Tom Howell Jr.

Covered California tells Obamacare customers to finish up; no more leeway after April 15

Covered California, the Obamacare exchange in the nation's most populous state, urged residents Wednesday to finish their health coverage applications before next week's deadline so they do not have to pay a tax penalty. Published April 9, 2014

Obama administration releases trove of Medicare data, over some objections

The Obama administration on Wednesday released a trove of data on the health care services that physicians and other health care providers delivered in 2012 — and how much Medicare paid out for them. Published April 9, 2014

Deadline extension boosts Obamacare sign-ups

States running their own health care exchanges say tens of thousands of enrollees are taking advantage of deadline grace periods to sign up for health plans — boosting the White House's enrollment tally while underscoring the glitches that made the extensions necessary. Published April 8, 2014

Brady accuses Obama administration of selective law

Rep. Kevin Brady says the Obama administration is picking and choosing when it has the authority to tweak the health care law and when it does not, ultimately bending the situation to its own needs. Published April 8, 2014

Senate GOP: Tax dollars wasted on faulty state-run Obamacare websites

A pair of Senate Republicans said Tuesday they are upset that taxpayer dollars were spent on balky Obamacare websites run by the states. Published April 8, 2014

Medicare will see boost, not cuts, in 2014

Bowing to intense election-year pressure from both Democrats and Republicans, the Obama administration reversed course Monday and said that rather than cutting Medicare Advantage payments, it will actually boost them next year. Published April 7, 2014

States see big disparities in Obamacare Medicaid sign-ups

Published April 7, 2014

Bush: Art is for library, not for ego

Former President George W. Bush said he decided to exhibit his portraits of world leaders to spruce up his presidential library — not to show off, he said Friday. Published April 4, 2014

Obama admin.: 3 million enrolled in Medicaid from Obamacare launch to end of February

The Obama administration announced Friday that 3 million people enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program from the start of Obamacare enrollment on Oct. 1 through the end of February. Published April 4, 2014

Boulder, Colo., retains title as least obese place in America: Gallup poll

The city of Boulder, Colo., still has the lowest obesity rate in the nation, Gallup said in a new survey that finds a tri-state metropolitan area on the Ohio River is the fattest, with a nearly 40 percent obesity rate. Published April 4, 2014

Report: Did North Korea rip off NASA’s logo?

North Korea may view the United States as the great imperial enemy, but that didn't keep it from cribbing off NASA's logo in designing its own space agency's graphics, the Guardian reports. Published April 4, 2014

Vladimir Putin taunted George W. Bush about dog Barney

Former President George W. Bush on Friday revealed his portraits of world leaders — and the tidbit that Russian President Vladimir Putin thought he had a better dog. Published April 4, 2014

Members of Congress are underpaid, can’t live ‘decently’ in D.C.: Rep. Moran

A retiring Democratic congressman from Virginia says federal lawmakers don't make enough money to get by in both Washington and back home. Published April 4, 2014

Americans show little concern about climate change: Gallup poll

Most Americans continue to show low levels of concern about climate change, with little more than a third saying they worry "a great deal" about it. Published April 4, 2014

Ben Carson huddles with Republicans in stepped up effort to find replacement for Obamacare

With a major Obamacare sign-up deadline past, Republicans are turning their attention to the "replace" half of their repeal and replace strategy, hoping to make up ground lost over the past four years as they seek to show voters that they have an alternative to the president's health care overhaul. Published April 3, 2014

House passes bill to change Obamacare’s workweek from 30 hours to 40

Eighteen House Democrats ignored President Obama's veto threat and helped Republicans pass a bill Thursday that rewrites the health care law to define full-time work as 40 hours per week — and not 30 — out of concern the current rules are forcing Americans to work fewer hours and earn less. Published April 3, 2014