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MedWatch Digest: Set a good sleep schedule or risk losing your memory — and more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

For Jan. 4, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Sleep quality impacts cognition laterThe link between sleep and memory is not new -- what is different is the impact so late in life. People who have disrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s are more likely to have memory and thinking problems within 10 years. The Journal of Neurology reports quality sleep has a huge impact on cognition in middle age and beyond. Researchers followed more than 500 people over 11 years. People who slept fewer hours or had disrupted sleep were more likely to suffer cognitive performance problems compared to people who experienced good, sound sleep. Link between waking early, insomnia and anorexia nervosaEarly risers may be at risk for an eating disorder. A new study reveals a genetic link between anorexia nervosa and sleep tendencies. Massachusetts General Hospital doctors connected waking early, insomnia, and anorexia. Previous resea...

Eli Lilly warns against 'cosmetic' use of popular diabetes, obesity drugs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

(The Hill) – Drugmaker Eli Lilly on Thursday warned against using its diabetes and obesity drugs for “cosmetic” weight loss, as the medications have exploded in popularity, resulting in shortages. In an open letter posted online, the company said its products Mounjaro and Zepbound “are indicated for the treatment of serious diseases; they are not approved for — and should not be used for — cosmetic weight loss.“ Lilly said it does not “promote or encourage” the use of any of its medicines outside of the approved indication. Neither Zepbound nor Mounjaro are approved for anyone who doesn’t have a diagnosis of obesity or type 2 diabetes, among other weight-related conditions. The drugs are meant for long-term use to treat chronic conditions, not quick weight loss. Both of Lilly's drugs are part of an emerging, and expensive, class called GLP-1 agonists, which include also includes Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy. They all have a list price of over $1,000 per month and are ...

Christie in new ad says he was 'wrong' about Trump in 2016

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

(The Hill) — Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said in a new ad that he was “wrong” to support former President Trump, now his rival for the GOP nomination, back in 2016.“I have an admission to make: Eight years ago, when I decided to endorse Donald Trump for president, I did it because he was winning. And I did it because I thought I could make him a better candidate and a better president. Well, I was wrong. I made a mistake,” Christie tells the camera in the minute-long clip.“And now, we’re confronted with the very same choice again,” Christie said, citing Trump’s lead in the polls.Christie has become an outspoken Trump critic and pitched himself as the top Trump alternative in this year’s race, calling out the former president for not taking part in the party’s debates and sounding alarms about a second Trump term.He said last week that Trump would "burn America to the ground." He's also been firm in saying he wouldn't pardon Trump if he were convicted of a crime,...

Jo Koy talks about hosting Golden Globes with short notice

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

Hollywood's awards season is about to kick into full swing with the Golden Globes on Sunday.Long time friend of WGN, comedian Jo Koy is emceeing the broadcast this year.He joined the WGN Morning News to talk about his step into a very different kind of spotlight on very short notice.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Groups monitor for compliance, overreach of new Texas anti-DEI law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When students at the University of Texas at Austin return to classes on Jan. 16, they may notice a name change at one of the campus offices. The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement is dropping the word "diversity" to now become the Division of Campus and Community Engagement. This is one of the ways university leaders are working to comply with Senate Bill 17, which was one of 30 new state laws that took effect on Jan. 1. New Texas DEI law closes campus LGBTQ+ centers. Here’s the student impact The law requires public universities in Texas to no longer have offices dedicated to DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, or employees focused specifically on that purpose. Higher education workers and job applicants also can no longer sign any statements dedicated to upholding DEI or attend trainings that reference "race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation," according to the law. Supporters argued last year during the regul...

New York City sues bus companies that Texas hired to transport migrants

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

(Texas Tribune) — New York City filed a lawsuit on Thursday against 17 bus and transportation companies that have contracted with Texas to take thousands of migrants to the city as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s immigration policies.The city is seeking $708 million in damages from the companies, which is how much the city has spent to shelter migrants, according to the lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court.“New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Gov. Abbott’s continued use of migrants as political pawns is not only chaotic and inhumane but makes clear he puts politics over people. Today’s lawsuit should serve as a warning to all those who break the law in this way.”In the lawsuit, the city argues that the companies are violating a state law by transporting migrants to New York with the “evil intention of shifting the costs o...

Letters: Why was Nikki Haley afraid to counter the ‘Lost Cause’ narrative?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

The mythic ‘Lost Cause’There has been a flutter in the news over Nikki Haley failing to mention slavery as the cause of the Civil War when she was questioned.  Of course the questioner was a Democrat “plant” as she said. This was a “town hall,” not a party rally. Your critics get to ask you questions. If you want to be on the big stage, you have to be ready for this kind of thing. This was no “dirty trick.”My concern is that Haley knows that slavery was the cause of the Civil War, and her pause before answering the question were the gears of her mind quickly turning to come up with a different answer. She did not want to say “slavery” because that would offend a large part of the Republican base. She should not have worried, those people would never vote for her anyway. She only needs to read her own South Carolina’s 1860 declaration of secession to understand what the Civil War was about.I have read all of the articl...

Boy, 13, is believed to be the first to ‘beat’ Tetris

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

In this image taken from video, 13-year-old player named Willis Gibson reacts after playing a game of Tetris. Gibson, who in late December became the first player to officially “beat” the original Nintendo version of the game. By breaking it, of course. Technically, Gibson — aka “blue scuti” in the gaming world — made it to what gamers call a “kill screen,” a point where the Tetris code glitches, crashing the game. (Willis Gibson via AP)On Dec. 21, Willis Gibson, 13, put his hands to his head and rocked back and forth in an office chair in his bedroom in Stillwater, Oklahoma, unable to believe what he had just accomplished.His screen had frozen, and his Tetris score read “999999.”“Oh, my God,” Willis repeats in a high pitch, in video of his triumph that he uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday, as he collapses into his chair. “I can’t feel my fingers.”Willis had just become the first person to advance so far in the original Nintendo version of the puzzle game Tetris that the game froze, ac...

Tension among Republican senators runs high at the start of legislative session

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The first week of the 2024 Missouri legislative session is now in the rearview mirror, but some senators are still airing grievances about last year.After only two days of session, the Missouri Senate started out the year where it left off in May, with some Republicans holding the floor to vent their frustrations with leadership. The group calls itself the Freedom Caucus. Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, who leads the caucus, said their mission is to advance the Republican platform.Despite the new year, the infighting among Senate Republicans remains constant."What I'm tired of is I'm tired of campaign conservatives," Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, said. "You can't say all these things are priorities and then wait until the last minute of the last week in order to try and get them passed."Senate leadership remains hopeful that it will be a successful year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...

PHOTOS: National Western Stock Show Parade 2024 in downtown Denver

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:54 GMT

The National Western Stock Show Kick-off Parade made its way through downtown Denver, Colorado on January 4, 2024. The stock show runs Jan. 6-21 at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver.