Leader in Guatemala presidential election suspends campaign

• July 13, 2023

By Sonia Perez | Associated Press

GUATEMALA CITY — The top vote-getter in the first round of Guatemala’s presidential election said Thursday she is suspending her campaign activities in solidarity with her opponent, whose party is being pursued by prosecutors.

Sandra Torres said in a news conference that the current playing field between herself and Seed Party candidate Bernardo Arévalo is uneven.

“We want to demonstrate our solidarity with the voters of the Seed party and also with those who came out to vote,” Torres said. “As a candidate I want to compete under equal conditions.”

Torres’ announcement came the same day that the country’s top prosecutors raided the headquarters of the electoral authority just hours after it certified the June 25 results of the first round of the presidential election.

The move by the Attorney General’s Office appeared aimed at stopping Arévalo, whose campaign platform is eliminating corruption, and it immediately sparked objections from within and outside Guatemala. U.S. officials called it a threat to the country’s democracy.

The raid came immediately on the heels of special prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche’s announcement Wednesday that a judge had agreed to suspend the legal status of the Seed Movement. Curruchiche said the party allegedly violated the law while gathering the signatures it needed to form.

The Attorney General’s Office said Thursday that the purpose of the raid was to seize evidence from the office responsible for voter rolls and party registration. A raid was also expected to take place at the Seed Movement’s party headquarters Thursday.

Arévalo dismissed the prosecutors’ actions as illegal.

“What they are trying to do is simply plant doubt about our honesty,” he told a news conference Thursday, adding that the raid and party’s suspension had a “clear political purpose.”

Arévalo was a surprise winner in the June 25 election. In the days before the vote, the former diplomat and academic had polled below 3% and was not among the top six or seven candidates, all of whom were considered to be on the conservative end of the political spectrum. No candidate came close to exceeding the 50% threshold necessary to win outright in the first round of voting, necessitating the August runoff.

Arévalo has framed himself as the candidate who would bring change to the country, versus his opponent, former first lady Sandra Torres, who he said would maintain the status quo. Torres, who won the most votes in the first round with 15.8%, belongs to the UNE party that dominates the Guatemalan Congress, and was a key ally in helping President Alejandro Giammattei pass his legislative agenda.

Arévalo, who won 11.7% of the vote, also promised to bring back prosecutors and judges who were critical to the nation’s fight against corruption but were forced out of the country under Giammattei’s administration.

As the wait dragged on for certification of the election, anxiety grew that the government was looking for a way to change the results. First, several losing parties waged a legal challenge, leading Guatemala’s highest court to suspend the certification and order a review of hundreds of challenged polling place tallies. The review concluded with no change in the results.

Then late Wednesday, Curruchiche announced the party’s suspension, an action that itself appears to violate Guatemala’s election laws, which prohibit suspending parties during an ongoing election.

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The U.S. State Department had already accused Curruchiche and his boss, Attorney General Consuelo Porras, of obstructing corruption investigations in Guatemala, and put them both on its list of undemocratic actors.

Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday that the U.S. government was “deeply concerned” by the actions of the Attorney General’s Office, which he said threatened the legitimacy of the electoral process. “The will of the Guatemalan people, as expressed through the June 25 elections results, must be respected,” he said.

​ Orange County Register 

About all those drug price TV commercials — Congress has noticed, too

• July 13, 2023

By Arthur Allen | KFF Health News

In recent months ominous ads about prescription drugs have flooded the TV airwaves. Perhaps by design, it’s not always clear who’s sponsoring the ads or why.

Or, for that matter, why now?

The short answer is that Congress is paying attention. House and Senate members from both parties have launched at least nine bills, parts of which may be packaged together this fall, that take aim at pharmacy benefit managers, companies that channel prescription drugs to patients. Here’s a primer to help you decipher what’s happening.

What are pharmacy benefit managers? Known as PBMs, these companies were created in the 1960s to help employers and insurers select and purchase medications for their health plans.

The industry mushroomed as prescription drug spending grew about 200-fold between 1967 and 2021. In addition to negotiating discounts with manufacturers, the PBMs set payment terms for the pharmacies that buy and dispense the drugs to patients. In effect, they are the dominant middlemen among drugmakers, drugstores, insurers, employers, and patients.

How big is the PBM industry? There are around 70 PBMs in the U.S. Through mergers, three of them — CVS Caremark, Optum Rx, and Express Scripts — have come to control 80% of the prescription drug market, and each brings in tens of billions of dollars in revenue annually. The PBMs control the drug pipeline from manufacturers to the pharmacy counter.

Their buying power allows them to obtain discounted drugs for health plans while setting prices and terms for sales at drugstores.

The big three are part of massive conglomerates with important stakes in almost every sector of health care; each of them owns a powerful health insurer — Aetna, UnitedHealth, and Cigna, respectively — as well as pharmacies and medical providers.For example, UnitedHealth contracts with 70,000 doctors, making it the biggest employer of physicians in the country.

