this was Florida’s 19th execution of 2025. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The U.S. military sank an alleged drug vessel in the eastern Pacific on Wednesday, killing four people, the U.S. Southern Command said. The strike, ordered Dec. 17 by War Secretary Pete Hegseth under Operation Southern Spear, targeted a boat the command described as operating along known narco-trafficking routes. Southern Command said intelligence showed the vessel engaged in narcotics trafficking and that no U.S. forces were harmed. The action follows at least 26 similar strikes since early September and a reported at-least 99 fatalities; lawmakers debated curbing such operations this week. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — President Donald Trump told the nation on Wednesday that tariffs and passed legislation have driven investment and economic growth, and announced a $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' payment to about 1.45 million service members before Christmas. The Pentagon later confirmed the one-time payment will be distributed as a housing allowance supplement to eligible active-duty personnel and certain reservists; roughly $2.6 billion will cover the cost. Multiple outlets reported Trump credited tariffs and a tax bill for the funds, while senior defense officials said the payout stems from congressionally approved housing supplement provisions. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington U.S. forces launched airstrikes in central Syria Friday targeting Islamic State fighters infrastructure and weapons sites after a Dec. 13 ambush killed two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Hawkeye Strike on social media calling it a declaration of vengeance and saying it did not mark the start of a new war. U.S. and allied aircraft including F-15s A-10s AH-64 Apaches and F-16s plus HIMARS systems struck multiple locations across central Syria. President Trump pledged retaliation and officials said strikes could follow. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.