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California teacher dies after being bitten by a bat inside her classroom

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Minnesota health officials investigating rare rabies death


Minnesota health officials investigating rare rabies death

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A central California teacher died last month after she was bitten by a bat that presumably had rabies inside her classroom, officials and a friend of the woman, marking the third such fatality in North America in recent weeks.  

In the wake of Leah Seneng’s death on Nov. 22, public health officials are warning the public about the dangers of bats, which are the most common source of human rabies in the U.S. Even though fewer than 10 people in the country die from rabies each year, it is almost always fatal if not treated quickly.

Seneng, 60, found a bat in her classroom in mid-October, her friend Laura Splotch told KFSN-TV. She tried to scoop it up and take it outside but it bit her, Splotch said.

Seneng did not immediately have symptoms of rabies but she fell ill weeks later and was taken to the hospital, where she was put into a medically-induced coma and died days later, Splotch told the TV station.

“It’s devastating to see her in that state, with all the machines hooked up and everything, it was pretty upsetting and scary,” Splotch told KFSN.

According to her Facebook profile, Seneng was an art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, California. The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District, called Seneng “a dedicated and compassionate educator.”

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Leah Seneng

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“We were shocked to learn that Leah’s passing was related to contracting rabies, most likely from being bitten by a bat and we are cooperating with the Merced County Department of Public Health on their investigation,” the school district said in a statement. “We live and work in a community known to have bats and other wildlife around school grounds, and we will continue to help educate our community regarding the dangers associated with coming into direct contact with any wild animal, including bats.”

Merced County confirmed the rabies exposure but, due to privacy laws, did not release the deceased’s name. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that the victim died after contracting rabies.

“Bites from bats can be incredibly small and difficult to see or to detect. It is important to wash your hands and look for any open wounds after touching a wild animal, and to seek immediate medical care if bitten,” CDPH Director Dr. Tomás J. Aragón said in a statement. “It is always safest to leave wild animals alone. Do not approach, touch, or try to feed any animals that you don’t know.”   

At least two other people in North America have died of rabies after encountering a bat in recent weeks. Last month, health officials in Canada announced that a child died from rabies after being exposed to a bat in their room. About a week before that, officials announced a U.S. citizen died from rabies after being exposed to a bat in western Minnesota in July.

How is rabies spread and what are the symptoms?

Rabies is a deadly viral infection that attacks the nervous system in humans and animals, causing brain and spinal cord inflammation. It is typically spread to humans through direct contact with the saliva of an infected animal through scratching or biting.

Rabies is commonly found in bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks and some household pets. Without proper and prompt treatment after symptoms appear, rabies is nearly 100 percent fatal in both animals and humans, according to Haldimand and Norfolk Health Services, where the child was admitted. 

Treatment has proven to be nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease if someone is exposed, though it must start before symptoms appear.  

Bats pose a unique risk because their scratches can be hard to notice due to their small teeth, and bats cannot be vaccinated through provincial programs, health officials said.

If bitten by an animal suspected of carrying the virus, health officials advise washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes and immediately seeking medical attention.

According to the CDC, the incubation period of rabies may last from weeks to months, depending on the location of exposure, severity of exposure and age.

“The first symptoms of rabies, called prodrome, maybe like the flu, including weakness, discomfort, fever, or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for several days,” the CDC says.



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How to get a low home equity loan rate for 2025

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If homeowners look closely they may be able to find a below-average home equity loan interest rate for 2025.

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No one wants to pay more than they should. Unfortunately, millions of Americans have done just that in recent years with inflation and elevated interest rates hiked to account for it. And while paying an elevated rate on your credit card or personal loan can be prohibitive, it becomes even more dangerous when borrowing from your home equity. If you fail to repay a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) as agreed on, you could risk your homeownership as a result. That’s because the home functions as collateral in these unique borrowing exchanges.

Fortunately, right now, today’s home equity loan and HELOC interest rates are many percentage points lower than the popular alternatives. And in this changing interest rate climate, borrowers have a multitude of options for securing a below-average home equity loan rate. Below, we’ll detail three to know heading into 2025.

See how much equity you have to borrow online today.

How to get a low home equity loan rate for 2025

Here are three effective ways homeowners can obtain a low home equity loan interest for 2025:

Consider a different lender than your current one

Home equity is calculated by deducting your current mortgage balance from your home’s appraised value. And, right now, the average amount that many are calculating is around $320,000. So there’s a lot to potentially utilize. But that doesn’t mean you need to use your current mortgage lender to do so. You may be able to find a lower rate by shopping around with competitors instead. If you do, consider then returning to your current mortgage lender to see if they can match or even beat it. You may be surprised at how much lower a rate you can secure by simply shopping around and it’s easy to do so via online marketplaces now.

