Le Journal

The jackpot has climbed above $200 million after no one won the top prize on Monday.

Doctors told us my grandson wouldn’t live past three months, but they didn’t know Elijah was capable of. Today he’s 7 years old, stubborn as ever and fighting every day to prove them wrong. Elijah was born with cerebral palsy. Caring for him is a full-time, all-hands-on-deck operation that includes in-home nurses, physical and occupational therapy, school support and a small pharmacy’s worth of medications. None of that care is optional. It’s what keeps him alive, learning, laughing and giving me attitude. Related Articles How abortion coverage threatens to prevent a congressional deal on health care subsidies Personalized cancer treatments show great promise, new UC San Diego study says Give Good Program lets blood donors support charitable partners COVID prepared California long-term care facilities for norovirus threat US flu activity fell for a second week. But experts worry the season is far from over It’s only possible because of Medi-Cal. Now California’s health care system — the system that keeps Elijah alive — is being pushed to the brink. With $100 billion a year in federal health care cuts barreling toward Americans, California is expected to lose about $30 billion a year in Medi-Cal funding. Families like mine are living in a state of panic. Elijah’s medications alone would run over $5,000 a month. That’s not a “tough choice” for a working family — that’s impossible. And the emergency rooms we rely on when his seizures hit? They may not even be open. This isn’t a hypothetical threat. This is my reality. It’s the reality of millions of Californians who depend on the care we’ve been promised. This disaster is preventable. There’s a simple, fair, no-nonsense solution on the table, the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act. I’m one of thousands of Californians fighting for it, as the campaign collects signatures to place the proposal on the ballot this year. As a nursing assistant, union member and grandmother battling to keep a special needs child healthy, I don’t have time for political games. I’m interested in what works, and this would work. The measure would create a one-time, 5% emergency tax on Californians worth more than $1 billion. That’s roughly 200 people, who together hold more than $2 trillion in wealth. The tax would be spread out over a five-year span. And because of loopholes in tax law, most of that money may never be taxed at all. This proposal would raise $100 billion for California. It would keep hospitals open, protect Medi-Cal, prevent layoffs of health care workers and keep 3.4 million Californians who are at risk insured. In other words, it would keep my grandson and many others alive. As for the billionaires, they honestly wouldn’t even feel it. I’ve heard some people say this tax is “punishing success.” Give me a break. Working families already pay our share. We pay it every time we choose which bills to pay. Every time we work a double shift. Every time we sit in an ER praying that the lights stay on long enough to keep our kids breathing. All we’re asking is for the tiny group who benefit the most from California’s economy, to pitch in one time to prevent a total health care collapse. That’s not punishment. That’s responsibility. Voters from across the political spectrum support this. When your child or parent is sick, politics matter a whole lot less than their survival. The ultra-wealthy and their lobbyists are already gearing up to fight this effort. They always do. They’re loud, they’re powerful and they’re used to getting their way. But I’ve got news for them: so am I. I’ve had to fight for Elijah since the day he was born. I’ve fought for my patients, my coworkers and my community for decades. I know how to stand my ground, and I know I’m not standing alone. California is at the cliff’s edge. We can either let the healthcare system fall, or we can pull together and pull it back. Josephine Rios is a nursing assistant at Kaiser Permanente. She wrote this for CalMatters.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Evan Peters, 39; Skeet Ulrich, 56; Rainn Wilson, 60; Bill Maher, 70. Happy Birthday: Preparation is overrated if you’re procrastinating. Trust your instincts and move quickly. It’s time to pull everything together and deliver what you have to offer to the world. Take the initiative to follow through and turn your goals into concrete action. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Be the driving force and turn your ideas into opportunities. Plan, process and proceed with enthusiasm. Life, love and happiness are yours to behold. Your numbers are 3, 16, 20, 27, 34, 43, 46. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Think before you spend; financial spontaneity will meet with regret. Pay attention to the cost of living, and seek solutions to lower your overhead. Choose to do the work yourself instead of hiring someone to do something you can handle on your own. Physical action and activity will be good for your health and well-being. Share something special with someone you love. 4 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may gravitate toward personal or professional change, but observation and thinking your way past the start, all the way to the result, is the better route. Find out if there are any regulations or rules to address before you begin. Following proper protocol is essential if you want to remain in good standing. 2 stars GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Cautionary measures will help you dodge scammers, users and abusers. Let your intuition, experience and intelligence ward off anyone trying to take advantage of you. Go about your business and strive to learn something new and to achieve the objectives on your to-do list. Self-care, pampering and spending time with someone you love are favored. 5 stars CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your perspective will be out of whack. Hold off on making decisions that concern investments, health and legal matters. Bide your time, gather information and search for a minimalist solution. The “go big or go home” mentality will weigh you down rather than prop you up. Look for unique alternatives you can do and handle yourself. 3 stars LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ll have to juggle your time, money and personal needs wisely to avoid falling behind. Refuse to let anyone monopolize your time by convincing you their journey is more important than yours. Be good to yourself, and make it clear to others what you are willing to contribute. It’s time to change the dynamics of unequal relationships. 3 stars VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): If you feel left out, do something about it. Socializing will deliver better perks than you expect. The people you encounter or the memories you make with those you care about most will encourage you to explore new possibilities and to incorporate what you enjoy most into your routine. Invest more time and energy in personal gratification. 3 stars LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t let anger set in when action is required. Call on your emotions and intuition to lead the way, and surround yourself with people who make you think and inspire you to follow your creative dreams. Refuse to overload your roster with people and activities that drain you rather than give you purpose. Choose your bliss. 5 stars SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Tie up loose ends, and prepare to move on. Venture out into your community, and you’ll discover all sorts of opportunities to better and more efficiently use your skills and experience. You are overdue for a change. Joining forces with someone who shares your beliefs and direction will help you build momentum. 2 stars SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t overlook what’s obvious. Ignoring what you must do will slow you down, not help you excel. Deal with issues head-on so you can move forward freely. It’s time to use your imagination and intuitive insight to build a sound platform for testing what works best for you. Deal with and dump dead weight. 4 stars CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put more energy behind your ideas, and see what happens. Turn an…

