Health

WASHINGTON (AP) — The next time you message your doctor to ask about a pesky cough or an itchy rash, you may want to check your bank account first — you could get a bill for the question.

Montreal public health officials say two children have died from strep A amid an uptick in infections across the city. Health authorities have reported four cases in the city as of Dec. 15 and the deaths of two children aged two years or younger.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Sales of flavored nicotine products will be prohibited in Oregon’s most populous county starting in 2024.

NEW YORK (AP) — Two Tennessee women were charged by federal prosecutors in New York on Friday with unlawfully blocking access to abortion clinics in several states over several years.

HALIFAX — Public health officials in Nova Scotia are investigating two cases of meningococcal meningitis after one university student died and another was recovering in hospital.

OTTAWA — A coffee shop in Ottawa's downtown core is looking forward to some more frequent foot traffic once federal workers head back to the office on a more regular basis.

TORONTO — Legal experts say the acquittal of three former cannabis executives should prompt the Ontario Securities Commission to do some "deep soul searching." The Thursday acquittal of ex-CannTrust Holdings Inc.

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out.

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is extending its COVID-19 wage top-ups for staff at seniors facilities, but the restriction that limited those workers to one work site has been lifted.

PONTOTOC, Miss. (AP) — Voters in a northeast Mississippi county and city have rejected making it legal to sell, grow and process medical marijuana legal in two separate elections.