CVS Health, with the big pharmacy chain, also owns Caremark and Aetna. Secret price negotiations and hidden corners of each PBM-linked corporation make it hard to track where the money ends up.

Why am I seeing all these ads about PBMs? Other sectors of health care are alarmed by the power of the PBMs and are appealing to the Biden administration and Congress to rein them in. Drugmakers, employers, pharmacies, doctors, and even patients chafe at PBM practices like “spread pricing,” in which the companies pocket money negotiated on behalf of health plans.

Non-PBM-affiliated pharmacists, from mom-and-pop stores to large chains like Kroger, say the PBMs squeeze their businesses by forcing them to sign opaque contracts that include clawbacks of money long after sales take place. PBMs often steer patients using expensive drugs to their affiliated pharmacies, cutting revenue to independents.

Doctors say PBMs act as gatekeepers for the insurers they represent, blocking or slowing coverage of necessary drugs.

Finally, the pharmaceutical industry has lost a share of sales revenue to PBM middlemen in recent years — even while getting most of the bad publicity for high drug prices. (The median launch price for newly marketed brand-name drugs went from $2,100 to $180,000 a year between 2008 and 2021, yet net revenues for drug companies have stagnated in recent years.)

PBMs in some cases prefer high producer list prices, because the rebates that drugmakers pay the PBMs in exchange for favorable health plan coverage of their drugs often are calculated as a percentage of those list prices.

Who’s paying for the ads? The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the trade group for most of the big drug companies, is the top driver of the anti-PBM campaign. Some of the ads are sponsored by the PBM Accountability Project, a pop-up lobby, funded partly by the drug industry, that includes unions and patient advocates whose membership complains of restrictive PBM and insurance industry policies.

In one PhRMA ad, a smarmy guy in a suit snatches away a young woman’s prescription. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the PBM trade group, has responded with its own ads, blaming drug companies for high prices and for “targeting your pharmacy benefits.” AHIP, the health insurance lobby, has piled on with its own campaign.

What’s Congress doing about it? Members from both parties talk indignantly about PBM behavior and have fired up bills to address it. The Senate Finance Committee, whose jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid gives it a lead role, has introduced a bill that would prohibit PBMs from collecting rebates and fees calculated as a percentage of a drug’s list price, to discourage PBMs from favoring expensive drugs.

The committee also plans legislation to require PBMs to pass along discounts directly to seniors, allow patients to use the pharmacy they prefer, and release more information about where their money ends up.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who leads the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, introduced a bill that bans spread pricing, while measures in the Senate and House would crack down on PBM practices seen as harming independent and rural pharmacies. Other measures require more transparency or limit patient waits for drug approvals.

Meanwhile, several states have taken a pragmatic path to lower PBM-related costs, using high-tech auctions to get the best deals for their employee health care plans.

What’s the bottom line? While the PBMs’ secrecy, ubiquity, and power make them a target of outrage, they generally operate on behalf of their customers, which are insurance plans and employers, whose goal is to hold down prices. The PBMs do that by extracting painful concessions, a double-edged sword.

“PBMs are the only thing we have to lower brand-name drug prices and prevent the drug industry from charging whatever they want,” said Benjamin Rome, an internist and health policy researcher at Harvard Medical School.

If those drug prices were 100% covered by insurance, that might sit fine with consumers, but it would further blow up health care spending, already nearly a fifth of the economy. Hospitals, insurers, the drug industry, and PBMs all point fingers at one another to shift blame, but they all benefit from the system. The smarmy PBM guy in the suit may prevent you from getting the drug your doctor ordered, but that’s only because the maker of another drug gave him — and therefore your insurance company — a better deal.

On the other hand, the vertical integration of the PBMs — an issue the Federal Trade Commission is studying but that is not the subject of any bill in Congress — enables unfair competition. “My concern with any bills is the unintended consequences,” Rome said. “Will the new structures they create be any better for patients?”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF

​ Orange County Register 

Everything you need to know about filing a home insurance claim

• July 13, 2023

Mandy Sleight | Bankrate (TNS)

If you’re dealing with loss or damage to your home, whether it’s due to a weather event, home burglary or other unexpected event, you’re likely to feel overwhelmed. When it comes time to file a claim with your home insurance, you don’t want to encounter more stress in the process.

Navigating the claims process can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Bankrate’s insurance experts have outlined everything you need to know about filing a home insurance claim in the article below, from the types of claimable events to the steps for filing a claim.

How to file a home insurance claim

As soon as property loss occurs, you should consider contacting your home insurance company for help in filing your claim. Each insurance company has its own claim process that policyholders need to follow. Usually the sooner you can initiate a claim, the earlier you may be able to resolve the issue.

—Help prevent further damage. Take measures to ensure your home’s structure will not suffer further damage while you wait for repairs.

