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WASHINGTON D.C. - Congress will ban the use of taxpayer funds for gender transition surgeries for children who get their medical care through the military’s health care program, according to the text of legislation posted on Saturday evening.
This year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes language that prohibits coverage under Tricare of transgender procedures that could “result in sterilization” of children. Section 708 of the NDAA states: “Medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18,” according to a copy of the NDAA viewed by The Daily Wire.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told The Daily Wire on Saturday that this is a “critical and necessary step” in the fight against “radical gender ideology.”
“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to support procedures and treatments that could permanently harm and sterilize young people,” Johnson told The Daily Wire. “In this year’s NDAA, we’re taking a critical and necessary step to protect the children of American service members from radical gender ideology and experimental drugs.” Click here to read more.
NEW YORK, NY - The average American household credit card balance as of the third quarter of 2024 was about $10,757 after adjusting for inflation, according to a new study.
The personal-finance website WalletHub onFriday released its new Credit Card Debt Study, which found that consumers added $21 billion in debt during the third quarter of 2024.
Early results for the fourth quarter of the year show preliminary data for October at a new record high for credit card debt in the month, in absolute terms.
WalletHub editor John Kiernan wrote, “Even though that third-quarter increase was 31% smaller than last year’s and total debt is just 3% above where it was last year after adjusting for inflation, we are still in fairly dangerous territory,” said Kiernan.
WalletHub writer & analyst Chip Lupo responded via email to follow up questions from The Center Square. Click here to read more.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — The University of Michigan announced on December 5 that it will no longer require diversity statements in decisions regarding “faculty hiring, promotion, and tenure.”
The move marks a shift for the university, which has spent over $250 million on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives since 2016, according to Bridge Michigan. Provost Laurie McCauley cited concerns raised by a faculty working group that such statements could restrict freedom of expression and diversity of thought on campus.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are three of our core values at the university,” McCauley said in The University Record article. “Our collective efforts in this area have produced important strides in opening opportunities for all people. As we pursue this challenging and complex work, we will continuously refine our approach.” Click here to read more.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (WKRC) - Scientists found that deceased dolphins near the coast of the United States had traces of fentanyl and other drugs in their system.
Researchers with Texas A&M's marine biology program found a dead dolphin in the Gulf of Mexico in September of 2020 and decided to tow it back to their campus to use in future studies. It remained undisturbed until years later when graduate student Makayla Guinn was interested in studying dolphin tissue samples.
Guinn was attempting to research dolphin hormones by using an untargeted analysis, which looks for all chemical compounds in a sample of tissue, which is helpful when scientists don't know exactly what they're looking for.
This broad approach gave the researchers a surprising result. Among the thousands of hormonal compounds was an extremely unexpected substance: fentanyl.
Undergraduate Anya Ocampos furthered this discovery by testing samples from 89 different dolphins, 83 of which were still alive in Laguna Madre, which is just off the coast of Texas. Click here to read more.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA - Police arrested a Florida teacher after he was allegedly found naked in an elementary school classroom on Thanksgiving Day.
Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) officers responded Nov. 28 to a call at Windmill Point Elementary School after an alarm was triggered, indicating a burglary, according to WPBF 25 News. Responders left the scene after finding no signs of a break-in but were later called back to the scene after the sheriff’s deputy, who lives on campus, called for help. Joe Urias, a teacher at Somerset College Preparatory Academy, was allegedly found naked inside the school, the outlet reported.
Police said they discovered multiple items in the classroom where Urias was allegedly found, including a laptop, food, clothes, marijuana and sex toys. Police photos published by the outlet appear to show a makeshift bed inside the classroom.
“The deputy later saw a male, a nude male inside through the window inside the school,” PSLPD Police Chief Leo Niemczyk told the outlet. “The male saw a deputy, quickly got dressed and exited the school. The deputy tried to apprehend him, and at that point, the now clothed, formerly nude male committed battery on that deputy.” Click here to read more.
