News

FDA Upgrades Recall on 160,000 Bottles of Popular Thyroid Medication, Levothyroxine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week upgraded a recall of tens of thousands of bottles of a type of commonly prescribed thyroid medication.

The reason for the recalls is that the drug is deemed “subpotent” and the content of the medication is “below the approved specification,” the agency said.

The prescription-only drug is manufactured by India-based Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited for North Carolina-based Accord Healthcare, the FDA said. The levothyroxine sodium tablets come in different potencies and in different bottle sizes.

Other details about the recall were not provided, including whether there were any adverse impacts associated with the medication.

ICE Contracts Revived: NJ’s Sanctuary Law OVERTURNED

Appeals Court Upholds Federal Authority

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has delivered a significant ruling, deeming New Jersey’s AB 5207 unconstitutional. This law had previously banned new or renewed contracts for civil immigration detention facilities, effectively limiting the state’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. CoreCivic, a private prison company, had sued New Jersey, claiming that the law violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution by interfering with federal authority over immigration enforcement. The court’s decision allows private contractors like CoreCivic to continue their contracts with ICE, maintaining their operations in New Jersey.

Federal Supremacy and State Resistance

The ruling underscores the constitutional principle of federal supremacy in immigration matters. Judge Stephanos Bibas, writing for the majority, stated that New Jersey’s law interferes with the federal government’s core power to enforce immigration laws. This decision has significant implications for similar sanctuary laws in other states, as it sets a precedent that limits state power to restrict federal immigration enforcement tools. This could discourage states from enacting comparable bans, given the constitutional barrier established by this ruling.

Impact and Reactions

The decision has immediate operational consequences for New Jersey, allowing ICE detention operations to continue, especially at the Elizabeth Detention Center. Private prison companies such as CoreCivic and the GEO Group can maintain and expand their contracts with ICE in the state. Economically, this sustains jobs and contracts for these companies but may also draw criticism and protest from local communities.

Socially, the ruling heightens anxiety and potential for family separation among immigrant populations. Politically, it deepens the divide between state and local governments seeking to limit ICE activity and federal authorities asserting supremacy. The broader legal landscape for sanctuary policies is further clarified, reinforcing federal courts’ limits on state resistance to federal immigration operations.

UnitedHealth Group Placed Under DOJ Investigation

UnitedHealth Group has said it is under investigation by the Department of Justice, which is probing its involvement in Medicare, a federal health insurance program for those over 65 and people with disabilities.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.

UnitedHealth runs one of the nation’s largest health insurance and pharmacy benefits management businesses. It also operates a growing Optum business that provides care and technology support.

It has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, as its profits soared amid controversy over its health insurance practices, a painful financial burden on many Americans, a large number of whom feel that the whole system is designed to take advantage of them.