—File a police report, if necessary. If your property loss is theft or vandalism related, contact the police right away. Law enforcement will gather important information about the damage, and you can provide details and evidence of what happened to your insurance company.

—Contact your insurer. You’ll learn what’s covered under your insurance policy and the best way to initiate a claim.

—Document the damage and fill out claims form. Take pictures of the damage and reference your inventory list, then file a claim.

—Have your claim inspected. A professional claims adjuster will inspect and document the estimated cost of damage.

—Complete repairs. With knowledge of how much of the damage will be covered, make a plan for repairs.

1. Help prevent further damage

While you are waiting for the situation to be resolved, you still have to manage your home. Experts suggest that you try to minimize further damage wherever possible. For example, if a tree fell on your home, make sure the parts of the home that are damaged are not likely to fall apart further. Check support beams and the roof to make sure they are secure until they can be repaired.

John Butkus, director of property claims for Country Financial, shares a few tips for homeowners to mitigate further damage. These include keeping your home tidy, boarding up shattered windows and covering holes with tarp. Butkus also recommends saving any receipts from basic repairs made, including the items purchased to complete them.

Nicole Shacket, a litigation attorney at Insurance Litigation Group, recommends that homeowners keep copies of any signed documents. “If you sign an agreement, work authorization or any type of document with a contractor, take a picture of the whole document with your phone. Know what you signed, when you signed, with who and for what.”

2. File a police report, if necessary

When a home insurance claim involves a crime, such as theft or vandalism, it’s important that you get the police involved. Contact your local police department to find out how you can file a police report. While the police may not find the perpetrator of the crime, they can help gather important details about the damage.

Insurance companies use the police report to get details about your claim and validate the information you give them. While most home insurance providers do not require that you file a police report, it can help shorten the claim process.

3. Contact your insurer

Experts generally recommend that you file a claim quickly, as it could impact how smoothly the process goes. David Adler, president and owner of Adler Insurance Group — an Allstate insurance agency in the Denver metro area — adds that verifying your policy’s listed perils with your insurer could be an important step in the process.

“Ask them if this specific loss is covered under your policy,” Adler says. “Get an understanding of your policy limits too and what your deductible costs will be. If your deductible costs more than the loss, it is likely not worth filing a claim for.”

Many questions about specific losses and what to file under your homeowners insurance can be answered by speaking directly with your provider.

4. Document the damage and fill out claims form

Document all damage thoroughly as soon as possible to give evidence of what has happened and what needs to be repaired. Documentation can include photos, videos and a list of items lost or damaged. Provide proof of ownership for any stolen items, if possible. Things like serial numbers, receipts of purchase or previous images of the items can help prove you owned the items.

After filing your claim, your insurance provider may ask you to fill out certain forms documenting the damage to your home or belongings. You may need to provide the following information:

—Personal information, like your name and date of birth

—Policy number

—Location of the loss

—Date of the incident

—Cause of the loss

—Estimated loss amount

Many insurance experts also recommend submitting photographic and video evidence to support your claim.

5. Have your claim inspected

After your claim is submitted, the insurance company will usually send a claims adjuster to assess the situation in detail.

John Espenschied, owner of Insurance Brokers Group in Chesterfield, Missouri, has been helping homeowners and business owners with their insurance needs for over two decades. He offers a friendly word of expert advice to homeowners at this stage.

“If there was any damage done, make sure that the adjuster inspects the property with you present before writing up an estimate for damages,” Espenscheid says. “Once they leave, their only source of information is going to be whatever paperwork they have from you. If anything was missed during their inspection, it could cause problems later on down the line when trying to get reimbursed for those items missing from their report.”

Espenschied also encourages his clients “to make a list of any damaged items and don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion from an outside, independent appraiser.”

Adler advises having a contractor of your choice present for the adjuster’s inspection, as they might assist in voicing your concerns. In some instances, you may even want to hire a public adjuster. It usually takes a few days for your insurance company to reach out to schedule an appointment with its insurance adjuster, but if your area suffered widespread damage, the process could be slowed down.

6. Complete repairs

After your appointment with the insurance adjuster, there may be a wait for the claim payout checks from your insurance company so you can complete your repairs. Your payout may be issued via multiple partial payments, allowing you to work in stages as you make temporary repairs, replace your belongings and complete the more permanent repairs.

Things may get costly if you incur other expenses in the meantime, like moving out of your home. Fortunately, most homeowners policies include additional living expenses resulting from a covered loss, like for eating out or staying in a hotel. According to Butkus, some providers may even issue checks to policyholders on the spot.

What events can be claimed on your homeowners insurance?

There are several circumstances in which a homeowner may need to file a claim. Generally, consulting your policy and speaking with your insurer to know which perils are covered is a good first step to take.

