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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Londynn Jones scored 15 points, making all five of her 3-pointers, and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks’ overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories. The Gamecocks (5-1) lost for the first time since April 2023, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa beat them in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals. Te-Hina Paopao scored 18 points and Tessa Johnson scored 14 for the Gamecocks, whose road winning streak was third-longest in Division I history. It was the first time UCLA took down a No. 1 team in school history, having been 0-20 in such games. The program's previous best wins were over a couple of No. 2s — Oregon in 2019 and Stanford in 2008. Elina Aarnisalo added 13 points as one of five Bruins in double figures. UCLA (5-0) dominated from start to finish, with the Bruins' suffocating defense preventing the Gamecocks from making any sustained scoring runs. Takeaways South Carolina: The Gamecocks trailed by double-digits at halftime for the first time since Dec. 21, 2021, against Stanford, according to ESPN. Chloe Kitts, who averages a team-leading 14 points, finished the game with 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting. UCLA: The Bruins led 43-22 at halftime. Eight different players scored and contributed to 11-0 and 7-0 runs in the first and second quarters as they shot 52% from the field. Key moment The first quarter set the tone for a game in which the Gamecocks never led. They missed their first nine shots and were 4 of 18 from the floor in the quarter. UCLA ran off 11 straight points to take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter. Key stats The Bruins dominated the boards, 41-34, and held the Gamecocks well under their scoring average of 80.2 points. Up next South Carolina travels to Florida to meet Iowa State in the Fort Myers Tipoff on Thanksgiving. UCLA travels to the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii to play UT Martin on Friday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballAnti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during ACA enrollment periodNew York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team's starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who turns 41 next Monday, has been hampered at times during the Jets' 3-8 start by various injuries to his left leg, including a sore knee, sprained ankle and balky hamstring. Ulbrich said Monday the quarterback came back from the team's bye-week break ready to go. “All I can say, and you'd have to ask Aaron if he's fully healthy, but he's better off today than he's been as of late,” Ulbrich said. "So he's definitely feeling healthier than he has probably for the past month. A healthy Aaron Rodgers is the Aaron Rodgers we all love. “So, I'm excited about what that looks like.” NFL Network reported on Sunday that Rodgers, who missed all but four snaps last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, has declined having medical scans on his injured leg so he can continue to play. GM: The New York Jets are turning to one of their former general managers to help them find their next GM and head coach. The franchise announced Monday that The 33rd Team, a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, will assist team owner Woody Johnson in the searches. Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman, former GM of the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, will be The 33rd Team's primary representatives in helping find replacements for former coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy took part in some light throwing on Monday after missing his first career game because of an injury and the 49ers are hoping he can return this week. Purdy hurt his throwing shoulder during a loss to Seattle on Nov. 17. Purdy underwent two MRIs last week that showed no structural damage. But Purdy he felt discomfort after making a few throws at practice on Thursday and was shut down for the game at Green Bay on Sunday that San Francisco lost 38-10. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Purdy made it through the session without pain and will rest on Tuesday and hopefully be able to return to practice on Wednesday as the Niners prepare to play at Buffalo this coming week. “We rested it throughout the weekend hoping that would help,” Shanahan said. “He threw lighter today to see if that rest helps and the rest did help him. So we’ll see again, going through the same things we did last week. We’re going to let him rest all the way up to Wednesday. We’ll see how it feels on Wednesday and then we’ll take the exact same course throughout the week. Hopefully it responds better this week than it did last week with the rest.” Brandon Allen went 17 for 29 for 199 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble in his first start since the 2021 season. Allen would play once again if Purdy is unable to go on Sunday at Buffalo. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The NFL removed New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers from the commissioner exempt list on Monday, making him eligible to participate in practice and play in the team’s games. Peppers missed seven games since being placed on the list on Oct. 9 after he was arrested and charged with shoving his girlfriend’s head into a wall and choking her. The league said its review is ongoing and is not affected by the change in Peppers’ roster status. Braintree, Massachusetts, police said they were called to a home for an altercation between two people on Oct. 7, and a woman told them Peppers choked her. Police said they found at the home a clear plastic bag containing a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine. Peppers, 29, pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class “B” substance believed to be cocaine. At a court appearance last week a trial date was set for Jan. 22. HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone, coach Antonio Pierce said Monday. Minshew was injured with 3:12 left in Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. Pierce will have to decide whether Aidan O'Connell or Desmond Ridder will start Friday's game at Kansas City. The Raiders, who have lost seven consecutive games to fall to 2-9, could use a spark. Minshew's grip on the starting job was tenuous even before he was injured. He threw 10 interceptions to just nine touchdown passes this season and Minshew also lost four fumbles. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will practice Monday and “we'll see where he's at from there,” coach Doug Pederson said. Lawrence missed the past two games, losses to Minnesota and Detroit, with a sprained left shoulder. Lawrence had extra time to rest during Jacksonville's bye week. The Jaguars (2-9) host AFC South-leading Houston (7-5) on Sunday and need a victory to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention. Pederson said Lawrence is “feeling better" and they will know more about his playing status following practice Wednesday. Lawrence took a hit to his left shoulder while scrambling at Philadelphia on Nov. 3. Instead of sliding, he chose to go head-first and got hammered by linebacker Zack Baun. Lawrence has practiced some in a limited role since, but was inactive for both games. BRIEFLY LIONS: Detroit wide receiver Jameson Williams won't be charged with a crime after he was found with a gun in a car driven by his brother in October. Prosecutor Kym Worthy says Michigan law is “far from clear” when applied to the 1 a.m. traffic stop in Detroit. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Butterball Faces Boycott Calls Amid Turkey Sex Abuse AllegationsWhat’s not to like about a getaway to Australia ? The laid-back country down under is beloved for its friendly locals, endless beaches and very cute and cuddly marsupials. Plus, more than cafe culture or good old steak and fries, there is also a whole wave of chefs and restaurants that are pushing the envelope in the dining scene. Drawing on the country’s multi-cultural heritage and its abundance of excellent local produce, you can expect a diverse array of nosh options to satisfy even the pickiest epicureans. And even though the Michelin Guide has not made it down under yet and there is currently just one Australian restaurant on the World’s 50 Best 2024 list (that’s Josh Niland’s Saint Peter in Sydney at #98 on the long list), it has its own Chef Hat Awards for those who are inclined to take a cue from such guides. Better yet, read on to uncover tried and tested dining highlights in three foodie cities – Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania. Start a gourmand exploration of Melbourne at three-hat fine-dining institution Vue de Monde , where 29-year-old executive chef Hugh Allen turns out inventive yet refined plates of modern Australian cuisine. A unanimous favourite is the flavourful macadamia cream topped with spring greens and caviar in a pool of umami kelp oil – utterly delicious to the last lick. Meanwhile, red kangaroo dipped in a mushroom broth highlights the clean taste of this lean game meat. Atria , located at The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, focuses on local and hyper-seasonal produce from small-scale growers and artisan producers. Some ingredients, like the duck from the Macedon Ranges, are sourced so close by that the server can even point out the region from the restaurant’s panoramic windows before placing the perfectly dry-aged duck on the table. Speaking of farm-to-table, it is well worth the two-hour sojourn by car to the three-hat Brae , which features a 20-acre organic farm where much of the produce makes its way to the dining table. Helmed by Dan Hunter, the menu is ever-changing, depending on what the day’s harvest and catch looks like. For instance, we were treated to a garden salad made with over 40 fruits, vegetables and flowers harvested at their prime. The restaurant also uses meat sparingly and to maximum effect. The main dish is a hunk of wild-caught venison (fallow deer are considered pests in the countryside) slow roasted in the residual heat of the bread oven for maximum succulence. Best of all, the property also has six luxury carbon-neutral guest suites so there is no need to drive back to town post-dinner. Back in the city, chew on what has been dubbed the world’s best croissant at Lune Croissanterie where founder and former Formula 1 engineer Kate Reid reverse engineered the recipe to perfection. Today, seasonal creations such as the Tim Tam croissant are sold alongside creations that riff on Aussie favourites like the cheese and Vegemite escargot. There are also Lune Lab meals that include guest chef collaborations, for even more experimental takes on the croissant. (Tip: Its outlet in Melbourne’s CBD draws long lines but the Fitzroy outlet is considerably less crowded.) For a quintessential Melbourne dining experience, head to Gimlet , with its handsome leather booths and chic high tables for perfectly executed international fare like its moreish anchovy-dressed beef tartare, prepared tableside with great flourish. Pair with – what else but a perfect gimlet, or leave it to head sommelier Anthony Pieri to unearth an interesting bottle of Aussie vino. At all-day kitchen Big Esso , Torres Strait Islander chef Nornie Bero whips up contemporary Indigenous cuisine that incorporates native and hyperseasonal ingredients. Think crocodile tongue skewers with tea grass red curry and kangaroo tartare garnished with citrusy green ants. Cast aside preconceived notions about these “adventurous” ingredients because there’s no more delicious way to learn a little more about local culture. And if you are lucky enough to score a reservation at the buzzy Serai Kitchen , the recipient of the Good Food Guide 2023 New Restaurant of the Year, go hungry. Chef Ross Magnaye riffs on robust Filipino flavours for his infinitely delicious creations like the wood roasted pig’s head “sisig” tacos and scallops drizzled in crab fat sauce. Stay: The luxe The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne is conveniently located smack in the middle of Melbourne’s central business district, within walking