November 2021

Jury picked for Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Two years after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide behind bars, a jury was selected Monday in New York City to determine a central question in the long-running sex trafficking case: Was his longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s puppet or accomplice?

Twelve jurors and six alternates will hear Maxwell’s case, starting with opening statements expected later in the day. They were picked from a pool of 40 to 60 potential jurors who made it through initial questioning.

UK set to expand booster shots to all over-18s

LONDON — The independent body advising the British government on the rollout of coronavirus vaccines says everyone aged between 18 and 39 should be offered a booster vaccine as part of efforts to tackle the spread of the new potentially more contagious omicron variant.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said booster doses for all age groups should be given no sooner than three months after a second dose. That shaves three months off the current wait.

Food, gas prices pinch families as inflation surges globally

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — From appliance stores in the United States to food markets in Hungary and gas stations in Poland, rising consumer prices fueled by high energy costs and supply chain disruptions are putting a pinch on households and businesses worldwide.

Rising inflation is leading to price increases for food, gas and other products and pushing many people to choose between digging deeper into their pockets or tightening their belts. In developing economies, it’s especially dire.

State makes new rules for oil field tank batteries

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana regulators have established new rules for oil field tank batteries after an explosion killed a 14-year-old girl, and plan to identify all such storage tanks across the state to encourage compliance.

The state Department of Natural Resources cited the February death of Zalee Day-Smith when announcing the safety measures last week. The Advocate reported that State Police investigators believe she was sitting on a tank near her mom’s house in the rural Ragley community when it blew up, throwing her into the air and killing her.

Biden pushes shots as variant spreads

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will urge Americans to get vaccinated including booster shots as he seeks to quell concerns Monday over the new COVID-19 variant omicron, but he won’t immediately push for more restrictions to stop its spread, his chief medical adviser said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and Biden’s leading COVID-19 adviser, said Monday that there were as yet still no cases of the variant identified in the U.S. but that it was “inevitable” that it would make its way into the country.

Search for escaped inmate expands beyond La.

JACKSON (AP) — Louisiana prison officials say they believe a man who escaped from a Jackson prison on Thursday may have left the state. A search for Shwilliam Cheevis in the Baton Rouge area has been expanded.

Officials say Cheevis, 23, broke out of the Dixon Correctional Institute in East Feliciana Parish.

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Most people with MS have relapsing-remitting type

Dear Doctors: My older brother is 33 years old and was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I don’t want to bother him with a lot of questions, but I would like to learn more about it. Can you please explain what it is, how it’s treated and what to expect?

Dear Reader: Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disorder in which the immune system malfunctions and begins to attack the brain and the spinal cord.

Easy and Delicious Ethnic Dishes

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When tried-and-true family favorites turn stale and boring, digging through cookbooks and sorting through blogs for new recipes may seem far too time-consuming for your busy evenings. However, a simple ethnic twist in the kitchen can turn bland dinners into exciting meals.

Hall carries Stephen F. Austin over Northwestern St. 72-68

NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) — Sadaidriene Hall had 13 points as Stephen F. Austin edged past Northwestern State 72-68 on Sunday.

Gavin Kensmil had 16 points and seven rebounds for Stephen F. Austin (5-2). He also committed seven turnovers. David Kachelries added 13 points and six rebounds. Roti Ware had 13 points.

Kendal Coleman had 14 points for the Demons (1-6), who have now lost four straight games. Cedric Garrett added 13 points. Jalen King had 10 points.