Protections can vary depending on which provider and policy you choose. For example, coverage for water damage may be tricky and is often defined with certain limitations. Talking to your agent or a representative from your company to make sure you understand your policy’s coverage before damage occurs may be a good idea.

First-time homebuyers may also approach their policy differently given their specific needs.

To be safe, always review your policy and discuss any questions you may have with an agent before purchasing.

Tips for filing a home insurance claim

There are a few things you can do to simplify the process of filing a home insurance claim, including:

—Keep an up-to-date home inventory: It can be difficult to remember even the most basic details related to your belongings after a covered event has occurred. Keeping a home inventory with purchase information, including identifying data like serial numbers and receipts, may make it easier to recoup the value of your items or buy replacements.

—Avoid throwing away damaged items: Although it can be tempting to clean up quickly after your home has sustained damage, doing so can hinder the insurance adjuster’s job when it comes to processing the claim. You should avoid throwing away damaged items until the claims adjuster can assess your home and contents, and keep receipts for reimbursement if you have to buy items as part of the clean up process.

—Maintain backup copies of important paperwork: Home inventories and other pieces of important paperwork can be destroyed or become unusable after the home has been damaged. It may also be helpful to consider storing copies of important paperwork away from the home, such as in a safety deposit box or digital copies on the cloud or computer server.

—Add photos or video to your home inventory: Many homeowners do not think to take photos until an actual incident occurs. However, taking photos or videos of your home and your belongings prior to any incidents can help with the claims process, especially if there are no other identifying factors, like serial numbers.

Questions to ask before filing a claim

Before filing a home insurance claim, it may be a good idea to consider your answers to the questions outlined below. Doing so may help you decide if it is worth filing a claim.

—What is the cost of repairs compared to my deductible?

—How will filing a claim impact my homeowners insurance rates?

—Will I lose discounts on my policy, like being claims free?

—How long will a claim stay on my record?

—Have I filed too many claims and could I be at risk of being nonrenewed or canceled?

—Was there any type of negligence on my part, such as poor maintenance, that contributed to the damage?

How does a home insurance claim impact your premium?

Filing a home insurance claim may result in a higher insurance premium. Generally, the insurance company sees you as more likely to file a claim in the future once you file a claim, and it may raise your premium to compensate for this risk. The likelihood of a higher premium increases if you make multiple claims.

Additionally, the type of claim you make plays a role in the impact on your premium. Claims for theft, water damage, mold, fire and dog bites may lead to steeper increases.

What to do if your insurance claim is denied

Not every insurance claim that is filed will be approved. So what should you do if your insurance claim is denied? The insurance company should send you a letter of explanation detailing why the claim was denied. Depending on the reason, you may be able to appeal the decision.

Let’s say, for example, that your claim was denied because the insurance company decided that the loss was not a covered peril, but you feel the damage should be covered. In that case, you may be able to file an appeal yourself with the insurance company, or you could opt to discuss next steps with a public adjuster or attorney. If you choose to file the claim yourself, be sure to check the process your insurance company uses to provide your steps of action. Even if you appeal your claim denial, there is no guarantee the claim will then be approved.

Frequently asked questions

—How long will it take to file a home insurance claim?

Each insurance provider has a different process for filing claims, so the length of time it takes to file can vary. Most insurance companies have a way for you to file the claim online or by phone. The process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the type of claim and the extent of damage done.

—How long does it take for a homeowners insurance claim to payout?

The payout timeline for a homeowners insurance claim depends on multiple factors like how quickly you provide the information needed for the claim, the type of claim and how your visit with the inspector goes.The payout timeline requirements vary by state. Some states have a required timeline between 10 and 30 days or longer, while others state that the payout must happen within a “reasonable” amount of time. Catastrophic losses may take longer to pay out as well. Consider reaching out to your insurer or looking into your state’s insurance regulations if you’re curious about your expected wait time.

—Does filing a home insurance claim increase your premium?

Filing a home insurance claim may affect the cost of your homeowners insurance, depending on the details of your claim and your company’s underwriting guidelines. Insurance providers may look to see how many other claims you have on your record, as well as how much was paid during the claim.If your premium does increase, you can consider getting quotes from other companies that could offer cheaper coverage, although those companies may also charge for your claim.

—How long does an insurance claim stay on your record?

Insurance claims generally stay on your record for an average of three to five years, although all companies have their own regulations. You can check with your insurance agent or company to find out how long an insurance claim will stay on your record if you file one.

—Can my insurance company cancel my policy after a claim?

There are many reasons why an insurance company might cancel your home insurance policy. This can include filing too many claims over a short period of time or filing a claim for certain situations, like a dog bite.

©2023 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Angels to open 2024 schedule in Baltimore

• July 13, 2023

After opening their season in Oakland in five of the previous seven years, the Angels will begin the 2024 season with a series in Baltimore against the Orioles, per the Thursday release of next year’s schedule.