TODAY’S WORD — REALMS (RELMS: Kingdoms.) Average mark 18 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 22 or more words in REALMS? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — UPSHOT: posh post pout push shop shot shout shut soup south spot spout stop stoup hops host opus oust thou thus To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last! RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.c

DEAR HARRIETTE: Last year, I helped my close friend through a tough time when she was struggling financially and feeling lonely, but now that she’s in a better situation, she has completely stopped talking to me. Related Articles Harriette Cole: They thought my weight gain was funny Harriette Cole: The son I didn’t know I had is upsetting my household Harriette Cole: My child witnessed my unfortunate exchange with this woman Harriette Cole: I know it seems petty, but I don’t want to give her pants back Harriette Cole: I should’ve put my foot down long ago. Is it time for divorce? I was not only a friend who was there for her emotionally, I also supported her financially. She had recently gotten divorced and lost her job, so I sent her money to help pay her rent, with no expectation that she would pay me back. I also spent a lot of time helping her look for jobs. She landed a well-paying job through a connection of mine, and she is now also dating again. As a result of her newfound success, she doesn’t care to talk to me anymore. It feels like she used me when she needed help, and now that her life has improved, she has forgotten about me. I’m hurt and confused, and I don’t know if I should confront her, let her go or try to be understanding. Was I ignorant to be so generous, or is this just part of friendship sometimes? How do I move forward without feeling bitter? — Forgotten DEAR FORGOTTEN: Try to separate your feelings of abandonment from this friend and what you did for her. Since you wanted to support her financially and also help her get a job, allow those things to sit without judgment around them. You helped her to the best of your ability during a tough time. Now that she has healed from the emotional and financial shock that hit her system, she is putting herself out there and living her life. Be happy that she is bouncing back and finding a healthy rhythm. At the same time, you can feel sad. Rather than loading her up with the baggage of her not thinking about you now that things are good — even though you were there for her when she was in need — let her know that you miss her. Ask her, directly but without reproach, if she will make a little time to spend with you. DEAR HARRIETTE: I was in an intense relationship for about a year, but I’ve been single again for a few months. I want to date again, but I find myself analyzing every move a new guy makes as I worry about whether he will turn out to be like my ex in the worst of ways. I feel like I am assuming bad intentions from anybody who gets near me thanks to him. How can I free myself of the past? — Not Him Related Articles Asking Eric: There’s trouble next door, and I can’t tell my 5-year-old what’s going on Miss Manners: What should I say to a woman who has defaced herself with a tattoo? Dear Abby: How can I make my parents put down their phones and be in the world? Asking Eric: I’m still steaming about how they trampled my holiday plans Harriette Cole: They thought my weight gain was funny DEAR NOT HIM: Go back to basics. Write out the qualities that you appreciate in a partner and those that you do not. Be clear about what you hope your next partner will behave like and what is unacceptable. When you meet new people, measure them against your values — not your ex’s faults. Assume the positive, even as you move slowly. If you need to work through any of the baggage from your past relationship, invest in a therapist. Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.