distance of its myriad laneways where plenty of food discoveries await. Or at the recently renovated The Lyall Hotel in the heart of the upscale South Yarra neighbourhood, home to fashionable boutiques and interesting restaurants, which offers chic residential-style digs, with rooms kitted out with a kitchenette, dining and living area. Widely regarded as Australia’s next travel hotspot, the island of Tasmania certainly has plenty to showcase on the dining front, especially since its unique terroir gives rise to excellent hyperlocal ingredients. The purest expression of Tassie cuisine might just come from the two-hat Agrarian Kitchen , a multi-faceted food destination founded by husband and wife pair Rodney Dunn and Severine Demanet, that comprises a restaurant, cafe and cooking school. A meal here starts with a walk through the on-site garden, greenhouse and pantry stocked with ferments and pickles of all sorts. Following an amuse bouche of pickles and dips within the greenhouse, get seated at the restaurant proper where the team showcases a wide range of kitchen crafts including cheese-making, whole animal butchery, wood-fired cooking and charcuterie to offer a true sense of place with every bite. Within capital city Hobart’s centre, more international flavours come into play. A highlight is the two-hat Fico which serves inventive European cuisine made with Tasmanian game, seafood and produce. Like many of Australia’s other top tables, there is no fixed menu, just a line-up of what’s in season, like a delicate octopus and chickpea tart and a zesty hand cut egg tagliolini al limone with bass strait scallops doused in brown butter. Alternatively, Restaurant Maria , one of Hobart’s newest – and trendiest – restaurants, features a Mediterranean-inspired menu, which makes total sense considering the abundance of quality seafood in Tasmania. Expect tasty crowd pleasers like oysters dressed in a wild fennel pollen mignonette and Campari-cured crudo. It is a must to visit the provocative Mona – Museum of Old and New Art – one of the catalysts in transforming Tassie into a travel destination. Faro , one of several on-site F&B establishments, features an experimental menu that lives up to the museum’s provocateur reputation. For giggles, order F*** Art, Let’s Eat, a trio of starter-sized bites that includes a savoury carrot and caraway cream Lamington (a classic Aussie dessert) and comes with a “spoon” shaped like founder David Walsh’s finger. Stay: The Tasman , at #49 on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list , is arguably the most luxurious hotel in Hobart. Or for enviable waterfront views, check into the quirkily charming luxury boutique MACq01 Hotel . The spacious, well-appointed rooms come with indulgences like heated bathroom floors and fun in-room amenities like Jenga and pick-up sticks. One of the most coveted tables in Sydney is Josh Niland’s newly reopened Saint Peter – and rightfully so. Local foodies might be familiar with his restaurant Fysh at The Singapore Edition and his three-hat Australian flagship restaurant takes his philosophy of seafood butchery and whole fish cooking even further. The fascinating fish charcuterie dish elevates secondary cuts into gastronomic delights such as John Dory liver pate and yellowfin tuna chorizo. And our table was in raptures over the inventive “pasta” dish made with fettuccine-sized calamari strips – its al dente texture achieved by painstakingly removing the membranes from the squid – and paired with a rich bolognese-inspired tuna nduja. For ultra-fresh seasonal catch, veteran chef Neil Perry’s Margaret is the address to note. Over the years, he has cultivated close ties with trusted suppliers to deliver their best. Case in point – the King George whiting fillet from a long-term supplier, elegantly pan seared and dressed in lemon and extra virgin olive oil, is perfect in its simplicity. Asian cuisine continues to make its mark on Sydney’s dining scene, with a growing emphasis on inventive reinterpretations of classic flavours. Popular new kid on the block King Clarence features a contemporary Asian menu inspired by executive chef Khanh Nguyen’s travels. Do not miss the viral Fish Finger Bao, a cross between McDonald’s fillet-o-fish and a xiao long bao (soup dumpling) featuring a crispy panko breadcrumb coated fish patty that is filled with soupy dashi stock. At the iconic Chat Thai , second generation restaurateur Palisa Anderson pays homage to her mother’s Thai recipes while elevating the experience with produce sourced directly from her own organic farm. And for punchy Thai flavours derived from treasured family recipes like green curry of grilled pork jowl and lychee, the newly minted one-hat Porkfat is a gem of a find. Stay: Ace Hotel Sydney in the heart of stylish Surry Hills, brings its signature cool to the city’s vibrant creative precinct with an industrial-chic design that is a nod to the building’s history as a former brick factory. Bonus – the minibar is stocked with artisanal snacks. Josh Niland’s latest venture, the soon-to-open 14-room Grand National Hotel located on the same premises as Saint Peter, is one to look out for.EV Charger Service Market is Booming Worldwide | Gaining Revolution In Eyes of Global Exposure

Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left legRhode Island beats Bryant 35-21 to claim its first Coastal Athletic Association titleGiannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks rally to beat Nets

