Applause For Wednesday, Feb. 12

MIAMI — Hockey. Outdoors. In Florida. Next season, the NHL is making it happen — twice. The NHL announced Wednesday that the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will play host to the New York Rangers at loanDepot park in Miami — home of baseball’s Marlins — on Jan. 2, 2026, in the Winter Classic, with the Tampa Bay Lightning playing host to the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb.

By MATTHEW PERRONE, Associated Press Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Makers of medical devices that quickly measure oxygen levels in the blood would have to gather extra data to show that their products work for patients of color, under a new federal proposal released Monday. The Food and Drug Administration’s recommendations apply to pulse oximeters, which are clip-on devices used in hospitals and medical clinics to ensure patients are getting enough oxygen.

Lillian Mongeau Hughes | (TNS) KFF Health News BAKER CITY, Ore. — In what has become a routine event in rural America, a hospital maternity ward closed in 2023 in this small Oregon town about an hour from the Idaho border. For Shyanne McCoy, 23, that meant the closest hospital with an obstetrician on staff when she was pregnant was a 45-mile drive away over a mountain pass. Related Articles Health | DeSantis reasserts COVID vaccine dangers as final grand jury report finds no laws were broken Health | Drug-sniffing dog’s alert didn’t justify police search of speeding car, court rules Health | Plan to prevent medical marijuana sales at convenience stores gets judge’s signoff Health | ‘Obamacare’ hits record enrollment but an uncertain future awaits under Trump Health | Can probiotic supplements prevent hangovers? When McCoy developed symptoms of preeclampsia last January, she felt she had the best chance of getting the care she needed at a larger hospital in Boise, Idaho, two hours away.

With a state grand jury report released Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on the message he delivered often during the pandemic: Big Pharma deceived the public about COVID vaccines. “The American people deserve transparency on how Big Pharma is using their federal tax dollars, and they deserve regulating entities that operate as watchdogs, not cheerleaders,” the governor wrote on his social media accounts. DeSantis’ statements dovetailed with a 144-page Florida grand jury report unsealed Wednesday that found no evidence COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers broke federal or state laws when making and distributing the shots.

James Royal, Ph. D. | (TNS) Bankrate.com Fifty-seven percent of U. S. workers say they’re behind on their retirement savings, according to Bankrate’s 2024 Retirement Savings Survey. But no group says they’re behind more than Gen X. A whopping 68 percent of Gen X workers say they’re lagging when it comes to retirement savings. Related Articles Business | Federal Reserve officials at December meeting expected slower pace of rate cuts ahead Business | Sam Altman’s sister accuses OpenAI CEO of sexually abusing her Business | IRS has improved taxpayer services but is slow to resolve ID theft, an independent watchdog says Business | New Margate Publix will include second-floor outdoor seating area for eating Pub subs and more Business | College tuition has fallen significantly at many schools The first edge of Gen X, which ranges in age from 44 to 59, is on the cusp of retirement, and they still have time and a handful of strategies to significantly improve their savings and retirement.

Florida has long sought to protect its kids on the cheap. Multiple governors and legislatures saddled the chronically underfunded Department of Children and Families (DCF) with any number of social headaches beyond child welfare, from drug treatment to Medicaid eligibility to child-care licensing. Tallahassee also repeatedly tries sound-bite solutions to complex issues with little regard for long-term wreckage. Enter state Sen.