The Angels play three games in Baltimore from March 28-31, with an off day March 29, followed by a three-game series in Miami. The Angels open their home schedule April 5 with a series against the Boston Red Sox.

The Freeway Series will include two games at Dodger Stadium on June 21-22 and two at Angel Stadium on Sept. 3-4.

The interleague schedule is reversed from this year, with the Angels hosting all of the National League teams they played on the road in 2023.

pic.twitter.com/bVdczboELr

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) July 13, 2023

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​ Orange County Register 

How the hold on the Marine leader’s confirmation impacts Camp Pendleton

• July 13, 2023

A recent move by a Republican senator to hold up the confirmation of the Marines’ top leader not only impacts that office but a whole host of other officers and their families who, during the summer months, report to new commands at bases across the nation and overseas.

At Camp Pendleton, for example, the top general to lead the Corps’ largest and most significant warfighting command, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, is unable to take over his command of at least 48,000 Marines and their units.

At present, the command — critical to the nation’s defense and presently focused on strategy and deterrence of aggression in the Indo-Pacific — is led by Lt. Gen. George Smith, who is set to retire in August. Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm will replace him, but he cannot move himself or his family to Southern California because he also has not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

In addition to Cederholm, the holdup in the U.S. Senate means other general officers and their families are unable to move to their new posts, meaning they’re facing delays in getting children enrolled in schools, dealing with base housing wait times and spouses are hindered from seeking employment.

If Cederholm, who presently serves at the Pentagon, is not confirmed in time, Brig. Gen. Robert Fulford, the acting deputy commanding general of the IMEF, would then take over the role. That leaves the command and its many units in the hands of a one-star general rather than a three-star general.

“These holds limit the Marine Corps’ ability to make sure the right person is at the right place at the right time in order to ensure operational readiness and strategic success,” said Maj. Josh Larson, a spokesperson for the assistant commandant.

Locally, that means at least 30 officers and their families are impacted “at a time when the Marine Corps is modernizing to defend the nation against the pacing challenge of the People’s Republic of China and the acute threat of Russia,” Larson said.

Democratic Rep. John Garamendi, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, called the holdup a “threat to national security,” noting it impacts not only top leadership positions but the entire chain of command.

“It’s not just the 200 officers requiring Senate confirmation; it’s everyone below that that’s affected,” said Garamendi.

Typically at this time of year, the U.S. Senate confirms general and flag officers as well as service chiefs if their four-year term is up.

Gen. David Berger — who led the Marines for four years and focused on the Corps’ modernization by strengthening its amphibious capabilities and developing a closer relationship with its sister service, the U.S. Navy — relinquished his duties on Monday, July 10. Berger, who was the IMEF commanding general at Camp Pendleton from 2014-16, ended a career of 42 years.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger stands with Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith during Berger’s relinquishment of command ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., July 10, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Though Assistant Commandant Gen. Eric Smith was recently nominated to replace Berger, he can’t officially step into the office and can only lead the Marines in an “acting capacity.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, has stalled all nominations for senior military jobs because he disagrees with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to have the Defense Department pay for travel when a service member has to go out of state for abortion services or other reproductive health care.

In a message to Marines on Tuesday, Smith, a highly decorated infantry officer who once led the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, said he would perform the duties of the office of the commandant until the Senate has confirmed the 39th commandant — but in doing so, he must do his own job and that of the commandant at the same time.

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Federal law, said Marine spokesperson Maj. Jim Stenger, dictates that an assistant commandmant performs the duties of the commandant until a successor is appointed during vacancies. But that person cannot do anything that would presume confirmation, Stenger said.

Garamendi said that, in essence, will handicap Smith in major decisions because “the acting commandant does not have the full power of the commandant.”

“If, for example, there’s a decision to close the West Gate at Camp Pendleton,” Garamendi said, “the person who is to assume the commandant after confirmation will be reluctant to make the decision because this decision might upset one of the 100 senators. Key decisions that need to be made could be delayed.”

“Sen. Tuberville’s irresponsible blockade of high-level nominations, including the commandant of the Marine Corps, is having a direct adverse effect on our service members and their families aboard Camp Pendleton and will directly impact retention and readiness,” said Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano. “Our military needs strong leaders, and his nonsensical objection to judicious confirmations is preventing our Armed Forces from operating at its full potential.”

Tuberville has maintained the hold does not impact “people who actually fight” and called on the Pentagon to suspend the abortion policy memo.

In the meantime, Smith said the Marines’ mission remains the same as it was under Berger: to “modernize our Corps to be most ready to fight and defeat a peer adversary.”