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy took part in some light throwing on Monday after missing his first career game because of an injury and the 49ers are hoping he can return this week. Purdy hurt his throwing shoulder during a loss to Seattle on Nov. 17. Purdy underwent two MRIs last week that showed no structural damage. But Purdy he felt discomfort after making a few throws at practice on Thursday and was shut down for the game at Green Bay on Sunday that San Francisco lost 38-10 . Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Purdy made it through the session without pain and will rest on Tuesday and hopefully be able to return to practice on Wednesday as the Niners prepare to play at Buffalo this coming week. “We rested it throughout the weekend hoping that would help,” Shanahan said. “He threw lighter today to see if that rest helps and the rest did help him. So we’ll see again, going through the same things we did last week. We’re going to let him rest all the way up to Wednesday. We’ll see how it feels on Wednesday and then we’ll take the exact same course throughout the week. Hopefully it responds better this week than it did last week with the rest.” Brandon Allen went 17 for 29 for 199 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble in his first start since the 2021 season. Allen would play once again if Purdy is unable to go on Sunday at Buffalo. Purdy wasn't the only star player missing for the 49ers on Sunday with defensive end Nick Bosa missing the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique and left tackle Trent Williams out with an ankle injury. “Just waiting to see how they respond,” Shanahan said. “They didn’t respond great last week. That’s why they weren’t able to go. Nick and Trent are both in the same boat. ... We’ll evaluate as this week progresses and hopefully it turns a better corner than it did last week.” In other injury news, linebacker Dre Greenlaw will return to practice this week for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl last season. Greenlaw will likely need at least a couple of weeks of practice before being able to return to play. Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano will be shut down for the rest of the season after his knee injury didn't fully heal. Feliciano's three-week practice window ended Monday and the Niners decided to keep him on injured reserve instead of activating him. Left guard Aaron Banks, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and receiver Jacob Cowing all remain in concussion protocol to start this week and their status is unknown. Right guard Dominick Puni (shoulder) and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee) underwent MRIs on Monday and the team is waiting for results. Cornerback Renardo Green (neck) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) are day to day. Defensive tackle Kevin Givens is expected to return to practice this week after missing the past four games with a groin injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark , initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course. The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.A man has been charged after a Yorkshire farm shop posted a CCTV clip claiming to show a suspected shop lifter driving into one of their workers. The incident occurred at Mainsgill Farm Shop, in Richmond , on Saturday, November 23, at around 2.49pm. The video shows a black Vauxhall Corsa approaching the half-closed gate where an employee is attempting to quickly shut the second metal fence. As the car drives forward, the employee stands in the way before being nudged along the road by the car, then at speed as the worker is carried away down the road clutching the bonnet. Mainsgill Farm Shop posted the footage on Facebook shortly after the incident. The shop confirmed the employee was not injured but feels 'shaken up'. North Yorkshire Police have since arrested and charged a man in relation to the incident with a total of six offences . He is being held in custody until he appears in court on Monday, police say. The force issued the following statement on social media after the video, which has been watched 911,000 times, surfaced on Saturday afternoon. The statement read: "Yesterday afternoon police received a report of a shop theft and dangerous driving at Mainsgill Farm Shop in Richmond. "Police have since located a male suspect who has been arrested, charged and remanded for a total of 6 offences, where he currently remains in police custody. A vehicle was also seized in relation to the offences. As a result he will be spending the rest of the weekend with us, before his appearance in court." Get all the latest and breaking North Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.

No. 1 South Carolina women stunned by fifth-ranked UCLA 77-62, ending Gamecocks' 43-game win streak

Frontier Airlines, Wizz, Ryanair, Allegiant Air Democratizing in Travel; How Do Tourists Afford It?NoneNovak Djokovic says his rivalry with Andy Murray has “one final chapter” after his long-time adversary joined him as his coach for the upcoming Australian Open. Murray – Britain’s greatest ever player – retired after this summer’s Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body. Many in the game expected the Scot would one day return to tennis and become a coach, particularly due to his love of the sport, hard work and his tactical acumen. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) But it came with some degree of shock on Saturday afternoon when a social media post from Djokovic, playing on Murray’s light-hearted tweet upon his departure, read: “He never liked retirement anyway”. The attached video announced Murray, who he lost to in two Slam finals but beat in four Australian showpieces, would coach him over the winter and through January’s Open in Melbourne. “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk-takers, history-makers,” Djokovic said. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard, coach Andy Murray.” Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals as well as the French Open final in 2016. It was after he unseated Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 that Murray suffered the hip injury which ultimately derailed his career. Since his retirement, Murray has been playing golf with the same dedication he pursued his tennis but will now return to his natural habitat. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game after he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’ Health | More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit Health | At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? Health | Pay first, deliver later: Some women are being asked to prepay for their baby For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.