Drug Price Cuts, North Korea Tourism, & Safest Suburbs.

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Big Stories

Russia Jails U.S. Russian for 15 Years

Ksenia Karelina, a dual Russian-American citizen, was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Russian court for treason after donating $51.80 to a charity supporting Ukraine.

• The court claimed that the Ukrainian military used the money. Karelina, who lives and works in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty at her trial in Yekaterinburg, the same city where Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was recently convicted of espionage.

• On a trip home to visit family, Karelina was interrogated by Russian airport authorities when they learned she had a U.S. passport. They found a record of her donation after they confiscated her phone. She was told not to leave the city and then jailed for 15 days for hooliganism. Just before her release, Russia charged her with treason. Her lawyer plans to appeal and hopes to include her in a future prisoner exchange.

• Separately, a U.S. citizen named Joseph Tater, who was sentenced to 15 days in a Russian prison for attacking a police officer, will now spend the next two months in pre-trial detention, according to Moscow court officials. He was found guilty of disorderly conduct after being detained for violating public order at a hotel in Moscow.

Medicare Drug Price Cuts Will Save Billions

The Biden administration announced that Medicare has negotiated discounts on drugs used to treat conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer

• Starting in 2026, older Americans on Medicare who take 10 popular medications will see lower prices. The discounts will range from 38% to 79%, saving Medicare $6 billion and reducing out-of-pocket costs for seniors by $1.5 billion. See a full list of the discounts here.

• Some examples of the price cuts include the diabetes drug Januvia, which will drop from $527 to $113 for a 30-day supply, and the blood thinner Eliquis, which will go from $521 to $231. The discounts come from the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies. By 2027 and 2028, more drugs will be added to the list of those with negotiated prices.

• Although drug companies and their allies have filed lawsuits against the negotiations, they haven't stopped the process. Trade groups representing drug makers argue that the negotiations lack transparency and could harm future drug research. However, supporters of the law believe it will provide much-needed financial relief to seniors who struggle to afford their medications.

5 People Charged in Matthew Perry’s Death

Five people, including two doctors and Matthew Perry’s personal assistant, have been charged in connection to his death.

• Perry died from a ketamine overdose in October, with his assistant delivering several injections on the day of his death. Those charged supplied Perry with dangerous amounts of the drug which is a powerful anesthetic. Prosecutors said the doctors took advantage of Perry’s history of addiction, knowing the risks but providing the drug anyway.

• Perry had been receiving legitimate ketamine treatments for depression, but when his regular doctors refused to give him more, he turned to others who were willing to supply the drug illegally. The assistant who found Perry dead has already pleaded guilty, and other arrests have been made, including a doctor and a drug dealer.

• The charges include drug distribution and falsifying records after Perry’s death. Those involved could face serious prison time, with one doctor potentially facing 120 years. Perry's death has similarities to other high-profile cases, like those of Mac Miller and Michael Jackson, where the suppliers of drugs were prosecuted.

Little Stories

• The 2024-25 NBA schedule is out with the Boston Celtics vs, the New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. the Los Angeles Lakers tipping off on opening night. The Christmas Day games will feature the Philadelphia 76ers against the Celtics. LeBron James and the Lakers will play Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, followed by the Denver Nuggets vs. the Phoenix Suns. (More)

• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance have agreed to debate on Oct. 1st. The debate will feature two potential vice presidents, as early voting for the general election starts in some states. Vance also challenged Walz to meet on Sept. 18. (More)

• A $50,000 reward is being offered for information about a North Carolina inmate named Ramone Alston who escaped while at a hospital for a medical appointment. Alston, 30, was convicted of killing a 1-year-old girl. (More)

• Judges in Arizona have allowed officials to use the term "unborn human being" in voter information leaflets before a statewide vote on abortion in November. Abortion activists criticized the ruling, saying it's biased, but the state's top court decided it doesn't break any laws. (More)

• North Korea plans to restart international tourism in December, beginning with the city of Samjiyon and possibly the whole country. It will be the first time the country has let in large amounts of tourists since closing its borders in 2020 during Covid. (More)

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