“We’re privileged to wear this uniform and call ourselves Marines,” he said. “We need ironclad discipline, adherence to high standards of conducting and warfighting excellence. Our conduct in and out of uniform will be beyond reproach; anything less is contrary to our ethos.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

27 new eats and drinks coming to San Fransokyo Square — What Disneyland chefs are cooking up

• July 13, 2023

“Big Hero 6”-themed eats and drinks will begin rolling out next week in San Fransokyo Square as Disneyland continues the transformation of the Pacific Wharf dining area into a tribute to the Disney computer-animated superhero film.

Disneyland chefs will introduce more than two dozen new menu items at Lucky Fortune Cookery (July 19), Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill (July 26), Rita’s Turbine Blenders (July 26), Aunt Cass Cafe (Mid-August) and Port of San Fransokyo Cerveceria (Mid-August) as part of the thematic makeover of the Disney California Adventure food court.

Concept art of the San Fransokyo Square makeover coming to Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

SEE ALSO: Disneyland sells out of Oogie Boogie Bash tickets in 12 hours after ‘nightmare’ sales launch

San Fransokyo served as the central location in the 2014 Disney animated film, drawing upon inspirations from both cities to create the fictional metropolis.

Reimagining the Pacific Wharf food court — which remained largely unchanged since DCA opened in 2001 — is intended to infuse the land with more Disney storytelling and characters.

The transformation that is expected to continue through mid-August will require Walt Disney Imagineering to turn the Monterey Bay-themed land into an architectural cross between the San Francisco Bay and Tokyo Bay areas.

SEE ALSO: These 12 Disneyland ride vehicles could fetch $750,000 at auction

Let’s take a closer look at the 27 new food and beverage items coming to San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure.

The Karaage-inspired Crispy Chicken Sandwich coming to the Lucky Fortune Cookery in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

Lucky Fortune Cookery

Available starting July 19

Karaage-inspired Crispy Chicken Sandwich with slaw, and Togarashi mayonnaise on a potato bun served with garlic chips
Beef Birria Ramen with consomme, served with house-made birria, soft boiled egg, Monterey Jack, cilantro, roasted corn, onions and radish
Yaki Udon with mushrooms, sugar snap peas, roasted red peppers, bok choy, dark soy saunce and hoisin sauce
Yaki Udon with Karaage-inspired Chicken, mushrooms, sugar snap peas, roasted red peppers, bok choy, dark soy sauce and hoisin sauce

The Baymax Macaron coming to the Lucky Fortune Cookery in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

Baymax Macaron filled with chocolate-hazelnut spread and buttercream
Yaki Udon kids meal with mushrooms, sugar snap peas, bok choy, dark soy sauce and hoisin sauce
Lychee unsweetened black tea with lychee syrup and lychee coconut jelly
Strawberry Lychee Cocktail with vodka, lychee liqueur, premium strawberry syrup, fresh lemon juice and sliced strawberry garnish

SEE ALSO: She picks through Disneyland trash with one goal: Zero waste by 2030

The Curry Beef bread bowl coming to the Aunt Cass Cafe in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

Aunt Cass Cafe

Formerly Pacific Wharf CafeAvailable by mid-August

Curry Beef with carrots, potatoes and onions cooked in classic curry topped with rice, pickled ginger and green onions served in a Boudin sourdough bread bowl
San Fransokyo Clam Chowder with bacon, potatoes and a hint of white miso served in a Boudin sourdough bread bowl
Soba Noodle Salad with tofu, cabbage, edamame, carrots, roasted corn, scallions and cilantro topped with crispy shallots and sesame ginger dressing
Shrimp Katsu Sandwich with a panko-breaded shrimp patty on a potato bun with cabbage slaw, spicy mayo and katsu sauce served with garlic chips
Steamed Rice

The Soba Noodle Salad coming to the Aunt Cass Cafe in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

Honey Lemonade with yuzu puree, passion fruit and strawberry popping spheres
Caramel Cream Mudslide Cold Brew topped with house-made sea salt caramel whipped cream
Peach Soju Citrus Cocktail with peach-flavored soju
Japanese-style Fluffy Cheesecake

The Turbine Twirler coming to the Rita’s Turbine Blenders in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

Rita’s Turbine Blenders

Formerly Rita’s Baja BlendersAvailable starting July 26

Turbine Twirler with choice of frozen wild cherry, frozen lemon-lime, frozen strawberry or frozen blue raspberry slushie topped with peach gummy ring
Rita’s Lemon-Lime Margarita with strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick
Rita’s Grand Lemon-Lime Margarita with a splash of liqueur and strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick
Rita’s Strawberry Margarita with strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick
Rita’s Grand Strawberry Margarita with a splash of liqueur and strawberry cream-covered cocoa biscuit stick

The San Fransokyo-style Street Corn coming to the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

Available starting July 26

San Fransokyo-style Street Corn with Togarashi mayonnaise, queso fresco, furikake and bonito flakes served with wheat chicharrones
Melon Cocktail with tequila, melon liqueur, fresh lemon juice and orgeat topped with a cherry

The Garlic Pinwheel Chips Mix coming to the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure. (Disney)

Port of San Fransokyo Cerveceria

Formerly Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. beer truckAvailable by mid-August

Garlic Pinwheel Chips Mix
Karl Strauss Endless Summer Hard Seltzer with Mandarin Orange and Dragon Fruit
Karl Strauss Moment of Zen Japanese rice lager

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​ Orange County Register 

Ask the Pediatrician: When a pet dies, how do I help my child cope?

