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‘‘Obviously, the uninsured population across the country has been climbing, and we’re no exception,’’ Floyd Bounds, the hospital’s chief executive, told the Post Register of Idaho Falls. ‘‘The bottom line is, small rural hospitals across the country are struggling.’’ More households are going without health insurance as medical care costs and premiums rise, Bounds said.

OREGON

Ex-teacher sues Beaverton district

BEAVERTON (AP) — The Beaverton school district is facing a $125,000 lawsuit from a former music, drama and language arts teacher.

Wade Willis says he had no choice but to resign after he proposed staging a controversial play at Southridge High and was ‘‘harassed, intimidated and humiliated.’’

The play was ‘‘The Laramie Project,’’ about the 1998 murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard.

Some ground beef sold at Fred Meyer’s recalled

PORTLAND (AP) — Fred Meyer’s parent company has announced a recall of ground beef sold in its stores, after reports of an E. coli outbreak in the Midwest.

Cincinnati-based Kroger is recalling ground beef products in plastic foam tray packages wrapped in cellophane, or purchased from a service counter at all Fred Meyer’s and QFC stores between May 21 and July 5. Additionally, the company is recalling ground beef under the ‘‘Private Selection Natural’’ label.

Cincinnati-based Kroger says the ‘‘sell-by’’ dates on that product were listed as July 11 through July 21.

The beef has been linked to Omaha-based Nebraska Beef, the supplier of products connected to E. coli illnesses in Michigan and central and northern Ohio.