|
(Continued from page 23)
called Obamacare law.
• The opening weeks of the enrollment period were marred by website woes, straining ties between Sebelius and officials in the West Wing. Though the administration rebounded strongly and exceeded expectations by enrolling 7.1 million people by the March 31 deadline, the comeback wasn't enough to tamp down Republican criticism of Sebelius or boost the public's perception of the federal health care overhaul.
• Enrollment has since risen to 7.5 million as people were given extra time to complete applications.
• Even with the robust enrollment, huge implementation challenges remain. The administration has to improve customer service for millions of Americans trying to navigate the new system. And there's a concern that premiums may rise for 2015, since many younger, healthier people appear to have sat out open enrollment season.
• ___
Ukraine's premier says regions
should have more power
• DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukraine's prime minister has told leaders in the country's restive east that he is committed to allowing regions to have more powers.
• Arseniy Yatsenyuk met Friday with officials in Donetsk, where pro-Russian separatists are occupying the regional administration building and calling for a referendum that could prefigure seeking annexation by Russia.
• Donetsk and other cities in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland were the support base for Kremlin-friendly president Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in February after months of protests. Last month, the Crimea region voted to secede and was annexed by Russia.
• Yatsenyuk told the meeting, which did not include representatives of the separatists, that more authority should be delegated to regional authorities. But it was unclear how much authority he envisioned, or whether it would be likely to mollify separatists.
• ___
Cross-examination in Oscar Pistorius trial focuses on security system
• PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- The prosecutor at Oscar Pistorius' murder trial on Friday challenged the athlete's statements that he was worried about crime be (Continued on page 25)
|
|