• July 13, 2023

How your child reacts to your pet’s death will depend on their age and developmental level. When children display emotions like sadness, it’s important to validate them.

During my own childhood, I remember when a pet died, my well-meaning mother told me I shouldn’t dwell on being sad. It’s natural to want to protect your child from unpleasant emotions. But letting children experience them helps them build coping skills for the future.

Here’s what you can do to help your child deal with the loss of a pet.

Explain your own sadness.

If your emotion isn’t obvious, this may confuse your child. It’s OK to let them see you cry. Keep in mind, though, that not all children — whatever their age — express their grief through sadness. Anger is also a common way to express grief. Understanding this is important so you can help them learn to work through it.

Remember, grief-related emotions can come and go, sometimes without warning. It may take longer than you thought for your child to get through this period. Be sure to let your pediatrician know if your child is having more serious symptoms such as sleep disturbances, anxiety or depression.

Be prepared for questions.

Children may ask about death and what happens after we die. While the specifics of your answer will depend on your family’s beliefs, this is a sign your child wants to talk about it. If they don’t bring up questions, especially when you’ve given them opportunities, it’s possible your child might not want to discuss it. Follow their lead.

Create some type of small memorial or ritual.

This can really help your child with the process of saying goodbye after the loss of a pet. The memorial could involve scattering ashes, creating a memorial collage or planting a tree in the pet’s memory. Your child might find this uncomfortable, so try suggesting it gently and follow their wishes.

How to talk with your child about a pet’s death: advice by age

What your child understands about death will depend on their age. Here’s what you can expect, along with age-appropriate books to help your child understand and cope with losing your family’s pet.

Toddlers

Toddlers have a difficult time understanding death. They might ask over and over where the pet is. They may even seem unconcerned by your pet’s death. Don’t be worried about this — they’re not being insensitive or uncaring. At this stage, they simply don’t understand the meaning of death.

Recommended reading for toddlers:

— “Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death” by Bonnie Zucker

— “Bear Island” by Matthew Cordell

— “Up in Heaven” by Emma Chichester Clark

Preschoolers

Like toddlers, younger preschoolers may have difficulty with the concept of death. Older preschoolers may start to have a deeper understanding.

Recommended reading for preschoolers:

— “Goodbye Mousie” by Robie H. Harris

— “The Forever Dog” by Bill Cochran

— “The Old Dog” by Charlotte Zolotow

— “Goodbye, Brecken” by David Lupton

— “Alfie and the Birthday Surprise” by Shirley Hughes

— “The Goodbye Book” by Todd Parr

Grade schoolers

At this age, kids are much more able to understand death. If your pet is going to die soon due to old age or illness, this is a good age to prepare your child ahead of time. (See “Parent FAQs about the loss of a family pet,” below, for more information.)

Recommended reading for grade schoolers:

— “Love That Dog: A Novel” by Sharon Creech

— “Grandmother Bryant’s Pocket” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

— “Kate, the Ghost Dog: Coping With the Death of a Pet” by Wayne L. Wilson

— “Memories of You” by Erainna Winnett

— “Jasper’s Day” by Marjorie Blain Parker

— “The Tenth Good Thing About Barney” by Judith Viorst

Teens

Most teenagers are able to understand abstract concepts like death. Be prepared, though — as with anything, their reaction to grief can span the range of human emotions.

Books on grief and loss for teens tend to be less focused on pets, but they often discuss death in general. Teens’ different tastes in types of books — for instance, preferring fiction to nonfiction, or realism to fantasy — can make general reading recommendations challenging too.

Here are some recommendations for nonfiction books about grief. These might also help you understand how to best help your grieving teen.

Recommended reading for teens:

— “The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends” by Helen Fitzgerald

— “Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens” by Alan D. Wolfelt

— “Saying Goodbye When You Don’t Want To” by Martha Bolton

— “Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers” by Earl Grollman

More information is available at HealthyChildren.org.

—

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD, FAAP, is Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Early Childhood. He is a professor of Pediatrics and of Human Development & Family Studies at the School of Medicine & Public Health and the School of Human Ecology, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has practiced primary care pediatrics in a variety of settings and is the founding medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin and was appointed by the White House to the National Museum and Library Services Board. Dr. Navsaria regularly writes op-eds on health-related topics; participates in radio and television interviews; hosts two podcasts, and frequently speaks locally, regionally, and nationally on early brain and child development, early literacy, and advocacy to a broad variety of audiences. Follow him on Twitter @navsaria, Facebook, and visit his website.

