The following is a rundown of the day’s news drawn from other media sources with topics curated just for Money and Markets readers: Obamacare, personal security and freedom, the economy and more!
Personal security and freedom
Tornadoes Slam Illinois, Indiana
Dozens of tornadoes and intense thunderstorms swept across the Midwest on Sunday, unleashing powerful winds that flattened entire neighborhoods, flipping over cars, uprooting trees and leaving at least five people dead.
Damaging Winds Blast Pittsburgh, Buffalo
After causing destruction in central Illinois, the severe weather threat continues to shift eastward across the lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.
‘Superbugs Could Erase a Century of Medical Advances,’ Experts Warn
Routine operations could become deadly “in the very near future” as bacteria evolve to resist the drugs we use to combat them.
Potentially Fatal ‘Knockout’ Game Targeting Strangers May Be Spreading
A terrifying new ‘game’ involves randomly targeting passersby, with the ultimate goal being to knock them out with one punch as they walk by.
377,000-Square-Foot Scientology Building Lets Members Get ‘Super Powers’
Ten thousand scientologists are expected to descend on Clearwater, Florida, this weekend for the grand opening of a ‘cathedral’ that has been under construction for 15 years.
Obamacare
Penalty for Marriage in Obamacare
Because the federal poverty level for married couples is less than double the level for individuals, a couple that lives together without getting married can make more money than a married couple, yet still get Obamacare subsidies.
Model Who Became Face of Obamacare ‘Bullied’ Over Web Glitches
Adriana, who allowed her picture to be used to promote the president’s flagship reform, has complained of feeling intimidated by the vitriol directed toward her.
D.C. Insurance Commissioner Fired a Day After Questioning Obamacare Fix
The fired commissioner said the mayoral deputy never said that he was being asked to leave because of his statement on health care, but he said the timing was hard to ignore.
UnitedHealth Drops Thousands of Doctors From Insurance Plans
UnitedHealth Group dropped thousands of doctors from its networks in recent weeks, leaving many elderly patients unsure whether they need to switch plans to continue seeing their doctors.
ObamaCare Isn’t Watergate or Lewinsky, ‘But It’s Going to Get Worse’
“When you go down the road, it’s going to get worse, because you talk to the experts and they will tell you that this is a money issue. It’s going to blow a hole in the budget,” the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward said.
Business and technology
Facebook, Still Dominant, Strives to Keep Cachet
Despite the site’s primacy in the social media market, some numbers suggest that Facebook addiction has given way to Facebook fatigue, at least among some users.
Disney Struggles to Make Its Free Gaming Apps Pay
The Playdom social games division of Disney, which started out focused on Facebook but has shifted toward the mobile market, has had a difficult time finding hits.
Extension of Benefits for Jobless Is Set to End
One of the largest stimulus measures passed during the recession is likely to come to an end, and jobless workers in many states are likely to receive considerably fewer weeks of benefits.
Geithner Heading to Wall Street Firm
He becomes the latest former administration official to head to a private equity firm, a common practice through many administrations.
Gold Migration From West to East
Eastern economies such as China and India have found it wise to purchase and import vast quantities of physical gold for acquisition by their central banks and residents as a hedge against the possible onset of hyperinflation and loss of value in their respective currencies.
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
