Search results for

A new front has opened in the political battle over the Affordable Care Act, with Tuesday's release of the Congressional Budget Office's annual budget and economic outlook. The economists updated an earlier estimate about how many workers would leave the workforce because they no longer needed a job to have health care coverage — revising upward from 800,000 people to over 2 million people. Republicans pounced on the higher number, and President Obama now finds himself playing defense.

The federal government's deficit is shrinking quite quickly — and that may not necessarily be a good thing. As congressional forecasters lower their predictions for economic growth over the next decade, some experts are saying that gross domestic product and unemployment figures would look better, were it not for the government's rapid push to get a handle on the deficit.

Not much happens in An Unnecessary Woman, Lebanese-American author Rabih Alameddine's novel about an elderly recluse who spends her time reading and translating. But what does happen shows a life in all its mundane, unconventional brilliance.

As the U.S. and Iran negotiate over the country's nuclear program, many in Washington say that Tehran can't be trusted. Even the lead U.S. negotiator told lawmakers a few months ago that "deception is in Iran's DNA." Iranian leaders are equally scornful of the U.S. President Obama says that these years of mistrust can't be wished away but still asserts that negotiations between adversaries remain possible.

Blood pressure is just not on the radar of most young adults. But even slightly elevated pressure before age 25 can lead to higher heart disease risk in middle age, a study finds. Young people can reduce their risk by exercising, eating right and avoiding smoking.

After a presidential election where GOP nominee Mitt Romney won just 6 percent of the black vote, the Republican National Committee is asking African-Americans to give the party another look.

Patients who undergo colon screenings might breathe a little easier now that U.S. regulators have approved a pill containing two cameras. The PillCam Colon is minimally invasive and runs on batteries, its maker says.

Apple, Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint pledged $750 million in equipment and services. Obama said this is part of an initiative that seeks to connect almost all American students to high speed Internet within five years.

Heroin overdose deaths have increased significantly in the U.S. over the past five years. Experts point to aggressive prescribing of opioid drugs for pain about 15 years ago as a reason why. Heroin users often say their addiction began with exposure to painkillers like OxyContin.

A budget report estimates that about 2.5 million people will work fewer hours or not at all by 2023 because under Obamacare, they can get health care without holding down a full-time job. The news immediately became political fodder for critics of the Affordable Care Act.