Start shopping for low-rate home equity loans here.

Opt for a shorter-term

Currently, the average home equity loan rate range for a 15-year term is between 8.08% to 10.17%, according to Bankrate. For a 10-year term, however, it falls in the range of 7.90% to 9.31%. While those differences may only seem minor on paper, they can add up to real savings over the coming years. So calculate your potential costs with both terms. Your payment will be higher on the 10-year loan but the rate will be lower, saving you significant sums of interest. If you can afford to go with the shorter term, it’ll save you both time and money.

Improve your credit profile

If you’re searching around for a home equity loan now, you may be able to delay your loan a bit into the first quarter of 2025. And if you can do that, you should consider using the time in between to boost your credit score as much as possible. The lowest rates and best terms will always be reserved for borrowers with the cleanest credit profiles. If you don’t have one, then, it may be more advantageous to work on this step, first. And that means avoiding holiday overspending if you want to position yourself for a better home equity loan rate in the new year.

The bottom line

By pursuing lenders other than your current mortgage lender, exploring different rates tied to different repayment terms and doing all you can to improve your credit standing, you’ll likely be able to secure a below-average home equity loan rate for 2025. Just make sure to only borrow an amount that you can easily afford to repay, even at that lower rate, to avoid risking your home in the process.

Learn more about your current home equity loan options now



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Why you should open a long-term CD before the December Fed meeting

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By opening a long-term CD before the December Fed meeting, savers can secure a high return on their money.

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December is often a time filled with holiday gatherings, shopping and cooking. This year, however, it also may be a smart time to reevaluate your finances. 

This may mean moving your money from some traditional, low-interest earning accounts to different, higher-earning ones. With inflation down significantly from its 2022 high point and two Federal Reserve interest rate cuts already issued in 2024, the returns on high-yield savings and certificates of deposit (CD) accounts have started to decline. And with the strong likelihood of an additional interest rate cut for when the Federal Reserve meets for the final time in 2024 on December 17 and 18, the window of opportunity could soon be closed. 

To take advantage while they still can, then, savers should strongly consider opening a long-term CD now, before that December Fed meeting. Below, we’ll explain why.

Not sure if a CD’s still worth it for you? See how much more you could be earning here.

Why you should open a long-term CD before the December Fed meeting

Here are three reasons why savers may find it beneficial to open a long-term CD (with a term longer than 12 months) in advance of the December 2024 Fed meeting:

Rates may start declining in advance

It’s important to remember that lenders don’t need to wait for a formal Fed action to start changing their offers to savers. They can — and often will — adjust their rate offers in anticipation of a formal rate hike or cut. And with the CME Group’s FedWatch tool pegging a 25 basis point cut at an 86% likelihood now, many will start lowering their rates now. 

Waiting, then, won’t make sense. With 18-month CD rates around 4.30% and 2-year CD rates at 4.25% right now, it can be advantageous to lock these returns in while they’re still available. If the Fed cuts rates when they meet later in December, you may regret not having acted earlier in the month.

Get started with a top long-term CD online today.

Opening a CD now can prevent holiday overspending

Are you concerned about going over budget this holiday season? With expectations that holiday spending will exceed that from 2023, it may make sense to add an incentive to limit your shopping tendencies. And a CD is a great way to do just that, thanks to its early withdrawal penalties for savers who access their funds prematurely. 

By depositing some of your money into one of these accounts now, you can more easily prevent holiday overspending than you would have by maintaining the same ease of access. Consider moving the funds now, then, before the Fed cuts what you otherwise could have earned. 

Rates will be fixed

Arguably the most important reason to open a long-term CD now, before December 18, is to take advantage of a high, fixed rate for a long time. You can lock in an elevated CD rate before any Fed rate cuts – and keep it for 18 months or 10 years or somewhere in between. This will ensure elevated returns for years to come, regardless of any volatility or additional interest rate cuts issued during that period. Because of that fixed rate, you’ll be able to predict exactly how much you’ll be able to earn with the account, unlike regular savings or high-yield savings accounts that have variable rates subject to bounce up and down based on the wide rate climate.

The bottom line

With rates set to decline even before the Federal Reserve gathers again this month, the strong temptation to overspend during the holidays and a high (fixed) interest rate, many savers can benefit from opening a long-term CD right now. Before doing so, however, be sure to calculate exactly how much you can afford to deposit to circumvent having to pay an early withdrawal penalty in 2025 (or sooner).

Learn more about your current CD account options here.



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Former FBI special agent on hunt for shooter of UnitedHealth CEO

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Former FBI special agent on hunt for shooter of UnitedHealth CEO – CBS News


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Former FBI special agent Doug Kouns joined CBS News 24/7 to discuss the latest revealed clues in the shooting of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson and how they may help in the search for the gunman.

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