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Report: Big deficit ahead for state employee health insurance trust fund | Florida

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – 2025-01-23 08:24:00

SUMMARY: The Florida State Employees’ Health Insurance Trust Fund may face significant financial challenges despite a current balance of $652.7 million for fiscal 2024-25. A report from Florida Taxwatch warns of a potential $1.5 billion deficit by fiscal 2028-29 if no actions, like increasing premiums, are taken. The program’s costs have escalated while employee contributions have stagnated, shifting more financial responsibility to taxpayers. As a result, taxpayer contributions for coverage have risen from 87.4% to 94.4% for single plans. Recommendations include adopting a fixed state contribution to relieve future budget pressures and ensure fund solvency.

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Tips on overcoming the loss of cherished, personal belongings in disasters

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www.news4jax.com – Julia Rubin, Associated Press – 2025-01-23 07:20:00

SUMMARY: Losing sentimental items in a disaster is devastating. Cope by prioritizing self-care, patience, and establishing new routines. Focus on preserving memories, not just objects, by documenting stories and utilizing technology to safeguard remaining keepsakes. Accept support from your community and remember that healing involves both mourning the past and creating a meaningful future with new memories and connections.

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Families sue TikTok in France over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content

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www.clickorlando.com – Tom Nouvian, Associated Press – 2025-01-23 00:49:00

SUMMARY: Stephanie Mistre’s world shattered when she found her 15-year-old daughter, Marie, who died by suicide in 2021. Mistre blames TikTok for exposing her daughter to harmful content promoting self-harm and suicide, which Mistre describes as brainwashing. Along with six other families, she is suing TikTok for failing to moderate dangerous content. Despite TikTok’s claims of robust moderation, critics argue the platform’s algorithms promote harmful material, particularly among vulnerable teens. Mistre believes that parents need to be aware of these dangers and advocates for accountability from social media platforms to protect children.

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LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand register their marriages on the first day of law giving them equal status

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www.news4jax.com – Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul, Associated Press – 2025-01-22 19:07:00

SUMMARY: On Thursday, Thailand enacted the Marriage Equality Act, allowing hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples to legally wed, making it the first Southeast Asian country to do so and the third in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal. Around 300 couples are expected to register their marriages in a celebratory event in Bangkok. The new law replaces terms like “men and women” with “individuals” and grants equal rights in areas such as assets, taxes, and inheritance. Advocates highlight that, while discrimination persists, recent progress reflects growing acceptance. Couples emphasize that legal recognition ensures fundamental human rights and alleviates future anxieties in their families.

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