Reform of health care in motion

Although most of the details are yet to come, lawmakers this session set in motion a reformation of the health-care system that, if it becomes in reality anywhere close to what is visualized, will bring health care that costs less, has better quality and will give every Utahn insurance.

Whether by fate or by choice, the state can no longer put off a revolution in the health-care system that, if left to its own devices, would account for every dollar in the state economy in about 30 years.

"There was little choice but to make this a landmark year, because without landmark thinking, health care will soon overwhelm the economy," said House Majority Leader David Clark, R-Santa Clara, sponsor of HB133, the legislation that is the catalyst for changes expected to be under way for the next decade.


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Fateful calls tell of fire

ST. PETERSBURG - McKinley Bentley moved to the small pastel house at 2244 11th St. S because he wanted to raise his children in a tight-knit neighborhood, the kind of street where everybody knows everybody else's business.

On Tuesday morning, Bentley, 38, was doing some yard work for someone across town when a neighbor called.

"Your house is on fire."

Bentley said he thought the neighbor was joking. Then another neighbor called and told him the same thing.

Bentley rushed home and saw that his house was gutted by a blaze that started in a bedroom.

"I can't even describe how I'm feeling right now," Bentley said while standing outside the remnants of his home Tuesday. "I think we'll get through it. We'll pull together."

The fire's cause is still under investigation, said Lt.


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LESCOTT BRACED FOR `BIGGEST` EURO TIE

The Toffees have cruised into the last 16 of the UEFA Cup on the back of eight consecutive wins but know this is the time when the competition becomes fierce.

"I would say that, due to the size of the club (Fiorentina), this is our biggest game so far in the competition," said Lescott.

"But we will show the same respect as when we went to Brann Bergen (in the last round).

"I don't think we should be worried in any game - some teams just deserve more respect than others."

Everton manager David Moyes is likely to stick with his tried and trusted formation, which means striker Yakubu will play on his own up front ahead of a five-man midfield in order to combat the hosts' three-man attack.

But Lescott stressed this was not a negative ploy by the Merseysiders.


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Shiny happy people

DOES AN INFAMOUS SPOKEN-WORD ARTIST turned semi-famous New York Times best-selling author really need to make a New Year's resolution to get her life, career, marriage and family in order? Beth Lisick makes the humorous case in the side-splitting introduction to her new book Helping Me Help Myself: One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone (William Morrow, $24.95). It's a 2006 morning after her (and husband Eli's) sixth annual New Year's Eve shindig, and Lisick seems to be suffering ass pain from having attempted, much earlier that morning, to perform splits for the first time since the '80s.Soreness stirs hilarious reflection, and Lisick decides to finally put aside her skepticism, pledging to grapple with the teachings of some of the most popular and most mainstream self-help salesmen around today: Richard Simmons, Suze Orman and John Gray -- just to name a few.


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Harnessing the Mind to Manage Irritable Bowel Syndrome

FRIDAY, Feb. 15 (HealthDay News) -- When drugs and dietary changes don't provide relief from the pain, bloating and other unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, patients may want to try a different approach.

Recent studies show that using one's own thoughts in a process called cognitive behavioral therapy may help ease symptoms. Likewise, using hypnosis to visualize the pain and imagine it seeping away can be a powerful treatment strategy, too.

"Research indicates that the probability of achieving benefits is excellent with either approach, even for patients who haven't improved from standard medical care," said Olafur S. Palsson, a clinical psychologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Center for Functional GI and amp; Motility Disorders.


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DAVID LAVOIE: Gentle smiles amid the hardship

COPE: to deal successfully with something difficult (Oxford Dictionary).

THE village woman clasps her baby close, protectively. The baby is very tiny and his left foot curves in at the ankle. There is a large deformation there, a swelling, and across it is a fresh but clean scar.

Somsanith Mounphoxay touches the ankle, manipulating it gently and speaking in a low, soothing voice to the worried woman.

As we proceed on our tour, Somsanith sighs. "She was supposed to bring the baby back for follow-up a few weeks after we did the procedure to cut the tendons and straighten the ankle," she says.

"But she didn't; they often don't. Once they see some improvement, they think the problem is solved. Now, it is going to be much more difficult to help him."
We are in Vientiane, Laos, and we are visiting COPE -- the Co-operative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise -- an organisation which provides artificial limbs and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in Laos.


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The Week Ahead

A preview of some of the community, county, school and town events and meetings coming up in this final week of February that includes Leap Year Day on Friday, the 29th, and the start of March on Saturday, when a lion or lamb will join us.

A school deadline

The last day for filing a petition to become a candidate for a local board of education occurs this week.

Elections to fill seats on local and regional school boards and to vote on their proposed tax levies in support of the new school year budgets are on April 15.

A candidate kit with complete information is available at the Web site of the N.J. School Boards Association, www.njsba.org/PI, or at local school district offices.

Monday, 4 p.m., offices of local school board secretary/business administrator.

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