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

First over-the-counter birth control pill gets FDA approval

• July 13, 2023

By Matthew Perrone | The Associated Press

U.S. officials have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, which will let American women and girls buy contraceptive medication from the same aisle as aspirin and eyedrops.

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it cleared Perrigo’s once-a-day Opill to be sold without a prescription, making it the first such medication to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter. The company won’t start shipping the pill until early next year, and there will be no age restrictions on sales.

Hormone-based pills have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., used by tens of millions of women since the 1960s. Until now, all of them required a prescription.

SEE MORE: Morning after pill company increases access, supply

Medical societies and women’s health groups have pushed for wider access, noting that an estimated 45% of the 6 million annual pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended. Teens and girls, women of color and those with low incomes report greater hurdles in getting prescriptions and picking them up.

Some of the challenges can include paying for a doctor’s visit, getting time off from work and finding child care.

“This is really a transformation in access to contraceptive care,” said Kelly Blanchard, president of Ibis Reproductive Health, a nonprofit that supported the approval. “Hopefully this will help people overcome those barriers that exist now.”

Ireland-based Perrigo did not announce a price. Over-the-counter medicines are generally much cheaper than prescriptions, but they typically aren’t covered by insurance.

READ MORE: Adderall’s disappearing act leaves millions without treatment

Forcing insurers to cover over-the-counter birth control would require a regulatory change by the federal government, which women’s advocates are urging the Biden administration to implement.

Many common medications have made the switch to non-prescription status in recent decades, including drugs for pain, heartburn and allergies. Birth control pills are available without a prescription across much of South America, Asia and Africa.

Perrigo submitted years of research to FDA to show that women could understand and follow instructions for using the pill. Thursday’s approval came despite some concerns by FDA scientists about the company’s results, including whether women with certain underlying medical conditions would understand they shouldn’t take the drug.

FDA’s action only applies to Opill. It’s in an older class of contraceptives, sometimes called minipills, that contain a single synthetic hormone and generally carry fewer side effects than more popular combination hormone pills.

But women’s health advocates hope the decision will pave the way for more over-the-counter birth control options and, eventually, for abortion pills to do the same.

That said, FDA’s decision has no relation to the ongoing court battles over the abortion pill mifepristone. The studies in Perrigo’s FDA application began years before the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, which has upended abortion access across the U.S.

With some states curtailing women’s reproductive rights, the FDA has faced pressure from Democratic politicians, health advocates and medical professionals to ease access to birth control. The American Medical Association and the leading professional society for obstetricians and gynecologists backed Opill’s application for over-the-counter status.

An outside panel of FDA advisers unanimously voted in favor of the switch at a hearing in May where dozens of public speakers called for Opill’s approval.

Dyvia Huitron was among those who presented, explaining how she has been unable to get prescription birth control more than three years after becoming sexually active. The 19-year-old University of Alabama student said she still isn’t comfortable getting a prescription because the school’s health system reports medical exams and medications to parents.

“My parents did not let me go on the pill,” Huitron said in a recent interview. “There was just a lot of cultural stigma around being sexually active before you’re married.”

While she uses other forms of contraception, “I would have much preferred to have birth control and use these additional methods to ensure that I was being as safe as possible.”

Huitron spoke on behalf of Advocates for Youth, one of the dozens of groups that have pushed to make prescription contraceptives more accessible.

The groups helped fund some of the studies submitted for Opill and they encouraged HRA Pharma, later acquired by Perrigo, to file its application with the FDA.

Advocates were particularly interested in Opill because it raised fewer safety concerns. The pill was first approved in the U.S. five decades ago but hasn’t been marketed here since 2005.

“It’s been around a long time and we have a large amount of data supporting that this pill is safe and effective for over-the-counter use,” said Blanchard, of Ibsis Reproductive Health.

Newer birth control pills typically combine two hormones, estrogen and progestin, which can help make periods lighter and more regular. But their use carries a heightened risk of blood clots and they shouldn’t be used by women at risk for heart problems, such as those who smoke and are over 35.

Opill has only progestin, which prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm from reaching the cervix. It must be taken around the same time daily to be most effective.

In its internal review published in May, the FDA noted that some women in Perrigo’s study had trouble understanding the drug’s labeling information. In particular, the instructions warn that women with a history of breast cancer should not take the pill because it could spur tumor growth. And women who have unusual vaginal bleeding are instructed to talk to a doctor first, because it could indicate a medical problem.

Common side effects of the pill include bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea and cramps, according to the FDA. The label also cautions that certain drugs can interfere with Opill’s effectiveness, including medications for seizures, HIV and hypertension.

Perrigo executives said the company will spend the rest of the year manufacturing the pill and its packaging so it can be available in stores early next year.

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​ Orange County Register