Agents: Blue Cross Losing More Than $400M On ACA In 2 Years
Blue Cross and Blue Shield stands to lose more than $400 million on its Affordable Care Act business in North Carolina. The state's largest insurer is no longer advertising its ACA policies.
Insurance agents tell The News & Observer of Raleigh the health insurance company provided the update in a presentation last week from a Blue Cross sales director.
Roy Watson Jr., sales director for individual and small market groups, reported the company's combined loss for 2014 and 2015 on ACA customers is expected to top $400 million when the company announces its year-end financial results in the coming weeks.
Food Stamp Change Concerns Advocates For Poor In N. Carolina
Advocates for the poor are concerned about rule changes threatening food stamp benefits for 110,000 people in North Carolina if they don't meet work requirements.
The rule change in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program affects able-bodied people ages 18 through 49 with no dependents. It requires them to work, volunteer or attend education or job-training at least 80 hours a month to receive food aid.
The change started this month in 23 counties, with the rest facing the change by July.
Tazra Mitchell is a policy analyst at the left-leaning nonprofit North Carolina Budget and Tax Center. She says the policy is problematic because it applies even if someone is looking for a job but can't find one.
Former UNC President Takes Position At Duke University
The former president of the University of North Carolina system is headed to Duke University, where he'll launch a bipartisan project about political districts.
UNC system President Emeritus Tom Ross starts Monday as the first Terry Sanford Distinguished Fellow at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy.
Ross will work with the university's new Center for Politics, Leadership, Innovation and Service on a bipartisan project about changing the way political district lines are drawn in the United States. He remains a tenured faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he's scheduled to return to the School of Government.
Ross led the UNC system for five years until the Board of Governors forced him out. He left the post earlier this month.
Virginia Tech Student Charged In Death Of 13-Year-Old Girl
A second Virginia Tech student has been arrested in connection with the death of a 13-year-old girl who disappeared earlier this week.
Virginia Tech issued a statement Sunday confirming the arrest of Natalie Marie Keepers, a sophomore at the school.
Keepers is the second person to be arrested in the death of Nicole Madison Lovell, whose body was found in North Carolina on Saturday. She has been missing from her home in Blacksburg since the middle of last week.
Police earlier arrested 18-year-old David Eisenhauer, another Virginia Tech student, and charged him with murder in the case.
Duke University Hosts Discussion On Paris Climate Talks
Duke University is hosting a panel discussion featuring students and experts from the school who attended the United Nations climate conference last month in Paris.
The discussion titled "After the Climate Talks" will be held Monday at Perkins Library. Participants will explore the significance of the United Nations summit, how the Duke community is involved and how the accord sets the stage for action.
Speakers include Tim Profeta, who is the director of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.