Unusual Symptom Linked To Widely Circulating Covid-19 Variant
The COVID-19 variant picture is shifting again, with one widely circulating strain drawing attention for an unusual symptom.
CDC genomic surveillance identifies SW.2 as the leading US strain. The latest available estimates place it at 21 percent of cases, followed by XFG.1.1 at 16 percent and RW.1.1 at 9 percent, according to a Nebraska Medicine report.
XFG, commonly called “Stratus,” has been associated with a hoarse, scratchy, or raspy voice. Patients may also develop a sore throat, dry cough, fever, fatigue, and other familiar COVID-19 symptoms.
Wired reported that doctors identified ho…
Egg Recall Follows Salmonella Cases In Nearly 100 People From Coast To Coast
A multi-state salmonella outbreak tied to eggs has sickened 95 people nationwide and triggered a recall of large brown cage-free eggs sold under several brand names, federal health officials said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday, Aug. 28, that cases span 13 states, with 73 illnesses in California. Additional infections have been reported in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
The agency noted the true number of illnesses is likely higher because many people r…
'I Shot Him In The Head': Erie Council President Says NJ Mafia Got Him Off
Erie City Council President Mel Witherspoon stunned residents during a heated public meeting on Wednesday, July 16, by recounting how he once shot a man in the head—and walked free thanks to alleged ties to the New Jersey mafia.
“I said, ‘Nick, you know I can blow your head off.’ He said, ‘Go ahead.’ And I did. I shot him in the head, point-blank. This close,” Witherspoon told the crowd, holding his hand near his temple.
Witherspoon, now 80, shared the story as he explained why he had not attended rallies or the funeral for 43-year-old Marchello Woodard, who was shot and killed by a Pennsyl…
Elizabeth Man Who Committed Multiple Armed Robberies Learns Fate: Feds
An Elizabeth man was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison for committing three armed robberies in New Jersey, authorities said.
Dayshawn Brimfield previously pleaded guilty to multiple robbery offenses and a weapons charge, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said.
On Friday, April 2, 2021, Brimfield robbed a bank in Hazlet after he handed the teller a note that read, “This is a Robbery I have a Gun I will Kill Someone if you do not follow these instructions,” Habba said.
Two weeks later, Brimfield stole a car in Elizabeth, which he used as the getaway car for his later robberies, including one…
New Surge In Flu Cases Reported Nationwide; These States Are Seeing Biggest Spikes
Flu cases are surging across the nation, closing nearly a dozen schools and swamping hospitals in some states.
At least 24 million cases, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths —including 57 children —have been reported for this flu season, which began in October, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday, Feb. 7.
The two strains of flu circulating this season are H1N1 and H3N2. Both are covered in this year's flu vaccine, but only about 40 percent of Americans have taken the vaccine each of the last two years, compared to 50 percent t…
Popular Milk Product Recalled In 27 States, Including NY, Due To Allergy Risk
A nationwide recall has been issues for a popular brand of milk due to an allergy risk.
HP Hood LLC is recalling 96-ounce containers of Lactaid Milk because the product may contain trace amounts of almond, which is not listed on the label.
People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds may run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products, according to an announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The product was shopped to retailers and wholesalers in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois…
Suspicious White Powder Sent To Election Offices Across Country — Including CT
A package with a suspicious white substance was intercepted at a United States Post Office in Connecticut earlier this week and could be part of a much larger scheme to disrupt or scare election workers ahead of election day, authorities said.
The package was found at a West Hartford post office on Monday, Sept. 16, the Connecticut Secretary of State said in a news release. No one was injured, but the contents were sent to a lab for testing.
Election offices in New York, Tennessee, Wyoming, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Massachusetts, …
Connecticut Among Top 20 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why
Connecticut continues to rank among the top 20 best states in the country.
The Constitution State came in at No. 20 – down slightly from No. 16 last year – on the 2024 Best States list by U.S. News & World Report, released Tuesday, May 7.
Rankings were determined using 71 metrics across eight categories, including fiscal stability, infrastructure, education, health care, and the economy. Data was pulled from national surveys taken by nearly 70,000 people.
Connecticut made the top 10 in health care (No. 3), crime & corrections (No. 6), and education (No. 8), according to the report.…
New York Among Top 25 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why
New York continues to rank among the top 25 best states in the country.
The Empire State came in at No. 23 – down slightly from No. 20 last year – on the 2024 Best States list by U.S. News & World Report, released Tuesday, May 7.
Rankings were determined using 71 metrics across eight categories, including fiscal stability, infrastructure, education, health care, and the economy. Data was pulled from national surveys taken by nearly 70,000 people.
New York made the top 10 for natural environment and health care, coming in at No. 5 and No. 8, respectively, while placing No. 12 in educat…
Massachusetts Among Top 10 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why
A new ranking lists Massachusetts as one of the top 10 best states in the country and places the commonwealth in the top three in categories like education and healthcare.
The results are in.
The 2024 Best States list by U.S. News & World Report, released on Tuesday, May 7, names Massachusetts as the 10th-best state in the country, a place higher than it scored in the 2023 report.
Massachusetts closely follows states like Utah (the best state, according to U.S. News & World Report), Nebraska (number three), Washington (number eight), and Florida (number nine).
However, whe…
Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC
Nineteen people in nine states, including New Jersey and New York, reported illness after injections from a "counterfeit or mishandled" injection of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports.
As of April 15, a total of 19 people from 9 states reported harmful reactions after receiving botulinum toxin injections from unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes and spas, the CDC said.
Counterfeit Botox packages. FDA
States reporting these reactions include Colorado, Florida, Illinois, K…
Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops
A couple from Secaucus is facing a litany of charges after scamming residents in multiple states out of more nearly $2.2 million, police said.
Akeem Lee and Majda Hodzic-Lee called victims in Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nebraska, saying they'd won the "Publishers Clearing House Lottery," Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said.
In exchange for the vehicles and large sums of money the victims were told they won, they were required by Lee and Hodzic-Lee to send cash, money orders and/or gift cards for taxes, fees and IRS …